________________________________________________
_ ACT III. SCENE II.
[*] Note that this scene is not intended to be put upon the stage, the effect of the action upon the drama being given at the beginning of Act IV.
The house of Elisha, upon a terraced hillside. A low stone cottage
with vine-trellises and flowers; a flight of steps, at the foot of
which is NAAMAN'S chariot. He is standing in it; SABALLIDIN beside it.
Two soldiers come down the steps.
FIRST SOLDIER:
We have delivered my lord's greeting and his message.
SECOND SOLDIER:
Yes, and near lost our noses in the doing of it! For the servant slammed the door in our faces. A most unmannerly reception!
FIRST SOLDIER:
But I take that as a good omen. It is mark of holy men to keep ill-conditioned servants. Look, the door opens, the prophet is coming.
SECOND SOLDIER:
No, by my head, it's that notable mark of his master's holiness, that same lantern-jawed lout of a servant.
[_GEHAZI loiters down the steps and comes to NAAMAN with a slight obeisance._]
GEHAZI:
My master, the prophet of Israel, sends word to Naaman the Syrian,--are you he?--"Go wash in Jordan seven times and be healed."
[_GEHAZI turns and goes slowly up the steps._]
NAAMAN:
What insolence is this? Am I a man
To be put off with surly messengers?
Has not Damascus rivers more renowned
Than this rude, torrent Jordan? Crystal streams,
Abana! Pharpar! flowing smoothly through
A paradise of roses? Might I not
Have bathed in them and been restored at ease?
Come up, Saballidin, and guide me home!
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 gratitude;
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 God! 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 God
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 assured
God'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 God! 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 gratitude and love,
Walks in the light and needs no other rule.
Take counsel with thy heart and go in peace!
_CURTAIN._ _
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