University of Virginia Library

[The first Act.]

The Scene Capua.

Scene the first.

Maharball and Himulco.
Mah.
Here's the right use of victory, to tame
Our furies with soft ease and wantonnesse,
After so many travels. Had our Hanniball
Possest himselfe of Rome without a Capua,
The conquest had beene poore.

Himul.
These spoyles of beauty,
And free ones too, that uncompel'd will runne
To imbrace a Souldier; rock him in her armes;
Sing him asleepe, and with her icy fingers
Kembing the knotted curles of his black haire
So long neglected, make her selfe the ravisher:
Oh! 'tis Elysium.

Mahar.
Nay, to have such change
Of pleasure court us; as if their inventions
Were onely busie to make our delights
The object of their care. Here we are feasted
With Chalcedonian Tuning; Rhodian guilt heads,
And more than Samian gluttony. We drinke
No wine, but of Campania's Mascicus,
Or grape crownd Aulon. Boyes more faire than hee
That beares Ioves Cup, rapt on the duskie wings
Of's sky-borne Eagle, serve the banquet up
In golden dishes, or Corinthian plate,
Luxuries chiefest.

Him.
To crowne the entertainment,
Here sits a Lady, Hebe never blusht
A colour like her cheeke: and in her eye
A thousand Cupids move in wanton friskes,
To catch the gazers. There's another deckt
In the Seas riches, which the Negro dives for:
Her pearles reflexion dimacing the darke tapers,
As if all light were borrow'd from those Sunnes
Their orient roundnesse mockes us with. A third
Betrayes through a transparent lawne the beauty
Of a complexion, white and red did never
Mixe a more perfect; and a shape exact
As Natures first Pandora's. The possession
After desire hath made a preparation
In every sense to entertaine these joyes,
Can earth affoord a Heaven, and this not bee
The best hope ever faign'd?

Mahar.
Then to be cloth'd
In silkes of Tyrian dye; to sleepe on downe,
And waking claspe a Goddesse in ones armes,
Lovely as Cytharea; revell sometimes,
And dance to th'Mermaides musicke, 'till the night
Is made one artificiall day, inverting
The course of time and's actions: oh delights,
Beyond weake comprehension! Wee begin
To taste them without sense, did not diversity
Whet appetite anew?

Him.
Yet so much change
Should make invention barren: but 'tis fruitfull,
Pregnant, and teemes as fast as 'tis delivered.
Delicious Capua!

Mah.
Pleasures onely storehouse!
Were I an Hanniball? and conquest quiet me
As faire as day-light spreads his christall wings.
One Capua should ransome all.

Scene the Second.

To them a common Souldier, with a faire Lady courting him.
Him.
What's here?
Shee courts him with as earnest zeale, as Cynthia
Would her Endymion, or the gray-ey'd Morne
Her earely Cephalus.

Mah.
Now by my Sword.

Him.
Is that a Souldiers oath in Capua?
By the bright tresses of my Mistresse haire,
Fine as Arachne's webbe, or Goshimere:
Whose curles when garnisht with their dressing, show
Like that spunne vapour when 'tis pearl'd with dew.
Or by the Sunshine of her christall eyes,
Wherein the God of Love his wet wings dry's
After his bathing in sad Lovers teares.
These are the onely oathes a Souldier sweares.
What should we doe with swords?

Mah.
Indeed 'tis true
Their bloody use hath beene so long neglected,
And for my part I am so cloy'd with women,
Mine must bee fil'd to powder, and prepar'd
To bee their Physick: the greene-sicknesse else
Will not bee cur'd by me.

Him.
Mine shall be drawne
To weare for pinnes: and that which oft hath raign'd
The blood of Romanes on my hilts and hand,
Wearied almost with slaughter, shall bee toucht
With trembling fingers, white as Othris snow;
Whilst the soft handler starts, if by mischance
The point but prick her skin, and must consult
With some learn'd unguentary to prevent
Th'invisible scarre. Why here we cannot quarrell
Amongst our selves for wenches. There's a Lady,
As meane a beauty heretofore hath beene
The ground of a sad warre, or in a Campe
Stir'd up a mutiny: wee cannot envie it,
That he, a common Souldier, valours ciphar,
One onely prest to make the number up,
Enjoyes her wholly, and perhaps hath change.

Mah.
Nay, stands upon nice townes for his reward;
And must bee hir'd to pleasure, such as some
Would even through any danger to embrace.
Prethee observe.

Lady.
Why should I be deny'd?
Am I not faire enough? My beauty fresh
As the new springs, when wan on Phœbus mounts
His burnish't chariot early to salute her,
And kisse dew from her cheekes.

Soul.
There are as faire
And free. A pension Lady must be thought of;
I cannot else be sportive.

Lad.
Is that all?
Ile fill thy burgnet with Iberian gold
Stampt into medals; Sell my wanton treasurie,
Rings, Iewels, Carkanets, e're thou shalt want,
But what thy wish can covet.

Soul.
This old buffe
Would be translated.

Lad.
Into Persian mantles,
Richly embroydred; no rough pelt of thrumbes
To fight with weather. Shalt be cloath'd in silkes,
Such as may vye for touch with their softnesse
When it is calmest, and no violent gust
Doth wave it into wrinckles.

Soul.
I must eate too.

Lad.
Nothing but choycest candies, and drink wine
That shall have pearles dissolv'd in't. Come let's hasten
To our delights. I have prepar'd a bed
Of artificiall Roses mixt with downe;
Wherein our dalliance we will emulate,
The Cyprian Queene and her lov'd warriour,
When in her Ivory armes she did imbrace
His Iron sides.

Soul.
Soft Lady, there are yet
Stricter conditions. 'Tis not come to that.
I must not be confin'd to times or place;
Nor to your single number. I must change
As I see cause.

Lad.
Shalt be thine owne disposer.
Ile minister, and like a hand-maide waite
When thou wilt grace another; nor repine,
But with a patient longing.

Soul.
On these termes
I feele a provocation. Come.

Exeunt.
Mah.
Did ease
Ever before produce such acts of shame?

Him.
No matter. 'Tis a better life than warre
Affords her sonnes. A hard cold bed of earth:
Sleepes broken with a thousand apprehensions
Of danger; diet course, and seldome seasonable;
Hunger and thirst; and death each houre presented.
Let us translate our Carthage unto Capua;
We shall not need to toyle in blood and sweat
For more inlargement.

Scene the third.

To them Hanniball.
Musick.
Husht. Our Generall.

Mah.
How doth he like this softnesse? it agrees not
With his rough nature.

Hanni.
A Song as from some window.
Chorus.

Mah.
They are my Lord
Most absolute.

Han.
And you are pleas'd with them?

Him.
They cannot bee refus'd, being offer'd us
So aptly after labour, as the fruits
And harvest of our paines. What stupid earth
Can be so void of apprehension,
As not to thinke them blessings?

Han.
That can Hanniball;
Who through the swarthy vizard age and cares
Have tann'd his face with, blusheth at the change
Of Souldiers into women. Why in stead
Of Plume-crown'd crests weare you not tyres? and deck
Your neckes with gemmes, instead of arming them
With Corslets? Lay by all command, save onely
To set your distaffe-servants taskes, and study
Lascivious dressings, not warres discipline?
Better employ invention how to court
A Mistresse in the fashionable garbe,
Than to contrive a usefull stratagem
Where force prevailes not.

Mah.
Whom have we to fight with?
Lead us againe to action, wee'l expresse
A courage doubled by this little rest:
And from the hopes of such another conquest
We will act wonders, to make victory
Dote on our valours.

Han.
You like Carthaginians
Speake from the soules of men. Muster your Souldiers:
We will againe to Rome, and with the terrour
Of our approach make earthquakes in the hearts
Of her gown'd Senators; burne the proud trophees,
Adorne her Capitoll, or make them scar-crowes:
Bury her high-ascending Towers in heapes
Of their owne ruines; and till Tyber's dy'd
With bloud of his owne children, not an arme
Shall cease from slaughter. Have we cut our way
Thorow Mountaines, and thaw'd rocks of Ice for passage
To reach the head of Rome, and shall we not
Triumph in her rich spoyles? Yes; we will triumph.
Or by the Genius of my native Carthage,
And the religious oath I made my Father,
When yet my youth had seene the progresse but
Of nine sunnes through the twelve celestial mansions,
Ile levell all the rugged Appennines;
And mount the humblest valleys, 'till their heads
Be wrapt in clouds; whence thunder shall not force me,
Till I survey the playnes of Italy,
Like earth manur'd chalkt with the bones of Romanes,
After their flesh is buried in the gorges
Of Kites and Vultures.

Him.
Speake like Hanniball.

Scene the fourth.

To them two Ladyes.
Han.
What Lady's that?

Mah.
Shee's of Salapia.

Han.
She's lovely. What unusuall passions
Soften me on a sudden? I me thinkes
Could play with ayre, and wanton with the breath
Of such a Mistresse: court her amorously,
And not mistake a phrase, nor fright her tendernesse
With any repetitions of warres horrours.
Cease your rebellion thoughts. I must be man,
And keepe my freedome.

Han.
Dost observe his eye
How it is fixt?

Han.
What did creation meane
A woman for, but pleasure? Should not I
Pursue it then since 'tis the end of all
We either doe or wish? 'tis actions soule
That makes it live. I must enjoy it this way.
Desire's a law set downe by natures Counsell,
And not to be disputed.

Mah.
So my Lord!
Example shall direct us: we may well,
If Anniball turne Courtier.

1. Lady.
One at once.
Sweet gentlemen. Though I should covet change
At once I'de not admit plurality.

Han.
To you (faire storehouse of your sexes excellence)
I would direct the language of my heart.

2. Lady.
'Tis sure a noble dialect, my Lord,
That must expresse it.

Han.
Lady it can speake.
Nothing but passion. You have wounded it.
And from the selfe same eye that shot the dart
I must have balme to cure it.

2. Lady.
Y' are my Lord
A conqueror; and may command the wills
Of all beneath you.

Han.
But I am your captive.
And in that pleasant bondage would abide,
Though I might force my ransome.

2. Lad.
Violence
Would it become those vertues fame proclaim's
To have possest you: and I dare be confident
Nothing could tempt you to turne ravisher,
Though I should boast virginity.

Han.
Suspect
Of such an ill, wrong's your owne innocence.
My love is zealous, and the passive flame
Fed with a pure desire. I would enjoy you
To mixe our soules, not merely to delight
The wanton senses.

2. Lad.
How can you, a man
Whom custome hath habituate in th'extremes
Of cruelty, change nature? and perhaps
Your first, innate, and not a second, onely
Borne out of use. Me thinkes it is not possible
Your thoughts should be possest of other objects,
Then what warres horrour paint's with bloudy colours.
Love and a Lady are for such as ease
Hath softned into women: Hanniball
Hath nothing in him, but what's masculine:
So hardned too, that those weake fires can never
Alter his temper.

Han.
Yes; your eyes have done it.
Although my skin be horney, and my flesh
Almost insensible through daily weight
Of heavie armes, the substance of my heart
Is flexible, and takes impressions
Of love from your perfections. It not derogates
From the best difference in mans composition
To love: for that best speakes him man, and argues
Hee hath a spirit capable of things
Worthy his being. Come then perfect me
With your addition: make my captivity
A conquest, and Ile fixe.

2. Lad.
That were enough
To brand you with a lasting infamy.
You have designes for action. Should you stop
The prosecution of a warre begun
With such successe, and onely for a woman,
T'would make you be the scorne of men; the subject
Of jesters libels. I could court your valour
As you are Hanniball: but as a lover
The thought of that cooles all affection.
Had I at Cannas beene, or Thrasimenus,
Guirt in an Amazonian male, my head
Wrapt in an Iron tyara, and my hand
Arm'd with a sword, I would have kept the side
Of Hanniball, to dote upon those wonders
His conquering arme then acted.

Han.
As from water
Cast on bytumen, so from these sharpe checks
My flame encreaseth. You expresse a soule
Makes others valours but derivative
From yours; as if the spring of all flow'd thence;
And we but dranke our small proportions
From your abundance. Our embraces would
People the wasted world with Warriours.

Scene the fifth.

To them Nuntius.
Mah.
Whence speakes your hast? and what?

Nun.
I come from Spaine,
And bring important newes; but sad.

Him.
Shall wee
By change ride through the Zodiack of your pleasures,
And feast our selves in every house?

1. Lad.
You still
Mistake the signe.

Mah.
'Tis not in Virgo sure.

1. Lad.
Nor yet in Taurus, though I have a husband.
You two are Gemini: a payre of—Captaines.

Him.
Shee flouts us sure.

Nun.
What should this courtship meane?
Maharball and Himulco that were character'd
For valiant Captaines, turn'd smock-souldiers?
And Hanniball?

1. Lad.
The ayre of Capua
Hath not so chang'd us, but we can preserve
Our modesties.

Mah.
Oh miracle! that Capua
Hath honest women in't.

Nun.
Will Hanniball
Attend my message?

Han.
Hast thou brought her pearles
Ravish't from necks of richest Romane dames?
I'le pave the path we tread to Hymens joy
With spoyles of all the cities I have conquer'd.

Nunt.
Not of new Carthage; Sagunt; Locris; Tarracon.
All these are re-orecome by Scipio;
In Spaine he onely triumph's.

2. Lad.
Doth not Hannibal?
Minde the sad newes? Revenge if nothing else
Should wing him to new conquest.

Hanni.
I perceive
Errours in my behaviour. Court a woman,
When I should threaten vengeance! But shee's faire.
Hang beauty: that and ease are th'onely engines
To ruine vertue. Ladies pray' withdraw:
Th'affaires of men are handling.

2. Lad.
May they prove
Your honours more in valour then in love.

Exeunt.
Han.
I am prepar'd: and if there were an accident
That did exceed in horrour, praise or wonder,
Discourse it lively, that it may impresse
Some thing within to beget an act
Shall parallel it.

Nunt.
That must be new Carthage
Her siege and taking. When the Romane generall
Approach't the walls, a cold feare shoke her Genius:
The earth groning with weight of such a multitude.
His Navy likewise at that instant made
A cloud upon the Sea. So round about
The citty was beguirt. Our resolution
Mix't with despaire soone arm'd us; and th'assault
Being suddaine, we did doe before consider:
Yet what we did thus with the wals height proving
Successefull, we had respite to advice.
The Sea we thought sufficient to defend
That part it washeth, and directed all
Our force to th'Isthmus: where we sallied forth.
The enemy retir's; but out of policy
To draw us farther on. And now the Sunne
Survey'd us from his heigth; when suddenly
A violent North-winde joyning with the ebbe
Swept all the channell dry. Of which the Romans
Being inform'd by certaine Fishermen
Seize th'opportunity, and freely passe
To th'unman'd walls; entring without resistance.
What more they, being fully conquerors, did,
Need's no relation: custome shew's it Hannibal.
Th'example made some other citties yeeld;
Some policy wonne; some force; some trechery
Deliv'rd up: all are possest by Scipio.

Han.
Then Rome shall ransome them. Revenge is able
Out of a flinty cowardize to strike
The fire of valour, with that new supply
I doe expect from Carthage we'l to Rome,
And emulate this victory; nor let it
Be your affliction that blinde chance hath rob'd
Your former labours of their due reward;
Rome will repaire all.

Scene the sixth.

To him Bomilcar.
Bom.
I must then
Deliver a relation of ingratitude
Beyond example. Those whom you have made
Masters of wealth and honour, and releas'd
Their palsied age from many a coward feare,
Not minding the rich benefits you have done them,
Deny your need reliefe. If you want ayde,
They say your conquest's but a lying rumour:
Nor will they credit doubtfull testimonies
Of any presents. They not stick to call
The ground of this your warre in Italy
Your owne ambition, not their safety: malice
Of Hannos faction having fram'd pretences
To cloude the glory of your actions.
Which to confirme the more, see their command
That you should instantly withdraw your forces,
And so returne to Carthage.

Han.
Not till now?
When in my tallons I had almost seiz'd
Romes Eagle, and prepar'd my sharpned beake
To prey upon her heare?

Bom.
Tis likewise fear'd
That Massanissa hath forsaken Carthage.
So that unlesse some policy can winne
Syphax unto us, we must never more
Expect Numidian ayde. His Counsailours
Seeme to desire it; for they wish your presence:
And that you'l put th'instructions here contein'd
Into a sudden act.

Han.
Must I then leave
Rome unsubverted? So a man that strives
To make himselfe eternall by erecting
Of some stupendious monument, is forc't
To his last quiet e're the worke be perfect.
Leaving it but a lame and halfe designe
Of his ambition.

Him.
Hath not Hanniball
His forces here? Let's forward with that strength
Which yet is left us; nor regard the tyes
Their doting policies would chaine us with.
Valour consists in hearts more than in number.
Let's on to Rome.

Han.
No: passion shall submit
Vnto my best part. Conquest of my selfe
Shall speake me more in this, then if my power
Had level'd her seven hills. I leave her onely
To grow more worthy of my victory.
I will obey, though each unwilling step
Wounds me beyond the cure of common patience.
Commands of power must not be withstood.
Great actions make men great; good actions good.

Exeunt.