He stands here beyond the gates to receive Judith and the women
who have gone forth to meet her.
CHABRIS. What is the deed of Judith? (_The noise of an approaching
procession is heard_. Charmis, _ignoring_ Chabris, _goes a little
outside the gates to watch._ Chabris _continues in a louder voice_.) The
streets of the city are empty. I say the streets of the city are empty.
CHARMIS. Dodderer! The whole city is afoot on the hill-side, and all the
Assyrians left alive are fled in panic into the East.
CHABRIS. Then I will return to my house and drink again. No! I will
remain, and my eyes shall regard the women, as of old.
_Enter through the gates a procession of women (including_ Rahel),
_waving branches. At the end of the procession come_ Haggith _and_
Ingur, _and finally_ Judith, _with_ Achior _on one hand, and_ Ozias _on
the other. Townspeople and soldiers, garlanded, follow the procession_.
BALLET.
OZIAS (_to_ Judith). O daughter, blessed be thou above all the women of
the earth. Thou art the exaltation of Jerusalem and the great glory of
Israel, for the Lord hath directed thee to the cutting off of the head
of the chief of our enemies, and thou hast revenged our ruin.
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