While they still deliberated came the heralds with silver trumpets, which they blew, proclaiming aloud: "The mighty Queen calls you, O men, to the Council, That she may hear from you of your decision. Great is the need ye have of all your wisdom." _Elene._ Slowly and reluctantly the Jewish rabbis returned to the council-chamber, and listened to Elene as she plied them with questions about the ancient prophecies and the death of Christ; but to all her inquiries they professed entire ignorance, until, in her wrath, the queen threatened them with death by fire. Then they led forward Judas, saying: "He can reveal the mysteries of Fate, for he is of noble race, the son of a prophet. He will tell thee truth, O Queen, as thy soul loveth." Thus Elene let the other Jews go in peace, and took Judas for a hostage. She Threatens him Now Elene greeted Judas and said: "Lo, thou perverse one, two things lie before thee, Or death or life for thee: choose which thou wilt." _Elene._ Judas replied to her, since he could not escape: "If the starved wanderer lost on the barren moors Sees both a stone and bread, easily in his reach, Which, O Queen, thinkest thou he will reject?" _Elene._ Thereupon Elene said: "If thou wouldst dwell in heaven with the angels, reveal to me where the True Cross lies hidden." Now Judas was very sad, for his choice lay between death and the revealing of the fateful secret, but he still tried to evade giving an answer, protesting that too long a time had passed for the secret to be known. Elene retorted that the Trojan War was a still more ancient story, and yet was still well known; but Judas replied that men are bound to remember the valiant deeds of nations; he himself had never even heard the story of which she spoke. This obstinacy angered the queen greatly, and she demanded to be taken at once to the hill of Calvary, that she might purify it, for the sake of Him who died there; but Judas only repeated: "I know not the place, nor aught of that field." _Elene._ Queen Elene was yet more enraged by his stubborn denials, and determined to obtain by force an answer to her questions. Calling her servants, she bade them thrust Judas into a deep dry cistern, where he lay, starving, bound hand and foot, for seven nights and days. On the seventh day his stubborn spirit yielded, and Judas lifted up his voice and called aloud, saying: "Now I beseech you all by the great God of heaven That you will lift me up out of this misery. I will tell all I know of that True Holy Cross, Now I no longer can hide it for heavy pain. Hunger has daunted me through all these dreary days. Foolish was I of yore; late I confess it." _Elene._ He Guides her to Calvary