Note to Hamlet, 2.2.416-418: "As by lot, God wot ... / It came to pass"


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Hamlet,
Act 2, Scene 2, lines 416-418

      Here is the text of the ballad, from EVANS'S COLLECTION OF OLD BALLADS:
I HAVE read that many years agoe,
When Jepha, judge of Israel,
Had one fair daughter and no more,
Whom he loved passing well.
And as by lot, God wot,
It came to passe most like it was,
Great warrs there should be,
And who should be the chiefe, but he, but he.

When Jepha was appointed now,
Chiefe captain of the company,
To God the Lord he made a vow,
If he might have the victory,
At his return to burn
For his offering the first quick [living] thing,
Should meet with him then,
From his house when he came agen, agen.

It chanced so these warrs were done,
And home he came with victory,
His daughter out of doors did ran,
To meet her father speedily,
And all the way did play
To taber and pipe, and many a stripe,
And notes full high,
For joy that he was so nigh, so nigh.

When Jepha did perceive and see
His daughter firm and formostly,
He rent his cloths and tore his haire,
And shrieked out most piteously,
For thou art she (quoth he)
Hath brought me low, alas for woe,
And troubled me so,
That I cannot tell what to doe, to doe,

For I have made a vow (quoth he)
Which must not be diminished,
A sacrifice to God on high,
My promise must be finished,
As you have spoke, provoke,
No further care but to prepare,
Your will to fulfill,
According to God's will, God's will.

For sithence God hath given you might,
To overcome your enemies,
Let one be offer'd up as right,
For to perform all promises,
And this let be, quoth she,
As thou hast said be not afraid,
Although it be I.
Keep promise with God on high, on high.

But father do so much for me,
As let me go to wildernesse,
There to bewaile my virginity,
Three months to bemoan my heavinesse,
And let there go some moe,
Like maids with me. Content, quoth he,
And sent her away,
To mourn till her latter day, her day.

And when that time was come and gone,
That she should sacrificed be,
This virgin sacrificed was,
For to fulfill all promises;
As some say for aye:
The virgins there three times a year,
Like sorrow fulfill,
For the daughter of Jepha still, still, still.