BAGOAS.  The Prince comes to look upon you in his tent.

JUDITH.  Mighty Bagoas, deign to answer a question I will put.

BAGOAS.  Deign to ask, lady, and my humility shall answer; for your beauty has blinded Holofernes this day and he is your captive, and his servant is your servant, and there is no law in the camps of the Assyrians save your glance. (He makes a covert gesture of half-amused resentful resignation.)

JUDITH.  Nebuchadnezzar is your god?  Is it not so, Bagoas?

BAGOAS.  Nebuchadnezzar is henceforward the god of the Assyrians and of all the lands which their spears conquer.  It is an official order.

JUDITH.  If Nebuchadnezzar laid a command upon you, would you disregard it?

BAGOAS.  I would not, for my skin is very valuable to me.

JUDITH.  As Nebuchadnezzar is your god, so is the Lord of Israel mine.  And my God laid a secret command upon me to speak with Prince Holofernes alone and with none other in his tent.  Thus, and thus only, was it that I refused to speak in the presence even of the mighty Bagoas.  But as I withstood you in the valley there, the God of Israel descended upon me and I heard the voice of God in my ear, and the voice said:  ’It is permitted to thee to speak with Bagoas also.’  Therefore I yielded to the importunity of Prince Holofernes and of Bagoas.

BAGOAS.  Your god is a wise god and has discernment.

JUDITH.  This I tell you, that there may be peace and good intelligence between us.  Is there peace between us?

BAGOAS.  Lady, in my heat I admonished you with hard words and much vituperation.

JUDITH (innocently.) By Nebuchadnezzar, I heard none.

BAGOAS.  There is peace between us.  And in the closeness of our intelligence you and I will rule them that rule all Assyria.

Enter Holofernes, L.

(Bagoas prostrates himself.  Holofernes walks about, ignoring
Judith.)

HOLOFERNES (to Bagoas).  At what hour is the Council of Captains?

BAGOAS.  The Council awaits your highness.

(Suddenly Holofernes snatches the veil from Judith, and throws it on the floor.  He gazes at her. Judith prostrates herself.  Holofernes drops on to the couch, and looks at everything except Judith.)

HOLOFERNES (imperiously).  Rise. (Judith rises.  A pause.  Holofernes plays with a jewel on his costume.  Without looking at Judith.) And Achior?

JUDITH.  Illustrious Prince.

HOLOFERNES.  Did the slave reach Bethulia?

JUDITH.  The men of Bethulia took him, and he declared to them all that he had spoken to my lord Prince.  And many approved him.

HOLOFERNES.  And what sayest thou of Achior?

JUDITH.  O lord and governor, I say:  Reject not the word of Achior, but lay it up in your heart.