Mass. Give day, gods,—life, not death,—
To him that only fears blaspheming breath.
For Sophonisba!
Sy. For Sophonisba!
Cornets sound a charge. Massinissa and Syphax combat. Syphax falls. Massinissa unclasps Syphax’ casque, and is[377] about to kill him when Syphax speaks.
Sy. Unto thy fortune, not to thee, we yield.
Mass. Lives Sophonisba yet unstain’d, speak just—
Yet ours unforced?
Sy. Let my heart fall more low
Than is my body, if only to thy glory 50
She lives not yet all thine.
Mass. Rise, rise! Cease strife!
Hear a most deep revenge—from us take life!
Cornets sound a march. Scipio and Lælius Enter. Scipio passeth to his throne. Massinissa presents Syphax to Scipio’s feet, cornets sounding a flourish.
To you all power of strength; and next to thee,
Thou spirit of triumph, born for victory,
I heave these hands. March we to Cirta straight,
My Sophonisba with swift haste to win,
In honour and in love all mean is sin.
[Exeunt Massinissa and Jugurth.