GEOFFREY DOUGLAS
Chabris E.H. PATERSON
Charmis FEWLASS LLEWELLYN
Ingur FREDERICK VOLPE
Messenger FELIX AYLMER
Soldier CLIFFORD MOLLISON
Attendant EDWIN OXLEE

The play was produced by WILFRED EATON

CHARACTERS

_Hebrews_

JUDITH
HAGGITH, her waiting-woman
RAHEL
OZIAS, Governor of Bethulia
CHABRIS, an elder
CHARMIS, an elder
A SOLDIER
A MESSENGER

_Assyrians_

HOLOFERNES, General of the Assyrian armies
BAGOAS, his chief eunuch
ACHIOR, a captain
INGUR, a soldier
AN ATTENDANT ON BAGOAS

ACT I

_A street in the city of Bethulia_.

ACT II

SCENE I. _The valley near the Assyrian camp. Time, morning; two days later_.

SCENE II. _The tent of Holofernes. Time, later, the same morning_.

SCENE III. _The same. Time, the same night_.

ACT III

SCENE I. _Same as Act I. Time, later, the same night._

SCENE II. _The same. Time, the next day_.

ACT I

_A street in the city of Bethulia in Judea. Bethulia is in the hill
country, overlooking the great plain of Jezreel to the south-west. Back,
the gates of the city, hiding the view of the plain. Right, Judith's
house, with a tent on the roof. Left, houses. The street turns abruptly,
back left, along the wall of the city. Left centre, a built-up
vantage-point, from which the plain can be seen over the gates_.

TIME: _Fifth century B.C.

Towards evening_.

Ozias _is standing alone in the street, drinking from a leathern bottle.
Enter_ Chabris, _back left_.

OZIAS _(quickly, but with perfect calmness, hiding the bottle in his
garments_). Old man! It is years since I saw you. How came you past the
guard, old man?

CHABRIS. Old? Old? I am not yet a hundred. Who are you?

OZIAS. Ozias.

CHABRIS. Ah! So this is Ozias, the son of Ezbon. Before your father
could walk I have nursed him on my knee; and he was filled like the full
moon--with naughtiness.

OZIAS. What has brought you at last out of your house? Are you come to
prophesy once more?

CHABRIS. I have given up prophesying.

OZIAS. A profession full of risks.

CHABRIS. I pass my endless days in meditation and solitude.

OZIAS. That sounds much safer. How comely is the wisdom of old men!

CHABRIS. And what do you do, sprig?

OZIAS. Has none told you?

CHABRIS. I see nobody but my daughter's granddaughter, and her I forbid
to speak to me, because being a wo