OFERNES (_looking about the tent, alarmed_). Where is she? Has she
fled? If she has escaped me, this shall be thy last day, Bagoas. What is
this girl here?

BAGOAS. Prince, has any woman yet slipped through these hands? This girl
is the waiting wench of the lady Judith. (_To_ Haggith.) Where is thy
mistress, wench?

HAGGITH (_frightened and foolish_). My mistress having eaten ... having
eaten naught, is gone to--to--to--pray.

BAGOAS. Bring her. Her god may wait, but not the illustrious Prince. Run
with both thy legs.

HAGGITH. Ye--es, mightiness. (_Exit, back_)

HOLOFERNES. Bagoas, with thine arts thou shalt persuade the Hebrew woman
to come to us and to eat and drink with us this night.

BAGOAS (_grimly_). Persuasion shall be used, highness. My arts are many
and various.

HOLOFERNES. It will be a shame for our person if we let such a woman go,
not having delighted in her company. If we do not draw her to us she
will laugh us to scorn.

BAGOAS. Yea, highness. But my lord has but this moment appointed a great
feast with his captains at sunset. How then shall he eat and drink with
the lady Judith?

HOLOFERNES. Thick-skull! Speak not to me of my captains! The Council of
the Captains was as dust in my mouth, and I could not away with it.
Therefore I sharply dismissed the Council, and soothed their damnable
pride with the promise of a mighty feast. But what care I for the
captains? My heart thirsts horribly for this Hebrew woman, and I am full
of a great madness.

BAGOAS. So be it, highness. Nevertheless, the Prince has promised to his
captains a mighty feast, and the word of Holofernes is a rock that
cannot be shaken.

HOLOFERNES. Oh! What a calamity is love! And there is no slave so
trodden down as him that is the slave of desire.... Bah! I will eat and
drink quickly with the captains, and the woman shall await me here.

_Enter_ Judith, _back. On seeing_ Holofernes _she prostrates herself_.

HOLOFERNES. Arise, sorceress. (Judith _rises. To_ Bagoas.) Go fetch
leopard skins for her repose.

BAGOAS. I will send for the skins on the instant, highness.

HOLOFERNES. Thou wilt go thyself to fetch them, elephant. And come not
back without the finest skins in my wardrobe. See to it.

(_Exit_ Bagoas, _back_.)

HOLOFERNES. Come closer. (Judith _obeys_.) Look into my eyes. (Judith
_obeys_.) Sorceress, thou knowest thy power.

JUDITH. I have no power, save that which is given to me from on high.

HOLOFERNES. T