JUDITH. O lord and governor, I say: Reject not the word of Achior, but lay it up in your heart.
HOLOFERNES. Thou art bold.
JUDITH. The word of Achior is true. For the Israelites shall not be punished, and the sword shall not prevail against them, except they sin against their God.
HOLOFERNES. Not even my sword?
JUDITH. Not even the sword of my lord and governor, except they sin against their God. (With significance.) But they will sin.
HOLOFERNES. Ah! They will sin? In what will they sin?
JUDITH. Death is fallen upon them, and they will provoke their God to anger, for their water is scant, and they faint in their thirst; and they will drink the holy wine which was sanctified and reserved for the priests who serve before the face of our God: which thing is not lawful for any of the people so much as to touch with their hands.
HOLOFERNES. What has all this to do with me? There is no god but Nebuchadnezzar.
JUDITH. It touches my lord and governor, because, knowing all this, I am fled from Bethulia, which shall be accurst; and the God of Israel has sent me to work things with my lord and governor whereat the whole earth shall be astonished.
HOLOFERNES (looking at her, interested). What things? And what have I to do with thy god? I need not thy god, for after the Israelites have drunk their wine they will thirst again; and when the city is broken with fainting, it will fall safe into my hands while I sit and watch.