MESSENGER. It is a tale which fathers shall tell to their children, and to their children's children, and men shall wonder thereat for all time. And now your servant will say to you a thing which has not been told to him but which his ear has heard. It was said among the mighty that if my lord Ozias should save Judea from the heathen, he would receive notable advancement and be raised up among the great ones of the land. (Ozias _bows_.) Yet will Joachim not be astonished, for it was spoken in Jerusalem that among all the Israelites there is none like the lord Ozias for cunning and obstinacy in defence. OZIAS (_nettled_). Nevertheless it is meet that Joachim should be astonished, for with five thousand have I set at naught one hundred and two and thirty thousand, and in the chronicles of Israel there is written down no deed to match the delivery of Judea from the Assyrians. MESSENGER. The God of Israel hath saved Israel. OZIAS. The God of Israel hath save Israel,--by my hand. Go ye, and when you have eaten and drunk, set ye forth again for Jerusalem. (_The Messenger salutes and exit, L_.) (_Throughout this scene excited and joyous men and women frequently pass the street in twos and threes_.) (_Dawn is breaking and the torches begin to pale_.) _Enter_ Haggith _and_ Ingur _from the house._ OZIAS. Where art thou going? HAGGITH. Lord Ozias, I came up from the valley to bring water, and to give tidings. Now I go down again to the valley with Ingur and his men to seek out my mistress, and to take new raiment to her, and lead her to the city; for since the Israelites are fallen upon the Assyrians, my mistress is no longer in danger. _Enter_ Achior. OZIAS. Slave, who hath dared to loose thee? ACHIOR. There was none left to guard, and I came forth. OZIAS (_to a soldier_). Seize this fellow and bind him with fetters. (_The torches are by this time extinguished_.) HAGGITH. Lord, it cannot be so. For the lady Judith commanded me to bring Achior also, for her protection, seeing that the youth came from the Assyrians at the bidding of the God of Israel to give comfort to Israel, and for a sign to my mistress. OZIAS (_after a pause_). I also will go with you, for it is right that the governor should do honour to the lady Judith. HAGGITH. My mistress commanded me to say to the lord Ozias that he should remain in the city to prepare for her a welcome. (_She points to the gates and_ Achior _gladly moves forward. She takes_ Ingur _by the ear_.) Bestir thy legs, booby! OZIAS. The subtlety of women is past knowing. HAGGITH (_at the gates, maliciously_). It may be. But would the lord Ozias invite the displeasure of my mistress? It is day. Let my lord sit in the sun. CURTAIN. SCENE II SCENE: _The same_. Charmis _is alone at the open gates. Glimpses are caught of the people beyond the gates_. TIME: _Afternoon of the same day_. CHABRIS (_entering to_ Charmis, _at the gates_). They say there is now much water in Bethulia.