Then Elene bespake him in answer:—­’Whence cometh it that ye bear in mind so many things, every wondrous deed, such as those which the Trojans 645 wrought in battle?  That far-famed war of old was further in the course of years than this holy event, and yet ye know that fully, how to declare at once the number of all that were slain 650 there, and of the spearmen who fell in death beneath their shields.  Ye set forth in writing the tombs beneath the rocky cliffs, and likewise the places and the tale of years.’

Then Judas answered—­he suffered bitter grief:—­’We 655 are mindful of that war from very need, my dear lady, and we set forth in writing the fierce strife and the deeds of the nations, but never have we heard this declared unto men from the mouth 660 of any save here and now.’

And the noble queen gave him answer:—­’Too mightily dost thou withstand the truth and the right concerning the tree of life, insomuch as thou spakest 665 verily of the rood of victory before thine own people but a little time ago, and now dost turn to falsehood.’

Judas again spake unto her, and said that he uttered those words in sorrow and exceeding doubt, that he had weened bitter hardship for himself.

Quickly the kinswoman of Caesar answered him:—­’Lo! we have heard it declared unto men from 670 the holy book that the noble Child of the King, the Son of God, was crucified on Calvary.  Thou shalt reveal thy knowledge perfectly concerning the field where this place Calvary is, according to the teaching 675 of the Scriptures, ere death and utter destruction snatch thee away for thy sins, that I may thereafter cleanse the cross to be a solace for men, according to the will of Christ.  Thus shall the Holy God, the Lord Almighty, Glory-giver of hosts and Helper 680 of souls, fulfill for me my desire and my inmost longing.’

But with stubborn heart Judas answered her:—­’I know not the place, nor aught of the field, nor know I the event.’

Then Elene spake with wrath in her heart:—­’I 685 swear by the Son of the Creator, by the crucified God, that thou shalt be starved to death before the people of thine own race, save thou forsake this falsehood and fully declare unto me the truth.’ 690

Then she bade men take him alive, and throw him, guilty as he was, into a dried-up well—­nor did her subjects hesitate.  And there, joyless and famished, weighed down with chains, was he to abide in his grief for the space of seven nights.  And upon the seventh day, weakened by sorrow, weary, 695 and without food—­his strength was broken—­he began to call aloud:—­’I beseech you by the God of the heavens that ye release me from this misery, 700 for I am brought low by the pangs of starvation.  Joyfully will I show forth the holy tree—­no longer can I hide it now by reason of my hunger.  This durance is too fearful, this need too great, and this torture too bitter day by day.  No longer can I 705 endure to suffer, and conceal my knowledge concerning the tree of life, though before I was filled with folly, and confess the truth too late.’