I do come to this place to watch for the marvellous vision of Judith,
what then?

CHABRIS. What then? And the populace of Bethulia dying of thirst?

OZIAS. The populace!... Mice! Rats! Beetles! (_He makes the motion of
crushing with his foot_.)

CHABRIS. Yet the city is doomed. You can have no hope.

OZIAS. No hope? Am I then a dead body? Am I a rotting corpse? True, the
city will be taken, and when the city is taken I may be killed. But in
your meditations, old man, has it not occurred to you that death must be
highly interesting? Or I may be seized for a slave. But either I should
cease speedily to be a slave, or I should become the most powerful slave
in Babylon. (_Reflectively_.) We might be enslaved together.

CHABRIS. Who?

OZIAS. Judith and I. The history of the world is full of miracles.
Meanwhile, I live, and the strong savour of life inflames my nostrils;
and the ever-increasing magnificence and terror of war is like wine in
my mouth. I shake with delight at the vastness and the mystery of the
future.... And there is woman!

CHABRIS. I feel I can eat my pulse now.

OZIAS. There is still woman.

_A fracas is heard, back. Enter_ Rahel, _running, followed by two