ll me from the wife who bears
My name? I take the cup of fate from her.
I greet the unknown powers; [Pours libation.]
I will perform my vow; [Again.]
I will abide my fate; [Again.]
I pledge my life to keep Damascus free.

[He drains the cup, and lets it fall.]

_CURTAIN._

ACT II

TIME: _A week later_

_The fore-court of the House of Rimmon. At the back the broad
steps and double doors of the shrine; above them the tower of
the god, its summit invisible. Enter various groups of citizens,
talking, laughing, shouting: RAKHAZ, HAZAEL, SHUMAKIM and others._

FIRST CITIZEN:
Great news, glorious news, the Assyrians are beaten!

SECOND CITIZEN:
Naaman is returning, crowned with victory. Glory to our noble
captain!

THIRD CITIZEN:
No, he is killed. I had it from one of the camp-followers who
saw him fall at the head of the battle. They are bringing
his body to bury it with honour. O sorrowful victory!

RAKHAZ:
Peace, my good fellows, you are ignorant, you have not been
rightly informed, I will misinform you. The accounts of
Naaman's death are overdrawn. He was killed, but his life
has been preserved. One of his wounds was mortal, but the
other three were curable, and by these the physicians have
saved him.

SHUMAKIM: [Balancing himself before RAKHAZ in pretended admiration.]
O wonderful! Most admirable logic! One mortal, and three
curable, therefore he must recover as it were, by three
to one. Rakhaz, do you know that you are a marvelous man?

RAKHAZ:
Yes, I know it, but I make no boast of my knowledge.

SHUMAKIM:
Too modest, for in knowing this you know more than any other
in Damascus!

[Enter, from the right, SABALLIDIN in armour: from
the left, TSARPI with her attendants, among whom
is RUAHMAH.]

HAZAEL:
Here is Saballidin, we'll question him;
He was enflamed by Naaman's wild words,
And rode with him to battle. Give us news,
Of your great captain! Is he safe and well?
When will he come? Or will he come at all?

[All gather around him listening eagerly.]

SABALLIDIN:
He comes but now, returning from the field
Where he hath gained a crown of deathless fame!
Three times he led the charge; three times he fell
Wounded, and the Assyrians beat us back.
Yet every wound was but a spur to urge
Hi