Naaman monologue (Act 1) — The House of Rimmon: A Drama in Four Acts

[_Starting forward eagerly._] There is no peace beneath a conqueror's yoke, My King, but shame and heaviness of heart! For every state that barters liberty To win imperial favour, shall be drained Of her best blood, henceforth, in endless wars To make the empire greater. Here's the choice: We fight to-day to keep our country free, Or else we fight forevermore to help Assyria bind the world as we are bound. I am a soldier, and I know the hell Of war! But I will gladly ride through hell To save Damascus. Master, bid me ride! Ten thousand chariots wait for your command; And twenty thousand horsemen strain the leash Of patience till you let them go; a throng Of spearmen, archers, swordsmen, like the sea Chafing against a dike, roar for the onset! O master, let me launch your mighty host Against the Bull,--we'll bring him to his knees!