SCENE II.

TIME: _The following morning._

_The audience-hall in BENHADAD'S palace. The sides of the hall are
lined with lofty columns: the back opens toward the city, with
descending steps: the House of Rimmon with its high tower is seen in
the background. The throne is at the right in front: opposite is the
royal door of entrance, guarded by four tall sentinels. Enter at the
rear between the columns, RAKHAZ, SABALLIDIN, HAZAEL, IZDUBHAR._

IZDUBHAR: [_An excited old man._]
The city is all in a turmoil. It boils like a pot of lentils. The
people are foaming and bubbling round and round like beans in the
pottage.

HAZAEL: [_A lean, crafty man._]
Fear is a hot fire.

RAKHAZ: [_A fat, pompous man._]
Well may they fear, for the Assyrians are not three days distant.
They are blazing along like a waterspout to chop Damascus down like
a pitcher of spilt milk.

SABALLIDIN: [_Young and frank._]
Cannot Naaman drive them back?