The House of Rimmon Part 8

SABALLIDIN: Bethink thee, master, shall we lose our quest Because a servant is uncouth? The road That seeks the mountain leads us through the vale.

The prophet's word is friendly after all; For had it been some mighty task he set, Thou wouldst perform it. How much rather then This easy one? Hast thou not promised her Who waits for thy return? Wilt thou go back To her unhealed?

NAAMAN: No! not for all my pride!

I'll make myself most humble for her sake, And stoop to anything that gives me hope Of having her. Make haste, Saballidin, Bring me to Jordan. I will cast myself Into that river's turbulent embrace A hundred times, until I save my life Or lose it!

[_Exeunt. The light fades: musical interlude. The light increases again with ruddy sunset shining on the door of ELISHA'S house. The prophet appears and looks off, shading his eyes with his hand as he descends the steps slowly. Trumpet blows,--NAAMAN'S call;--sound of horses galloping and men shouting. NAAMAN enters joyously, followed by SABALLIDIN and soldiers, with gifts._]

NAAMAN: Behold a man delivered from the grave By thee! I rose from Jordan's waves restored To youth and vigour, as the eagle mounts Upon the sunbeam and renews his strength!

O mighty prophet deign to take from me These gifts too poor to speak my grat.i.tude; Silver and gold and jewels, damask robes,--

ELISHA: [_Interrupting._]

As thy soul liveth I will not receive A gift from thee, my son! Give all to Him Whose mercy hath redeemed thee from thy plague.

NAAMAN: He is the only G.o.d! I worship Him!

Grant me a portion of the blessed soil Of this most favoured land where I have found His mercy; in Damascus will I build An altar to His name, and praise Him there Morning and night. There is no other G.o.d In all the world.

ELISHA: Thou needest not This load of earth to build a shrine for Him; Yet take it if thou wilt. But be a.s.sured G.o.d's altar is in every loyal heart, And every flame of love that kindles there Ascends to Him and brightens with His praise.

There is no other G.o.d! But evil Powers Make war against Him in the darkened world; And many temples have been built to them.

NAAMAN: I know them well! Yet when my master goes To worship in the House of Rimmon, I Must enter with him; for he trusts me, leans Upon my hand; and when he bows himself I cannot help but make obeisance too,-- But not to Rimmon! To my country's king I'll bow in love and honour. Will the Lord Pardon thy servant in this thing?

ELISHA: My son, Peace has been granted thee. 'Tis thine to find The only way to keep it. Go in peace.

NAAMAN: Thou hast not answered me,--may I bow down?

ELISHA: The answer must be thine. The heart that knows The perfect peace of grat.i.tude and love, Walks in the light and needs no other rule.

Take counsel with thy heart and go in peace!

_CURTAIN._

ACT IV

SCENE I

_The interior of NAAMAN'S tent, at night. RUAHMAH alone, sleeping on the ground. A vision appears to her through the curtains of the font: ELISHA standing on the hillside at Dothan: NAAMAN, restored to sight, comes in and kneels before him. ELISHA blesses him, and he goes out rejoicing. The vision of the prophet turns to RUAHMAH and lifts his hand in warning._

ELISHA: Daughter of Israel, what dost thou here?

Thy prayer is granted. Naaman is healed: Mar not true service with a selfish thought.

Nothing remains for thee to do, except Give thanks, and go whither the Lord commands.

Obey,--obey! Ere Naaman returns Thou must depart to thine own house in Shechem.

[_The vision vanishes._]

RUAHMAH: [_Waking and rising slowly._]

A dream, a dream, a messenger of G.o.d!

O dear and dreadful vision, art thou true?

Then am I glad with all my broken heart.

Nothing remains,--nothing remains but this,-- Give thanks, obey, depart,--and so I do.

Farewell, my master's sword! Farewell to you, My amulet! I lay you on the hilt His hand shall clasp again: bid him farewell For me, since I must look upon his face No more for ever!--Hark, what sound was that?

[_Enter soldier hurriedly._]

SOLDIER: Mistress, an armed troop, footmen and horse, Mounting the hill!

RUAHMAH: My lord returns in triumph.

SOLDIER: Not so, for these are enemies; they march In haste and silence, answering not our cries.

RUAHMAH: Our enemies? Then hold your ground,--on guard!

Fight! fight! Defend the pa.s.s, and drive them down.

[_Exit soldier. RUAHMAH draws NAAMAN'S sword from the scabbard and hurries out of the tent. Confused noise of fighting outside. Three or four soldiers are driven in by a troop of men in disguise. RUAHMAH follows: she is beaten to her knees, and her sword is broken._]

REZON: [_Throwing aside the cloth which covers his face._]

Hold her! So, tiger-maid, we've found your lair And trapped you. Where is Naaman, Your master?

RUAHMAH: [_Rising, her arms held by two of REZON'S followers._]

He is far beyond your reach.

REZON: Brave captain! He has saved himself, the leper, And left you here?

RUAHMAH: The leper is no more.

REZON: What mean you?

RUAHMAH: He has gone to meet his G.o.d.

REZON: Dead? Dead? Behold how Rimmon's wrath is swift!

Damascus shall be mine: I'll terrify The King with this, and make my terms. But no!

False maid, you sweet-faced harlot, you have lied To save him,--speak.

RUAHMAH: I am not what you say, Nor have I lied, nor will I ever speak A word to you, vile servant of a traitor-G.o.d.

REZON: Break off this little flute of blasphemy, This ivory neck,--twist it, I say!

Give her a swift despatch after her leper!

But stay,--if he still lives he'll follow her, And so we may ensnare him. Harm her not!

Bind her! Away with her to Rimmon's House!

Is all this carrion dead? There's one that moves,-- A spear,--fasten him down! All quiet now?

Then back to our Damascus! Rimmon's face Shall be made bright with sacrifice.

[_Exeunt forcing RUAHMAH with them. Musical interlude. A wounded soldier crawls from a dark corner of the tent and finds the chain with NAAMAN's seal, which has fallen to the ground in the struggle._]

WOUNDED SOLDIER: This signet of my lord, her amulet!

Lost, lost! Ah, n.o.ble lady,--let me die With this upon my breast.