[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 fiery words,
  And rode with him to battle.  Good, my lord,
  We hail you as a herald of the fight
  You helped to win.  Give us authentic news
  Of your great general!  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
  His valour onward.  In the last attack
  He rode before us as the crested wave
  That heads the flood; and lo, our enemies
  Were broken like a dam of river-reeds,
  Burst by the torrent, scattered, swept away! 
  But look! the Assyrian king in wavering flight
  Is lodged like driftwood on a little hill,
  Encircled by his guard, and stands at bay. 
  Then Naaman, followed hotly by a score
  Of whirlwind riders, hammers through the hedge
  Of spearmen, brandishing the golden yoke: 
  “Take back this gift,” he cries; and shatters it
  On Shalmaneser’s helmet.  So the fight
  Dissolves in universal rout:  the king,
  His chariots and his horsemen melt away;
  Our captain stands the master of the field,
  And saviour of Damascus!  Now he brings,
  First to the king, report of this great triumph.

[Shouts of joy and applause.]

RUAHMAH:  [Coming close to SABALLIDIN,]
  But what of him who won it?  Fares he well? 
  My mistress would receive some word of him.

SABALLIDIN: 
  Hath she not heard?

RUAHMAH: 
        But one brief message came: 
  A tablet saying, “We have fought and conquered,”
  No word of his own person.  Fares he well?

SABALLIDIN: 
  Alas, most ill!  For he is like a man
  Consumed by some strange sickness:  wasted, wan,—­
  His eyes are dimmed so that scarce can see;
  His ears are dulled; his fearless face is pale
  As one who walks to meet a certain doom
  Yet will not flinch.  It is most pitiful,—­
  But you shall see.

RUAHMAH: 
        Yea, we shall see a man
  Who took upon himself his country’s burden, dared
  To hazard all to save the poor and helpless;
  A man who bears the wrath of evil powers
  Unknown, and pays the hero’s sacrifice.

[Enter BENHADAD with courtiers.]

BENHADAD: 
  Where is my faithful servant Naaman,
  The captain of my host?

SABALLIDIN: 
        My lord, he comes.

[Trumpet sounds.  Enter company of soldiers in armour.  Then four soldiers bearing captured standards of Asshur.  NAAMAN follows, very pale, armour dinted and stained; he is blind, and guides himself by cords from the standards on each side, but walks firmly.  The doors of the temple open slightly, and REZON appears at the top of the steps.  NAAMAN lets the cords fall, and gropes his way for a few paces.]