 | Hannibal and Scipio |  |
Scene the first.
Prusias, Hanniball, Himulco, Attendants.]Prus.
Y're welcome, though your fortun's ebb'd. The memory
Of what you have bin should cōmand respect
From good men to you. Vertue is not lessen'd
By want of a successe; that's but a glosse
Fortune sets on her: Misery doth make
Her inside glorious sometimes, when desertlesse,
And bastard actions as the heires of chance
Shine in their superficies: but being searcht
Of wind into them: which the least necessity
Or adverse fortune pricking, they dilate
Th'included ayre, and shrinke into their first
Narrow dimensions: When true vertue beares
Her owners head above afflictions waves,
And steeres him into harbour.
Han.
You are noble,
And like a King with judgement value me.
My mind was ne're subjected: I have knowne
So much of both, that neither of the pastimes
Fortune delights her selfe with, can incline me
To height above a moderate, nor decline me
Below my selfe. Prosperity, adversity;
Both make one even scale, and weight being added
To either, shews the difference. Hee's not man
Will be dejected or exalted. Every one
Should temper the condition of his state,
Such as the present makes it, with the feare
Or hope of after change: and when hee labour's
In the extremity of one, or flowes
I'th swelling height of th'other, still his mind
Should be the same. Chance varies every way;
But vertues course is constant.
Prus.
You expresse
A noble resolution, and your soule
Shows rich and glorious even through the clouds
Of your misfortune. There's a readinesse,
And a propense desire in me to ayde you.
But circumstance must make it probable
Whether the causes justnesse may command
Th'attendance of successe. For an attempt
That's warranted by justice, cannot want
A prosperous end.
Han.
If to defend my Country,
Or to compell encroaching enemies
To satisfaction, such as would deprive us
Made our proportion be a justice, I
Did never injury; for these were onely
The motives to my actions. Fame I know
Could not be silent, but shee must informe
Even the remotest dwellers, how proud Rome
(Whose infant greatnesse by ambition nurst
Is now in growing, and will spread it selfe
If a prevention stay it not, beyond
All limits of the yet knowne world) insults
Over her neighbouring Provinces. From Carthage
She hath enforc't Sicilia (the worlds granary)
And other Ilands: and her Generall
Swolne with his fortune, hath attempted farther
To overflow all Affrick. You may likewise
Expect he will encroach upon your Asia;
Antiochus being already vanquisht,
And fled to Ephesus. If nothing else,
Your safety should invite you to take armes,
Though but defensive. States that never knew
A change but in their growth, which a long peace
Hath brought unto perfection, are like steele;
Which being neglected will consume it selfe
With its owne rust. So doth security
Eate through the hearts of states whilst they are sleeping
And lull'd in her false quiet. Prusias therefore
Should dwell no longer in so great a danger.
If hee'l not be a Souldier, let him arme
His people; Hannibal will be their Captaine,
And lead them unto actions that shall take
Fame with the wonder, 'till I have made Rome
(Who like th'earths issue heapes up hills on hills,
To raise her proud head) nothing. My right hand
Jove-like is arm'd with thunder, which shall fligh
Wing'd with prodigious flames of just revenge
To punish her impiety.
Prus.
I could gladly
On justice: but t'engage my selfe or people
In an uncertaine warre, before provok't
By enemies, were rashnesse that excuse
Could no way glosse to make it show an act
Worthy a man, much lesse a King.
Han.
You value
Those scruples more than a full weight of honour.
Heaven gave the difference to you but to be
The figure of that power, that will exact
A just account of a Kings greater actions,
Then what inferiours owe to their creation.
Th'essentiall part of your eternity
Depends upon that point: and can you more
Expresse your selfe heavens minister, then when
You doe the things agree with't?
Prus.
Rome comply's
With us for peace. The violation
Of a religious oath, superiour justice
Cannot but punish: else we might be bold
To call the worship of the gods no more
Than th'issue of credulity, produc't
To fright us with a name that had no power
But what our feares allow'd it. Rome is yet
Our friend; and 'till she fall from honour, we
Must hold her deare.
Han.
In that consists your danger.
Shee's mask't in policy, and like a Statesman
Without religion, steeres her course by showes
And meere appearance to what ever ends
Ambition points her. Be not then too rash.
Make not the greatnesse which is yet your owne
Derivative from her. 'Twill leave your name
A staine in times records, and blot the tables
That should preserve it.
Prus.
Noble Hannibal
Be safe with us and confident. I expect
Or any practice which I can with honour
Assay to reconcile yee, may be usefull.
Han.
To reconcile us! Time shall first runne back
To his beginning, and the world returne
To its first Chaos e're I will admit
Of such a word. Let those that fawne upon
The smiles of peace and softnesse to delight
Their wanton appetites, practise their low
Effeminate soules in feares and passions.
Each thought of mine shall be a numerous Army
To lead 'gainst Rome: in my imagination
I will fight with her still, though I want Souldiers.
Prus.
Nobly resolv'd.
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