instant--is she
fairer than thou?

HAGGITH. Seven times more fair.

INGUR. Fetch her!

HAGGITH. My mistress is washing herself in a fountain of water by the
cave. She sent me forward in peace and friendliness to announce her
coming.

INGUR. Fetch her! (_Suddenly perceiving_ Bagoas _in the distance, he
changes his manner_.) Stay! Bagoas is approaching, and he may have seen
thee. His eyes are sharp. Stand off. (Haggith _moves away a little_.)
But when I tell thee, fall down on thy face.

HAGGITH. Is he a great captain?

INGUR. His mightiness is the chief eunuch of the Prince, and there is
none greater than he save only the Prince himself, for Bagoas has charge
over all the women of the Prince's tents.

HAGGITH. Women of the Prince's tents?

INGUR. Ay! Wives! Concubines! Virgins! Beyond counting. Didst thou think
in thy Hebrew pride, that the Prince was a savage and a barbarian?...
Down, damsel! Here is Bagoas. Embrace the earth for thy life's sake.
(Haggith _obeys_.)

_Enter_ Bagoas, _with attendants, L_.

(Ingur _salutes him with extreme deference_.)

BAGOAS. Who art thou?

INGUR. Ingur, mightiness, commanding twenty footmen.

BAGOAS. Begone from my sight. This morning the Prince condescends to
walk through the camp, that all the armies may take joy in his
countenance. It is not meet that he should be seen of any lower than a
lieutenant.

INGUR (_indicating_ Haggith). Mightiness, a woman of the Hebrews escaped
from Bethulia to find water! And by my subtlety I have captured her.

BAGOAS. A woman of the Hebrews! (_Surveying_ Haggith.) Rise, scum, and
let me behold thy deformity. (Haggith _obeys_.)

INGUR. And there is another yet to appear,--her mistress, seven times
fairer.

BAGOAS. Her mistress may be seven times fairer than this eyesore, and
yet ugly. (_To_ Haggith.) Who is thy mistress?

HAGGITH. The lady Judith.

BAGOAS. Judith! A name fit only for a cat! Why is she here? How is she
here? What is her secret and detestable purpose? For there is a trick in
this thing.

HAGGITH. I know not my mistress's purpose.

BAGOAS. Tell me thy mistress's purpose, or I will have thee smothered.

HAGGITH. I know only that if Holofernes----

BAGOAS (_stopping her angrily_). Callest thou the illustrious one by his
name? The most high _Prince_ Holofernes, foul wench.

HAGGITH. The most high Prince Holofernes--if he so wills my mistress
would speak with his highness.

BAGOAS (_laughing heartily_). Spea