[301] The maiden-girdle worn by unmarried women. It was loosed by the bridegroom on the marriage night.
[302] So ed. 1.—Ed. 2. (8vo of 1633) “claime.”
[303] Old eds. “ancor”—an obvious misprint. The meaning is “our rancorous hatred of the Romans has recoiled on our own heads.”
[304] Valour (Lat. virtus).
[305] Ed. 1. “apposd.”
[306] Ed. 1. “yee.”
[307] Ed. 2. “fell.”
[308] Not marked in ed. 1.
[309] The words “O wretched fortune!” are given to Bytheas in ed. 1.
[310] Quy. “Arm’d hate”?
[311] Ed. 1. “me.”
[312] Ed. 2. “gracefull.”
[313] Ed. 2. “so.”
[314] Ready, forward.
[315] See note 2, vol. i. p. 87.
[316] The image of Pallas at Troy. The safety of the city depended on its possession.
[317] Ed. 2. “lightfull.”
SCENE I.
The Senate-house at Carthage.
Whilst the music for the first Act sounds, Hanno, Carthalon, Bytheas, Gelosso, Enter: they place themselves to counsel, Gisco, the impoisoner, waiting on them; Hanno, Carthalon, and Bytheas setting their hands to a writing, which being offered to Gelosso, he denies his hand, and, as much offended, impatiently starts up and speaks.
Enter Gelosso, Hanno, Bytheas, Carthalon.
Gel.
My hand? my hand? rot first; wither in aged shame.
Han. Will you be so unseasonably wood?[318]
By.
Hold such preposterous zeal as stand[319] against
The full decree of Senate, all think fit?
Car.
Nay, most inevitable[320] necessary
For Carthage’ safety, and the now sole good
Of present state, that we must break all faith
With Massinissa. Whilst he fights abroad,
Let’s gain back Syphax, making him our own,
By giving Sophonisba to his bed. 10
Han.
Syphax is Massinissa’s greater, and his force
Shall give more side to Carthage: as for’s queen,
And her wise father, they love Carthage fate;
Profit and honesty are not one in state.
Gel.
And what decrees our very virtuous Senate
Of worthy Massinissa, that now fights,
And (leaving wife and bed) bleeds in good arms
For right old Carthage?
Car.
Thus ’tis thought fit:
Her father, Asdrubal, on sudden shall take in
Revolted Syphax; so with doubled strength, 20
Before that Massinissa shall suspect,
Slaughter both Massinissa and his troops,
And likewise strike with his deep stratagem
A sudden weakness into Scipio’s arms,
By drawing such a limb from the main body
Of his yet powerful army: which being done,
Dead Massinissa’s kingdom we decree
To Sophonisba and great Asdrubal
For their consent; so this swift plot shall bring
Two crowns to her, make Asdrubal a king. 30
Gel.
So, first faith’s breach, murder, adultery, theft!
Car. What else?
Gel. Nay, all is done, no mischief left.
Car.
Pish!
Prosperous success gives blackest actions glory;
The means are unremember’d in most story.
Gel. Let me not say gods are not.
Car.
This is fit:
Conquest by blood is not so sweet as wit:
For howsoe’er nice virtue censures[321] it,
He hath the grace of war that hath war’s profit.
But Carthage, well advised that states come on 40
With slow advice, quick execution,
Have here an engineer long bred for plots,
Call’d an impois’ner, who knows this sound excuse:
Th’ only dew that makes men sprout in court is use.
Be’t well or ill, his thrift is to be mute;
Such slaves must act commands, and not dispute.
Knowing foul deeds with danger do begin,
But with rewards do end: sin is no sin,
But in respects——
Gel.
Politic lord, speak low: though Heaven bears
A face far from us, gods have most long ears; 51
Jove has a hundred marble marble hands.
Car. O ay, in poetry or tragic scene!
Gel. I fear gods only know what poets mean.
Car.
Yet hear me, I will speak close truth and cease:
Nothing in Nature is unserviceable,
No, not even inutility itself.
Is then for nought dishonesty in being?
And if it be sometimes of forcèd use,
Wherein more urgent than in saving nations? 60
State shapes are solder’d up with base, nay faulty,
Yet necessary functions: some must lie,
Some must betray, some murder, and some all;
Each hath strong use, as poison in all purges:
Yet when some violent chance shall force a state
To break given faith, or plot some stratagems,
Princes ascribe that vile necessity
Unto Heaven’s wrath. And sure, though’t be no vice,
Yet ’tis bad chance: states must not stick too nice,
For Massinissa’s death sense bids forgive: 70
Beware t’offend great men, and let them live;
For ’tis of empire’s body the main arm,—
He that will do no good shall do no harm.
You have my mind.
Gel.
Although a stage-like passion, and weak heat,
Full of an empty wording, might suit age,
Know I’ll speak strongly truth. Lords, ne’er mistrust,
That he who’ll not betray a private man
For his country, will ne’er betray his country
For private men; then give Gelosso faith. 80
If treachery in state be serviceable,
Let hangmen do it. I am bound to lose
My life, but not mine honour, for my country.
Our vows, our faith, our oaths, why they’re ourselves,
And he that’s faithless to his proper self
May be excus’d if he break faith with princes.
The gods assist just hearts, and states that trust
Plots before Providence are toss’d like dust.
For Massinissa (O, let me slack a little
Austere discourse and feel humanity!) 90
Methinks I hear him cry, “O fight for Carthage!
Charge home! wounds smart not for that so just, so great,
So good a city.” Methinks I see him yet
Leave his fair bride, even on his nuptial night,
To buckle on his arms for Carthage. Hark!
Yet, yet, I hear him cry,—“Ingratitude,
Vile stain of man, O ever be most far
From Massinissa’s breast! Up, march amain;
Fame got by loss of breath is god-like gain!”
And see, by this he bleeds in doubtful[322] fight, 100
And cries “For Carthage!” whilst Carthage—Memory,
Forsake Gelosso! would I could not think,
Nor hear, nor be, when Carthage is
So infinitely vile! See, see! look here!
Cornets. Enter two Ushers; Sophonisba, Zanthia, and Arcathia; Hanno, Bytheas, and Carthalon present Sophonisba with a paper, which she having perused, after a short silence, speaks.
So.
Who speaks? What, mute? Fair plot! What? blush to break it?
How lewd to act when so shamed but to speak it.
Is this the Senate’s firm decree?[323]
Car. It is.
So. Is this the Senate’s firm decree?
Car. It is.
So. Hath Syphax entertained the stratagem?
Car. No doubt he hath or will.
So.
My answer’s thus, 110
What’s safe to Carthage shall be sweet to us.[324]
Car. Right worthy.
Han. Royalest.
Gel. O very woman!
So.
But ’tis not safe for Carthage to destroy.
Be most unjust, cunningly politic,
Your head’s still under heaven. O trust to Fate:
Gods prosper more a just than crafty state;
’Tis less disgrace to have a pitied loss,
Than shameful victory.
Gel. O very angel!
So.
We all have sworn good Massinissa faith;
Speech makes us men, and there’s no other bond 120
’Twixt man and man but words. O equal gods!
Make us once know the consequence of vows—
Gel. And we shall hate faith-breakers worse than man-eaters.
So. Ha, good Gelosso, is thy breath not here?
Gel.
You do me wrong: as long as I can die,
Doubt you that old Gelosso can be vile?
States may afflict, tax, torture, but our minds
Are only sworn to Jove. I grieve, and yet am proud
That I alone am honest: high powers, ye know
Virtue is seldom seen with troops to go. 130
So.
Excellent man! Carthage and Rome shall fall
Before thy fame.—Our lords, know I the worst?
Car. The gods foresaw, ’tis fate we thus are forc’d.
So.
Gods naught foresee, but see, for to their eyes
Naught is to come or past; nor are you vile
Because the gods foresee; for gods, not[325] we,
See as things are; things are not as[326] we see.
But since affected wisdom in us women
Is our sex’ highest folly, I am silent;
I cannot speak less well, unless I were 140
More void of goodness. Lords of Carthage, thus:
The air and earth of Carthage owes[327] my body;
It is their servant; what decree they of it?
Car.
That you remove to Cirta, to the palace
Of well-form’d Syphax, who with longing eyes
Meets you: he that gives way to Fate is wise.
So.
I go: what power can make me wretched? what evil
Is there in life to him that knows life’s loss
To be no evil? show, show thy ugliest brow,
O most black chance; make me a wretched story: 150
Without misfortune virtue hath no glory;
Opposèd trees makes tempests show their power,
And waves forced back by rocks makes Neptune tower,—
Tearless O see a miracle of life,
A maid, a widow, yet a hapless wife!
[Cornets. Sophonisba, accompanied with the Senators, departs; only Gelosso stays.
Gel.
A prodigy! let Nature run cross-legg’d,
Ops go upon his head, let Neptune burn,
Cold Saturn crack with heat, for now the world
Hath seen a woman!
Leap nimble lightning from Jove’s ample shield, 160
And make at length an end! The proud hot breath
Of thee-contemning greatness; the huge drought
Of sole self-loving vast ambition;
Th’ unnatural scorching heat of all those lamps
Thou rear’dst to yield a temperate fruitful heat;
Relentless rage, whose heart hath no one drop
Of human pity;—all, all loudly cry,
Thy brand, O Jove, for now[328] the world is dry!
O let a general end save Carthage fame!
When worlds do burn, unseen’s a city’s flame. 170
Phœbus in me is great; Carthage must fall;
Jove hates all vice, but vows’ breach worst of all.
[Exit.
[318] Distracted, mad.
[319] Ed. 2. “stands.”
[320] So ed. 2.—Ed. 1. “vnevitable.”
[321] Judges.
[322] So ed. 1.—Ed. 2. “double.”
[323] Ed. 1. “decrees.”
[324] Ed. 1. “me.”
[325] Ed. 1. “and.”
[326] Ed. 1. “for.”
[327] Own.
[328] Old eds. “know.”
SCENE II.
Near Cirta.
Cornets sound a charge. Enter Massinissa in his gorget[329] and shirt, shield, sword; his arm transfix’d with a dart. Jugurth follows, with his cuirass and casque.
Mass. Mount us again; give us another horse!
Jug. Uncle, your blood flows fast: pray ye withdraw.
Mass.
O Jugurth, I cannot bleed too fast, too much,
For that so great, so just, so royal Carthage!
My wound smarts not, blood’s loss makes me not faint,
For that loved city. O nephew, let me tell thee,
How good that Carthage is: it nourish’d me,
And when full time gave me fit strength for love,
The most adorèd creature of the city,
To us before great Syphax did they yield,— 10
Fair, noble, modest, and ’bove all, my [own],
My Sophonisba! O Jugurth, my strength doubles:
I know not how to turn a coward,—drop
In feeble baseness I cannot. Give me horse!
Know I’m Carthage’ very creature, and am grac’d
That I may bleed for them. Give me fresh horse!
Jug. He that doth public good for multitude,
Finds few are truly grateful.
Mass.
O Jugurth! fie! you must not say so. Jugurth,
Some[330] common-weals may let a noble heart 20
Even bleed to death abroad, and not bemoan’d,
Neither revenged, at home. But, Carthage, fie!
It cannot be ungrate, faithless through fear:
It cannot, Jugurth: Sophonisba’s there.
Beat a fresh charge!
Enter Asdrubal, his sword drawn, reading a letter; Gisco follows him.
Asd.
Sound the retreat; respect your health, brave prince;
The waste of blood throws paleness on your face.
Mass.
By light, my heart’s not pale: O my loved father,
We bleed for Carthage; balsam to my wounds,
We bleed for Carthage; shall’s restore the fight? 30
My squadron of Massulians yet stands firm.
Asd.
The day looks off from Carthage; cease alarms!
A modest temperance is the life of arms.
Take our best surgeon Gisco; he is sent
From Carthage to attend your chance of war.
Gis. We promise sudden ease.
Mass. Thy comfort’s good.
Asd.
—That nothing can secure us but thy blood!
Infuse it in his wound, ’twill work amain.
Gis. —O Jove!
Asd.
—What Jove? thy god must be thy gain,—
And as for me——Apollo Pythian, 40
Thou know’st a statist[331] must not be a man.
[Exit Asdrubal.
Enter Gelosso disguised like an old soldier, delivering to Massinissa (as he is preparing to be dressed by Gisco) a letter, which Massinissa reading, starts, and speaks to Gisco.
Mass. Forbear; how art thou call’d?
Gis. Gisco, my lord.
Mass.
Um, Gisco. Ha! touch not my arm.—[To Gelosso.] Most only man!—
[To Gisco.] Sirra, sirra, art poor?
Gis. Not poor.
[Massinissa begins to draw.
Our troops of horse make indisgraced retreat;
Trot easy off.—Not poor!—Jugurth, give charge
My soldiers stand in square battalia,
[Exit Jugurth.
Entirely of themselves.—Gisco, th’ art old;
’Tis time to leave off murder; thy faint breath
Scarce heaves thy ribs, thy gummy blood-shut eyes 50
Are sunk a great way in thee, thy lank skin
Slides from thy fleshless veins: be good to men.
Judge him, ye gods: I had not life to kill
So base a creature. Hold, Gisco, live;
The god-like part of kings is to forgive.
Gis. Command astonish’d Gisco.
Mass.
No, return.
Haste unto Carthage, quit thy abject fears,
Massinissa knows no use of murderers.
[Exit Gisco.
Enter Jugurth, amazed, his sword drawn.
Speak, speak! let terror strike slaves mute,
Much danger makes great hearts most resolute. 60
Jug.
Uncle, I fear foul arms; myself beheld
Syphax on high speed run his well-breath’d horse
Direct to Cirta, that most beauteous city
Of all his kingdom; whilst his troops of horse,
With careless trot, pace gently toward our camp,
As friends to Carthage. Stand on guard, dear uncle;
For Asdrubal, with yet his well-rank’d army,
Bends a deep threat’ning brow to us, as if
He waited but to join with Syphax’ horse,
And hew us all to pieces. O my king, 70
My uncle, father, captain, O over all!
Stand like thyself, or like thyself now fall!
Thy troops yet hold good ground. Unworthy wounds,
Betray not Massinissa!
Mass.
Jugurth, pluck,
Pluck! so, good coz.
Jug. O God! Do you not feel?
Mass. Not, Jugurth, no; now all my flesh is steel.
Gel.
Off base disguise! high lights scorn not to view
A true old man. Up, Massinissa! throw
The lot of battle upon Syphax’ troops,
Before he join with Carthage; then amain 80
Make through to Scipio; he yields safe abodes:
Spare treachery, and strike the very gods.
Mass.
Why wast thou born at Carthage! O my fate!
Divinest Sophonisba! I am full
Of much complaint, and many passions,
The least of which express’d would sad the gods,
And strike compassion in most[332] ruthless hell.
Up, unmaim’d heart, spend all thy grief and rage
Upon thy foe! the field’s a soldier’s stage,
On which his action shows. If you are just, 90
And hate those that contemn you, O you gods,
Revenge worthy your anger, your anger! O,
Down man, up heart! stoop Jove, and bend thy chin
To thy large breast; give sign th’art pleased, and just;
Swear good men’s foreheads must not print the dust.
[Exeunt.
[329] Armour for the throat.
[330] I follow the reading of ed. 2.—Ed. 1. gives:—
“Some common weales melt at a noble hart,
Too forward bleeds abrode and bleed bemond,
But not revengd at home.”
[331] Statesman.—The word is used by Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, &c.
[332] So ed. 1.—Ed. 2. “into ruthlesse hell.”
Carthage.
Enter Asdrubal, Hanno, Bytheas.
Asd.
What Carthage hath decreed, Hanno, is done;
Advanced and born was Asdrubal for state;
Only with it, his faith, his love, his hate,
Are of one piece. Were it my daughter’s life
That, fate hath sung, to Carthage safety brings,
What deed so red but hath been done by kings?
Iphigenia—He that’s a man for men,
Ambitious as a god, must, like a god,
Live free from passions; his full aim’d at end,
Immense to others, sole self to comprehend, 10
Round in’s own globe; not to be clasp’d, but holds
Within him all; his heart being of more folds
Than shield of Telamon, not to be pierc’d, though struck:
The god of wise men is themselves, not luck.
Enter Gisco.
See him by whom now Massinissa is not.
Gisco, is’t done?
Gis. Your pardon, worthy lord,
It is not done, my heart sunk in my breast,
His virtue mazed me, faintness seized me all:
Some god’s in kings, that will not let them fall. 19
Asd.
His virtue mazed thee! (umh) why now I see
Th’art that just man that hath true touch of blood,
Of pity, and soft piety. Forgive?
Yes, honour thee; we did it but to try
What sense thou hadst of blood. Go, Bytheas,
Take him into our private treasury—
[Aside to Bytheas] And cut his throat; the slave hath all betray’d.
By. —Are you assured?
Asd.
—Afear’d, for this I know,
Who thinketh to buy villainy with gold,
Shall ever find such faith so bought, so sold.—
Reward him thoroughly.
[A shout; the cornets giving a flourish.
Han. What means this shout? 30
Asd.
Hanno, ’tis done. Syphax’ revolt by this
Hath secured Carthage; and now his force come in,
And join’d with us, give Massinissa charge,
And assured slaughter. O ye powers! forgive,
Through rotten’st dung best plants both sprout and live;
By blood[333] vines grow.
Han.
But yet think, Asdrubal,
’Tis fit at least you bear grief’s outward show;
It is your kinsman bleeds. What need men know
Your hand is in his wounds? ’Tis well in state
To do close ill, but ’void a public hate. 40
Asd.
Tush, Hanno! let me prosper, let routs prate;
My power shall force their silence or my hate.
I scorn their idle malice: men of weight
Know, he that fears envy let him cease to reign;
The people’s hate to some hath been their gain.
For howsoe’er a monarch feigns his parts,
Steal anything from kings but subjects’ hearts.
Enter Carthalon leading in bound Gelosso.
Car.
Guard, guard the camp!—make to the trench!—stand firm!
Asd. The gods of boldness with us!—how runs chance?
Car.
Think, think how wretched thou canst be, thou art; 50
Short words shall speak long woes.
Gel. Mark, Asdrubal.
Car.
Our bloody plot to Massinissa’s ear
Untimely by this lord was all betrayed.
Gel.
By me it was; by me, vile Asdrubal;
I joy to speak’t.
Asd. Down, slave!
Gel. I cannot fall.
Car.
Our train’s disclosed, straight to his well-used arms
He took himself, rose up with all his force
On Syphax’ careless troops, Syphax being hurried
Before to Cirta, fearless of success,
Impatient Sophonisba to enjoy; 60
Gelosso rides to head of all our squadrons,
Commands make stand in thy name, Asdrubal,
In mine, in his, in all: they all obey;
Whilst Massinissa, now with more than fury,
Chargeth the loose and much-amazèd ranks
Of absent Syphax, who with broken shout
(In vain expecting Carthage secondings)
Give faint repulse. A second charge is given:
Then look, as when a falcon towers aloft,
Whole shoals of fowl and flocks of lesser birds 70
Crouch fearfully, and dive; some among sedge,
Some creep in brakes: so Massinissa’s sword,
Brandish’d aloft, toss’d ’bout his shining casque,
Made stoop whole squadrons; quick as thought he strikes,
Here hurls he darts, and there his rage-strong arm
Fights foot to foot; here cries he “strike! they sink!”
And then grim slaughter follows; for by this,
As men betray’d, they curse us, die, or fly, or both;
Six thousand fell at once. Now was I come,
And straight perceived all bled by his vile plot. 80
Gel. Vile! Good plot! my good plot, Asdrubal!
Car.
I forced our army beat a running march;
But Massinissa struck his spurs apace
Upon his speedy horse, leaves slaughtering;
All fly to Scipio, who with open ranks
In view receives them: all I could effect
Was but to gain him.
Asd. Die!
Gel.
Do what thou can,
Thou canst but kill a weak old honest man.
[Gelosso departs, guarded.
Car.
Scipio and Massinissa by this strike
Their claspèd palms, then vow an endless love; 90
Straight a joint shout they raise, then turn they breasts
Direct on us, march strongly toward our camp,
As if they dared us fight. O Asdrubal,
I fear they’ll force our camp.
Asd.
Break up and fly.—
This was your plot.
Han. But ’twas thy shame to choose it.
Car. He that forbids not offence, he does it.
Asd.
The curse of women’s words go with you.—Fly!—
You are no villains!—Gods and men, which way?—
Advise vile things!
Han. Vile?
Asd. Ay!
Car. Not?
By. You did all.
Asd. Did you not plot?
Car. Yielded not Asdrubal? 100
Asd. But you enticed me.
Han. How?
Asd. With hope of place.
Car. He that for wealth leaves faith, is abject.
Han. Base.
Asd. Do not provoke my sword; I live.
Car.
More shame,
T’ outlive thy virtue and thy once great name.
Han. Hold!
Car.
Know that only thou
Art treacherous: thou shouldst have had a crown.
Han.
Thou didst all, all; he for whom mischief’s done,
He does it.
Asd.
Brook[334] open scorn, faint powers!—
Make good the camp!—No, fly!—yes, what?—wild rage!— 110
To be a prosperous villain! yet some heat, some hold;
But to burn temples, and yet freeze, O cold!
Give me some health; now your blood sinks: thus deeds
Ill nourish’d rot; without Jove nought succeeds.
[Exeunt.