"
To her Judas said that he spake that in sorrow
And doubt extreme, worse evil expected.
Him quickly answered the Caesar's mother:
"Lo! that have we heard through holy books 670
Made known to men that there was hanged
On Calvary the King's free child,
God's Spirit-son. Thou fully shalt
Wisdom reveal, as writings tell,
About the plain, where the place may be, 675
That Calvary, ere misery take thee,
Death for thy sins, that I afterwards may
Purify it at the will of Christ,
For help to men, that holy God,
Almighty Lord, the thought of my heart 680
My wish may fulfil, men's Giver of glory,
Helper of souls." Her Judas answered,
Stubborn in mind: "I know not the place
Nor aught of the plain, nor the thing do I know."
Helena spake with angry mind: 685
"This do I swear through the Son of the Maker
The hanged God, that with hunger thou shalt
Before thy kinsmen be put to death,
Unless thou forsake these lying tales
And plainly to me the truth make known." 690
Then bade she with band him lead alive,
The guilty one cast (the servants delayed not)
Into a dry pit, where robbed of joy,
He lingered in sorrows seven nights' time
Within the prison oppressed with hunger, 695
Fastened with fetters, and then gan he call,
Weakened by pains, on the seventh day,
Tired and foodless (his strength was exhausted):
"I you beseech through heaven's God,
That me from these sufferings ye may release, 700
Humbled by hunger.
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