JUDITH I’ll dance. ZILLA Until you’re dead. JUDITH Or till a youth wed Zilla for her beauty? I’ll not soil mine with sullen fear all day Because these Philistines press round. As well Be wenches gathering grapes or wool! Come, Leah. [_She prepares to dance._] LEAH No, Judith, I’ll put henna on my nails, And mend my anklet. [_She sits down._] ZILLA [_At the curtains._] Oh! oh, oh! JUDITH Now hear her! Who, who, now? who, who is it? dog, fox, devil? ZILLA All! JUDITH Then ’tis Ishui! [_Bounding to curtains._] Yes, Ishui! And fury in him, sallow, sour fury! A jackal were his mate! Come, come, we’ll plague him. ZILLA And too--with David whom he hates! JUDITH Aie, David! A joy to rouse men up to jealousy! LEAH Why hates he David, Zilla? ZILLA Stupid Leah! JUDITH Hush, hush, be meet and ready now; he’s near. Look as for silly visions and for dreams! [_They pose themselves. Ishui enters--sees them. Judith sighs._] ISHUI Now timbrel-gaud, why gaping here! JUDITH O! ’tis Prince Ishui! ZILLA Prince Ishui! Then he Will tell us! he will tell us! LEAH Yes! JUDITH Of David! O is he come! when, where, quick, quick, and will He pluck us ecstasies out of his harp, Winning until we’re wanton for him, mad, And sigh and laugh and weep to the moon! ISHUI Low thing! Chaff of the king! JUDITH The king! I had not thought! David a king! how beauteous would he be! ISHUI David? JUDITH Turban of sapphire! robe of gold! ISHUI A king? o’er Israel? JUDITH Who, who can tell! Have you not heard? Yesterday in the camp Among war-old but fearful men he offered Kingly to meet Goliath--great Goliath! ISHUI What do you say? to meet Goliath? JUDITH [_Laughing in his face._] Aie! [_He thrusts her from him. She goes dancing with Zilla and Leah._] ADRIEL [_Who has entered._] Ishui, in a rage? ISHUI Should I not be! ADRIEL Not would you be yourself. ISHUI Not? [_Deftly_.] You say well. I should not, no. Pardon, then, Adriel. ADRIEL What was the offence? ISHUI Turn from it.--I have not Bidden you here for vapours; yet they had Substance as well for you! ADRIEL For me? ISHUI Who likes Laughter against him!