SOLDIER. Who can tell the heart of a master? Not I! When dost thou
depart?

HAGGITH. My mistress is attiring.

FIRST SOLDIER. Thou dost not attire her?

HAGGITH. I! I, who have charge over all that is hers! Wilt thou tell me,
then, what is the task of her tiring-women? Idle sluts!

FIRST SOLDIER. And this is thy baggage?

HAGGITH (_matter-of-fact_). A cruse of oil, a bag of parched corn, fine
bread, three lumps of figs--and a bottle of wine--yea, the last!

FIRST SOLDIER (_drawing in his lips_). Ah! But thou wilt need an ass for
this cargo.

HAGGITH (_drily_). I am the ass.

_Enter_ Judith, _magnificently dressed_.

(_The_ soldier _retires, back_.)

JUDITH. Is all prepared?

HAGGITH. All is prepared, mistress.

_Enter_ Ozias, _L_.

OZIAS (_ecstatic at the sight of_ Judith's _splendour_). O, loveliness!
O, lily of the field! Who shall withstand you, and who shall say you
nay?

JUDITH (_smiling_). I am ready to depart.

OZIAS. The secret way is opened. I will lead you to it.

JUDITH (_gently_). The secret way? I will take no secret way.

OZIAS. But hear me, lady. The peril from the archers far off--

JUDITH. What did I say to you, lord Ozias? I said: You shall stand this
night in the gate of the city, and I will go forth. My desire is that
you command the gatemen to open the gates, so that I and my
waiting-woman may pass out before all men, and in the sight of the Lord.
(_She bends to examine_ Haggith's _baggage_.)

OZIAS (_moved. Calling to the_ soldiers). Ho! Let the gates of the city
be opened, that the lady Judith may go forth.

FIRST SOLDIER. Yea, lord. (_Calling to others, off._) Gatemen!

(_The gatemen man the gate-chains, and citizens rush in with cries_:
'What shall happen to us? The lady Judith leaves the city? At
night-fall? What is it?')

OZIAS (_fiercely, to the crowd_). Get hence! Dogs!

JUDITH (_softly_). Let them stay, Lord Ozias, for that which I do, I do
not in secret, neither shall it be hidden.

OZIAS (_to the crowd_). Make a way clear to the gates.

JUDITH. Before I go, I will look into the valley whither I descend.
(_She mounts to the vantage-point_).

VOICES. Water! Water! Or we die!

JUDITH (_from the vantage-point_). Brethren, bewail not! Remember what
things the Lord did to Abraham, and how he tried Isaac, and what
happened to Jacob in Mesopotamia. For the Lord has not tried us in the
fire as he did them, neither has he taken vengeance upon us. But the
Lord sco