BY

ARNOLD BENNETT

LONDON

1919

First published April 30, 1919

NOTE

This play was presented for the first time at the Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne, on Monday, April 7th, 1919, with the following cast: 

Judith LILLAH MCCARTHY
Haggith ESME Hubbard
Rahel Madge Murray
Ozias Campbell GULLAN
Holofernes Claude king
Bagoas Ernest THESIGER
Achior Geoffrey Douglas
Chabris E.H.  Paterson
Charmis FEWLASS Llewellyn
Ingur Frederick Volpe
Messenger Felix Aylmer
Soldier Clifford Mollison
Attendant Edwin OXLEE

The play was produced by Wilfred Eaton

CHARACTERS

Hebrews

Judith
Haggith, her waiting-woman
Rahel
Ozias, Governor of Bethulia
Chabris, an elder
Charmis, an elder
A soldier
A messenger

Assyrians

Holofernes, General of the Assyrian armies
Bagoas, his chief eunuch
Achior, a captain
Ingur, a soldier
an attendant on Bagoas

ACT I

A street in the city of Bethulia.

ACT II

SCENE I. The valley near the Assyrian camp.  Time, morning; two days later.

SCENE II. The tent of Holofernes.  Time, later, the same morning.

SCENE III. The same.  Time, the same night.

ACT III

SCENE I. Same as Act I. Time, later, the same night.

SCENE II. The same.  Time, the next day.

ACT I

A street in the city of Bethulia in Judea.  Bethulia is in the hill country, overlooking the great plain of Jezreel to the south-west.  Back, the gates of the city, hiding the view of the plain.  Right, Judith’s house, with a tent on the roof.  Left, houses.  The street turns abruptly, back left, along the wall of the city.  Left centre, a built-up vantage-point, from which the plain can be seen over the gates.

TIME:  Fifth century B.C.

Towards evening_.

Ozias is standing alone in the street, drinking from a leathern bottle. 
Enter Chabris, back left.