Great was the glory then gained in the fight
By Judith at war, through the will of God,
The mighty Master, who permitted her victory.
125 Then the wise-minded maiden immediately threw
The heathen warrior's head so bloody,
Concealed it in the sack that her servant had brought--
The pale-faced woman, polished in manners--
Which before she had filled with food for them both.
130 Then the gory head gave she to her goodly maid-servant
To bear to their home, to her helper she gave it,
To her junior companion. Then they journeyed together,
Both of the women, bold in their daring,
The mighty in mind, the maidens exultant,
135 Till they had wholly escaped from the host of the enemy,
And could full clearly catch the first sight
Of their sacred city and see the walls
Of bright Bethulia. Then the bracelet-adorned ones,
Traveling on foot, went forth in haste,
140 Until they had journeyed, with joy in their hearts,
To the wall-gate.
The warriors sat
Unwearied in watching, the wardens on duty,
Fast in the fortress, as the folk erstwhile,
The grieved ones of mind, by the maiden were counselled,
145 By the wary Judith, when she went on her journey,
The keen-witted woman. She had come once more,
Dear to her people, the prudent in counsel.
She straightway summoned certain of the heroes
From the spacious city speedily to meet her
150 And allow her to enter without loss of time
Through the gate of the wall, and these words she spoke
To the victor-tribe:
"I may tell to you now
Noteworthy news, that you need no longer
Mourn in your mind, for the Master is kind to you,
155 The Ruler of nations. It is known afar
Around the wide world that you have won glory;
Very great victory is vouchsafed in return
For all the evils and ills you have suffered."
Blithe then became the burghers within,
160 When they heard how the Holy Maid spoke
Over the high wall. The warriors rejoiced;
To the gate of the fortress the folk then hastened,
Wives with their husbands, in hordes and in bands,
In crowds and in companies; they crushed and thronged
165 Towards the handmaid of God by hundreds and thousands,
Old ones and young ones. All of the men
In the goodly city were glad in their hearts
At the joyous news that Judith was come
Again to her home, and hastily then
170 With humble hearts the heroes received her.
Then gave the gold-adorned, sagacious in mind,
Command to her comrade, her co-worker faithful
The heathen chief's head to hold forth to the people,
To the assembly to show as a sign and a token,
175 All bloody to the burghers, how in battle they sped.
To the famed victory-folk the fair maiden spoke:
"O proudest of peoples, princely protectors,
Gladly now gaze on the gory face,
On the hated head of the heathen warrior,
180 Holofernes, wholly life-bereft,
Who most of all men contrived murder against us,
The sorest of sorrows, and sought even yet
With greater to grind us, but God would not suffer him
Longer to live, that with loathsomest evils
185 The proud one should oppress us; I deprived him of life
Through the grace of God. Now I give commands
To you citizens bold, you soldiers brave-hearted,
Protectors of the people, to prepare one and all
Forthwith for the fight. When first from the east
190 The King of creation, the kindest of Lords,
Sends the first beams of light, bring forth your
linden-shields,
Boards for your breasts and your burnie-corselets,
Your bright-hammered helmets to the hosts of the scathers,
To fell the folk-leaders, the fated chieftains,
195 With your fretted swords. Your foes are all
Doomed to the death, and dearly-won glory
Shall be yours in battle, as the blessed Creator
The mighty Master, through me has made known."