AS. And if it be so, what then? Old man, you are so old that to
confess in your ear is sweet, like murmuring secrets into the grave. If
I do come to this place to watch for the marvellous vision of Judith,
what then?

CHABRIS. What then? And the populace of Bethulia dying of thirst?

OZIAS. The populace!... Mice! Rats! Beetles! (_He makes the motion of
crushing with his foot_.)

CHABRIS. Yet the city is doomed. You can have no hope.

OZIAS. No hope? Am I then a dead body? Am I a rotting corpse? True, the
city will be taken, and when the city is taken I may be killed. But in
your meditations, old man, has it not occurred to you that death must be
highly interesting? Or I may be seized for a slave. But either I should
cease speedily to be a slave, or I should become the most powerful slave
in Babylon. (_Reflectively_.) We might be enslaved together.

CHABRIS. Who?

OZIAS. Judith and I. The history of the world is full of miracles.
Meanwhile, I live, and the strong savour of life inflames my nostrils;
and the ever-increasing magnificence and terror of war is like wine in
my mouth. I shake with delight at the vastness and the mystery of the
future.... And there is woman!

CHABRIS. I feel I can eat my pulse now.

OZIAS. There is still woman.

_A fracas is heard, back. Enter_ Rahel, _running, followed by two
soldiers and a mixed group of Bethulians, including_ Charmis, _an
elder_.

RAHEL (_to_ Chabris, _like a termagant_). Why did you go forth alone,
grandad, frightening me when I looked and could not find you? At your
age! Come back with me this moment.

CHABRIS. Ay! There is still woman!

OZIAS (_angrily, to_ first soldier). Did I not give an order to bar the
street?

FIRST SOLDIER. My lord, some of these are elders of high authority, and
would pass. As for the girl----

RAHEL (_to_ Chabris). This moment! (_She faints and falls_.)

CHABRIS (_indifferently, as_ Charmis _moves towards_ Rahel). Let her
lie. She will come to of herself--or not, as God wills.

OZIAS (_to the soldiers, with cold fierceness_). Get back to your
places. (_Exeunt soldiers_.)

CHARMIS (_looking at_ Ozias _and indicating_ Rahel). She is the
fourteenth I have seen faint from thirst in the streets this day.

OZIAS (_soothingly_). Alas! And you or I may be the next. We are all in
like case. But what is to be done?

(_Confused feeble exclamations from the group of citizens:_ 'We want to
know. We are come for that. There is but one