SCENE III.

_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.

_Asd._ Upbraid ye me?

_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._

[333] Marston may here be alluding to a passage in Plutarch's _De Iside et Osiride:_--"êrxanto de pinein apo Psammêtichou, proteron d' ouk epinon oinon, oude espendon, hôs philion theois, all' hôs haima tôn polemêsantôn pote tois theois, ex hôn oiontai pesontôn kai tê gê symmigentôn ampelous genesthai; dio kai to methyein ekphronas poiei kai paraplêgas hate dê tôn progonôn tou haimatos empiplamenous."

[334] So ed. 2.--Ed. 1. "Brode skorne oppen faind powers."