Judith, a play in three acts | Page 9

of the watch.
FIRST SOLDIER. Lord, the honourable lieutenant lies sick.
(Haggith appears at the door of the house.)
OZIAS. Thirst has overcome him?
FIRST SOLDIER (_bowing_). He raves on the bed, lord, and his
tongue is like the tongue of a dog.
OZIAS. Who then commands the watch by the watchfires this night?
FIRST SOLDIER. I, lord. The watchfires wait the torch.
OZIAS. Will you, too, faint, and will your tongue be like the tongue of
a dog?
FIRST SOLDIER (_grimly_), Not mine, lord.
OZIAS. DO the people complain?
FIRST SOLDIER. Lord, they whine and snivel mightily.
Enter Haggith _with a small sack._
OZIAS. Is the secret way shut?
FIRST SOLDIER. Shut and barred, lord.
OZIAS. It must be opened.... Stand! I will see to it.
FIRST SOLDIER. AS my lord wills.
OZIAS. Has the watch aught to drink?
FIRST SOLDIER. My lord knows that no drop is left in the gourds.
(Ozias _waves him away, and he retires_.)

OZIAS (to Haggith, _who is busy with the sack_). Woman, has the
lady Judith perchance dreamed a dream?
HAGGITH (_enigmatically_). My mistress has dreamed no dream.
Why does the lord Ozias ask?
OZIAS. It seemed to me--(_stops_)
HAGGITH. Dreams lift up fools. (Exit into the house.) (_Exit Ozias,
L_.)
(_The soldier strolls forward. Twilight begins to fall_.)
(Enter Haggith from the house with more baggage.)
HAGGITH (_to the soldier; curtly; not looking at him_). So thou hast
no water?
FIRST SOLDIER (_with genial freedom_). Yea, Haggith, we have still
a little.
HAGGITH. Then thou has lied to the governor?
FIRST SOLDIER. _Him_? (With a jerk of the shoulder!) He knows! In
truth now, thinkest thou he would expect us soldiers to keep guard
without water? He knows! But he is a great lord, and in seemliness he
asks for a lie, and that which he asks is given to him--in seemliness.
HAGGITH. But the officer raving as thou hast said with thirst?
FIRST SOLDIER. Ah! It is the business of a worshipful officer to
scorn deceit and to suffer.
HAGGITH. And all the people?
FIRST SOLDIER. The people are the people. But we soldiers are
soldiers--and must drink, or we cannot guard. (Yawns.) Eh! I could lie
down and snore for seven years, but I am appointed to watch all night.

HAGGITH (_suddenly caressing_). Sweet warrior! Would I could rest
thee!
FIRST SOLDIER (_startled by the change in her demeanour_).
Haggith! Thou art marvellously and desirably changed.
HAGGITH. I am practising to thy profit for that which lies before me
and my mistress.
FIRST SOLDIER. 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,