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 Phoebus 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."