RUAHMAH: 
    What matter where he sends?  No god is he
    To slay or make alive.  Elisha bids
    You come to him at Dothan, there to learn
    There is a God in Israel.

NAAMAN: 
                              I fear
    That I am grown mistrustful of all gods;
    Their secret counsels are implacable.

RUAHMAH: 
    Fear not!  There’s One who rules in righteousness
    High over all.

NAAMAN: 
                    What knowest thou of Him?

RUAHMAH: 
    Oh, I have heard,—­the maid of Israel,—­
    Rememberest thou?  She often said her God
    Was merciful and kind, and slow to wrath,
    And plenteous in forgiveness, pitying us
    Like as a father pitieth his children.

NAAMAN: 
    If there were such a God, I’d worship Him
    Forever!

RUAHMAH: 
              Then make haste to hear the word
    His prophet promises to speak to thee! 
    Obey it, my dear lord, and thou shalt find
    Healing and peace.  The light shall fill thine eyes. 
    Thou wilt not need my leading any more,—­
    Nor me,—­for thou wilt see me, all unveiled,—­
    I tremble at the thought.

NAAMAN: 
                              Why, what is this? 
    Why shouldst thou tremble?  Art thou not mine own?

RUAHMAH:  [Turning to him and speaking in broken words.]
    I am,—­thy handmaid,—­all and only thine,—­
    The very pulses of my heart are thine! 
    Feel how they throb to comfort thee to-day—­
    To-day!  Because it is thy time of trouble.

[She takes his hand and puts it to her forehead and
her lips, but before she can lay it upon her heart,
he draws away from her.]

NAAMAN: 
    Thou art too dear to injure with a kiss,—­
    How should I take a gift may bankrupt thee,
    Or drain the fragrant chalice of thy love
    With lips that may be fatal?  Tempt me not
    To sweet dishonour; strengthen me to wait
    Until thy prophecy is all fulfilled,
    And I can claim thee with a joyful heart.

RUAHMAH:  [Turning away.]
    Thou wilt not need me then,—­and I shall be
    No more than the faint echo of a song
    Heard half asleep.  We shall go back to where
    We stood before this journey.

NAAMAN: 
                                  Never again! 
    For thou art changed by some deep miracle. 
    The flower of womanhood hath bloomed in thee,—­
    Art thou not changed?

RUAHMAH: 
                          Yea, I am changed,—­and changed
    Again,—­bewildered,—­till there’s nothing clear
    To me but this:  I am the instrument
    In an Almighty hand to rescue thee
    From death.  This will I do,—­and afterward—­

[A trumpet is blown without.]

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