University of Virginia Library

Scene IV.

—The Camp of Hasdrubal.
Hasdrubal, Carthalo, and Numidians.
Hasd.
You saw, then, no enlargement of their camp?
No fresh tents reared?

A Numid.
My lord, all was the same
As heretofore. One only sign we had
That some unusual thing had happened there—
For we did note, that whilst the trumpets blew,
As formerly, a single summons in
The prætor's quarter, it was sounded twice
Where Livius lay.

Hasd.
Enough; all is now plain.
Heard'st thou, Carthalo?

Carth.
Yea, with pain and wonder.
The riddle's solved. The consuls are both here—
We are much outnumbered.

Hasd.
Verily we are.
A thousand strange misgivings crowd upon me.
What has befallen in the south? How is it
That Nero has broke loose from Hannibal?
And why is he not here? Now, by the gods,
Long time may Carthage rue this loitering!

Car.
I cannot, will not doubt he had good cause;
And yet I swear that this delay looks strangely.

Hasd.
O Hannibal, why, why art thou not here?
Well, well, it is but waste time to complain.
I have decided.

Car.
To retreat?

Hasd.
No less.
At nightfall I shall e'en break up my camp,
And find my way back to the farther bank
Of yonder river.

Car.
What if they o'ertake thee,
And force a battle ere thy brother join thee?
Thou wilt fight then at greater disadvantage;
For these barbarians are disheartened ever,
And grow unruly, oft as they retreat.

Hasd.
I must not fight the consuls now—'tis vain.
Ill-omened, thrice ill-omened this delay!
He that was wont to come ere called! The foe,
Far off, scarce dared to breathe his name in whispers;
The nymphs of the most secret Apennines
Knew never when to look for him—ofttimes
Their sleep, when they did dream him far away,
Was startled by the thunder of his coming;
The guardian gods of Rome before their gates
Sit ever watching for his horsemen's tread;
And now he tarries, when the fate of Rome
Hangs on his speed!

Car.
'Tis much unlike himself.
We never looked for this, when first we left
Placentia's walls, flushed with the coming hour.
Some evil chance—

Hasd.
What evil chance to him
Who lords it over chance and destiny?

Car.
Alas! how have we missed the simple answer
To all these questions? They have seized thy letter.

Hasd.
Yet Gala and Gulussa would pass safe
Where sorcery's self would fail. It may be so.
And if it be so, I now know the worst.
Well, I retreat to-night, and then—take patience.

[Exeunt Hasdrubal and Carthalo.