JUDITH. There are beautiful women in Judea, but no man of Judea would
look twice at such as I, a shrunken widow, like dried fish.

(_Exit_ Ingur, _excitedly, L_.)

BAGOAS. I have heard how you have escaped out of Bethulia and come
hither in order to find water. (_Blandly_.) Aught else?

JUDITH. My desire also was to have speech privately with the great
conqueror, Holofernes.

BAGOAS. Ah! We are well met, you and I. For I am Bagoas, chief eunuch to
the illustrious Prince. (_Aside to second attendant_.) Run. Fetch the
box of veils. (_Exit_ second attendant, _L_.)

JUDITH (_saluting once more_). I supplicate then, mighty Bagoas, that
you lead me quickly to the illustrious Prince Holofernes.

BAGOAS. Surely! Surely! It is my pleasure to content you. (_Aside, to
attendant, anxiously_.) This dried fish by her damnable beauty will
reach great power, and if I speak not softly to her now she will undo me
in that day.

FIRST ATTENDANT. Yea, mightiness.

JUDITH. I humbly thank your mightiness.

BAGOAS. But it is necessary that you should relate to me your little
affair. For no woman speaks to the illustrious Prince until she has