And the shadows of the wedding guests
  Did strangely come and go,
And the body of Judas Iscariot
  Lay stretched along the snow.

The body of Judas Iscariot
  Lay stretched along the snow,
’Twas the soul of Judas Iscariot
  Ran swiftly to and fro.

To and fro, and up and down,
  He ran so swiftly there,
As round and round the frozen Pole
  Glideth the lean white bear.

’Twas the Bridegroom sat at the table-head,
  And the lights burned bright and clear—­
“Oh, who is there?” the Bridegroom said,
  “Whose weary feet I hear?”

’Twas one looked up from the lighted hall,
  And answered soft and low,
“It is a wolf runs up and down,
  With a black track in the snow.”

The Bridegroom in his robe of white,
  Sat at the table-head—­
“Oh, who is that who moans without?”
  The blessed Bridegroom said.

’Twas one looked from the lighted hall,
  And answered fierce and low,
“’Twas the soul of Judas Iscariot
  Gliding to and fro.”

’Twas the soul of Judas Iscariot
  Did hush itself and stand,
And saw the Bridegroom at the door
  With a light in his hand.

The Bridegroom stood in the open door,
  And he was clad in white,
And far within the Lord’s Supper
  Was spread so long and bright.

The Bridegroom shaded his eyes and looked
  And his face was bright to see—­
“What dost thou here at the Lord’s Supper
  With thy body’s sins?” said he.

’Twas the soul of Judas Iscariot
  Stood black, and sad, and bare—­
“I have wandered many nights and days;
  There is no light elsewhere.”

’Twas the wedding guests cried out within,
  And their eyes were fierce and bright—­
“Scourge the soul of Judas Iscariot
  Away into the night!”

The Bridegroom stood in the open door,
  And he waved hands still and slow,
And the third time that he waved his hands
  The air was full of snow.

And of every flake of falling snow,
  Before it touched the ground,
There came a dove, and a thousand doves
  Made sweet sound.

’Twas the body of Judas Iscariot
  Floated away full fleet,
And the wings of the doves that bare it off
  Were like its winding sheet.

’Twas the Bridegroom stood at the open door,
  And beckoned, smiling sweet;
’Twas the soul of Judas Iscariot
  Stole in and fell at his feet.

“The Holy Supper is spread within,
  And the many candles shine,
And I have waited long for thee
  Before I poured the wine!”

The supper wine is poured at last,
  And the lights burn bright and fair,
Iscariot washes the Bridegroom’s feet,
  And dries them with his hair.

THE EVE OF ST. JOHN:  WALTER SCOTT

The Baron of Smaylho’me rose with the day,
    He spurr’d his courser on,
Without stop or stay down the rocky way,
    That leads to Brotherstone.