BAGOAS. If the Prince so much as sees her before the city is taken, never will the city be taken, and we shall all be her captives. FIRST ATTENDANT. Yea, mightiness. BAGOAS (_beating the attendant_). I will lead her by the path to the cave, for the Prince will surely not come that way. (_To_ Judith.) Follow me, lady. (Bagoas _moves R_. Judith _hesitates a moment as_ Haggith _picks up her sack. Enter R. the heralds of Holofernes, followed by_ Holofernes.) BAGOAS (_to himself_). Holofernes! (_To his attendants_.) Hide her, rascals, or Assyria is undone. (_The attendants range themselves between_ Judith _and_ Holofernes.) (Bagoas _receives_ Holofernes _with a prostration and high ceremony_.) HOLOFERNES. Where is this woman? BAGOAS. Woman, Prince? HOLOFERNES (_impatient_). This Hebrew woman, I say! One Ingur has run among the tents chattering, and the rumour of her has spread through the camps like a plague. By Nebuchadnezzar the one god, where is she, for it has been told to me that her beauty excels the beauty of all the women of the East and ravishes the eye exceedingly? BAGOAS. Ah! It is of Judith that the Prince deigns to speak. Lo! I had caught her and was bringing her to your highness. (_To_ attendants.) Stand aside, dogs. (Judith _is revealed to_ Holofernes. _She prostrates herself and then rises_. Holofernes _gazes at her, entranced_.) HOLOFERNES. So thou hast escaped out of Bethulia to find water for thy thirst? JUDITH. To find water, and to have speech with the most illustrious Prince. HOLOFERNES. Woman (_approaching her a step, and then standing still_), be of good comfort, and fear not in thy heart, for I never hurt any that was willing to serve Nebuchadnezzar, the god of all the earth. And if thy people that dwell in the mountains had not held me lightly, I would not have lifted up my spear against them, but they have done these things to themselves. BAGOAS (_aside, to_ Holofernes). Terrible master, she is full of guile and deceitfulness, and came not at all for water, but for a hidden purpose against you. Therefore enquire of her closely. HOLOFERNES (_to_ Bagoas). Chastise thy tongue, ere it overthrow thee, fiend. There is no guile in that face. (_To_ Judith.) Tell me now thy message and wherefore in truth thou art come. And tremble not, for thou shalt live this night. JUDITH. Great prince, receive the words of your servant and suffer your handmaid to speak in your presence, and I will declare no lie to my lord. HOLOFERNES. Speak. JUDITH. I will speak to my lord alone. BAGOAS (_aside to_ Holofernes). It is a device against my lord. HOLOFERNES (_to_ Judith). Speak now, I command thee. JUDITH. My message concerns the fate of Bethulia, and of all the Assyrians, and of my lord. Life and death are in it, for I have communed with heaven. HOLOFERNES. Which heaven? Thine or mine? JUDITH. There is but one God. HOLOFERNES (_roughly_). And he is Nebuchadnezzar. Speak thy tale. JUDITH. I will speak to my lord alone.