k upon thy brow is yet
No broader than my little finger-nail.
Thy force is not abated, and thy step
Is firm. Wilt thou surrender to the enemy
Before thy strength is touched? Why, let me put
A drop of courage from my breast in thine!
There is a hope for thee. The captive maid
Of Israel who dwelt within thy house
Knew of a god very compassionate,
Long-suffering, slow to anger, one who heals
The sick, hath pity on the fatherless,
And saves the poor and him who has no helper.
His prophet dwells nigh to Samaria;
And I have heard that he hath brought the dead
To life again. We'll go to him. The King,
If I beseech him, will appoint a guard
Of thine own soldiers and Saballidin,
Thy friend, to convoy us upon our journey.
He'll give us royal letters to the King
Of Israel to make our welcome sure;
And we will take the open road, beneath
The open sky, to-morrow, and go on
Together till we find the door of hope.
Come, come with me!

[She grasps his hand.]

NAAMAN: [Drawing back.]
Thou must not touch me!

RUAHMAH: [Unclasping her girdle and putting the end in his hand.]
Take my girdle, then!

NAAMAN: [Kissing the clasp of the girdle.]
I do begin to think there is a God,
Since love on earth can work such miracles:

_CURTAIN._

ACT III

TIME: _A month later: dawn_

SCENE I

_NAAMAN'S tent, on high ground among the mountains near Samaria:
the city below. In the distance, a wide and splendid landscape.
SABALLIDIN and soldiers on guard below the tent. Enter RUAHMAH
in hunter's dress, with a lute slung from her shoulder._

RUAHMAH:
Peace and good health to you, Saballidin.
Good morrow to you all. How fares my lord?

SABALLIDIN:
The curtains of his tent are folded still:
They have not moved since we returned, last night,
And told him what befell us in the city.

RUAHMAH:
Told him! Why did you make report to him
And not to me? Am I not captain here,
Intrusted by the King's command with care
Of Naaman until he is restored?
'Tis mine to know the first of good or ill
In this adventure: mine to shield his heart
From every arrow of adversity.
What have you told him? Speak!

SABALLIDIN:
Lady, we feared
To bring our news to you. For when the King
Of Israel had read our mo