OZIAS. Lady, it was well said—if the slave said it. (To Achior.) I demanded of you: How came you here?
ACHIOR. Thus. When I had finished speaking to Holofernes, all they that were about my lord and governor rose up in wrath and cried: Kill him. And the face of Holofernes darkened, and he said: And who art thou, Achior, that thou hast prophesied among us to-day that we should not make war with the people of Israel because of their God? And who is God but Nebuchadnezzar? Nebuchadnezzar by my hand will destroy the Israelites, and their God shall not deliver them. Their mountains shall be drunken with their blood and their fields shall be filled with their dead bodies. (The citizens show alarm.) And thou, Achior, shalt be delivered up to the Israelites in Bethulia, and when thou seest me again thou shalt fall among the slain.... And he commanded his servants, and they took me, and carried me secretly to the foot of the hill of Bethulia. And here am I!
OZIAS (after a pause, positively). It is a wicked device for our undoing.
JUDITH. How so?
OZIAS. Plainly this fellow lies, and he has come subtly with a tale to spy out our strength. Presently he will seek to escape from us again to the Assyrians.
VOICES. Spy! Stone him! Rend him!
ACHIOR (to Ozias). To Holofernes, my lord and governor, I spoke truth; and to you also I speak truth. Never has my mouth lied, nor my tongue uttered deceit. If death is ordained for my recompense, so be it.
JUDITH (to Ozias). He is a fair youth, and has spoken truly and feared not.
OZIAS (with meaning). Lady, he is a fair youth, and fearless. But by what sign know you that he has spoken truly?
JUDITH. By the glance of his eyes I know.