OZIAS (moved).  Open the gates.

JUDITH (to Haggith).  Nothing is forgotten?

HAGGITH.  Nothing.

(Judith moves a step towards the gates.)

OZIAS.  The soul of my soul goes with you into the valley.

JUDITH (to Haggith, solemnly).  And the knife?

(Haggith gives a gesture.  At the same moment a woman comes from the house with a knife, which she hands to Haggith, who hands it to Judith, who takes it ceremoniously, and hides it in her dress.  The gates are now opened, and the distant plain under the setting sun is seen covered with the tents of the Assyrian army.)

(Judith goes slowly through the gates, followed by Haggith carrying the baggage.)

VOICES (as Judith passes).  Water!  Water!

OZIAS (with deep emotion).  Close the gates.  Light the watchfires.

(The gates begin slowly to close.  The glow of the watchfires is seen.)

CURTAIN.

ACT II

SCENE I

The valley of Jezreel.  The city of Bethulia on the hill in the distance.

Haggith with her baggage enters to Ingur and his men.

TIME:  The next morning but one.

INGUR.  What art thou?

HAGGITH (prudishly and coldly).  If it please thee, I am a woman.

INGUR.  No.  Thou art a hedgehog.

HAGGITH (suddenly cajoling).  I ask pardon.  When I saw thy great handsomeness I grew afraid, and my tongue was stiffened.  In my country there is no man so handsome as thou art.

INGUR.  Ah! (Much mollified.) And what then is thy country?

HAGGITH.  I am a woman of the Hebrews, and I have come from Bethulia.

INGUR (astonished).  A woman of the Hebrews!  From Bethulia! (To his men).  Stand back from my face. (The men retire.  To Haggith.) This is a rare strange tale.

HAGGITH.  Could I lie to thee?  I have escaped from the city, which is given over to be consumed.  I sought water for my thirst, for in Bethulia there is no water, and the people faint in the streets.

INGUR.  But it is a long journey from Bethulia, and thou art fresh and delicate as though just risen from thy bed.

HAGGITH (smiling).  I can hide nothing from thee, mighty wolf.  I am, indeed, but just risen from my bed.  The night before last night I set forth secretly, and came into the valley yesterday at noon, and lay soft in a cave where three springs bubbled, and drank, and slept until this morning’s sunrise.

INGUR.  What is thy name?

HAGGITH.  Haggith.

INGUR.  Thy name is as strange as thy errand, and as thyself; and surely thou art a woman of the Hebrews, which is a race of lunatics, as I am told.