But thou art a woman and therefore preferment
is not for thee. Yet now by reason of my boasting I shall be greatly
advanced and lifted up, and in all Judea there will be none higher than
me, and thus wilt thou also be advanced and lifted up.
JUDITH. I desire no preferment.
OZIAS. But I would have it in thy behalf; and my appetite is double. I
rage for glory and dominion, and I rage also for thee. And I will offer
thee glory and dominion, for I seek these things as a gift to thy
beauty. And if I cannot lay them on thy lap my heel shall spurn mankind
and I will tread it to dust. My desires are terrible; they will not be
withstood; they consume me daily, but daily I am renewed. I am on fire,
but by the fierceness of the fire I am strengthened. I was conceived
for greatness and my mother bore me for mastery, and the huge earth
shall shake with the terror of my commands.... And I am held between thy
fingers.
JUDITH. I deny not thy greatness.
OZIAS. Surely thou canst not. For thou too art great. And my greatness
yearns to thine.
JUDITH. Wilt thou listen?
OZIAS. I hear.
JUDITH. With this greatness of thine goes deceit and laxity of mind.
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