HOLOFERNES (to Bagoas). Chastise thy tongue, ere it overthrow thee, fiend. There is no guile in that face. (To Judith.) Tell me now thy message and wherefore in truth thou art come. And tremble not, for thou shalt live this night.
JUDITH. Great prince, receive the words of your servant and suffer your handmaid to speak in your presence, and I will declare no lie to my lord.
HOLOFERNES. Speak.
JUDITH. I will speak to my lord alone.
BAGOAS (aside to Holofernes). It is a device against my lord.
HOLOFERNES (to Judith). Speak now, I command thee.
JUDITH. My message concerns the fate of Bethulia, and of all the Assyrians, and of my lord. Life and death are in it, for I have communed with heaven.
HOLOFERNES. Which heaven? Thine or mine?
JUDITH. There is but one God.
HOLOFERNES (roughly). And he is Nebuchadnezzar. Speak thy tale.