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| ’TWAS the soul of Judas Iscariot, | |
| Strange, and sad, and tall, | |
| Stood all alone at dead of night | |
| Before a lighted hall. | |
| |
| And the wold was white with snow, | 5 |
| And his foot-marks black and damp, | |
| And the ghost of the silvern Moon arose, | |
| Holding her yellow lamp. | |
| |
| And the icicles were on the eaves, | |
| And the walls were deep with white, | 10 |
| And the shadows of the guests within | |
| Pass’d on the window light. | |
| |
| The shadows of the wedding guests | |
| Did strangely come and go, | |
| And the body of Judas Iscariot | 15 |
| Lay stretch’d along the snow. | |
| |
| The body of Judas Iscariot | |
| Lay stretched along the snow; | |
| ’Twas the soul of Judas Iscariot | |
| Ran swiftly to and fro. | 20 |
| |
| 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, | 25 |
| And the lights burnt bright and clear— | |
| ‘Oh, who is that,’ the Bridegroom said, | |
| ‘Whose weary feet I hear?’ | |
| |
| ’Twas one looked from the lighted hall, | |
| And answer’d soft and slow, | 30 |
| ‘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?’ | 35 |
| The blessèd Bridegroom said. | |
| |
| ’Twas one look’d from the lighted hall, | |
| And answer’d fierce and low, | |
| ‘’Tis the soul of Judas Iscariot | |
| Gliding to and fro.’ | 40 |
| |
| ’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, | 45 |
| And he was clad in white, | |
| And far within the Lord’s Supper | |
| Was spread so broad and bright. | |
| |
| The Bridegroom shaded his eyes and look’d, | |
| And his face was bright to see— | 50 |
| ‘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 wander’d many nights and days; | 55 |
| 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!’ | 60 |
| |
| 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 thick with snow. | |
| |
| And of every flake of falling snow, | 65 |
| Before it touch’d the ground, | |
| There came a dove, and a thousand doves | |
| Made sweet sound. | |
| |
| ’Twas the body of Judas Iscariot | |
| Floated away full fleet, | 70 |
| And the wings of the doves that bare it off | |
| Were like its winding-sheet. | |
| |
| ’Twas the Bridegroom stood at the open door, | |
| And beckon’d, smiling sweet; | |
| ’Twas the soul of Judas Iscariot | 75 |
| 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 pour’d the wine!’ | 80 |
| |
| The supper wine is pour’d at last, | |
| The lights burn bright and fair, | |
| Iscariot washes the Bridegroom’s feet, | |
| And dries them with his hair. | |
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