a, and
upon the counsel of Ozias the woman by wiles compassed the death of
Holofernes as I have told you.

MESSENGER. It is a tale which fathers shall tell to their children, and
to their children's children, and men shall wonder thereat for all time.
And now your servant will say to you a thing which has not been told to
him but which his ear has heard. It was said among the mighty that if my
lord Ozias should save Judea from the heathen, he would receive notable
advancement and be raised up among the great ones of the land. (Ozias
_bows_.) Yet will Joachim not be astonished, for it was spoken in
Jerusalem that among all the Israelites there is none like the lord
Ozias for cunning and obstinacy in defence.

OZIAS (_nettled_). Nevertheless it is meet that Joachim should be
astonished, for with five thousand have I set at naught one hundred and
two and thirty thousand, and in the chronicles of Israel there is
written down no deed to match the delivery of Judea from the Assyrians.

MESSENGER. The God of Israel hath saved Israel.

OZIAS. The God of Israel hath save Israel,--by my hand. Go ye, and when
you have eaten and drunk, set ye forth again for Jerusalem.

(_The Messenger salutes and exit, L_.)

(_Throughout this scene excited and joyous men and women frequently pass
the street in twos and threes_.)

(_Dawn is breaking and the torches begin to pale_.)

_Enter_ Haggith _and_ Ingur _from the house._

OZIAS. Where art thou going?

HAGGITH. Lord Ozias, I came up from the valley to bring water, and to
give tidings. Now I go down again to the valley with Ingur and his men
to seek out my mistress, and to take new raiment to her, and lead her to
the city; for since the Israelites are fallen upon the Assyrians, my
mistress is no longer in danger.

_Enter_ Achior.

OZIAS. Slave, who hath dared to loose thee?

ACHIOR. There was none left to guard, and I came forth.

OZIAS (_to a soldier_). Seize this fellow and bind him with fetters.

(_The torches are by this time extinguished_.)

HAGGITH. Lord, it cannot be so. For the lady Judith commanded me to
bring Achior also, for her protection, seeing that the youth came from
the Assyrians at the bidding of the God of Israel to give comfort to
Israel, and for a sign to my mistress.

OZIAS (_after a pause_). I also will go with you, for it is right that
the governor should do honour to the lady Judith.

HAGGITH. My mistress commanded me to say to the lord Ozias that