University of Virginia Library

Scena Tertia.

Enter Asdruball, Hanno, Bytheas.
As.
What Carthage hath decreed, Hanno is done
Aduauncd and borne was Asdruball for state
Onely with it his faith, his loue, his hate
Are of one peece: were it my daughters life
That fate hath song to Carthage safetie brings
What deed so red but hath beene done by Kings?
Ephiginia, he thats a man for men,
Ambitious as a God, must like a God
Liue cleare from passions, his full aimde attend
Immence to others, sole selfe to comprehend
Round in's own globe, not to bee claps'd but holds
Within him all, his hart being of more foldes
Then sheeld of Telamon not to be peirced tho struck
The God of wisemen is themselues, not lucke.
Enter Gisco.
See him by whom now Massinissa is not
Gisco i'st done?

Gis.
Your pardon worthy Lord,
It is not don, my heart sunke in my breast,
His virtue mazd me, faintnes seasd me all,
Some Gods in Kinges that will not let them fall.

As.
His virtue mazde thee, (vm) why now I see
Thart that iust man that hath true touch of blood,
Of pitty and soft piety: Forgiue?
Yes honour thee, wee did it but to trye
What sense thou hadst of blood: goe Bytheas
Take him into our priuate treasurie
And cut his throate, the slaue hath all betraide.

By.
Are you assured?

As.
A feard for this I know
Who thinketh to buy villany with golde,
Shall euer find such faith so bought so solde.
Reward him thorowly.

A shoute the Cornets giuing a florish.
Han.
What meanes this shoute?

Asd.
Hanno tis don: Scyphax reuolt by this
Hath securd Carthage: and now his force come in
And ioynde with vs giue Massinissa charge,
And assured slaughter: O ye powers forgiue,
Through rottenst dung best plāts both sprout & liue
By blood vines grow.

Ha.
But yet thinke Asdruball
Tis fit at least you beare greefes outward showe,
It is your kinsman bleedes: what neede men knowe.
Your hand is in his wounds, tis well in state,
To doe close ill; but voide a publique hate.

Asd.
Tush Hanno let me prosper let routs prate,
My power shall force their silence or my hate.
Shall skorne their idle malice: men of waight
Know, he that feares enuy let him cease to raigne,
The peoples hate to some hath bin their gaine.
For howsoere a Monarke fames his partes,
Steale anie thing from Kinges but subiects hartes.

Enter Carthalo leading in bound Gelosso.
Ca.
Gard, gard the campe, make to the trench stand firme

As.
The Gods of boldnes with vs, how runs chance?

Ca.
Think, think how wretched thou canst be, thou art,
Short wordes shall speake long woes:

Ge.
marke Asdruball.

Ca.
Our bloody plot to Massinissas eare
Vntimely by this Lord was all betraide.

Ge.
By me, it was, by mee vile Asdruball,
Iioy to speakt.

As.
Downe slaue.

Ge.
I cannot fall.

Car.
Our traines disclosd, straight to his well vsde armes
He tooke himselfe, rose vp with all his force,
On Syphax careles troupes (Syphax beeing hurried
Before to Cirta feareles of successe
Impatient Sophonisba to inioy.)
Gelosso rides to head of all our squadrons
Commandes make stand in thy name Asdruball,
In mine, in his, in all: dull rest our men,
Whilst Massinissa now with more then fury,
Chargeth the loose and much amazed rankes,
Of absent Syphax: who with broken shoute,
(In vaine expecting Carthage secondings)
Giue faint repulse: a second charge is giuen
Then looke as when a Fawcon towrs aloft
Whole shoales of foule and flocks of lesser birdes,
Crouch fearefully and diue some among sedge,
Some creepe in brakes: so Massinissas sword
Brandisht aloft, tossd 'bout his shining cask,
Made stoope whole squadrons, quick as thought he strikes,
Here hurles he dartes? and there his rage strong arme,
Fights foote to foote: heere cryes he strike: they sinke
And then grim slaughter followes, for by this
As men betraide, they curse vs, dye, or flye, or both
Often sixe thousand fell: Now was I come
And straight perceaud all Bled by his vile plot.

Ge.
Vile? good plot, my good plot Asdruball.

Ca.
I forcd our army beat a running march,
But Massinissa strooke his spurs apace
Vpon his speedy horse, leaues slaughtering
All flye to Scipio who with open rankes
In view receaues them: Al I could effect
Was but to gaine him.

As.
Dye.

Ge.
Do what thou can,
Thou canst but kill a weake old honest man.

Car.
Scipio and Massinissas by this strike
(Gelosso departes guarded
Their clasped palmes, then vow an endles loue,
straight a ioynt shoute they raise, then turne they breastes
Direct on vs march strongly toward our campe
As if they darde vs fight, O Asdruball.
I feare theile force our campe.

As.
Breake vp and flye,
This was your plot.

Ha.
But t'was thy shame to choose it.

Car.
He that forbids not offence he dos it.

As.
The curse of womens wordes go vvith you: fly,
You are no villaines, Gods and men, vvhich vvay?
A duise vile thinges.

Ha.
Vile?

As.
I.

Ca.
Not?

By.
you did al

As.
Did you not plot?

Car.
Yeelded not Asdruball?

As.
But you intic'd me.

Ha.
Hovv?

As.
With hope of place.

Car.
He that for vvealth leaues faith is abiect.

Ha.
base

As.
Do not prouoke my svvord, I liue.

Ca.
More shame.
T'out liue thy virtue and thy once great name.

As.
Vpbraide yee me?

Ha.
Hold.

Car.
Knovv that only thou
Art treacherous: thou shouldst haue had a crovvne.

Ha.
Thou didst all, all he for vvhome mischiefes don
He dos it.

Asd.:
—Brode skorne oppen faind povvers
Make good the campe, no, fly, yes, vvhat? vvild rage,
To be a prosperous villane yet some heate some hold,
But to burne temples and yet freese, O cold,
Giue me some health, now your bloud sinkes: thus deedes
Ill nourisht rot, without Ioue naught succeedes.

Exeunt.