Judith, a play in three acts | Page 4

are all spokesmen.
OZIAS. Even the children?
CHARMIS. Even the children. In our extremity we are all spokesmen.
OZIAS. But not all at once. Will you begin, honourable Charmis? You know that I am the servant of the citizens.
CHARMIS (_nervously oratorical_). Lord Ozias, may the God of Israel judge between us and you, for you have done us a great injury. (_Looks round for approval. The group approves._)
OZIAS. An injury? I? Have I not said that I am the servant of the citizens?
CHARMIS (_more confidently_). And I say again that you have done us a great injury, in that you have not asked peace of the Assyrians. For we have no helper, and the God of Israel has sold us into the hands of the Assyrians. We are thrown down before them with thirst and with great destruction. Therefore now we demand--(_looks round_)--I say we demand that you call the Assyrians, and deliver the whole city for a spoil to the people of Holofernes and to all his army. For it is better for us to be made a spoil than to die of thirst. We will be the slaves of Holofernes, so that our souls may live and so that we may not see the death of our infants before our eyes, nor our wives nor our children die. (_A mother in the group convulsively seizes her child. Pause_. Ozias walks about.) We take to witness against you the heaven and the earth and our God and the God of our fathers, which punishes us according to our sins and the sins of our fathers; and we demand of you that you deliver up the city to Holofernes and his host. (A silence.)
(Ozias _ascends solemnly to the vantage-point._)
OZIAS (_dominating the assembly_). Friends, it would seem that Charmis has made an end. His words are excellent and full of pity. Who follows him? Who will speak next? My ear waits. (A silence.) Ah! Then give heed. The words of Charmis are full of pity, but I also have pity. Do not I too cherish our women, and our maidens and our young children? And because I pity I would not yield to the monster Holofernes. Yes, the monster! This is not war that he wages. Once our enemy strove fairly with the warriors of Israel. Now he makes our women and children to die of thirst. The magnificence of war is gone from the earth, and Holofernes by the excess of his hosts has rendered war ridiculous. (Chabris raises his hands.) The peoples of the earth will perceive that henceforward the institution of war cannot continue, and after this there will be no more war. But meanwhile, if I go crouching to the feet of Holofernes, what will happen and what will come to pass? Surely it will come to pass that the monster who has sat down to watch us die of thirst will slay our little children and our old men, and dishonour our women, and ravish our innocent virgins; for the enslaving of the conquered will not content his anger nor satisfy the lust of his great hosts. Shall these things be? I say they shall not be. But what am I, save the servant of the citizens of Bethulia? And what do I speak, save the thought that is in your hearts? There is no cowardice in you. You are not sheep, nor rabbits, nor beetles, nor lice. You are valiant men, and women lion-hearted. Without you I am naught, and if I defy Holofernes, my fortitude is yours and my resolve springs from you. Charmis has invoked the holy name of the God of Israel. Let Israel not forget its God, for never has the Most High forsaken Israel. Brethren, be of good courage. Let us yet endure five days. Five short days. And if these days pass and the God of Israel turn not his mercy towards us, then will I do according to the word of Charmis. Such is my oath to you. And so it shall be.
Haggith enters from the house of Judith.
HAGGITH. My lord Ozias!
OZIAS (_quickly descending the steps_). What say you?
HAGGITH. My mistress, the lady Judith, will speak with you. She comes.
RAHEL (_half rising_). Water!
OZIAS (excited.) The lady Judith comes out of her house after three years.
VOICES IN THE GROUP (excited and impressed.) Judith is coming, after three years! Judith! The widow!
OZIAS (_sternly to the group_). Get hence, everyone to his own charge. Soldiers! Clear the street! (Two soldiers _advance, running to obey_.) The men to the walls and towers. The women and children to their houses. (To Rahel, _who has risen, indicating_ Chabris.) Take the aged fool away, girl. (Ruthlessly and contemptuously.) Get home, all of you. Rabble! Insects! Lice!
(_The street is cleared, not without difficulty, and_ Ozias is left alone with