The House of Rimmon

may we trust Rimmon will favour us,
If we adhere devoutly to his worship.
He will incline his brother-god, the Bull,
To spare us, if we supplicate him now
With costly gifts. Therefore I have prepared
A sacrifice: Rimmon shall be well pleased
With the red blood that bathes his knees tonight! Benhadad

My mind is dark with doubt⁠—I do forebode
Some horror! Let me go⁠—I am an old man⁠—
If Naaman my captain were alive!
But he is dead⁠—the glory is departed!

He rises, trembling, to leave the throne. Trumpet sounds⁠—Naaman’s call;⁠—enter Naaman, followed by soldiers; he kneels at the foot of the throne.

Half-whispering.

Art thou a ghost escaped from Allatu?
How didst thou pass the seven doors of death?
O noble ghost I am afraid of thee,
And yet I love thee⁠—let me hear thy voice!

Naaman

No ghost, my King, but one who lives to serve
Thee and Damascus with his heart and sword
As in the former days. The only God
Has healed my leprosy: my life is clean
To offer to my country and my King.

Benhadad

Starting toward him.

O welcome to thy King! Thrice welcome!

Rezon

Leaving his seat and coming toward Naaman.

Stay!
The leper must appear before the priest,
The only one who can pronounce him clean.

Naaman turns; they stand looking each other in the face.

Yea⁠—thou art cleansed: Rimmon hath pardoned thee⁠—
In answer to the daily prayers of her
Whom he restores to thine embrace⁠—thy wife.

Tsarpi comes slowly toward Naaman. Naaman

From him who rules this House will I receive
Nothing! I seek no pardon from his priest,
No wife of mine among his votaries!

Tsarpi

Holding out her hands.

Am I not yours? Will you renounce our vows?

Naaman

The vows were empty⁠—never made you mine
In aught but name. A wife is one who shares
Her husband’s thought, incorporates his heart
With hers by love, and crowns him with her trust.
She is God’s remedy for loneliness,
And God’s reward for all the toil of life.
This you have never been to me⁠—and so
I give you back again to Rimmon’s House
Where you belong. Claim what you will of mine⁠—
Not me! I do renounce you⁠—or release you⁠—
According to the law. If you demand
A further cause than what I have declared,
I will unfold it fully to the King.

Rezon

Interposing hurriedly.

No need of that! This duteous lady yields
To your caprice as she has ever done;
She stands a monument of loyalty
And woman’s meekness.

Naaman

Let her stand for that!
Adorn your temple with her piety!
But you in turn restore to me the treasure
You stole at midnight from my tent.

Rezon

What treasure? I have stolen none from you.

Naaman

The very jewel of my soul⁠—Ruahmah!
My King, the captive maid of Israel,
To whom thou didst commit my broken life
With letters to Samaria⁠—my light,
My guide, my saviour in this pilgrimage⁠—
Dost thou remember?

Benhadad

I recall the maid⁠—
But dimly⁠—for my mind is old and weary.
She was a fearless maid, I trusted her
And gave thee to her charge. Where is she now?

Naaman

This robber fell upon my camp by night⁠—
While I was with Elisha at the Jordan⁠—
Slaughtered my soldiers, carried off the maid,
And holds her somewhere in imprisonment.
O give this jewel back to me, my King,
And I will serve thee with a grateful heart
Forever. I will fight for thee, and lead
Thine armies on to glorious victory
Over all foes! Thou shalt no longer fear
The host of Asshur, for thy throne shall stand
Encompassed with a wall of dauntless hearts,
And founded on a mighty people’s love,
And guarded by the God of righteousness.

Benhadad

I feel the flame of courage at thy breath
Leap up among the ashes of despair.
Thou hast returned to save us! Thou shalt have
The maid; and thou shalt lead my host again!
Priest, I command you give her back to him.

Rezon

O master, I obey thy word as thou
Hast ever been obedient to the voice
Of Rimmon. Let thy fiery captain wait
Until the sacrifice has been performed,
And he shall have the jewel that he claims.
Must we not first placate the city’s god
With due allegiance, keep the ancient faith,
And pay our homage to the Lord of Wrath?

Benhadad

Sinking back upon his throne in fear.

I am the faithful son of Rimmon’s House⁠—
And lo, these many years I worship him!
My thoughts are troubled⁠—I am very old,
But still a King! O Naaman, be patient!
Priest, let the sacrifice be offered.

The High Priest lifts his rod. Gongs and cymbals sound. The curtain is rolled back, disclosing the image of Rimmon; a gigantic and hideous idol, with a cruel human face, four horns, the mane of a lion, and huge paws stretched in front of him enclosing a low altar of black stone. Ruahmah stands on the altar, chained, her arms are bare and folded on her breast. The people prostrate themselves in silence, with signs of astonishment and horror. Rezon

Behold the sacrifice! Bow down, bow down!

Naaman

Stabbing him.

Bow thou, black priest! Down⁠—down to hell!
Ruahmah! do not die! I come to thee,

Naaman rushes toward her, attacked by the priests, crying “Sacrilege! Kill him!” But the soldiers stand on the steps and beat them back. He springs upon the altar and clasps her by the hand. Tumult and confusion. The King rises and speaks with a loud voice, silence follows. Benhadad

Peace, peace! The King commands all weapons down!
O Naaman, what wouldst thou do? Beware
Lest thou provoke the anger of a god.

Naaman

There is no God but one, the Merciful,
Who gave this perfect woman to my soul
That I might learn through her to worship Him,
And know the meaning of immortal Love.
Whom God hath joined together, all the Powers
Of hate and falsehood never shall divide.

Benhadad

Agitated.

Yet she is consecrated, bound, and doomed
To sacrificial death; but thou art sworn
To live and lead my host⁠—Hast thou not sworn?

Naaman

Only if thou wilt keep thy word to me!
Break with this idol of iniquity
Whose shadow makes a darkness in the land;
Give her to me who gave me back to thee;
And I will lead thine army to renown
And plant thy banners on