OLOFERNES (_with bravado_). He is no god, then, thy god. Let us drink.

JUDITH (_as_ Holofernes _moves towards her, solemnly_). Touch not your
handmaid, and touch not the goblet. (_She goes to the skins, R_.)

HOLOFERNES (_following_ Judith _gently_). Thou art offended.

JUDITH. Stand afar off, Holofernes, and meddle not with her that
communes with the Most High.

(Judith _kneels_. Holofernes _goes in the direction of the couch.
Silence_. Bagoas _has been seen once or twice in the porch of the tent,
his back turned. He has now gone again. Two half-veiled Assyrian women
appear through the hangings, R., and watch a moment, then vanish_.
Judith _slowly rises_.)

HOLOFERNES. What has befallen thee?

JUDITH. It has befallen me that this moment the God of Israel has spoken
and my ear has heard his command. (_Approaching_ Holofernes.)

HOLOFERNES. What saith thy god?

JUDITH. My ear has heard that the Israelites in Bethulia have committed
their sin, and at sunrise the Assyrians shall assault Bethulia and none
shall withstand them.

HOLOFERNES. A miracle!

JUDITH. A miracle in thy tent, O great warrior!

HOLOFERNES. To-morrow is appointed to be the day of my triumph.

JUDITH (_moved_). Yea, it is so.

HOLOFERNES (_gratefully_). Hear me, Judith. Thy god shall be my god.

JUDITH. In truth thou art set apart to be his. HOLOFERNES (_close to
her_). Thy body trembles.

JUDITH (_smiling_). Thinkst thou then that I was not afraid for thee?
But my fear is gone from me, for now I know thy fate and the decree of
heaven concerning thee.

HOLOFERNES (_aside_). To-morrow is appointed for my triumph, but this
night also shall I exult. (_To_ Judith.) Let us eat and drink together,
for we are alone in the night, and thou hast promised.

JUDITH (_gaily_). Let us feast.

HOLOFERNES (_animated by her responsive tone_). Take off thy tunic; thou
art in thy own house. Let Holofernes be thy tire-woman. (_Approaching
her_.)

JUDITH. No! (_Moving from him to the further side of the couch_.) But he
shall be my slave to serve me. Pour out the wine, great slave.

(_While_ Holofernes _cheerfully obeys_, Judith _takes the knife from her
garments and places it behind the couch. Then, as he stands with the
wine, gazing at her and separated from her only by the couch, she slowly
removes her tunic and appears in indoor attire. She comes towards him
and takes the wine from him and drinks_.)

HOLOFERNES. I feared that in the strictness o