 | Hannibal and Scipio |  |
[The last Act.]
The argument of the last Act.
Hannibal being fled to Prusias King of Bythinia, receives his promise for his safety. The Romane Legates being arrived, and Hannibal perceiving Scipio and Flaminius (the Sonne of Flaminius whom hee had formerly slaine) to be amongst them, and understanding the house to be encompassed by armed men, suspecting himselfe to be betray'd, takes poison, (which he alwayes carryed about him carryed about him in his ring) Of which he dyes; and Scipio to prevent the like ingratitude from his Romanes, and out of a naturall addiction he alwayes had to learning (it being said of him, that Pædiam Cyri de manu non ponebat; and non nunquam incepto prælio cum philosophis disputabat) retires himselfe to his Country Villa; taking upon him as it were a voluntary banishment.
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.
Scene the Second.
To them Scipio, Massanissa, Flaminius, other Romane Legates.Han.
Ha! Scipio and Flaminius
Amongst the Romane Legates! there's some treachery.
Informe thy selfe Himulco. His pursuing
Exit.
My course, imports no good, and my sad soule
Labours with a prophetick apprehension
Of something he intends. Be ready thou,
Thou my last refuge.
Prus.
Sudden clouds me thinkes
Creepe o're your eyes. Though you be enemies,
Peace warrants gentle greeting. Shee is emblem'd
In Doves that have no gall. Y'are here my guests,
And shall partake a courtly entertainment
Worthy such persons.
Scip.
Hannibal I know
Hath put of the rough habit which his mind
Was lately wrapt in: and since chance hath made him
The subject of my conquest, in the peace
Rome hath allow'd his Country (the conditions
Must lose their memory, and after strifes
Be stifled in their first birth by prevention.
I must acknowledge my ambition
Bo're my thoughts higher than my Countries good,
Or her enlargement onely. Had my fortune
Captiv'd the person of great Hannibal,
My triumph should out-vye all the rich pompes
That ever made Rome shine.
Han.
That person yet
Is free, and capable of new designes,
To make himselfe full owner of a glory
'Bove Scipio's conquest. Tis not thy successe
Declines me the least step towards subjection
Of my still high built hopes: which being strongly
Propt with my resolutions, shall in time
Raise monuments of fame unto my actions.
Let not one chance exalt thee. Hannibal,
Though Carthage ownes him not, command's a world
Greater than her, or Rome.
Scip.
But the dimensions
Are bounded with that strict necessity
They cannot be extended. Flatter not
Those hopes with expectation of a change
To any better than the now condition
Of thy subverted greatnesse: which being ruin'd
Beyond all reparation, thy attempts
To build it new, wanting materials,
Are vainer farre than the Sycilian Dogs
Barking against the Moone.
Han.
Be not deceiv'd
With too much confidence. The more th'are prest,
The more palmes flourish. That that would make Scipio
Looke downewards, lifts me up.
Scip.
How thou art mockt
With selfe-opinion! Know I have a soule
So full instructed, it hath power to temper
That even the highest glory to my selfe
Is but adversity, and an abject state
No lesse then is my present greatnesse. Man
From outward accidents should not derive
The knowledge of himselfe: for so hee's made
The creature of beginnings over which
His vertue may command: Fortune and chance.
When he by speculation hath inform'd
His divine part hee's perfect; and 'till then
But a rough matter, onely capable
Of better forme. It oft begets my wonder
That thou a rude Barbarian, ignorant
Of all art, but of warres, which custome onely
Hath (being joyn'd to thy first nature) taught thee,
Shouldst know so much of man.
Han.
I study man
Better from practice, than thou canst from bookes.
Thy learning's but opinion, mine knowne truth;
Subject to no grosse errours, such as cannot
Be reconcil'd, but by production
Of new and greater. Did thy learned Masters
Of Arts, with whom even arm'd thou hast converst
Before a battayle joyn'd (if fame speake truth)
By their instructions show thee surer wayes
To victory, than Fortune joyn'd to valour,
And a full strength of men?
Scip.
That which consists
In action onely, and th'event, depends
Vpon no certaine rule demonstrative,
Is fates, not reasons.
Prus.
Fie, this strife sounds harshly,
Come Massanissa, you have shar'd your part
Of vertue and of fortune.
Han.
Least of vertue,
That left a just cause to support a wrong one;
Such was his fall from Carthage.
You being judge
In your owne cause: but who will else subscribe
To such a partiall sentence?
Prus.
Pray' no more.
My Court lookes like a Parliament of Souldiers;
Where warre me thinkes should be discours'd on; how
A battaile should be order'd, or what forme
Hath most advantage. What men have you knowne,
Or History doth mention, that exceeded
In the degrees of merit?
Han.
Alexander
The first best Captaine.
Scip.
Who the second?
Han.
Pyrrhus.
Prus.
And who the third?
Han.
Doubtlesse my selfe.
Scip.
What then
Am I that conquer'd Hanniball?
Han.
If I
Had conquer'd Scipio, I had then beene first.
Scip.
Did ever pride so swell th'infected parts
Of a rich soule! Were not his mind corrupted
With that disease of vertue, I should covet
To joyne mine with't in an eternall fellowship;
And onely here in outward enmity
Divide our bodies.
Scene the last.
To them Himulco.Han.
How art satisfy'd?
Am I yet safe?
Him.
My observation
Hath beene I feare too curious: for your danger
If any be intended wants all meanes
Of opposition. But my feare perhaps
Will from the circumstance; which yet hath shew
Of probability.
Han.
Why what hast seene?
Him.
Arm'd troupes guard all the passages by which
The house is enter'd.
Han.
I am then betray'd.
Can Kings be trecherous? have they mortall parts
Subject to that corruption staines with leprosie
The glorious brow of honour! Can creation
Be in her different workes so negligent
As not to perfect them? Shee's idle when
She makes Kings, should be like gods, lesse then men.
Prusias and Scipio, thus I mock your plots.
Be trecherous now; you shall have nothing but
Hannibals earth to worke on.
Takes the poison.
Scip.
What's the meaning
Of this?
Massa.
Tis poison surely that he takes.
Scip.
Restraine him.
Han.
'Tis too late.
Prus.
Call our Physitians.
Han.
All helpe is vaine as your conspiracy.
It was no juggling sop to wrap the senses
In slumbers like death, Colchos never yeelded
A juyce more banefull. I went still prepar'd
Thus to o'recome your malice; which discover'd,
My death beares me above it.
Scip.
Why should Hannibal
From the weake warrant of a bare suspition
Be guilty of such barbarousnesse I By all
The hopes I have of good mens loves, or memory
'Mongst their true valuing of desert, I ever
Restrain'd m'uncertaine thoughts their liberty
From being busie 'bout betraying Hanniball
By any practise honour might not father,
And gladly call his owne.
Perswade thy flatterers
To credit it: Those that would deifie
The vertues in thy booke, not of thy mind.
Practice hath taught me how to read mens soules.
Doe not I know then thy hypocrisie
Plasters the wounded credit of thy act!
But if thou healst it, there will be a scarre
To shew posterity that what thou didst
Was full of base corruption.
Scip.
Thou didst much
Lessen thy selfe in thy first feare; and now
By the ill-grounded jealousie of my vertue
Wilt make thy owne taxt. From this Pædia
I have beene truely morall; th'institutions
Have beene my guides in every action
Which I did either as a man, or Prince.
Cyrus himselfe, to whom they were directed,
Pursu'd them not so strictly as I have.
Breath not thy soule forth then 'till thou art satisfy'd
Of my true innocence: for if thou dy'st
In thy suspition, be assur'd it will
Disturbe thy peace hereafter, and thy ashes,
As the pile hallows them, will fright thy ghost
With shapes of the dishonour thou unjustly
Would lay on Scipio.
Han.
Tell thy Philosophers
The earth hath not a center; that the day
Is not illumin'd by the Sunne; that fire
Is colder than the ever-frozen rocks
That beare the North-end of th'earths Axel tree:
When they allow these paradoxes, I
Will credit Scipio. Worke on thou brave minister
Of my last victory over my selfe.
Quench thy unnaturall flames with my scortcht bowels.
Now thou hast met a heat, which joyn'd to thine
Makes all the frame like the bright forge, whence Jove
Hath his artillery. My heart, my heart;
Thy waters up. I'm wrapt in greater fires
Then the rash boy thou choak'st. Would this were Octa;
That like the furious Thebane I might build
Mine owne pile, and the flame as it ascends
Transforme it selfe into a constellation;
Or fixe ith' upper region of the ayre
Like a perpetuall comet to fright Rome
With his prodigious light. Me thinkes an earthquake
Totters the aged fabrick that so long
Hath borne me on't, and the divided poles
Embrace to kisse each other. An inversion
Of natures order shall attend the fate
Of dying Hannibal. So Okes eradicated
By a prodigious whirlwind, teare the earth
Through which their large rootes spread themselves. (Ile have
No lesse then the whole world to be my grave.
Scip.
He's dead: with him my glory. Scipio's acts Dy's.
Have not another object worthy them,
Or his attempts.
Him.
Fame breake thy trumpet now;
Deafe thy wide eares, and silence all thy tongues
Since he's dead, who with his actions wont
To ympe new feathers to thy broken wings,
And make thee fligh a pitch above the reach
Of common eyes.
Prus.
Lest that my honour suffer
In the suspition of betraying him,
I will provide a lasting monument,
And fixe his statue on't.
Scip.
You Massanissa
Ile see establisht in your Kingdome. Carthage
Thy base ingratitude to him, whose merit
But justly challeng'd all that thou could'st owne
Shall teach me a prevention. Solitude
Is the soules best companion. At Linturnum
My Country Villa I will terminate
And feare of their leane envie. He that suffers
Prosperity to swell him 'bove a meane,
Like those impressions in the ayre, that rise
From dunghill vapours, scatter'd by the wind,
Leaves nothing but an empty fame behind.
| Hannibal and Scipio | |