is blown without.]

Hearken, the trumpet sounds, the chariot waits.
Away, dear lord, follow the road to light!

SCENE II [3]

_The house of Elisha, upon a terraced hillside. A low stone
cottage with vine-trellises and flowers; a flight of steps,
at the foot of which is NAAMAN'S chariot. He is standing in
it; SABALLIDIN beside it. Two soldiers come down the steps._

FIRST SOLDIER:
We have delivered my lord's greeting and his message.

SECOND SOLDIER:
Yes, and near lost our noses in the doing of it! For
the servant slammed the door in our faces. A most
unmannerly reception!

FIRST SOLDIER:
But I take that as a good omen. It is a mark of holy
men to keep ill-conditioned servants. Look, the
door opens, the prophet is coming.

SECOND SOLDIER:
No, by my head, it is that notable mark of his master's
holiness, that same lantern-jawed lout of a servant.

[GEHAZI loiters down the steps and comes to NAAMAN
with a slight obeisance.]

GEHAZI:
My master, the prophet of Israel, sends word to Naaman
the Syrian,--are you he?---"Go wash in Jordan seven
times and be healed."

[GEHAZI turns and goes slowly up the steps.]

NAAMAN:
What insolence is this? Am I a man
To be put off with surly messengers?
Has not Damascus rivers more renowned
Than this rude muddy Jordan? Crystal streams,
Abana! Pharpar! flowing smoothly through
A paradise of roses? Might I not
Have bathed in them and been restored at ease?
Come up, Saballidin, and guide me home!

SABALLIDIN:
Bethink thee, master, shall we lose our quest
Because a servant is uncouth? The road
That seeks the mountain leads us through the vale.
The prophet's word is friendly after all;
For had it been some mighty task he set,
Thou wouldst perform it. How much rather then
This easy one? Hast thou not promised her
Who waits for thy return? Wilt thou go back
To her unhealed?

NAAMAN:
No! not for all my pride!
I'll make myself most humble for her sake,
And stoop to anything that gives me hope
Of having her. Make haste, Saballidin,
Bring me to Jordan. I will cast myself
Into that river's turbulent embrace
A hundred times, until I save my life
Or lose it!

[Exeunt. The light fades: musical interlude.
The light increases again with ruddy s