As he stood alone under the trees, perplexed and troubled, Dathan appeared in the distance, and, spying Judas, said to himself, "The occasion is favorable. He is alone and seems much perplexed. I must try everything in order to secure him."
Then stepping forward he laid his hand upon the shoulder of Judas, exclaiming, "Friend Judas!"
Judas started as if a serpent had stung him and striking his head with his hand cried, "Who calls?"
"A friend," said Dathan; "has anything sad happened to thee? Thou art so absorbed in thought?"
Judas, staring wildly, asked, "Who art thou?"
"Thy friend, thy brother," cried Dathan.
Judas, staring backward, exclaimed: "Thou art my friend, my brother?"
"At least," said Dathan, "I wish to be so. How is it with the master? I also would like to become one of his disciples."
Judas said, "One of his disciples?"
"Why?" said Dathan, "hast thou then forsaken him? Are things not well with him? Tell me that I may know how to act."