Judith, a play in three acts | Page 5

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