ARGUMENTUM.
A grateful heart’s just height; ingratitude,
And vow’s base breach with worthy shame pursued;
A woman’s constant love, as firm as fate;
A blameless counsellor well born for state;
The folly to enforce free love: these, know,
This subject with full light doth amply show.
[295] Marston is evidently glancing at Ben Jonson’s Sejanus, which had been published in the previous year (1605).
Massinissa, and
Syphax, Kings of Libya, rivals for Sophonisba.
Asdrubal, father to Sophonisba.
Gelosso, a senator of Carthage.
Bytheas, a senator of Carthage.
Hanno Magnus, Captain of Carthage.
Jugurth, Massinissa’s nephew.
Scipio, and
Lælius, Generals of Rome.
Vangue, an Æthiopian slave.
Carthalon, a senator of Carthage.
Gisco, a surgeon of Carthage.
Nuntius.
Sophonisba, daughter to Asdrubal of Carthage.
Zanthia, her maid.
Erictho, an enchantress.
Arcathia, and
Nycea, waiting-women to Sophonisba.
Scene—Cirta, Carthage, &c.
Cornets sounding a march.
Enter at one door the Prologue, two Pages with torches, Asdrubal and Jugurth, two Pages with lights, Massinissa leading Sophonisba, Zanthia bearing Sophonisba’s train, Arcathia and Nycea, Hanno and Bytheas: at the other door two Pages with targets and javelins, two Pages with lights, Syphax arm’d from top to toe, followed by Vangue.