OZIAS. You have seen my heart.
JUDITH. I have seen it.
OZIAS. And what say you?
There is the sudden sound of a disturbance. Enter, from back, soldiers, holding Achior, and a group of excited citizens. Haggith appears at the house-door.
OZIAS (fiercely). What! Are my commands no more than the wind in the corn, and is there to be naught but tumult within the walls of this city?
VOICES IN THE GROUP. An Assyrian! An Assyrian!
FIRST SOLDIER. Lord Ozias! We saw this man lying bound at the foot of the hill, and we descended and loosed him and brought him privily into Bethulia by the secret way. And now we present him to my lord.
OZIAS Fools! Then no longer is the secret way secret.
VOICES. Slay him! Stone him! Whip the dog!
JUDITH (nobly scornful, to the crowd). Oh! Brave! Oh! Men of courage and high valour!