JUDITH.  You have not done this thing?

HOLOFERNES.  I have done it.

JUDITH.  Would you forestall God, and would you speak the decrees of God before they are uttered?

HOLOFERNES.  Thou saidst thou wouldst pray to thy god this night and that he would tell thee when the Israelites in Bethulia had committed their sin, and that thou wouldst come to me to proclaim the hour of my triumph.

JUDITH.  I said:  I will pray to God and mayhap he will tell me.

HOLOFERNES.  Thou hast prayed, and thy god hath not answered?

JUDITH.  He has not answered.

HOLOFERNES (with bravado).  He is no god, then, thy god.  Let us drink.

JUDITH (as Holofernes moves towards her, solemnly).  Touch not your handmaid, and touch not the goblet. (She goes to the skins, R.)

HOLOFERNES (following Judith gently).  Thou art offended.

JUDITH.  Stand afar off, Holofernes, and meddle not with her that communes with the Most High.

(Judith kneels.  Holofernes goes in the direction of the couch.  Silence.  Bagoas has been seen once or twice in the porch of the tent, his back turned.  He has now gone again.  Two half-veiled Assyrian women appear through the hangings, R., and watch a moment, then vanish.  Judith slowly rises.)

HOLOFERNES.  What has befallen thee?

JUDITH.  It has befallen me that this moment the God of Israel has spoken and my ear has heard his command. (Approaching Holofernes.)

HOLOFERNES.  What saith thy god?

JUDITH.  My ear has heard that the Israelites in Bethulia have committed their sin, and at sunrise the Assyrians shall assault Bethulia and none shall withstand them.

HOLOFERNES.  A miracle!

JUDITH.  A miracle in thy tent, O great warrior!

HOLOFERNES.  To-morrow is appointed to be the day of my triumph.

JUDITH (moved).  Yea, it is so.

HOLOFERNES (gratefully).  Hear me, Judith.  Thy god shall be my god.

JUDITH.  In truth thou art set apart to be his.  HOLOFERNES (close to her).  Thy body trembles.

JUDITH (smiling).  Thinkst thou then that I was not afraid for thee?  But my fear is gone from me, for now I know thy fate and the decree of heaven concerning thee.

HOLOFERNES (aside).  To-morrow is appointed for my triumph, but this night also shall I exult. (To Judith.) Let us eat and drink together, for we are alone in the night, and thou hast promised.

JUDITH (gaily).  Let us feast.

HOLOFERNES (animated by her responsive tone).  Take off thy tunic; thou art in thy own house.  Let Holofernes be thy tire-woman. (Approaching her.)

JUDITH.  No! (Moving from him to the further side of the couch.) But he shall be my slave to serve me.  Pour out the wine, great slave.