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diff --git a/12794-0.txt b/12794-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e5276f9 --- /dev/null +++ b/12794-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2937 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12794 *** + +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 THERE: 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 (In Collaboration with Edward Knoblock) + +_In Collaboration with Eden Phillpotts_ + +THE SINEWS OF WAR: A ROMANCE +THE STATUE: A ROMANCE + + + + +*JUDITH* + +A PLAY IN THREE ACTS + +_Founded on the apocryphal book of "Judith"_ + + +BY + +ARNOLD BENNETT + + + + +LONDON + +1919 + +_First published April 30, 1919_ + + + + +NOTE + +This play was presented for the first time at the Devonshire Park +Theatre, Eastbourne, on Monday, April 7th, 1919, with the following +cast: + +Judith LILLAH MCCARTHY +Haggith ESMÉ HUBBARD +Rahel MADGE MURRAY +Ozias CAMPBELL GULLAN +Holofernes CLAUDE KING +Bagoas ERNEST THESIGER +Achior GEOFFREY DOUGLAS +Chabris E.H. 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 +HAGGITH, her waiting-woman +RAHEL +OZIAS, Governor of Bethulia +CHABRIS, an elder +CHARMIS, an elder +A SOLDIER +A MESSENGER + + +_Assyrians_ + +HOLOFERNES, General of the Assyrian armies +BAGOAS, his chief eunuch +ACHIOR, a captain +INGUR, a soldier +AN ATTENDANT ON BAGOAS + + + + +ACT I + +_A street in the city of Bethulia_. + + +ACT II + +SCENE I. _The valley near the Assyrian camp. Time, morning; two days later_. + +SCENE II. _The tent of Holofernes. Time, later, the same morning_. + +SCENE III. _The same. Time, the same night_. + + +ACT III + +SCENE I. _Same as Act I. Time, later, the same night._ + +SCENE II. _The same. Time, the next day_. + + + + +ACT I + +_A street in the city of Bethulia in Judea. Bethulia is in the hill +country, overlooking the great plain of Jezreel to the south-west. Back, +the gates of the city, hiding the view of the plain. Right, Judith's +house, with a tent on the roof. Left, houses. The street turns abruptly, +back left, along the wall of the city. Left centre, a built-up +vantage-point, from which the plain can be seen over the gates_. + +TIME: _Fifth century B.C. + +Towards evening_. + +Ozias _is standing alone in the street, drinking from a leathern bottle. +Enter_ Chabris, _back left_. + +OZIAS _(quickly, but with perfect calmness, hiding the bottle in his +garments_). Old man! It is years since I saw you. How came you past the +guard, old man? + +CHABRIS. Old? Old? I am not yet a hundred. Who are you? + +OZIAS. Ozias. + +CHABRIS. Ah! So this is Ozias, the son of Ezbon. Before your father +could walk I have nursed him on my knee; and he was filled like the full +moon--with naughtiness. + +OZIAS. What has brought you at last out of your house? Are you come to +prophesy once more? + +CHABRIS. I have given up prophesying. + +OZIAS. A profession full of risks. + +CHABRIS. I pass my endless days in meditation and solitude. + +OZIAS. That sounds much safer. How comely is the wisdom of old men! + +CHABRIS. And what do you do, sprig? + +OZIAS. Has none told you? + +CHABRIS. I see nobody but my daughter's granddaughter, and her I forbid +to speak to me, because being a woman she has the tongue of a woman, and +a woman's tongue is unfavourable to meditation. How should I be told? + +OZIAS. I am the governor of this great city of Bethulia. + +CHABRIS. You are responsible for this city? + +OZIAS. I am. + +CHABRIS. Now I understand my misfortune. And the truth was in me when I +said to your mother as she lay dying: Better it is to die without +children than to have them that are ungodly. + +OZIAS. Oh! How comely a thing is the judgment of grey hairs! + +CHABRIS. You ask me what has brought me at last out of my house. I will +tell you. Thirst! Thirst has brought me out of my house. Every morning +and every evening my great-grandchild serves me with pulse and water. +For five days she has furnished less and less water, and this day--not a +drop! Can one eat pulse without water to drink? Half an hour ago I went +to her to reason with her, and she lay on her bed cracked, and raved +that she herself had not drunk for three days and that there was no +water left in all Bethulia. So I came at last out of my house into the +streets of this city famous for its cool fountains which never fail. And +lo! I meet the governor of this city, and he is Ozias! Ozias! Seven days +do men mourn for him that is dead, but for an ungodly man all the days +of his life! Why is there no water in Bethulia, sprig? + +OZIAS. Old man, meditation is good and solitude is good, 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 war. Is it possible that you do not know what has happened? + +CHABRIS. I only know that I cannot eat pulse without water to drink. + +OZIAS. Bethulia is besieged. + +CHABRIS. Who is besieging Bethulia? + +OZIAS. Holofernes. + +CHABRIS. I have never heard his name. Who is he? + +OZIAS. Never heard the name of the chief captain of Nebuchadnezzar? Have +you heard the name of Nebuchadnezzar, by chance? + +CHABRIS. I seem to remember it. + +OZIAS. Come up here. (_They go up the steps to the vantage-point_.) +Look! A hundred and twenty thousand foot-soldiers. Twelve thousand +archers on horseback. Oxen and sheep for their provisions. Twenty +thousand asses for their carriages. Camels without number. Infinite +victuals; and very much gold and silver. The like was never seen before. + +CHABRIS (_stepping down_.) Why has Nebuchadnezzar set about this thing? +What harm has Bethulia done to him? + +OZIAS. Much harm. Nebuchadnezzar has decided to be God. He has decreed +that all nations and tribes shall call upon him as God. And he has +conquered the whole earth, excepting only Judea; and Bethulia is the +gate into Judea, and Bethulia has not listened to his decree, and I am +the governor of Bethulia. So Nebuchadnezzar the great king is very angry +and Holofernes is the tool of his wrath. + +CHABRIS (_going up the steps again and gazing_.) How many did you say? + +OZIAS. A hundred and twenty thousand foot and twelve thousand horse. + +CHABRIS. At any rate this will be the last war. + +OZIAS. Why? + +CHABRIS. Why! Because plainly war cannot continue on such a scale. Or if +it does, mankind is destroyed. Nebuchadnezzar has rendered war +ridiculous. + +OZIAS _(laughs; then half to himself, sarcastically)._ What is heavier +than lead, and what is the name thereof, but an aged fool? + +CHABRIS (_descending again, self-centred_). It remains that I cannot eat +pulse without water to drink. (_To_ Ozias.) And surely Bethulia has more +wells than any other city of Judea. + +OZIAS. The wells are at the foot of the hills, and Holofernes has +seized them all. + +CHABRIS. That is not fighting. + +OZIAS. It is war. + +CHABRIS. No, no! In my time soldiers fought fairly. + +OZIAS. And killed each other. 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 watch? + +CHABRIS. I say this is not war. Once I travelled many days to Nineveh. +It is a city of extravagance, and when I beheld its mad, new-fangled +ways, I knew that the last day was nigh. I was right. Three thousand and +five hundred years since Jehovah created Adam, and Eve from his rib ... +Too long! Too long! And what is pulse without water? I must have water. + +OZIAS. It is thirty-four days since Holofernes took the wells. If you +have received water up to yesterday your great-grandchild must indeed +have thirsted that you might drink. I have distributed water by measure, +but now the cisterns are empty, and women and young men fall down in the +streets, and there is no water in Bethulia. We are all in like case, the +high and the lowly. + +CHABRIS. Then give me your bottle. + +OZIAS. What bottle? + +CHABRIS. I saw you put it from your lips as I came. + +OZIAS. It behoves you to understand, old man, that my solemn duty as +governor is to maintain my own strength, for if I fell the city would +fall. Without me to inspire them the populace would yield in a moment. +What is the populace? Poltroons, animals, sheep, rabbits, insects, lice! + +CHABRIS. Give me the bottle. + +OZIAS. It is as empty as the cisterns. + +CHABRIS. Give it to me, or I will cry through the streets that you are +concealing water. (Ozias _gives him the bottle_. Chabris _drinks_. Ozias +_snatches the bottle away and conceals it_.) Ah! + +(_A figure is glimpsed in the tent on the roof of_ Judith's _house_. +Ozias _starts_.) + +CHABRIS. What is that up yonder? + +OZIAS. Nothing. + +CHABRIS. Whose house is this? + +OZIAS. It is the house of Judith, the daughter of Merari. + +CHABRIS. Ah! Merari, the son of Ox, the son of Oziel--Oziel and I were +little playful boys together--the son of Elcia, the son of Raphaim, the +son of Eliab, the son of Nathanael, the son of---- + +OZIAS. Old man, your memory is terrible. Have pity! + +CHABRIS. The draught has revived me. So Merari married and had a +daughter. What manner of woman is she? + +OZIAS. She is the widow of Manasses, who died of the heat in the barley +harvest. And she is childless. And she is very rich; for Manasses left +her gold and silver and menservants and maid-servants and cattle and +lands. And she has remained a widow in her house three years and four +months, and never has she come forth. And there is none to give her an +ill word, for she fears the Lord greatly. + +CHABRIS. Yes. But what _manner_ of woman is she? + +OZIAS. She is beautiful to behold. + +CHABRIS (_to himself_). Oh! _That_ manner of woman! + +OZIAS. And she has fasted all the days of her widowhood, except the eves +of the Sabbaths and the Sabbaths, and the eves of the new moons and the +new moons, and the feasts and solemn days of the House of Israel. + +CHABRIS. You are most deeply versed in her life. Is she exceeding +beautiful? + +OZIAS. She is exceeding beautiful. + +CHABRIS. Then it was she who _peeped_ (_with a peculiar emphasis on the +word_) from the tent a moment since. + +OZIAS. Old man, you have eyes. + +CHABRIS. It is the draught of water. + +OZIAS. She is said to take the air in her tent daily at this hour. + +CHABRIS (_accusingly_). And that is why you are here, Ozias. + +OZIAS. No! I come here to reflect upon my plans for the saving of the +city, and because of this vantage-point, to view the army of the +Assyrians. + +CHABRIS. This vantage-point is new since my day. You have built it +here, not to see the Assyrians, but to see Judith. And that is why you +have set a guard to keep the street empty. + +OZIAS. And if it be so, what then? Old man, you are so old that to +confess in your ear is sweet, like murmuring secrets into the grave. If +I do come to this place to watch for the marvellous vision of Judith, +what then? + +CHABRIS. What then? And the populace of Bethulia dying of thirst? + +OZIAS. The populace!... Mice! Rats! Beetles! (_He makes the motion of +crushing with his foot_.) + +CHABRIS. Yet the city is doomed. You can have no hope. + +OZIAS. No hope? Am I then a dead body? Am I a rotting corpse? True, the +city will be taken, and when the city is taken I may be killed. But in +your meditations, old man, has it not occurred to you that death must be +highly interesting? Or I may be seized for a slave. But either I should +cease speedily to be a slave, or I should become the most powerful slave +in Babylon. (_Reflectively_.) We might be enslaved together. + +CHABRIS. Who? + +OZIAS. Judith and I. The history of the world is full of miracles. +Meanwhile, I live, and the strong savour of life inflames my nostrils; +and the ever-increasing magnificence and terror of war is like wine in +my mouth. I shake with delight at the vastness and the mystery of the +future.... And there is woman! + +CHABRIS. I feel I can eat my pulse now. + +OZIAS. There is still woman. + +_A fracas is heard, back. Enter_ Rahel, _running, followed by two +soldiers and a mixed group of Bethulians, including_ Charmis, _an +elder_. + +RAHEL (_to_ Chabris, _like a termagant_). Why did you go forth alone, +grandad, frightening me when I looked and could not find you? At your +age! Come back with me this moment. + +CHABRIS. Ay! There is still woman! + +OZIAS (_angrily, to_ first soldier). Did I not give an order to bar the +street? + +FIRST SOLDIER. My lord, some of these are elders of high authority, and +would pass. As for the girl---- + +RAHEL (_to_ Chabris). This moment! (_She faints and falls_.) + +CHABRIS (_indifferently, as_ Charmis _moves towards_ Rahel). Let her +lie. She will come to of herself--or not, as God wills. + +OZIAS (_to the soldiers, with cold fierceness_). Get back to your +places. (_Exeunt soldiers_.) + +CHARMIS (_looking at_ Ozias _and indicating_ Rahel). She is the +fourteenth I have seen faint from thirst in the streets this day. + +OZIAS (_soothingly_). Alas! And you or I may be the next. We are all in +like case. But what is to be done? + +(_Confused feeble exclamations from the group of citizens:_ 'We want to +know. We are come for that. There is but one thing to be done.') + +OZIAS (_still soothingly_). Who among you will be the spokesman? + +CHARMIS. We are all spokesmen. + +OZIAS. Even the children? + +CHARMIS. Even the children. In our extremity we are all spokesmen. + +OZIAS. But not all at once. Will you begin, honourable Charmis? You know +that I am the servant of the citizens. + +CHARMIS (_nervously oratorical_). Lord Ozias, may the God of Israel +judge between us and you, for you have done us a great injury. (_Looks +round for approval. The group approves._) + +OZIAS. An injury? I? Have I not said that I am the servant of the +citizens? + +CHARMIS (_more confidently_). And I say again that you have done us a +great injury, in that you have not asked peace of the Assyrians. For we +have no helper, and the God of Israel has sold us into the hands of the +Assyrians. We are thrown down before them with thirst and with great +destruction. Therefore now we demand--(_looks round_)--I say we demand +that you call the Assyrians, and deliver the whole city for a spoil to +the people of Holofernes and to all his army. For it is better for us to +be made a spoil than to die of thirst. We will be the slaves of +Holofernes, so that our souls may live and so that we may not see the +death of our infants before our eyes, nor our wives nor our children +die. (_A mother in the group convulsively seizes her child. Pause_. +Ozias _walks about_.) We take to witness against you the heaven and the +earth and our God and the God of our fathers, which punishes us +according to our sins and the sins of our fathers; and we demand of you +that you deliver up the city to Holofernes and his host. (_A silence_.) + +(Ozias _ascends solemnly to the vantage-point._) + +OZIAS (_dominating the assembly_). Friends, it would seem that Charmis +has made an end. His words are excellent and full of pity. Who follows +him? Who will speak next? My ear waits. (_A silence_.) Ah! Then give +heed. The words of Charmis are full of pity, but I also have pity. Do +not I too cherish our women, and our maidens and our young children? And +because I pity I would not yield to the monster Holofernes. Yes, the +monster! This is not war that he wages. Once our enemy strove fairly +with the warriors of Israel. Now he makes our women and children to die +of thirst. The magnificence of war is gone from the earth, and +Holofernes by the excess of his hosts has rendered war ridiculous. +(Chabris _raises his hands_.) The peoples of the earth will perceive +that henceforward the institution of war cannot continue, and after this +there will be no more war. But meanwhile, if I go crouching to the feet +of Holofernes, what will happen and what will come to pass? 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 men, and dishonour our +women, and ravish our innocent virgins; for the enslaving of the +conquered will not content his anger nor satisfy the lust of his great +hosts. Shall these things be? I say they shall not be. But what am I, +save the servant of the citizens of Bethulia? And what do I speak, save +the thought that is in your hearts? There is no cowardice in you. You +are not sheep, nor rabbits, nor beetles, nor lice. You are valiant men, +and women lion-hearted. Without you I am naught, and if I defy +Holofernes, my fortitude is yours and my resolve springs from you. +Charmis has invoked the holy name of the God of Israel. Let Israel not +forget its God, for never has the Most High forsaken Israel. Brethren, +be of good courage. Let us yet endure five days. Five short days. And if +these days pass and the God of Israel turn not his mercy towards us, +then will I do according to the word of Charmis. Such is my oath to you. +And so it shall be. + +Haggith _enters from the house of_ Judith. + +HAGGITH. My lord Ozias! + +OZIAS (_quickly descending the steps_). What say you? + +HAGGITH. My mistress, the lady Judith, will speak with you. She comes. + +RAHEL (_half rising_). Water! + +OZIAS (_excited_.) The lady Judith comes out of her house after three +years. + +VOICES IN THE GROUP (_excited and impressed_.) Judith is coming, after +three years! Judith! The widow! + +OZIAS (_sternly to the group_). Get hence, everyone to his own charge. +Soldiers! Clear the street! (Two soldiers _advance, running to obey_.) +The men to the walls and towers. The women and children to their houses. +(_To_ Rahel, _who has risen, indicating_ Chabris.) Take the aged fool +away, girl. (_Ruthlessly and contemptuously_.) Get home, all of you. +Rabble! Insects! Lice! + +(_The street is cleared, not without difficulty, and_ Ozias _is left +alone with_ Haggith.) + +_After a pause_, Judith _enters slowly, in widow's apparel and +sackcloth_. + +(_Exit_ Haggith _into the house_.) + +JUDITH. Greetings, Lord Ozias. + +OZIAS. Lady, greetings. (_They salute_.) + +JUDITH. Where are the people? + +OZIAS. I invited them to go away. + +JUDITH. Why? + +OZIAS. Your waiting-woman said that you would speak with me. + +JUDITH. But what I have to say I would have said before them. + +OZIAS. Forgive your servant. + +JUDITH. No! It is I, the woman, who should ask to be absolved. + +OZIAS. I beseech you---- + +JUDITH (_simply_). Perhaps you dismissed the people because it is not +meet for them to see all the workings of the mind which has authority +over them. + +OZIAS (_warmly responsive_). Ah! Lady! In your wisdom and your +understanding you have comprehended what it is to be the governor of a +besieged city. You, alone! + +JUDITH. This is a day memorable beyond all the days of Bethulia. + +OZIAS. It is a day memorable beyond all the days of Bethulia--because +Judith, the widow of Manasses, has issued from her house and from her +secrecy, and because after long years she has lightened the city with +her countenance. + +JUDITH (_smiling_). We hold converse with words, but the shadow of +destruction is over us, and our hearts are darkened, and we hide our +hearts in speech. Ozias, governor of Bethulia, show me your heart. + +OZIAS. I dare not. + +JUDITH. Dare! I am not afraid. + +OZIAS. YOU are more beautiful than aforetime--were it possible. + +JUDITH (_accepting the compliment_). And if I am? + +OZIAS. That is what is in my heart! Behold my heart, and the depths of +my heart. Look deep, and deeper, and still you will see naught therein +but the beauty and the subtlety of Judith. + +JUDITH. It is no common man that with the parched tongue of thirst can +talk thus while unspeakable calamity assails the city. + +OZIAS. It is Ozias. + +JUDITH (_gently_). I came not to meet Ozias, but the governor of +Bethulia. From my tent I hearkened to the words which he spoke to the +people, and the Lord said to me: Go down to him, thou, a woman. And I am +here. + +OZIAS. The Lord reigns! That which I said to the people did not please +the ear of Judith? + +JUDITH. No. + +OZIAS. I spoke to the people according to their understanding. Have you +not said it is not meet for the people to know the thoughts of the +ruler? Hearken again? And I will speak now to the wise woman. I +flattered the people with vain praise of their courage, when they have +no courage. I affrighted the people with a prophecy of terror, when +there is no terror--for Holofernes is a great warrior, and has +compassion in his greatness, for he is a Babylonian. I gave them hope of +succour when succour is none--for, with a hundred and twenty thousand +footmen and twelve thousand horse against us (_with dry humour_) to +count upon the mercy of the Lord is presumption. + +JUDITH (_moves aside and returns. Sweetly_). Why then did you speak thus +to the people? And to what end did you deceive them? I beseech you yet +again to show me your heart, for it is right that I should know. + +OZIAS. I saw the vastness of the future as in a vision. If the God of +Israel perchance is merciful, and the city is saved at the eleventh +hour, then it will be said in Jerusalem that there is none like Ozias of +Bethulia for steadfastness, for he alone by his ardour revived the +fainting populace and held firm the city; and great will be my +recompense.... But that is a dream. Always I have faced the substance of +things, and the substance is that Nebuchadnezzar has decreed to rule +over the whole earth, and from the east to the west there is no living +man that shall not bow down before Nebuchadnezzar. Bethulia will fall. +I, the governor, shall be taken captive and shown to Nebuchadnezzar, and +in that day Holofernes shall say to Nebuchadnezzar: Lo! Here is Ozias +the Israelite who resisted thy mighty armies for thirty-four days and +yet five days more. Use him if it seem good to thee. And I shall be +lifted up to be a satrap of Nebuchadnezzar, and I shall partake of the +bright glory of Nebuchadnezzar. And--(_hesitates_.) + +JUDITH (_subtly and sweetly_). And? + +OZIAS (_in an outburst_). What am I without you, O Judith? Before +Manasses loved you, did I not love you? For three years have I not +watched over you in all honour and respect, and troubled you not with my +importunity until this day, which is the day of days? What am I without +you, and what shall be my dominion and my satrap's throne if you do not +sit in majesty by my side, O Rose of Sharon and matchless among women? + +Judith (_as before_). My lord, you are like a rushing river. + +OZIAS. You have seen my heart. + +JUDITH. I have seen it. + +OZIAS. And what say you? + +_There is the sudden sound of a disturbance. Enter, from back, soldiers, +holding_ Achior, _and a group of excited citizens_. Haggith _appears at +the house-door._ + +OZIAS (_fiercely_). What! Are my commands no more than the wind in the +corn, and is there to be naught but tumult within the walls of this +city? + +VOICES IN THE GROUP. An Assyrian! An Assyrian! + +FIRST SOLDIER. Lord Ozias! We saw this man lying bound at the foot of +the hill, and we descended and loosed him and brought him privily into +Bethulia by the secret way. And now we present him to my lord. + +OZIAS Fools! Then no longer is the secret way secret. + +VOICES. Slay him! Stone him! Whip the dog! + +JUDITH (_nobly scornful, to the crowd_). Oh! Brave! Oh! Men of courage +and high valour! + +OZIAS (_to_ Achior). Who are you? + +ACHIOR. Achior. + +OZIAS. Your condition? + +ACHIOR (_with calm, genial candour_). Captain of all the Ammonites in +the army of Holofernes. + +JUDITH. Let them loose him, Lord Ozias. His eyes are not the eyes of +treachery. + +OZIAS (_to the soldiers_). Loose him. (_To_ Achior.) And how come you +here? Speak the truth--and fear. + +ACHIOR. My mouth shall say truth, but I will not fear. + +OZIAS. My hand is terrible. + +ACHIOR. Thus it happened. When the children of Israel had shut up the +passages of the hill country and had fortified all the tops of the high +hills, Holofernes was very angry. And he called the captains of Ammon +and said to them: Tell me now, ye sons of Chanaan, who these Israelites +are that dwell in the hill country, and wherein is their power and +strength, and why they have determined not to come and meet me, more +than all the inhabitants of the west? And I, Achior, answered the +question of Holofernes. + +OZIAS. And what answer gave you? + +ACHIOR. I said to Holofernes: This people is descended of the Chaldeans. +But they left the way of their ancestors and would not follow the gods +of their fathers; and they worshipped the God of heaven. So they were +cast out from the face of the gods of Chaldea, and they fled into +Mesopotamia. And they came to Chanaan. But when a famine covered all the +land of Chanaan they went down into Egypt, and the king of Egypt brought +them low with labouring in brick and made them slaves. Then they cried +to their God, and he smote all the land of Egypt with plagues.... And +God dried the Red Sea for them. + +VOICES. It is true. It is true! + +ACHIOR. And they came to Chanaan, and drove before them the inhabitants +of that land, and they dwelt in that country many days. And while they +sinned not before their God they prospered, because the God that hates +iniquity was with them. + +VOICES. It is true. + +ACHIOR. But when they departed from the way which their God appointed, +then they were destroyed in many battles very sore, and were led +captives into a land that was not theirs, and the temple of their God +was cast to the ground. + +VOICES. Gentile dog! Shall we not render him to pieces? + +JUDITH. There is but one truth, brethren, whether it please or whether +it displease. + +OZIAS (_to_ Achior). Make an end. + +ACHIOR. And I said to Holofernes: But now this people are returned to +their God, and have possessed Jerusalem, and are seated in the hill +country. (_With more emphasis_.) And I said further to Holofernes: Now +therefore, my lord and governor, if there be any error in this people, +let us go up and we shall overcome them. But if there be no iniquity in +their nation, let my lord now pass by, lest their Lord defend them and +we become a reproach before all the world. + +JUDITH. It was well said. + +OZIAS. Lady, it was well said--if the slave said it. (_To_ Achior.) I +demanded of you: How came you _here_? + +ACHIOR. Thus. When I had finished speaking to Holofernes, all they that +were about my lord and governor rose up in wrath and cried: Kill him. +And the face of Holofernes darkened, and he said: And who art thou, +Achior, that thou hast prophesied among us to-day that we should not +make war with the people of Israel because of their God? And who is God +but Nebuchadnezzar? Nebuchadnezzar by my hand will destroy the +Israelites, and their God shall not deliver them. Their mountains shall +be drunken with their blood and their fields shall be filled with their +dead bodies. (_The_ citizens _show alarm_.) And thou, Achior, shalt be +delivered up to the Israelites in Bethulia, and when thou seest me again +thou shalt fall among the slain.... And he commanded his servants, and +they took me, and carried me secretly to the foot of the hill of +Bethulia. And here am I! + +OZIAS (_after a pause, positively_). It is a wicked device for our +undoing. + +JUDITH. How so? + +OZIAS. Plainly this fellow lies, and he has come subtly with a tale to +spy out our strength. Presently he will seek to escape from us again to +the Assyrians. + +VOICES. Spy! Stone him! Rend him! + +ACHIOR (_to_ Ozias). To Holofernes, my lord and governor, I spoke truth; +and to you also I speak truth. Never has my mouth lied, nor my tongue +uttered deceit. If death is ordained for my recompense, so be it. + +JUDITH (_to_ Ozias). He is a fair youth, and has spoken truly and feared +not. + +OZIAS (_with meaning_). Lady, he is a fair youth, and fearless. But by +what sign know you that he has spoken truly? + +JUDITH. By the glance of his eyes I know. + +OZIAS. It is a sign that suffices not. Shall it be said that Ozias was +deceived, and shall Ozias imperil his renown, by reason of the glance of +a youth when he looks at a woman--even you?... And if he lies not, then +he is a fool and his folly was great. + +ACHIOR. I spoke the truth to Holofernes. + +OZIAS (_fiercely_). But to speak truth did not content you. Having +answered Holofernes, you must needs offer counsel to your lord and +governor! Who were you to offer counsel to the greatest of all the +captains of the earth? The protection of the mighty conqueror covered +you, and lo! in your folly did you estrange yourself from him. Fool! + +ACHIOR. I said to Holofernes, my lord and governor, that which I was +appointed to say--that, no more and no less. + +OZIAS. And who appointed you to say that which you said? + +JUDITH. If there be a God in Israel, and if the Lord has not abandoned +us, may not this youth be the messenger of the Most High to bring us +comfort, and for a warning to the vainglory of Holofernes? + +OZIAS (_with irony_). All is possible to the Lord. Yet may his purposes +be hidden from us. (_To the soldiers_.) Until the Lord vouchsafe new +wisdom to me, his servant, bind fetters about the feet of Achior, and +take him to the house of bondage, and set a guard over him, for a spy is +not more dangerous than a fool. + +CHARMIS (_springing forward_). It shall be done, Ozias. + +(_The soldiers begin to put chains on_ Achior.) + +JUDITH (_quietly_). Shame him not with fetters, lord Ozias. + +OZIAS (_after a pause, to the soldiers_). Unbind him! (_The soldiers +obey_.) Take him off! Speedily! Away! All! Let none remain! Hasten, I +say! + +(_Exeunt back, all except_ Ozias _and_ Judith. _As he goes_ Achior +_kisses Judith's robe_.) + +JUDITH (_to_ Achior, _as he does so_). Truth-teller! + +(_At a sign from_ Judith, Haggith _re-enters the house_.) + +OZIAS. Your face is turned from me, because of the youth. Yet you came +out to see the governor of the city, and the governor could do no other +than I have done. + +JUDITH (_looking at him_). Ozias, you have shown me your heart. + +OZIAS. Yea! + +JUDITH. And in the moment when the youth came you asked of me my +counsel. + +OZIAS. Yea! + +JUDITH. Hear me now, for the words you have spoken before the people +this day are not right. + +OZIAS. What words? + +JUDITH. This promise that you have uttered to deliver the city to our +enemies, unless within five days the Lord turn to help. Who are you that +seek to stand instead of God among the children of men? + +OZIAS. Stand instead of God! + +JUDITH. Who are you that have tempted God this day? For you cannot find +the depth of the heart of man,--how then shall you search out God or +comprehend his purpose? Brother, provoke not the Lord our God to anger. +For if he will not help us within these five days, he has power to +defend us when he will, even every day. Do not bind the counsels of God. +For God is not as man that he may be threatened, neither as the son of +man that he should be wavering. Therefore let us wait for salvation from +him, and he will hear our voice,--if it please him. Moreover, this city +is the key and the gateway to all Judea. If it be obstinate in +resistance, Judea is not defiled, but if it be taken the whole land +shall lie waste and God will require the profanation of it at our mouth. + +OZIAS. All that you have spoken is truth, and there is none to gainsay +your words. From the beginning of your days we have known your wisdom, +and your understanding is manifest.... (_With significance_.) But we are +thirsty. + +JUDITH. If we are thirsty, let us give thanks to the Lord our God, who +tries us, even as he did our fathers. + +OZIAS. The people in the extremity of their thirst compelled me to an +oath, which I will not break. + +JUDITH. Say you the people, Ozias? As for them, you hold them lightly, +and they are as naught in your eyes. So much you have avowed. + +OZIAS (_in a new tone_). It is true. This day I hold the people lightly. +But when the great madness and desperation of thirst comes at last upon +them, who shall hold them? In that day they will seize the things +forbidden, and they will drink the wine sanctified and reserved for the +priests that serve the Lord. And to avert from me the wrath of Joachim, +the high priest of Jerusalem, I have sent already a messenger to +Jerusalem to bring a licence that this matter may be lawful. + +JUDITH (_shocked_). Nay! + +OZIAS. I say it will be so. + +JUDITH. It shall not be so. + +OZIAS. Then pray you to the Most High for the city, even for all of us, +and the Lord will send rain for our cisterns and we shall faint no more. +Pray, for you are a godly woman, and the God of Israel shall listen. + +JUDITH (_with supreme impressiveness_). Hear me again, Ozias. This night +I will do a thing which shall go throughout all the generations to the +children of Israel. You shall stand this night in the gate of the city, +and I will go forth from the city with my waiting-woman; and within the +days that you have promised to deliver the city to our enemies the Lord +will visit Israel by my hand. + +OZIAS. On what errand will you go? + +JUDITH. Enquire not of my act, for I will not declare it until the +things are finished that I do. But this I declare, that the Lord has +inclined himself to me, and now he has sent Achior for a sign. + +OZIAS. You go to Holofernes! + +JUDITH. To Holofernes. + +OZIAS. Do not go! + +JUDITH. But why shall I not go? + +OZIAS. The perils of the heathen will surround you, and harm will surely +befall you, for Holofernes will work lamentable evil upon you. And I +cannot suffer it. + +JUDITH (_smiling_). Did not Ozias say that Holofernes was a great +warrior and had compassion in his greatness? + +OZIAS (_insistent_). I cannot suffer it, for if any shame come upon you +I will not live. + +JUDITH. God will not see his handmaid shamed. Moreover I regard not +myself in this thing, but the welfare of the people of Israel. + +OZIAS (_kneeling_). Judith, I entreat you! For you are the light of my +eyes, and without you the world is not. + +JUDITH (_softly_). I know it. Think you that in these years I have not +seen the depths of your heart, Ozias? Think you that I was blind in my +tent? Think you that I watched not upon you? You were comely in my +sight. But this day you have revealed your pride. For you seek not God, +but the vanity of the earth, and you would make all Israel the +instrument of your glory, denying the Lord. And I am sad. + +OZIAS. Forgive me, Rose of Sharon. + +JUDITH (_softly_). Who am I, to forgive my brother? Peace be upon you! +(_She turns towards her house_.) + +OZIAS (_rising,_). Stay! + +JUDITH. I go to prepare myself for that which I have to do. (_Exit into +the house_.) + +(_A soldier shows himself, back._) + +OZIAS. Friend! + +FIRST SOLDIER (_approaching and saluting_). Lord! Your command! + +OZIAS. Send to me the officer of the watch. + +FIRST SOLDIER. Lord, the honourable lieutenant lies sick. + +(Haggith _appears at the door of the house_.) + +OZIAS. Thirst has overcome him? + +FIRST SOLDIER (_bowing_). He raves on the bed, lord, and his tongue is +like the tongue of a dog. + +OZIAS. Who then commands the watch by the watchfires this night? + +FIRST SOLDIER. I, lord. The watchfires wait the torch. + +OZIAS. Will you, too, faint, and will your tongue be like the tongue of +a dog? + +FIRST SOLDIER (_grimly_), Not mine, lord. + +OZIAS. DO the people complain? + +FIRST SOLDIER. Lord, they whine and snivel mightily. + +_Enter_ Haggith _with a small sack._ + +OZIAS. Is the secret way shut? + +FIRST SOLDIER. Shut and barred, lord. + +OZIAS. It must be opened.... Stand! I will see to it. + +FIRST SOLDIER. AS my lord wills. + +OZIAS. Has the watch aught to drink? + +FIRST SOLDIER. My lord knows that no drop is left in the gourds. + +(Ozias _waves him away, and he retires_.) + +OZIAS (_to_ Haggith, _who is busy with the sack_). Woman, has the lady +Judith perchance dreamed a dream? + +HAGGITH (_enigmatically_). My mistress has dreamed no dream. Why does +the lord Ozias ask? + +OZIAS. It seemed to me--(_stops_) + +HAGGITH. Dreams lift up fools. (_Exit into the house_.) (_Exit Ozias, +L_.) + +(_The soldier strolls forward. Twilight begins to fall_.) + +(_Enter_ Haggith _from the house with more baggage_.) + +HAGGITH (_to the soldier; curtly; not looking at him_). So thou hast no +water? + +FIRST SOLDIER (_with genial freedom_). Yea, Haggith, we have still a +little. + +HAGGITH. Then thou has lied to the governor? + +FIRST SOLDIER. _Him_? (_With a jerk of the shoulder_!) _He_ knows! In +truth now, thinkest thou he would expect us soldiers to keep guard +without water? _He_ knows! But he is a great lord, and in seemliness he +asks for a lie, and that which he asks is given to him--in seemliness. + +HAGGITH. But the officer raving as thou hast said with thirst? + +FIRST SOLDIER. Ah! It is the business of a worshipful officer to scorn +deceit and to suffer. + +HAGGITH. And all the people? + +FIRST SOLDIER. The people are the people. But we soldiers are +soldiers--and must drink, or we cannot guard. (_Yawns_.) Eh! I could lie +down and snore for seven years, but I am appointed to watch all night. + +HAGGITH (_suddenly caressing_). Sweet warrior! Would I could rest thee! + + +FIRST SOLDIER (_startled by the change in her demeanour_). Haggith! Thou +art marvellously and desirably changed. + +HAGGITH. I am practising to thy profit for that which lies before me and +my mistress. + +FIRST SOLDIER. What meanest thou? + +HAGGITH. Chut! If thou hast heard a word, let it die with thee--it will +not burst thee. + +FIRST SOLDIER. Lord! turn away from me vain hopes and concupiscence. + +HAGGITH. And so thou sleepest not this night!... Neither do I sleep. + +FIRST SOLDIER. What? + +HAGGITH. I go with my mistress upon a journey. + +FIRST SOLDIER. What journey? There can be no journey for thee, unless +thou leave the city and wend to the Assyrians. + +HAGGITH (_curt again_). Nevertheless we go upon a journey. + +FIRST SOLDIER. It is madness. + +HAGGITH. It may be. + +FIRST SOLDIER. Who can tell the heart of a master? Not I! When dost thou +depart? + +HAGGITH. My mistress is attiring. + +FIRST SOLDIER. Thou dost not attire her? + +HAGGITH. I! I, who have charge over all that is hers! Wilt thou tell me, +then, what is the task of her tiring-women? Idle sluts! + +FIRST SOLDIER. And this is thy baggage? + +HAGGITH (_matter-of-fact_). A cruse of oil, a bag of parched corn, fine +bread, three lumps of figs--and a bottle of wine--yea, the last! + +FIRST SOLDIER (_drawing in his lips_). Ah! But thou wilt need an ass for +this cargo. + +HAGGITH (_drily_). I am the ass. + +_Enter_ Judith, _magnificently dressed_. + +(_The_ soldier _retires, back_.) + +JUDITH. Is all prepared? + +HAGGITH. All is prepared, mistress. + +_Enter_ Ozias, _L_. + +OZIAS (_ecstatic at the sight of_ Judith's _splendour_). O, loveliness! +O, lily of the field! Who shall withstand you, and who shall say you +nay? + +JUDITH (_smiling_). I am ready to depart. + +OZIAS. The secret way is opened. I will lead you to it. + +JUDITH (_gently_). The secret way? I will take no secret way. + +OZIAS. But hear me, lady. The peril from the archers far off-- + +JUDITH. What did I say to you, lord Ozias? I said: You shall stand this +night in the gate of the city, and I will go forth. My desire is that +you command the gatemen to open the gates, so that I and my +waiting-woman may pass out before all men, and in the sight of the Lord. +(_She bends to examine_ Haggith's _baggage_.) + +OZIAS (_moved. Calling to the_ soldiers). Ho! Let the gates of the city +be opened, that the lady Judith may go forth. + +FIRST SOLDIER. Yea, lord. (_Calling to others, off._) Gatemen! + +(_The gatemen man the gate-chains, and citizens rush in with cries_: +'What shall happen to us? The lady Judith leaves the city? At +night-fall? What is it?') + +OZIAS (_fiercely, to the crowd_). Get hence! Dogs! + +JUDITH (_softly_). Let them stay, Lord Ozias, for that which I do, I do +not in secret, neither shall it be hidden. + +OZIAS (_to the crowd_). Make a way clear to the gates. + +JUDITH. Before I go, I will look into the valley whither I descend. +(_She mounts to the vantage-point_). + +VOICES. Water! Water! Or we die! + +JUDITH (_from the vantage-point_). Brethren, bewail not! Remember what +things the Lord did to Abraham, and how he tried Isaac, and what +happened to Jacob in Mesopotamia. For the Lord has not tried us in the +fire as he did them, neither has he taken vengeance upon us. But the +Lord scourges them that come near to him, to admonish them. (_She +kneels. Following her example, everybody kneels_.) O Lord God of my +father Simeon, the Assyrians are multiplied in their power; they trust +in shield, and spear, and bow, and sling; and know not that thou art the +Lord which breakest battles; the Lord is thy name. Behold their pride, +and send thy wrath upon their heads; give into my hand, which am a +widow, the power that I have conceived. For thy power standeth not in +multitude, nor thy might in strong men. Smite the Assyrians by the +deceit of my lips; break down their stateliness by the hand of a woman. +And make my speech and deceit to be their wound and stripe, who have +purposed cruel things against thy covenant and against the top of Zion. +And make every nation and tribe to acknowledge that thou art the God of +all power, and that there is none other that protecteth the people of +Israel but thou. (_She rises. The crowd murmurs:_ 'Amen.' _All rise._ +Judith _comes down from the vantage-point. Silence_.) + +OZIAS (_moved_). Open the gates. + +JUDITH (_to_ Haggith). Nothing is forgotten? + +HAGGITH. Nothing. + +(Judith _moves a step towards the gates._) + +OZIAS. The soul of my soul goes with you into the valley. + +JUDITH (_to_ Haggith, _solemnly_). And the knife? + +(Haggith _gives a gesture. At the same moment a woman comes from the +house with a knife, which she hands to_ Haggith, _who hands it to_ +Judith, _who takes it ceremoniously, and hides it in her dress. The +gates are now opened, and the distant plain under the setting sun is +seen covered with the tents of the Assyrian army_.) + +(Judith _goes slowly through the gates, followed by_ Haggith _carrying +the baggage_.) + +VOICES (_as_ Judith _passes_). Water! Water! + +OZIAS (_with deep emotion_). Close the gates. Light the watchfires. + +(_The gates begin slowly to close. The glow of the watchfires is seen_.) + +CURTAIN. + + + + +ACT II + + +SCENE I + +_The valley of Jezreel. The city of Bethulia on the hill in the +distance_. + +Haggith _with her baggage enters to_ Ingur _and his men_. + +TIME: _The next morning but one_. + +INGUR. What art thou? + +HAGGITH (_prudishly and coldly_). If it please thee, I am a woman. + +INGUR. No. Thou art a hedgehog. + +HAGGITH (_suddenly cajoling_). I ask pardon. When I saw thy great +handsomeness I grew afraid, and my tongue was stiffened. In my country +there is no man so handsome as thou art. + +INGUR. Ah! (_Much mollified_.) And what then is thy country? + +HAGGITH. I am a woman of the Hebrews, and I have come from Bethulia. + +INGUR (_astonished_). A woman of the Hebrews! From Bethulia! (_To his +men_). Stand back from my face. (_The men retire. To_ Haggith.) This is +a rare strange tale. + +HAGGITH. Could I lie to _thee_? I have escaped from the city, which is +given over to be consumed. I sought water for my thirst, for in Bethulia +there is no water, and the people faint in the streets. + +INGUR. But it is a long journey from Bethulia, and thou art fresh and +delicate as though just risen from thy bed. + +HAGGITH (_smiling_). I can hide nothing from thee, mighty wolf. I am, +indeed, but just risen from my bed. The night before last night I set +forth secretly, and came into the valley yesterday at noon, and lay soft +in a cave where three springs bubbled, and drank, and slept until this +morning's sunrise. + +INGUR. What is thy name? + +HAGGITH. Haggith. + +INGUR. Thy name is as strange as thy errand, and as thyself; and surely +thou art a woman of the Hebrews, which is a race of lunatics, as I am +told. + +HAGGITH. I have figs fit for a great king. (_Opens her sack and offers +some figs_.) + +INGUR _(eating)._ Um! And what else hast thou? Let me touch thee, +Haggith. (_He touches her carefully_). Yes, thou art outlandish, and no +doubt mad, but comely. Comely! Thou hast the likeness and feel of a +woman. Always have I hankered after strange women, and now lo! one falls +ripe into my mouth. (Haggith _shrinks. Reassuringly._) In a way of +speaking! In a way speaking! For thou art not in my mouth. And so thou +earnest to slake thy thirst? + +HAGGITH. Yes, my roaring lion. + +INGUR. Listen! Thou hast saved thy life with water. But thou art lost. + +HAGGITH. Lost? + +INGUR. Ay! A woman in the camps of the Assyrians--she is undone. She is +a lamb in a den of terrible tigers. (_Comfortingly_.) No, no! I will +protect thee, but I warn thee that thou art undone. I am honest. +(_Caresses her_.) + +HAGGITH (_clumsily returning his caress_). _Thou_ wilt not harm me. + +INGUR. I will not tear thee to pieces, but thou shalt come away with me. +(_She timidly strokes him_). Thou hast not the habit of this stroking. + +HAGGITH. My mistress commanded me, when I encountered any noble +Assyrian, to use him thus. It is true that I have not the habit. +Nevertheless I do what I can. + +INGUR (_startled at the mention of a mistress_). Thy--thy mistress? Ye +are two? Where then is thy mistress? Tell me upon the instant--is she +fairer than thou? + +HAGGITH. Seven times more fair. + +INGUR. Fetch her! + +HAGGITH. My mistress is washing herself in a fountain of water by the +cave. She sent me forward in peace and friendliness to announce her +coming. + +INGUR. Fetch her! (_Suddenly perceiving_ Bagoas _in the distance, he +changes his manner_.) Stay! Bagoas is approaching, and he may have seen +thee. His eyes are sharp. Stand off. (Haggith _moves away a little_.) +But when I tell thee, fall down on thy face. + +HAGGITH. Is he a great captain? + +INGUR. His mightiness is the chief eunuch of the Prince, and there is +none greater than he save only the Prince himself, for Bagoas has charge +over all the women of the Prince's tents. + +HAGGITH. Women of the Prince's tents? + +INGUR. Ay! Wives! Concubines! Virgins! Beyond counting. Didst thou think +in thy Hebrew pride, that the Prince was a savage and a barbarian?... +Down, damsel! Here is Bagoas. Embrace the earth for thy life's sake. +(Haggith _obeys_.) + +_Enter_ Bagoas, _with attendants, L_. + +(Ingur _salutes him with extreme deference_.) + +BAGOAS. Who art thou? + +INGUR. Ingur, mightiness, commanding twenty footmen. + +BAGOAS. Begone from my sight. This morning the Prince condescends to +walk through the camp, that all the armies may take joy in his +countenance. It is not meet that he should be seen of any lower than a +lieutenant. + +INGUR (_indicating_ Haggith). Mightiness, a woman of the Hebrews escaped +from Bethulia to find water! And by my subtlety I have captured her. + +BAGOAS. A woman of the Hebrews! (_Surveying_ Haggith.) Rise, scum, and +let me behold thy deformity. (Haggith _obeys_.) + +INGUR. And there is another yet to appear,--her mistress, seven times +fairer. + +BAGOAS. Her mistress may be seven times fairer than this eyesore, and +yet ugly. (_To_ Haggith.) Who is thy mistress? + +HAGGITH. The lady Judith. + +BAGOAS. Judith! A name fit only for a cat! Why is she here? How is she +here? What is her secret and detestable purpose? For there is a trick in +this thing. + +HAGGITH. I know not my mistress's purpose. + +BAGOAS. Tell me thy mistress's purpose, or I will have thee smothered. + +HAGGITH. I know only that if Holofernes---- + +BAGOAS (_stopping her angrily_). Callest thou the illustrious one by his +name? The most high _Prince_ Holofernes, foul wench. + +HAGGITH. The most high Prince Holofernes--if he so wills my mistress +would speak with his highness. + +BAGOAS (_laughing heartily_). Speak with the Prince? _Speak_ with the +Prince? Ha-ha! (_All the men laugh_.) What is the state of thy mistress? + +HAGGITH. The lady Judith is a widow. + +BAGOAS (_still more amused_). Aha! A widow! And the Hebrew hag would +_speak_ with Prince Holofernes! (_The men laugh and jeer_.) + +_Enter_ Judith, _R_. + +(Haggith _goes quickly to her. All the men stare at_ Judith, _deeply +impressed_.) + +HAGGITH (_aside to_ Judith). There are many hussies in the camps, +thousands and thousands, mistress. This lord is the chief eunuch. + +BAGOAS (_aside to an attendant_). If this be an example of the Bethulian +women, I shall have a momentous business upon me when their city falls. + +FIRST ATTENDANT. Yea, mightiness. + +(Judith, _signing to_ Haggith _to stand aside, bows to the ground +before_ Bagoas; _then rises again_.) + +BAGOAS (_after a short pause_). You are very beautiful. + +JUDITH. There are beautiful women in Judea, but no man of Judea would +look twice at such as I, a shrunken widow, like dried fish. + +(_Exit_ Ingur, _excitedly, L_.) + +BAGOAS. I have heard how you have escaped out of Bethulia and come +hither in order to find water. (_Blandly_.) Aught else? + +JUDITH. My desire also was to have speech privately with the great +conqueror, Holofernes. + +BAGOAS. Ah! We are well met, you and I. For I am Bagoas, chief eunuch to +the illustrious Prince. (_Aside to second attendant_.) Run. Fetch the +box of veils. (_Exit_ second attendant, _L_.) + +JUDITH (_saluting once more_). I supplicate then, mighty Bagoas, that +you lead me quickly to the illustrious Prince Holofernes. + +BAGOAS. Surely! Surely! It is my pleasure to content you. (_Aside, to +attendant, anxiously_.) This dried fish by her damnable beauty will +reach great power, and if I speak not softly to her now she will undo me +in that day. + +FIRST ATTENDANT. Yea, mightiness. + +JUDITH. I humbly thank your mightiness. + +BAGOAS. But it is necessary that you should relate to me your little +affair. For no woman speaks to the illustrious Prince until she has +spoken to me. + +JUDITH. It cannot be so. + +BAGOAS (_persuasively_). In my ear, privily. Approach. + +JUDITH. It cannot be so. + +BAGOAS. What mean you--it cannot be so? + +JUDITH. I will utter my errand to the illustrious Prince Holofernes +alone. + +BAGOAS (_losing his self-control; angrily_). What? Thou queasy chit! +Thou minx! Thou jade! Baggage! Mopsy! Shamelesss wench! Thou wilt not +obey Bagoas, chief eunuch in the camps of the Assyrians! I will make +thee the slave of my slave and the plaything of scullions. (_Stops._ +Judith _smiles_. Haggith _subsides alarmed at her feet_.) Thou shalt be +abandoned to the sutlers and the ass-drivers, and thus thou shalt learn +who is Bagoas and what is his power! (_Stops again._ Judith _still +smiles_.) The strumpets of the kitchens shall scorn thee! I--I---- + +JUDITH (_smiling sweetly_). Mightiness! Mightiness! I am your bondwoman, +but it is appointed by heaven that I shall speak with the illustrious +Prince Holofernes himself. + +BAGOAS (_controlling himself, smiling_). Well, if it is appointed by +heaven, so shall it be. Forget my words. They had no evil intent, for I +was trying you, as my duty is. (_Aside to attendant_.) The sweetness of +her glance dissolves my backbone. + +FIRST ATTENDANT. Yea, mightinesss. + +BAGOAS (_to_ Judith). Follow me, lady. (_Aside to_ attendant.) Thinkest +thou the Prince will come this way? (_Pointing_.) + +FIRST ATTENDANT. Yea, mightiness. + +BAGOAS. Or that? + +FIRST ATTENDANT. Yea, mightiness. + +BAGOAS. If the Prince so much as sees her before the city is taken, +never will the city be taken, and we shall all be her captives. + +FIRST ATTENDANT. Yea, mightiness. + +BAGOAS (_beating the attendant_). I will lead her by the path to the +cave, for the Prince will surely not come that way. (_To_ Judith.) +Follow me, lady. + +(Bagoas _moves R_. Judith _hesitates a moment as_ Haggith _picks up her +sack. Enter R. the heralds of Holofernes, followed by_ Holofernes.) + +BAGOAS (_to himself_). Holofernes! (_To his attendants_.) Hide her, +rascals, or Assyria is undone. (_The attendants range themselves +between_ Judith _and_ Holofernes.) + +(Bagoas _receives_ Holofernes _with a prostration and high ceremony_.) + +HOLOFERNES. Where is this woman? + +BAGOAS. Woman, Prince? + +HOLOFERNES (_impatient_). This Hebrew woman, I say! One Ingur has run +among the tents chattering, and the rumour of her has spread through the +camps like a plague. By Nebuchadnezzar the one god, where is she, for it +has been told to me that her beauty excels the beauty of all the women +of the East and ravishes the eye exceedingly? + +BAGOAS. Ah! It is of Judith that the Prince deigns to speak. Lo! I had +caught her and was bringing her to your highness. (_To_ attendants.) +Stand aside, dogs. + +(Judith _is revealed to_ Holofernes. _She prostrates herself and then +rises_. Holofernes _gazes at her, entranced_.) + +HOLOFERNES. So thou hast escaped out of Bethulia to find water for thy +thirst? + +JUDITH. To find water, and to have speech with the most illustrious +Prince. + +HOLOFERNES. Woman (_approaching her a step, and then standing still_), +be of good comfort, and fear not in thy heart, for I never hurt any that +was willing to serve Nebuchadnezzar, the god of all the earth. And if +thy people that dwell in the mountains had not held me lightly, I would +not have lifted up my spear against them, but they have done these +things to themselves. + +BAGOAS (_aside, to_ Holofernes). Terrible master, she is full of guile +and deceitfulness, and came not at all for water, but for a hidden +purpose against you. Therefore enquire of her closely. + +HOLOFERNES (_to_ Bagoas). Chastise thy tongue, ere it overthrow thee, +fiend. There is no guile in that face. (_To_ Judith.) Tell me now thy +message and wherefore in truth thou art come. And tremble not, for thou +shalt live this night. + +JUDITH. Great prince, receive the words of your servant and suffer your +handmaid to speak in your presence, and I will declare no lie to my +lord. + +HOLOFERNES. Speak. + +JUDITH. I will speak to my lord alone. + +BAGOAS (_aside to_ Holofernes). It is a device against my lord. + +HOLOFERNES (_to_ Judith). Speak now, I command thee. + +JUDITH. My message concerns the fate of Bethulia, and of all the +Assyrians, and of my lord. Life and death are in it, for I have communed +with heaven. + +HOLOFERNES. Which heaven? Thine or mine? + +JUDITH. There is but one God. + +HOLOFERNES (_roughly_). And he is Nebuchadnezzar. Speak thy tale. + +JUDITH. I will speak to my lord alone. + +BAGOAS (_aside to_ Holofernes). It is a device. + +HOLOFERNES (_angrily_). Speak out all thy heart, and quickly! + +JUDITH. I will speak to my lord in my lord's tent. + +HOLOFERNES (_furious_). In my tent! Who art thou who defiest me, and +what is thy licence, heathen slave, to defile the tent of Holofernes? +Bind her. Take her away, and twist the cords about her neck, and +strangle her, and cast her insolence into the lake. + +(Judith _is seized and bound in an instant_.) + +HOLOFERNES (_in two minds_). Wait! + +BAGOAS. She is bound, illustrious prince. + +HOLOFERNES. Wait! + +BAGOAS (_aside to_ Holofernes). Prince, let not the benevolence of your +heart be your undoing, for in the loveliness of her face is cunning and +great peril. I have lived all my days amid the craftiness of women, and +my lord also knows somewhat of their strange tricks, which bring ruin to +the carnal. + +HOLOFERNES (_reflective_). Who would despise these Hebrews that have +among them such women as she? (_Fiercely_). Surely it is not good that +one man among them should be left; for if one were let go he might +deceive the whole earth. + +JUDITH (_advancing a step, appealingly_). Will the wise man cast away a +pearl, and will my lord in anger lose his servant for ever? + +BAGOAS (_to_ Holofernes). Let her not speak with my lord alone in my +lord's tent. + +JUDITH. I would speak with the illustrious prince--and with Bagoas +also. (_She smiles_.) + +HOLOFERNES (_with a gesture_). I cannot lose thee. (_To attendants_.) +Unbind her. + +BAGOAS (_aside_). May heaven be with us, for the woman is against us! + +HOLOFERNES (_to_ Bagoas). Veil her, that her face and form be not seen +as she passes to my tent, for she is mine. + +BAGOAS (_calling_). The veils! The veils! Where is the rascal? + +_The attendant rushes in panting with the box of veils. He is followed +by_ Ingur. + +(Judith _is elaborately veiled in a series of veils by_ Bagoas _and his +attendants_). + +HOLOFERNES. Let her follow me. + +(_Exeunt, R, with great ceremony_, Holofernes _and his heralds, followed +by_ Judith.) + +INGUR (_as they go, stopping_ Bagoas, _who goes last_). Mightiness, +pardon your slave. + +BAGOAS. Well? + +INGUR (_pointing to_ Haggith). Your slave captured the mistress. Reward +him with this outlandish wench. + +BAGOAS (_carelessly_). The fool goeth out to seek his own damnation. +Take her. + + +CURTAIN. + + + + +SCENE II + + +_Interior of the tent of_ Holofernes. _A couch with curtains, L. The +principal entrance to the tent is at the back. Secondary entrances in +the hangings, L. and R._ + +TIME: _The same morning, later._ + +Bagoas _and his attendant are unveiling_ Judith. + +BAGOAS. Animal, wouldst thou dare to behold that which is thy lord's? +Leave the last veil, and away with thee. + +FIRST ATTENDANT. Yea, mightiness! + +(_Exit back with the veils already removed from_ Judith.) + +BAGOAS. Queen of the night of Holofernes! + +JUDITH (_through the veil_). Mighty Bagoas! + +BAGOAS. The Prince comes to look upon you in his tent. + +JUDITH. Mighty Bagoas, deign to answer a question I will put. + +BAGOAS. Deign to ask, lady, and my humility shall answer; for your +beauty has blinded Holofernes this day and he is your captive, and his +servant is your servant, and there is no law in the camps of the +Assyrians save your glance. (_He makes a covert gesture of half-amused +resentful resignation_.) + +JUDITH. Nebuchadnezzar is your god? Is it not so, Bagoas? + +BAGOAS. Nebuchadnezzar is henceforward the god of the Assyrians and of +all the lands which their spears conquer. It is an official order. + +JUDITH. If Nebuchadnezzar laid a command upon you, would you disregard +it? + +BAGOAS. I would not, for my skin is very valuable to me. + +JUDITH. As Nebuchadnezzar is your god, so is the Lord of Israel mine. +And my God laid a secret command upon me to speak with Prince Holofernes +alone and with none other in his tent. Thus, and thus only, was it that +I refused to speak in the presence even of the mighty Bagoas. But as I +withstood you in the valley there, the God of Israel descended upon me +and I heard the voice of God in my ear, and the voice said: 'It is +permitted to thee to speak with Bagoas also.' Therefore I yielded to the +importunity of Prince Holofernes and of Bagoas. + +BAGOAS. Your god is a wise god and has discernment. + +JUDITH. This I tell you, that there may be peace and good intelligence +between us. Is there peace between us? + +BAGOAS. Lady, in my heat I admonished you with hard words and much +vituperation. + +JUDITH (_innocently_.) By Nebuchadnezzar, I heard none. + +BAGOAS. There is peace between us. And in the closeness of our +intelligence you and I will rule them that rule all Assyria. + +_Enter_ Holofernes, _L_. + +(Bagoas _prostrates himself_. Holofernes _walks about, ignoring_ +Judith.) + +HOLOFERNES (_to_ Bagoas). At what hour is the Council of Captains? + +BAGOAS. The Council awaits your highness. + +(_Suddenly_ Holofernes _snatches the veil from_ Judith, _and throws it +on the floor. He gazes at her._ Judith _prostrates herself_. Holofernes +_drops on to the couch, and looks at everything except_ Judith.) + +HOLOFERNES (_imperiously_). Rise. (Judith _rises. A pause_. Holofernes +_plays with a jewel on his costume. Without looking at_ Judith.) And +Achior? + +JUDITH. Illustrious Prince. + +HOLOFERNES. Did the slave reach Bethulia? + +JUDITH. The men of Bethulia took him, and he declared to them all that +he had spoken to my lord Prince. And many approved him. + +HOLOFERNES. And what sayest _thou_ of Achior? + +JUDITH. O lord and governor, I say: Reject not the word of Achior, but +lay it up in your heart. + +HOLOFERNES. Thou art bold. + +JUDITH. The word of Achior is true. For the Israelites shall not be +punished, and the sword shall not prevail against them, except they sin +against their God. + +HOLOFERNES. Not even _my_ sword? + +JUDITH. Not even the sword of my lord and governor, except they sin +against their God. (_With significance_.) But they will sin. + +HOLOFERNES. Ah! They will sin? In what will they sin? + +JUDITH. Death is fallen upon them, and they will provoke their God to +anger, for their water is scant, and they faint in their thirst; and +they will drink the holy wine which was sanctified and reserved for the +priests who serve before the face of our God: which thing is not lawful +for any of the people so much as to touch with their hands. + +HOLOFERNES. What has all this to do with me? There is no god but +Nebuchadnezzar. + +JUDITH. It touches my lord and governor, because, knowing all this, I am +fled from Bethulia, which shall be accurst; and the God of Israel has +sent me to work things with my lord and governor whereat the whole earth +shall be astonished. + +HOLOFERNES (_looking at her, interested_). What things? And what have I +to do with thy god? I need not thy god, for after the Israelites have +drunk their wine they will thirst again; and when the city is broken +with fainting, it will fall safe into my hands while I sit and watch. + +JUDITH (_with fire_). And when the city has fallen while the Assyrians +sit and watch, 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 spear, and bow, and sling--in that day will my lord and +governor be content? Or will he be ashamed, and blush to lift up his +eyes? + +HOLOFERNES (_disturbed_). It is a true word. + +BAGOAS. It is a true word. + +HOLOFERNES (_savagely_). This day will I attack the city and take it, +and though I make fifty thousand widows and orphans in Assyria I will +compass Bethulia, and not one house in it shall be left standing, nor +one Israelite alive. + +JUDITH (_shaking her head slowly_). Why is my lord against the pleasure +of the Most High? Do I not say, and has it not been revealed to me, that +Bethulia shall not perish until its inhabitants have sinned before God? +Listen, illustrious Prince, I will remain this night. And when the time +comes I will go into the valley, and I will pray to God, and mayhap He +will tell me when the Israelites in Bethulia have committed their sin. +And I will come and show it to you, and thereupon my lord and governor +shall go forth with all his army, and none shall resist him. + +HOLOFERNES (_fascinated_). Thou wilt come to me when the time is at hand +for my triumph! + +JUDITH. And hearken further! I will lead my lord and governor in the +midst of Judea, until he comes to Jerusalem; and I will set his throne +in the midst of Jerusalem, and a dog shall not so much as open his mouth +at my lord and prince. For these things were declared unto me from on +high, and I am sent to tell them. + +HOLOFERNES (_aside to_ Bagoas, _excitedly_). There is not such a woman +from one end of the earth to the other, both for beauty of face and +wisdom of words. + +BAGOAS. It may well be so, Prince. But I have not seen the whole earth. + +HOLOFERNES (_to_ Judith). Thou hast done well to come to me, that +strength may be in my hands and destruction upon them that lightly +regard Nebuchadnezzar, the one god. Thou art ravishing in countenance, +and if thou do as thou hast spoken, thou shalt dwell in my house which +is over against the house of King Nebuchadnezzar, and thou shalt be +renowned through the east and through the west. Bagoas, prepare meat and +wine for her. + +BAGOAS (_making as if to give an order_). To hear is to obey. + +JUDITH. I will not eat of my lord's meat, nor drink of his wine, lest +there be offence; I have brought provision by my waiting-woman. + +BAGOAS. But if thy provision fail? + +JUDITH (_significantly_). My provision will not fail before the Lord +works by my hand the things which He has determined. + +Bagoas _claps his hands. Enter an attendant_. + +BAGOAS. Fetch Haggith, the waiting-woman of the lady Judith! Quickly! +(_Exit attendant. To_ Holofernes.) Prince, shall the Hebrew woman eat +and drink of her provision in my lord's tent? + +HOLOFERNES. She shall eat and drink in my tent, and she shall not leave +it. + +BAGOAS. Then it is right that my lord remains not. And moreover the +Council humbly waits for my lord. (_Exit_ Holofernes, _L_.) + +BAGOAS (_to_ Judith, _as he follows_ Holofernes). Did I not say that you +and I shall rule them that rule Assyria? (_Exit L_.) + +_Enter_ Haggith, _back, with provisions_. + +HAGGITH (_excited, looking round to see if they are alone_). Mistress! +Is it possible? + +JUDITH. What has taken thee? + +HAGGITH. Is this the tent of the monster? + +JUDITH. Hush! + +HAGGITH (_whispering_). It is greater and more magnificent than the +temple at Bethulia. (_Looking into a corner_.) But unclean. Have they +no besoms?... Ah! (_Looking up at the roof_.) The bigness of it makes me +small like a child before it can walk. I could not live comfortably in +such a great windy place. No! I prefer our own house to all this +royalty. + +JUDITH. Give me food, Haggith. Where hast thou been? (_She sits_.) + +HAGGITH. Mistress, I have been with the man Ingur! (_Arranging_ Judith's +_costume, and then setting out the food and wine_.) In obedience to your +command. At Bethulia, being busied all my days with the ordering of your +possessions, I had no time for traffic with men; neither desire. And I +deemed them terrible and masterful creatures. And when you commanded me +to go forth into the camps and delude and entangle with wiles whatever +Assyrian I should meet, I was afraid. For it was in my heart that I +could not accomplish this thing. Yet I have done it prettily. And it is +easier to me far than sweeping with a besom. Either all men are +simpletons and besotted with self-conceit, or Ingur exceeds greatly in +folly. I have been given to him for his slave, but he is mine and knows +it not. (_She sits_.) + +JUDITH. Where hast thou left him? + +HAGGITH. Mistress I would not suffer that you should pass from my sight, +and I followed you, and Ingur followed me gladly, and at last the guard +seized him for that he was found within the precincts of the prince's +quarter, which is forbidden to his rank, and many stripes will be his. +Mistress, you eat not. + +JUDITH (_trying to eat_). Yes, I eat. Do thou eat for me. + +HAGGITH. I have eaten and drunk--with Ingur. + +JUDITH. But not of his provision? + +HAGGITH (_nodding_). He so softly entreated me. + +JUDITH. It is a sin and an offence for thee, being an Israelite. + +HAGGITH. For such as my high-born mistress, it is an offence. But for +the handmaid--pooh! She eats as she can, and the Lord turneth away his +glance until she has finished her platter. Moreover, did you not lay it +upon me to beguile the dolt? And verily, mistress, I have rejoiced much +this day; and Ingur---- + +JUDITH. Silence with thy prattle. Bethink thee of the dread business +upon which I am come down from Bethulia into the valley? + +HAGGITH (_subdued; offering food_). Eat, mistress. + +JUDITH. I cannot. My soul rejects it, and my body is on fire with +expectation and suspense. (_Rising_. Haggith _also rises_.) Stay thou +where thou art, for I will go forth alone. I must commune with the God +of Israel for my tranquillity, and I dare not seek him in the tent of +the heathen. (_Exit, back_.) + +(Haggith _gathers the meat together_.) + +_Enter_ Holofernes _and_ Bagoas, _L_. + +HOLOFERNES (_looking about the tent, alarmed_). Where is she? Has she +fled? If she has escaped me, this shall be thy last day, Bagoas. What is +this girl here? + +BAGOAS. Prince, has any woman yet slipped through these hands? This girl +is the waiting wench of the lady Judith. (_To_ Haggith.) Where is thy +mistress, wench? + +HAGGITH (_frightened and foolish_). My mistress having eaten ... having +eaten naught, is gone to--to--to--pray. + +BAGOAS. Bring her. Her god may wait, but not the illustrious Prince. Run +with both thy legs. + +HAGGITH. Ye--es, mightiness. (_Exit, back_) + +HOLOFERNES. Bagoas, with thine arts thou shalt persuade the Hebrew woman +to come to us and to eat and drink with us this night. + +BAGOAS (_grimly_). Persuasion shall be used, highness. My arts are many +and various. + +HOLOFERNES. It will be a shame for our person if we let such a woman go, +not having delighted in her company. If we do not draw her to us she +will laugh us to scorn. + +BAGOAS. Yea, highness. But my lord has but this moment appointed a great +feast with his captains at sunset. How then shall he eat and drink with +the lady Judith? + +HOLOFERNES. Thick-skull! Speak not to me of my captains! The Council of +the Captains was as dust in my mouth, and I could not away with it. +Therefore I sharply dismissed the Council, and soothed their damnable +pride with the promise of a mighty feast. But what care I for the +captains? My heart thirsts horribly for this Hebrew woman, and I am full +of a great madness. + +BAGOAS. So be it, highness. Nevertheless, the Prince has promised to his +captains a mighty feast, and the word of Holofernes is a rock that +cannot be shaken. + +HOLOFERNES. Oh! What a calamity is love! And there is no slave so +trodden down as him that is the slave of desire.... Bah! I will eat and +drink quickly with the captains, and the woman shall await me here. + +_Enter_ Judith, _back. On seeing_ Holofernes _she prostrates herself_. + +HOLOFERNES. Arise, sorceress. (Judith _rises. To_ Bagoas.) Go fetch +leopard skins for her repose. + +BAGOAS. I will send for the skins on the instant, highness. + +HOLOFERNES. Thou wilt go thyself to fetch them, elephant. And come not +back without the finest skins in my wardrobe. See to it. + +(_Exit_ Bagoas, _back_.) + +HOLOFERNES. Come closer. (Judith _obeys_.) Look into my eyes. (Judith +_obeys_.) Sorceress, thou knowest thy power. + +JUDITH. I have no power, save that which is given to me from on high. + +HOLOFERNES. Thou wast praying to thy god? + +JUDITH. Yea, highness. + +HOLOFERNES. Didst thou demand of him that he should tell thee if the +Israelites in Bethulia had committed their sin, and if the time of my +triumph was at hand? + +JUDITH. No, lord. I prayed for the forgiveness of the transgressions of +thy handmaid. + +HOLOFERNES. Why didst thou not demand of him what I ask thee? + +JUDITH. Who am I to hasten the God of Israel? In the night time, and in +the darkness, when all men sleep,--then it is that my God condescends +towards me, and my ear hears his secret purposes. + +HOLOFERNES (_low_). This night? + +JUDITH. Who can search out heaven? + +HOLOFERNES. This night? + +JUDITH. It may be. + +HOLOFERNES. And thou wilt come to me in the night and tell me thy +message? + +JUDITH. I will come to thee in the night, great prince. + +HOLOFERNES. And thou wilt eat and drink with me in my triumph? + +JUDITH (_after a pause_). If it pleases my lord. + +HOLOFERNES. Thou wilt eat of my meat and drink of my wine, which I will +give thee? + +JUDITH (_after a pause_). If my lord is alone and there is none with +him. For it is not right that any should see me. + +HOLOFERNES. I will be alone. But Bagoas shall stand at the door of the +tent. + +JUDITH. As my lord wills. + +HOLOFERNES (_ecstatic, moving a little towards her; she responds_). +Fairest among women! Can it be!... The way of God is wondrous. + +(_A half-veiled Assyrian woman appears through the hangings R., and +watches_.) + +JUDITH (_solemnly and significantly_). There are yet hid greater things +than this, and thou hast yet seen but a few of his works. + +HOLOFERNES (_sinking back on the couch, mysteriously afraid_). +Sorceress! + +(_The watcher disappears_.) + +JUDITH (_cooingly_) Does my lord shrink from his handmaid? + +(Holofernes _stretches his hands to her_.) + + +CURTAIN. + + + + +SCENE III + + +SCENE: _The same_. + +TIME: _The same night_. + +_Wine and food are set by the couch_. + +_A lamp is burning_. + +BAGOAS (_at back entrance to tent, calling to people off_). To your +beds, all of you. Let none remain. (_He stands a moment at the entrance; +a few distant shouts are heard; then silence_. Bagoas _comes within the +tent towards the couch. To_ Holofernes.) The waiters are gone, Prince. +There is no one left to disturb the night. + +HOLOFERNES. Hast thou seen her? + +BAGOAS (_after a pause_). No, prince. + +HOLOFERNES. But didst thou look? + +BAGOAS. I looked, O illustrious. + +HOLOFERNES. Is there moonlight? + +BAGOAS. The moon is clouded, highness. + +HOLOFERNES. Give me wine. (Bagoas _obeys_.) Bagoas! + +BAGOAS. Prince? + +(_The hangings of the tent R., balloon inwards a little_.) + +HOLOFERNES (_looking behind him sharply, spilling some wine_). The wind +is rising. + +BAGOAS. It is but a night breeze. + +HOLOFERNES (_as he drinks gloomily_). Bagoas, she has escaped back to +her own people. + +BAGOAS (_aside_). I would she had, the jade! (_To_ Holofernes.) Prince, +she cannot escape. Every path from the valley is guarded. + +HOLOFERNES. What guard could restrain such a woman? + +BAGOAS. Ah! Prince! What guard could restrain her? + +HOLOFERNES. Dost thou echo me? + +BAGOAS. I humbly think the thought of his highness. + +HOLOFERNES. Do thy thinking outside. + +(Bagoas _bows and moves towards the entrance_. Judith _is standing +there. The two look at each other for a moment_.) + +BAGOAS (_with a gesture, indicating_ Judith). Highness! + +HOLOFERNES (_Jumping up. To_ Bagoas). Begone to thy post! + +(Judith _glides in silently_. Bagoas _goes out. They pass by each other +without a word or a salutation, but mutually scrutinizing_.) + +JUDITH. The great feast of the captains is over? + +HOLOFERNES. The captains are departed, drunken with wine and their +pride. But thy feast and my feast is not begun. (_Points to the +repast_.) + +JUDITH (_enigmatically_.) I am here. + +HOLOFERNES (_ecstatic_.) Art thou in truth here, or do my eyes behold +that which is not? + +JUDITH. Did I not say that I should come in the night? + +HOLOFERNES. Yea, I trusted thee. I trusted thee so much that at the +feast of the captains I commanded that all my hosts shall attack +Bethulia, with bow, and sling, and spear, at sunrise, 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 Assyrians; for some among them +feared the word of Achior which they had heard. + +JUDITH. You have not done this thing? + +HOLOFERNES. I have done it. + +JUDITH. Would you forestall God, and would you speak the decrees of God +before they are uttered? + +HOLOFERNES. Thou saidst thou wouldst pray to thy god this night and that +he would tell thee when the Israelites in Bethulia had committed their +sin, and that thou wouldst come to me to proclaim the hour of my +triumph. + +JUDITH. I said: I will pray to God and _mayhap_ he will tell me. + +HOLOFERNES. Thou hast prayed, and thy god hath not answered? + +JUDITH. He has not answered. + +HOLOFERNES (_with bravado_). He is no god, then, thy god. Let us drink. + +JUDITH (_as_ Holofernes _moves towards her, solemnly_). Touch not your +handmaid, and touch not the goblet. (_She goes to the skins, R_.) + +HOLOFERNES (_following_ Judith _gently_). Thou art offended. + +JUDITH. Stand afar off, Holofernes, and meddle not with her that +communes with the Most High. + +(Judith _kneels_. Holofernes _goes in the direction of the couch. +Silence_. Bagoas _has been seen once or twice in the porch of the tent, +his back turned. He has now gone again. Two half-veiled Assyrian women +appear through the hangings, R., and watch a moment, then vanish_. +Judith _slowly rises_.) + +HOLOFERNES. What has befallen thee? + +JUDITH. It has befallen me that this moment the God of Israel has spoken +and my ear has heard his command. (_Approaching_ Holofernes.) + +HOLOFERNES. What saith thy god? + +JUDITH. My ear has heard that the Israelites in Bethulia have committed +their sin, and at sunrise the Assyrians shall assault Bethulia and none +shall withstand them. + +HOLOFERNES. A miracle! + +JUDITH. A miracle in thy tent, O great warrior! + +HOLOFERNES. To-morrow is appointed to be the day of my triumph. + +JUDITH (_moved_). Yea, it is so. + +HOLOFERNES (_gratefully_). Hear me, Judith. Thy god shall be my god. + +JUDITH. In truth thou art set apart to be his. HOLOFERNES (_close to +her_). Thy body trembles. + +JUDITH (_smiling_). Thinkst thou then that I was not afraid for thee? +But my fear is gone from me, for now I know thy fate and the decree of +heaven concerning thee. + +HOLOFERNES (_aside_). To-morrow is appointed for my triumph, but this +night also shall I exult. (_To_ Judith.) Let us eat and drink together, +for we are alone in the night, and thou hast promised. + +JUDITH (_gaily_). Let us feast. + +HOLOFERNES (_animated by her responsive tone_). Take off thy tunic; thou +art in thy own house. Let Holofernes be thy tire-woman. (_Approaching +her_.) + +JUDITH. No! (_Moving from him to the further side of the couch_.) But he +shall be my slave to serve me. Pour out the wine, great slave. + +(_While_ Holofernes _cheerfully obeys_, Judith _takes the knife from her +garments and places it behind the couch. Then, as he stands with the +wine, gazing at her and separated from her only by the couch, she slowly +removes her tunic and appears in indoor attire. She comes towards him +and takes the wine from him and drinks_.) + +HOLOFERNES. I feared that in the strictness of thy Hebrew scruples thou +wouldst not drink of my wine. + +JUDITH. I will drink again. (_She does so_.) + +HOLOFERNES _(taking the goblet and drinking)._ Dost thou verily know thy +power and thy dominion, Judith? + +JUDITH (_simply_). Yes, I know it now better than thou. + +HOLOFERNES. Thou dost not. For I am mad for thee, and thou hast set thy +seal upon me for evermore. My heart cannot hold thee, for thou hast +filled it to overflowing, and all men see that my heart is full of thee +and runneth over. Yea, I have a hundred and two and thirty thousand that +bow themselves at my feet and that live and die by my glance. And I am +at _thy_ feet and thy glance is my joy and my sorrow according to thy +whim. Judith, I entreat thee, command me something. For whatever thou +command me, that will I execute. And be not afraid in thy command, for +my power is very great and there is none like it save only my lord +Nebuchadnezzar's. + +JUDITH (_tenderly_). I command thee that thou be happy. For thy captive +has no other desire. + +HOLOFERNES. Say not my captive. For it is I that am thy prisoner. And I +will set thee on my throne, and in my great boldness I will dare to sit +beside thee. But thou shalt reign. And we will live together in Assyria +long years. + +JUDITH (_changing her mood_). There is no requisition in the grave +whether you have lived ten or an hundred or a thousand years. But the +God of Israel is a shield. + +HOLOFERNES (_eagerly_). And I have told thee that thy god shall be my +god; but in secret, because of that which I owe to King Nebuchadnezzar. +Yet shall the whole earth know that thou, Judith, alone art my god. + +JUDITH. But thou hast other wives. + +HOLOFERNES. No! + +JUDITH. Yes! It has been whispered to me that thou hast many wives, and +concubines without number. + +HOLOFERNES. It is a lie. For from this night I have put away from me all +women but thee, and there is not one among them to compare with thee. +(_Appealingly_). And since the judgment of heaven hath done a miracle +by thee in the tent of Holofernes this night, wilt thou deny, O +tenderness! that thou hast been divinely appointed to me, and I to thee? + +JUDITH. I will not deny that the Lord is in this thing. And for thy +comfort I will tell thee that which thou knowest not. + +HOLOFERNES (_expectant_). Tell me. + +JUDITH. Before I escaped from Bethulia, as I lay on my bed, a vision +came to me, and it was the vision of Holofernes in the likeness of his +majesty and his might. And I saw the vision by my bed, and so it was +that I came down into the valley.... (_Softly_.) And wouldst thou that I +should have uttered this secret to any but thee! + +HOLOFERNES (_full of emotion_). I will kiss thy lips, and thou art mine, +O fragrance! + +JUDITH. Kiss my lips. + +(Holofernes _kisses her, and then in an excess of feeling stumbles +backward_.) + +(_A half-veiled Assyrian woman appears at the opening R., and watches_. +Bagoas, _in the porch of the tent, turns and sees her, and dashes at her +with a weapon. Both disappear through the opening, R._) + +JUDITH (_moving with stealth towards the hidden knife, comfortingly_). O +mighty child, where is thy strength, and where is thy terribleness? Rest +thee a moment on the couch, and thy soul's captive will tend thee. + +(Holofernes _drops on the couch, and_ Judith _caresses him_.) + +HOLOFERNES (_murmuring_). My great joy has overthrown me. + +(Judith, _seizing the knife and leaning over_ Holofernes, _kills him +while she is still caressing_.) + +JUDITH (_as she uses the knife; murmuring_). Thou that wouldst go +against the pleasure of the Most High! Thou that wouldst defile Judea! +Thou that hast dishonoured with thy kiss the widow of Manasses! Thou +that hast compelled me to guile and deceit and much lying so that I +might perform the will of God! The grave shall be thy house! + +_Enter_ Haggith, _L_. + +JUDITH (_turning to_ Haggith, _firmly and impressively_). I have done +that which I had to do, and the power of Assyria is fallen. +(_Pointing_.) Take the head by the beard, and put it in thy sack, and +let us depart. + + + +CURTAIN. + + + + +ACT III + + +SCENE I + + +SCENE: _Same as Act I_. + +TIME: _A few hours later than Act II, Scene III, the same night. The +sole light is that of torches, and watchfires (off)._ + +_The gatemen are at the gates_. + +_There is a knocking on the outside of the gates_. + +_Enter First Soldier, running_. + +FIRST SOLDIER (_to a gateman, who is climbing up in order to look over +the top of the gates_). Look not over, booby. Thy fool's face might meet +the point of an Assyrian spear. (_The gateman slips down quickly_.) + +(_Renewed knocking_.) + +FIRST SOLDIER (_shouting_). None can enter the city till sunrise. And +not then if I like not the aspect of his phiz. + +HAGGITH (_off_). It is Haggith, servant of the lady Judith. Open the +gates quickly, for I am become a woman of much consequence. + +FIRST SOLDIER. Haggith? It is the voice of Haggith; yet it may also be +devils. (_To another soldier who has entered_.) Run! Rouse the lord +Ozias. (_Exit soldier_.) + +HAGGITH. I have water with me. Many gourds! Fresh water! Cool water! + +(_The gatemen begin to work the gate-chains_.) + +FIRST SOLDIER. What do ye, dogs? Stop, and await the order of the lord +Ozias. + +GATEMEN (_continuing to work the chains_). Water! Water! + +FIRST SOLDIER. Pull, then, dogs. If there is water and it is wet I will +taste it. But if there is not water, I will slay the first soul that +enters. (_As the gates begin to open a little_.) Hold! No wider! + +_Enter_ Haggith _with two gourds_. + +(_The gourds are snatched from her, and the men, including the First +Soldier, drink_.) + +FIRST SOLDIER (_as he drinks_). Yea, it is indeed Haggith. Where is thy +mistress, and whence comest thou, my beloved water-carrier, for thou art +my beloved? (Haggith _slaps his face_.) + +_Enter_ Ozias, _L_. + +OZIAS (_furious_). Why are the gates opened? What is this? + +FIRST SOLDIER. Haggith, lord, with water that is stronger than wine. +(_Handing a gourd to_ Ozias _to soothe him_.) + +OZIAS. Where is thy mistress, wench? (_Drinks_.) + +HAGGITH (_stiffly_). I am the forerunner of my mistress, who has sent +me, and before many hours are passed the lady Judith will come also. +(_She goes to the gates and beckons_.) + +OZIAS. What art thou doing? + +_Enter_ Ingur, _bearing a sack_. + +VOICES. An Assyrian! An Assyrian! (_Men spring at_ Ingur.) + +HAGGITH. Let him alone; he is my bondman and I have tamed him. + +OZIAS. Shut the gates, for I will enquire into this matter. + +HAGGITH. There are yet ten other Assyrians outside the gates, carrying +gourds for me. + +OZIAS. Ten other Assyrians! It is a trick! + +HAGGITH (_proudly_). By my command they are chained by their necks, neck +to neck. Fetch in the gourds, men, and give the people to drink. + +(_The gourds are brought in amid cries and excitement. They are taken +off, L_.) + +OZIAS. Shut the gates, I say. + +FIRST SOLDIER. And the ten Assyrians, great lord? + +OZIAS. Let them await my enquiry where they stand. + +FIRST SOLDIER. Lord Ozias, if they flee? + +HAGGITH. Hold thy mouth, gaby! Wouldst _thou_ flee with thy neck chained +to nine necks? Moreover, where will they flee? For the camps of the +Assyrians are broken, and in their terrible confusion the Assyrians fall +one upon another. + +(_The gatemen talk among themselves and stare at the Assyrians outside, +who cannot be seen by those within the city. The gates remain open a +little_.) + +OZIAS (_impatiently_). What is thy tale, Haggith? + +HAGGITH. My mistress has slain Holofernes in his tent in the night, and +the power of Assyria is undone. + +OZIAS (_astounded_). Slain Holofernes! Thou art mad in thy raving. + +HAGGITH (_to_ Ingur). Open the mouth of the sack, and let my lord behold +the head of Holofernes and see that I am mad. (_To soldier_.) A torch, +that the Lord Ozias may discover the manner of my raving. + +(Ozias _looks into the sack and sees the head of_ Holofernes.) + +OZIAS. Great is the Lord of Israel! + +HAGGITH. And my mistress is the right hand of the Lord. + +OZIAS. Great is the Lord of Israel! + +VOICES (_deeply moved_). His name shall live for ever. + +OZIAS. How did thy mistress accomplish this mighty deed? + +HAGGITH. AS for that, she will tell it to my lord with her own voice +when she shall come. And now will my lord give ear to the commands of +the lady Judith, which she doth lay upon my lord by me, Haggith? First, +the head of Holofernes shall be set upon a spear on the highest wall in +the great square before the temple. So shall all the Israelites know +that God yet watcheth over Israel. (_To the soldiers_.) Take the sack +and do as my lady hath ordained by me, Haggith. + +OZIAS (_to men, who hesitate_). Take the sack. It is my command. + +(_Exeunt two men, L., with sack_.) + +HAGGITH. Next, ye shall send men for water to the wells beneath the city +that all may drink, for already the Assyrians are fled from the wells, +knowing that Holofernes is dead. And ye shall send forth all your army +into the valley to fall upon the Assyrians, for they are afraid of the +judgment of God, and none dare abide in the sight of his neighbour. +Neither can they stand against the chosen race of God. + +OZIAS (_to First Soldier_). Let every armed man in the city be roused, +and publish the order of Ozias that the Captains lead their bands +swiftly into the valley by the secret way to fall upon the Assyrians. + +(_Exit First Soldier and another, with joyous cries, L_.) + +HAGGITH. Thus hath the lady Judith spoken by me, Haggith. + +OZIAS. Whither is thy mistress gone, and why does she tarry? + +HAGGITH. My mistress is hidden in a sure place in the valley, for there +is one among the Assyrians who fears not God. And he is Bagoas, the +chief eunuch of Holofernes, and he has sworn an oath to kill my +mistress, for that by guile she did cut off the head of Holofernes. And +Bagoas searches for my mistress in the folds of the valley. But he will +not find her. + +OZIAS (_perturbed_). How knowst thou that he will not find her? + +HAGGITH. Because the Lord of Israel is a sharp sword and protecteth his +servants.... And also because my mistress is most cunningly hidden. + +_Enter_ Charmis, _L_. + +CHARMIS (_joyously excited_). What is the miracle that I hear, Ozias? + +OZIAS (_blandly_). There is no miracle; but that which I had planned +with the lady Judith has come to pass. Take women and old men Charmis, +and go ye to the wells and bring water to the city, for the wells are +delivered into my hands. + +CHARMIS (_hesitating_). Women and old men? But the onslaught against the +Assyrians of which I hear? + +OZIAS (_imperiously_). Go quickly. For who is the governor of this city? +Is it thou or is it I? + +(_Exit_ Charmis, _L_.) + +(_Men and women have gathered joyously in the street_.) + +VOICES (_mockingly, indicating_ Ingur, _with a tendency to horseplay_). +The Assyrian! The Assyrian! + +OZIAS. Take him to the guard-house and chain him to Achior. + +HAGGITH. He shall not go, lord Ozias. For as my mistress beguiled +Holofernes, so did I beguile Ingur, and he is my slave. But I have not +cut off his head, and he is dear to me because I have not cut off his +head. And he is mine, and let none touch him (_looking at the +soldiers_), or my anger, which is the anger of the lady Judith, shall be +upon that man. (_Hearing a noise, she glances at the house_.) What do I +see? The sluts are in the tent of my mistress, which is forbidden them. +Out, sluts! (_Exit angrily into the house_!) + +(Ingur _follows her quickly for protection_.) + +_Enter_ Messenger. + +OZIAS. And you? + +MESSENGER (_saluting_). Do my eyes behold the great lord Ozias, +governor of Bethulia? + +OZIAS. Your eyes behold him. + +MESSENGER. It is not yet dawn, nevertheless the streets of the city are +full of a great going and coming, but I found none to lead me to the +house of the lord Ozias. Yet when I saw my lord's visage my heart said: +'This is he.' + +OZIAS. What is your affair with me? + +MESSENGER. I am a messenger. + +OZIAS (_curtly_). Speak quickly, for the government of this city in this +hour is no common matter, and the whole charge of it lies upon me. + +MESSENGER. And I am no common messenger. I come with wings through the +night from Jerusalem, from Joachim, the high priest. + +OZIAS. Ah! (_Changing his tone and beckoning the messenger aside_.) What +tidings do you bear? + +MESSENGER. I bear the licence from Joachim. + +OZIAS. What licence? + +MESSENGER. The licence for the people of Bethulia to drink the wine +which is sanctified and reserved to the priests which serve the Lord. + +OZIAS (_affecting to be puzzled_). Who hath demanded this licence from +Joachim? + +MESSENGER (_surprised_). The lord Ozias sent a messenger to Jerusalem to +beseech that the licence should be granted. And my lord's messenger +travelled so swiftly that in the moment when he reached the temple at +Jerusalem he fell sick and vomited, and I have come to Bethulia in his +place, for after he had vomited he unfolded to me the secret way +into the city. + +OZIAS (_grandly_). It is true. In the heavy multitude of my cares I had +forgotten this matter of the licence. + +MESSENGER (_confidentially_). 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 church. + +OZIAS. Ah! + +MESSENGER. And here is the licence. (_Offering it_.) + +OZIAS. Friend, keep the licence and render it back to Joachim, the high +priest in Jerusalem. For I need it not, and I demanded it only by excess +of prudence such as becomes the governor of a city besieged and +thirsting. But we Bethulians are a faithful and a constant people, and +we have trusted in the Most High. And if perchance any have drunk of the +sanctified wine unknown to me (_with a grimace_)--it shall be denied +utterly, for the sake of seemliness. + +MESSENGER. But in the days of trial to come, will not the lord Ozias +have need of the licence? + +OZIAS (_grandly_). Friend, return ye to Joachim and say to him that the +Lord has delivered Bethulia from the Assyrians by the subtlety of his +servant Ozias. + +MESSENGER (_amazed_). What says my lord? + +OZIAS. Yea, this night the head of Holofernes is set on a spear in the +square before the temple, and the Assyrians flee one from another in +disorder, and my hosts are about to descend upon them and rend them to +pieces where they stand foolishly in the valley. + +MESSENGER. But this thing is marvellous beyond the understanding of man! + +OZIAS. It is indeed marvellous. + +MESSENGER. And when Joachim enquires of me who hath taken Holofernes the +great captain to behead him, and by what device, what shall I answer to +Joachim? + +OZIAS. You will answer that Ozias, knowing the weakness of Holofernes, +sent down to him secretly a woman, a certain Judith of Bethulia, and +upon the counsel of Ozias the woman by wiles compassed the death of +Holofernes as I have told you. + +MESSENGER. It is a tale which fathers shall tell to their children, and +to their children's children, and men shall wonder thereat for all time. +And now your servant will say to you a thing which has not been told to +him but which his ear has heard. It was said among the mighty that if my +lord Ozias should save Judea from the heathen, he would receive notable +advancement and be raised up among the great ones of the land. (Ozias +_bows_.) Yet will Joachim not be astonished, for it was spoken in +Jerusalem that among all the Israelites there is none like the lord +Ozias for cunning and obstinacy in defence. + +OZIAS (_nettled_). Nevertheless it is meet that Joachim should be +astonished, for with five thousand have I set at naught one hundred and +two and thirty thousand, and in the chronicles of Israel there is +written down no deed to match the delivery of Judea from the Assyrians. + +MESSENGER. The God of Israel hath saved Israel. + +OZIAS. The God of Israel hath save Israel,--by my hand. Go ye, and when +you have eaten and drunk, set ye forth again for Jerusalem. + +(_The Messenger salutes and exit, L_.) + +(_Throughout this scene excited and joyous men and women frequently pass +the street in twos and threes_.) + +(_Dawn is breaking and the torches begin to pale_.) + +_Enter_ Haggith _and_ Ingur _from the house._ + +OZIAS. Where art thou going? + +HAGGITH. Lord Ozias, I came up from the valley to bring water, and to +give tidings. Now I go down again to the valley with Ingur and his men +to seek out my mistress, and to take new raiment to her, and lead her to +the city; for since the Israelites are fallen upon the Assyrians, my +mistress is no longer in danger. + +_Enter_ Achior. + +OZIAS. Slave, who hath dared to loose thee? + +ACHIOR. There was none left to guard, and I came forth. + +OZIAS (_to a soldier_). Seize this fellow and bind him with fetters. + +(_The torches are by this time extinguished_.) + +HAGGITH. Lord, it cannot be so. For the lady Judith commanded me to +bring Achior also, for her protection, seeing that the youth came from +the Assyrians at the bidding of the God of Israel to give comfort to +Israel, and for a sign to my mistress. + +OZIAS (_after a pause_). I also will go with you, for it is right that +the governor should do honour to the lady Judith. + +HAGGITH. My mistress commanded me to say to the lord Ozias that he +should remain in the city to prepare for her a welcome. (_She points to +the gates and_ Achior _gladly moves forward. She takes_ Ingur _by the +ear_.) Bestir thy legs, booby! + +OZIAS. The subtlety of women is past knowing. + +HAGGITH (_at the gates, maliciously_). It may be. But would the lord +Ozias invite the displeasure of my mistress? It is day. Let my lord sit +in the sun. + + + +CURTAIN. + + + + +SCENE II + + +SCENE: _The same_. + +Charmis _is alone at the open gates. Glimpses are caught of the people +beyond the gates_. + +TIME: _Afternoon of the same day_. + +CHABRIS (_entering to_ Charmis, _at the gates_). They say there is now +much water in Bethulia. + +CHARMIS. Seeing that I have toiled mightily seven hours this day in +charge of six score crazy carriers to carry water up from the wells! +Would that Ozias had granted me a whip to sharpen their brains! And now +Ozias hath left me in charge of the gates. + +CHABRIS. Where is Ozias, and what does he do? + +CHARMIS. He stands here beyond the gates to receive Judith and the women +who have gone forth to meet her. + +CHABRIS. What is the deed of Judith? (_The noise of an approaching +procession is heard_. Charmis, _ignoring_ Chabris, _goes a little +outside the gates to watch._ Chabris _continues in a louder voice_.) The +streets of the city are empty. I say the streets of the city are empty. + +CHARMIS. Dodderer! The whole city is afoot on the hill-side, and all the +Assyrians left alive are fled in panic into the East. + +CHABRIS. Then I will return to my house and drink again. No! I will +remain, and my eyes shall regard the women, as of old. + +_Enter through the gates a procession of women (including_ Rahel), +_waving branches. At the end of the procession come_ Haggith _and_ +Ingur, _and finally_ Judith, _with_ Achior _on one hand, and_ Ozias _on +the other. Townspeople and soldiers, garlanded, follow the procession_. + +BALLET. + +OZIAS (_to_ Judith). O daughter, blessed be thou above all the women of +the earth. Thou art the exaltation of Jerusalem and the great glory of +Israel, for the Lord hath directed thee to the cutting off of the head +of the chief of our enemies, and thou hast revenged our ruin. + +VOICES. So be it. + +JUDITH. Holofernes came out of the mountains from the north, and his +horsemen covered the hills; and he bragged that he would burn up the +borders of Israel, and kill her young men with the sword, and make the +virgins as a spoil. But the Almighty Lord hath disappointed the +Assyrians by the hand of a woman; and my sandals ravished the eye of +Holofernes, and my beauty took his mind prisoner, and the knife passed +through his neck. Let all creatures serve the Lord! + +VOICES. So be it! + +OZIAS. Charmis, I appoint you to lead the people to the Temple, where +are the banners of the Assyrians which we have captured this day, and +each woman shall take a banner, and all shall return to this place +before the house of the Lady Judith. + +CHARMIS (_swollen with pride_). I obey, lord Ozias. + +(_The procession begins to move away, L_. Haggith _displays her +importance and bullies_ Ingur, _who accompanies her_.) + +RAHEL (_to_ Chabris). What, grandad! You are abroad once more! (_She +takes him with her like a disobedient child_.) + +(_Exeunt, processionally, all except_ Judith, Ozias _and_ Achior.) + +OZIAS (_to_ Achior). Thou goest not with the people? + +JUDITH (_to_ Achior). Stay, I pray you, Achior. + +OZIAS (_to_ Judith, _with growing excitement_). I wish to speak privily +with the lady Judith, _now_! + +JUDITH. Let us speak here. + +OZIAS. Shall we not go into your house, you and I? + +JUDITH. My house is not ready to receive you, Ozias. + +OZIAS. Let it be so. But before Achior I will not speak. + +JUDITH. Achior, go into my house, and do honour to my dwelling, and +repose in it. + +ACHIOR. Gladly, O lady! (_Exit into the house_.) + +JUDITH. What is the urgency that oppresses you, Ozias, and why are you +troubled in the hour of triumph? + +OZIAS (_losing control of himself_). Who is the heathen Achior that you +should prefer him and make your mouth sweet to him? + +JUDITH. Leave Achior, and let us come at once to the matter that +presses. + +OZIAS. Oh! I will not speak smoothly for a pretence! Thou knowest that +my jealousy smokes against Achior. Yea, and against Holofernes also. + +JUDITH. But Holofernes is dead. + +OZIAS. Before he went down to his place, didst thou not sin with him? + +JUDITH. As the Lord liveth, my countenance deceived him to his +destruction, yet did he not shame me. + +OZIAS. Blessed be our God! + +JUDITH. But how does this matter touch thee, and what is my virtue in +thy regard? + +OZIAS. Let Holofernes suffice thee, and drive not me also to death with +the softness of thy voice. 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 women? + +JUDITH. Nay! I have done naught; but the Lord hath saved Israel by _thy_ +hand. + +OZIAS. What is this humbleness? + +JUDITH. AS I came towards the city with Achior, the messenger from +Jerusalem met us in the way, and he was full to bursting of the word of +Ozias, and that Ozias had delivered Israel, and that what I did I did +by thy device and at thy command. But the messenger in speaking knew not +that he spoke to Judith, and I let him go. + +OZIAS. Judith---- + +JUDITH. Yet it seems to me that thou wast ignorant of all that which I +went out to do, and my plan was hidden from thee. + +OZIAS (_powerfully persuasive_). Hearken to me, Judith. I swear it was +for thee that I boasted. My aim was that thy mighty deed should gain +preferment in Jerusalem. But thou art a woman and therefore preferment +is not for thee. Yet now by reason of my boasting I shall be greatly +advanced and lifted up, and in all Judea there will be none higher than +me, and thus wilt thou also be advanced and lifted up. + +JUDITH. I desire no preferment. + +OZIAS. But I would have it in thy behalf; and my appetite is double. I +rage for glory and dominion, and I rage also for thee. And I will offer +thee glory and dominion, for I seek these things as a gift to thy +beauty. And if I cannot lay them on thy lap my heel shall spurn mankind +and I will tread it to dust. My desires are terrible; they will not be +withstood; they consume me daily, but daily I am renewed. I am on fire, +but by the fierceness of the fire I am strengthened. I was conceived +for greatness and my mother bore me for mastery, and the huge earth +shall shake with the terror of my commands.... And I am held between thy +fingers. + +JUDITH. I deny not thy greatness. + +OZIAS. Surely thou canst not. For thou too art great. And my greatness +yearns to thine. + +JUDITH. Wilt thou listen? + +OZIAS. I hear. + +JUDITH. With this greatness of thine goes deceit and laxity of mind. + +OZIAS. Yet when thou didst thy mighty deed didst thou not deceive +cruelly? + +JUDITH. I deceived not for myself, but for Israel; and my guile was for +the glory of God. But thy heart is set only upon advancement and power, +which is corruption. + +OZIAS. Judith, canst thou not lift thy thoughts beyond good and evil, +and canst thou not contemplate the marvellous greatness of man? I will +abase myself before none but thee, and in my ear there is no commandment +but thine; and all other decrees will I mock. I would have thee in +marriage, and I would have no other but thee. Wilt thou take me to +thee, and wilt thou yield thyself without fear to the terrible flame of +my love? For thus shalt thou fulfil thyself and me. But give heed before +thou answerest, and know that if thou turnest from me, I will make all +the nations of the earth to tremble with my fury. + +JUDITH. Thou art great also in thy loving. + +OZIAS. Once thou didst love me. + +JUDITH. Nay! I but looked upon thee in kindness. But now I will not go +to thee in marriage. + +OZIAS (_half admiring_). Thou art not then afraid of my wrath! + +JUDITH. I am Judith. + +OZIAS (_with a fresh access of violence_). Thou hungerest for Achior. +Wouldst thou marry a heathen, thou a Hebrew woman? + +JUDITH. And thou, if I had not accomplished the will of the Lord, and if +thou hadst been carried to Babylon as thou saidst, wouldst thou not have +denied the Most High and gone after other gods? But Achior believeth in +our God, and this day will be joined into the house of Israel. + +OZIAS (_savagely scornful_). What is Achior but a simpleton! + +JUDITH. It may be. But I love him and he shall rule me ... for he came +hither for a sign from the Lord. + +OZIAS (_savagely resentful_). Oh! If I did not love thee, would I not +undo thee! + +JUDITH. Thou! Thou art Ozias, but I am she who cut off the head of a +mightier than thou, even Holofernes in his tent. Go thy ways and fulfil +greatness. As for me I will remain obediently in my house, and truth and +righteousness shall reign in my house. + +(_The procession returns, the women bearing the banners of the +Assyrians_. Achior _enters from the house_.) + +(Judith _is crowned with olives_.) + +JUDITH. And now let the priests and the elders enter with me into my +house, and Achior shall follow them, so that he may be received into +Israel, and I will be betrothed to him with all the ceremonies of the +law, for he came to me as a messenger from God. And when the marriage +has been performed, I will submit myself to him as a wife to her +husband. + +HAGGITH. And let Ingur also be received into Israel, for he has repented +of his idolatries. And he shall be my husband, yet shall he not rule me. + +OZIAS. Brethren, hearken! This night I go to Jerusalem, for I am called +to higher things, because I have delivered Israel. And I shall not +return to this little city; but ye will have tidings of me in the years +to come, and ye will say proudly to the strangers within your gates: He +was a Bethulian and once he ruled over us. + +JUDITH. The lord Ozias is called to greatness. Peace go with him. + +ALL. So be it. + +CURTAIN. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Judith, by Arnold Bennett + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12794 *** |