took their water from them, insomuch that they that were in the town
were in great penury of water, for in all the town was not water enough
for one day, and such as they had was given to the people by measure.
Then all the people young and old came to Ozias which was their prince,
with Charmis and Gothoniel, all with one voice crying: God the Lord deem
between us and thee, for thou hast done to us evil what thou spakest not
peaceably with Assyrians, for now we shall be delivered into the hands
of them. It is better for us to live in captivity under Holofernes and
live, than to die here for thirst, and see our wives and children die
before our eyes. And when they had made this piteous crying and yelling,
they went all to their church, and there a long while prayed and cried
unto God knowledging their sins and wickedness, meekly beseeching him to
show his grace and pity on them. Then at last Ozias arose up, and said
to the people: Let us abide yet five days, and if God send us no rescue
ne help us not in that time that we may give glory to his name, else we
shall do as ye have said. And when that Judith heard thereof, which was
a widow and a blessed woman, and was left widow three years and six
months.

After that Manasses her husband died, anon she went into the overest
part of her house in which she made a privy bed, which she and her
servants closed, and having on her body a hair [hair cloth], had fasted
all the days of her life save Sabbaths and new moons, and the feasts of
the house of Israel. She was a fair woman and her husband had left her
much riches, with plentiful meiny, and possessions of droves of oxen and
flocks of sheep, and she was a famous woman and dreaded God greatly. And
when she had heard that Ozias had said, that the fifth day the city
should be given over if God helped them not, she sent for the priests
Chambris and Charmis and said to them: What is this word in which Ozias
hath consented that the city should be delivered to the Assyrians if
within five days there come no help to us? And who be ye that tempt the
Lord God? This word is not to stir God to mercy but rather to arouse
wrath and woodness. Ye have set a time of mercy doing by God, and in
your doom ye have ordained a day to him. O good Lord, how patient is he,
let us ask him for forgiveness with weeping tears; he shall not threaten
as a man, ne inflame in wrath as a son of a man, therefore meek we our
souls to him and in a contrite spirit a