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Judith 12
Then he ordered that she should go in where his treasures
were laid up, and bade her tarry there, and he appointed
what should be given her from his own table.
And Judith answered him and said: Now I cannot eat of
these things which thou commandest to be given me, lest
sin come upon me: but I will eat of the things which
I have brought.
And Holofernes said to her: If these things which thou
hast brought with thee fail thee, what shall we do for
thee?
And Judith said: As thy soul liveth, my lord, thy handmaid
shall not spend all these things till God do by my hand
that which I have purposed. And his servants brought
her into the tent which he had commanded.
And when she was going in, she desired that she might
have liberty to go out at night and before day to prayer,
and to beseech the Lord.
And he commanded his chamberlains, that she might go
out and in, to adore her God as she pleased, for three
days.
And she went out in the nights into the valley of Bethulia,
and washed herself in a fountain of water.
And as she came up, she prayed to the Lord the God of
Israel, that he would direct her way to the deliverance
of his people.
And going in, she remained pure in the tent, until she
took her own meat in the evening.
And it came to pass on the fourth day, that Holofernes
made a supper for his servants, and said to Vagao his
eunuch: so, and persuade that Hebrew woman, to consent
of her own accord to dwell with me.
For it is looked upon as shameful among the Assyrians,
if a woman mock a man, by doing so as to pass free from
him.
Then Vagao went in to Judith, and said: Let not my good
maid be afraid to go in to my lord, that she may be
honoured before his face, that she may eat with him
and drink wine and be merry.
And Judith answered him: Who am I, that I should gainsay
my lord?
All that shall be good and best before his eyes, I will
do. And whatsoever shall please him, that shall be best
to me all the days of my life.
And she arose and dressed herself out with her garments,
and going in she stood before his face.
And the heart of Holofernes was smitten, for he was
burning with the desire of her.
And Holofernes said to her: Drink now, and sit down
and be merry for thou hast found favour before me.
And Judith said: I will drink my lord, because my life
is magnified this day above all my days.
And she took and ate and drank before him what her maid
had prepared for her.
And Holofernes was made merry on her occasion, and drank
exceeding much wine, so much as he had never drunk in
his life.
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