[_Enter Guards with_ JUDITH.
_Guard_ 1.
We found this woman wandering in the trenches,
And calling out, "Take me to Holofernes,
Assyrians, I am come for Holofernes."
_Guard_ 2.
She would not, for no words of ours, unveil,
And something held us back from handling her.
_Guard_ 1.
We think she must be beautiful, although
She is so stubborn with that veil of hers.
_Guard_ 2.
We minded my lord's word, that he be shewn
All the seized women which are strangely fair.
_Holofernes_.
Take off thy veil.
_Judith_.
I will not.
_Holofernes_.
Take thy veil
From off thy face, Jewess, or thou straight goest
To entertain my soldiers.
_Judith_.
I will not.
_Holofernes_.
Am I to tear it, then?
_Judith_.
My lord, thou durst not.
_Holofernes_.
Ha, there is spirit here. I have the whim,
Jewess, almost to believe thee: I dare not!
But tell me who thou art.
_Judith_.
That shalt thou know
Before the night has end.
_Holofernes_.
Take off thy veil.
_Judith_.
Alone for Holofernes am I come.
_Holofernes_.
And there is only Holofernes here.
These fellows are but thoughts of mine; my whole
Army, that treads down all the earth and breaks
The banks of fending rivers into marsh,
Is nought but my forth-going imagination.
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