HAGGITH. My mistress is washing herself in a fountain of water by the cave. She sent me forward in peace and friendliness to announce her coming. INGUR. Fetch her! (_Suddenly perceiving_ Bagoas _in the distance, he changes his manner_.) Stay! Bagoas is approaching, and he may have seen thee. His eyes are sharp. Stand off. (Haggith _moves away a little_.) But when I tell thee, fall down on thy face. HAGGITH. Is he a great captain? INGUR. His mightiness is the chief eunuch of the Prince, and there is none greater than he save only the Prince himself, for Bagoas has charge over all the women of the Prince's tents. HAGGITH. Women of the Prince's tents? INGUR. Ay! Wives! Concubines! Virgins! Beyond counting. Didst thou think in thy Hebrew pride, that the Prince was a savage and a barbarian?... Down, damsel! Here is Bagoas. Embrace the earth for thy life's sake. (Haggith _obeys_.) _Enter_ Bagoas, _with attendants, L_. (Ingur _salutes him with extreme deference_.) BAGOAS. Who art thou? INGUR. Ingur, mightiness, commanding twenty footmen. BAGOAS. Begone from my sight. This morning the Prince condescends to walk through the camp, that all the armies may take joy in his countenance. It is not meet that he should be seen of any lower than a lieutenant. INGUR (_indicating_ Haggith). Mightiness, a woman of the Hebrews escaped from Bethulia to find water! And by my subtlety I have captured her. BAGOAS. A woman of the Hebrews! (_Surveying_ Haggith.) Rise, scum, and let me behold thy deformity. (Haggith _obeys_.) INGUR. And there is another yet to appear,--her mistress, seven times fairer. BAGOAS. Her mistress may be seven times fairer than this eyesore, and yet ugly. (_To_ Haggith.) Who is thy mistress? HAGGITH. The lady Judith. BAGOAS. Judith! A name fit only for a cat! Why is she here? How is she here? What is her secret and detestable purpose? For there is a trick in this thing. HAGGITH. I know not my mistress's purpose. BAGOAS. Tell me thy mistress's purpose, or I will have thee smothered. HAGGITH. I know only that if Holofernes---- BAGOAS (_stopping her angrily_). Callest thou the illustrious one by his name? The most high _Prince_ Holofernes, foul wench. HAGGITH. The most high Prince Holofernes--if he so wills my mistress would speak with his highness. BAGOAS (_laughing heartily_). Speak with the Prince? _Speak_ with the Prince? Ha-ha! (_All the men laugh_.) What is the state of thy mistress? HAGGITH. The lady Judith is a widow. BAGOAS (_still more amused_). Aha! A widow! And the Hebrew hag would _speak_ with Prince Holofernes! (_The men laugh and jeer_.) _Enter_ Judith, _R_. (Haggith _goes quickly to her. All the men stare at_ Judith, _deeply impressed_.) HAGGITH (_aside to_ Judith). There are many hussies in the camps, thousands and thousands, mistress. This lord is the chief eunuch.