Flow unto thee and follow after thee;
And where thou goest I will go; and where
Thou diest I will die,--in the same hour.

[_She lays her hand on his arm. He draws back._]

NAAMAN:
O touch me not! Thou shall not share my doom.

RUAHMAH:
Entreat me not to go. I will obey
In all but this; but rob me not of this,--
The only boon that makes life worth the living,--
To walk beside thee day by day, and keep
Thy foot from stumbling; to prepare thy food
When thou art hungry, music for thy rest,
And cheerful words to comfort thy black hour;
And so to lead thee ever on, and on,
Through darkness, till we find the door of hope.

NAAMAN:
What word is that? The leper has no hope.

RUAHMAH:
Dear lord, the mark upon thy brow is yet
No broader than my little finger-nail.
Thy force is not abated, and thy step
Is firm. Wilt thou surrender to the enemy
Before thy strength is touched? Why, let me put
A drop of courage from my breast in thine.