George Leo Haydock, on Jdt 12:12

“Then Vagao went in to Judith, and said: Let not my good maid be afraid to go in to my lord, that she may be honoured before his face, that she may eat with him and drink wine and be merry.”

“Merry. This would pave the way for greater liberties. (Calmet) — Greek adds, “and to become this day as a daughter of the Assyrians, standing to wait in the house of Nabuchodonosor.” He probably alludes to those courtezans (Calmet) who sung at night, before the palace, &c. (Athen. Dip. xii. 2.) The Persians admitted women to their feasts, though they were generally excluded in the East, Esther i. 12. (Herodotus v. 18.)”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.