Giuditta 12

BIBBIA RICCIOTTI	NEW JERUSALEM
1 - Allora la fece entrare dove eran custoditi i suoi tesori, ordinò che ivi ella stesse, e stabili quel che le si doveva dare dalla sua mensa.	1 With that he had her brought in to where his silver dinner service was already laid, and had his ownfood served to her and his own wine poured out for her.
2 Ma Giuditta gli rispose: « Io non posso mangiare di quelle cose che tu hai ordinato mi sian portate, per non incorrere nell' ira [di Dio]; mangerò di quelle che ho portate con me ».	2 But Judith said, 'I would rather not eat this, in case I incur some fault. What I have brought wil beenough for me.'
3 Ed Oloferne a lei: « Se viene a mancarti ciò che hai portato con te, come faremo?».	3 'Suppose your provisions run out,' Holofernes asked, 'how could we get more of the same sort? Wehave no one belonging to your race here.'
4 Disse Giuditta: «Giuro per la tua vita, signor mio, che la tua serva non consumerà tutte queste cose prima che Dio mi faccia eseguire quel che mi sta in mente ». Allora i servi di Oloferne la condussero nella tenda da lui assegnatale.	4 'May your soul live, my lord,' Judith answered, 'the Lord wil have used me to accomplish his plan,before your servant has finished these provisions.'
5 Essa entrandovi chiese che le fosse concesso di uscire la notte, avanti giorno, a fare orazione e supplicare il Signore.	5 Holofernes' adjutants then took her to a tent where she slept until midnight. A little before the morningwatch, she got up.
6 Ed egli comandò a' suoi servi che per tre giorni la lasciassero andare e venire a suo piacimento ad adorare il suo Dio.	6 She had already sent this request to Holofernes, 'Let my lord kindly give orders for your servant to beal owed to go out and pray,'
7 Essa usciva, la notte, nella valle di Betulia, e si lavava ad una fonte.	7 and Holofernes had ordered his guards not to prevent her. She stayed in the camp for three days; she went out each night to the val ey of Bethulia and washed at the spring where the picket had been posted.
8 Poi, ritornando, pregava il Signore Dio di Israele che dirigesse la sua impresa alla liberazione di Israele.	8 As she went she prayed to the Lord God of Israel to guide her in her plan to relieve the children of herpeople.
9 E rientrata, si serbava monda nella sua tenda, sinché a sera prendeva il suo cibo.	9 Having purified herself, she would return and stay in her tent until her meal was brought her in theevening.
10 Al quarto giorno, Oloferne dette una cena a' suoi ministri, e disse a Vagao suo eunuco: « Va', e persuadi quell'ebrea ad acconsentire spontaneamente d'esser mia.	10 On the fourth day Holofernes gave a banquet, inviting only his own staff and none of the other officers.
11 È vergogna presso gli Assiri che una donna si burli di un uomo uscendo libera dalle sue mani ».	11 He said to Bagoas, the officer in charge of his personal affairs, 'Go and persuade that Hebrew womanyou are looking after to come and join us and eat and drink in our company.
12 Allora Vagao si presentò a Giuditta, e le disse: « Non tema la buona fanciulla di venire al mio signore, per ricevere innanzi a lui l'onore di mangiar con lui, e di bere vino allegramente ».	12 We shal be disgraced if we let a woman like this go without seducing her. If we do not seduce her,everyone wil laugh at us!'
13 Bispose Giuditta: « Chi sono io da contradire al mio signore?	13 Bagoas then left Holofernes and went to see Judith. 'Would this young and lovely woman condescendto come to my lord?' he asked. 'She will occupy the seat of honour opposite him, drink the joyful wine with usand be treated today like one of the Assyrian ladies who stand in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar.'
14 Tutto quello che a lui piacerà, sarà ottimo anche a me, ogni giorno della mia vita».	14 'Who am I', Judith replied, 'to resist my lord? I shal not hesitate to do whatever he wishes, and doingthis wil be my joy to my dying day.'
15 Si alzò dunque, s'ornò delle sue vesti, ed entrò davanti a lui.	15 So she got up and put on her dress and al her feminine adornments. Her maid preceded her, and onthe floor in front of Holofernes spread the fleece which Bagoas had given Judith for her daily use to lie on as sheate.
16 Il cuore di Oloferne si scosse, ardendo egli di possederla;	16 Judith came in and took her place. The heart of Holofernes was ravished at the sight; his very soulwas stirred. He was seized with a violent desire to sleep with her; and indeed since the first day he saw her, hehad been waiting for an opportunity to seduce her.
17 e disse a lei Oloferne: « Bevi dunque, e mangia allegramente, chè hai trovato favore dinanzi a me»,	17 'Drink then!' Holofernes said. 'Enjoy yourself with us!'
18 Giuditta disse: « Beverò, signore; perché oggi io mi trovo più glorificata che in tutta la mia vita ».	18 'I am delighted to do so, my lord, for since my birth I have never felt my life more worthwhile thantoday.'
19 E prese e mangiò e bevve dinanzi a lui quel che le aveva preparato la sua ancella.	19 She took what her maid had prepared, and ate and drank facing him.
20 Ed Oloferne dette Sfogo alla sua gioia, e bevve vino fuor di misura, quanto non n'aveva mai bevuto in vita sua.	20 Holofernes was so enchanted with her that he drank far more wine than he had drunk on any otherday in his life.