It is held that the ancient Rishis or saints, like the Jewish patriarchs, lived far beyond the ordinary span of existence, and hence had time to learn all the Vedas and their commentaries. But this was impossible for their short-lived descendants, and hence each Veda has been divided into a number of Shākhas or branches, and the ordinary Brāhman only learns one Shākha of one Veda.

For this reason, the attention I devote to the libretto might seem out of proportion to its status in the opera as a whole, yet I feel encouraged in this direction by the recent interest kindled by librettistics, a subject for which we owe much to our German and Italian colleagues.

Simon hit him from behind on the back of his head. The size of his punch was enough to knock even the toughest senseless. Simon's victim fell to the deck. . . . There he lay, dead to the world.

And Judith was left along in the tent, and Holofernes lying along upon his bed: for he was filled with wine. --- And she smote twice upon his neck with all her might, and she took away his head from him.