Hannibal A Drama [Part 2] |
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Scene VIII.
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 | Hannibal |  |
Scene VIII.
—The front of the Roman army. The Hastati in the first line, commanded by Octavius, confront the elephants; on the right Masanissa, with Numidian cavalry, confronts Maharbal; on the left, Lælius, with Roman cavalry, confronts the Carthaginian cavalry, commanded by Hanno. Between the two armies the light horse on both sides are skirmishing.A Hast.
O Jupiter! They stand like a turreted wall!
I have counted eighty of them.
A Standard-bearer.
So have I!
But didst thou ne'er see elephants before?
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They are not gods, nor yet so wise as men,
For all their cunning.
Hast.
We can't kill them all.
May Jove confound them!
Oct.
So he will, be sure.
Fear not the elephants! I have told you how
You shall avoid all mischief from these monsters,
And turn their fury back upon their masters.
Trust me, the music you shall greet them with
Shall send them dancing to far other steps
Than those their masters taught them. If you fail
To drive the whole huge squadron floundering backward,
Take courage still, and watch how easily
Our nimble Velites, unharmed themselves,
Like children at their play—so blind and drunken
These creatures' rage is, when they suffer pain—
Shall tempt them through the avenues we've left them
Into the open plain.
[On the other side.]
1st Eleph. Driver.
Methinks the beasts look well disposed to-day,
For their share of the game!
2nd Eleph. Driver.
To tell the truth,
I never set mine own beast to the charge,
Without an inward creeping! As for these—
Betwixt mock-combats, and an earnest battle,
The best trained find a difference. And of late,
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To spy into their little weaknesses.
1st Eleph. Driver.
Nay, nay! The elephants love Hannibal
As we do, and would scorn to fail him.
3rd Eleph. Driver.
Oh!
How merrily those light Numidian horse
Skim o'er the plain, like dancers—round and round,
Backwards and forwards! Zeba's there, be sure.
I vow I envy them those nimble creatures!
4th Eleph. Driver.
The signal! Oh, the signal! To charge!
[The elephants advance, and at the same moment the horses and trumpets of the Romans make a loud clamour, and flights of arrows assail them.]
1st Eleph. Driver.
This way, this way! Infernal din! Push on
Right for the Roman line!
2nd Eleph. Driver.
Oh, here we go,
Pell-mell on our own cavalry!
3rd Eleph. Driver.
We are lost!
[Some of the elephants rush towards the right wing of the Carthaginian army, some towards the Roman line, and trample down the Velites.]
Stand.-bearer.
[caught up in the trunk of an elephant].
The gods receive my soul! Friends, friends, avenge me!
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Alas! Ye gods! the Velites! O horror!
Oct.
Stand fast! stand fast, my men! They shall not harm you!
Here is free room between your lines! Heed not
Their roaring! Here is ample room for them!
Velites, look you aim against their trunks!
Right, right! Now dance away from them! Back, back!
They'll follow you into the open plain!
Leave those that have passed through to take their way—
They'll give no trouble now. Well have you stood
The monstrous onset! Rest assured, these giants
Have wrought more harm to their own side than ours!
Well done, you elephants, well done! You see
They trample down the Punic horse like grass!
O Lælius, now's thy time! Now for thy charge!
Ay, there they go! O elephants, we thank you!
[The Hastati advance.]
| Hannibal | |