(_Rising_. Haggith _also rises_.) Stay thou
where thou art, for I will go forth alone. I must commune with the God
of Israel for my tranquillity, and I dare not seek him in the tent of
the heathen. (_Exit, back_.)
(Haggith _gathers the meat together_.)
_Enter_ Holofernes _and_ Bagoas, _L_.
HOLOFERNES (_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.
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