On Shalmaneser’s helmet.  So the fight
    Dissolved in universal rout; the King,
    His chariots and his horsemen fled away;
    Our captain stood 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 letter 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 he 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 dared to face the wrath of evil powers
    Unknown, and hazard all to save his country.

[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.]

NAAMAN:  [Kneeling.]
                      Where is my King? 
    Master, the bearer of thy sword returns. 
    The golden yoke thou gavest me I broke
    On him who sent it.  Asshur’s Bull hath fled
    Dehorned.  The standards of his host are thine! 
    Damascus is all thine, at peace, and free!

BENHADAD:  [Holding out his arms.]
    Thou art a mighty man of valour!  Come,
    And let me fold thy courage to my heart.

REZON:  [Lifting his rod.]
    Forbear, O King!  Stand back from him, all men! 
    By the great name of Rimmon I proclaim
    This man a leper!  See, upon his brow,
    This little mark, the death-white seal of doom! 
    That tiny spot will spread, eating his flesh,
    Gnawing his fingers bone from bone, until
    The impious heart that dared defy the gods
    Dissolves in the slow death which now begins. 
    Unclean! unclean!  Henceforward he is dead: 
    No human hand shall touch him, and no home