 | Hannibal and Scipio |  |
Scene the first.
Scipio, Souldiers: a little after Lelius.Scip.
Syphax so soone revolted I what weake man
Would mock away his safetie? Chldren thus
Playing with fire to please their foolish sense
Are often burn't and make their sport the instrument
Of their owne danger. Massanissa yet
Is constant, and by this time hath subdu'd him.
Successe must follow those attemps that rise
From a just cause, and crowne the enterprise.
Lelius what newes?
Lellius.
I labour with th'event;
Ioy hinder's a delivery. Massanissa
Guirt in a conquest, greater never made
A triumph glorious, is returning back
And Syphax captiv'd.
Scip.
'Tis a joyfull errant.
Iust Nemesis, thy Griffins have beene swift,
And borne thee well to see the execution
Of a revenge upon perfidious Syphax.
Hadst thou fail'd in't, we justly might disclaime
Thy deity, and without feare of punishment
Prophane thy altars: on whose marbles now
Wee'l pay a sacrifice of richest flame
Mixt with the blood of Kings. Discourse the progresse
To this event.
Leli.
When your successefull policy
Had destroy'd both the Campes of Asdrubal.
And Syphax with devouring fire, whose flames
seem'd to the distant gazers on't a prodigie
That threaten'd dissolution, and begot
Their greater feare, then when th'Artilerie
Of heaven speak's lowdest through the burning ayre
To tell the world Iove's angry: When you retir'd
To Vtica to prevent an invasion
Intended by the Carthaginian Navy,
Which dark't the Sea (much like a clowd of Vulturs
That are convented after some great fight
To glut their ravenous gorges with the gore,
Thousands of soul-lesse men lye reeking in)
The mad Numidian King, in whom despaire
Had kindled a new valour, gather's head.
And with a fresh supply of unman'd men
(For had they beene such as experience
Had taught the usefull order of a warre
Th'end had againe beene doubtfull) giv's us battaile.
Their first assault made us retire; yet still
We kept the suddaine forme hast put us in
For best advantage: 'till their heedlesse courage
Hurri'd them on, where our foot Legions
Observing their disorder (for they fought
Wounded his fellow) giv's them new resistance.
At which they stop, mated with apprehension
Of their owne danger: whom th'incensed King
Mixing his threates with promises of honour
Labour's to bring on; till his horse being kill'd
We tooke him prisoner, with two thousand more.
The rest not slaine are fled.
Scip.
Brave victory
Worthy th'atchievers, to whose memories
Eternall statues shall be rais'd, and trophees
Rich as Romes Capitoll is glorious with.
But where is Massanissa?
Leli.
He pretended
To visit Cirtha, Syphax chiefest Citie:
Which is deliver'd up.
Scip.
I have new feares
Flourish.
That woman will agen bewitch him. Know
The cause.
| Hannibal and Scipio | |