SCENE I.

_Bed-chamber in the palace of_ SYPHAX.

SYPHAX _draws the curtains, and discovers_ ERICTHO _lying with him_.

_Eri._ Ha! ha! ha!

_Sy._ Light, light!

_Eri._ Ha! ha!

_Sy._ Thou rotten scum of hell! O my abhorrèd heat! O loath'd delusion!

[_They leap out of the bed_; SYPHAX _takes him to his sword._

_Eri._ Why! fool of kings, could thy weak soul imagine That 'tis within the grasp of heaven or hell To enforce love? Why, know love dotes the fates, Jove groans beneath his weight: mere[369] ignorant thing, Know we, Erictho, with a thirsty womb, 10 Have coveted full threescore suns for blood of kings. We that can make enraged Neptune toss His huge curl'd locks without one breath of wind; We that can make heaven slide from Atlas' shoulder; We, in the pride and height of covetous lust, Have wish'd with woman's greediness to fill Our longing arms with Syphax' well-strung limbs: And dost thou think, if philters or hell-charms Could have enforced thy use, we would have deigned[370] Brain sleights? No, no. Now are we full 20 Of our dear wishes. Thy proud heat, well wasted, Hath made our limbs grow young! Our love, farewell! Know he that would force love, thus seeks his hell.

[ERICTHO _slips into the ground, as_ SYPHAX _offers his sword to her_.

_Sy._ Can we yet breathe? Is any plagued like me? Are we--let's think--O now contempt, my hate To thee, thy thunder, sulphur, and scorn'd name! He whose life's loath'd, and he who breathes to curse His very being,[371] let him thus with me

[SYPHAX _kneels at the altar_.

Fall 'fore an altar, sacred to black powers, And thus dare heavens! O thou whose blasting flames Hurl barren droughts upon the patient earth, 31 And thou, gay god of riddles and strange tales, Hot-brainèd Phoebus, all add if you can Something unto my misery! if aught Of plagues lurk in your deep-trench'd brows, Which yet I know not,--let them fall like bolts, Which wrathful Jove drives strong into my bosom! If any chance of war, or news ill-voiced, Mischief unthought of lurk, come, give't us all, Heap curse on curse, we can no lower fall! 40

[_Out of the altar the ghost of_ ASDRUBAL _ariseth_.

_Asd._ Lower--lower!

_Sy._ What damn'd air is form'd Into that shape? Speak, speak, we cannot quake! Our flesh knows not ignoble tremblings. Speak! We dare thy terror. Methinks hell and fate Should dread a soul with woes made desperate.

_Asd._ Know me the spirit of great Asdrubal, Father to Sophonisba, whose bad heart Made justly most unfortunate; for know, I turn'd unfaithful, after that[372] the field Chanced to our loss, when of thy men there fell 50 Six thousand souls, next fight of Libyans ten. After which loss we unto Carthage flying, Th' enragèd people cried their army fell Through my base treason. Straight my revengeful Furies[373] Makes them pursue me; I with resolute haste Made to the grave of all our ancestors, Where poisoned, hoped my bones should have long rest: But see, the violent multitude arrives, Tear down our monument, and me now dead Deny a grave; hurl us among the rocks 60 To staunch beasts' hunger; therefore thus ungraved I seek slow rest. Now dost thou know more woes, And more must feel. Mortals, O fear to slight Your gods and vows. Jove's arm is of dread might.

_Sy._ Yet speak: shall I o'ercome approaching foes?

_Asd._ Spirits of wrath know nothing but their woes.

[_Exit._

_Enter_ NUNTIUS.

_Nun._ My liege, my liege, The scouts of Cirta bring intelligence Of sudden danger; full ten thousand horse, Fresh and well-rid, strong Massinissa leads, 70 As wings to Roman legions that march swift, Led by that man of conquest, Scipio.

_Sy._ Scipio?

_Nun._ Direct to Cirta.

[_A march far off is heard._

Hark! their march is heard even to the city.

_Sy._ Help! our guard! my arms! Bid all our leaders march! beat thick alarms! I have seen things which thou wouldst quake to hear. Boldness and strength! the shame of slaves be fear. Up, heart, hold sword! though waves roll thee on shelf, Though fortune leave thee, leave not thou thyself! 81

[_Exit, arming._

[368] In old eds. is the direction--"_A Base Lute and a Treble Violl play for the Act_."

[369] "Mere ignorant"--utterly ignorant. Old eds. "_more_ ignorant."

[370] Old eds. "dam'd."

[371] Old eds. "beings."

[372] Old eds. "which."

[373] Old eds. "fury."