. . . . . . . . . . She doubted [not] the gifts In this wide world. There worthily she found Help at the hands of the Lord, when she had the highest need, Grace from God on high, that against the greatest of dangers 5 The Lord of Hosts should protect her; for this the Heavenly Father Graciously granted her wish, for she had given true faith To the holy Ruler of heaven. Holofernes then, I am told, Called his warriors to a wine-feast and a wondrous and glorious Banquet prepared. To this the prince of men 10 Bade the bravest of thanes. Then with bold haste To the powerful prince came the proud shield-warriors, Before the chief of the folk. That was the fourth day Since the gentle Judith, just in her thoughts, Of fairy-like beauty, was brought to the king. 15 Then they sought the assembly to sit at the banquet, Proud to the wine-pouring, all his partners in woe, Bold burnie-warriors. Bowls large and deep Were borne along the benches; beakers also and flagons Full to the feasters. Fated they drank it, 20 Renowned shield-knights, though he knew not their doom, The hateful lord of heroes. Holofernes, the king, Bestower of jewels, took joy in the wine-pouring, Howled and hurled forth a hideous din That the folk of the earth from afar might hear 25 How the stalwart and strong-minded stormed and bellowed, Maddened by mead-drink; he demanded full oft That the brave bench-sitters should bear themselves well. So the hellish demon through the whole of the day Drenched with drink his dear companions, 30 The cruel gold-king, till unconscious they lay, All drunk his doughty ones, as if in death they were slain, Every good gone from them. 1. Although the fragment begins in the middle of a line, it presents the appearance of being practically complete. Certainly, as it stands it makes an artistic whole: we begin and end the poem by showing how Judith was favored of God. Within a very short space after the opening lines we are in the midst of the action: Judith has come from her beleaguered city of Bethulia and enchanted Holofernes by her beauty, and Holofernes has finished his great feast by summoning her to him. All this is put before us in the first 37 lines. The rest of the poem is vividly conceived, from the slaying of the Assyrian king to the final victory and rejoicing. 2. The Slaying of Holofernes