Part 54 (1/2)

SABALLIDIN: Hath she not heard?

RUAHMAH: But one brief message came: A letter saying, ”We have fought and conquered,”

No word of his own person. Fares he well?

SABALLIDIN: Alas, most ill! For he is like a man Consumed by some strange sickness: wasted, wan,-- His eyes are dimmed so that he scarce can see; His ears are dulled; his fearless face is pale As one who walks to meet a certain doom Yet will not flinch. It is most pitiful,-- But you shall see.

RUAHMAH: Yea, we shall see a man Who dared to face the wrath of evil powers Unknown, and hazard all to save his country.

[Enter BENHADAD with courtiers.]

BENHADAD: Where is my faithful servant Naaman, The captain of my host?

SABALLIDIN: My lord, he comes.

[Trumpet sounds. Enter company of soldiers in armour. Then four soldiers bearing captured standards of a.s.shur. NAAMAN follows, very pale, armour dinted and stained; he is blind, and guides himself by cords from the standards on each side, but walks firmly. The doors of the temple open slightly, and REZON appears at the top of the steps. NAAMAN lets the cords fall, and gropes his way for a few paces.]

NAAMAN: [Kneeling.]

Where is my King?

Master, the bearer of thy sword returns.

The golden yoke thou gavest me I broke On him who sent it. a.s.shur's Bull hath fled Dehorned. The standards of his host are thine!

Damascus is all thine, at peace, and free!

BENHADAD: [Holding out his arms.]

Thou art a mighty man of valour! Come, And let me fold thy courage to my heart.

REZON: [Lifting his rod.]

Forbear, O King! Stand back from him, all men!

By the great name of Rimmon I proclaim This man a leper! See, upon his brow, This little mark, the death-white seal of doom!

That tiny spot will spread, eating his flesh, Gnawing his fingers bone from bone, until The impious heart that dared defy the G.o.ds Dissolves in the slow death which now begins.

Unclean! unclean! Henceforward he is dead: No human hand shall touch him, and no home Of men shall give him shelter. He shall walk Only with corpses of the selfsame death Down the long path to a forgotten tomb.

Avoid, depart, I do adjure you all, Leave him to G.o.d,--the leper Naaman!

[All shrink back horrified. REZON retires into the temple; the crowd melts away, wailing; TSARPI is among the first to go, followed by her attendants, except RUAHMAH, who crouches, with her face covered, not far from NAAMAN.]

BENHADAD: [Lingering and turning back.]

Alas, my son! O Naaman, my son!

Why did I let thee go? I must obey.

Who can resist the G.o.ds? Yet none shall take Thy glorious t.i.tle, captain of my host!

I will provide for thee, and thou shalt dwell With guards of honour in a house of mine Always. Damascus never shall forget What thou hast done! O miserable words Of crowned impotence! O mockery of power Given to kings who cannot even defend Their dearest from the secret wrath of heaven!

O Naaman, my son, my son! [Exit.]

NAAMAN: [Slowly pa.s.sing his hand over his eyes, and looking up.]

Am I alone With thee, inexorable one, whose pride Offended takes this horrible revenge?

I must submit my mortal flesh to thee, Almighty, but I will not call thee G.o.d!

Yet thou hast found the way to wound my soul Most deeply through the flesh; and I must find The way to let my wounded soul escape!

[Drawing his sword.]