Books Jesus Read

100

Books Jesus Read

chance to make love to a woman like this, before she gets the better of us?” Bagoas delivered the invitation. “Here is your chance, beautiful stranger!” he said to Judith, “for my lord, the Commander, requests the honor of your presence at his private party. You have only to eat and drink from his table. Then you will be honored like the daughters of the Assyrians, like those who grace the harem of the Great King, Nebuchadnezzar!” “Who am I to say no?” replied Judith, “for to party with the Great Commander will be a joyful memory for me until the day I die!” Then Judith arose. Dressing in a shimmering gown, she carefully applied her makeup, arrayed herself in jewelry and dabbed on exotic perfume. Meanwhile her maid went before her to the party to spread out soft furs for Judith to sit on as she reclined at table. When Judith appeared at the party and stretched out on the furs, Holofernes became flushed with excitement as he thought of where the evening would end, for he had secretly planned to seduce Judith all along. “Drink up,” he said to her, “and let yourself go!” Now while Judith appeared to be drinking with Holofernes, her maid was in fact refilling her goblet with water. And as they ate, the maid put kosher foods on her plate in place of the king’s food. Holofernes, unaware of all this, was thrilled that his plan was going so well; he drank more and more.