JUDITH.  Where hast thou left him?

HAGGITH.  Mistress I would not suffer that you should pass from my sight, and I followed you, and Ingur followed me gladly, and at last the guard seized him for that he was found within the precincts of the prince’s quarter, which is forbidden to his rank, and many stripes will be his.  Mistress, you eat not.

JUDITH (trying to eat).  Yes, I eat.  Do thou eat for me.

HAGGITH.  I have eaten and drunk—­with Ingur.

JUDITH.  But not of his provision?

HAGGITH (nodding).  He so softly entreated me.

JUDITH.  It is a sin and an offence for thee, being an Israelite.

HAGGITH.  For such as my high-born mistress, it is an offence.  But for the handmaid—­pooh!  She eats as she can, and the Lord turneth away his glance until she has finished her platter.  Moreover, did you not lay it upon me to beguile the dolt?  And verily, mistress, I have rejoiced much this day; and Ingur——­

JUDITH.  Silence with thy prattle.  Bethink thee of the dread business upon which I am come down from Bethulia into the valley?

HAGGITH (subdued; offering food).  Eat, mistress.

JUDITH.  I cannot.  My soul rejects it, and my body is on fire with expectation and suspense. (Rising.  Haggith also rises.) Stay thou where thou art, for I will go forth alone.  I must commune with the God of Israel for my tranquillity, and I dare not seek him in the tent of the heathen. (Exit, back.)

(Haggith gathers the meat together.)

Enter Holofernes and Bagoas, L.

HOLOFERNES (looking about the tent, alarmed).  Where is she?  Has she fled?  If she has escaped me, this shall be thy last day, Bagoas.  What is this girl here?

BAGOAS.  Prince, has any woman yet slipped through these hands?  This girl is the waiting wench of the lady Judith. (To Haggith.) Where is thy mistress, wench?

HAGGITH (frightened and foolish).  My mistress having eaten ... having eaten naught, is gone to—­to—­to—­pray.

BAGOAS.  Bring her.  Her god may wait, but not the illustrious Prince.  Run with both thy legs.

HAGGITH.  Ye—­es, mightiness. (Exit, back)

HOLOFERNES.  Bagoas, with thine arts thou shalt persuade the Hebrew woman to come to us and to eat and drink with us this night.

BAGOAS (grimly).  Persuasion shall be used, highness.  My arts are many and various.

HOLOFERNES.  It will be a shame for our person if we let such a woman go, not having delighted in her company.  If we do not draw her to us she will laugh us to scorn.

BAGOAS.  Yea, highness.  But my lord has but this moment appointed a great feast with his captains at sunset.  How then shall he eat and drink with the lady Judith?

HOLOFERNES.  Thick-skull!  Speak not to me of my captains!  The Council of the Captains was as dust in my mouth, and I could not away with it.  Therefore I sharply dismissed the Council, and soothed their damnable pride with the promise of a mighty feast.  But what care I for the captains?  My heart thirsts horribly for this Hebrew woman, and I am full of a great madness.