Judith, a play in three acts | Page 7

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