One shall handle the harp, at the feet of his hero Sit and win wealth from the will of his Lord; Still quickly contriving the throb of the cords, The nail nimbly makes music, awakes a glad noise, While the heart of the harper throbs, hurried by zeal. Translation of Henry Morley. FROM 'JUDITH' [The Assyrian officers, obeying the commands of Holofernes, come to the carouse.] They then at the feast proceeded to sit, The proud to the wine-drinking, all his comrades-in-ill, Bold mailèd-warriors. There were lofty beakers Oft borne along the benches, also were cups and flagons Full to the hall-sitters borne. The fated partook of them, Brave warriors-with-shields, though the mighty weened not of it, Awful lord of earls. Then was Holofernes, Gold-friend of men, full of wine-joy: He laughed and clamored, shouted and dinned, That children of men from afar might hear How the strong-minded both stormed and yelled, Moody and mead-drunken, often admonished The sitters-on-benches to bear themselves well. Thus did the hateful one during all day His liege-men loyal keep plying with wine, Stout-hearted giver of treasure, until they lay in a swoon. [Holofernes has been slain by Judith. The Hebrews, encouraged by her, surprise the drunken and sleeping Assyrians.] Then the band of the brave was quickly prepared, Of the bold for battle; stepped out the valiant Men and comrades, bore their banners, Went forth to fight straight on their way The heroes 'neath helmets from the holy city At the dawn itself; shields made a din, Loudly resounded. Thereat laughed the lank Wolf in the wood, and the raven wan, Fowl greedy for slaughter: both of them knew That for them the warriors thought to provide Their fill on the fated; and flew on their track The dewy-winged eagle eager for prey, The dusky-coated sang his war-song, The crooked-beaked. Stepped forth the warriors, The heroes for battle with boards protected, With hollow shields, who awhile before The foreign-folk's reproach endured, The heathens' scorn; fiercely was that At the ash-spear's play to them all repaid, All the Assyrians, after the Hebrews Under their banners had boldly advanced To the army-camps. They bravely then Forthright let fly showers of arrows, Of battle-adders, out from the horn-bows, Of strongly-made shafts; stormed they aloud, The cruel warriors, sent forth their spears Among the brave; the heroes were angry, The dwellers-in-land, with the loathed race; The stern-minded stepped, the stout-in-heart, Rudely awakened their ancient foes Weary from mead; with hands drew forth The men from the sheaths the brightly-marked swords Most choice in their edges, eagerly struck