Song
Above the edge of dark appear the lances of the sun;Along the mountain-ridges clear his rosy heralds run;The vapours down the valley goLike broken armies, dark and low.Look up, my heart, from every hillIn folds of rose and daffodilThe sunrise banners flow.
O fly away on silent wing, ye boding owls of night!O welcome little birds that sing the coming-in of light!For new, and new, and ever-new,The golden bud within the blue;And every morning seems to say:"There's something happy on the way,And God sends love to you!"
NAAMAN:O let me ever wake to music! For the soulReturns most gently then, and finds its wayBy the soft, winding clue of melody,Out of the dusky labyrinth of sleep,Into the light. My body feels the sunThough I behold naught that his rays reveal.Come, thou who art my daydawn and my sight,Sweet eyes, come close, and make the sunrise mine!
RUAHMAH:A fairer day, dear lord, was never bornIn Paradise! The sapphire cup of heavenIs filled with golden wine: the earth, adornedWith jewel-drops of dew, unveils her faceA joyful bride, in welcome to her king.And look! He leaps upon the Eastern hillsAll ruddy fire, and claims her with a kiss.Yonder the snowy peaks of Hermon floatUnmoving as a wind-dropt cloud. The gulfOf Jordan, filled with violet haze, concealsThe river's winding trail with wreaths of mist.Below us, marble-crowned Samaria thronesUpon her emerald hill amid the ValeOf Barley, while the plains to northward changeTheir colour like the shimmering necks of doves.The lark springs up, with morning on her wings,To climb her singing stairway in the blue,And all the fields are sprinkled with her joy!
NAAMAN:Thy voice is magical: thy words are visions!I must content myself with them, for nowMy only hope is lost: Samaria's KingRejects our monarch's message,--hast thou heard?"Am I a god that I should cure a leper?"He sends me home unhealed, with angry words,Back to Damascus and the lingering death.
RUAHMAH:What matter where he sends? No god is heTo slay or make alive. Elisha bidsYou come to him at Dothan, there to learnThere is a God in Israel.
NAAMAN:I fearThat I am grown mistrustful of all gods;Their secret counsels are implacable.
RUAHMAH:Fear not! There's One who rules in righteousnessHigh over all.
NAAMAN:What knowest thou of Him?
RUAHMAH:Oh, I have heard,--the maid of Israel,--Rememberest thou? She often said her GodWas merciful and kind, and slow to wrath,And plenteous in forgiveness, pitying usLike as a father pitieth his children.
NAAMAN:If there were such a God, I'd worship HimForever!
RUAHMAH:Then make haste to hear the wordHis prophet promises to speak to thee!Obey it, my dear lord, and thou shalt findHealing 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?
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.
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 loveWith lips that may be fatal? Tempt me notTo sweet dishonour; strengthen me to waitUntil thy prophecy is all fulfilled,And I can claim thee with a joyful heart.
RUAHMAH:Thou wilt not need me then,--and I shall beNo more than the faint echo of a songHeard half asleep. We shall go back to whereWe 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 changedAgain,--bewildered,--till there's nothing clearTo me but this: I am the instrumentIn an Almighty hand to rescue theeFrom death. This will I do,--and afterward--
Hearken, the trumpet sounds, the chariot waits.Away, dear lord, follow the road to light!
We have delivered my lord's greeting and his message.
Yes, and near lost our noses in the doing of it! Forthe servant slammed the door in our faces. A mostunmannerly reception!
But I take that as a good omen. It is a mark of holymen to keep ill-conditioned servants. Look, thedoor opens, the prophet is coming.
No, by my head, it is that notable mark of his master'sholiness, that same lantern-jawed lout of a servant.
GEHAZI:My master, the prophet of Israel, sends word to Naamanthe Syrian,--are you he?---"Go wash in Jordan seventimes and be healed."
NAAMAN:What insolence is this? Am I a manTo be put off with surly messengers?Has not Damascus rivers more renownedThan this rude muddy Jordan? Crystal streams,Abana! Pharpar! flowing smoothly throughA paradise of roses? Might I notHave bathed in them and been restored at ease?Come up, Saballidin, and guide me home!
SABALLIDIN:Bethink thee, master, shall we lose our questBecause a servant is uncouth? The roadThat 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 thenThis easy one? Hast thou not promised herWho waits for thy return? Wilt thou go backTo 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 hopeOf having her. Make haste, Saballidin,Bring me to Jordan. I will cast myselfInto that river's turbulent embraceA hundred times, until I save my lifeOr lose it!
The light increases again with ruddy sunsetshining on the door of ELISHA'S house. Theprophet appears and looks off, shading hiseyes with his hand as he descends the steps.Trumpet blows,--NAAMAN'S call;--sound ofhorses galloping and men shouting. NAAMANenters joyously, followed by SABALLIDIN and
NAAMAN:Behold a man delivered from the graveBy thee! I rose from Jordan's waves restoredTo youth and vigour, as the eagle mountsUpon the sunbeam and renews his strength!O mighty prophet deign to take from meThese gifts too poor to speak my gratitude;Silver and gold and jewels, damask robes,--
ELISHA:As thy soul liveth I will not receiveA gift from thee, my son! Give all to HimWhose mercy hath redeemed thee from thy plague.
NAAMAN:He is the only God! I worship Him!Grant me a portion of the blessed soilOf this most favoured land where I have foundHis mercy; in Damascus will I buildAn altar to His name, and praise Him thereMorning and night. There is no other GodIn all the world.
ELISHA:Thou needst notThis load of earth to build a shrine for Him;Yet take it if thou wilt. But be assuredGod's altar is in every loyal heart,And every flame of love that kindles thereAscends to Him and brightens with His praise.There is no other God! But evil PowersMake war against Him in the darkened world;And many temples have been built to them.
NAAMAN:I know them well! Yet when my master goesTo worship in the House of Rimmon, IMust enter with him; for he trusts me, leansUpon my hand; and when he bows himselfI cannot help but make obeisance too,--But not to Rimmon! To my country's KingI'll bow in love and honour. Will the LordPardon thy servant in this thing?
ELISHA:My son,Peace has been granted thee. 'Tis thine to findThe only way to keep it. Go in peace.
NAAMAN:Thou hast not answered me,--may I bow down?
ELISHA:The answer must be thine. The heart that knowsThe perfect peace of gratitude and love,Walks in the light and needs no other rule.When next thou comest into Rimmon's House,Thy heart will tell thee how to go in peace.
ELISHA:Daughter of Israel, what dost thou here?Thy prayer is granted. Naaman is healed:Mar not true service with a selfish thought.Nothing remains for thee to do, exceptGive thanks, and go whither the Lord commands.Obey,--obey! Ere Naaman returnsThou must depart to thine own house in Shechem.
RUAHMAH:A dream, a dream, a messenger of God!O dear and dreadful vision, art thou true?Then am I glad with all my broken heart.Nothing remains,--nothing remains but this,--Give thanks, obey, depart,--and so I do.Farewell, my master's sword! Farewell to you,My amulet! I lay you on the hiltHis hand shall clasp again: bid him farewellFor me, since I must look upon his faceNo more for ever!--Hark, what sound was that?
SOLDIER:Mistress, an armed troop, footmen and horse,Mounting the hill!
RUAHMAH:My lord returns in triumph.
SOLDIER:Not so, for these are enemies; they marchIn haste and silence, answering not our cries.
RUAHMAH:Our enemies? Then hold your ground,--on guard!Fight! fight! Defend the pass, and drive them down.
the scabbard and hurries out of the tent. Confusednoise of fighting outside. Three or four soldiersare driven in by a troop of men in disguise.RUAHMAH follows: she is beaten to her knees,
Hold her! So, tiger-maid, we've found your lairAnd trapped you. Where is Naaman,Your master?
He is far beyond your reach.
REZON:Brave captain! He has saved himself, the leper,And left you here?
RUAHMAH:The leper is no more.
REZON:What mean you?
RUAHMAH:He has gone to meet his God.
REZON:Dead? Dead? Behold how Rimmon's wrath is swift!Damascus shall be mine; I'll terrifyThe King with this, and make my terms. But no!False maid, you sweet-faced harlot, you have liedTo save him,--speak.
RUAHMAH:I am not what you say,Nor have I lied, nor will I ever speakA word to you, vile servant of a traitor-god.
REZON:Break off this little flute of blasphemy,This ivory neck,--twist it, I say!Give her a swift despatch after her leper!But stay,--if he still lives he'll follow her,And so we may ensnare him. Harm her not!Bind her! Away with her to Rimmon's House!Is all this carrion dead? There's one that moves,--A spear,--fasten him down! All quiet now?Then back to our Damascus! Rimmon's faceShall be made bright with sacrifice.
interlude. A wounded soldier crawls from adark corner of the tent and finds the chainwith NAAMAN'S seal, which has fallen to the
The signet of my lord, her amulet!Lost, lost! Ah, noble lady,--let me dieWith this upon my breast.
NAAMAN:What bloody workIs here? God, let me live to punish himWho wrought this horror! Treacherously slainAt night, by unknown hands, my brave companions:Tsarpi, my best beloved, light of my soul,Put out in darkness! O my broken lampOf life, where art thou? Nay, I cannot find her.
Words in this poem 41
- boding a.
- Foreshowing; presaging; ominous.
- clue n.
- A ball of thread, yarn, or cord; also, The thread itself. [OE. clewe, clowe, clue, AS. cleowen, cliwen, clywe ball of thread; akin to D. kluwen, OHG. chliwa, chliuwa, G. dim. kleuel, knäuel, and perch. to L. gluma hull,]
- yonder adv.
- At a distance, but within view. [OE. yonder, ýonder; cf. OD. ginder, Goth. jaindr there. Yond, adv.]
- snowy a.
- White like snow.
- jordan n.
- A pot or vessel with a large neck, formerly used by physicians and alchemists. Halliwell. [Prob. fr. the river Jordan, and shortened fr. Jordan bottle a bottle of water from the Jordan, brought back by pilgrims.]
- amid prep.
- In the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by; among. [OE. amidde, amiddes, on midden, AS. on middan, in the middle, fr. midde the middle. The s is an adverbial ending, originally marking the genitive; the t is a la]
- vale n.
- A tract of low ground, or of land between hills; a valley. [OE. val, F. val, L. vallis; perhaps akin to Gr. Avalanche, Vail to lower, Valley.]
- northward a.
- Toward the north; nearer to the north than to the east or west point. [AS. noredhweard.]
- shimmering n.
- A gleam or glimmering.
- stairway n.
- A flight of stairs or steps; a staircase.
- hast
- , 2d pers. sing. pres. of. Fave, contr. of havest.
- leper n.
- A person affected with leprosy.
- angry a.
- Troublesome; vexatious; rigorous. [See Anger.]
- mistrustful a.
- Having or causing mistrust, suspicions, or forebodings.
- righteousness n.
- The quality or state of being righteous; holiness; purity; uprightness; rectitude. [AS. rihtwisnes.]
- pitying a.
- Expressing pity; as, a pitying eye, glance, or word.
- shalt
- 2d per. sing. of Shall.
- shall v. i.
- To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
- handmaid n.
- A maid that waits at hand; a female servant or attendant.
- throb v. i.
- To beat, or pulsate, with more than usual force or rapidity; to beat in consequence of agitation; to palpitate; -- said of the heart, pulse, etc. [OE. ; of uncertain origin; cf. Russ. trepete a trembling, and E. trepidation.]
- chalice n.
- A cup or bowl; especially, the cup used in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. [OR. chalis, calice, OF. chalice, calice, F. calice, fr. L. calix, akin to Gr. helmet. Cf. Calice, Calyx.]
- dishonour n.
- Lack of honor; disgrace; ignominy; shame; reproach. [OE. deshonour, dishonour, OF. deshonor, deshonur, F. déshonneur; pref. des- (L. dis-) + honor, honur, F. honneur, fr. L. honor. See Honor.]
- unmannerly a.
- Not mannerly; ill-bred; rude.
- insolence n.
- The quality of being unusual or novel. [F. insolence, L. insolentia. See Insolent.]
- surly a.
- Arrogant; haughty. Cotgrave. [Probably from sir, and originally meaning, sirlike, i.e., proud. See Sir, and Like, a.]
- galloping a.
- Going at a gallop; progressing rapidly; as, a galloping horse.
- vigour v. t.
- To invigorate. Feltham.
- sunbeam n.
- A beam or ray of the sun. [AS. sunnebeam.]
- deign v. t.
- To esteem worthy; to consider worth notice; -- opposed to disdain. [OE. deinen, deignen, OF. degner, deigner, daigner, F. daigner, fr. L. dignari to deem worthy, deign, fr. dignus worthy; akin to decere to be fitting. See Decent]
- favoured a.
- Countenanced; aided; regarded with kidness; as, a favored friend.
- honour n.
- Esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; respect; consideration; reverence; veneration; manifestation of respect or reverence. [OE. honor, honour, onour, onur, OF. honor, onor, honur, onur, honour, onour, F. honneur, fr. L. honor, honos.]
- needs adv.
- Of necessity; necessarily; indispensably; -- often with must, and equivalent to of need. [Orig. gen. of need, used as an adverb. Cf. - wards.]
- whither adv.
- To what place; -- used interrogatively; as, whither goest thou [OE. whider. AS. hwider; akin to E. where, who; cf. Goth. hvadre whither. See Who, and cf. Hither, Thither.]
- depart v. i.
- To part; to divide; to separate. [OE. departen to divide, part, depart, F. départir to divide, distribute, se départir to separate one's self, depart; pref. dé- (L. de) + partir to part, depart,]
- dreadful a.
- Full of dread or terror; fearful.
- hurries n.
- A staith or framework from which coal is discharged from cars into vessels.
- lair n.
- A place in which to lie or rest; especially, the bed or couch of a wild beast. [OE. leir, AS. leger; akin to D. leger, G. lager couch, lair, OHG. laga, Goth. ligrs, and to E. lie. See Lie to be prostrate, and cf. Layer, Leaguer.]
- terrify v. t.
- To make terrible. [L. terrere to frighten + -fy: cf. F. terrifier, L. terrificare. See Terrific, and -fy.]
- lied n.
- A lay; a German song. It differs from the French chanson, and the Italian canzone, all three being national. [G.]
- ensnare v. t.
- To catch in a snare. See Insnare.
- signet n.
- A seal; especially, in England, the seal used by the sovereign in sealing private letters and grants that pass by bill under the sign manual; -- called also privy signet. [OF. signet a signet, F., a bookmark, dim. of signe. See Sign, n., and cf. Sennet.]
Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.
About this text
Song is in the public domain. This text is taken from The Poems of Henry Van Dyke, Project Gutenberg ebook #16229; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.
Cite as: Henry Van Dyke, Song, in The Poems of Henry Van Dyke (1925), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #16229, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/van-dyke-poems/song.html, id L22989.
Form and metre
Song is 295 lines in 55 stanzas. The metre is iambic pentameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 88%).
See other poems in iambic pentameter.
Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.
Rhyme words, stanza by stanza
The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.
- 1 AABBCCB sunA · runA · goB · lowB · hillC · daffodilC · flowB
- 2 AABBCCB nightA · lightA · newB · blueB · sayC · wayC · youB
- 14 AA-- thineA · thineA · day · trouble
- 32 ------AA-- elisha · not · him · assured · heart · there · praiseA · powersA · world · them
- 33 ------A-A naaman · goes · i · leans · himself · too · kingA · lord · thingA
- 38 --A--AA---- ruahmah · god · trueA · heart · this · doA · youA · hilt · farewell · face · that
- 43 -AAA confused · soldiersA · disguiseA · kneesA
- 53 A-A aA · chain · theA
Scansion, line by line
Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against iambic pentameter. How this is done.
| Line | Syl. | Stress |
|---|---|---|
| Above the edge of dark appear the lances of the sun; | 14 | ······˘/·/˘··· |
| Along the mountain-ridges clear his rosy heralds run; | 14 | ˘/·/˘/˘··/˘/˘· |
| The vapours down the valley go | 8 | ·/˘··/˘· |
| Like broken armies, dark and low. | 8 | ·/˘/˘··· |
| Look up, my heart, from every hill | 9 | ·····/˘˘· |
| In folds of rose and daffodil | 8 | ·····/˘· |
| The sunrise banners flow. | 6 | ·/·/˘· |
| O fly away on silent wing, ye boding owls of night! | 14 | ··˘/·/˘··/˘··· |
| O welcome little birds that sing the coming-in of light! | 14 | ·/˘/˘····/˘··· |
| For new, and new, and ever-new, | 8 | ·····/˘· |
| The golden bud within the blue; | 8 | ·/˘····· |
| And every morning seems to say: | 9 | ·/˘˘/˘··· |
| "There's something happy on the way, | 8 | ·/˘/˘··· |
| And God sends love to you!" | 6 | ······ |
| NAAMAN: | 2 | ·· |
| O let me ever wake to music! For the soul | 11 | ···/··/˘··· |
| Returns most gently then, and finds its way | 10 | ˘/·/˘····· |
| By the soft, winding clue of melody, | 10 | ···/˘··/˘˘ |
| Out of the dusky labyrinth of sleep, | 10 | ···/˘/˘··· |
| Into the light. My body feels the sun | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Though I behold naught that his rays reveal. | 10 | ··˘/····˘/ |
| Come, thou who art my daydawn and my sight, | 10 | ·········· |
| Sweet eyes, come close, and make the sunrise mine! | 10 | ·······/·· |
| RUAHMAH: | 2 | ·· |
| A fairer day, dear lord, was never born | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| In Paradise! The sapphire cup of heaven | 11 | ·/˘··/˘··/˘ |
| Is filled with golden wine: the earth, adorned | 10 | ···/˘···˘/ |
| With jewel-drops of dew, unveils her face | 10 | ·/˘···˘/·· |
| A joyful bride, in welcome to her king. | 10 | ·/˘··/˘··· |
| And look! He leaps upon the Eastern hills | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| All ruddy fire, and claims her with a kiss. | 10 | ·/˘/······ |
| Yonder the snowy peaks of Hermon float | 10 | /˘·/˘··/˘· |
| Unmoving as a wind-dropt cloud. The gulf | 10 | ·········· |
| Of Jordan, filled with violet haze, conceals | 10 | ·/˘··/˘·˘/ |
| The river's winding trail with wreaths of mist. | 10 | ·/˘/˘····· |
| Below us, marble-crowned Samaria thrones | 11 | ···/˘··˘/˘· |
| Upon her emerald hill amid the Vale | 10 | ···/˘·˘/·· |
| Of Barley, while the plains to northward change | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| Their colour like the shimmering necks of doves. | 10 | ·/˘··/˘··· |
| The lark springs up, with morning on her wings, | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| To climb her singing stairway in the blue, | 10 | ···/˘/···· |
| And all the fields are sprinkled with her joy! | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| NAAMAN: | 2 | ·· |
| Thy voice is magical: thy words are visions! | 11 | ···/˘˘···/˘ |
| I must content myself with them, for now | 10 | ··˘/·/···· |
| My only hope is lost: Samaria's King | 11 | ·/˘····˘/˘· |
| Rejects our monarch's message,--hast thou heard? | 10 | ˘///·/˘··· |
| "Am I a god that I should cure a leper?" | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| He sends me home unhealed, with angry words, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Back to Damascus and the lingering death. | 10 | ··˘/˘··/˘· |
| RUAHMAH: | 2 | ·· |
| What matter where he sends? No god is he | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| To slay or make alive. Elisha bids | 10 | ····˘//˘˘· |
| You come to him at Dothan, there to learn | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| There is a God in Israel. | 8 | ·····/˘˘ |
| NAAMAN: | 2 | ·· |
| I fear | 2 | ·· |
| That I am grown mistrustful of all gods; | 10 | ····˘/˘··· |
| Their secret counsels are implacable. | 10 | ·/˘/˘·˘/˘˘ |
| RUAHMAH: | 2 | ·· |
| Fear not! There's One who rules in righteousness | 10 | ·······/˘˘ |
| High over all. | 4 | ···· |
| NAAMAN: | 2 | ·· |
| What knowest thou of Him? | 6 | ·/˘··· |
| RUAHMAH: | 2 | ·· |
| Oh, I have heard,--the maid of Israel,-- | 10 | ·······/˘˘ |
| Rememberest thou? She often said her God | 10 | ˘/˘··/˘··· |
| Was merciful and kind, and slow to wrath, | 10 | ·/˘˘······ |
| And plenteous in forgiveness, pitying us | 11 | ·/˘˘·˘/˘/˘· |
| Like as a father pitieth his children. | 10 | ···/˘···/˘ |
| NAAMAN: | 2 | ·· |
| If there were such a God, I'd worship Him | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Forever! | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| RUAHMAH: | 2 | ·· |
| Then make haste to hear the word | 7 | ······· |
| His prophet promises to speak to thee! | 10 | ·/˘/˘˘···· |
| Obey it, my dear lord, and thou shalt find | 10 | ˘/········ |
| Healing and peace. The light shall fill thine eyes. | 10 | /˘········ |
| Thou wilt not need my leading any more,-- | 10 | ·····/˘/˘· |
| Nor me,--for thou wilt see me, all unveiled,-- | 10 | ········˘/ |
| I tremble at the thought. | 6 | ·/˘··· |
| NAAMAN: | 2 | ·· |
| Why, what is this? | 4 | ···· |
| Why shouldst thou tremble? Art thou not mine own? | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| I am,--thy handmaid,--all and only thine,-- | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| The very pulses of my heart are thine! | 10 | ·/˘/˘····· |
| Feel how they throb to comfort thee to-day-- | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| To-day! Because it is thy time of trouble. | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| NAAMAN: | 2 | ·· |
| Thou art too dear to injure with a kiss,-- | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| How should I take a gift may bankrupt thee, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Or drain the fragrant chalice of thy love | 10 | ···/˘/˘··· |
| With lips that may be fatal? Tempt me not | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| To sweet dishonour; strengthen me to wait | 10 | ··˘/˘/˘··· |
| Until thy prophecy is all fulfilled, | 10 | ···/˘˘··˘/ |
| And I can claim thee with a joyful heart. | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| RUAHMAH: | 2 | ·· |
| Thou wilt not need me then,--and I shall be | 10 | ·········· |
| No more than the faint echo of a song | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Heard half asleep. We shall go back to where | 10 | ··˘/······ |
| We stood before this journey. | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| NAAMAN: | 2 | ·· |
| Never again! | 4 | /˘˘/ |
| For thou art changed by some deep miracle. | 10 | ·······/˘˘ |
| The flower of womanhood hath bloomed in thee,-- | 10 | ·/·/˘····· |
| Art thou not changed? | 4 | ···· |
| RUAHMAH: | 2 | ·· |
| Yea, I am changed,--and changed | 6 | ······ |
| Again,--bewildered,--till there's nothing clear | 10 | ˘/˘/˘··/˘· |
| To me but this: I am the instrument | 10 | ·······/˘˘ |
| In an Almighty hand to rescue thee | 10 | ··˘/˘··/˘· |
| From death. This will I do,--and afterward-- | 10 | ·······/˘˘ |
| Hearken, the trumpet sounds, the chariot waits. | 10 | /˘·/˘··/˘· |
| Away, dear lord, follow the road to light! | 10 | ˘/··/˘···· |
| We have delivered my lord's greeting and his message. | 13 | ··˘/˘··/˘··/˘ |
| Yes, and near lost our noses in the doing of it! For | 13 | ····//˘··/··· |
| the servant slammed the door in our faces. A most | 12 | ·/˘····//˘·· |
| unmannerly reception! | 7 | ˘/˘˘˘/˘ |
| But I take that as a good omen. It is a mark of holy | 16 | ·······/˘·····/˘ |
| men to keep ill-conditioned servants. Look, the | 11 | ····˘/˘/˘·· |
| door opens, the prophet is coming. | 9 | ·/˘·/˘·/˘ |
| No, by my head, it is that notable mark of his master's | 14 | ·······/˘···/˘ |
| holiness, that same lantern-jawed lout of a servant. | 12 | /˘··/˘····/˘ |
| GEHAZI: | 3 | ··· |
| My master, the prophet of Israel, sends word to Naaman | 14 | ·/˘·/˘·/˘····· |
| the Syrian,--are you he?---"Go wash in Jordan seven | 12 | ·/˘······/˘/ |
| times and be healed." | 4 | ···· |
| NAAMAN: | 2 | ·· |
| What insolence is this? Am I a man | 10 | ·/˘˘······ |
| To be put off with surly messengers? | 10 | ·····/˘/˘˘ |
| Has not Damascus rivers more renowned | 10 | ··˘/˘/˘·˘/ |
| Than this rude muddy Jordan? Crystal streams, | 10 | ···/˘/˘/˘· |
| Abana! Pharpar! flowing smoothly through | 10 | ·····/˘/˘· |
| A paradise of roses? Might I not | 10 | ·/˘··/˘··· |
| Have bathed in them and been restored at ease? | 10 | ······˘/·· |
| Come up, Saballidin, and guide me home! | 10 | ·········· |
| SABALLIDIN: | 4 | ···· |
| Bethink thee, master, shall we lose our quest | 10 | ˘/·/˘···/· |
| Because a servant is uncouth? The road | 10 | ···/˘·//·· |
| That seeks the mountain leads us through the vale. | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| The prophet's word is friendly after all; | 10 | ·/˘··/˘··· |
| For had it been some mighty task he set, | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Thou wouldst perform it. How much rather then | 10 | ··˘/···/˘· |
| This easy one? Hast thou not promised her | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| Who waits for thy return? Wilt thou go back | 10 | ····˘/···· |
| To her unhealed? | 4 | ···· |
| NAAMAN: | 2 | ·· |
| No! not for all my pride! | 6 | ······ |
| I'll make myself most humble for her sake, | 10 | ···/·/˘··· |
| And stoop to anything that gives me hope | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Of having her. Make haste, Saballidin, | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Bring me to Jordan. I will cast myself | 10 | ···/˘····/ |
| Into that river's turbulent embrace | 10 | ···/˘/˘˘˘/ |
| A hundred times, until I save my life | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Or lose it! | 3 | ··· |
| The light increases again with ruddy sunset | 12 | ··/˘˘˘/·/˘/· |
| shining on the door of ELISHA'S house. The | 10 | /˘····/˘·· |
| prophet appears and looks off, shading his | 10 | /˘˘/···/˘· |
| eyes with his hand as he descends the steps. | 10 | ······˘/·· |
| Trumpet blows,--NAAMAN'S call;--sound of | 8 | /˘······ |
| horses galloping and men shouting. NAAMAN | 10 | /˘/˘··/˘·· |
| enters joyously, followed by SABALLIDIN and | 12 | /˘··/˘······ |
| NAAMAN: | 2 | ·· |
| Behold a man delivered from the grave | 10 | ˘/··˘/˘··· |
| By thee! I rose from Jordan's waves restored | 10 | ·····/˘·˘/ |
| To youth and vigour, as the eagle mounts | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| Upon the sunbeam and renews his strength! | 10 | ···/··˘/·· |
| O mighty prophet deign to take from me | 10 | ·/˘/˘····· |
| These gifts too poor to speak my gratitude; | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Silver and gold and jewels, damask robes,-- | 10 | /˘···/˘/˘· |
| ELISHA: | 3 | /˘˘ |
| As thy soul liveth I will not receive | 10 | ········˘/ |
| A gift from thee, my son! Give all to Him | 10 | ·········· |
| Whose mercy hath redeemed thee from thy plague. | 10 | ·/˘·˘/···· |
| NAAMAN: | 2 | ·· |
| He is the only God! I worship Him! | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| Grant me a portion of the blessed soil | 10 | ···/˘···˘· |
| Of this most favoured land where I have found | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| His mercy; in Damascus will I build | 10 | ·/˘·˘/˘··· |
| An altar to His name, and praise Him there | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Morning and night. There is no other God | 10 | /˘·····/˘· |
| In all the world. | 4 | ···· |
| ELISHA: | 3 | /˘˘ |
| Thou needst not | 3 | ··· |
| This load of earth to build a shrine for Him; | 10 | ·········· |
| Yet take it if thou wilt. But be assured | 10 | ········˘/ |
| God's altar is in every loyal heart, | 10 | ·/˘··/˘/˘· |
| And every flame of love that kindles there | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| Ascends to Him and brightens with His praise. | 10 | ˘/···/˘··· |
| There is no other God! But evil Powers | 11 | ···/˘··/˘/˘ |
| Make war against Him in the darkened world; | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| And many temples have been built to them. | 10 | ·/˘/˘····· |
| NAAMAN: | 2 | ·· |
| I know them well! Yet when my master goes | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| To worship in the House of Rimmon, I | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Must enter with him; for he trusts me, leans | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Upon my hand; and when he bows himself | 10 | ········˘/ |
| I cannot help but make obeisance too,-- | 10 | ·/˘···˘/˘· |
| But not to Rimmon! To my country's King | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| I'll bow in love and honour. Will the Lord | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Pardon thy servant in this thing? | 8 | /˘·/˘··· |
| ELISHA: | 3 | /˘˘ |
| My son, | 2 | ·· |
| Peace has been granted thee. 'Tis thine to find | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| The only way to keep it. Go in peace. | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| NAAMAN: | 2 | ·· |
| Thou hast not answered me,--may I bow down? | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| ELISHA: | 3 | /˘˘ |
| The answer must be thine. The heart that knows | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| The perfect peace of gratitude and love, | 10 | ·/···/˘··· |
| Walks in the light and needs no other rule. | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| When next thou comest into Rimmon's House, | 10 | ·········· |
| Thy heart will tell thee how to go in peace. | 10 | ·········· |
| ELISHA: | 3 | /˘˘ |
| Daughter of Israel, what dost thou here? | 10 | /˘·/˘˘···· |
| Thy prayer is granted. Naaman is healed: | 10 | ···/˘····˘ |
| Mar not true service with a selfish thought. | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| Nothing remains for thee to do, except | 10 | /˘˘/······ |
| Give thanks, and go whither the Lord commands. | 10 | ····/˘··˘/ |
| Obey,--obey! Ere Naaman returns | 9 | ˘/˘/···˘/ |
| Thou must depart to thine own house in Shechem. | 11 | ··˘/······· |
| RUAHMAH: | 2 | ·· |
| A dream, a dream, a messenger of God! | 10 | ·····/˘˘·· |
| O dear and dreadful vision, art thou true? | 10 | ···/˘/˘··· |
| Then am I glad with all my broken heart. | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Nothing remains,--nothing remains but this,-- | 10 | /˘˘//˘˘/·· |
| Give thanks, obey, depart,--and so I do. | 10 | ··˘/˘/···· |
| Farewell, my master's sword! Farewell to you, | 10 | ·/·/˘··/·· |
| My amulet! I lay you on the hilt | 10 | ·/˘˘······ |
| His hand shall clasp again: bid him farewell | 10 | ····˘/···/ |
| For me, since I must look upon his face | 10 | ·········· |
| No more for ever!--Hark, what sound was that? | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| SOLDIER: | 2 | /˘ |
| Mistress, an armed troop, footmen and horse, | 10 | /˘··˘····· |
| Mounting the hill! | 4 | /˘·· |
| RUAHMAH: | 2 | ·· |
| My lord returns in triumph. | 7 | ··˘/·/˘ |
| SOLDIER: | 2 | /˘ |
| Not so, for these are enemies; they march | 10 | ·····/˘˘·· |
| In haste and silence, answering not our cries. | 10 | ···/˘/˘·/· |
| RUAHMAH: | 2 | ·· |
| Our enemies? Then hold your ground,--on guard! | 10 | //˘˘······ |
| Fight! fight! Defend the pass, and drive them down. | 10 | ··˘/······ |
| the scabbard and hurries out of the tent. Confused | 12 | ·/˘·/˘····˘/ |
| noise of fighting outside. Three or four soldiers | 11 | ··/˘//···/˘ |
| are driven in by a troop of men in disguise. | 11 | ·/·······˘/ |
| RUAHMAH follows: she is beaten to her knees, | 11 | ··/˘··/˘··· |
| Hold her! So, tiger-maid, we've found your lair | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| And trapped you. Where is Naaman, | 7 | ······· |
| Your master? | 3 | ·/˘ |
| He is far beyond your reach. | 7 | ······· |
| REZON: | 2 | ·· |
| Brave captain! He has saved himself, the leper, | 11 | ·/˘···˘/·/˘ |
| And left you here? | 4 | ···· |
| RUAHMAH: | 2 | ·· |
| The leper is no more. | 6 | ·/˘··· |
| REZON: | 2 | ·· |
| What mean you? | 3 | ··· |
| RUAHMAH: | 2 | ·· |
| He has gone to meet his God. | 7 | ······· |
| REZON: | 2 | ·· |
| Dead? Dead? Behold how Rimmon's wrath is swift! | 10 | ··˘/······ |
| Damascus shall be mine; I'll terrify | 10 | ˘/˘····/˘· |
| The King with this, and make my terms. But no! | 10 | ·········· |
| False maid, you sweet-faced harlot, you have lied | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| To save him,--speak. | 4 | ···· |
| RUAHMAH: | 2 | ·· |
| I am not what you say, | 6 | ······ |
| Nor have I lied, nor will I ever speak | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| A word to you, vile servant of a traitor-god. | 12 | ·····/˘··/˘· |
| REZON: | 2 | ·· |
| Break off this little flute of blasphemy, | 10 | ···/˘··/˘˘ |
| This ivory neck,--twist it, I say! | 9 | ·/˘˘····· |
| Give her a swift despatch after her leper! | 11 | ····˘/···/˘ |
| But stay,--if he still lives he'll follow her, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| And so we may ensnare him. Harm her not! | 10 | ····˘/···· |
| Bind her! Away with her to Rimmon's House! | 10 | ··˘/······ |
| Is all this carrion dead? There's one that moves,-- | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| A spear,--fasten him down! All quiet now? | 10 | ··/˘···/˘· |
| Then back to our Damascus! Rimmon's face | 10 | ···/˘/˘··· |
| Shall be made bright with sacrifice. | 8 | ·····/˘· |
| interlude. A wounded soldier crawls from a | 11 | /˘··/˘/˘··· |
| dark corner of the tent and finds the chain | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| with NAAMAN'S seal, which has fallen to the | 10 | ······/˘·· |
| The signet of my lord, her amulet! | 10 | ·/˘····/˘˘ |
| Lost, lost! Ah, noble lady,--let me die | 10 | ···/˘/˘··· |
| With this upon my breast. | 6 | ······ |
| NAAMAN: | 2 | ·· |
| What bloody work | 4 | ·/˘· |
| Is here? God, let me live to punish him | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Who wrought this horror! Treacherously slain | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| At night, by unknown hands, my brave companions: | 11 | ···˘/···˘/˘ |
| Tsarpi, my best beloved, light of my soul, | 10 | ····˘/···· |
| Put out in darkness! O my broken lamp | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| Of life, where art thou? Nay, I cannot find her. | 11 | ·······/˘·· |
The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.