Judas (ballad)

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Judas, Child ballad 23, dates to at least the 13th century and is one of the oldest surviving English ballads.

[edit] Synopsis

Christ gives Judas 30 pieces of silver to buy food for the Apostles; on his way to the market, Judas is waylaid by his sister, who lulls him to sleep and steals the money. Unwilling to confess his loss, Judas sells Christ to the Romans for the same amount. Therefore, the ballad explains, both of the two greatest evils of mankind (the expulsion from Eden and the crucifixion of Christ) were due to the dishonesty of women.