Through the gate of the wall, and these words she spoke
To the victor-tribe:
"I may tell to you now
Noteworthy news, that you need no longer
Mourn in your mind, for the Master is kind to you,
155 The Ruler of nations. It is known afar
Around the wide world that you have won glory;
Very great victory is vouchsafed in return
For all the evils and ills you have suffered."
Blithe then became the burghers within,
160 When they heard how the Holy Maid spoke
Over the high wall. The warriors rejoiced;
To the gate of the fortress the folk then hastened,
Wives with their husbands, in hordes and in bands,
In crowds and in companies; they crushed and thronged
165 Towards the handmaid of God by hundreds and thousands,
Old ones and young ones. All of the men
In the goodly city were glad in their hearts
At the joyous news that Judith was come
Again to her home, and hastily then
170 With humble hearts the heroes received her.
Then gave the gold-adorned, sagacious in mind,
Command to her comrade, her co-worker faithful
The heathen chief's head to hold forth to the people,
To the assembly to show as a sign and a token,
175 All bloody to the burghers, how in battle they sped.
To the famed victory-folk the fair maiden spoke:
"O proudest of peoples, princely protectors,
Gladly now gaze on the gory face,
On the hated head of the heathen warrior,
180 Holofernes, wholly life-bereft,
Who most of all men contrived murder against us,
The sorest of sorrows, and sought even yet
With greater to grind us, but God would not suffer him
Longer to live, that with loathsomest evils
185 The proud one should oppress us; I deprived him of life
Through the grace of God. Now I give commands
To you citizens bold, you soldiers brave-hearted,
Protectors of the people, to prepare one and all
Forthwith for the fight. When first from the east
190 The King of creation, the kindest of Lords,
Sends the first beams of light, bring forth your
linden-shields,
Boards for your breasts and your burnie-corselets,
Your bright-hammered helmets