hou wast praying to thy god?

JUDITH. Yea, highness.

HOLOFERNES. Didst thou demand of him that he should tell thee if the
Israelites in Bethulia had committed their sin, and if the time of my
triumph was at hand?

JUDITH. No, lord. I prayed for the forgiveness of the transgressions of
thy handmaid.

HOLOFERNES. Why didst thou not demand of him what I ask thee?

JUDITH. Who am I to hasten the God of Israel? In the night time, and in
the darkness, when all men sleep,--then it is that my God condescends
towards me, and my ear hears his secret purposes.

HOLOFERNES (_low_). This night?

JUDITH. Who can search out heaven?

HOLOFERNES. This night?

JUDITH. It may be.

HOLOFERNES. And thou wilt come to me in the night and tell me thy
message?

JUDITH. I will come to thee in the night, great prince.

HOLOFERNES. And thou wilt eat and drink with me in my triumph?

JUDITH (_after a pause_). If it pleases my lord.

HOLOFERNES. Thou wilt eat of my meat and drink of my wine, which I will
give thee?

JUDITH (_after a pause_). If my lord is alone and there is none with
him. For it is not right that any should see me.

HOLOFERNES. I will be alone. But Bagoas shall stand at the door of the
tent.

JUDITH. As my lord wills.

HOLOFERNES (_ecstatic, moving a little towards her; she responds_).
Fairest among women! Can it be!... The way of God is wondrous.

(_A half-veiled Assyrian woman appears through the hangings R., and
watches_.)

JUDITH (_solemnly and significantly_). There are yet hid greater things
than this, and thou hast yet seen but a few of his works.

HOLOFERNES (_sinking back on the couch, mysteriously afraid_).
Sorceress!

(_The watcher disappears_.)

JUDITH (_cooingly_) Does my lord shrink from his handmaid?

(Holofernes _stretches his hands to her_.)

CURTAIN.

SCENE III

SCENE: _The same_.

TIME: _The same night_.

_Wine and food are set by the couch_.

_A lamp is burning_.

BAGOAS (_at back entrance to tent, calling to people off_). To your
beds, all of you. Let none remain. (_He stands a moment at the entrance;
a few distant shouts are heard; then silence_. Bagoas _comes within the
tent towards the couch. To_ Holofernes.) The waiters are gone, Prince.
There is no one left to disturb the night.

HOLOFERNES. Hast thou seen her?

BAGOAS (_after a pause_). No, prince.

HOLOFERNES. But didst thou look?

BAGOAS. I looked, O illustrious.

HOLOFERNES. Is there moonlig