Thou hungerest for Achior.
Wouldst thou marry a heathen, thou a Hebrew woman?
JUDITH. And thou, if I had not accomplished the will of the Lord, and if
thou hadst been carried to Babylon as thou saidst, wouldst thou not have
denied the Most High and gone after other gods? But Achior believeth in
our God, and this day will be joined into the house of Israel.
OZIAS (_savagely scornful_). What is Achior but a simpleton!
JUDITH. It may be. But I love him and he shall rule me ... for he came
hither for a sign from the Lord.
OZIAS (_savagely resentful_). Oh! If I did not love thee, would I not
undo thee!
JUDITH. Thou! Thou art Ozias, but I am she who cut off the head of a
mightier than thou, even Holofernes in his tent. Go thy ways and fulfil
greatness. As for me I will remain obediently in my house, and truth and
righteousness shall reign in my house.
(_The procession returns, the women bearing the banners of the
Assyrians_. Achior _enters from the house_.)
(Judith _is crowned with olives_.)
JUDITH. And now let the priests and the elders enter with me into my
house, and Achior shall follow them, so that he may be received into
Israel, and I will be betrothed to him with all the ceremonies of the
law, for he came to me as a messenger from God.
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