ere be
Divinities whose will is cruel, unjust,
Capricious and supreme, I will forswear
The favour of these gods, and take my part
With man to suffer and for man to die.
Have ye not heard, my lords? The oracle
Proclaims to me, to me alone, the doom
Of vengeance if I lead the army out.
"Conquered or conquering!" I grip that chance!
Damascus free, her foes all beaten back,
The people saved from slavery, the King
Upheld in honour on his ancient throne,--
O what's the cost of this? I'll gladly pay
Whatever gods there be, whatever price
They ask for this one victory. Give me
This gilded sign of shame to carry back;
I'll shake it in the face of Asshur's king,
And break it on his teeth.

BENHADAD: [_Rising._]
Then go, my never-beaten captain, go!
And may the powers that hear thy solemn vow
Forgive thy rashness for Damascus' sake,
Prosper thy fighting, and remit thy pledge.

REZON: [_Standing beside the altar._]
The pledge, O King, this man must seal his pledge
At Rimmon's altar. He must take the cup
Of soldier-sacrament, and bind himself
By thrice-performed libation to abide
The fate he has invoked.

NAAMAN: [_Slowly._]
And so I will.

[_He comes down the steps, toward the altar, where REZON is filling the
cup which TSARPI holds. RUAHMAH throws herself before NAAMAN, clasping
his knees._]

RUAHMAH: [_Passionately and wildly._]
My lord, I do beseech you, stay! There's death
Within that cup. It is an offering
To devils. See, the wine blazes like fire,
It flows like blood, it is a cursed cup,
Fulfilled of treachery and hate.
Dear master, noble master, touch it not!

NAAMAN:
Poor maid, thy brain is still distraught. Fear not
But let me go! Here, treat her tenderly!

[_Gives her into the hands of SABALLIDIN._]

Can harm befall 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: