The House of Rimmon

z3998:drama z3998:fiction">

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 God! 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 forever!⁠—Hark, what sound was that?
	Enter soldier hurriedly.
Soldier	Mistress, an armèd 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 pass, 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 God.
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-god.
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, noble lady⁠—let me die With this upon my breast.
	The tent is dark. Enter Naaman and his company in haste, with torches.
Naaman	What bloody work Is here? God, let me live to punish him Who wrought this horror! Treacherously slain At night, by unknown hands, my brave companions: Tsarpi, my best beloved, light of my soul, Put out in darkness! O my broken lamp Of life, where art thou? Nay, I cannot find her.
Wounded Soldier	Raising himself on his arm. Master!
Naaman	Kneels beside him. One living? Quick, a torch this way! Lift up his head⁠—so⁠—carefully! Courage, my friend, your captain is beside you. Call back your soul and make report to him.
Wounded Soldier	Hail, captain! O my captain⁠—here!
Naaman	Be patient⁠—rest in peace⁠—the fight is done. Nothing remains but render your account.
Wounded Soldier	They fell upon us suddenly⁠—we fought Our fiercest⁠—every man⁠—our lady fought Fiercer than all. They beat us down⁠—she’s gone. Rezon has carried her away a captive. See⁠— Her amulet⁠—I die for you, my captain.
Naaman	He gently lays the dead soldier on the ground, and rises. Farewell. This last report was brave; but strange Beyond my thought! How came the High Priest here? And what is this? my chain, my seal! But this Has never been in Tsarpi’s hand. I gave This signet to a captive maid one night⁠— A maid of Israel. How long ago? Ruahmah was her name⁠—almost forgotten! So long ago⁠—how comes this token here? What is this mystery, Saballidin?
Saballidin	Ruahmah is her name who brought you hither.
Naaman	Where then is Tsarpi?
Saballidin	In Damascus. She left you when the curse of Rimmon fell⁠— Took refuge in his House⁠—and there she waits Her lord’s return⁠—Rezon’s return.
Naaman	’Tis false!
Saballidin	The falsehood is in her. She hath been friend With Rezon in his priestly plot to win Assyria’s favour⁠—friend to his design To sell his country to enrich his temple⁠— And friend to him in more⁠—I will not name it.
Naaman	Nor will I credit it. Impossible!
Saballidin	Did she not plead with you against the war, Counsel surrender, seek to break your will?
Naaman	She did not love my work, a soldier’s task. She never seemed to be at one with me Until I was a leper.
Saballidin	From whose hand Did you receive the sacred cup?
Naaman	From hers.
Saballidin	And from that hour the curse began to work.
Naaman	But did she not have pity when she saw Me smitten? Did she not beseech the King For letters and a guard to make this journey? Has she not been the fountain of my hope, My comforter and my most faithful guide In this adventure of the dark? All this Is proof of perfect love that would have shared A leper’s doom rather than give me up. Can I doubt her who dared to love like this?
Saballidin	O master, doubt her not⁠—but know her name; Ruahmah!