SYPHAX

Brave Hannibal; brave Scipio; great Carthage; But greater Room: whose Eagle eyes have gazed Against the Sun of many a glorious triumph! When the bright beams reflected from their riches Have blinded daylight, as if heavens great eye, Borrowed his only from them. A useful tenent Where the condition's private; but in Kings It does not hold. Wars chance is variable: And he that now is victor may be conquered Before his peace be settled. From example We must consult our safety, more than from A m rall precept. Hath not Scipio God Spam from Hannibal, and joined unto him Massilia's King? Are not their armies flushed With the rich spovles of Sagunt? and who knows But they'll transport then forces, and begirt Carthage it self. It's better that we yield Freely to amity, than be compelled, Than Scipio must be welcome. We may then consider, The Carthaginian General is a man Worn with employment into more decay Of strength and years, than can give any Hope's Of a continuance. Rome's green Champion Is full of growing sap to make him spread. While the other Like and aged Oak that long Hath fought with tempests, and withstood the rage Of burning air, now yields to every gust. A bough or arm, Till one more violent Shatters the dried limbs, or quite roots it up. 'Tis better to provide for lasting state, Then merely to prevent a present fate. Then Scipio must be welcome. Crates you have been Our worthy counselor, and by your wisdom Stear'd government in a right course while yet Our youth did want it: but we are now grown Riper in judgement, and we can distinguish To them Messenger. The different grounds of any politic act. Nor do we find it safe in rules of state If Seipio be not welcome. What's your hast? And no feigned thunder to inform us of it From the loud voice of slocking multitudes, Should throng to bid him welcome? Were they his army, I would exhaust my treasury to feast them: And every common soldier should drink healths In his Corinthian Goblet, which should be His largess likewise. Let our ministers Fill the shrill throats of wars loud instruments. And Dodonean brass be beaten deaf While it proclaims his welcome. Let the Sea Echo the sounds to Sagant, and return Their shoots again. Flourish. And that brave Scipio shall not want what aid My person, or my Kingdom can afford him. What would Hannibal? Why this uproar? What to answer From sudden doubts you both possess me with, I cannot easily resolve. A jealousy Is sometime strengthened by th'excuse should kill it. Yet if your confidence will give credit to A Kings religious oath, by all that makes The sacred difference in me I am free From thought of ill to either. Your arrivals Were unexpected; and if either's danger Be smothered in intent, you brought it with you: Which I'll prevent, if all Numidia's strength Can do it. Think not me perfidious, For then I'll doubt you: since self cvills are Most commonly the parents of suspicion. But for your own mistrusts, you're safer here Than in your own camps, guarded with a maze Of your best soldiers. I needs must interpose, And moderate this contention. Pray my Lords Let me be powerful to dispose your tempers For other mild impressions, that my Court For entertaining two such enemies At once, be made discourse for after-ages. A banquet waits ye: music usher it. Music. Thus peace bids Soldiers welcome. Which I'll preserve As sacredly inviolate, as if Eternal seals had ratified it. Usher The Roman General forth. Flourish. Exeunt. How! whispering! I do suspect. Dare Hannibal! Hadst thou intents more blaek Than ever night gave execution to, Even in Carthage Senate house as well As in mine own Court, I dare stand encounter Of single Hannibal. Withdraw. Thou temptest me With these dark prefaces. Yet thy upbraidings Do seem so frivolous, my patience rather Laughs at their vainness. Clear my understanding Without more circumstance, for yet my innocence Knowesnot to accuse my self, unless for giving Thy saucy taunts a privilege. When they shall! it rather seems A positive threat. Tell Carthage were her power Of and extent that limits could not bound With any circumscription, I'de not fear it. To die for Room were above victory. Furnished ten thousand choice Numidian Horsemen To wait on Scipio. Why are our commands No more respected? I'll have execution Forerun my Edicts that concern the good Of Room and Scipio. Stand ye Like dull statues Fixed to their first foundations; when your diligence Should borrow speed from winds, as if ye rid On the contracted air to hasten it? Whence did intent of this great honour to me Derive it self? Stay Hannibal. Strange passion war against my resolution; And love begins to circle me in flames Ever my eye takes the fire. What's Room or Scipio To Sophonisba? in whose richer beauty Mor's comprehended, then the Macedonian Could from his many conquests, and subversion Of Monarchies boast himself owner of. What's a King's promise but a politic (And that's allowed) evasion to gain time For counsel with his will? I'll be for Carthage To enjoy Sophonisba. I'am inflamed From the report, and if my senses find Truth answering fame, great Hannibal shall led Numidia's power' gainst Room, or any place He hath designed for conquest. My weakness! tempt me not with a suspect. Let me have Sophonisba, or I'll make A rape upon your Carthage, not on her, For what delight's in violence? Inquire The cause of that loud shout. Shout within. Messenger. Receive her with religious ceremony. Perfume the air with incense richer then The Phoenix funeral pile. Let harmony Music. Breath out her soul at every artists touch. Cover the pavement which her steps must hallow With Persian Tapestry. How I am ravished With expectation? and Like somelight matter Catched in a whirlwind, all my faculties Are hurried forward. Ever I embrace Let me admire. each eye sit's a Cupid; Who as he skip's about to shoot his darts. Is himself fettered in the golden curls That deck her brow. Elysium's but a fable. And that eternity the Poets dream of Serve's but to figure this. Came you not To love me then? I am A King; and you me thinks should court the fortune With a glad readiness, to share my honours, And to be made my equal. Can Sophonisba Be covetous of more then the earth's honours? When she shall fit encompassed in a ring Of noble Matrons that shall deify Her beauty with their praises? When she shall Be crowned with sparkling wreathesto blind the gazers, As if a Constellation had been robbed To make her shine. When in a Kings arms sleeping All pleasures shall be ministered, that Nature And art in their contention strive to own, And take their glory from. Am I enslam'd, and shall I not enjoy? Mock me not Lady into a despair. You show me heaven, and shut the gates against me. Make not a King, that daign's to be your servant, A slave unto your cruelty. Will Sophonisba love then If I fight Carthag's quarrel? Massanissas person It seem's could limit your desires. She hath overcome me. I will be great; every days Actium Shall raise me a step higher, and I'll take You with me Lady: no; you shall led me The tribute I will pay for every kiss Shall be a victory over your enemies. Proud Room shall find Syphax can be a Soldier, When Sophonisba bid's him put on steel. We'll feast, then fight. Who led by such bright eves Would not match on to any enterprise? Exennt. It's not manly To insult over misery, to which Thy self's as subject, and perhaps mayest feel, Chance makes' prosperity when it's at highest But pastime to delight her giddy humour: And will worser ject the most seem possessor, When she command's a restitution Of her lent favours, that she may confer them Upon another. This consideration Might invite mercy. It's my hope She may deceive thee too, and with her charms Bewitch the boasting Conqueror that's her slave From's faith to Room. It takes' from mine own suffering To see mine enemy in the same danger: When he by his adulterous embraces Receives the Like infection int' his soul That made me sick of virtue, and of all But my disease. As your will Adviseth you. It is the curse of greatness To be it's own destruction. So we see That mountain Cedars have the least defence Gainst storms, when shrubs confront their violence. Exeunt.