University of Virginia Library

Prologus,

Cornets sound a march.
Enter at one dore the Prologue: too Pages with torches: Asdrubal and Iugurth too Pages with lights: Massinissa leading Sophonisba: Zanthia bearing Sophonisbas traine Arcathia and Nicea: Hano and Bytheas At the other dore too Pages with targets and Iauelines, too Pages with lights, Syphax armd from top to toe, Vangue followes.
These thus entred, stand still, whilst the Prologue resting betweene both troups speakes.
The Sceane is Lybia, and the subiect thus.
Whilst Carthage stoode the onely awe of Rome,
As most imperiall seate of Lybia,
Gouernd by Statsmen each as great as Kings
(For 17. Kings were Carthage feodars)
Whilst thus she florishd, whilst hir Hannibal
Made Rome to tremble, and the Wals yet pale:
Then in this Carthage Sophonisba liu'd
The farre fam'd daughter of great Asdruball
For whom ('mongst others) potent Syphax sues
And well grac'd Massinissa riuals him
Both Princes of proud Scepters: but the lot
Of doubtfull fauour Massinissa grac'd
At which Syphax grows blacke: For now the night
Yeelds loud resoundings of the nuptiall pompe:
Apollo strikes his Harpe: Hymen his Torch
Whilst lowring Iuno with ill-boding eye
Sits enuious at too forward Venus: Loe
The instant night: And now ye worthier minds
To whom we shall present a female glory
(The wonder of a constancie so fixt
That Fate it selfe might well grow enuious)
Be pleasd to sit such as may merrit oile
And holy dew stil'd from diuiner heat,
For rest thus knowing, what of this you heare,
The Author lowly hopes, but must not feare.
For iust worth neuer rests on popular frowne,
To haue done well is faire deeds onely crowne.
Nec se quisiuerit extra.
Cornets sound a March, the Prologue leads Massinissas troupes ouer the Stage, and departs: Syphax troupes onely stay.