HAGGITH (excited, looking round to see if they are alone). Mistress! Is it possible?
JUDITH. What has taken thee?
HAGGITH. Is this the tent of the monster?
JUDITH. Hush!
HAGGITH (whispering). It is greater and more magnificent than the temple at Bethulia. (Looking into a corner.) But unclean. Have they no besoms?... Ah! (Looking up at the roof.) The bigness of it makes me small like a child before it can walk. I could not live comfortably in such a great windy place. No! I prefer our own house to all this royalty.
JUDITH. Give me food, Haggith. Where hast thou been? (She sits.)
HAGGITH. Mistress, I have been with the man Ingur! (Arranging Judith's costume, and then setting out the food and wine.) In obedience to your command. At Bethulia, being busied all my days with the ordering of your possessions, I had no time for traffic with men; neither desire. And I deemed them terrible and masterful creatures. And when you commanded me to go forth into the camps and delude and entangle with wiles whatever Assyrian I should meet, I was afraid. For it was in my heart that I could not accomplish this thing. Yet I have done it prettily. And it is easier to me far than sweeping with a besom. Either all men are simpletons and besotted with self-conceit, or Ingur exceeds greatly in folly. I have been given to him for his slave, but he is mine and knows it not. (She sits.)
JUDITH. Where hast thou left him?
HAGGITH. Mistress I would not suffer that you should pass from my sight, and I followed you, and Ingur followed me gladly, and at last the guard seized him for that he was found within the precincts of the prince's quarter, which is forbidden to his rank, and many stripes will be his. Mistress, you eat not.
JUDITH (trying to eat). Yes, I eat. Do thou eat for me.