University of Virginia Library

Actus Secundi.

Scena Prima.

Whil'st the Musicke for the first Act soundes Hanno, Carthalo, Bytheas, Gelosso enter: They place themselues to Counsell, Gisco th'impoisner waiting on them, Hanno, Carthalo, and Bytheas, setting their hands to a writing, which being offer'd to Gelosso, he denies his hand, and as much offended impatiently starts vp and speakes.
Gelasso. Hanno. Bytheas. Carthalo.
Gel.
My hand? my hand? rotte first, wither in aged shame

Han.
Wil you be so vnseasonably wood?

Byt.

Hold such preposterous zeale as stand against
the full decree of Senate? all think fitte.

Car.
Nay most vneuitable necessarie
For Carthage safty, and the now sole good
Of present state, that wee must breake all faith
With Massinissa: whilst he fights abroad
Lets gaine backe Syphax, making him our owne
By giuing Sophonisba to his bed.

Han.
Syphax is Massinissas greater, and his force
Shall giue more side to Cartthage; as fors queene
And her wise father, they loue Carthage fate,

Profit, and Honesty, are one in state.
Gel.
And what decrees our very vertuous senate
Of worthy Massinissa that now fightes
and (leauing wife and bed) bleeds in good armes
For right old Carthage?

Car.
Thus tis thougt fit
Hir father Asdruball on sudeine shall take in
Reuolted Siphax; so with doubled strength
Before that Massinissa shall suspect,
Slaughter boeth Massinissa and his troupes,
And likewise strike with his deepe stratagem
A suddeine weaknes into Scipios armes,
By drawing such alim from the maine body
Of his yet powerfull armie: which being don
Dead Massinissas kingdom we decree
To Sophonisba and great Asdruball
For their consent, so this swift plot shall bring
Two crowns to hir, make Asdruball a king.

Gel.
So first faithes breach, adultery, murder, theft,

Car.
What els?

Gel.
Nay all is don no mischeif left

Car.
Pish prosperous successe giues blackest actions glory,
The means are vnremembred in most story.

Gel.
Let me not say Gods are not.

Car.
This is fit
Conquest by bloud is not so sweet as wit,
For how so ere nice vertue censures of it,
He hath the grace of warre, that hath wars profit.
But Carthage well aduisde, that states comes on,
With slow aduice, quicke execution,
Haue here an Engineere long bred for plots,
Cal'd an impoisner, who knows this sound excuse,
The onely dew that makes men sprout in Courtes, is vse,
Be't well or ill, his thrift is to be mute,
Such slaues must act commands, and not dispute.
Knowing foule deedes with danger do begin
But with rewardes do end: Sin is no sin
But in respects.—

Gel.
Politique Lord, speake low tho heauen beares
A face far from vs, Gods haue most long eares,
Ioue has a hundred marble marble hands

Car.
O I, in Poetry or Tragique sceane.

Gel.
I feare Gods onely know what Poets mean.

Car.
Yet heare me: I will speake close truth and cease,
Nothing in Nature is vnseruisable,
No, not euen Inutility it selfe,
Is then for nought dishonesty in beeing,
And if it be somtines of forced vse,
Wherein more vrgent then in sauing nations
State shapes are sodderd vp, with base, nay faulty
Yet necessary functions; some must lie,
Some must betray, some murder, and some all,
Each hath strong vse, as poyson in all purges
Yet when some violent chance shall force a state,
To breake giuen faith, or plot some stratagems,
Princes ascribe that vile necessity
Vnto Heauens wrath: and sure tho't be no vice,
Yet t'is bad chance: states must not stick to nice
For Massinissas death sence bids forgiue
Beware to offend greate men and let them liue
For tis of empires body the mayne arme,
He that will do no good shall doe no harme: yow haue my mind

Gel.
Although a stagelike passion & weake heate
Full of an empty wording might sute age
Know Ile speake strongly truth: Lordes neere mistrust
That he who'le not betray a priuate man
For his country, will neer betray his country
For priuate men; then giue Gelosso faith
If treachery in state be seruiceable,
Let hangmen doe it: I am bound to loose
My life but not my honour for my country;
Our vow, our faith, our oath, why th'are our selues
And he thats faithlesse to his proper selfe,
May be excusd if he breake faith with princes:
The Gods assist just hearts, & states that trust,
Plots before Prouidence are tost like dust.
For Massinissa: (O let me slake a little
Austere discourse and feele Humanitie)
Methinkes I heare him cry. O fight for Carthage,
Charge home, wounds smart not, for that so just so great
So good a Citty: methinks I see him yet
Leaue his faire bride euen on his nuptiall night
To buckle on his armes for Carthage: Harke-
Yet, yet, I heare him cry—Ingratitude
Vile staine of man. O ouer be most far
From Massinissas breast: vp, march amaine,
Fame got with losse of breath, is godlike gaine.
And see by this he bleedes in doubtfull fight:
And cries for Carthage, whilst Carthage—Memory
Forsake Gelosso, would I could not think:
Nor heare, nor bee, When Carthage is
So infinitely vile: see see looke here,
Cornets. Enter two Vshers. Sophonisba. Zanthia. Arcathia. Hanno Bytheas and Carthalo present Sophonisba with a paper, which shee hauing perused, after a short silence speakes
Who speakes? what mute? fair plot: what? blush to breake it?
How lewd to act when so sham'd but to speake it.

So.
Is this the Senates firme decrees

Car.
It is.

Sopho.
Is this the Senates firme decree?

Car.
It is

Sopho.
Hath Syphax entertaind the stratagem?

Car.
No doubt he hath, or will.

So.
My answers thus,
Whats safe to Carthage, shall be sweet to me

Car.
Right worthy

Ha.
Roialest

Ge.
O very woman!

So.
But tis not safe for Carthage to destroy,
Be most vniust, cunninglie politique,
Your heads still vnder Heauen, O trust to fate,
Gods prosper more a iust then crafty state.
Tis lesse disgrace to haue a pitied losse
Then shamefull victory.

Ge.
O very Angel!

So.
We all haue sworne good Massinissa faith,
Speach makes vs men, and thers no other bond
Twixt man and man, but words: O equall Gods
Make vs once know the consequence of vowes—

Ge.
And wee shall hate faith-breakers worse then man-eaters

So.
Ha! good Gelosso is thy breath not here?

Ge.
You doe me wrong as long as I can die,
Doubt you that old Gelasso can be vile?
States may afflict, tax, orture, but our mindes
Are ōly sworne to Ioue: I greiue and yet am proud
That I alone am honest: high powers you know
Virtue is seldom seene with troupes to goe.

So.
Excellent man Carthage & Rome shall fall
Before thy fame: our Lords know I the worst.

Car.
The Gods foresaw, tis fate we thus are forc'd.

So.
Gods naught foresee, but see, for to their eyes
Naught is to come, or past, Nor are you vile
Because the Gods foresee: for Gods and We
See as thinges are things are not, for we see
But since affected wisdom in vs Women
Is our sex highest folly: I am silent,
I cannot speake lesse well, vnlesse I were
More void of goodnesse: Lordes of Carthage, thus
The ayre and earth of Carthage owes my body,
It is their seruant; what decree they of it?

Car.
That you remoue to Cirta, to the pallace
Of well form'd Syphax, who with longing eyes
Meetes you: he that giues way to Fate is wise.

So.
I goe: what power can make me wretched? what euill
Is there in life to him, that knowes lifes losse
To be no euill: show, show thy vgliest brow
O most blacke chaunce: make me a wretched story
Without misfortune Vertue hath no glorie
Opposed trees makes tempests show their power
And waues forc'd back by rocks maks Neptune tower
Tearelesse O see a miracle of life
A maide, a widdow, yet a haplesse wife.

Cornets. Sopho. accompanied with the Senators depart, onely Gelosso staies.
Ge.
A prodegy! let nature run crosse legd
Ops goe vpon thy head, let Neptune burne
Cold Saturne cracke with heate for now the world
Hath seene a Woman:
Leape nimble lightning from Ioues ample shield
And make at length, an end, the proud hot breath
Of thee contemning Greatnesse, the huge drought
Of sole selfe louing vast Ambition.
Th'vnnaturall scorching heate of all those lamps
Thou reard'st to yeeld a temperate fruitfull heat
Relentlesse rage whose hart hath no one drop
Of humane pittie: all all loudly cry
Thy brand O Ioue, for know the world is dry
O let A generall end saue Carthage fame
When worlds doe burne vnseens a Citties flame.
Phœbus in me is great: Carthage must fall
Ioue hats all vice but vows breach worst of all.

Exit.

Scena Secunda.

Cornets sound a charge: Enter Massinissa in his gorget and shert, shield, sword, his arme transfixt with a dart Iugurth followes with his curaes and caske.
Mas.
Mount vs againe, giue vs another horse

Iug.
Vncle your bloud flows fast, pray ye withdraw

Mas.
O Iugurth I cannot bleed too fast, too much
For that so great, so iust so royall Carthage
My wound smarts not, blouds losse maks me not faint
For that lou'de Citty, O Nephew let me tell thee,
How good that Carthage is: it nourishde me,
And when full time gaue me fit strength for loue,
The most adored creature of the citty.
To vs before great Syphax did they yeeld,
Faire, noble, modest, and boue all, my,
My Sophonisba, O Iugurth my strength doubles
I know not how to turne a coward, drop
In feeble basenes, I cannot: giue me horse,
Know I am Carthage very creature, and I am gracde,
That I may bleed for them: giue me fresh horse.

Iug.
He that doth publike good for multitude,
Findes few are truely gratefull.

Mas.
O Iugurth, fie you must not say so, Iugurth,
Some common weales may let a noble hart,
Too forward bleeds abroad and bleed bemond,
But not reuengd at home, but Carthage, fie
It cannot be vngrate, faithles through feare,
It cannot Iugurth: Sophonisba's there,
Beat a fresh charge.

Enter Asdrubal his sword drawne reading a letter Gisco follows him
Asd.
Sound the retraite, respect your health braue Prince,
The waste of blood throw's palenes on your face,

Ma.
By light, my harts not pale: O my lou'd father,
We bleed for Carthage Balsum to my woundes,
We bleede for Carthage: shals restore the fight?
My squadron of Massulians yet stands firme.

Asd.
The day lookes off from Carthage cease all arms
A modest temperance is the life of armes,
Take our best surgeon Gisco, he is sent
From Carthage to attend your chance of warre,

Gis.
We promise sudden ease.

Ma.
Thy cōforts good

Asd.
That nothing can secure vs but thy blood:
Infuse it in his wound, t'will worke amaine,

Gis.
O Ioue,

Asd.
What Ioue? thy God must be thy gain
And as for me.
Thou know'st, a statist must not be a man.

Exit Adru.
Enter Gelosso disguised like an olde soldier, deliuering to Massinissa (as he preparing to be dressed by Gisco) letter which Massinissa reading, starts and speakes to Gisco.
Ma.
Forbeare, how art thou cald?

Gi.
Gisco my Lord.

Mas.
Vm, Gisco, ha, touch not mine arme, most onely man,
to Gelasso.
Sirrha, sirrha, art poore?

Gi.
not poore.

Ma.
Nephew cōmand
Massinissa begins to drane.
Our troupes of horse make indisgracde retraite,
Trot easie off: not poore: Iugurth giue charge,
My souldiers stand in square battalia,
Exit Iugurth.
Intirely of themselues: Gisco th'art old,
Tis time to leaue off murder, thy faint breath.
Scarce heaues thy ribs, thy gummy bloud-shut eyes,
Are sunke a great way in thee, thy lanke skinne,
Slides from thy fleshlesh veines: be good to men,
Iudge him yee Gods, I had not life to kill
So base a Creature, hold Gisco ( ) liue,
The God-like part of Kings is to forgiue,

Gis.
Command astonishd Gisco.

Mas.
No returne.
Haste vnto Carthage: quit thy abiect feares,
Massinissa knowes no vse of murderers.
Enter Iugurth amazde, his sword drawne.
Speake, speake, let terror strike slaues mute.
Much danger makes great hartes most resolute,

Iug.
Vnkle I feare foule armes, my selfe beheld,
Syphax on high speed run his well breathde horse,
Direct to Cirta that most beauteous Citty,
Of all his kingdome: whilst his troupes of horse
With careles trot pace gently toward our campe,
As friendes to Carthage, stand on guard deere vnckle
For Asdrubal with yet his well rankt armie,
Bends a deepe threatning brow to vs as if,
He waited but to ioyne with Syphax horse
And hew vs all to peeces: O my King
My Vncle, Father, Captaine O ouer All
Stand like thy selfe or like thy selfe now fall
Thy troups yet hold good ground: Vnworthy wounds
Betray not Massinissa.

Ma.
Iugurth pluck
Pluck, so, good cuz.

Iug.
O God doe you not feele?

Mas.
Not Iugurth no, now all my flesh is steele.

Gela.
Of base disguise: High lights scorne not to vew
A true old man: vp Massinissa throw
The lot of battle vpon Syphax troups
Before he ioyne with Carthage: then amaine
Make through to Scipio, he yeelds safe abods
Spare treacherie, and strike the very Gods.

Mas.
Why wast thou borne at Carthage, O my fate
Diuinest Sophonisba! I am full
Of much complaint, and many passions,
The least of which expresd would sad the Gods
And strike compassion in most ruthlesse hell
Vp vnmaimd hart spend all thy greefe and rage
Vpon thy foe: the fields a soldiers stage
On which his action shows: If you are iust
And hate those that contemne you, O you Gods
Reuenge worthy your anger, your anger, O,
Downe man, vp hart, stoup Ioue and bend thy chin
To thy large brest, giue signe th'art pleasd, and iust
Sweare, good mens forheads must not print the dust

Exeunt.

Scena Tertia.

Enter Asdruball, Hanno, Bytheas.
As.
What Carthage hath decreed, Hanno is done
Aduauncd and borne was Asdruball for state
Onely with it his faith, his loue, his hate
Are of one peece: were it my daughters life
That fate hath song to Carthage safetie brings
What deed so red but hath beene done by Kings?
Ephiginia, he thats a man for men,
Ambitious as a God, must like a God
Liue cleare from passions, his full aimde attend
Immence to others, sole selfe to comprehend
Round in's own globe, not to bee claps'd but holds
Within him all, his hart being of more foldes
Then sheeld of Telamon not to be peirced tho struck
The God of wisemen is themselues, not lucke.
Enter Gisco.
See him by whom now Massinissa is not
Gisco i'st done?

Gis.
Your pardon worthy Lord,
It is not don, my heart sunke in my breast,
His virtue mazd me, faintnes seasd me all,
Some Gods in Kinges that will not let them fall.

As.
His virtue mazde thee, (vm) why now I see
Thart that iust man that hath true touch of blood,
Of pitty and soft piety: Forgiue?
Yes honour thee, wee did it but to trye
What sense thou hadst of blood: goe Bytheas
Take him into our priuate treasurie
And cut his throate, the slaue hath all betraide.

By.
Are you assured?

As.
A feard for this I know
Who thinketh to buy villany with golde,
Shall euer find such faith so bought so solde.
Reward him thorowly.

A shoute the Cornets giuing a florish.
Han.
What meanes this shoute?

Asd.
Hanno tis don: Scyphax reuolt by this
Hath securd Carthage: and now his force come in
And ioynde with vs giue Massinissa charge,
And assured slaughter: O ye powers forgiue,
Through rottenst dung best plāts both sprout & liue
By blood vines grow.

Ha.
But yet thinke Asdruball
Tis fit at least you beare greefes outward showe,
It is your kinsman bleedes: what neede men knowe.
Your hand is in his wounds, tis well in state,
To doe close ill; but voide a publique hate.

Asd.
Tush Hanno let me prosper let routs prate,
My power shall force their silence or my hate.
Shall skorne their idle malice: men of waight
Know, he that feares enuy let him cease to raigne,
The peoples hate to some hath bin their gaine.
For howsoere a Monarke fames his partes,
Steale anie thing from Kinges but subiects hartes.

Enter Carthalo leading in bound Gelosso.
Ca.
Gard, gard the campe, make to the trench stand firme

As.
The Gods of boldnes with vs, how runs chance?

Ca.
Think, think how wretched thou canst be, thou art,
Short wordes shall speake long woes:

Ge.
marke Asdruball.

Ca.
Our bloody plot to Massinissas eare
Vntimely by this Lord was all betraide.

Ge.
By me, it was, by mee vile Asdruball,
Iioy to speakt.

As.
Downe slaue.

Ge.
I cannot fall.

Car.
Our traines disclosd, straight to his well vsde armes
He tooke himselfe, rose vp with all his force,
On Syphax careles troupes (Syphax beeing hurried
Before to Cirta feareles of successe
Impatient Sophonisba to inioy.)
Gelosso rides to head of all our squadrons
Commandes make stand in thy name Asdruball,
In mine, in his, in all: dull rest our men,
Whilst Massinissa now with more then fury,
Chargeth the loose and much amazed rankes,
Of absent Syphax: who with broken shoute,
(In vaine expecting Carthage secondings)
Giue faint repulse: a second charge is giuen
Then looke as when a Fawcon towrs aloft
Whole shoales of foule and flocks of lesser birdes,
Crouch fearefully and diue some among sedge,
Some creepe in brakes: so Massinissas sword
Brandisht aloft, tossd 'bout his shining cask,
Made stoope whole squadrons, quick as thought he strikes,
Here hurles he dartes? and there his rage strong arme,
Fights foote to foote: heere cryes he strike: they sinke
And then grim slaughter followes, for by this
As men betraide, they curse vs, dye, or flye, or both
Often sixe thousand fell: Now was I come
And straight perceaud all Bled by his vile plot.

Ge.
Vile? good plot, my good plot Asdruball.

Ca.
I forcd our army beat a running march,
But Massinissa strooke his spurs apace
Vpon his speedy horse, leaues slaughtering
All flye to Scipio who with open rankes
In view receaues them: Al I could effect
Was but to gaine him.

As.
Dye.

Ge.
Do what thou can,
Thou canst but kill a weake old honest man.

Car.
Scipio and Massinissas by this strike
(Gelosso departes guarded
Their clasped palmes, then vow an endles loue,
straight a ioynt shoute they raise, then turne they breastes
Direct on vs march strongly toward our campe
As if they darde vs fight, O Asdruball.
I feare theile force our campe.

As.
Breake vp and flye,
This was your plot.

Ha.
But t'was thy shame to choose it.

Car.
He that forbids not offence he dos it.

As.
The curse of womens wordes go vvith you: fly,
You are no villaines, Gods and men, vvhich vvay?
A duise vile thinges.

Ha.
Vile?

As.
I.

Ca.
Not?

By.
you did al

As.
Did you not plot?

Car.
Yeelded not Asdruball?

As.
But you intic'd me.

Ha.
Hovv?

As.
With hope of place.

Car.
He that for vvealth leaues faith is abiect.

Ha.
base

As.
Do not prouoke my svvord, I liue.

Ca.
More shame.
T'out liue thy virtue and thy once great name.

As.
Vpbraide yee me?

Ha.
Hold.

Car.
Knovv that only thou
Art treacherous: thou shouldst haue had a crovvne.

Ha.
Thou didst all, all he for vvhome mischiefes don
He dos it.

Asd.:
—Brode skorne oppen faind povvers
Make good the campe, no, fly, yes, vvhat? vvild rage,
To be a prosperous villane yet some heate some hold,
But to burne temples and yet freese, O cold,
Giue me some health, now your bloud sinkes: thus deedes
Ill nourisht rot, without Ioue naught succeedes.

Exeunt.