Sci. As we are Rome’s great general, thus we press
Thy captive neck. But as still Scipio,
And sensible of just humanity, 60
We weep thy bondage. Speak, thou ill-chanced man,
What spirit took thee when thou wert our friend
(Thy right hand given both to gods and us,
With such most passionate vows and solemn faith),
Thou fled’st with such most foul disloyalty
To now weak Carthage? strengthening their bad arms,
Who lately scorn’d thee with all loath’d abuse,
Who never entertain for love but use?
Sy. Scipio, my fortune is captived, not I,
Therefore I’ll speak bold truth; nor once mistrust 70
What I shall say, for now, being wholly yours,
I must not feign. Sophonisba, ’twas she,
’Twas Sophonisba that solicited
My forced revolt; ’twas her resistless suit,
Her love to her dear Carthage, ’ticed me break
All faith with men; ’twas she made Syphax false;
She that loves Carthage with such violence,
And hath such moving graces to allure,
That she will turn a man that once hath sworn
Himself on’s father’s bones her Carthage foe, 80
To be that city’s champion and high friend.
Her hymeneal torch burnt down my house;
Then was I captived, when her wanton arms
Threw[378] moving clasps about my neck. O charms,
Able to turn even Fate! But this, in my true grief,
Is some just joy, that my love-sotted foe
Shall seize that plague; that Massinissa’s breast
Her hands shall arm, and that ere long you’ll try
She can force him your foe as well as I.
Sci. Lælius, Lælius, take a choice troop of horse, 90
And spur to Cirta. To Massinissa thus:
Syphax’ palace, crown’s spoil, city’s sack,
Be free to him. But if our new-leagued[379] friend
Possess that woman of so moving art,
Charge him with no less weight than his dear vow,
Our love, all faith, that he resign her thee;
As he shall answer Rome, will him[380] give up
A Roman prisoner to the Senate’s doom:
She is a Carthaginian. Now our law’s[381]—
Wise men prevent not actions, but ever cause. 100
Sy. Good Malice, so, as liberty so dear,
Prove my revenge. What I cannot possess
Another shall not—that’s some happiness.
[Exeunt, cornets flourishing.
[374] Ed. 1. “t’appose.”
[375] Ed. 1. “that neuer fell nor’s adue.”
[376] So Mezentius in the Æneid, x. 772:—“Dextra mihi deus.”