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THE WANDERING JEW. |
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of this event, many of which were published. It will be noticed that in the second form of the legend, the punishment of perpetual existence, which gives rise to the old names, Judcsus non mortalis, Ewiger Jude, is aggravated by a condemnation to incessant change of place, which is indicated by a corresponding name, Wandering Jew, Juif Errant, etc.
It is unnecessary, and would be impossible, to specify the various times and places at which the Wandering Jew has successively reappeared. The legend being firmly believed by the vulgar throughout Christendom, an opportunity for imposture was afforded which could not fail to be improved. The last recorded apparition was at Brussels, in April, 1774, and on this occasion the wanderer had again changed his name to Isaac Laquedem. Of the origin of the tradition we know nothing. M. Lacroix has suggested that it took its rise in a grand and beautiful allegory in which the Hebrew race were personified under the figure of the Everlasting Wanderer. See Calmet's Bible Dictionary, Grasse, Die Sage vom Ewigen Juden, Dresden and Leipsic, 1844, Paul Lacroix's Bibliographical Preface to Dore's Designs, La Le-gende du Juif Errant, etc. Paris, 1856.
This ballad is taken from Percy's Reliques, ii. 817, and was from a black-letter copy in the Pepys collection.
When as in faire Jerusalem
Our Saviour Christ did live, And for the sins of all the worlde
His own deare life did give, The wicked Jewes with scoffes and scornes s |
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