Page:Goldenlegendlive00jaco.djvu/135

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
S. Brandon
121

standing in the sea, and thereon sat a naked man in full great misery and pain, for the waves of the sea had so beaten his body that all the flesh was gone off, and nothing left but sinews and bare bones. And when the waves were gone, there was a canvas that hung over his head which beat his body full sore with the blowing of the wind, and also there were two ox-tongues and a great stone that he sat on, which did him full great ease. And then S. Brandon charged him to tell him what he was, and he said: 'My name is Judas that sold our Lord Jesu Christ for thirty pence, which sitteth here thus wretchedly; howbeit I am worthy to be in the greatest pain that is; but our Lord is so merciful that he hath rewarded me better than I have deserved, for of right my place is in the burning hell; but I am here but certain times of the year, that is, from Christmas to twelfth day, and from Easter till Whitsuntide be past, and every feastful day of our Lady, and every Saturday noon till Sunday, that evensong be done; but all other times I lie still in hell in full burning fire, with Pilate, Herod, and Caiaphas; therefore accursed be the time that ever I knew them.' And then Judas prayed S. Brandon to abide still there all that night, and that he would keep him there still, that the fiends should not fetch him to hell. And he said: 'With God's help thou shalt abide here all this night' And then he asked Judas what cloth that was that hung over his head; and he said it was a cloth that he gave to a leper, which was bought with the money that he stole from our Lord 'when I bare his purse; wherefore it doth to me full