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