,,works ,,by ,,the ,,same ,,author ,,novels ,a ,,man ,,from ,,the ,,north ,,anna ,,of ,,the ,,five ,,towns ,,leonora ,a ,,great ,,man ,,sacred ,,and ,,profane ,,love ,,whom ,,god ,,hath ,,joined ,,buried ,,alive ,,the ,,old ,,wives' ,,tale ,,the ,,glimpse ,,the ,,roll ,,call ,,helen ,,with ,,the ,,high ,,hand ,,clayhanger ,,hilda ,,lessways ,,the ,,card ,,the ,,regent ,,the ,,price ,,of ,,love ,,these ,,twain ,,the ,,lion',s ,,share ,,the ,,pretty ,,lady ,,fantasies ,,the ,,grand ,,babylon ,,hotel ,,the ,,gates ,,of ,,wrath ,,theresa ,,of ,,watling ,,street ,,the ,,loot ,,of ,,cities ,,hugo ,,the ,,ghost ,,the ,,city ,,of ,,pleasure ,,short ,,stories ,,tales ,,of ,,the ,,five ,,towns ,,the ,,grim ,,smile ,,of ,,the ,,five ,,towns ,,the ,,matador ,,of ,,the ,,five ,,towns ,,belles-,,lettres ,,journalism ,,for ,,women ,,fame ,,and ,,fiction ,,how ,,to ,,become ,,an ,,author ,,the ,,truth ,,about ,,an ,,author ,,mental ,,efficiency ,,how ,,to ,,live ,,on ,,twenty-,,four ,,hours ,a ,,day ,,the ,,human ,,machine ,,literary ,,taste ,,friendship ,,and ,,happiness ,,those ,,united ,,states ,,paris ,,nights ,,married ,,life ,,liberty ,,over ,,there3 ,,war ,,scenes ,,the ,,authors ,,craft ,,books ,,and ,,persons ,,self ,,and ,,self-,,management ,,drama ,,polite ,,farces ,,cupid ,,and ,,commonsense ,,what ,,the ,,public ,,wants ,,the ,,honeymoon ,,the ,,title ,,the ,,great ,,adventure ,,milestones 7,in ,collaboration with ,edward ,knoblock7 ,in ,collaboration with ,eden ,phillpotts ,,the ,,sinews ,,of ,,war3 ,a ,,romance ,,the ,,statue3 ,a ,,romance 99,,judith99 ,a ,,play ,,in ,,three ,,acts ,founded on the apocryphal book of ,judith ,,by ,,arnold ,,bennett ,,london #aiai ,first published ,april #cj1 #aiai ,,note ,this play was presented for the first time at the ,devonshire ,park ,theatre1 ,eastbourne1 on ,monday1 ,april #gth1 #aiai1 with the following cast3 ,judith ,,lillah ,,mccarthy ,haggith ,,esm ,,hubbard ,rahel ,,madge ,,murray ,ozias ,,campbell ,,gullan ,holofernes ,,claude ,,king ,bagoas ,,ernest ,,thesiger ,achior ,,geoffrey ,,douglas ,chabris ,e4,h4 ,,paterson ,charmis ,,fewlass ,,llewellyn ,ingur ,,frederick ,,volpe ,messenger ,,felix ,,aylmer ,soldier ,,clifford ,,mollison ,attendant ,,edwin ,,oxlee ,the play was produced by ,,wilfred ,,eaton ,,characters ,hebrews ,,judith ,,haggith1 her waiting-woman ,,rahel ,,ozias1 ,governor of ,bethulia ,,chabris1 an elder ,,charmis1 an elder ,a ,,soldier ,a ,,messenger ,assyrians ,,holofernes1 ,general of the ,assyrian armies ,,bagoas1 his chief eunuch ,,achior1 a captain ,,ingur1 a soldier ,,an ,,attendant ,,on ,,bagoas ,,act ,i ,a street in the city of ,bethulia4 ,,act ,,ii ,,scene ,i4 ,the valley near the ,assyrian camp4 ,time1 morning2 two days later4 ,,scene ,,ii4 ,the tent of ,holofernes4 ,time1 later1 the same morning4 ,,scene ,,iii4 ,the same4 ,time1 the same night4 ,,act ,,iii ,,scene ,i4 ,same as ,act ,i4 ,time1 later1 the same night4 ,,scene ,,ii4 ,the same4 ,time1 the next day4 ,,act ,i ,a street in the city of ,bethulia in ,judea4 ,bethulia is in the hill country1 overlooking the great plain of ,jezreel to the south-west4 ,back1 the gates of the city1 hiding the view of the plain4 ,right1 ,judith's house1 with a tent on the roof4 ,left1 houses4 ,the street turns abruptly1 back left1 along the wall of the city4 ,left centre1 a built-up vantage-point1 from which the plain can be seen over the gates4 ,,time3 ,fifth century ,b4,c4 ,towards evening4 ,ozias is standing alone in the street1 drinking from a leathern bottle4 ,enter ,chabris1 back left4 ,,ozias 7quickly1 but with perfect calmness1 hiding the bottle in his garments74 ,old man6 ,it is years since ,i saw you4 ,how came you past the guard1 old man8 ,,chabris4 ,old8 ,old8 ,i am not yet a hundred4 ,who are you8 ,,ozias4 ,ozias4 ,,chabris4 ,ah6 ,so this is ,ozias1 the son of ,ezbon4 ,before your father could walk ,i have nursed him on my knee2 and he was filled like the full moon--with naughtiness4 ,,ozias4 ,what has brought you at last out of your house8 ,are you come to prophesy once more8 ,,chabris4 ,i have given up prophesying4 ,,ozias4 ,a profession full of risks4 ,,chabris4 ,i pass my endless days in meditation and solitude4 ,,ozias4 ,that sounds much safer4 ,how comely is the wisdom of old men6 ,,chabris4 ,and what do you do1 sprig8 ,,ozias4 ,has none told you8 ,,chabris4 ,i see nobody but my daughter's granddaughter1 and her ,i forbid to speak to me1 because being a woman she has the tongue of a woman1 and a woman's tongue is unfavourable to meditation4 ,how should ,i be told8 ,,ozias4 ,i am the governor of this great city of ,bethulia4 ,,chabris4 ,you are responsible for this city8 ,,ozias4 ,i am4 ,,chabris4 ,now ,i understand my misfortune4 ,and the truth was in me when ,i said to your mother as she lay dying3 ,better it is to die without children than to have them that are ungodly4 ,,ozias4 ,oh6 ,how comely a thing is the judgment of grey hairs6 ,,chabris4 ,you ask me what has brought me at last out of my house4 ,i will tell you4 ,thirst6 ,thirst has brought me out of my house4 ,every morning and every evening my great-grandchild serves me with pulse and water4 ,for five days she has furnished less and less water1 and this day--not a drop6 ,can one eat pulse without water to drink8 ,half an hour ago ,i went to her to reason with her1 and she lay on her bed cracked1 and raved that she herself had not drunk for three days and that there was no water left in all ,bethulia4 ,so ,i came at last out of my house into the streets of this city famous for its cool fountains which never fail4 ,and lo6 ,i meet the governor of this city1 and he is ,ozias6 ,ozias6 ,seven days do men mourn for him that is dead1 but for an ungodly man all the days of his life6 ,why is there no water in ,bethulia1 sprig8 ,,ozias4 ,old man1 meditation is good and solitude is good1 but think not because you sit staring all day at your own belly that the sun and stars have ceased to revolve round the earth and the kings of this world to make war4 ,is it possible that you do not know what has happened8 ,,chabris4 ,i only know that ,i cannot eat pulse without water to drink4 ,,ozias4 ,bethulia is besieged4 ,,chabris4 ,who is besieging ,bethulia8 ,,ozias4 ,holofernes4 ,,chabris4 ,i have never heard his name4 ,who is he8 ,,ozias4 ,never heard the name of the chief captain of ,nebuchadnezzar8 ,have you heard the name of ,nebuchadnezzar1 by chance8 ,,chabris4 ,i seem to remember it4 ,,ozias4 ,come up here4 7,they go up the steps to the vantage-point47 ,look6 ,a hundred and twenty thousand foot-soldiers4 ,twelve thousand archers on horseback4 ,oxen and sheep for their provisions4 ,twenty thousand asses for their carriages4 ,camels without number4 ,infinite victuals2 and very much gold and silver4 ,the like was never seen before4 ,,chabris 7stepping down47 ,why has ,nebuchadnezzar set about this thing8 ,what harm has ,bethulia done to him8 ,,ozias4 ,much harm4 ,nebuchadnezzar has decided to be ,god4 ,he has decreed that all nations and tribes shall call upon him as ,god4 ,and he has conquered the whole earth1 excepting only ,judea2 and ,bethulia is the gate into ,judea1 and ,bethulia has not listened to his decree1 and ,i am the governor of ,bethulia4 ,so ,nebuchadnezzar the great king is very angry and ,holofernes is the tool of his wrath4 ,,chabris 7going up the steps again and gazing47 ,how many did you say8 ,,ozias4 ,a hundred and twenty thousand foot and twelve thousand horse4 ,,chabris4 ,at any rate this will be the last war4 ,,ozias4 ,why8 ,,chabris4 ,why6 ,because plainly war cannot continue on such a scale4 ,or if it does1 mankind is destroyed4 ,nebuchadnezzar has rendered war ridiculous4 ,,ozias 7laughs2 then half to himself1 sarcastically74 ,what is heavier than lead1 and what is the name thereof1 but an aged fool8 ,,chabris 7descending again1 self-centred74 ,it remains that ,i cannot eat pulse without water to drink4 7,to ,ozias47 ,and surely ,bethulia has more wells than any other city of ,judea4 ,,ozias4 ,the wells are at the foot of the hills1 and ,holofernes has seized them all4 ,,chabris4 ,that is not fighting4 ,,ozias4 ,it is war4 ,,chabris4 ,no1 no6 ,in my time soldiers fought fairly4 ,,ozias4 ,and killed each other4 ,why should ,holofernes sacrifice thousands of lives to take the heights when he can reach the same result by letting his men sit still and watch8 ,,chabris4 ,i say this is not war4 ,once ,i travelled many days to ,nineveh4 ,it is a city of extravagance1 and when ,i beheld its mad1 new-fangled ways1 ,i knew that the last day was nigh4 ,i was right4 ,three thousand and five hundred years since ,jehovah created ,adam1 and ,eve from his rib 444 ,too long6 ,too long6 ,and what is pulse without water8 ,i must have water4 ,,ozias4 ,it is thirty-four days since ,holofernes took the wells4 ,if you have received water up to yesterday your great-grandchild must indeed have thirsted that you might drink4 ,i have distributed water by measure1 but now the cisterns are empty1 and women and young men fall down in the streets1 and there is no water in ,bethulia4 ,we are all in like case1 the high and the lowly4 ,,chabris4 ,then give me your bottle4 ,,ozias4 ,what bottle8 ,,chabris4 ,i saw you put it from your lips as ,i came4 ,,ozias4 ,it behoves you to understand1 old man1 that my solemn duty as governor is to maintain my own strength1 for if ,i fell the city would fall4 ,without me to inspire them the populace would yield in a moment4 ,what is the populace8 ,poltroons1 animals1 sheep1 rabbits1 insects1 lice6 ,,chabris4 ,give me the bottle4 ,,ozias4 ,it is as empty as the cisterns4 ,,chabris4 ,give it to me1 or ,i will cry through the streets that you are concealing water4 7,ozias gives him the bottle4 ,chabris drinks4 ,ozias snatches the bottle away and conceals it47 ,ah6 7,a figure is glimpsed in the tent on the roof of ,judith's house4 ,ozias starts47 ,,chabris4 ,what is that up yonder8 ,,ozias4 ,nothing4 ,,chabris4 ,whose house is this8 ,,ozias4 ,it is the house of ,judith1 the daughter of ,merari4 ,,chabris4 ,ah6 ,merari1 the son of ,ox1 the son of ,oziel--,oziel and ,i were little playful boys together--the son of ,elcia1 the son of ,raphaim1 the son of ,eliab1 the son of ,nathanael1 the son of---- ,,ozias4 ,old man1 your memory is terrible4 ,have pity6 ,,chabris4 ,the draught has revived me4 ,so ,merari married and had a daughter4 ,what manner of woman is she8 ,,ozias4 ,she is the widow of ,manasses1 who died of the heat in the barley harvest4 ,and she is childless4 ,and she is very rich2 for ,manasses left her gold and silver and menservants and maid-servants and cattle and lands4 ,and she has remained a widow in her house three years and four months1 and never has she come forth4 ,and there is none to give her an ill word1 for she fears the ,lord greatly4 ,,chabris4 ,yes4 ,but what manner of woman is she8 ,,ozias4 ,she is beautiful to behold4 ,,chabris 7to himself74 ,oh6 ,that manner of woman6 ,,ozias4 ,and she has fasted all the days of her widowhood1 except the eves of the ,sabbaths and the ,sabbaths1 and the eves of the new moons and the new moons1 and the feasts and solemn days of the ,house of ,israel4 ,,chabris4 ,you are most deeply versed in her life4 ,is she exceeding beautiful8 ,,ozias4 ,she is exceeding beautiful4 ,,chabris4 ,then it was she who peeped 7with a peculiar emphasis on the word7 from the tent a moment since4 ,,ozias4 ,old man1 you have eyes4 ,,chabris4 ,it is the draught of water4 ,,ozias4 ,she is said to take the air in her tent daily at this hour4 ,,chabris 7accusingly74 ,and that is why you are here1 ,ozias4 ,,ozias4 ,no6 ,i come here to reflect upon my plans for the saving of the city1 and because of this vantage-point1 to view the army of the ,assyrians4 ,,chabris4 ,this vantage-point is new since my day4 ,you have built it here1 not to see the ,assyrians1 but to see ,judith4 ,and that is why you have set a guard to keep the street empty4 ,,ozias4 ,and if it be so1 what then8 ,old man1 you are so old that to confess in your ear is sweet1 like murmuring secrets into the grave4 ,if ,i do come to this place to watch for the marvellous vision of ,judith1 what then8 ,,chabris4 ,what then8 ,and the populace of ,bethulia dying of thirst8 ,,ozias4 ,the populace6444 ,mice6 ,rats6 ,beetles6 7,he makes the motion of crushing with his foot47 ,,chabris4 ,yet the city is doomed4 ,you can have no hope4 ,,ozias4 ,no hope8 ,am ,i then a dead body8 ,am ,i a rotting corpse8 ,true1 the city will be taken1 and when the city is taken ,i may be killed4 ,but in your meditations1 old man1 has it not occurred to you that death must be highly interesting8 ,or ,i may be seized for a slave4 ,but either ,i should cease speedily to be a slave1 or ,i should become the most powerful slave in ,babylon4 7,reflectively47 ,we might be enslaved together4 ,,chabris4 ,who8 ,,ozias4 ,judith and ,i4 ,the history of the world is full of miracles4 ,meanwhile1 ,i live1 and the strong savour of life inflames my nostrils2 and the ever-increasing magnificence and terror of war is like wine in my mouth4 ,i shake with delight at the vastness and the mystery of the future4444 ,and there is woman6 ,,chabris4 ,i feel ,i can eat my pulse now4 ,,ozias4 ,there is still woman4 ,a fracas is heard1 back4 ,enter ,rahel1 running1 followed by two soldiers and a mixed group of ,bethulians1 including ,charmis1 an elder4 ,,rahel 7to ,chabris1 like a termagant74 ,why did you go forth alone1 grandad1 frightening me when ,i looked and could not find you8 ,at your age6 ,come back with me this moment4 ,,chabris4 ,ay6 ,there is still woman6 ,,ozias 7angrily1 to first soldier74 ,did ,i not give an order to bar the street8 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,my lord1 some of these are elders of high authority1 and would pass4 ,as for the girl---- ,,rahel 7to ,chabris74 ,this moment6 7,she faints and falls47 ,,chabris 7indifferently1 as ,charmis moves towards ,rahel74 ,let her lie4 ,she will come to of herself--or not1 as ,god wills4 ,,ozias 7to the soldiers1 with cold fierceness74 ,get back to your places4 7,exeunt soldiers47 ,,charmis 7looking at ,ozias and indicating ,rahel74 ,she is the fourteenth ,i have seen faint from thirst in the streets this day4 ,,ozias 7soothingly74 ,alas6 ,and you or ,i may be the next4 ,we are all in like case4 ,but what is to be done8 7,confused feeble exclamations from the group of citizens3 ',we want to know4 ,we are come for that4 ,there is but one thing to be done4'7 ,,ozias 7still soothingly74 ,who among you will be the spokesman8 ,,charmis4 ,we are all spokesmen4 ,,ozias4 ,even the children8 ,,charmis4 ,even the children4 ,in our extremity we are all spokesmen4 ,,ozias4 ,but not all at once4 ,will you begin1 honourable ,charmis8 ,you know that ,i am the servant of the citizens4 ,,charmis 7nervously oratorical74 ,lord ,ozias1 may the ,god of ,israel judge between us and you1 for you have done us a great injury4 7,looks round for approval4 ,the group approves47 ,,ozias4 ,an injury8 ,i8 ,have ,i not said that ,i am the servant of the citizens8 ,,charmis 7more confidently74 ,and ,i say again that you have done us a great injury1 in that you have not asked peace of the ,assyrians4 ,for we have no helper1 and the ,god of ,israel has sold us into the hands of the ,assyrians4 ,we are thrown down before them with thirst and with great destruction4 ,therefore now we demand--7looks round7--,i say we demand that you call the ,assyrians1 and deliver the whole city for a spoil to the people of ,holofernes and to all his army4 ,for it is better for us to be made a spoil than to die of thirst4 ,we will be the slaves of ,holofernes1 so that our souls may live and so that we may not see the death of our infants before our eyes1 nor our wives nor our children die4 7,a mother in the group convulsively seizes her child4 ,pause4 ,ozias walks about47 ,we take to witness against you the heaven and the earth and our ,god and the ,god of our fathers1 which punishes us according to our sins and the sins of our fathers2 and we demand of you that you deliver up the city to ,holofernes and his host4 7,a silence47 7,ozias ascends solemnly to the vantage-point47 ,,ozias 7dominating the assembly74 ,friends1 it would seem that ,charmis has made an end4 ,his words are excellent and full of pity4 ,who follows him8 ,who will speak next8 ,my ear waits4 7,a silence47 ,ah6 ,then give heed4 ,the words of ,charmis are full of pity1 but ,i also have pity4 ,do not ,i too cherish our women1 and our maidens and our young children8 ,and because ,i pity ,i would not yield to the monster ,holofernes4 ,yes1 the monster6 ,this is not war that he wages4 ,once our enemy strove fairly with the warriors of ,israel4 ,now he makes our women and children to die of thirst4 ,the magnificence of war is gone from the earth1 and ,holofernes by the excess of his hosts has rendered war ridiculous4 7,chabris raises his hands47 ,the peoples of the earth will perceive that henceforward the institution of war cannot continue1 and after this there will be no more war4 ,but meanwhile1 if ,i go crouching to the feet of ,holofernes1 what will happen and what will come to pass8 ,surely it will come to pass that the monster who has sat down to watch us die of thirst will slay our little children and our old men1 and dishonour our women1 and ravish our innocent virgins2 for the enslaving of the conquered will not content his anger nor satisfy the lust of his great hosts4 ,shall these things be8 ,i say they shall not be4 ,but what am ,i1 save the servant of the citizens of ,bethulia8 ,and what do ,i speak1 save the thought that is in your hearts8 ,there is no cowardice in you4 ,you are not sheep1 nor rabbits1 nor beetles1 nor lice4 ,you are valiant men1 and women lion-hearted4 ,without you ,i am naught1 and if ,i defy ,holofernes1 my fortitude is yours and my resolve springs from you4 ,charmis has invoked the holy name of the ,god of ,israel4 ,let ,israel not forget its ,god1 for never has the ,most ,high forsaken ,israel4 ,brethren1 be of good courage4 ,let us yet endure five days4 ,five short days4 ,and if these days pass and the ,god of ,israel turn not his mercy towards us1 then will ,i do according to the word of ,charmis4 ,such is my oath to you4 ,and so it shall be4 ,haggith enters from the house of ,judith4 ,,haggith4 ,my lord ,ozias6 ,,ozias 7quickly descending the steps74 ,what say you8 ,,haggith4 ,my mistress1 the lady ,judith1 will speak with you4 ,she comes4 ,,rahel 7half rising74 ,water6 ,,ozias 7excited47 ,the lady ,judith comes out of her house after three years4 ,,voices ,,in ,,the ,,group 7excited and impressed47 ,judith is coming1 after three years6 ,judith6 ,the widow6 ,,ozias 7sternly to the group74 ,get hence1 everyone to his own charge4 ,soldiers6 ,clear the street6 7,two soldiers advance1 running to obey47 ,the men to the walls and towers4 ,the women and children to their houses4 7,to ,rahel1 who has risen1 indicating ,chabris47 ,take the aged fool away1 girl4 7,ruthlessly and contemptuously47 ,get home1 all of you4 ,rabble6 ,insects6 ,lice6 7,the street is cleared1 not without difficulty1 and ,ozias is left alone with ,haggith47 ,after a pause1 ,judith enters slowly1 in widow's apparel and sackcloth4 7,exit ,haggith into the house47 ,,judith4 ,greetings1 ,lord ,ozias4 ,,ozias4 ,lady1 greetings4 7,they salute47 ,,judith4 ,where are the people8 ,,ozias4 ,i invited them to go away4 ,,judith4 ,why8 ,,ozias4 ,your waiting-woman said that you would speak with me4 ,,judith4 ,but what ,i have to say ,i would have said before them4 ,,ozias4 ,forgive your servant4 ,,judith4 ,no6 ,it is ,i1 the woman1 who should ask to be absolved4 ,,ozias4 ,i beseech you---- ,,judith 7simply74 ,perhaps you dismissed the people because it is not meet for them to see all the workings of the mind which has authority over them4 ,,ozias 7warmly responsive74 ,ah6 ,lady6 ,in your wisdom and your understanding you have comprehended what it is to be the governor of a besieged city4 ,you1 alone6 ,,judith4 ,this is a day memorable beyond all the days of ,bethulia4 ,,ozias4 ,it is a day memorable beyond all the days of ,bethulia--because ,judith1 the widow of ,manasses1 has issued from her house and from her secrecy1 and because after long years she has lightened the city with her countenance4 ,,judith 7smiling74 ,we hold converse with words1 but the shadow of destruction is over us1 and our hearts are darkened1 and we hide our hearts in speech4 ,ozias1 governor of ,bethulia1 show me your heart4 ,,ozias4 ,i dare not4 ,,judith4 ,dare6 ,i am not afraid4 ,,ozias4 ,,you are more beautiful than aforetime--were it possible4 ,,judith 7accepting the compliment74 ,and if ,i am8 ,,ozias4 ,that is what is in my heart6 ,behold my heart1 and the depths of my heart4 ,look deep1 and deeper1 and still you will see naught therein but the beauty and the subtlety of ,judith4 ,,judith4 ,it is no common man that with the parched tongue of thirst can talk thus while unspeakable calamity assails the city4 ,,ozias4 ,it is ,ozias4 ,,judith 7gently74 ,i came not to meet ,ozias1 but the governor of ,bethulia4 ,from my tent ,i hearkened to the words which he spoke to the people1 and the ,lord said to me3 ,go down to him1 thou1 a woman4 ,and ,i am here4 ,,ozias4 ,the ,lord reigns6 ,that which ,i said to the people did not please the ear of ,judith8 ,,judith4 ,no4 ,,ozias4 ,i spoke to the people according to their understanding4 ,have you not said it is not meet for the people to know the thoughts of the ruler8 ,hearken again8 ,and ,i will speak now to the wise woman4 ,i flattered the people with vain praise of their courage1 when they have no courage4 ,i affrighted the people with a prophecy of terror1 when there is no terror--for ,holofernes is a great warrior1 and has compassion in his greatness1 for he is a ,babylonian4 ,i gave them hope of succour when succour is none--for1 with a hundred and twenty thousand footmen and twelve thousand horse against us 7with dry humour7 to count upon the mercy of the ,lord is presumption4 ,,judith 7moves aside and returns4 ,sweetly74 ,why then did you speak thus to the people8 ,and to what end did you deceive them8 ,i beseech you yet again to show me your heart1 for it is right that ,i should know4 ,,ozias4 ,i saw the vastness of the future as in a vision4 ,if the ,god of ,israel perchance is merciful1 and the city is saved at the eleventh hour1 then it will be said in ,jerusalem that there is none like ,ozias of ,bethulia for steadfastness1 for he alone by his ardour revived the fainting populace and held firm the city2 and great will be my recompense4444 ,but that is a dream4 ,always ,i have faced the substance of things1 and the substance is that ,nebuchadnezzar has decreed to rule over the whole earth1 and from the east to the west there is no living man that shall not bow down before ,nebuchadnezzar4 ,bethulia will fall4 ,i1 the governor1 shall be taken captive and shown to ,nebuchadnezzar1 and in that day ,holofernes shall say to ,nebuchadnezzar3 ,lo6 ,here is ,ozias the ,israelite who resisted thy mighty armies for thirty-four days and yet five days more4 ,use him if it seem good to thee4 ,and ,i shall be lifted up to be a satrap of ,nebuchadnezzar1 and ,i shall partake of the bright glory of ,nebuchadnezzar4 ,and--7hesitates47 ,,judith 7subtly and sweetly74 ,and8 ,,ozias 7in an outburst74 ,what am ,i without you1 ,o ,judith8 ,before ,manasses loved you1 did ,i not love you8 ,for three years have ,i not watched over you in all honour and respect1 and troubled you not with my importunity until this day1 which is the day of days8 ,what am ,i without you1 and what shall be my dominion and my satrap's throne if you do not sit in majesty by my side1 ,o ,rose of ,sharon and matchless among women8 ,judith 7as before74 ,my lord1 you are like a rushing river4 ,,ozias4 ,you have seen my heart4 ,,judith4 ,i have seen it4 ,,ozias4 ,and what say you8 ,there is the sudden sound of a disturbance4 ,enter1 from back1 soldiers1 holding ,achior1 and a group of excited citizens4 ,haggith appears at the house-door4 ,,ozias 7fiercely74 ,what6 ,are my commands no more than the wind in the corn1 and is there to be naught but tumult within the walls of this city8 ,,voices ,,in ,,the ,,group4 ,an ,assyrian6 ,an ,assyrian6 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,lord ,ozias6 ,we saw this man lying bound at the foot of the hill1 and we descended and loosed him and brought him privily into ,bethulia by the secret way4 ,and now we present him to my lord4 ,,ozias ,fools6 ,then no longer is the secret way secret4 ,,voices4 ,slay him6 ,stone him6 ,whip the dog6 ,,judith 7nobly scornful1 to the crowd74 ,oh6 ,brave6 ,oh6 ,men of courage and high valour6 ,,ozias 7to ,achior74 ,who are you8 ,,achior4 ,achior4 ,,ozias4 ,your condition8 ,,achior 7with calm1 genial candour74 ,captain of all the ,ammonites in the army of ,holofernes4 ,,judith4 ,let them loose him1 ,lord ,ozias4 ,his eyes are not the eyes of treachery4 ,,ozias 7to the soldiers74 ,loose him4 7,to ,achior47 ,and how come you here8 ,speak the truth--and fear4 ,,achior4 ,my mouth shall say truth1 but ,i will not fear4 ,,ozias4 ,my hand is terrible4 ,,achior4 ,thus it happened4 ,when the children of ,israel had shut up the passages of the hill country and had fortified all the tops of the high hills1 ,holofernes was very angry4 ,and he called the captains of ,ammon and said to them3 ,tell me now1 ye sons of ,chanaan1 who these ,israelites are that dwell in the hill country1 and wherein is their power and strength1 and why they have determined not to come and meet me1 more than all the inhabitants of the west8 ,and ,i1 ,achior1 answered the question of ,holofernes4 ,,ozias4 ,and what answer gave you8 ,,achior4 ,i said to ,holofernes3 ,this people is descended of the ,chaldeans4 ,but they left the way of their ancestors and would not follow the gods of their fathers2 and they worshipped the ,god of heaven4 ,so they were cast out from the face of the gods of ,chaldea1 and they fled into ,mesopotamia4 ,and they came to ,chanaan4 ,but when a famine covered all the land of ,chanaan they went down into ,egypt1 and the king of ,egypt brought them low with labouring in brick and made them slaves4 ,then they cried to their ,god1 and he smote all the land of ,egypt with plagues4444 ,and ,god dried the ,red ,sea for them4 ,,voices4 ,it is true4 ,it is true6 ,,achior4 ,and they came to ,chanaan1 and drove before them the inhabitants of that land1 and they dwelt in that country many days4 ,and while they sinned not before their ,god they prospered1 because the ,god that hates iniquity was with them4 ,,voices4 ,it is true4 ,,achior4 ,but when they departed from the way which their ,god appointed1 then they were destroyed in many battles very sore1 and were led captives into a land that was not theirs1 and the temple of their ,god was cast to the ground4 ,,voices4 ,gentile dog6 ,shall we not render him to pieces8 ,,judith4 ,there is but one truth1 brethren1 whether it please or whether it displease4 ,,ozias 7to ,achior74 ,make an end4 ,,achior4 ,and ,i said to ,holofernes3 ,but now this people are returned to their ,god1 and have possessed ,jerusalem1 and are seated in the hill country4 7,with more emphasis47 ,and ,i said further to ,holofernes3 ,now therefore1 my lord and governor1 if there be any error in this people1 let us go up and we shall overcome them4 ,but if there be no iniquity in their nation1 let my lord now pass by1 lest their ,lord defend them and we become a reproach before all the world4 ,,judith4 ,it was well said4 ,,ozias4 ,lady1 it was well said--if the slave said it4 7,to ,achior47 ,i demanded of you3 ,how came you here8 ,,achior4 ,thus4 ,when ,i had finished speaking to ,holofernes1 all they that were about my lord and governor rose up in wrath and cried3 ,kill him4 ,and the face of ,holofernes darkened1 and he said3 ,and who art thou1 ,achior1 that thou hast prophesied among us to-day that we should not make war with the people of ,israel because of their ,god8 ,and who is ,god but ,nebuchadnezzar8 ,nebuchadnezzar by my hand will destroy the ,israelites1 and their ,god shall not deliver them4 ,their mountains shall be drunken with their blood and their fields shall be filled with their dead bodies4 7,the citizens show alarm47 ,and thou1 ,achior1 shalt be delivered up to the ,israelites in ,bethulia1 and when thou seest me again thou shalt fall among the slain4444 ,and he commanded his servants1 and they took me1 and carried me secretly to the foot of the hill of ,bethulia4 ,and here am ,i6 ,,ozias 7after a pause1 positively74 ,it is a wicked device for our undoing4 ,,judith4 ,how so8 ,,ozias4 ,plainly this fellow lies1 and he has come subtly with a tale to spy out our strength4 ,presently he will seek to escape from us again to the ,assyrians4 ,,voices4 ,spy6 ,stone him6 ,rend him6 ,,achior 7to ,ozias74 ,to ,holofernes1 my lord and governor1 ,i spoke truth2 and to you also ,i speak truth4 ,never has my mouth lied1 nor my tongue uttered deceit4 ,if death is ordained for my recompense1 so be it4 ,,judith 7to ,ozias74 ,he is a fair youth1 and has spoken truly and feared not4 ,,ozias 7with meaning74 ,lady1 he is a fair youth1 and fearless4 ,but by what sign know you that he has spoken truly8 ,,judith4 ,by the glance of his eyes ,i know4 ,,ozias4 ,it is a sign that suffices not4 ,shall it be said that ,ozias was deceived1 and shall ,ozias imperil his renown1 by reason of the glance of a youth when he looks at a woman--even you8444 ,and if he lies not1 then he is a fool and his folly was great4 ,,achior4 ,i spoke the truth to ,holofernes4 ,,ozias 7fiercely74 ,but to speak truth did not content you4 ,having answered ,holofernes1 you must needs offer counsel to your lord and governor6 ,who were you to offer counsel to the greatest of all the captains of the earth8 ,the protection of the mighty conqueror covered you1 and lo6 in your folly did you estrange yourself from him4 ,fool6 ,,achior4 ,i said to ,holofernes1 my lord and governor1 that which ,i was appointed to say--that1 no more and no less4 ,,ozias4 ,and who appointed you to say that which you said8 ,,judith4 ,if there be a ,god in ,israel1 and if the ,lord has not abandoned us1 may not this youth be the messenger of the ,most ,high to bring us comfort1 and for a warning to the vainglory of ,holofernes8 ,,ozias 7with irony74 ,all is possible to the ,lord4 ,yet may his purposes be hidden from us4 7,to the soldiers47 ,until the ,lord vouchsafe new wisdom to me1 his servant1 bind fetters about the feet of ,achior1 and take him to the house of bondage1 and set a guard over him1 for a spy is not more dangerous than a fool4 ,,charmis 7springing forward74 ,it shall be done1 ,ozias4 7,the soldiers begin to put chains on ,achior47 ,,judith 7quietly74 ,shame him not with fetters1 lord ,ozias4 ,,ozias 7after a pause1 to the soldiers74 ,unbind him6 7,the soldiers obey47 ,take him off6 ,speedily6 ,away6 ,all6 ,let none remain6 ,hasten1 ,i say6 7,exeunt back1 all except ,ozias and ,judith4 ,as he goes ,achior kisses ,judith's robe47 ,,judith 7to ,achior1 as he does so74 ,truth-teller6 7,at a sign from ,judith1 ,haggith re-enters the house47 ,,ozias4 ,your face is turned from me1 because of the youth4 ,yet you came out to see the governor of the city1 and the governor could do no other than ,i have done4 ,,judith 7looking at him74 ,ozias1 you have shown me your heart4 ,,ozias4 ,yea6 ,,judith4 ,and in the moment when the youth came you asked of me my counsel4 ,,ozias4 ,yea6 ,,judith4 ,hear me now1 for the words you have spoken before the people this day are not right4 ,,ozias4 ,what words8 ,,judith4 ,this promise that you have uttered to deliver the city to our enemies1 unless within five days the ,lord turn to help4 ,who are you that seek to stand instead of ,god among the children of men8 ,,ozias4 ,stand instead of ,god6 ,,judith4 ,who are you that have tempted ,god this day8 ,for you cannot find the depth of the heart of man1--how then shall you search out ,god or comprehend his purpose8 ,brother1 provoke not the ,lord our ,god to anger4 ,for if he will not help us within these five days1 he has power to defend us when he will1 even every day4 ,do not bind the counsels of ,god4 ,for ,god is not as man that he may be threatened1 neither as the son of man that he should be wavering4 ,therefore let us wait for salvation from him1 and he will hear our voice1--if it please him4 ,moreover1 this city is the key and the gateway to all ,judea4 ,if it be obstinate in resistance1 ,judea is not defiled1 but if it be taken the whole land shall lie waste and ,god will require the profanation of it at our mouth4 ,,ozias4 ,all that you have spoken is truth1 and there is none to gainsay your words4 ,from the beginning of your days we have known your wisdom1 and your understanding is manifest4444 7,with significance47 ,but we are thirsty4 ,,judith4 ,if we are thirsty1 let us give thanks to the ,lord our ,god1 who tries us1 even as he did our fathers4 ,,ozias4 ,the people in the extremity of their thirst compelled me to an oath1 which ,i will not break4 ,,judith4 ,say you the people1 ,ozias8 ,as for them1 you hold them lightly1 and they are as naught in your eyes4 ,so much you have avowed4 ,,ozias 7in a new tone74 ,it is true4 ,this day ,i hold the people lightly4 ,but when the great madness and desperation of thirst comes at last upon them1 who shall hold them8 ,in that day they will seize the things forbidden1 and they will drink the wine sanctified and reserved for the priests that serve the ,lord4 ,and to avert from me the wrath of ,joachim1 the high priest of ,jerusalem1 ,i have sent already a messenger to ,jerusalem to bring a licence that this matter may be lawful4 ,,judith 7shocked74 ,nay6 ,,ozias4 ,i say it will be so4 ,,judith4 ,it shall not be so4 ,,ozias4 ,then pray you to the ,most ,high for the city1 even for all of us1 and the ,lord will send rain for our cisterns and we shall faint no more4 ,pray1 for you are a godly woman1 and the ,god of ,israel shall listen4 ,,judith 7with supreme impressiveness74 ,hear me again1 ,ozias4 ,this night ,i will do a thing which shall go throughout all the generations to the children of ,israel4 ,you shall stand this night in the gate of the city1 and ,i will go forth from the city with my waiting-woman2 and within the days that you have promised to deliver the city to our enemies the ,lord will visit ,israel by my hand4 ,,ozias4 ,on what errand will you go8 ,,judith4 ,enquire not of my act1 for ,i will not declare it until the things are finished that ,i do4 ,but this ,i declare1 that the ,lord has inclined himself to me1 and now he has sent ,achior for a sign4 ,,ozias4 ,you go to ,holofernes6 ,,judith4 ,to ,holofernes4 ,,ozias4 ,do not go6 ,,judith4 ,but why shall ,i not go8 ,,ozias4 ,the perils of the heathen will surround you1 and harm will surely befall you1 for ,holofernes will work lamentable evil upon you4 ,and ,i cannot suffer it4 ,,judith 7smiling74 ,did not ,ozias say that ,holofernes was a great warrior and had compassion in his greatness8 ,,ozias 7insistent74 ,i cannot suffer it1 for if any shame come upon you ,i will not live4 ,,judith4 ,god will not see his handmaid shamed4 ,moreover ,i regard not myself in this thing1 but the welfare of the people of ,israel4 ,,ozias 7kneeling74 ,judith1 ,i entreat you6 ,for you are the light of my eyes1 and without you the world is not4 ,,judith 7softly74 ,i know it4 ,think you that in these years ,i have not seen the depths of your heart1 ,ozias8 ,think you that ,i was blind in my tent8 ,think you that ,i watched not upon you8 ,you were comely in my sight4 ,but this day you have revealed your pride4 ,for you seek not ,god1 but the vanity of the earth1 and you would make all ,israel the instrument of your glory1 denying the ,lord4 ,and ,i am sad4 ,,ozias4 ,forgive me1 ,rose of ,sharon4 ,,judith 7softly74 ,who am ,i1 to forgive my brother8 ,peace be upon you6 7,she turns towards her house47 ,,ozias 7rising174 ,stay6 ,,judith4 ,i go to prepare myself for that which ,i have to do4 7,exit into the house47 7,a soldier shows himself1 back47 ,,ozias4 ,friend6 ,,first ,,soldier 7approaching and saluting74 ,lord6 ,your command6 ,,ozias4 ,send to me the officer of the watch4 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,lord1 the honourable lieutenant lies sick4 7,haggith appears at the door of the house47 ,,ozias4 ,thirst has overcome him8 ,,first ,,soldier 7bowing74 ,he raves on the bed1 lord1 and his tongue is like the tongue of a dog4 ,,ozias4 ,who then commands the watch by the watchfires this night8 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,i1 lord4 ,the watchfires wait the torch4 ,,ozias4 ,will you1 too1 faint1 and will your tongue be like the tongue of a dog8 ,,first ,,soldier 7grimly71 ,not mine1 lord4 ,,ozias4 ,,do the people complain8 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,lord1 they whine and snivel mightily4 ,enter ,haggith with a small sack4 ,,ozias4 ,is the secret way shut8 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,shut and barred1 lord4 ,,ozias4 ,it must be opened4444 ,stand6 ,i will see to it4 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,,as my lord wills4 ,,ozias4 ,has the watch aught to drink8 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,my lord knows that no drop is left in the gourds4 7,ozias waves him away1 and he retires47 ,,ozias 7to ,haggith1 who is busy with the sack74 ,woman1 has the lady ,judith perchance dreamed a dream8 ,,haggith 7enigmatically74 ,my mistress has dreamed no dream4 ,why does the lord ,ozias ask8 ,,ozias4 ,it seemed to me--7stops7 ,,haggith4 ,dreams lift up fools4 7,exit into the house47 7,exit ,ozias1 ,l47 7,the soldier strolls forward4 ,twilight begins to fall47 7,enter ,haggith from the house with more baggage47 ,,haggith 7to the soldier2 curtly2 not looking at him74 ,so thou hast no water8 ,,first ,,soldier 7with genial freedom74 ,yea1 ,haggith1 we have still a little4 ,,haggith4 ,then thou has lied to the governor8 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,him8 7,with a jerk of the shoulder67 ,he knows6 ,in truth now1 thinkest thou he would expect us soldiers to keep guard without water8 ,he knows6 ,but he is a great lord1 and in seemliness he asks for a lie1 and that which he asks is given to him--in seemliness4 ,,haggith4 ,but the officer raving as thou hast said with thirst8 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,ah6 ,it is the business of a worshipful officer to scorn deceit and to suffer4 ,,haggith4 ,and all the people8 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,the people are the people4 ,but we soldiers are soldiers--and must drink1 or we cannot guard4 7,yawns47 ,eh6 ,i could lie down and snore for seven years1 but ,i am appointed to watch all night4 ,,haggith 7suddenly caressing74 ,sweet warrior6 ,would ,i could rest thee6 ,,first ,,soldier 7startled by the change in her demeanour74 ,haggith6 ,thou art marvellously and desirably changed4 ,,haggith4 ,i am practising to thy profit for that which lies before me and my mistress4 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,what meanest thou8 ,,haggith4 ,chut6 ,if thou hast heard a word1 let it die with thee--it will not burst thee4 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,lord6 turn away from me vain hopes and concupiscence4 ,,haggith4 ,and so thou sleepest not this night6444 ,neither do ,i sleep4 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,what8 ,,haggith4 ,i go with my mistress upon a journey4 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,what journey8 ,there can be no journey for thee1 unless thou leave the city and wend to the ,assyrians4 ,,haggith 7curt again74 ,nevertheless we go upon a journey4 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,it is madness4 ,,haggith4 ,it may be4 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,who can tell the heart of a master8 ,not ,i6 ,when dost thou depart8 ,,haggith4 ,my mistress is attiring4 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,thou dost not attire her8 ,,haggith4 ,i6 ,i1 who have charge over all that is hers6 ,wilt thou tell me1 then1 what is the task of her tiring-women8 ,idle sluts6 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,and this is thy baggage8 ,,haggith 7matter-of-fact74 ,a cruse of oil1 a bag of parched corn1 fine bread1 three lumps of figs--and a bottle of wine--yea1 the last6 ,,first ,,soldier 7drawing in his lips74 ,ah6 ,but thou wilt need an ass for this cargo4 ,,haggith 7drily74 ,i am the ass4 ,enter ,judith1 magnificently dressed4 7,the soldier retires1 back47 ,,judith4 ,is all prepared8 ,,haggith4 ,all is prepared1 mistress4 ,enter ,ozias1 ,l4 ,,ozias 7ecstatic at the sight of ,judith's splendour74 ,o1 loveliness6 ,o1 lily of the field6 ,who shall withstand you1 and who shall say you nay8 ,,judith 7smiling74 ,i am ready to depart4 ,,ozias4 ,the secret way is opened4 ,i will lead you to it4 ,,judith 7gently74 ,the secret way8 ,i will take no secret way4 ,,ozias4 ,but hear me1 lady4 ,the peril from the archers far off-- ,,judith4 ,what did ,i say to you1 lord ,ozias8 ,i said3 ,you shall stand this night in the gate of the city1 and ,i will go forth4 ,my desire is that you command the gatemen to open the gates1 so that ,i and my waiting-woman may pass out before all men1 and in the sight of the ,lord4 7,she bends to examine ,haggith's baggage47 ,,ozias 7moved4 ,calling to the soldiers74 ,ho6 ,let the gates of the city be opened1 that the lady ,judith may go forth4 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,yea1 lord4 7,calling to others1 off47 ,gatemen6 7,the gatemen man the gate-chains1 and citizens rush in with cries3 ',what shall happen to us8 ,the lady ,judith leaves the city8 ,at night-fall8 ,what is it8'7 ,,ozias 7fiercely1 to the crowd74 ,get hence6 ,dogs6 ,,judith 7softly74 ,let them stay1 ,lord ,ozias1 for that which ,i do1 ,i do not in secret1 neither shall it be hidden4 ,,ozias 7to the crowd74 ,make a way clear to the gates4 ,,judith4 ,before ,i go1 ,i will look into the valley whither ,i descend4 7,she mounts to the vantage-point74 ,,voices4 ,water6 ,water6 ,or we die6 ,,judith 7from the vantage-point74 ,brethren1 bewail not6 ,remember what things the ,lord did to ,abraham1 and how he tried ,isaac1 and what happened to ,jacob in ,mesopotamia4 ,for the ,lord has not tried us in the fire as he did them1 neither has he taken vengeance upon us4 ,but the ,lord scourges them that come near to him1 to admonish them4 7,she kneels4 ,following her example1 everybody kneels47 ,o ,lord ,god of my father ,simeon1 the ,assyrians are multiplied in their power2 they trust in shield1 and spear1 and bow1 and sling2 and know not that thou art the ,lord which breakest battles2 the ,lord is thy name4 ,behold their pride1 and send thy wrath upon their heads2 give into my hand1 which am a widow1 the power that ,i have conceived4 ,for thy power standeth not in multitude1 nor thy might in strong men4 ,smite the ,assyrians by the deceit of my lips2 break down their stateliness by the hand of a woman4 ,and make my speech and deceit to be their wound and stripe1 who have purposed cruel things against thy covenant and against the top of ,zion4 ,and make every nation and tribe to acknowledge that thou art the ,god of all power1 and that there is none other that protecteth the people of ,israel but thou4 7,she rises4 ,the crowd murmurs3 ',amen4' ,all rise4 ,judith comes down from the vantage-point4 ,silence47 ,,ozias 7moved74 ,open the gates4 ,,judith 7to ,haggith74 ,nothing is forgotten8 ,,haggith4 ,nothing4 7,judith moves a step towards the gates47 ,,ozias4 ,the soul of my soul goes with you into the valley4 ,,judith 7to ,haggith1 solemnly74 ,and the knife8 7,haggith gives a gesture4 ,at the same moment a woman comes from the house with a knife1 which she hands to ,haggith1 who hands it to ,judith1 who takes it ceremoniously1 and hides it in her dress4 ,the gates are now opened1 and the distant plain under the setting sun is seen covered with the tents of the ,assyrian army47 7,judith goes slowly through the gates1 followed by ,haggith carrying the baggage47 ,,voices 7as ,judith passes74 ,water6 ,water6 ,,ozias 7with deep emotion74 ,close the gates4 ,light the watchfires4 7,the gates begin slowly to close4 ,the glow of the watchfires is seen47 ,,curtain4 ,,act ,,ii ,,scene ,i ,the valley of ,jezreel4 ,the city of ,bethulia on the hill in the distance4 ,haggith with her baggage enters to ,ingur and his men4 ,,time3 ,the next morning but one4 ,,ingur4 ,what art thou8 ,,haggith 7prudishly and coldly74 ,if it please thee1 ,i am a woman4 ,,ingur4 ,no4 ,thou art a hedgehog4 ,,haggith 7suddenly cajoling74 ,i ask pardon4 ,when ,i saw thy great handsomeness ,i grew afraid1 and my tongue was stiffened4 ,in my country there is no man so handsome as thou art4 ,,ingur4 ,ah6 7,much mollified47 ,and what then is thy country8 ,,haggith4 ,i am a woman of the ,hebrews1 and ,i have come from ,bethulia4 ,,ingur 7astonished74 ,a woman of the ,hebrews6 ,from ,bethulia6 7,to his men74 ,stand back from my face4 7,the men retire4 ,to ,haggith47 ,this is a rare strange tale4 ,,haggith4 ,could ,i lie to thee8 ,i have escaped from the city1 which is given over to be consumed4 ,i sought water for my thirst1 for in ,bethulia there is no water1 and the people faint in the streets4 ,,ingur4 ,but it is a long journey from ,bethulia1 and thou art fresh and delicate as though just risen from thy bed4 ,,haggith 7smiling74 ,i can hide nothing from thee1 mighty wolf4 ,i am1 indeed1 but just risen from my bed4 ,the night before last night ,i set forth secretly1 and came into the valley yesterday at noon1 and lay soft in a cave where three springs bubbled1 and drank1 and slept until this morning's sunrise4 ,,ingur4 ,what is thy name8 ,,haggith4 ,haggith4 ,,ingur4 ,thy name is as strange as thy errand1 and as thyself2 and surely thou art a woman of the ,hebrews1 which is a race of lunatics1 as ,i am told4 ,,haggith4 ,i have figs fit for a great king4 7,opens her sack and offers some figs47 ,,ingur 7eating74 ,um6 ,and what else hast thou8 ,let me touch thee1 ,haggith4 7,he touches her carefully74 ,yes1 thou art outlandish1 and no doubt mad1 but comely4 ,comely6 ,thou hast the likeness and feel of a woman4 ,always have ,i hankered after strange women1 and now lo6 one falls ripe into my mouth4 7,haggith shrinks4 ,reassuringly47 ,in a way of speaking6 ,in a way speaking6 ,for thou art not in my mouth4 ,and so thou earnest to slake thy thirst8 ,,haggith4 ,yes1 my roaring lion4 ,,ingur4 ,listen6 ,thou hast saved thy life with water4 ,but thou art lost4 ,,haggith4 ,lost8 ,,ingur4 ,ay6 ,a woman in the camps of the ,assyrians--she is undone4 ,she is a lamb in a den of terrible tigers4 7,comfortingly47 ,no1 no6 ,i will protect thee1 but ,i warn thee that thou art undone4 ,i am honest4 7,caresses her47 ,,haggith 7clumsily returning his caress74 ,thou wilt not harm me4 ,,ingur4 ,i will not tear thee to pieces1 but thou shalt come away with me4 7,she timidly strokes him74 ,thou hast not the habit of this stroking4 ,,haggith4 ,my mistress commanded me1 when ,i encountered any noble ,assyrian1 to use him thus4 ,it is true that ,i have not the habit4 ,nevertheless ,i do what ,i can4 ,,ingur 7startled at the mention of a mistress74 ,thy--thy mistress8 ,ye are two8 ,where then is thy mistress8 ,tell me upon the instant--is she fairer than thou8 ,,haggith4 ,seven times more fair4 ,,ingur4 ,fetch her6 ,,haggith4 ,my mistress is washing herself in a fountain of water by the cave4 ,she sent me forward in peace and friendliness to announce her coming4 ,,ingur4 ,fetch her6 7,suddenly perceiving ,bagoas in the distance1 he changes his manner47 ,stay6 ,bagoas is approaching1 and he may have seen thee4 ,his eyes are sharp4 ,stand off4 7,haggith moves away a little47 ,but when ,i tell thee1 fall down on thy face4 ,,haggith4 ,is he a great captain8 ,,ingur4 ,his mightiness is the chief eunuch of the ,prince1 and there is none greater than he save only the ,prince himself1 for ,bagoas has charge over all the women of the ,prince's tents4 ,,haggith4 ,women of the ,prince's tents8 ,,ingur4 ,ay6 ,wives6 ,concubines6 ,virgins6 ,beyond counting4 ,didst thou think in thy ,hebrew pride1 that the ,prince was a savage and a barbarian8444 ,down1 damsel6 ,here is ,bagoas4 ,embrace the earth for thy life's sake4 7,haggith obeys47 ,enter ,bagoas1 with attendants1 ,l4 7,ingur salutes him with extreme deference47 ,,bagoas4 ,who art thou8 ,,ingur4 ,ingur1 mightiness1 commanding twenty footmen4 ,,bagoas4 ,begone from my sight4 ,this morning the ,prince condescends to walk through the camp1 that all the armies may take joy in his countenance4 ,it is not meet that he should be seen of any lower than a lieutenant4 ,,ingur 7indicating ,haggith74 ,mightiness1 a woman of the ,hebrews escaped from ,bethulia to find water6 ,and by my subtlety ,i have captured her4 ,,bagoas4 ,a woman of the ,hebrews6 7,surveying ,haggith47 ,rise1 scum1 and let me behold thy deformity4 7,haggith obeys47 ,,ingur4 ,and there is another yet to appear1--her mistress1 seven times fairer4 ,,bagoas4 ,her mistress may be seven times fairer than this eyesore1 and yet ugly4 7,to ,haggith47 ,who is thy mistress8 ,,haggith4 ,the lady ,judith4 ,,bagoas4 ,judith6 ,a name fit only for a cat6 ,why is she here8 ,how is she here8 ,what is her secret and detestable purpose8 ,for there is a trick in this thing4 ,,haggith4 ,i know not my mistress's purpose4 ,,bagoas4 ,tell me thy mistress's purpose1 or ,i will have thee smothered4 ,,haggith4 ,i know only that if ,holofernes---- ,,bagoas 7stopping her angrily74 ,callest thou the illustrious one by his name8 ,the most high ,prince ,holofernes1 foul wench4 ,,haggith4 ,the most high ,prince ,holofernes--if he so wills my mistress would speak with his highness4 ,,bagoas 7laughing heartily74 ,speak with the ,prince8 ,speak with the ,prince8 ,ha-ha6 7,all the men laugh47 ,what is the state of thy mistress8 ,,haggith4 ,the lady ,judith is a widow4 ,,bagoas 7still more amused74 ,aha6 ,a widow6 ,and the ,hebrew hag would speak with ,prince ,holofernes6 7,the men laugh and jeer47 ,enter ,judith1 ,r4 7,haggith goes quickly to her4 ,all the men stare at ,judith1 deeply impressed47 ,,haggith 7aside to ,judith74 ,there are many hussies in the camps1 thousands and thousands1 mistress4 ,this lord is the chief eunuch4 ,,bagoas 7aside to an attendant74 ,if this be an example of the ,bethulian women1 ,i shall have a momentous business upon me when their city falls4 ,,first ,,attendant4 ,yea1 mightiness4 7,judith1 signing to ,haggith to stand aside1 bows to the ground before ,bagoas2 then rises again47 ,,bagoas 7after a short pause74 ,you are very beautiful4 ,,judith4 ,there are beautiful women in ,judea1 but no man of ,judea would look twice at such as ,i1 a shrunken widow1 like dried fish4 7,exit ,ingur1 excitedly1 ,l47 ,,bagoas4 ,i have heard how you have escaped out of ,bethulia and come hither in order to find water4 7,blandly47 ,aught else8 ,,judith4 ,my desire also was to have speech privately with the great conqueror1 ,holofernes4 ,,bagoas4 ,ah6 ,we are well met1 you and ,i4 ,for ,i am ,bagoas1 chief eunuch to the illustrious ,prince4 7,aside to second attendant47 ,run4 ,fetch the box of veils4 7,exit second attendant1 ,l47 ,,judith 7saluting once more74 ,i supplicate then1 mighty ,bagoas1 that you lead me quickly to the illustrious ,prince ,holofernes4 ,,bagoas4 ,surely6 ,surely6 ,it is my pleasure to content you4 7,aside1 to attendant1 anxiously47 ,this dried fish by her damnable beauty will reach great power1 and if ,i speak not softly to her now she will undo me in that day4 ,,first ,,attendant4 ,yea1 mightiness4 ,,judith4 ,i humbly thank your mightiness4 ,,bagoas4 ,but it is necessary that you should relate to me your little affair4 ,for no woman speaks to the illustrious ,prince until she has spoken to me4 ,,judith4 ,it cannot be so4 ,,bagoas 7persuasively74 ,in my ear1 privily4 ,approach4 ,,judith4 ,it cannot be so4 ,,bagoas4 ,what mean you--it cannot be so8 ,,judith4 ,i will utter my errand to the illustrious ,prince ,holofernes alone4 ,,bagoas 7losing his self-control2 angrily74 ,what8 ,thou queasy chit6 ,thou minx6 ,thou jade6 ,baggage6 ,mopsy6 ,shamelesss wench6 ,thou wilt not obey ,bagoas1 chief eunuch in the camps of the ,assyrians6 ,i will make thee the slave of my slave and the plaything of scullions4 7,stops4 ,judith smiles4 ,haggith subsides alarmed at her feet47 ,thou shalt be abandoned to the sutlers and the ass-drivers1 and thus thou shalt learn who is ,bagoas and what is his power6 7,stops again4 ,judith still smiles47 ,the strumpets of the kitchens shall scorn thee6 ,i--,i---- ,,judith 7smiling sweetly74 ,mightiness6 ,mightiness6 ,i am your bondwoman1 but it is appointed by heaven that ,i shall speak with the illustrious ,prince ,holofernes himself4 ,,bagoas 7controlling himself1 smiling74 ,well1 if it is appointed by heaven1 so shall it be4 ,forget my words4 ,they had no evil intent1 for ,i was trying you1 as my duty is4 7,aside to attendant47 ,the sweetness of her glance dissolves my backbone4 ,,first ,,attendant4 ,yea1 mightinesss4 ,,bagoas 7to ,judith74 ,follow me1 lady4 7,aside to attendant47 ,thinkest thou the ,prince will come this way8 7,pointing47 ,,first ,,attendant4 ,yea1 mightiness4 ,,bagoas4 ,or that8 ,,first ,,attendant4 ,yea1 mightiness4 ,,bagoas4 ,if the ,prince so much as sees her before the city is taken1 never will the city be taken1 and we shall all be her captives4 ,,first ,,attendant4 ,yea1 mightiness4 ,,bagoas 7beating the attendant74 ,i will lead her by the path to the cave1 for the ,prince will surely not come that way4 7,to ,judith47 ,follow me1 lady4 7,bagoas moves ,r4 ,judith hesitates a moment as ,haggith picks up her sack4 ,enter ,r4 the heralds of ,holofernes1 followed by ,holofernes47 ,,bagoas 7to himself74 ,holofernes6 7,to his attendants47 ,hide her1 rascals1 or ,assyria is undone4 7,the attendants range themselves between ,judith and ,holofernes47 7,bagoas receives ,holofernes with a prostration and high ceremony47 ,,holofernes4 ,where is this woman8 ,,bagoas4 ,woman1 ,prince8 ,,holofernes 7impatient74 ,this ,hebrew woman1 ,i say6 ,one ,ingur has run among the tents chattering1 and the rumour of her has spread through the camps like a plague4 ,by ,nebuchadnezzar the one god1 where is she1 for it has been told to me that her beauty excels the beauty of all the women of the ,east and ravishes the eye exceedingly8 ,,bagoas4 ,ah6 ,it is of ,judith that the ,prince deigns to speak4 ,lo6 ,i had caught her and was bringing her to your highness4 7,to attendants47 ,stand aside1 dogs4 7,judith is revealed to ,holofernes4 ,she prostrates herself and then rises4 ,holofernes gazes at her1 entranced47 ,,holofernes4 ,so thou hast escaped out of ,bethulia to find water for thy thirst8 ,,judith4 ,to find water1 and to have speech with the most illustrious ,prince4 ,,holofernes4 ,woman 7approaching her a step1 and then standing still71 be of good comfort1 and fear not in thy heart1 for ,i never hurt any that was willing to serve ,nebuchadnezzar1 the god of all the earth4 ,and if thy people that dwell in the mountains had not held me lightly1 ,i would not have lifted up my spear against them1 but they have done these things to themselves4 ,,bagoas 7aside1 to ,holofernes74 ,terrible master1 she is full of guile and deceitfulness1 and came not at all for water1 but for a hidden purpose against you4 ,therefore enquire of her closely4 ,,holofernes 7to ,bagoas74 ,chastise thy tongue1 ere it overthrow thee1 fiend4 ,there is no guile in that face4 7,to ,judith47 ,tell me now thy message and wherefore in truth thou art come4 ,and tremble not1 for thou shalt live this night4 ,,judith4 ,great prince1 receive the words of your servant and suffer your handmaid to speak in your presence1 and ,i will declare no lie to my lord4 ,,holofernes4 ,speak4 ,,judith4 ,i will speak to my lord alone4 ,,bagoas 7aside to ,holofernes74 ,it is a device against my lord4 ,,holofernes 7to ,judith74 ,speak now1 ,i command thee4 ,,judith4 ,my message concerns the fate of ,bethulia1 and of all the ,assyrians1 and of my lord4 ,life and death are in it1 for ,i have communed with heaven4 ,,holofernes4 ,which heaven8 ,thine or mine8 ,,judith4 ,there is but one ,god4 ,,holofernes 7roughly74 ,and he is ,nebuchadnezzar4 ,speak thy tale4 ,,judith4 ,i will speak to my lord alone4 ,,bagoas 7aside to ,holofernes74 ,it is a device4 ,,holofernes 7angrily74 ,speak out all thy heart1 and quickly6 ,,judith4 ,i will speak to my lord in my lord's tent4 ,,holofernes 7furious74 ,in my tent6 ,who art thou who defiest me1 and what is thy licence1 heathen slave1 to defile the tent of ,holofernes8 ,bind her4 ,take her away1 and twist the cords about her neck1 and strangle her1 and cast her insolence into the lake4 7,judith is seized and bound in an instant47 ,,holofernes 7in two minds74 ,wait6 ,,bagoas4 ,she is bound1 illustrious prince4 ,,holofernes4 ,wait6 ,,bagoas 7aside to ,holofernes74 ,prince1 let not the benevolence of your heart be your undoing1 for in the loveliness of her face is cunning and great peril4 ,i have lived all my days amid the craftiness of women1 and my lord also knows somewhat of their strange tricks1 which bring ruin to the carnal4 ,,holofernes 7reflective74 ,who would despise these ,hebrews that have among them such women as she8 7,fiercely74 ,surely it is not good that one man among them should be left2 for if one were let go he might deceive the whole earth4 ,,judith 7advancing a step1 appealingly74 ,will the wise man cast away a pearl1 and will my lord in anger lose his servant for ever8 ,,bagoas 7to ,holofernes74 ,let her not speak with my lord alone in my lord's tent4 ,,judith4 ,i would speak with the illustrious prince--and with ,bagoas also4 7,she smiles47 ,,holofernes 7with a gesture74 ,i cannot lose thee4 7,to attendants47 ,unbind her4 ,,bagoas 7aside74 ,may heaven be with us1 for the woman is against us6 ,,holofernes 7to ,bagoas74 ,veil her1 that her face and form be not seen as she passes to my tent1 for she is mine4 ,,bagoas 7calling74 ,the veils6 ,the veils6 ,where is the rascal8 ,the attendant rushes in panting with the box of veils4 ,he is followed by ,ingur4 7,judith is elaborately veiled in a series of veils by ,bagoas and his attendants74 ,,holofernes4 ,let her follow me4 7,exeunt1 ,r1 with great ceremony1 ,holofernes and his heralds1 followed by ,judith47 ,,ingur 7as they go1 stopping ,bagoas1 who goes last74 ,mightiness1 pardon your slave4 ,,bagoas4 ,well8 ,,ingur 7pointing to ,haggith74 ,your slave captured the mistress4 ,reward him with this outlandish wench4 ,,bagoas 7carelessly74 ,the fool goeth out to seek his own damnation4 ,take her4 ,,curtain4 ,,scene ,,ii ,interior of the tent of ,holofernes4 ,a couch with curtains1 ,l4 ,the principal entrance to the tent is at the back4 ,secondary entrances in the hangings1 ,l4 and ,r4 ,,time3 ,the same morning1 later4 ,bagoas and his attendant are unveiling ,judith4 ,,bagoas4 ,animal1 wouldst thou dare to behold that which is thy lord's8 ,leave the last veil1 and away with thee4 ,,first ,,attendant4 ,yea1 mightiness6 7,exit back with the veils already removed from ,judith47 ,,bagoas4 ,queen of the night of ,holofernes6 ,,judith 7through the veil74 ,mighty ,bagoas6 ,,bagoas4 ,the ,prince comes to look upon you in his tent4 ,,judith4 ,mighty ,bagoas1 deign to answer a question ,i will put4 ,,bagoas4 ,deign to ask1 lady1 and my humility shall answer2 for your beauty has blinded ,holofernes this day and he is your captive1 and his servant is your servant1 and there is no law in the camps of the ,assyrians save your glance4 7,he makes a covert gesture of half-amused resentful resignation47 ,,judith4 ,nebuchadnezzar is your god8 ,is it not so1 ,bagoas8 ,,bagoas4 ,nebuchadnezzar is henceforward the god of the ,assyrians and of all the lands which their spears conquer4 ,it is an official order4 ,,judith4 ,if ,nebuchadnezzar laid a command upon you1 would you disregard it8 ,,bagoas4 ,i would not1 for my skin is very valuable to me4 ,,judith4 ,as ,nebuchadnezzar is your god1 so is the ,lord of ,israel mine4 ,and my ,god laid a secret command upon me to speak with ,prince ,holofernes alone and with none other in his tent4 ,thus1 and thus only1 was it that ,i refused to speak in the presence even of the mighty ,bagoas4 ,but as ,i withstood you in the valley there1 the ,god of ,israel descended upon me and ,i heard the voice of ,god in my ear1 and the voice said3 ',it is permitted to thee to speak with ,bagoas also4' ,therefore ,i yielded to the importunity of ,prince ,holofernes and of ,bagoas4 ,,bagoas4 ,your god is a wise god and has discernment4 ,,judith4 ,this ,i tell you1 that there may be peace and good intelligence between us4 ,is there peace between us8 ,,bagoas4 ,lady1 in my heat ,i admonished you with hard words and much vituperation4 ,,judith 7innocently47 ,by ,nebuchadnezzar1 ,i heard none4 ,,bagoas4 ,there is peace between us4 ,and in the closeness of our intelligence you and ,i will rule them that rule all ,assyria4 ,enter ,holofernes1 ,l4 7,bagoas prostrates himself4 ,holofernes walks about1 ignoring ,judith47 ,,holofernes 7to ,bagoas74 ,at what hour is the ,council of ,captains8 ,,bagoas4 ,the ,council awaits your highness4 7,suddenly ,holofernes snatches the veil from ,judith1 and throws it on the floor4 ,he gazes at her4 ,judith prostrates herself4 ,holofernes drops on to the couch1 and looks at everything except ,judith47 ,,holofernes 7imperiously74 ,rise4 7,judith rises4 ,a pause4 ,holofernes plays with a jewel on his costume4 ,without looking at ,judith47 ,and ,achior8 ,,judith4 ,illustrious ,prince4 ,,holofernes4 ,did the slave reach ,bethulia8 ,,judith4 ,the men of ,bethulia took him1 and he declared to them all that he had spoken to my lord ,prince4 ,and many approved him4 ,,holofernes4 ,and what sayest thou of ,achior8 ,,judith4 ,o lord and governor1 ,i say3 ,reject not the word of ,achior1 but lay it up in your heart4 ,,holofernes4 ,thou art bold4 ,,judith4 ,the word of ,achior is true4 ,for the ,israelites shall not be punished1 and the sword shall not prevail against them1 except they sin against their ,god4 ,,holofernes4 ,not even my sword8 ,,judith4 ,not even the sword of my lord and governor1 except they sin against their ,god4 7,with significance47 ,but they will sin4 ,,holofernes4 ,ah6 ,they will sin8 ,in what will they sin8 ,,judith4 ,death is fallen upon them1 and they will provoke their ,god to anger1 for their water is scant1 and they faint in their thirst2 and they will drink the holy wine which was sanctified and reserved for the priests who serve before the face of our ,god3 which thing is not lawful for any of the people so much as to touch with their hands4 ,,holofernes4 ,what has all this to do with me8 ,there is no god but ,nebuchadnezzar4 ,,judith4 ,it touches my lord and governor1 because1 knowing all this1 ,i am fled from ,bethulia1 which shall be accurst2 and the ,god of ,israel has sent me to work things with my lord and governor whereat the whole earth shall be astonished4 ,,holofernes 7looking at her1 interested74 ,what things8 ,and what have ,i to do with thy god8 ,i need not thy god1 for after the ,israelites have drunk their wine they will thirst again2 and when the city is broken with fainting1 it will fall safe into my hands while ,i sit and watch4 ,,judith 7with fire74 ,and when the city has fallen while the ,assyrians sit and watch1 and when all men whisper one to another that the greatest captain of the earth conquered by a device because he dared not attack boldly with spear1 and bow1 and sling--in that day will my lord and governor be content8 ,or will he be ashamed1 and blush to lift up his eyes8 ,,holofernes 7disturbed74 ,it is a true word4 ,,bagoas4 ,it is a true word4 ,,holofernes 7savagely74 ,this day will ,i attack the city and take it1 and though ,i make fifty thousand widows and orphans in ,assyria ,i will compass ,bethulia1 and not one house in it shall be left standing1 nor one ,israelite alive4 ,,judith 7shaking her head slowly74 ,why is my lord against the pleasure of the ,most ,high8 ,do ,i not say1 and has it not been revealed to me1 that ,bethulia shall not perish until its inhabitants have sinned before ,god8 ,listen1 illustrious ,prince1 ,i will remain this night4 ,and when the time comes ,i will go into the valley1 and ,i will pray to ,god1 and mayhap ,he will tell me when the ,israelites in ,bethulia have committed their sin4 ,and ,i will come and show it to you1 and thereupon my lord and governor shall go forth with all his army1 and none shall resist him4 ,,holofernes 7fascinated74 ,thou wilt come to me when the time is at hand for my triumph6 ,,judith4 ,and hearken further6 ,i will lead my lord and governor in the midst of ,judea1 until he comes to ,jerusalem2 and ,i will set his throne in the midst of ,jerusalem1 and a dog shall not so much as open his mouth at my lord and prince4 ,for these things were declared unto me from on high1 and ,i am sent to tell them4 ,,holofernes 7aside to ,bagoas1 excitedly74 ,there is not such a woman from one end of the earth to the other1 both for beauty of face and wisdom of words4 ,,bagoas4 ,it may well be so1 ,prince4 ,but ,i have not seen the whole earth4 ,,holofernes 7to ,judith74 ,thou hast done well to come to me1 that strength may be in my hands and destruction upon them that lightly regard ,nebuchadnezzar1 the one god4 ,thou art ravishing in countenance1 and if thou do as thou hast spoken1 thou shalt dwell in my house which is over against the house of ,king ,nebuchadnezzar1 and thou shalt be renowned through the east and through the west4 ,bagoas1 prepare meat and wine for her4 ,,bagoas 7making as if to give an order74 ,to hear is to obey4 ,,judith4 ,i will not eat of my lord's meat1 nor drink of his wine1 lest there be offence2 ,i have brought provision by my waiting-woman4 ,,bagoas4 ,but if thy provision fail8 ,,judith 7significantly74 ,my provision will not fail before the ,lord works by my hand the things which ,he has determined4 ,bagoas claps his hands4 ,enter an attendant4 ,,bagoas4 ,fetch ,haggith1 the waiting-woman of the lady ,judith6 ,quickly6 7,exit attendant4 ,to ,holofernes47 ,prince1 shall the ,hebrew woman eat and drink of her provision in my lord's tent8 ,,holofernes4 ,she shall eat and drink in my tent1 and she shall not leave it4 ,,bagoas4 ,then it is right that my lord remains not4 ,and moreover the ,council humbly waits for my lord4 7,exit ,holofernes1 ,l47 ,,bagoas 7to ,judith1 as he follows ,holofernes74 ,did ,i not say that you and ,i shall rule them that rule ,assyria8 7,exit ,l47 ,enter ,haggith1 back1 with provisions4 ,,haggith 7excited1 looking round to see if they are alone74 ,mistress6 ,is it possible8 ,,judith4 ,what has taken thee8 ,,haggith4 ,is this the tent of the monster8 ,,judith4 ,hush6 ,,haggith 7whispering74 ,it is greater and more magnificent than the temple at ,bethulia4 7,looking into a corner47 ,but unclean4 ,have they no besoms8444 ,ah6 7,looking up at the roof47 ,the bigness of it makes me small like a child before it can walk4 ,i could not live comfortably in such a great windy place4 ,no6 ,i prefer our own house to all this royalty4 ,,judith4 ,give me food1 ,haggith4 ,where hast thou been8 7,she sits47 ,,haggith4 ,mistress1 ,i have been with the man ,ingur6 7,arranging ,judith's costume1 and then setting out the food and wine47 ,in obedience to your command4 ,at ,bethulia1 being busied all my days with the ordering of your possessions1 ,i had no time for traffic with men2 neither desire4 ,and ,i deemed them terrible and masterful creatures4 ,and when you commanded me to go forth into the camps and delude and entangle with wiles whatever ,assyrian ,i should meet1 ,i was afraid4 ,for it was in my heart that ,i could not accomplish this thing4 ,yet ,i have done it prettily4 ,and it is easier to me far than sweeping with a besom4 ,either all men are simpletons and besotted with self-conceit1 or ,ingur exceeds greatly in folly4 ,i have been given to him for his slave1 but he is mine and knows it not4 7,she sits47 ,,judith4 ,where hast thou left him8 ,,haggith4 ,mistress ,i would not suffer that you should pass from my sight1 and ,i followed you1 and ,ingur followed me gladly1 and at last the guard seized him for that he was found within the precincts of the prince's quarter1 which is forbidden to his rank1 and many stripes will be his4 ,mistress1 you eat not4 ,,judith 7trying to eat74 ,yes1 ,i eat4 ,do thou eat for me4 ,,haggith4 ,i have eaten and drunk--with ,ingur4 ,,judith4 ,but not of his provision8 ,,haggith 7nodding74 ,he so softly entreated me4 ,,judith4 ,it is a sin and an offence for thee1 being an ,israelite4 ,,haggith4 ,for such as my high-born mistress1 it is an offence4 ,but for the handmaid--pooh6 ,she eats as she can1 and the ,lord turneth away his glance until she has finished her platter4 ,moreover1 did you not lay it upon me to beguile the dolt8 ,and verily1 mistress1 ,i have rejoiced much this day2 and ,ingur---- ,,judith4 ,silence with thy prattle4 ,bethink thee of the dread business upon which ,i am come down from ,bethulia into the valley8 ,,haggith 7subdued2 offering food74 ,eat1 mistress4 ,,judith4 ,i cannot4 ,my soul rejects it1 and my body is on fire with expectation and suspense4 7,rising4 ,haggith also rises47 ,stay thou where thou art1 for ,i will go forth alone4 ,i must commune with the ,god of ,israel for my tranquillity1 and ,i dare not seek him in the tent of the heathen4 7,exit1 back47 7,haggith gathers the meat together47 ,enter ,holofernes and ,bagoas1 ,l4 ,,holofernes 7looking about the tent1 alarmed74 ,where is she8 ,has she fled8 ,if she has escaped me1 this shall be thy last day1 ,bagoas4 ,what is this girl here8 ,,bagoas4 ,prince1 has any woman yet slipped through these hands8 ,this girl is the waiting wench of the lady ,judith4 7,to ,haggith47 ,where is thy mistress1 wench8 ,,haggith 7frightened and foolish74 ,my mistress having eaten 444 having eaten naught1 is gone to--to--to--pray4 ,,bagoas4 ,bring her4 ,her god may wait1 but not the illustrious ,prince4 ,run with both thy legs4 ,,haggith4 ,ye--es1 mightiness4 7,exit1 back7 ,,holofernes4 ,bagoas1 with thine arts thou shalt persuade the ,hebrew woman to come to us and to eat and drink with us this night4 ,,bagoas 7grimly74 ,persuasion shall be used1 highness4 ,my arts are many and various4 ,,holofernes4 ,it will be a shame for our person if we let such a woman go1 not having delighted in her company4 ,if we do not draw her to us she will laugh us to scorn4 ,,bagoas4 ,yea1 highness4 ,but my lord has but this moment appointed a great feast with his captains at sunset4 ,how then shall he eat and drink with the lady ,judith8 ,,holofernes4 ,thick-skull6 ,speak not to me of my captains6 ,the ,council of the ,captains was as dust in my mouth1 and ,i could not away with it4 ,therefore ,i sharply dismissed the ,council1 and soothed their damnable pride with the promise of a mighty feast4 ,but what care ,i for the captains8 ,my heart thirsts horribly for this ,hebrew woman1 and ,i am full of a great madness4 ,,bagoas4 ,so be it1 highness4 ,nevertheless1 the ,prince has promised to his captains a mighty feast1 and the word of ,holofernes is a rock that cannot be shaken4 ,,holofernes4 ,oh6 ,what a calamity is love6 ,and there is no slave so trodden down as him that is the slave of desire4444 ,bah6 ,i will eat and drink quickly with the captains1 and the woman shall await me here4 ,enter ,judith1 back4 ,on seeing ,holofernes she prostrates herself4 ,,holofernes4 ,arise1 sorceress4 7,judith rises4 ,to ,bagoas47 ,go fetch leopard skins for her repose4 ,,bagoas4 ,i will send for the skins on the instant1 highness4 ,,holofernes4 ,thou wilt go thyself to fetch them1 elephant4 ,and come not back without the finest skins in my wardrobe4 ,see to it4 7,exit ,bagoas1 back47 ,,holofernes4 ,come closer4 7,judith obeys47 ,look into my eyes4 7,judith obeys47 ,sorceress1 thou knowest thy power4 ,,judith4 ,i have no power1 save that which is given to me from on high4 ,,holofernes4 ,thou wast praying to thy god8 ,,judith4 ,yea1 highness4 ,,holofernes4 ,didst thou demand of him that he should tell thee if the ,israelites in ,bethulia had committed their sin1 and if the time of my triumph was at hand8 ,,judith4 ,no1 lord4 ,i prayed for the forgiveness of the transgressions of thy handmaid4 ,,holofernes4 ,why didst thou not demand of him what ,i ask thee8 ,,judith4 ,who am ,i to hasten the ,god of ,israel8 ,in the night time1 and in the darkness1 when all men sleep1--then it is that my ,god condescends towards me1 and my ear hears his secret purposes4 ,,holofernes 7low74 ,this night8 ,,judith4 ,who can search out heaven8 ,,holofernes4 ,this night8 ,,judith4 ,it may be4 ,,holofernes4 ,and thou wilt come to me in the night and tell me thy message8 ,,judith4 ,i will come to thee in the night1 great prince4 ,,holofernes4 ,and thou wilt eat and drink with me in my triumph8 ,,judith 7after a pause74 ,if it pleases my lord4 ,,holofernes4 ,thou wilt eat of my meat and drink of my wine1 which ,i will give thee8 ,,judith 7after a pause74 ,if my lord is alone and there is none with him4 ,for it is not right that any should see me4 ,,holofernes4 ,i will be alone4 ,but ,bagoas shall stand at the door of the tent4 ,,judith4 ,as my lord wills4 ,,holofernes 7ecstatic1 moving a little towards her2 she responds74 ,fairest among women6 ,can it be6444 ,the way of ,god is wondrous4 7,a half-veiled ,assyrian woman appears through the hangings ,r41 and watches47 ,,judith 7solemnly and significantly74 ,there are yet hid greater things than this1 and thou hast yet seen but a few of his works4 ,,holofernes 7sinking back on the couch1 mysteriously afraid74 ,sorceress6 7,the watcher disappears47 ,,judith 7cooingly7 ,does my lord shrink from his handmaid8 7,holofernes stretches his hands to her47 ,,curtain4 ,,scene ,,iii ,,scene3 ,the same4 ,,time3 ,the same night4 ,wine and food are set by the couch4 ,a lamp is burning4 ,,bagoas 7at back entrance to tent1 calling to people off74 ,to your beds1 all of you4 ,let none remain4 7,he stands a moment at the entrance2 a few distant shouts are heard2 then silence4 ,bagoas comes within the tent towards the couch4 ,to ,holofernes47 ,the waiters are gone1 ,prince4 ,there is no one left to disturb the night4 ,,holofernes4 ,hast thou seen her8 ,,bagoas 7after a pause74 ,no1 prince4 ,,holofernes4 ,but didst thou look8 ,,bagoas4 ,i looked1 ,o illustrious4 ,,holofernes4 ,is there moonlight8 ,,bagoas4 ,the moon is clouded1 highness4 ,,holofernes4 ,give me wine4 7,bagoas obeys47 ,bagoas6 ,,bagoas4 ,prince8 7,the hangings of the tent ,r41 balloon inwards a little47 ,,holofernes 7looking behind him sharply1 spilling some wine74 ,the wind is rising4 ,,bagoas4 ,it is but a night breeze4 ,,holofernes 7as he drinks gloomily74 ,bagoas1 she has escaped back to her own people4 ,,bagoas 7aside74 ,i would she had1 the jade6 7,to ,holofernes47 ,prince1 she cannot escape4 ,every path from the valley is guarded4 ,,holofernes4 ,what guard could restrain such a woman8 ,,bagoas4 ,ah6 ,prince6 ,what guard could restrain her8 ,,holofernes4 ,dost thou echo me8 ,,bagoas4 ,i humbly think the thought of his highness4 ,,holofernes4 ,do thy thinking outside4 7,bagoas bows and moves towards the entrance4 ,judith is standing there4 ,the two look at each other for a moment47 ,,bagoas 7with a gesture1 indicating ,judith74 ,highness6 ,,holofernes 7,jumping up4 ,to ,bagoas74 ,begone to thy post6 7,judith glides in silently4 ,bagoas goes out4 ,they pass by each other without a word or a salutation1 but mutually scrutinizing47 ,,judith4 ,the great feast of the captains is over8 ,,holofernes4 ,the captains are departed1 drunken with wine and their pride4 ,but thy feast and my feast is not begun4 7,points to the repast47 ,,judith 7enigmatically47 ,i am here4 ,,holofernes 7ecstatic47 ,art thou in truth here1 or do my eyes behold that which is not8 ,,judith4 ,did ,i not say that ,i should come in the night8 ,,holofernes4 ,yea1 ,i trusted thee4 ,i trusted thee so much that at the feast of the captains ,i commanded that all my hosts shall attack ,bethulia1 with bow1 and sling1 and spear1 at sunrise1 and also ,i gave the word of ,holofernes for a pledge that naught in the heavens or on the earth should resist the onset of the ,assyrians2 for some among them feared the word of ,achior which they had heard4 ,,judith4 ,you have not done this thing8 ,,holofernes4 ,i have done it4 ,,judith4 ,would you forestall ,god1 and would you speak the decrees of ,god before they are uttered8 ,,holofernes4 ,thou saidst thou wouldst pray to thy god this night and that he would tell thee when the ,israelites in ,bethulia had committed their sin1 and that thou wouldst come to me to proclaim the hour of my triumph4 ,,judith4 ,i said3 ,i will pray to ,god and mayhap he will tell me4 ,,holofernes4 ,thou hast prayed1 and thy god hath not answered8 ,,judith4 ,he has not answered4 ,,holofernes 7with bravado74 ,he is no god1 then1 thy god4 ,let us drink4 ,,judith 7as ,holofernes moves towards her1 solemnly74 ,touch not your handmaid1 and touch not the goblet4 7,she goes to the skins1 ,r47 ,,holofernes 7following ,judith gently74 ,thou art offended4 ,,judith4 ,stand afar off1 ,holofernes1 and meddle not with her that communes with the ,most ,high4 7,judith kneels4 ,holofernes goes in the direction of the couch4 ,silence4 ,bagoas has been seen once or twice in the porch of the tent1 his back turned4 ,he has now gone again4 ,two half-veiled ,assyrian women appear through the hangings1 ,r41 and watch a moment1 then vanish4 ,judith slowly rises47 ,,holofernes4 ,what has befallen thee8 ,,judith4 ,it has befallen me that this moment the ,god of ,israel has spoken and my ear has heard his command4 7,approaching ,holofernes47 ,,holofernes4 ,what saith thy god8 ,,judith4 ,my ear has heard that the ,israelites in ,bethulia have committed their sin1 and at sunrise the ,assyrians shall assault ,bethulia and none shall withstand them4 ,,holofernes4 ,a miracle6 ,,judith4 ,a miracle in thy tent1 ,o great warrior6 ,,holofernes4 ,to-morrow is appointed to be the day of my triumph4 ,,judith 7moved74 ,yea1 it is so4 ,,holofernes 7gratefully74 ,hear me1 ,judith4 ,thy god shall be my god4 ,,judith4 ,in truth thou art set apart to be his4 ,,holofernes 7close to her74 ,thy body trembles4 ,,judith 7smiling74 ,thinkst thou then that ,i was not afraid for thee8 ,but my fear is gone from me1 for now ,i know thy fate and the decree of heaven concerning thee4 ,,holofernes 7aside74 ,to-morrow is appointed for my triumph1 but this night also shall ,i exult4 7,to ,judith47 ,let us eat and drink together1 for we are alone in the night1 and thou hast promised4 ,,judith 7gaily74 ,let us feast4 ,,holofernes 7animated by her responsive tone74 ,take off thy tunic2 thou art in thy own house4 ,let ,holofernes be thy tire-woman4 7,approaching her47 ,,judith4 ,no6 7,moving from him to the further side of the couch47 ,but he shall be my slave to serve me4 ,pour out the wine1 great slave4 7,while ,holofernes cheerfully obeys1 ,judith takes the knife from her garments and places it behind the couch4 ,then1 as he stands with the wine1 gazing at her and separated from her only by the couch1 she slowly removes her tunic and appears in indoor attire4 ,she comes towards him and takes the wine from him and drinks47 ,,holofernes4 ,i feared that in the strictness of thy ,hebrew scruples thou wouldst not drink of my wine4 ,,judith4 ,i will drink again4 7,she does so47 ,,holofernes 7taking the goblet and drinking74 ,dost thou verily know thy power and thy dominion1 ,judith8 ,,judith 7simply74 ,yes1 ,i know it now better than thou4 ,,holofernes4 ,thou dost not4 ,for ,i am mad for thee1 and thou hast set thy seal upon me for evermore4 ,my heart cannot hold thee1 for thou hast filled it to overflowing1 and all men see that my heart is full of thee and runneth over4 ,yea1 ,i have a hundred and two and thirty thousand that bow themselves at my feet and that live and die by my glance4 ,and ,i am at thy feet and thy glance is my joy and my sorrow according to thy whim4 ,judith1 ,i entreat thee1 command me something4 ,for whatever thou command me1 that will ,i execute4 ,and be not afraid in thy command1 for my power is very great and there is none like it save only my lord ,nebuchadnezzar's4 ,,judith 7tenderly74 ,i command thee that thou be happy4 ,for thy captive has no other desire4 ,,holofernes4 ,say not my captive4 ,for it is ,i that am thy prisoner4 ,and ,i will set thee on my throne1 and in my great boldness ,i will dare to sit beside thee4 ,but thou shalt reign4 ,and we will live together in ,assyria long years4 ,,judith 7changing her mood74 ,there is no requisition in the grave whether you have lived ten or an hundred or a thousand years4 ,but the ,god of ,israel is a shield4 ,,holofernes 7eagerly74 ,and ,i have told thee that thy god shall be my god2 but in secret1 because of that which ,i owe to ,king ,nebuchadnezzar4 ,yet shall the whole earth know that thou1 ,judith1 alone art my god4 ,,judith4 ,but thou hast other wives4 ,,holofernes4 ,no6 ,,judith4 ,yes6 ,it has been whispered to me that thou hast many wives1 and concubines without number4 ,,holofernes4 ,it is a lie4 ,for from this night ,i have put away from me all women but thee1 and there is not one among them to compare with thee4 7,appealingly74 ,and since the judgment of heaven hath done a miracle by thee in the tent of ,holofernes this night1 wilt thou deny1 ,o tenderness6 that thou hast been divinely appointed to me1 and ,i to thee8 ,,judith4 ,i will not deny that the ,lord is in this thing4 ,and for thy comfort ,i will tell thee that which thou knowest not4 ,,holofernes 7expectant74 ,tell me4 ,,judith4 ,before ,i escaped from ,bethulia1 as ,i lay on my bed1 a vision came to me1 and it was the vision of ,holofernes in the likeness of his majesty and his might4 ,and ,i saw the vision by my bed1 and so it was that ,i came down into the valley4444 7,softly47 ,and wouldst thou that ,i should have uttered this secret to any but thee6 ,,holofernes 7full of emotion74 ,i will kiss thy lips1 and thou art mine1 ,o fragrance6 ,,judith4 ,kiss my lips4 7,holofernes kisses her1 and then in an excess of feeling stumbles backward47 7,a half-veiled ,assyrian woman appears at the opening ,r41 and watches4 ,bagoas1 in the porch of the tent1 turns and sees her1 and dashes at her with a weapon4 ,both disappear through the opening1 ,r47 ,,judith 7moving with stealth towards the hidden knife1 comfortingly74 ,o mighty child1 where is thy strength1 and where is thy terribleness8 ,rest thee a moment on the couch1 and thy soul's captive will tend thee4 7,holofernes drops on the couch1 and ,judith caresses him47 ,,holofernes 7murmuring74 ,my great joy has overthrown me4 7,judith1 seizing the knife and leaning over ,holofernes1 kills him while she is still caressing47 ,,judith 7as she uses the knife2 murmuring74 ,thou that wouldst go against the pleasure of the ,most ,high6 ,thou that wouldst defile ,judea6 ,thou that hast dishonoured with thy kiss the widow of ,manasses6 ,thou that hast compelled me to guile and deceit and much lying so that ,i might perform the will of ,god6 ,the grave shall be thy house6 ,enter ,haggith1 ,l4 ,,judith 7turning to ,haggith1 firmly and impressively74 ,i have done that which ,i had to do1 and the power of ,assyria is fallen4 7,pointing47 ,take the head by the beard1 and put it in thy sack1 and let us depart4 ,,curtain4 ,,act ,,iii ,,scene ,i ,,scene3 ,same as ,act ,i4 ,,time3 ,a few hours later than ,act ,,ii1 ,scene ,,iii1 the same night4 ,the sole light is that of torches1 and watchfires 7off74 ,the gatemen are at the gates4 ,there is a knocking on the outside of the gates4 ,enter ,first ,soldier1 running4 ,,first ,,soldier 7to a gateman1 who is climbing up in order to look over the top of the gates74 ,look not over1 booby4 ,thy fool's face might meet the point of an ,assyrian spear4 7,the gateman slips down quickly47 7,renewed knocking47 ,,first ,,soldier 7shouting74 ,none can enter the city till sunrise4 ,and not then if ,i like not the aspect of his phiz4 ,,haggith 7off74 ,it is ,haggith1 servant of the lady ,judith4 ,open the gates quickly1 for ,i am become a woman of much consequence4 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,haggith8 ,it is the voice of ,haggith2 yet it may also be devils4 7,to another soldier who has entered47 ,run6 ,rouse the lord ,ozias4 7,exit soldier47 ,,haggith4 ,i have water with me4 ,many gourds6 ,fresh water6 ,cool water6 7,the gatemen begin to work the gate-chains47 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,what do ye1 dogs8 ,stop1 and await the order of the lord ,ozias4 ,,gatemen 7continuing to work the chains74 ,water6 ,water6 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,pull1 then1 dogs4 ,if there is water and it is wet ,i will taste it4 ,but if there is not water1 ,i will slay the first soul that enters4 7,as the gates begin to open a little47 ,hold6 ,no wider6 ,enter ,haggith with two gourds4 7,the gourds are snatched from her1 and the men1 including the ,first ,soldier1 drink47 ,,first ,,soldier 7as he drinks74 ,yea1 it is indeed ,haggith4 ,where is thy mistress1 and whence comest thou1 my beloved water-carrier1 for thou art my beloved8 7,haggith slaps his face47 ,enter ,ozias1 ,l4 ,,ozias 7furious74 ,why are the gates opened8 ,what is this8 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,haggith1 lord1 with water that is stronger than wine4 7,handing a gourd to ,ozias to soothe him47 ,,ozias4 ,where is thy mistress1 wench8 7,drinks47 ,,haggith 7stiffly74 ,i am the forerunner of my mistress1 who has sent me1 and before many hours are passed the lady ,judith will come also4 7,she goes to the gates and beckons47 ,,ozias4 ,what art thou doing8 ,enter ,ingur1 bearing a sack4 ,,voices4 ,an ,assyrian6 ,an ,assyrian6 7,men spring at ,ingur47 ,,haggith4 ,let him alone2 he is my bondman and ,i have tamed him4 ,,ozias4 ,shut the gates1 for ,i will enquire into this matter4 ,,haggith4 ,there are yet ten other ,assyrians outside the gates1 carrying gourds for me4 ,,ozias4 ,ten other ,assyrians6 ,it is a trick6 ,,haggith 7proudly74 ,by my command they are chained by their necks1 neck to neck4 ,fetch in the gourds1 men1 and give the people to drink4 7,the gourds are brought in amid cries and excitement4 ,they are taken off1 ,l47 ,,ozias4 ,shut the gates1 ,i say4 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,and the ten ,assyrians1 great lord8 ,,ozias4 ,let them await my enquiry where they stand4 ,,first ,,soldier4 ,lord ,ozias1 if they flee8 ,,haggith4 ,hold thy mouth1 gaby6 ,wouldst thou flee with thy neck chained to nine necks8 ,moreover1 where will they flee8 ,for the camps of the ,assyrians are broken1 and in their terrible confusion the ,assyrians fall one upon another4 7,the gatemen talk among themselves and stare at the ,assyrians outside1 who cannot be seen by those within the city4 ,the gates remain open a little47 ,,ozias 7impatiently74 ,what is thy tale1 ,haggith8 ,,haggith4 ,my mistress has slain ,holofernes in his tent in the night1 and the power of ,assyria is undone4 ,,ozias 7astounded74 ,slain ,holofernes6 ,thou art mad in thy raving4 ,,haggith 7to ,ingur74 ,open the mouth of the sack1 and let my lord behold the head of ,holofernes and see that ,i am mad4 7,to soldier47 ,a torch1 that the ,lord ,ozias may discover the manner of my raving4 7,ozias looks into the sack and sees the head of ,holofernes47 ,,ozias4 ,great is the ,lord of ,israel6 ,,haggith4 ,and my mistress is the right hand of the ,lord4 ,,ozias4 ,great is the ,lord of ,israel6 ,,voices 7deeply moved74 ,his name shall live for ever4 ,,ozias4 ,how did thy mistress accomplish this mighty deed8 ,,haggith4 ,,as for that1 she will tell it to my lord with her own voice when she shall come4 ,and now will my lord give ear to the commands of the lady ,judith1 which she doth lay upon my lord by me1 ,haggith8 ,first1 the head of ,holofernes shall be set upon a spear on the highest wall in the great square before the temple4 ,so shall all the ,israelites know that ,god yet watcheth over ,israel4 7,to the soldiers47 ,take the sack and do as my lady hath ordained by me1 ,haggith4 ,,ozias 7to men1 who hesitate74 ,take the sack4 ,it is my command4 7,exeunt two men1 ,l41 with sack47 ,,haggith4 ,next1 ye shall send men for water to the wells beneath the city that all may drink1 for already the ,assyrians are fled from the wells1 knowing that ,holofernes is dead4 ,and ye shall send forth all your army into the valley to fall upon the ,assyrians1 for they are afraid of the judgment of ,god1 and none dare abide in the sight of his neighbour4 ,neither can they stand against the chosen race of ,god4 ,,ozias 7to ,first ,soldier74 ,let every armed man in the city be roused1 and publish the order of ,ozias that the ,captains lead their bands swiftly into the valley by the secret way to fall upon the ,assyrians4 7,exit ,first ,soldier and another1 with joyous cries1 ,l47 ,,haggith4 ,thus hath the lady ,judith spoken by me1 ,haggith4 ,,ozias4 ,whither is thy mistress gone1 and why does she tarry8 ,,haggith4 ,my mistress is hidden in a sure place in the valley1 for there is one among the ,assyrians who fears not ,god4 ,and he is ,bagoas1 the chief eunuch of ,holofernes1 and he has sworn an oath to kill my mistress1 for that by guile she did cut off the head of ,holofernes4 ,and ,bagoas searches for my mistress in the folds of the valley4 ,but he will not find her4 ,,ozias 7perturbed74 ,how knowst thou that he will not find her8 ,,haggith4 ,because the ,lord of ,israel is a sharp sword and protecteth his servants4444 ,and also because my mistress is most cunningly hidden4 ,enter ,charmis1 ,l4 ,,charmis 7joyously excited74 ,what is the miracle that ,i hear1 ,ozias8 ,,ozias 7blandly74 ,there is no miracle2 but that which ,i had planned with the lady ,judith has come to pass4 ,take women and old men ,charmis1 and go ye to the wells and bring water to the city1 for the wells are delivered into my hands4 ,,charmis 7hesitating74 ,women and old men8 ,but the onslaught against the ,assyrians of which ,i hear8 ,,ozias 7imperiously74 ,go quickly4 ,for who is the governor of this city8 ,is it thou or is it ,i8 7,exit ,charmis1 ,l47 7,men and women have gathered joyously in the street47 ,,voices 7mockingly1 indicating ,ingur1 with a tendency to horseplay74 ,the ,assyrian6 ,the ,assyrian6 ,,ozias4 ,take him to the guard-house and chain him to ,achior4 ,,haggith4 ,he shall not go1 lord ,ozias4 ,for as my mistress beguiled ,holofernes1 so did ,i beguile ,ingur1 and he is my slave4 ,but ,i have not cut off his head1 and he is dear to me because ,i have not cut off his head4 ,and he is mine1 and let none touch him 7looking at the soldiers71 or my anger1 which is the anger of the lady ,judith1 shall be upon that man4 7,hearing a noise1 she glances at the house47 ,what do ,i see8 ,the sluts are in the tent of my mistress1 which is forbidden them4 ,out1 sluts6 7,exit angrily into the house67 7,ingur follows her quickly for protection47 ,enter ,messenger4 ,,ozias4 ,and you8 ,,messenger 7saluting74 ,do my eyes behold the great lord ,ozias1 governor of ,bethulia8 ,,ozias4 ,your eyes behold him4 ,,messenger4 ,it is not yet dawn1 nevertheless the streets of the city are full of a great going and coming1 but ,i found none to lead me to the house of the lord ,ozias4 ,yet when ,i saw my lord's visage my heart said3 ',this is he4' ,,ozias4 ,what is your affair with me8 ,,messenger4 ,i am a messenger4 ,,ozias 7curtly74 ,speak quickly1 for the government of this city in this hour is no common matter1 and the whole charge of it lies upon me4 ,,messenger4 ,and ,i am no common messenger4 ,i come with wings through the night from ,jerusalem1 from ,joachim1 the high priest4 ,,ozias4 ,ah6 7,changing his tone and beckoning the messenger aside47 ,what tidings do you bear8 ,,messenger4 ,i bear the licence from ,joachim4 ,,ozias4 ,what licence8 ,,messenger4 ,the licence for the people of ,bethulia to drink the wine which is sanctified and reserved to the priests which serve the ,lord4 ,,ozias 7affecting to be puzzled74 ,who hath demanded this licence from ,joachim8 ,,messenger 7surprised74 ,the lord ,ozias sent a messenger to ,jerusalem to beseech that the licence should be granted4 ,and my lord's messenger travelled so swiftly that in the moment when he reached the temple at ,jerusalem he fell sick and vomited1 and ,i have come to ,bethulia in his place1 for after he had vomited he unfolded to me the secret way into the city4 ,,ozias 7grandly74 ,it is true4 ,in the heavy multitude of my cares ,i had forgotten this matter of the licence4 ,,messenger 7confidentially74 ,and ,joachim hath bidden me to say privily that if any have already in their extremity drunk of the sanctified wine it shall be denied utterly--for the sake of the church4 ,,ozias4 ,ah6 ,,messenger4 ,and here is the licence4 7,offering it47 ,,ozias4 ,friend1 keep the licence and render it back to ,joachim1 the high priest in ,jerusalem4 ,for ,i need it not1 and ,i demanded it only by excess of prudence such as becomes the governor of a city besieged and thirsting4 ,but we ,bethulians are a faithful and a constant people1 and we have trusted in the ,most ,high4 ,and if perchance any have drunk of the sanctified wine unknown to me 7with a grimace7--it shall be denied utterly1 for the sake of seemliness4 ,,messenger4 ,but in the days of trial to come1 will not the lord ,ozias have need of the licence8 ,,ozias 7grandly74 ,friend1 return ye to ,joachim and say to him that the ,lord has delivered ,bethulia from the ,assyrians by the subtlety of his servant ,ozias4 ,,messenger 7amazed74 ,what says my lord8 ,,ozias4 ,yea1 this night the head of ,holofernes is set on a spear in the square before the temple1 and the ,assyrians flee one from another in disorder1 and my hosts are about to descend upon them and rend them to pieces where they stand foolishly in the valley4 ,,messenger4 ,but this thing is marvellous beyond the understanding of man6 ,,ozias4 ,it is indeed marvellous4 ,,messenger4 ,and when ,joachim enquires of me who hath taken ,holofernes the great captain to behead him1 and by what device1 what shall ,i answer to ,joachim8 ,,ozias4 ,you will answer that ,ozias1 knowing the weakness of ,holofernes1 sent down to him secretly a woman1 a certain ,judith of ,bethulia1 and upon the counsel of ,ozias the woman by wiles compassed the death of ,holofernes as ,i have told you4 ,,messenger4 ,it is a tale which fathers shall tell to their children1 and to their children's children1 and men shall wonder thereat for all time4 ,and now your servant will say to you a thing which has not been told to him but which his ear has heard4 ,it was said among the mighty that if my lord ,ozias should save ,judea from the heathen1 he would receive notable advancement and be raised up among the great ones of the land4 7,ozias bows47 ,yet will ,joachim not be astonished1 for it was spoken in ,jerusalem that among all the ,israelites there is none like the lord ,ozias for cunning and obstinacy in defence4 ,,ozias 7nettled74 ,nevertheless it is meet that ,joachim should be astonished1 for with five thousand have ,i set at naught one hundred and two and thirty thousand1 and in the chronicles of ,israel there is written down no deed to match the delivery of ,judea from the ,assyrians4 ,,messenger4 ,the ,god of ,israel hath saved ,israel4 ,,ozias4 ,the ,god of ,israel hath save ,israel1--by my hand4 ,go ye1 and when you have eaten and drunk1 set ye forth again for ,jerusalem4 7,the ,messenger salutes and exit1 ,l47 7,throughout this scene excited and joyous men and women frequently pass the street in twos and threes47 7,dawn is breaking and the torches begin to pale47 ,enter ,haggith and ,ingur from the house4 ,,ozias4 ,where art thou going8 ,,haggith4 ,lord ,ozias1 ,i came up from the valley to bring water1 and to give tidings4 ,now ,i go down again to the valley with ,ingur and his men to seek out my mistress1 and to take new raiment to her1 and lead her to the city2 for since the ,israelites are fallen upon the ,assyrians1 my mistress is no longer in danger4 ,enter ,achior4 ,,ozias4 ,slave1 who hath dared to loose thee8 ,,achior4 ,there was none left to guard1 and ,i came forth4 ,,ozias 7to a soldier74 ,seize this fellow and bind him with fetters4 7,the torches are by this time extinguished47 ,,haggith4 ,lord1 it cannot be so4 ,for the lady ,judith commanded me to bring ,achior also1 for her protection1 seeing that the youth came from the ,assyrians at the bidding of the ,god of ,israel to give comfort to ,israel1 and for a sign to my mistress4 ,,ozias 7after a pause74 ,i also will go with you1 for it is right that the governor should do honour to the lady ,judith4 ,,haggith4 ,my mistress commanded me to say to the lord ,ozias that he should remain in the city to prepare for her a welcome4 7,she points to the gates and ,achior gladly moves forward4 ,she takes ,ingur by the ear47 ,bestir thy legs1 booby6 ,,ozias4 ,the subtlety of women is past knowing4 ,,haggith 7at the gates1 maliciously74 ,it may be4 ,but would the lord ,ozias invite the displeasure of my mistress8 ,it is day4 ,let my lord sit in the sun4 ,,curtain4 ,,scene ,,ii ,,scene3 ,the same4 ,charmis is alone at the open gates4 ,glimpses are caught of the people beyond the gates4 ,,time3 ,afternoon of the same day4 ,,chabris 7entering to ,charmis1 at the gates74 ,they say there is now much water in ,bethulia4 ,,charmis4 ,seeing that ,i have toiled mightily seven hours this day in charge of six score crazy carriers to carry water up from the wells6 ,would that ,ozias had granted me a whip to sharpen their brains6 ,and now ,ozias hath left me in charge of the gates4 ,,chabris4 ,where is ,ozias1 and what does he do8 ,,charmis4 ,he stands here beyond the gates to receive ,judith and the women who have gone forth to meet her4 ,,chabris4 ,what is the deed of ,judith8 7,the noise of an approaching procession is heard4 ,charmis1 ignoring ,chabris1 goes a little outside the gates to watch4 ,chabris continues in a louder voice47 ,the streets of the city are empty4 ,i say the streets of the city are empty4 ,,charmis4 ,dodderer6 ,the whole city is afoot on the hill-side1 and all the ,assyrians left alive are fled in panic into the ,east4 ,,chabris4 ,then ,i will return to my house and drink again4 ,no6 ,i will remain1 and my eyes shall regard the women1 as of old4 ,enter through the gates a procession of women 7including ,rahel71 waving branches4 ,at the end of the procession come ,haggith and ,ingur1 and finally ,judith1 with ,achior on one hand1 and ,ozias on the other4 ,townspeople and soldiers1 garlanded1 follow the procession4 ,,ballet4 ,,ozias 7to ,judith74 ,o daughter1 blessed be thou above all the women of the earth4 ,thou art the exaltation of ,jerusalem and the great glory of ,israel1 for the ,lord hath directed thee to the cutting off of the head of the chief of our enemies1 and thou hast revenged our ruin4 ,,voices4 ,so be it4 ,,judith4 ,holofernes came out of the mountains from the north1 and his horsemen covered the hills2 and he bragged that he would burn up the borders of ,israel1 and kill her young men with the sword1 and make the virgins as a spoil4 ,but the ,almighty ,lord hath disappointed the ,assyrians by the hand of a woman2 and my sandals ravished the eye of ,holofernes1 and my beauty took his mind prisoner1 and the knife passed through his neck4 ,let all creatures serve the ,lord6 ,,voices4 ,so be it6 ,,ozias4 ,charmis1 ,i appoint you to lead the people to the ,temple1 where are the banners of the ,assyrians which we have captured this day1 and each woman shall take a banner1 and all shall return to this place before the house of the ,lady ,judith4 ,,charmis 7swollen with pride74 ,i obey1 lord ,ozias4 7,the procession begins to move away1 ,l4 ,haggith displays her importance and bullies ,ingur1 who accompanies her47 ,,rahel 7to ,chabris74 ,what1 grandad6 ,you are abroad once more6 7,she takes him with her like a disobedient child47 7,exeunt1 processionally1 all except ,judith1 ,ozias and ,achior47 ,,ozias 7to ,achior74 ,thou goest not with the people8 ,,judith 7to ,achior74 ,stay1 ,i pray you1 ,achior4 ,,ozias 7to ,judith1 with growing excitement74 ,i wish to speak privily with the lady ,judith1 now6 ,,judith4 ,let us speak here4 ,,ozias4 ,shall we not go into your house1 you and ,i8 ,,judith4 ,my house is not ready to receive you1 ,ozias4 ,,ozias4 ,let it be so4 ,but before ,achior ,i will not speak4 ,,judith4 ,achior1 go into my house1 and do honour to my dwelling1 and repose in it4 ,,achior4 ,gladly1 ,o lady6 7,exit into the house47 ,,judith4 ,what is the urgency that oppresses you1 ,ozias1 and why are you troubled in the hour of triumph8 ,,ozias 7losing control of himself74 ,who is the heathen ,achior that you should prefer him and make your mouth sweet to him8 ,,judith4 ,leave ,achior1 and let us come at once to the matter that presses4 ,,ozias4 ,oh6 ,i will not speak smoothly for a pretence6 ,thou knowest that my jealousy smokes against ,achior4 ,yea1 and against ,holofernes also4 ,,judith4 ,but ,holofernes is dead4 ,,ozias4 ,before he went down to his place1 didst thou not sin with him8 ,,judith4 ,as the ,lord liveth1 my countenance deceived him to his destruction1 yet did he not shame me4 ,,ozias4 ,blessed be our ,god6 ,,judith4 ,but how does this matter touch thee1 and what is my virtue in thy regard8 ,,ozias4 ,let ,holofernes suffice thee1 and drive not me also to death with the softness of thy voice4 ,art thou not aware that the soul of my soul burns for thee and will not wait--the more so since thou hast done a mighty deed and art proved a woman beyond all women8 ,,judith4 ,nay6 ,i have done naught2 but the ,lord hath saved ,israel by thy hand4 ,,ozias4 ,what is this humbleness8 ,,judith4 ,,as ,i came towards the city with ,achior1 the messenger from ,jerusalem met us in the way1 and he was full to bursting of the word of ,ozias1 and that ,ozias had delivered ,israel1 and that what ,i did ,i did by thy device and at thy command4 ,but the messenger in speaking knew not that he spoke to ,judith1 and ,i let him go4 ,,ozias4 ,judith---- ,,judith4 ,yet it seems to me that thou wast ignorant of all that which ,i went out to do1 and my plan was hidden from thee4 ,,ozias 7powerfully persuasive74 ,hearken to me1 ,judith4 ,i swear it was for thee that ,i boasted4 ,my aim was that thy mighty deed should gain preferment in ,jerusalem4 ,but thou art a woman and therefore preferment is not for thee4 ,yet now by reason of my boasting ,i shall be greatly advanced and lifted up1 and in all ,judea there will be none higher than me1 and thus wilt thou also be advanced and lifted up4 ,,judith4 ,i desire no preferment4 ,,ozias4 ,but ,i would have it in thy behalf2 and my appetite is double4 ,i rage for glory and dominion1 and ,i rage also for thee4 ,and ,i will offer thee glory and dominion1 for ,i seek these things as a gift to thy beauty4 ,and if ,i cannot lay them on thy lap my heel shall spurn mankind and ,i will tread it to dust4 ,my desires are terrible2 they will not be withstood2 they consume me daily1 but daily ,i am renewed4 ,i am on fire1 but by the fierceness of the fire ,i am strengthened4 ,i was conceived for greatness and my mother bore me for mastery1 and the huge earth shall shake with the terror of my commands4444 ,and ,i am held between thy fingers4 ,,judith4 ,i deny not thy greatness4 ,,ozias4 ,surely thou canst not4 ,for thou too art great4 ,and my greatness yearns to thine4 ,,judith4 ,wilt thou listen8 ,,ozias4 ,i hear4 ,,judith4 ,with this greatness of thine goes deceit and laxity of mind4 ,,ozias4 ,yet when thou didst thy mighty deed didst thou not deceive cruelly8 ,,judith4 ,i deceived not for myself1 but for ,israel2 and my guile was for the glory of ,god4 ,but thy heart is set only upon advancement and power1 which is corruption4 ,,ozias4 ,judith1 canst thou not lift thy thoughts beyond good and evil1 and canst thou not contemplate the marvellous greatness of man8 ,i will abase myself before none but thee1 and in my ear there is no commandment but thine2 and all other decrees will ,i mock4 ,i would have thee in marriage1 and ,i would have no other but thee4 ,wilt thou take me to thee1 and wilt thou yield thyself without fear to the terrible flame of my love8 ,for thus shalt thou fulfil thyself and me4 ,but give heed before thou answerest1 and know that if thou turnest from me1 ,i will make all the nations of the earth to tremble with my fury4 ,,judith4 ,thou art great also in thy loving4 ,,ozias4 ,once thou didst love me4 ,,judith4 ,nay6 ,i but looked upon thee in kindness4 ,but now ,i will not go to thee in marriage4 ,,ozias 7half admiring74 ,thou art not then afraid of my wrath6 ,,judith4 ,i am ,judith4 ,,ozias 7with a fresh access of violence74 ,thou hungerest for ,achior4 ,wouldst thou marry a heathen1 thou a ,hebrew woman8 ,,judith4 ,and thou1 if ,i had not accomplished the will of the ,lord1 and if thou hadst been carried to ,babylon as thou saidst1 wouldst thou not have denied the ,most ,high and gone after other gods8 ,but ,achior believeth in our ,god1 and this day will be joined into the house of ,israel4 ,,ozias 7savagely scornful74 ,what is ,achior but a simpleton6 ,,judith4 ,it may be4 ,but ,i love him and he shall rule me 444 for he came hither for a sign from the ,lord4 ,,ozias 7savagely resentful74 ,oh6 ,if ,i did not love thee1 would ,i not undo thee6 ,,judith4 ,thou6 ,thou art ,ozias1 but ,i am she who cut off the head of a mightier than thou1 even ,holofernes in his tent4 ,go thy ways and fulfil greatness4 ,as for me ,i will remain obediently in my house1 and truth and righteousness shall reign in my house4 7,the procession returns1 the women bearing the banners of the ,assyrians4 ,achior enters from the house47 7,judith is crowned with olives47 ,,judith4 ,and now let the priests and the elders enter with me into my house1 and ,achior shall follow them1 so that he may be received into ,israel1 and ,i will be betrothed to him with all the ceremonies of the law1 for he came to me as a messenger from ,god4 ,and when the marriage has been performed1 ,i will submit myself to him as a wife to her husband4 ,,haggith4 ,and let ,ingur also be received into ,israel1 for he has repented of his idolatries4 ,and he shall be my husband1 yet shall he not rule me4 ,,ozias4 ,brethren1 hearken6 ,this night ,i go to ,jerusalem1 for ,i am called to higher things1 because ,i have delivered ,israel4 ,and ,i shall not return to this little city2 but ye will have tidings of me in the years to come1 and ye will say proudly to the strangers within your gates3 ,he was a ,bethulian and once he ruled over us4 ,,judith4 ,the lord ,ozias is called to greatness4 ,peace go with him4 ,,all4 ,so be it4 ,,curtain4