University of Virginia Library

Scene the third.

Scipio, Massanissa remaining.
Scip.
When first you freely did commit your selfe
Vnto my charge, and promis'd with a vow
My liking only should dispose your actions,
Either you lov'd them, or your flattery
Pretended admiration of some vertues
You thought possest me. One I must confesse
I glory to be master of, that's continence.
I have converst with beauties rich as Nature
Did ever make art proud to counterfeit;
Might have commanded some that conquest gave me:
Yet have I still kept out desire, but you
Have yeelded to that passion doth betray
A weakenesse in you, will obscure the glory
Of all your other goodnesse. Thinke how dangerous
'Tis to a young man (on whose expectation
Opinions eye is fix't) to mixe his actions
With wanton pleasures, when his thoughts transferre
The wicked objects of his humorous sense
Vnto his soule, that poison all her faculties,
And make them uselesse. Noble Massanissa,
Your good deeds sung by fame are musicke to me:
Your errours I had rather you your selfe
Would silently consider, and reforme,
Before with any shew of least unkindnesse
You force me to reprove them.

Massa.
Let not Scipio
Deny those errors an excuse. If nature
Had a like cloth'd mens dispositions,
And all did weare one habit of the mind,
You need not urge th'example of your owne
T'instruct anothers continence: for all
From a necessited and innate temperance.
Would be as you are. Though I doe not boast
Command o're pleasures, I pursue them not
With an intemperate appetite, but make
Reason my guide, that tell's me to provide
For a succession, doth become the judgement
Of a wise King. Posterity may well
Be call'd th'eternity of life: he never
Dy's that hath issue; for which I have marryed
Her mine owne conquest gave me.

Scip.
Your owne conquest!
Pray doe not arrogate too much: you must not
Dispose Romes prisoners whilst you fight her quarrell.
The warr's not yours, though yours the victory.
She must attend her sentence from our Senate;
Which hardly will be partiall to her beauty,
Though 'twere adulterated with more art,
Then e're lasciviousnesse was mistresse of,
And rack't invention for. Let Sophonisba
Be then deliver'd up.

Massa.
Perhaps your selfe
After your boasted continence would have her
To be your owne.

Scip.
Is that your jealousie?
Weake passionate man, that through thy blinded reason
Foresee'st not thine owne danger by th'example
Of others misery, and yet art ripe,
To maintaine grossest errours of thy will,
And seeme discretions master. Had not Syphax
(Bewitch by magick of her wanton eye
Into a dotage) broke his faith with Rome,
He might have flourish'd in his height of glory;
And still commanded over his Division.
Which Rome will add to Massanissas Kingdome
Yeelding up Sophonisba.

Massa.
You would seeme
To give me mines, upon condition
I should restore the gold, reserving only
The earth to trample on. In Sophonisba
I have a treasure mine owne life shall ransome,
If she be forc't away; and to consent
She should be yeelded up to any Romane
Were worse then sacriledge, though I should teare
The hallowed statues of Numidias gods
Downe from their altars, and convert their Temples
Into the loathsom'st uses of necessity.
Kings oathes are equall with decrees of Fate,
Those I have made I cannot violate.

Scip.
Then I disclaime thee. Ther's not so much danger
In a knowne foe, as a suspected friend.
To prevent an incendium it is best
To quench a brand before it fire the rest.

Exit.
Massa.
He's angry, and I must not let it grow
To ripenesse of his hate. I am resolv'd
To be th'example of a constancy
Fame shall proclaime for wonder.