7 — Judith

1But Holofernes on the next day gave orders to his army, to go up against Bethulia.E Il dì seguente Oloferne comando alle sue schiere di incamminarsi verso Betulia.BVT Holofernes the next day commanded his armies, that they should goe vp against Bethulia.Holofernes autem altera die præcepit exercitibus suis ut ascenderent contra Bethuliam. 2Now there were in his troops a hundred and twenty thousand footmen, and two and twenty thousand horsemen, besides the preparations of those men who had been taken, and who had been brought away out of the provinces and cities of all the youth.Or egli avea cento ventimila fanti agguerriti, e ventidue mila cavalli, oltre quelli, che avea levati per forza, e oltre tutta la gioventù condotta dalle provincie, e dalle città.And there were of warre foote men an hundred twentie thousand, and horse men two and twentie thousand, besides the preparations of those men, whom the captiuitie had taken, and had beene led away out of the prouinces and cities, of al youth.Erant autem pedites bellatorum centum viginti millia, et equites viginti duo millia, præter præparationes virorum illorum quos occupaverat captivitas, et abducti fuerant de provinciis et urbibus universæ juventutis. 3All these prepared themselves together to fight against the children of Israel, and they came by the hillside to the top, which looketh toward Dothain, from the place which is called Belma, unto Chelmon, which is over against Esdrelon.Tutti si posero egualmente in ordine per combattere contro i figliuoli d'Israele, e si avanzarono per la parte inferiore del monte fino all'altura, che domina (sopra) Dothain dal luogo detto Belma fino a Chelmon, che è dirimpetto ad Esdrelon.Al prepared them selues together to the fight agaynst the children of Israel, and they came by the hil side vnto the toppe, which looketh toward Dothaim, from the place which is called Belma vnto Chelmon, which is against Esdrelon.Omnes paraverunt se pariter ad pugnam contra filios Israël, et venerunt per crepidinem montis usque ad apicem, qui respicit super Dothain, a loco qui dicitur Belma usque ad Chelmon, qui est contra Esdrelon. 4But the children of Israel, when they saw the multitude of them, prostrated themselves upon the ground, putting ashes upon their heads, praying with one accord, that the God of Israel would shew his mercy upon his people.Ma i figliuoli d'Israele quando ebber veduta quella moltitudine si prostraron boccone per terra, coprendosi la testa di cenere pregando tutti insieme il Dio d'Israele a di mostrare la sua misericordia verso il suo popolo.But the children of Israel, as they saw the multitude of them, laid them selues prostrate vpon the earth, casting ashes vpon their heades, praying with one accord, that the God of Israel would shew his mercie vpon his people.Filii autem Israël, ut viderunt multitudinem illorum, prostraverunt se super terram, mittentes cinerem super capita sua, unanimes orantes ut Deus Israël misericordiam suam ostenderet super populum suum.

5And taking their arms of war, they posted themselves at the places, which by a narrow pathway lead directly between the mountains, and they guarded them all day and night.E prendendo le loro armi si piantarono nei luoghi, i quali davan l'accesso ad angusti sentieri per mezzo ai monti; e li custodivano di giorno, e di notte.And taking their weapons of warre, they sate at the places, which by a narrow path way lead directly betwen the mountaynes, and they were keping them al day and night.Et assumentes arma sua bellica, sederunt per loca quæ ad angusti itineris tramitem dirigunt inter montosa, et erant custodientes ea tota die et nocte. 6Now Holofernes, in going round about, found that the fountain which supplied them with water, ran through an aqueduct without the city on the south side: and he commanded their aqueduct to be cut off.Ma Oloferne mentre andava attorno girando osservò, che la fontana, la quale sboccava in città, vi era condotta per mezzo di un acquidotto, che era fuori dalla parte di mezzodì, e ordinò, che quell'acquidotto fosse tagliato.Moreouer Holofernes, whiles he compasseth round about, found that the foūtayne, which ranne in, went directly to their conduite on the south side without the citie: and he commanded their conduite to be cut asunder.Porro Holofernes, dum circuit per gyrum, reperit quod fons qui influebat, aquæductum illorum a parte australi extra civitatem dirigeret: et incidi præcepit aquæductum illorum. 7Nevertheless there were springs not far from the walls, out of which they were seen secretly to draw water, to refresh themselves a little rather than to drink their fill.Eranvi nondimeno in poca distanza dalle mura delle sorgenti, dalle quali vedeansi attignere furtivamente dell'acqua più per ristorarsi, che per bere.Neuerthelesse there were fountaynes not far from the walles, out of which secretly they semed to draw water to refresh them selues, rather then to drinke.Erant tamen non longe a muris fontes, ex quibus furtim videbantur haurire aquam ad refocillandum potius quam ad potandum. 8But the children of Ammon and Moab came to Holofernes, saying: The children of Israel trust not in their spears, nor in their arrows, but the mountains are their defence, and the steep hills and precipices guard them.Mai figliuoli di Jommon, e di Moab andarono, e dissero ad Oloferne: I figliuoli d'Israele ripongono la loro speranza non nelle loro lance, nè nelle loro frecce, ma loro difesa son le montagne, e i ripidi colli li rendono sicuri.But the children of Ammon, & Moab came to Holofernes, saying: The children of Israel trust not in speare, nor in arrow, but the mountaynes defend them, & the hilles standing meruelous stipe gard them.Sed filii Ammon et Moab accesserunt ad Holofernem, dicentes: Filii Israël non in lancea nec in sagitta confidunt, sed montes defendunt illos, et muniunt illos colles in præcipitio constituti.

9Wherefore that thou mayst overcome them without joining battle, set guards at the springs that they may not draw water out of them, and thou shalt destroy them without sword, or at least being wearied out they will yield up their city, which they suppose, because it is situate in the mountains, to be impregnable.Perchè adunque tu possa superarli senza venir alle mani, metti della gente a custodir le sorgenti, affinchè non ne attingano acqua, e gli ucciderai senza spada, o almeno non potendone più ti daran nelle mani la loro città creduta da essi inespugnabile per esser posta sui monti.Therfore that thou mayst ouercome them without ioyning battel, set kepers of the fountaynes, that they may not draw water of them, and without sword thou shalt kil them, or at the least being wearied they wil yeld their citie, which they thinck being set in the mountaynes, can not be ouercome.Ut ergo sine congressione pugnæ possis superare eos, pone custodes fontium, ut non hauriant aquam ex eis, et sine gladio interficies eos, vel certe fatigati tradent civitatem suam, quam putant in montibus positam superari non posse. 10And these words pleased Holofernes, and his officers, and he placed all round about a hundred men at every spring.E Oloferme, e i suoi uffiziali approvarono queste parole, ed egli pose cento uomini di guardia intorno a ciascheduna sorgente.And these wordes pleased Holofernes, and his souldiars, and he placed round about an hundred men at euerie fountayne.Et placuerunt verba hæc coram Holoferne et coram satellitibus ejus, et constituit per gyrum centenarios per singulos fontes. 11And when they had kept this watch for full twenty days, the cisterns, and the reserve of waters failed among all the inhabitants of Bethulia, so that there was not within the city, enough to satisfy them, no not for one day, for water was daily given out to the people by measure.Or dopo che per venti giorni vi furono state in tal guisa le guardie, vennero a mancare le cisterne e i serbatoi di acque a tutti gli abitanti di Betulia talmente che non vi era nella città abbastanza da dissetarsi per un sol giorno; imperocchè davasi di per dì alla gente l'acqua a misura.And when that watch had beene fully kept for twentie dayes, the cesternes fayled, and the collections of waters to al the inhabitantes of Bethulia, so that there was not within the citie, wherof they might be satisfied no not for one day, because water was dayly geuen to the people by measure.Cumque ista custodia per dies viginti fuisset expleta, defecerunt cisternæ et collectiones aquarum omnibus habitantibus Bethuliam, ita ut non esset intra civitatem unde satiarentur vel una die, quoniam ad mensuram dabatur populis aqua quotidie. 12Then all the men and women, young men, and children, gathering themselves together to Ozias, all together with one voice,Allora si affollarono intorno ad Ozia tutti gli uomini, e le donne, e i giovani, e i ragazzi, e dissero ad una voce:Then al the men, and wemen, yong men, and children, being gathered together to Ozias, al together with one voice,Tunc ad Oziam congregati omnes viri feminæque, juvenes et parvuli, omnes simul una voce 13Said: God be judge between us and thee, for thou hast done evil against us, in that thou wouldst not speak peaceably with the Assyrians, and for this cause God hath sold us into their hands.Sia giudice Dio tra noi, e te; perocchè tu ci hai fatti questi mali, non volendo trattare la pace cogli Assiri, e per questo Dio ci ha abbandonati nelle loro mani.said: God iudge betwen vs and thee, because thou hast done euil agaynst vs, in that thou wouldest not speake peaceably with the Assyrians, and for this cause God hath sold vs into their handes.dixerunt: Judicet Deus inter nos et te, quoniam fecisti in nos mala, nolens loqui pacifice cum Assyriis, et propter hoc vendidit nos Deus in manibus eorum.

14And therefore there is no one to help us, while we are cast down before their eyes in thirst, and sad destruction.E per questo siamo privi di soccorso nel tempo, che sotto gli occhi loro siam prostrati a terra per la sete, e per la miseria grande.And there is none to helpe, wheras we lye prostrate before their eies in thirst, & great destruction.Et ideo non est qui adjuvet, cum prosternamur ante oculos eorum in siti, et perditione magna. 15And now assemble ye all that are in the city, that we may of our own accord yield ourselves all up to the people of Holofernes.Su via convocate tutti quei, che si trovano nella città, e arrendiamoci volontariamente all'esercito di Oloferne.And now assemble ye al, that are in the citie, that we may of our owne accord yeld vs al to the people of Holofernes.Et nunc congregate universos qui in civitate sunt, ut sponte tradamus nos omnes populo Holofernis. 16For it is better, that being captives we should live and bless the Lord, than that we should die, and be a reproach to all flesh, after we have seen our wives and our infants die before our eyes.Perocchè è meglio, che prigionieri benediciamo il Signore, che perire, ed esser l'obbrobrio di tutti gli uomini, quando vedremo le nostre mogli, e i nostri bambini morire sotto gli occhi nostri.For it is better, that captiues we blesse our Lord liuing, then we should die, and be a reproch to al flesh, when we shal see our wiues, and our infantes die before our eies.Melius est enim ut captivi benedicamus Dominum viventes, quam moriamur, et simus opprobrium omni carni, cum viderimus uxores nostras et infantes nostros mori ante oculos nostros. 17We call to witness this day heaven and earth, and the God of our fathers, who taketh vengeance upon us according to our sins, conjuring you to deliver now the city into the hand of the army of Holofernes, that our end may be short by the edge of the sword, which is made longer by the drought of thirst.Noi prendiamo oggi per testimoni il cielo, e la terra, e il Dio de' padri nostri, il quale ci punisce secondo i nostri peccati: rendete omai la città alle schiere di Oloferne, e il nostro penare sia breve sotto la spada, il quale ora è lungo oltre modo nell'arsura della sete.We cal to witnes this day heauen and earth, and the God of our fathers, which taketh vengeance of vs according to our sinnes, that now you deliuer the cirie into the hand of Holofernes armie, that our end may be short in the edge of the sword, which is made longer in the drught of thirst.Contestamur hodie cælum et terram, et Deum patrum nostrorum, qui ulciscitur nos secundum peccata nostra, ut jam tradatis civitatem in manu militiæ Holofernis, et sit finis noster brevis in ore gladii, qui longior efficitur in ariditate sitis.

18And when they had said these things, there was great weeping and lamentation of all in the assembly, and for many hours with one voice they cried to God, saying:E quando ebbero dette tali cose si levarono gran gemiti, e urli in tutta l'adunanza, e per molte ore ad una voce gridavano, e dicevano al Signore:And when they had said these thinges, there was made great weeping and howling of al in the assemble, and for manie houres with one voice they cried to God, saying:Et cum hæc dixissent, factus est fletus et ululatus magnus in ecclesia ab omnibus, et per multas horas una voce clamaverunt ad Deum, dicentes: 19We have sinned with our fathers, we have done unjustly, we have committed iniquity:Abbiam peccato noi, e i padri nostri, siamo stati ingiusti, abbiam commesso iniquità.We haue sinned with our fathers, we haue done vniustly, we haue committed iniquitie.Peccavimus cum patribus nostris: injuste egimus, iniquitatem fecimus. 20Have thou mercy on us, because thou art good, or punish our iniquities by chastising us thyself, and deliver not them that trust in thee to a people that knoweth not thee,Tu, perchè se' pio, abbi misericordia di noi, o punisci co' tuoi flagelli le nostre iniquità, ma non abbandonare in potere di un popolo, che non ti conosce, coloro che ti onorano.Thou because thou art gracious, haue mercie vpon vs, or in thy scourge reuenge our iniquities, and deliuer not them that trust in thee to a people, that knoweth not thee,Tu, quia pius es, miserere nostri, aut in tuo flagello vindica iniquitates nostras, et noli tradere confitentes te populo qui ignorat te, 21That they may not say among the Gentiles: Where is their God?Affinchè tralle nazioni non abbia a dirsi: Dov'è il loro Dio?that they say not among the Gentiles. Where is their God?ut non dicant inter gentes: Ubi est Deus eorum ? 22And when being wearied with these cries, and tired with these weepings, they held their peace,Or quando, stanchi di gridare, e di gemere, ebber fatto silenzio.And when they wearied with these cries, and tyred with these weepings, had held their peace,Et cum fatigati ex his clamoribus et his fletibus lassati siluissent, 23Ozias rising up all in tears, said: Be of good courage, my brethren, and let us wait these five days for mercy from the Lord.Si levò Ozia tutto bagnato di lacrime, e disse: Fratelli fatevi cuore, e aspettiamo ancora per cinque giorni la misericordia del Signore:Ozias rysing vp embrued with teares, said: Be of good chere bretheren, and these fiue daies let vs expect mercie of our Lord.exsurgens Ozias infusus lacrimis, dixit: Æquo animo estote, fratres, et hos quinque dies expectemus a Domino misericordiam.

24For perhaps he will put a stop to his indignation, and will give glory to his own name.Perocchè forse egli taglierà il corso all'ira sua, e glorificherà il suo nome:For peraduenture he wil cut of his indignation, and wil geue glorie to his name.Forsitan enim indignationem suam abscindet, et dabit gloriam nomini suo. 25But if after five days be past there come no aid, we will do the things which you have spoken.Che se passati i cinque giorni niun soccorso verrà, faremo come voi avete detto.But if after fiue dates be past there come no aide, we wil doe these wordes, which you haue spoken.Si autem transactis quinque diebus non venerit adjutorium, faciemus hæc verba quæ locuti estis.