]
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:
Great news, glorious news, the Assyrians are beaten!
SECOND CITIZEN:
Naaman is returning, crowned with victory.
Pages:
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302