In wreck; but I shall rise, and you shall rise
Above me! You shall climb, through incense-smoke,
And days of pomp, and nights of revelry,
Unto the topmost room in Rimmon's tower,
The secret, lofty room, the couch of bliss,
And the divine embraces of the god.

TSARPI: [Throwing out her arms in exultation.]
All, all I wish! What must I do for this?

REZON:
Turn Naaman away from thoughts of war.

TSARPI:
But if I fail? His will is proof against
The lure of kisses and the wile of tears.

REZON:
Where woman fails, woman and priest succeed.
Before the King decides, he must consult
The oracle of Rimmon. This my hands
Prepare,--and you shall read the signs prepared
In words of fear to melt the brazen heart
Of Naaman.

TSARPI:
But if it flame instead?

REZON:
I know a way to quench that flame. The cup,
The parting cup your hand shall give to him!
What if the curse of Rimmon should infect
That sacred wine with poison, secretly
To work within his veins, week after week
Corrupting all the currents of his blood,
Dimming his eyes, wasting his flesh? What then?
Would he prevail in war? Would he come back
To glory, or to shame? What think you?

TSARPI:
I?--
I do not think; I only do my part.
But can the gods bless this?

REZON:
The gods can bless
Whatever they decree; their will makes right;
And this is for the glory of the House
Of Rimmon,--and for thee, my queen. Come, come!
The night grows dark: we'll perfect our alliance.

[REZON draws her with him, embracing her, through
the shadows of the garden. RUAHMAH, who has been
sleeping in the arbour, has been awakened during
the dialogue, and has been dimly visible in her
white dress, behind the vines. She parts them and
comes out, pushing back her long, dark hair from
her temples.]

RUAHMAH:
What have I heard? O God, what shame is this
Plotted beneath Thy pure and silent stars!
Was it for this that I was brought away
A captive from the hills of Israel
To serve the heathen in a land of lies?
Ah, treacherous, shameful priest! Ah, shameless wife
Of one too noble to suspect thy guilt!
The very greatness of his generous heart
Betrays him to their hands. What