If we do not draw her to us she
will laugh us to scorn.
BAGOAS. Yea, highness. But my lord has but this moment appointed a great
feast with his captains at sunset. How then shall he eat and drink with
the lady Judith?
HOLOFERNES. Thick-skull! Speak not to me of my captains! The Council of
the Captains was as dust in my mouth, and I could not away with it.
Therefore I sharply dismissed the Council, and soothed their damnable
pride with the promise of a mighty feast. But what care I for the
captains? My heart thirsts horribly for this Hebrew woman, and I am full
of a great madness.
BAGOAS. So be it, highness. Nevertheless, the Prince has promised to his
captains a mighty feast, and the word of Holofernes is a rock that
cannot be shaken.
HOLOFERNES. Oh! What a calamity is love! And there is no slave so
trodden down as him that is the slave of desire.... Bah! I will eat and
drink quickly with the captains, and the woman shall await me here.
_Enter_ Judith, _back. On seeing_ Holofernes _she prostrates herself_.
HOLOFERNES. Arise, sorceress. (Judith _rises. To_ Bagoas.) Go fetch
leopard skins for her repose.
BAGOAS.
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