VOICES.  It is true.  It is true!

ACHIOR.  And they came to Chanaan, and drove before them the inhabitants of that land, and they dwelt in that country many days.  And while they sinned not before their God they prospered, because the God that hates iniquity was with them.

VOICES.  It is true.

ACHIOR.  But when they departed from the way which their God appointed, then they were destroyed in many battles very sore, and were led captives into a land that was not theirs, and the temple of their God was cast to the ground.

VOICES.  Gentile dog!  Shall we not render him to pieces?

JUDITH.  There is but one truth, brethren, whether it please or whether it displease.

OZIAS (to Achior).  Make an end.

ACHIOR.  And I said to Holofernes:  But now this people are returned to their God, and have possessed Jerusalem, and are seated in the hill country. (With more emphasis.) And I said further to Holofernes:  Now therefore, my lord and governor, if there be any error in this people, let us go up and we shall overcome them.  But if there be no iniquity in their nation, let my lord now pass by, lest their Lord defend them and we become a reproach before all the world.

JUDITH.  It was well said.

OZIAS.  Lady, it was well said—­if the slave said it. (To Achior.) I demanded of you:  How came you here?

ACHIOR.  Thus.  When I had finished speaking to Holofernes, all they that were about my lord and governor rose up in wrath and cried:  Kill him.  And the face of Holofernes darkened, and he said:  And who art thou, Achior, that thou hast prophesied among us to-day that we should not make war with the people of Israel because of their God?  And who is God but Nebuchadnezzar?  Nebuchadnezzar by my hand will destroy the Israelites, and their God shall not deliver them.  Their mountains shall be drunken with their blood and their fields shall be filled with their dead bodies. (The citizens show alarm.) And thou, Achior, shalt be delivered up to the Israelites in Bethulia, and when thou seest me again thou shalt fall among the slain....  And he commanded his servants, and they took me, and carried me secretly to the foot of the hill of Bethulia.  And here am I!

OZIAS (after a pause, positively).  It is a wicked device for our undoing.

JUDITH.  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.