University of Virginia Library

[The fourt Act.]

The Scene Carthage.

Scene the first.

Hanno, Gisgon, Bostar, a full Senate. Being sate, To them Nuntius.
Hanno.
Pray' take no notice that we know th'event
Of the late battaile. I already have
Employ'd my Faction 'bout a peace, and Scipio
Is not farre off. It shall not be the act
Of Hannibal to boast of. When we have
Betray'd him to the Romanes, the conditions
Besides are easie.

Gisg.
Mind the publick Bostar:
D'you thinke it not concern's you?

Bost.
'Twas my riches
Made me a Senatour: my wisedome never
Deserv'd the purple. Be you politick;
Let me preserve my state.

Gisg.
Your wealth! 'tis granted
Rais'd you to this high place. Necessity
May corrupt justice in a Magistrate:
Which to prevent, at least our jealousies,
Our Carthaginian custome in election
Of Senatours, sometimes preferr's the rich
Before the best men. Take your seate.

Bost.
To fill it:
Feare will not let me sleep.

Hanno.
Attend the Message:
It seem's from Hannibal.

Bost.
A worthy man.
He sent us home three bushels full of rings,
Of which I shar'd the most.

Nunt.
Before I speake,
Me thinks the ayre about me as the sound
Of my sad words doth passe through it, should thicken
Into a clowd; then melt at every periode
Into a weeping raine, till none be left
To give us breath for sighes. Our Hannibal
Is vanquish't by the Romanes.

Bost.
We shall then
Have no more wealth brought home, nor safely keepe
What we possesse already. Curse on chance
That mock's us thus. I'le never make her statue
Of gold hereafter, and by consequent
Ne're worship her: I have but cold devotion
Towards a wooden goddesse.

Hanno.
'Tis not fit
Evils remedilesse should be lamented.
From a misfortune something may arise
To prevent greater, if it be apply'd
With an exact consideration
Of all occurents that may make it usefull,
Relate it then.

Nun.
Before the battaile joyn'd
The worlds two Captaines (for besides them none
Merit's the name in equall competition)
Mett to have conference: where for a space
They stood astonish't at each others presence:
And like two Comets tilting in the ayre
'Gainst one another, shot prodigious flames
From eithers eyes; and with a counterchange
Of fierce and angry lookes seem'd to begin
An eagre fight: 'till Hannibal broke silence,
And mov'd a peace: Which Scipio (or suspecting it
To be but wonted policy, or confident
Both of his owne strength and successe) refus'd.
Then like two clowds swoln big with a nights tempest,
And hurryed forward by contrary winds,
Iusling each other, 'till their ribbes being broken
The sulphurous issue flie's through the black ayre;
An inundation following that would fright
Natures Archeus from his quiet center;
To seeke an Ætna or Vesævus out
Where he might drie himselfe: so met the Armies.
And with a shout, that our-noys'd thunder, charg'd
Each other bravely; at their first encounter
Mixing their bloods in streames, that every way
Flow'd like a tide. As yet the peacefull goddesse
Inclin'd to neither part, 'till Massanissa
Brought up his right wing of Numidian horsemen,
And broke th'array; enforcing our first battle
Back to our second; when we were compel'd
To fight against our owne, least their retiring
Might put us out of order; 'till betwixt us
Dead bodies made a Bulwarke; so that neither
We nor the Romanes but by trampling on
Our fellowes carcasses could strike a blow
Of any use. The Romane Legions now
O're-prest us with their number, and both wings
Or horsemen wheel'd about t'assault our reere.
We then were compast; yet like angry Lyons
Whom the toyle hamper's, labour'd for our freedome;
But few escap't: five hundred only live
Of forty thousand, which to Adrumentum
Are fled with Hannibal: whence he intend's
To visit Carthage suddainely.

Hanno.
His welcome
If he fore-knew't would give him small encouragement.
Th'incertainty of warre! Did Hannibal
Solicite peace? I'le seeme t'oppose it then,
Though it intend a good. The inborne malice
Betwixt our families will not permit me
Allow his acts or counsell. By his greatnesse
Mine is eclips'd: and though this overthrow
May make him lesse in popular opinion,
His Faction yet is strong.

Gisg.
What meane you Bostar!

Bost.
I'm dead; that horrible relation kill'd me
In 'ere shall see addition to my heape,
Now Hannibal is conquer'd.

Hanno.
You have stor'd
Enough wealth to maintaine another Army
That may bring home increase. Pray let us use
Your state, wee'l spare your wisedome.

Bost.
How's that Hanno!
My state, and spare my wisedome. I'm a Senatour,
And weare my gowne as formally as you:
Can nodde and spet at th'end of every sentence,
And number with my owne Arithmetick
More somes of coyne then thy whole family.
Part with my wealth! I'le rather dye, and purchase
Hell with't, if Pluto would but sell his Kingdome.
Yet sure it cannot be so rich as I am.
The judges there are just; bribes cannot buy
A partiall sentence.

Scene the Second.

To them Hannibal, some Souldiers.
Han.
Ha! me thinks they should
Salute me, though I bring not victory.
When I presented them with wealth, their flatteries
Were greater then became them. Am I lesse
In merit now, then when successe attended
My actions! glew'd unto their seates, and Hannibal
Enter'd. Grave fathers.

Hanno.
On sir: we are patient
To heare you speake.

Han.
But patient! he that stand's
Accus'd may challenge that, or justly taxe yee
Of more then tyranny.

Hanno.
Are you so confident
You dare affront your Iudges?

Han.
Ha! my Iudges.
What envy though 'twere still'd from the black galls
Of leane Erinnis Adders, can so blemish
My life or fame, that from the least suspect
I might incurre a sentence! Wa'st for this
I have through blood and sweat made Carthage great
As Rome her selfe; and had not politick dotage
Infected with your private avarice
(That would not spare me what my selfe bestow'd
Vpon your ease) prevented it by calling
Me and my Army home, I had e're this
Made Rome your tributary; and am I
Return'd now to be judge, because I have
After so many victories lost one battle!
The monstrous birth of your ingratitude
Were able to fright manhood from posterity,
And check all undertakings.

Hanno.
Whence did you
Receive commission to move peace with Scipio?

Han.
From mine owne judgement that foresaw the danger
My power could not prevent.

Hanno.
It seem's you were
Declin'd to coward.

Han.
Ther's no priviledge
Pulls him downe.
Vnder your gowne for that. Learne to know man;
Then be his judge.

Bost.
Pray heaven he hurt not me.
Most valiant Hanniball.

Han.
I hate your flattery,
Tis mixt with scorne; and I will rather trample
Vpon your purple.

Nunt.
Good my Lord forbeare
Your violence. Consider but their persons
And dignities.

Han.
Should Jove himselfe provoke me
With a disgrace like this, I'de challenge him
To meet upon a cloud ram'd full of thunder:
And dart it at him, 'till with flames I had
Consum'd the brasse supporters of his heaven;
Tumbling him downe with all his petty gods
Vnto their first mortality.

Nunt.
The custome
Of Carthage government commands respect
Vnto their difference.

Han.
Let the respect
Be likewise taught them that belongs to me.
And if my labour hath maintain'd their ease,
In which they have both studied and establish't
Civill formalities, my rugged life
Did never practise, it may well excuse
A greater errour. Who is my accuser?

Hanno.
Your selfe.

Han.
My selfe! my selfe will be my judge then:
And make th'abus'd feate honour'd for a justice,
Which your corrupted soules would never suffer
Your power to execute. Looke Carthaginians;
And if your reasons eyes can see the errours
Your blinded envie led it to, with blushes
Guide them to reformation. I that tooke
An oath at nine yeares old before the Altar,
When it was smoking with the horrid sacrifice
Of immolated men, to be Romes enemy,
And perfect what my Father had begun;
I that transferr'd the wealth of Spaine to Carthage,
And thorow the frozen Alpes melted my way
Into the fertile plaines of Italy;
That waded with my army thorow the fennes
Of gloomy Arnus, in whose fogges I lost
One of my bodies comfortable lights;
I that o'rethrew sixe Consuls, and at Cannas
In one fight kill'd a hundred Romane Senators,
And thence presented Carthage with a prey
That might out-vye an Indian treasury
Cram'd with the choycest wealth; I that abroad
Whilst here you bath'd in pleasures made my body
Proofe 'gainst a tempest, and endur'd the rage
Of more prodigious stormes then ever frighted
Mortals into religion.

Hanno.
Yet at Capua
The faire Salapian Omphale could teach
Our Carthaginian Hercules to spin,
And mind his distaffe; else she would not smile
Vpon him for his worke.

Han.
Thy malice Hanno
Like to the broken some a rock beats back
Vpon the angry maine, fowl's thine owne bosome.
I am above it; and in spight of thee
Or all the battery of thy calumnies,
Will stand like a Colossus to be gaz'd at
By all beneath me, when the scorne of men
Shall lash thy envie with the whips of Satyres:
Who vainely dost attempt to ruine that
Is built for fame.

Hanno.
Nay you may keepe your seate,
It well becomes you.

Han.
It becomes you better,
When your grave nod and formall hem strik's terrour
Through the affrighted malefactors heart;
Who for some slight offence expects his judgement,
No lesse than banishment, or confiscation
Of all his substance; which is shar'd amongst you,
The publike use neglected. But in vaine
I taxe your vices, when your soules are sullyed
With an ingratitude to me, that makes
All others white as innocence compar'd
With that black monster. Carthage I disclaime thee,
And rather then imploy my power agen
To raise thy head 'bove others, in thy ruines
Ile hide mine owne. And but for reverence
I beare the ashes of mine ancestors,
I would my selfe plough furrowes in thy wombe,
And sow my faction onely for th'increase
Of mine owne greatnesse.

Hanno.
Pray observe it Fathers.
He doth affect the Monarchie; he would
Alter our government.

Han.
You are deceiv'd.
Y'are weake enough already; there's no need
Of a sedition to subvert your state.
Can yee resist the Romanes, and make peace
Vpon your owne conditions?

Scene the third.

To them Himulco hastily.
Him.
You are betray'd my Lord; your safety needs
A sudden resolution. Scipio's enter'd
The Gates of Carthage.

Han.
Oh inhumane trechery!
But for preventing justice that will fall
Heavie upon you by some other instrument,
'Twere piety to wash corruption
From this abus'd place with your bloods; whose staines
Would yet infect the pavement, and remaine
Like blushes in the marble to betray
The guilt yee dy'd for. When the Romanes practise
Their tyranny upon you, wish in vaine
Yee had an Hannibal.

Him.
Your danger will not
Allow your passion vent. Pray 'fligh my Lord.

Han.
Into some desart to converse with beasts;
Th'have gratefull soules. Carthage me thinkes an earthquake
Should palsey thy old joynts, & shrink thy head
Into thy shoulders: or thy Genius wrap thee
In a perpetuall cloud to hide the shame
Of this base act. Revenge, Ile court thee through
The ruine of mine owne. Carthage shall see
Not mine from her, her greatnesse grew from me.
All those that love me follow.

Exeunt, Senators remayning.
Hanno.
Would we had
Ensnar'd him better: but his faction wanting
A head, 'tis strengthlesse. Let a cryer publish
The sentence of his banishment, that Scipio
May take it for our act. We must comply
With all occasions that may make our peace
A usefull good, no voluntary bondage.
We must receive the Romanes with a shew
Of lesse feare, then the straites of our necessity
Might excuse manhood for.

Scene the fourth.

To them Scipio, Massanissa, Lelius, some Souldiers.
Scip.
Now Carthaginians,
Although I am a conquerour, successe
Swells me no higher to preferre my selfe
Above what judgement warrants. I have strove
With all opposing reasons to forget
Your often breach of faith: which you are tax't with
By all men for a vice that th'ayre you breath
Infects you with, as if the places nature
Enforc't it from necessity. But custome
Must be concluded, is the most efficient
To cause that barbarous neglect of piety,
Which should be mans sole object. I am strengthned
Sufficiently 'gainst feare; since I can easily
Compell you to subjection. But preferring
A mild command before imperious rigour,
Declare your selves, and you shall finde that we
Practise no cruelty.

Hanno.
Most worthy Romane
We might excuse the generall, and conferre
The guilt upon some private few, who led
By an ambition made this warre without
Consent from us. Some we have justly punisht;
And him, by whom (as by the first great mover)
The rest were hurried forward, we have banisht,
To take from Rome all cause of after-jealousie.
His faction did prevent it, else we had
Yeelded him up to Scipio. Peace is now
The thing we crave, and the conditions
No stricter then the Carthaginians
Would have propos'd, had they beene conquerours,
And Scipio su'd to them.

Scip.
Can there be faith
In those that would betray their owne! and such a one
As made the end of all his actions
Your greatnesse first, and when that fail'd your safety?
A man that more than figur'd Mars, and merited
A deifying by your gratitude.
Blush at it fame, and with thy hundred tongues
Till all are hoarse proclaime it. The conditions
Propos'd shall stand, if but to punish this,
This monstrous act. Nature me thinks should throw yee
From her warme bosome with an angry motion
Of all th'earths sinewes, and not suffer yee
To suck her milke; but dry her fruitfull wombe
Into a barrennesse, before such monsters
Should be againe produc't. As you performe
The strictest clause, and what afflicts yee most,
Call it not satisfaction for our injuries,
But punishment for your ingratitude
To Hannibal.

Hanno.
That will take from my suffering.
When those we hate in misery beare a part,
Envie growes fat by eating her owne heart.

Exeunt.
Scip.
Lelius attend the Carthaginian Senators;
Survey the City, and see execution
Exit.
Of all the league includ's. Doth Scipio triumph,
And Massanissa hang the head! One article
Is that they shall restore to Massanissa
All that they have depriv'd him of.

Massa.
They cannot
Restore my Sophonisba.

Scip.
Still that passion!
I thought her memory had beene wash't away
With the large streames of blood so lately flow'd
From his victorious sword. Come Massanissa
You shall enjoy a Romane Lady; one
That shall out-vye the glory of a sunne
Thron'd in his cleerest skie, and make his light
Appeare but as a shadow to her beauty,
One that shall comprehend within her selfe
All that was ever faign'd of other women,
And make their fables probable.

Massa.
Rome hath not
Another Sophonisba.

Scip.
That the wealth
Of Romes best province might but ransome home
His lost command o're passions.

Scene the fift.

To them Lelius, Lucius, a young Lady.
Who's this Lady?

Leli.
A Spanish captive.

Scip.
Did ever innocence
Looke sweeter, as if she were joy'd to make
This little frame her mansion. Why d'ee weepe?
They shall not hurt you pretty one.

Lad.
They say
They'l carry me to Rome.

Scip.
Suppose they doe;
Romanes are full of gentlenesse, and mildly
Will entertaine you; where you shall be taught
Civility of manners. Education
Clothing your minde in ornaments of vertue
Fitting your expectation, and your beauty
Rip't with mature age, Romane Knights shall court it.
Perhaps my selfe would take you to my bed.

Lad.
Indeed you should not. You are a rough souldier;
Your lookes would fright me.

Scip.
Can you then deny
To cherish such a hope? You should enjoy
Delights above your wish. Your house should be
A court of pleasure. Spring should alwaies dwell
Within your gardens, as if Tempe were
Translated thither. Virgins should attend you
Faire as the morning, when she ushers in
The day with blushes. Your bathes should be the dew
Gather'd from Roses, and your garments soft
As the curl'd ayre, by mild Etesian windes
Made temperate, when the Sunne rides on his Lion
To hunt heavens Dog up. You should sleepe on downe
Driven from Swannes white necks; be visited
By Matrons; usher'd to solemnities;
And at the publike showes out-shine the glory
Of daylight with the lustre of those jemmes
You should be deckt in; and a conquerour when
His head's wrapt in triumphant Lawrell, couch it
Vpon your lap.

Massa.
He's taken. Mans weake judgement,
That calls it vice in others, which himselfe
Is equally inclin'd to.

Lad.
I nere heard
Of such fine things before.

Scip.
The barren soyle
That bred you is in fault. I must confesse
Nature hath in your yet imperfect beauty
Shew'd wonders to the world: you are th'epitome
Of her most curious labours; and if fortune
Should in so faire a booke blurre any lest
Exact drawne line, her deity were cruell.
Your owne's a barbarous country, where civility
Hath scarce a name. You cannot there expect
A value of your selfe, above the worship
Their eyes will give you, when they rudely gaze
Vpon your forme, and by the sense distinguish
The outward workmanship. We teach our soules
A glorious conversation with those vertues
That deck the inside of a beauteous frame,
And vary pleasures, honours, earths delights
To th'imitation of that infinite
And never dying part.

Lad.
You Lucius
Did never court me thus. You'd onely tell me
That I should be a Queene, when your old Father
Went to the lower Kingdome.

Scip.
What is Lucius?

Luci.
A Prince amongst the Celtiberians,
This Lady Nobly borne to me betroth'd,
If Scipio will be mercifull, I'de ransome.

Scip.
You love her then?

Luci.
Above my selfe: without her
My being is not perfect.

Scip.
Blest occasion.
Now Massanissa if example may
Rectifie errors in thee, make my act
An imitable president. Young Prince
Receive her from my hands; withall the summe
Intended for her ransome as a dowry.
Love Rome and Scipio.

Luci.
Noblenesse above
The reach of praise. How shall I shew my gratitude?

Lad.
When he hath made me Queen, Ile bid you welcome
To Lucius Court.

Luci.
And Lucius when growne man
Will bring you Souldiers.

Massa.
Seem'd he not to love her?
And yet without least pause he gave her back
Being possest. I am o'recome; I see
Passion's the noble soules worst enemy
I'm all for action.

Musick.
Scip.
Massanissa is
Become himselfe agen. Wherefore this musick?

Leli.
To gratulate your victory, and the peace
That gives them rest, the Souldiers have prepar'd
A slight solemnity: the Carthaginians
Mixe with the Romanes, though their heavie hearts
To part with so much treasure scarce admits it.

Scip.
The Souldiers led in by their Captaines, distinguisht severally by their Armes and Ensignes, to the Musick of the following, put themselves into a figure like a battalia.
The Song.
Chorus.
The dance expressing a fight.

Leli.
That he is fled unto Antiochus,
Or else to Prusias of Bythinia,
His ends are doubtfull.

Scip.
If his discontent
Should anew whet his envie to attempt
Their aydes, 'twould much disturb the Asian provinces.
Wee'l follow to prevent it. Lelius you
Shall carry our successe unto the Senate,
And with it Syphax, and the Carthage pledges.
Come my soules halfe, wee'l hunt this Affrick Lion
Into a stronger toyle. Fame shall waite on us
Till we have loaded her, and that shee see
Our triumph finisht in his tragedy.

Exeunt.