OZIAS. The perils of the heathen will surround you, and harm will surely befall you, for Holofernes will work lamentable evil upon you. And I cannot suffer it. JUDITH (_smiling_). Did not Ozias say that Holofernes was a great warrior and had compassion in his greatness? OZIAS (_insistent_). I cannot suffer it, for if any shame come upon you I will not live. JUDITH. God will not see his handmaid shamed. Moreover I regard not myself in this thing, but the welfare of the people of Israel. OZIAS (_kneeling_). Judith, I entreat you! For you are the light of my eyes, and without you the world is not. JUDITH (_softly_). I know it. Think you that in these years I have not seen the depths of your heart, Ozias? Think you that I was blind in my tent? Think you that I watched not upon you? You were comely in my sight. But this day you have revealed your pride. For you seek not God, but the vanity of the earth, and you would make all Israel the instrument of your glory, denying the Lord. And I am sad. OZIAS. Forgive me, Rose of Sharon. JUDITH (_softly_). Who am I, to forgive my brother? Peace be upon you! (_She turns towards her house_.) OZIAS (_rising,_). Stay! JUDITH. I go to prepare myself for that which I have to do. (_Exit into the house_.) (_A soldier shows himself, back._) OZIAS. Friend! FIRST SOLDIER (_approaching and saluting_). Lord! Your command! OZIAS. Send to me the officer of the watch. FIRST SOLDIER. Lord, the honourable lieutenant lies sick. (Haggith _appears at the door of the house_.) OZIAS. Thirst has overcome him? FIRST SOLDIER (_bowing_). He raves on the bed, lord, and his tongue is like the tongue of a dog. OZIAS. Who then commands the watch by the watchfires this night? FIRST SOLDIER. I, lord. The watchfires wait the torch. OZIAS. Will you, too, faint, and will your tongue be like the tongue of a dog? FIRST SOLDIER (_grimly_), Not mine, lord. OZIAS. DO the people complain? FIRST SOLDIER. Lord, they whine and snivel mightily. _Enter_ Haggith _with a small sack._ OZIAS. Is the secret way shut? FIRST SOLDIER. Shut and barred, lord. OZIAS. It must be opened.... Stand! I will see to it. FIRST SOLDIER. AS my lord wills. OZIAS. Has the watch aught to drink? FIRST SOLDIER. My lord knows that no drop is left in the gourds. (Ozias _waves him away, and he retires_.) OZIAS (_to_ Haggith, _who is busy with the sack_). Woman, has the lady Judith perchance dreamed a dream? HAGGITH (_enigmatically_). My mistress has dreamed no dream. Why does the lord Ozias ask? OZIAS. It seemed to me--(_stops_) HAGGITH. Dreams lift up fools. (_Exit into the house_.) (_Exit Ozias, L_.) (_The soldier strolls forward. Twilight begins to fall_.) (_Enter_ Haggith _from the house with more baggage_.) HAGGITH (_to the soldier; curtly; not looking at him_). So thou hast no water? FIRST SOLDIER (_with genial freedom_). Yea, Haggith, we have still a little. HAGGITH. Then thou has lied to the governor?