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.