Source text for this digital edition:
Marston, John. The Wonder of Women, or The Tragedy of Sophonisba. 1606. Edited by David J. Amelang for the EMOTHE Digital Library. Valencia: EMOTHE Universitat de València, 2025.
Digital text encoding for EMOTHE:
- Amelang, David J.
Note on this digital edition
This publication is part of the research project «EMOTHE: Segunda fase de teatro español y europeo de los siglos XVI y XVII: patrimonio y bases de datos (ASODAT Tercera Fase)», reference code PID2022-136431NB-C65 (acronym EMOTHE), funded by MICIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033.
NOTE ON THE TEXT AND THE PLAY
This edition of John Marston’s The Wonder of Women takes the 1606 quarto of the play as the basis of its critical text, supplemented by the 1887 edition prepared by A.H. Bullen for his The Works of John Marston collection, in which he conflates the 1606 quarto and 1633 rendition published by William Sheares. All spelling has been mordernized using US English spelling conventions. All interventions made by the EMOTHE editor as well as by Bullen that do not appear in the original 1606 version of the play have been marked in between brackets; any changes made to the original text have been listed in the edition’s critical apparatus at the end of the play.
John Marston’s The Wonder of Women depicts the tragic demise of Sophonisba, an influential Carthaginian noblewoman who lived during the Second Punic War (218-201 BCE) and who famously preferred to commit suicide and die in freedom rather than be taken prisoner by Rome. Despite not being well-known before the fifteenth century, the figure of Sophonisba became widely admired in Renaissance Europe; indeed, she stands out as one of the few female protagonists whose tale was dramatized in many – if not all – dramatic traditions in early modern Europe, beginning with Gian Giorgio Trissino’s Sofonisba (c. 1515), often credited as the first Renaissance tragedy written in Italian. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries at least eleven different plays about her exploits were written and performed in Italy, France, England, Spain, the Netherlands and Germany, cementing her status as one of the most international dramatic heroines of the early modern stage.
Marston’s tragedy was entered into the Stationers’ Register in 1606, and was published as a quarto by John Windet that same year under the title, The Wonder of Women, or The Tragedie of Sophonisba. The play was originally written either in late 1605 or early 1606, and performed by the Children of the Queen’s Revels -- one of Jacobean London’s popular boy acting companies -- at the ‘private’ Blackfriars playhouse. It was customary for the children’s performances in London’s so-called private playhouses to feature various musical interludes, which explains the stage directions at the beginning of every act. Indeed, Marston himself makes note of this particular feature in a postscript he included at the end of the 1606 quarto: “After all, let me entreat my reader not to tax me for the fashion of the entrances and music of this tragedy, for know it is printed only as it was presented by youths and after the fashion of the private stage. Nor let some easily amended errors in the printing afflict thee, since thy own discourse will easily set upright any unevenness.”
In 1633 the play was re-released, with some minimal changes, as part of William Sheares’ The Workes of John Marston six-play collection. More recently it has also been included in the Marston anthologies curated by J.O. Halliwell (1856), A.H. Bullen (1887), H. Harvey Wood (1934), Corbin and Sedge (1986), Macdonald P. Jackson and Michael Neill (1986), and Sturgess (1997); in 1979, William Kemp released the only single-play critical edition to date. Forthcoming is a critical edition prepared by Suzanne Gossett for The Complete Works of John Marston to be published by Oxford University Press (https://johnmarston.leeds.ac.uk/about/the-edition/).
LIST OF CHARACTERS (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
| ARCATHIA, waiting woman to Sophonisba |
| ASDRUBAL, father to Sophonisba |
| BYTHEAS, a senator of Carthage |
| CARTHALON, a senator of Carthage |
| ERICHTHO, an enchantress |
| GELOSSO, a senator of Carthage |
| GISCO, a surgeon of Carthage |
| HANNO MAGNUS, captain for Carthage |
| JUGURTH, Massinissa’s nephew |
| LAELIUS, general of Rome |
| MASSINISSA, king in Lybia, rival for Sophonisba |
| NUNTIUS |
| NYCEA, waiting woman to Sophonisba |
| SCIPIO, general of Rome |
| SOPHONISBA, daughter to Asdrubal of Carthage |
| SYPHAX, king in Lybia, rival for Sophonisba |
| VANGUE, an Ethiopian slave |
| ZANTHIA, Sophonisba’s maid |
TO THE GENERAL READER
Know that I have not labored in this poem to tie myself to relate anything as an historian; but to enlarge everything as a poet, to transcribe authors, quote authorities, and translate Latin prose orations into English black-verse hath in this subject been the least aim of my studies. Then (equal reader) peruse me with no prepared dislike, and if aught shall displease thee thank thyself, if aught shall please thee thank not me, for I confess in this it was not my only end.
Jo[hn] Marston
ARGUMENT
A grateful heart’s just height: ingratitude,
And vows 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 inforce free love: these know
This subject with full light doth amply show.
ACT ONE
Prologue
Cornets sound 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 armed from top to toe, Vangue follows. These thus entered stand still, whilst the prologue resting between both troops speaks:
PROLOGUE
1
The scene is Lybia, and the subject thus:
2
Whilst Carthage stood the only awe of Rome
3
As most imperial seat of Lybia,
4
Governed by statesmen each as great as kings
5
(For seventeen kings were Carthage feodars)
6
Whilst thus she florished, whilst her Hannibal
7
Made Rome to tremble and the walls yet pale,
8
Then in this Carthage Sophonisba lived,
9
The far-famed daughter of great Asdrubal
10
For whom (mongst others) potent Syphax sues
11
And well-graced Massinissa rivals him,
12
Both princes of proud scepters. But the lot
13
Of doubtful favor Massinissa graced
14
At which Syphax grows black, for now the night
15
Yields loud resoundings of the nuptial pomp:
16
Apollo strikes his harp, Hymen his torch,
17
Whilst louring Juno with ill-boding eye
18
Sits envious at too forward Venus. Lo,
19
The instant night. And now, ye worthier minds
20
To whom we shall present a female glory
21
(The wonder of a constancy so fixed
22
That fate itself might well grow envious),
23
Be pleased to sit such as may merrit oil
24
And holy dew stilled from diviner heat,
25
For rest thus knowing what of this you hear
26
The author lowly hopes but must not fear.
27
For just worth never rests on popular frown,
28
To have done well is fair deeds’ onely crown.
29
Nee se quisiuerit extra.
Cornets sound a march, the prologue leads Massinissa’s troupes over the stage and departs, Syphax’s troops only stay
Scene 1
[The palace of Syphax at Cirta]
Syphax and Vangue
SYPHAX
1
Syphax, Syphax, why wast thou cursed a king?
2
What angry god made thee so great, so vile?
3
Contemned, disgraced! Think, wert thou a slave,
4
Though Sophonisba did reject thy love,
5
Thy low neglected head unpointed at
6
Thy shame unrumored and thy suit unscoffed,
7
Might yet rest quiet. Reputation,
8
Thou awe of fools and great men, thou that chokest
9
Freest addictions, and makest mortals sweat
10
Blood and cold drops in fear to lose, or hope
11
To gain thy never-certain, seldom-worthy gracings.
12
Reputation,
13
Were’t not for thee, Syphax could bear this scorn
14
Not spouting up his gall among his blood
15
In black vexations. Massinissa might
16
Enjoy the sweets of his preferred graces
17
Without my dangerous envy or revenge.
18
Wert not for thy affliction, all might sleep
19
In sweet oblivion. But (O greatness’ scourge!)
20
We cannot without envy keep high name,
21
Nor yet disgraced can have a quiet shame.
VANGUE
22
Scipio—
SYPHAX
23
Some light in depth of hell! Vangue, what hope?
VANGUE
24
I have received assured intelligence
25
That Scipio, Rome’s sole hope, hath raised up men,
26
Drawn troops together for invasion—
SYPHAX
27
Of this same Carthage?
VANGUE
With this policy
28
To force wild Hannibal from Italy—
SYPHAX
29
And draw the war to Affrick?
VANGUE
Right.
SYPHAX
And strike
30
This secure country with unthought of arms?
VANGUE
31
My letters bear he is departed Rome,
32
Directly setting course and sailing up.
SYPHAX
33
To Carthage, Carthage! O thou eternal youth,
34
Man of large fame, great and abounding glory,
35
Reknownful Scipio, spread thy two-necked eagles,
36
Fill full thy sails with a revenging wind,
37
Strike through obedient Neptune till thy prows
38
Dash up our Lybian house, and thy just arms,
39
Shine with amazeful terror on these walls!
40
O now record thy father’s honored blood
41
Which Carthage drunk, thy uncle Publius’ blood
42
Which Carthage drunk, thirty thousand souls
43
Of choice Italians Carthage set on wing;
44
Remember Hannibal, yet Hannibal,
45
The consul-queller. O then enlarge thy heart,
46
Be thousand souls in one, let all the breath,
47
The spirit of thy name and nation be mixed strong
48
In thy great heart! O fall like thunder shaft,
49
The winged vengeance of incensed Jove,
50
Upon this Carthage; for Syphax here flies off
51
From all allegiance, from all love or service,
52
His (now freed) scepter once did yield this city.
53
Ye universal gods, light, heat, and air,
54
Prove all unblessing Syphax if his hands
55
Once rear themselves for Carthage but to curse it!
56
It had been better they had changed their faith,
57
Denied their gods, than slighted Syphax’s love:
58
So fearfully will I take vengeance:
59
I’ll interleague with Scipio. Vangue,
60
Dear Ethiopian negro, go wing a vessel
61
And fly to Scipio. Say his confederate,
62
Vowed and confirmed, is Syphax; bid him haste
63
To mix our palms and arms; will him make up
64
Whilst we are in the strength of discontent,
65
Our unsuspected forces well in arms;
66
For Sophonisba, Carthage, Asdrubal,
67
Shall feel their weakness in preferring weakness,
68
And one less great than we. To our dear wishes
69
Haste, gentle negro, that this heap may know
70
Me and their wrong.
VANGUE
Wrong?
SYPHAX
71
Aye, though t’were not. Yet know, while kings are
72
What they’ll but think, and not what is, is wrong.
73
I am disgraced in and by that which hath
74
No reason: love, and woman. My revenge
75
Shall therefore bear no argument of right:
76
Passion is reason when it speaks from might.
77
I tell thee, man, nor kings nor gods exempt,
78
But they grow pale if once they find contempt.
79
Haste!
Exeunt.
Scene 2
[Sophonisba’s bedchamber]
Enter Arcathia [and] Nycea with tapers, Sophonisba in her night attire followed by Zanthia
SOPHONISBA
1
Watch at the doors, and till we be reposed
2
Let no one enter. Zanthia, undo me.
ZANTHIA
3
With this motto under your girdle:
4
You had been undone if you had not been undone.
5
Humblest service!
SOPHONISBA
6
I wonder, Zanthia, why the custom is
7
To use such ceremony, such strict shape,
8
About us women: forsooth the bride must steal
9
Before her lord to bed, and then delays,
10
Long expectations, all against known wishes.
11
I hate these figures in locution,
12
These about phrases forced by ceremony!
13
We must still seem to fly what we most seek,
14
And hide ourselves from that we fain would find us.
15
Let those that think and speak and do just acts
16
Know form can give no virtue to their acts
17
Nor detract vice.
ZANTHIA
18
Alas, fair princess, those that are strongly form'd
19
And truly shaped may naked walk, but we,
20
We things called women, only made for show
21
And pleasure, created to bear children
22
And play at shuttlecock, we imperfect mixtures
23
Without respective ceremony used
24
And ever complement, alas, what are we?
25
Take from us formal custom and the courtesies
26
Which civil fashion hath still used to us,
27
We fall to all contempt. O women, how much,
28
How much are you beholding to ceremony!
SOPHONISBA
29
You are familiar. Zanthia, my shoe.
ZANTHIA
30
‘Tis wonder, Madam, you tread not awry.
SOPHONISBA
31
Your reason, Zanthia?
ZANTHIA
You go very high.
SOPHONISBA
32
Hark! Music, music!
The ladies lay the princess in a fair bed, and close the curtains whilst Massinissa enters
NYCEA
33
The bridegroom!
ARCATHIA
The bridegroom!
SOPHONISBA
34
Haste, good Zanthia, help, keep yet the doors!
ZANTHIA
35
Fair fall you, lady, so admit, admit!
Enter four boys antiquely attired, with bows and quivers, dancing to the cornets a fantastic measure; Massinissa in his night gown led by Asdrubal and Hanno, followed by Bytheas and Jugurth; the boys draw the curtains discovering Sophonisba, to whom Massinissa speaks
MASSINISSA
36
You powers of joy, gods of a happy bed,
37
Show you are pleased, sister and wife of Jove,
38
High-fronted Juno, and thou Carthage patron,
39
Smooth-chinned Appollo, both give modest heat
40
And temperate graces.
Massinissa draws a white ribbon forth of the bed, as from the waist of Sophonisba
MASSINISSA
41
Lo, I unloose thy waist:
42
She that is just in love is godlike chaste.
43
Io to Hymen!
CHORUS
With cornets, organs and voices
Io to Hymen!
SOPHONISBA
44
A modest silence, though’t be thought
45
A virgin’s beauty and her highest honor,
46
Though bashful feignings nicely wrought
47
Grace her that virtue takes not in, but on her.
48
What I dare think I boldly speak:
49
After my word my well bold action rusheth.
50
In open flame then passion break,
51
Where virtue prompts, thought, word, act never blusheth.
52
Revenging gods, whose marble hands
53
Crush faithless men with a confounding terror,
54
Give me no mercy if these bands
55
I covet not with an unfeigned fervor,
56
Which zealous vow when ought can force me t'lame,
57
Load with that plague Atlas would groan at, shame.
58
Io to Hymen!
CHORUS
Io to Hymen!
ASDRUBAL
59
Live both high parents of so happy birth,
60
Your stems may touch the skies and shadow earth.
61
Most great in fame, more great in virtue shining,
62
Prosper, o powers, a just, a strong divining.
63
Io to Hymen!
CHORUS
Io to Hymen!
Enter Carthalon, his sword drawn, his body wounded, his shield struck full of darts; Massinissa being ready for bed
CARTHALON
64
To bold hearts’ fortune! Be not you amazed!
65
Carthage! O Carthage! Be not you amazed!
MASSINISSA
66
Jove made us not to fear. Resolve, speak out,
67
The highest misery of man is doubt. Speak, Carthalon!
CARTHALON
68
The stooping sun, like to some weaker prince,
69
Let his shades spread to an unnatural hugeness
70
When we, the camp that lay at Utica,
71
From Carthage distant but five easy leagues,
72
Descried from off the watch three hundred sail,
73
upon whose tops the Roman eagles stretched
74
Their large spread wings, which fanned the evening air,
75
To us cold breath, for well we might discern
76
Rome swam to Carthage.
ASDRUBAL
77
Hannibal, our anchor is come back; thy slight,
78
Thy stratagem to lead war unto Rome,
79
To quite ourselves, hath taught now desperate Rome
80
T'assail our Carthage. Now the war is here.
MASSINISSA
81
He is nor blessed nor honest that can fear.
HANNO MAGNUS
82
Aye, but to cast the worst of our distress.
MASSINISSA
83
To doubt of what shall be is wretchedness.
84
Desire, fear, and hope, receive no bond
85
By whom, we in ourselves are never but beyond. On!
CARTHALON
86
Th'alarum beats necessity of fight.
87
Th’unsober evening draws out reeling forces,
88
Soldiers, half men, who to their colors troop
89
With fury, not with valor; whilst our ships,
90
Unrigged, unused, fitter for fire than water,
91
We save in our barred haven from surprise.
92
By this our army marcheth toward the shore,
93
Undisciplind young men, most bold to do,
94
If they knew how or what, when we descry
95
A mighty dust beat up with horses’ hooves;
96
Straight Roman ensigns glitter: Scipio.
ASDRUBAL
97
Scipio!
CARTHALON
98
Scipio advanced like the god of blood,
99
Leads up grim war, that father of foul wounds
100
Whose sinewy feet are steeped in gore, whose hideous voice
101
Makes turrets tremble and whole cities shake;
102
Before whose brows flight and disorder hurry;
103
With whom march burnings, murder, wrong, waste, rapes;
104
Behind whom a sad train is seen, woe, fears,
105
Tortures, lean, need, famine, and helpless tears
106
Now make we equal stand in mutual view.
107
We judged the Romans eighteen thousand foot,
108
Five thousand horse; we almost doubled them
109
In number, not in virtue. Yet in heat
110
Of youth and wine, jolly, and full of blood,
111
We gave the sign of battle: shouts are raised
112
That shook the heavens: pell-mell our armies join;
113
Horse, targets, pikes, all against each opposed,
114
They give fierce shock, arms thundered as they closed.
115
Men cover earth, which straight are covered
116
With men and earth; yet doubtful stood the fight
117
More fair to Carthage when lo, as oft you see
118
In mines of gold, when laboring slaves delve out
119
The richest ore, being in sudden hope
120
With some unlooked-for vein to full their buckets
121
And send huge treasure up, a sudden damp
122
Stifles them all, their hands yet stuffed with gold,
123
So fell our fortunes; for look, as ye stood proud
124
As hopeful victors, thinking to return
125
With spoils worth triumph, wrathful Syphax lands
126
With full ten thousand strong Numidian horse,
127
And joins to Scipio, then lo, we all were damped,
128
We fall in clusters and our wearied troops
129
Quit all. Slaughter ran through us straight, we fly,
130
Romans pursue, but Scipio sounds retreat
131
As fearing trains and night. We make amain
132
For Carthage most, and some for Utica,
133
All for our lives. New force, fresh arms with speed!
134
You have said truth of all, no more: I bleed.
BYTHEAS
135
O wretched fortune!
MASSINISSA
136
Old Lord, spare thy hairs!
137
What, dost thou think baldness will cure thy grief?
138
What decree the Senate?
Enter Gelosso with commissions in his hand, sealed
GELOSSO
139
Ask old Gelosso, who returnes from them
140
Informed with fullest charge, strong Asdrubal,
141
Great Massinissa, Carthage general,
142
So speaks the Senate: counsel for this war
143
In Hanno Magnus, Bytheas, Carthalon,
144
And us Gelosso rests: Embrace this charge
145
You never yet dishonored. Asdrubal,
146
High Massinissa, by your vows to Carthage,
147
By God of great men, glory, fight for Carthage!
148
Ten thousand strong Massulians, ready trooped,
149
Expect their king; double that number waits
150
The leading of loud Asdrubal. Beat loud
151
Our Afric drums! And whilst our o’er-toiled foe
152
Snores on his unlacked casque, all faint though proud,
153
Through his succesfull fight strike fresh alarms.
154
Gods are not if they grace not bold, just arms.
MASSINISSA
155
Carthage, thou straight shalt know
156
Thy favors have been done unto a king.
Exit with Asdrubal and the page
SOPHONISBA
157
My lords, ’tis most unusual such sad haps
158
Of sudden horror should intrude ‘mong beds
159
Of soft and private loves. But strange events
160
Excuse strange forms. O, you that know our blood,
161
Revenge if I do feign. I here protest,
162
Though my Lord leave his wife a very maid,
163
Even this night, instead of my soft arms
164
Clasping his well strong limbs with glossful steel,
165
What’s safe to Carthage shall be sweet to me.
166
I must not, nor I am once ignorant
167
My choice of love hath given this sudden danger
168
To yet strong Carthage: t'was I lost the fight,
169
My choice vexed Syphax, enraged Syphax struck
170
Arms’ fate. Yet Sophonisba not repents:
171
O, we were gods if that we knew events.
172
But let my lord leave Carthage, quit his virtue,
173
I will not love him, yet must honor him
174
As still good subjects must bad princes. Lords,
175
From the most ill-graced hymeneal bed
176
That ever Juno frowned at, I entreat
177
That you’ll collect from our loose-formed speech
178
This firm resolve: that no low appetite
179
Of my sex’s weakness can or shall o’ercome
180
Due grateful service unto you, or virtue.
181
Witness, ye gods, I never until now
182
Repined at my creation; now I wish
183
I were no woman, that my armes might speak
184
My heart to Carthage. But in vain: my tongue
185
Swears I am woman still, I talk too long.
Cornets a march; enter two pages with targets and javelins; two pages with torches; Massinissa armed cap-à-pie; Asdrubal armed
MASSINISSA
186
Ye Carthage lords, know Massinissa knows
187
Not only terms of honor, but his actions.
188
Nor must I now enlarge how much my cause
189
Hath dangered Carthage, but how I may show
190
Myself most pressed to satisfaction,
191
The loathsome stain of kings’ ingratitude,
192
From me O much be far. And since this torrent,
193
War’s rage, admits no anchor; since the billow
194
Is risen so high we may not hull but yield
195
This ample state to stroke of speedy swords;
196
What you with sober haste hath well decreed
197
We’ll put to sudden arms. No, not this night,
198
These dainties, these first fruits of nuptials
199
That well might gibe excuse for feeble lingerings,
200
Shall hinder Massinissa. Appetite,
201
Kisses, loves, dalliance, and what softer joys
202
The Venus of the pleasingest ease can minister,
203
I quit you all. Virtue perforce is vice,
204
But he that may, yet holds, is manly wise.
205
Lo then, ye lords of Carthage, to your trust
206
I leave all Massinissa’s treasure, by the oath
207
Of right good men stand to my fortune just:
208
Most hard it is for great hearts to mistrust.
CARTHALON
209
We vow by all high powers.
MASSINISSA
No, do not swear,
210
I was not born so small to doubt or fear.
SOPHONISBA
211
Worthy my Lord—
MASSINISSA
Peace, my ears are steel,
212
I must not hear thy much enticing voice.
SOPHONISBA
213
By Massinissa, Sophonisba speaks,
214
Worthy his wife: go with as high a hand
215
As worth can rear, I will not stay my Lord.
216
Fight for our country, vent thy youthful heat
217
In field, not bed; the fruit of honor, fame,
218
Be rather gotten than the oft disgrace
219
Of hapless parents, children. Go, best man,
220
And make me proud to be a soldier’s wife,
221
That values his renown aboue faint pleasures.
222
Think every honor that doth grace thy sword
223
Trebles my love: by thee I have no lust
224
But of thy glory. Best lights of heaven with thee!
225
Like wonder stand or fall, so though thou die,
226
My fortunes may be wretched, but not I.
MASSINISSA
227
Wondrous creature, even fit for Gods, not men,
228
Nature made all the rest of thy fair sex
229
As weak essays, to make thee a pattern
230
Of what can be in woman. Long Farewell!
231
He’s sure unconquered in whom thou dost dwell,
232
Carthage Palladium! See that glorious lamp,
233
Whose lifeful presence giveth sudden flight
234
To fancies, fogs, fears, sleep, and slothful night,
235
Spreads day upon the world. March swift amain:
236
Fame got with loss of breath is godlike gain.
The ladies draw the curtains about Sophonisba; the rest accompany Massinissa forth, the cornets and organs playing loud full music for the act
ACT TWO
Scene 1
[The Senate-house at Carthage]
Whilst the music for the first act sounds, Hanno [Magnus], Carthalon, Bytheas, and Gelosso enter; they place themselves to counsel, Gisco the impoisoner waiting on them; Hanno, Carthalon, and Bytheas, setting their hands to a writing, which being offered to Gelosso he denies his hand and, as much offended, impatiently starts up and speaks.
Enter Gelosso, Hanno Magnus, Bytheas, Carthalon
GELOSSO
1
My hand? My hand? Rot first, wither in aged shame!
HANNO MAGNUS
2
Wil you be so unseasonably wood?
BYTHEAS
3
Hold such preposterous zeal as stand against
4
The full decree of Senate? All think fit.
CARTHALON
5
Nay, most inevitable necessary
6
For Carthage’s safety, and the now sole good
7
Of present state, that we must break all faith
8
With Massinissa. Whilst he fights abroad,
9
Lets gain back Syphax, making him our own
10
By giving Sophonisba to his bed.
HANNO MAGNUS
11
Syphax is Massinissa’s greater, and his force
12
Shall give more side to Carthage. As for’s queen
13
And her wise father, they love Carthage fate:
14
Profit and honesty are one in state.
GELOSSO
15
And what decrees our very virtuous Senate
16
Of worthy Massinissa, that now fights
17
And (leaving wife and bed) bleeds in good arms
18
For right old Carthage?
CARTHALON
Thus ’tis thought fit
19
Her father Asdrubal on sudden shall take in
20
Revolted Siphax; so, with doubled strength
21
Before that Massinissa shall suspect,
22
Slaughter both Massinissa and his troops,
23
And likewise strike with his deep stratagem
24
A sudden weakness into Scipio’s arms
25
By drawing such a limb from the main body
26
Of his yet powerful army; which, being done,
27
Dead Massinissa’s kingdom we decree
28
To Sophonisba and great Asdrubal
29
For their consent, so this swift plot shall bring
30
Two crowns to her, make Asdrubal a king.
GELOSSO
31
So first faith’s breach, adultery, murder, theft!
CARTHALON
32
What else?
GELOSSO
Nay, all is done, no mischief left.
CARTHALON
33
Pish! Prosperous success gives blackest actions glory,
34
The means are unremembred in most story.
GELOSSO
35
Let me not say gods are not.
CARTHALON
This is fit:
36
Conquest by blood is not so sweet as wit,
37
For howsoe’er nice virtue censures it
38
He hath the grace of war that hath war’s profit.
39
But Carthage, well advised that states comes on
40
With slow advice, quick execution,
41
Have here an engineer long bred for plots,
42
Called an impoisoner, who knows this sound excuse:
43
The only dew that makes men sprout in courts is use.
44
Be't well or ill, his thrift is to be mute,
45
Such slaves must act commands and not dispute.
46
Knowing foul deeds with danger do begin
47
But with rewards do end: sin is no sin
48
But in respects…
GELOSSO
49
Politic lord, speak low: though Heaven bears
50
A face far from us, gods have most long ears,
51
Jove has a hundred marble hands.
CARTHALON
52
O aye, in poetry or tragic scene.
GELOSSO
53
I fear gods only know what poets mean.
CARTHALON
54
Yet hear me, I will speak close truth and cease:
55
Nothing in nature is unserviceable,
56
No, not even inutility itself.
57
Is then for nought dishonesty in being?
58
And if it be sometines of forced use,
59
Wherein more urgent than in saving nations?
60
State shapes are soldered up with base, nay faulty,
61
Yet necessary functions: some must lie,
62
Some must betray, some murder, and some all.
63
Each hath strong use, as poison in all purges.
64
Yet when some violent chance shall force a state
65
To break given faith or plot some stratagems,
66
Princes ascribe that vile necessity
67
unto heaven’s wrath. And sure, though’t be no vice,
68
Yet ’tis bad chance: states must not stick to nice,
69
For Massinissa’s death sense bids forgive.
70
Beware to offend great men and let them live,
71
For ’tis of empire’s body the main arm:
72
He that will do no good shall do no harm.
73
You have my mind.
GELOSSO
74
Although a stage-like passion and weak heat,
75
Full of an empty wording, might suit age,
76
Know I’ll speak strongly truth: Lords, ne’er mistrust
77
That he who'll not betray a private man
78
For his country, will ne’er betray his country
79
For private men; then give Gelosso faith.
80
If treachery in state be serviceable,
81
Let hangmen do it. I am bound to lose
82
My life but not my honor for my country.
83
Our vow, our faith, our oath, why they’re ourselves,
84
And he that’s faithless to his proper self
85
May be excused if he break faith with princes.
86
The gods assist just hearts, and states that trust
87
Plots before Providence are tossed like dust.
88
For Massinissa, o let me slack a little
89
Austere discourse and feel humanity!
90
Methinks I hear him cry “O, fight for Carthage!
91
Charge home! Wounds smart not for that so just, so great,
92
So good a city!” Methinks I see him yet
93
Leave his fair bride, even on his nuptial night,
94
To buckle on his arms for Carthage. Hark!
95
Yet, yet, I hear him cry “Ingratitude,
96
Vile stain of man, O ever be most far
97
From Massinissa’s breast! Up, march amain,
98
Fame got with los of breath is godlike gain!”
99
And see by this he bleeds in doubtful fight,
100
And cries “For Carthage!” whilst Carthage— Memory,
101
Forsake Gelosso! Would I could not think,
102
Nor hear, nor be, when Carthage is
103
So infinitely vile! See, see, look here!
Cornets; enter two ushers, Sophonisba, Zanthia, Arcathia; Hanno [Magnus], Bytheas, and Carthalon present Sophonisba with a paper, which she having perused, after a short silence speaks
SOPHONISBA
104
Who speaks? What, mute? Fair plot! What? Blush to break it?
105
How lewd to act when so shamed but to speak it!
106
Is this the Senate’s firm decree?
CARTHALON
It is.
SOPHONISBA
107
Hath Syphax entertained the stratagem?
CARTHALON
108
No doubt he hath, or will.
SOPHONISBA
109
My answer’s thus:
110
What’s safe to Carthage shall be sweet to me.
CARTHALON
111
Right worthy!
HANNO MAGNUS
Royalest!
GELOSSO
O very woman!
SOPHONISBA
112
But ’tis not safe for Carthage to destroy,
113
Be most unjust, cunningly politic,
114
Your head’s still under Heaven. O trust to fate:
115
Gods prosper more a just than crafty state.
116
’Tis less disgrace to have a pitied loss
117
Than shameful victory.
GELOSSO
O very angel!
SOPHONISBA
118
We all have sworn good Massinissa faith.
119
Speech makes us men, and there’s no other bond
120
‘Twixt man and man but words. O equal gods,
121
Make us once know the consequence of vows—
GELOSSO
122
And we shall hate faith-breakers worse than man-eaters!
SOPHONISBA
123
Ha, good Gelosso, is thy breath not here?
GELOSSO
124
You do me wrong: as long as I can die,
125
Doubt you that old Gelosso can be vile?
126
States may afflict, tax, torture, but our minds
127
Are only sworn to Jove. I grieve, and yet am proud
128
That I alone am honest: high powers, you know,
129
Virtue is seldom seen with troops to go.
SOPHONISBA
130
Excellent man, Carthage and Rome shall fall
131
Before thy fame. Our Lords, know I the worst?
CARTHALON
132
The Gods foresaw, ’tis fate we thus are forced.
SOPHONISBA
133
Gods naught foresee, but see, for to their eyes
134
Naught is to come or past. Nor are you vile
135
Because the gods foresee, for gods and we
136
See as things are; things are not as we see,
137
But since affected wisdom in us women
138
Is our sex’s highest folly, I am silent,
139
I cannot speak less well, unless I were
140
More void of goodness. Lords of Carthage, thus,
141
The air and earth of Carthage owns my body,
142
It is their servant: what decree they of it?
CARTHALON
143
That you remove to Cirta, to the palace
144
Of well-formed Syphax, who with longing eyes
145
Meets you. He that gives way to fate is wise.
SOPHONISBA
146
I go. What power can make me wretched? What evil
147
Is there in life to him that knows life’s loss
148
To be no evil? Show, show thy ugliest brow,
149
O most black chance: make me a wretched story:
150
Without misfortune virtue hath no glory.
151
Opposed trees makes tempests show their power,
152
And waves forced back by rocks makes Neptune tower
153
Tearless. O see, a miracle of life,
154
A maid, a widow, yet a hapless wife!
Cornets; Sophonisba accompanied with the senators depart; only Gelosso stays
GELOSSO
155
A prodigy! Let nature run cross-legged,
156
Ops go upon thy head, let Neptune burn,
157
Cold Saturn crack with heat, for now the world
158
Hath seen a Woman!
159
Leap nimble lightning from Jove’s ample shield
160
And make at length an end. The proud hot breath
161
Of thee-contemning greatness; the huge drought
162
Of sole self-loving vast ambition;
163
Th’unnatural scorching heat of all those lamps
164
Thou rear’dst to yield a temperate fruitful heat;
165
Relentless rage, whose heart hath not one drop
166
Of human pity; all, all loudly cry
167
Thy brand, O Jove, for know the world is dry!
168
O let a general end save Carthage fame!
169
When worlds do burn, unseen’s a city’s flame.
170
Phoebus in me is great: Carthage must fall.
171
Jove hates all vice, but vows’ breach worst of all.
Exit
Scene 2
[Near Cirta]
Cornets sound a charge; enter Massinissa in his gorget and shirt, shield, sword, his arm transfixed with a dart; Jugurth follows with his curiass and casque
MASSINISSA
1
Mount us again, give us another horse!
JUGURTH
2
Uncle, your blood flows fast, pray ye withdraw!
MASSINISSA
3
O Jugurth, I cannot bleed too fast, too much
4
For that so great, so just, so royal Carthage!
5
My wound smarts not, blood’s loss makes me not faint
6
For that loved city. O nephew, let me tell thee
7
How good that Carthage is. It nourished me,
8
And when full time gave me fit strength for love,
9
The most adored creature of the city,
10
To us before great Syphax did they yield:
11
Fair, noble, modest, and ‘bove all my,
12
My Sophonisba! O Jugurth, my strength doubles,
13
I know not how to turn a coward, drop
14
In feeble baseness I cannot. Give me horse!
15
Know I am Carthage’s very creature, and I am graced
16
That I may bleed for them. Give me fresh horse!
JUGURTH
17
He that doth public good for multitude
18
Finds few are truly grateful.
MASSINISSA
19
O Jugurth, fie! You must not say so, Jugurth.
20
Some common weals may let a noble heart
21
Too forward bleed abroad, and bleed bemoaned,
22
But not revenged at home. But Carthage, fie!
23
It cannot be ungrate, faithless through fear.
24
It cannot, Jugurth: Sophonisba's there.
25
Beat a fresh charge!
Enter Asdrubal, his sword drawn, reading a letter; Gisco follows him
ASDRUBAL
26
Sound the retreat! Respect your health, brave prince,
27
The waste of blood throws paleness on your face.
MASSINISSA
28
By light, my heart’s not pale! O my loved father,
29
We bleed for Carthage; balsam to my wounds.
30
We bleed for Carthage; shall’s restore the fight?
31
My squadron of Massulians yet stands firm.
ASDRUBAL
32
The day looks off from Carthage, cease alarms!
33
A modest temperance is the life of arms,
34
Take our best surgeon, Gisco; he is sent
35
From Carthage to attend your chance of war.
GISCO
36
We promise sudden ease.
MASSINISSA
37
Thy comfort’s good.
ASDRUBAL
38
That nothing can secure vs but thy blood.
39
Infuse it in his wound, t'will work amain.
GISCO
40
O Jove!
ASDRUBAL
What Jove? Thy god must be thy gain.
41
And as for me, Apollo Pythian,
42
Thou know'st a statist must not be a man.
Exit Asdrubal
Enter Gelosso, disguised like an old soldier, delivering to Massinissa (as he is preparing to be dressed by Gisco) a letter, which Massinissa reading, starts and speaks to Gisco
MASSINISSA
43
Forbear: how art thou called?
GISCO
44
Gisco, my Lord.
MASSINISSA
45
Um, Gisco. Ha, touch not mine arm.
To Gelosso
Most onely man!
[To Gisco]
46
Sirrah, sirrah, art poor?
GISCO
Not poor.
MASSINISSA
Nephew, command
Massinissa begins to draw
47
Our troops of horse make indisgraced retreat,
48
Trot easy off. Not poor! Jugurth, give charge
49
My soldiers stand in square battalia,
50
Entirely of themselves.
Exit Jugurth
Gisco, th'art old,
51
’Tis time to leave off murder. Thy faint breath
52
Scarce heaves thy ribs, thy gummy bloodshot eyes
53
Are sunk a great way in thee, thy lank skin
54
Slides from thy fleshless veins: be good to men.
55
Judge him, ye Gods, I had not life to kill
56
So base a creature. Hold, Gisco, live:
57
The godlike part of kings is to forgive.
GISCO
58
Command astonished Gisco.
MASSINISSA
No, return.
59
Haste unto Carthage: quit thy abject fears,
60
Massinissa knows no use of murderers.
Enter Jugurth amazed, his sword drawn
61
Speak, speak, let terror strike slaves mute:
62
Much danger makes great hearts most resolute.
JUGURTH
63
Uncle, I fear foul arms: myself beheld
64
Syphax on high speed run his well-breathed horse
65
Direct to Cirta, that most beauteous city
66
Of all his kingdom, whilst his troopss of horse
67
With careless trot pace gently toward our camp,
68
As friends to Carthage. Stand on guard, dear uncle,
69
For Asdrubal, with yet his well-ranked army,
70
Bends a deep threatening brow to us, as if
71
He waited but to join with Syphax’s horse,
72
And hew us all to pieces. O my king,
73
My uncle, father, captain, O over all!
74
Stand like thyself or like thyself now fall!
75
Thy troops yet hold good ground. Unworthy wounds,
76
Betray not Massinissa!
MASSINISSA
Jugurth, pluck,
77
Pluck! So, good coz.
JUGURTH
O god, do you not feel?
MASSINISSA
78
Not, Jugurth no: now all my flesh is steel.
GELOSSO
79
Off, base disguise! High lights scorn not to view
80
A true old man. Up, Massinissa! Throw
81
The lot of battle upon Syphax’s troops
82
Before he join with Carthage! Then amain,
83
Make through to Scipio, he yields safe abodes:
84
Spare treachery, and strike the very gods.
MASSINISSA
85
Why wast thou born at Carthage? O my fate!
86
Divinest Sophonisba! I am full
87
Of much complaint, and many passions,
88
The least of which expressed would sad the gods
89
And strike compassion in most ruthless hell.
90
Up, unmaimed heart, spend all thy grief and rage
91
Upon thy foe! The fields’ a soldier’s stage
92
On which his action shows. If you are just
93
And hate those that contemn you, o you gods,
94
Revenge worthy your anger, your anger! O,
95
Down man, up hart! Stoop Jove, and bend thy chin
96
To thy large breast, give sign th'art pleased and just:
97
Swear good men’s foreheads must not print the dust!
Exeunt
Scene 3
[Carthage]
Enter Asdrubal, Hanno [Magnus], Bytheas
ASDRUBAL
1
What Carthage hath decreed, Hanno, is done:
2
Advanced and born was Asdrubal for state.
3
Only with it, his faith, his love, his hate,
4
Are of one piece. Were it my daughter’s life
5
That, fate hath sung, to Carthage safety brings,
6
What deed so red but hath been done by kings?
7
Iphigenia, he that’s a man for men,
8
Ambitious as a god, must like a god
9
Live clear from passions; his full aimed at end,
10
Immense to others, sole self to comprehend,
11
Round in's own globe. Not to be clasped, but holds
12
Within him all, his heart being of more folds
13
Than shield of Telamon, not to be pierced though struck:
14
The god of wise men is themselves, not luck.
Enter Gisco
15
See him by whom now Massinissa is not:
16
Gisco, i'st done?
GISCO
Your pardon, worthy Lord,
17
It is not done: my heart sunk in my breast,
18
His virtue ‘mazed me, faintness seized me all.
19
Some god’s in kings that will not let them fall.
ASDRUBAL
20
His virtue ‘mazed thee, hum! Why, now I see
21
Th’art that just man that hath true touch of blood,
22
Of pity and soft piety. Forgive?
23
Yes, honor thee; we did it but to try
24
What sense thou hadst of blood. Go, Bytheas,
25
Take him into our private treasury...
[Aside to Bytheas]
26
...and cut his throat: the slave hath all betrayed.
BYTHEAS
27
[Aside to Asdrubal]
Are you assured?
ASDRUBAL
[Aside to Bytheas]
Afeared, for this I know,28
Who thinketh to buy villany with gold
29
Shall ever find such faith so bought so sold.
[Aloud]
30
Reward him thoroughly!
Exit Bytheas and Gisco
A shout; the cornets giving a florish
HANNO MAGNUS
31
What means this shout?
ASDRUBAL
32
Hanno, ’tis done! Scyphax’s revolt by this
33
Hath secured Carthage. And now his force come in,
34
And joined with us, give Massinissa charge
35
And assured slaughter. O ye powers, forgive!
36
Through rottenest dung best plants both sprout and live;
37
By blood vines grow.
HANNO MAGNUS
But yet think, Asdrubal,
38
’Tis fit at least you bear grief’s outward show:
39
It is your kinsman bleeds. What need men know
40
Your hand is in his wounds? ’Tis well in state
41
To do close ill, but ‘void a public hate.
ASDRUBAL
42
Tush, Hanno! Let me prosper, let routs prate,
43
My power shall force their silence or my hate!
44
Shall scorn their idle malice: men of weight
45
Know, he that fears envy, let him cease to reign;
46
The people’s hate to some hath been their gain.
47
For howsoe’er a monarch feigns his parts,
48
Steal anything from kings but subjects’ hearts.
Enter Carthalon, leading in bound Gelosso
CARTHALON
49
Guard, guard the camp! Make to the trench! Stand firm!
ASDRUBAL
50
The gods of boldness with us! How runs chance?
CARTHALON
51
Think, think how wretched thou canst be, thou art;
52
Short words shall speak long woes!
GELOSSO
Mark, Asdrubal.
CARTHALON
53
Our bloody plot to Massinissa’s ear
54
Untimely by this lord was all betrayed!
GELOSSO
55
By me, it was by me, vile Asdrubal!
56
I joy to speak’t.
ASDRUBAL
Down, slave!
GELOSSO
I cannot fall!
CARTHALON
57
Our train’s disclosed, straight to his well-used arms
58
He took himself, rose up with all his force,
59
On Syphax’s careless troops (Syphax being hurried
60
Before to Cirta, fearless of success,
61
Impatient Sophonisba to enjoy).
62
Gelosso rides to head of all our squadrons,
63
Commands make stand in thy name, Asdrubal,
64
In mine, in his, in all: dull rest our men
65
Whilst Massinissa, now with more than fury,
66
Chargeth the loose and much-amazed ranks
67
Of absent Syphax, who with broken shout
68
(In vain expecting Carthage secondings)
69
Give faint repulse. A second charge is given;
70
Then look as when a falcon towers aloft,
71
Whole shoals of fowl and flocks of lesser birds
72
Crouch fearefully and dive; some among sedge,
73
Some creep in brakes. So Massinissa’s sword,
74
Brandished aloft, tossed 'bout his shining casque,
75
Made stoop whole squadrons; quick as thought he strikes,
76
Here hurls he dartes, and there his rage-strong arm
77
Fights foot to foot. Here cries he “Strike!” They sink!”,
78
And then grim slaughter follows; for by this
79
As men betrayed, they curse us, die, or fly, or both.
80
Often six thousand fell. Now was I come,
81
And straight perceived all bled by his vile plot.
GELOSSO
82
Vile? Good plot! My good plot, Asdrubal!
CARTHALON
83
I forced our army beat a running march,
84
But Massinissa strook his spurs apace
85
Upon his speedy horse, leaves slaughtering.
86
All fly to Scipio, who with open ranks
87
In view receives them; all I could effect
88
Was but to gain him.
ASDRUBAL
Die!
GELOSSO
Do what thou can,
89
Thou canst but kill a weak old honest man.
Gelosso departs guarded
CARTHALON
90
Scipio and Massinissa by this strike
91
Their clasped palms, then vow an endless love.
92
Straight a joint shout they raise, then turn they breasts
93
Direct on us, march strongly toward our camp
94
As if they dared us fight. O Asdrubal,
95
I fear they’ll force our camp!
ASDRUBAL
Break up and fly!
96
This was your plot.
HANNO MAGNUS
But t'was thy shame to choose it!
CARTHALON
97
He that forbids not offence, he does it.
ASDRUBAL
98
The curse of women’s words go with you. Fly!
99
You are no villains! Gods and men, which way?
100
Advise, vile things.
HANNO MAGNUS
Vile?
ASDRUBAL
Aye!
CARTHALON
Not?
BYTHEAS
You did all.
ASDRUBAL
101
Did you not plot?
CARTHALON
Yielded not Asdrubal?
ASDRUBAL
102
But you enticed me.
HANNO MAGNUS
How?
ASDRUBAL
With hope of place.
CARTHALON
103
He that for wealth leaves faith is abject.
HANNO MAGNUS
Base.
ASDRUBAL
104
Do not provoke my sword: I live.
CARTHALON
More shame.
105
T'outlive thy virtue and thy once great name.
ASDRUBAL
106
Upbraid ye me?
HANNO MAGNUS
Hold!
CARTHALON
Know that only thou
107
Art treacherous: thou shouldst have had a crown.
HANNO MAGNUS
108
Thou didst all, all he for whom mischief’s done,
109
He does it.
ASDRUBAL
Brook open scorn, faint powers!
110
Make good the camp! No, fly! Yes, what? Wild rage!
111
To be a prosperous villain! Yet some heat some hold,
112
But to burn temples and yet freeze, O cold!
113
Give me some health, now your blood sinks: thus deeds
114
Ill nourished rot; without Jove nought succeeds.
Exeunt
ACT THREE
Scene 1
[The palace of Syphax at Cirta]
Organ mixed with recorders for this act; Syphax, [with] his dagger twon about her hair, drags in Sophonisba in her nightgown [and] petticoat, and Zanthia and Vangue following
SYPHAX
1
Must we entreat? Sue to such squeamish ears?
2
Know Syphax has no knees, his eyes no tears;
3
Enraged love is senseless of remorse.
4
Thou shalt, thou must: Kings’ glory is their force.
5
Thou art in Cirta, in my palace, fool.
6
Dost think he pitieth tears that knows to rule?
7
For all thy scornful eyes, thy proud disdain,
8
And late contempt of us, now we’ll revenge,
9
Break stubborn silence. Look, I’ll tack thy head
10
To the low earth, whilst strength of two black knaves
11
Thy limbs all wide shall strain. Prayer fitteth slaves,
12
Our courtship be our force: rest calm as sleep,
13
Else at this quake; hark, hark, we cannot weep.
SOPHONISBA
14
Can Sophonisba bee enforced?
SYPHAX
Can? See!
SOPHONISBA
15
Thou mayest enforce my body but not me!
SYPHAX
16
Not?
SOPHONISBA
No.
SYPHAX
No?
SOPHONISBA
No! Off with thy loathed arms,
17
That lie more heavy on me than the chains
18
That wear deep wrinkles in the captive’s limbs!
19
I do beseech thee.
SYPHAX
What?
SOPHONISBA
Be but a beast,
20
Be but a beast.
SYPHAX
Do not offend a power
21
Can make thee more than wretched: yield to him
22
To whom fate yields. Know: Massinissa’s dead.
SOPHONISBA
23
Dead?
SYPHAX
Dead.
SOPHONISBA
To gods’ and good men’s shame.
SYPHAX
24
Help, Vangue, my strong blood boils.
SOPHONISBA
O yet save
25
thine own fame.
SYPHAX
26
All appetite is deaf; I will, I must.
27
Achilles’ armor could not bear out lust.
SOPHONISBA
28
Hold thy strong arm and hear me. Syphax, know
29
I am thy servant now: I needs must love thee,
30
For (O, my sex forgive!) I must confess,
31
We not affect protesting feebleness,
32
Entreats, faint blushings, timorous modesty;
33
We think our lover is but little man
34
Who is so full of woman. Know, fair Prince,
35
Love’s strongest arm’s not rude, for we still prove
36
Without some fury there’s no ardent love.
37
We love our love’s impatience of delay;
38
Our noble sex was only born t'obey
39
To him that dares command.
SYPHAX
Why, this is well,
40
Th'excuse is good. Wipe thy fair eyes, our Queen,
41
Make proud thy head; now feel more friendly strength
42
Of thy Lord’s arm. Come, touch my rougher skin
43
With thy soft lip. Zanthia, dress our bed.
44
Forget old loves and clip him that through blood
45
And hell acquires his wish. Think not but kisse,
46
The flourish fore love’s fight is Venus’ bliss.
SOPHONISBA
47
Great dreadful lord, by thy affection
48
Grant me one boon. Know I have made a vow...
SYPHAX
49
Vow? What vow? Speak.
SOPHONISBA
Nay, if you take offence
50
Let my soul suffer first. And yet...
SYPHAX
Offence?
51
Not, Sophonisba, hold! Thy vow is free
52
As... Come, thy lips!
SOPHONISBA
Alas, cross misery!
53
As I do wish to live, I long to enjoy
54
Your warm embrace, but O! My vow tis thus:
55
If ever my Lord died, I vowed to him
56
A most, most private sacrifice before
57
I touched a second spouse. All I implore
58
Is but this liberty.
SYPHAX
This go obtain.
59
What time?
SOPHONISBA
One hour.
SYPHAX
Sweet, good speed, speed, adieu!
60
Yet Syphax, trust no more than thou mayest view.
61
Vangue shall stay.
SOPHONISBA
He stays.
Enter a page delivering a letter to Sophonisba, which she privately reads
SYPHAX
62
Zanthia, Zanthia!
63
Thou art not foul, go to! Some lords are oft
64
So much in love with their known ladies’ bodies
65
That they oft love their veils. Hold, hold, thou'st find
66
To faithful care kings’ bounty hath no shore.
SOPHONISBA
67
You may do much.
SYPHAX
But let my gold do more.
SOPHONISBA
68
I am your creature.
SYPHAX
Be yet, ’tis no stain
69
The god of service is however gain.
Exit
SOPHONISBA
70
Zanthia, where are we now? Speak worth my service:
71
Ha’ we done well?
ZANTHIA
Nay, in height of best
72
I feared a superstitious virtue woulde spoil all,
73
But now I find you above women rare.
74
She that can time her goodness hath true care
75
Of her best good. Nature at home begins;
76
She whose integrity herselfe hurts sins.
77
For Massinissa, he was good and so,
78
But he is dead, or worse, distressed, or more
79
Than dead, or much distressed. O sad, poor,
80
Whoever held such friends! No, let him go;
81
Such faith is praised, then laughed at, for still know
82
Those are the living women that reduce
83
All that they touch unto their ease and use.
84
Knowing that wedlock, virtue or good names
85
Are courses and varieties of reason,
86
To use or leave as they advantage them
87
And absolute within themselves reposed,
88
Only to greatness ope, to all else closed.
89
Weak sanguine fools are to their own good nice;
90
Before I held you virtuous, but now wise.
SOPHONISBA
91
Zanthia, victorious Massinissa lives!
92
My Massinissa lives! O steady powers,
93
Keep him as safe as heaven keeps the earth,
94
Which looks upon it with a thousand eyes!
95
That honest valiant man! And Zanthia,
96
Do but record the justice of his love
97
And my forever vows, forever vows!
ZANTHIA
98
Ay, true madam. Nay, think of his great mind,
99
His most just heart, his all of excellence
100
And such a virtue as the gods might envy.
101
Against this, Syphax is but... and you know,
102
Fame lost what can be got that’s good for...
SOPHONISBA
Hence!
103
Take, nay, with one hand.
ZANTHIA
My service.
SOPHONISBA
Prepare
104
Our sacrifice.
ZANTHIA
But yield you, ay or no?
SOPHONISBA
105
When thou dost know.
ZANTHIA
What then?
SOPHONISBA
Then thou wilt know.
106
Let him that would have counsel ‘void th'advice
107
Of friends made his with weighty benefits
108
Whose much dependance only strives to fit
109
Humor, not reason, and so still devise
110
In any thought to make their friend seem wise.
111
But, above all, O fear a servant’s tongue,
112
Like such as only for their gain to serve
113
Within the vast capacity of place,
114
I know no vileness so most truly base.
115
Their lords, their gain; and he that most will give,
116
With him (they will not die, but) they will live.
117
Traitors and these are one: such slaves once trust
118
Whet swords to make thine own blood lick the dust.
Cornets and organs playing full music; enter the solemnity of a sacrifice, which being entered whilst the attendance furnish the altar, Sophonisba [sings a] song, which done she speaks:
SOPHONISBA
119
Withdraw, withdraw.
All but Zanthia and Vangue depart
120
I not invoke thy arm, thou god of sound,
121
Nor thine, nor thine, although in all abound
122
High powers immense. But jovial Mercury,
123
And thou, O brightest female of the sky,
124
Thrice-modest Phoebe, you that jointly fit
125
A worthy chastity and a most chaste wit
126
To you corruptless honey and pure dew
127
Upbreathes our holy fire. Words just and few,
128
O deign to hear! If in poor wretches’ cries
129
You glory not; if drops of withered eyes
130
Be not your sport, be just. All that I crave
131
Is but chaste life or an untainted grave.
132
I can no more. Yet hath my constant tongue
133
Let fall no weakeness, tho' my heart were wrung
134
With pangs worth hell. Whilst great thoughts stop our tears,
135
Sorrow unseen, unpitied, inward wears.
136
You see now where I rest, come is my end.
137
Cannot Heaven virtue against weak chance defend?
138
When weakeness hath outborne what weakeness can,
139
What should I say? ’Tis Jove’s, not sine of man.
140
Some stratagem now! Let wit’s god be shown,
141
Celestial powers by miracles are known.
142
I have’t, ’tis done. Zanthia, prepare our bed.
143
Vangue...
VANGUE
Your servant.
SOPHONISBA
Vangue, we have performed
144
Due rites unto the dead.
Sophonisba presents a carouse to Vangue
145
Now to thy lord, great Syphax, healthful cups, which done,
146
The king is right much welcome.
VANGUE
147
Were it as deep as thought, off it should thus.
He drinks
SOPHONISBA
148
My safety with that draught.
VANGUE
149
Close the vault’s mouth lest we do slip in drink.
SOPHONISBA
150
To what use, gentle negro, serves this cave
151
Whose mouth thus opens so familliarly,
152
Even in the king’s bedchamber?
VANGUE
O my queen,
153
This vault with hideous darkeness and much length
154
stretcheth beneath the earth into a grove
155
One league from Cirta (I am very sleepy);
156
Through this, when Cirta hath been strong begirt,
157
With hostile siege the king hath safely ‘scaped
158
To... to...
SOPHONISBA
The wine is strong.
VANGUE
strong?
SOPHONISBA
Zanthia!
ZANTHIA
159
What means my princess?
SOPHONISBA
Zanthia, rest firm
160
And silent, helpe us! Nay, do not dare refuse!
ZANTHIA
161
The negro’s dead!
SOPHONISBA
No, drunk.
ZANTHIA
Alas!
SOPHONISBA
Too late.
162
Her hand is fearful whose mind’s desperate.
163
It is but sleepy opium he hath drunk.
164
Help, Zanthia.
They lay Vangue in Syphax’s bed and draw the curtains
165
there lie Syphax’s bride, a naked man is soon undressed.
166
There bide dishonoured passion
They knock within; forthwith Syphax comes
SYPHAX
167
Way for the king!
SOPHONISBA
Straight for the king. I fly
168
Where misery shall see nought but itself.
169
Dear Zanthia, close the vault when I am sunk,
170
And whilst he slips to bed, escape. Be true;
171
I can no more; come to me. Hark, gods, my breath
172
Scorns to crave life, grant but a well-famed death.
She descends
Enter Syphax ready for bed
SYPHAX
173
Each man withdraw, let not a creature stay
174
Within large distance.
ZANTHIA
Sir...
SYPHAX
Hence, Zanthia,
175
Not thou shalt hear. All stand without ear-reach
176
Of the soft cries nice shrinking brides do yield
177
When...
ZANTHIA
But Sir...
SYPHAX
Hence! Stay, take thy delight by steps,
178
Think of thy joys, and make long thy pleasures.
179
O silence, thou dost swallow pleasure right;
180
Words take away some sense from our delight.
181
Music! Be proud, my Venus; Mercury, thy tongue;
182
Cupid, thy flame; ‘bove all, O Hercules,
183
Let not thy back be wanting, for now I leap
184
To catch the fruit none but the Gods should reap!
Offering to leap into bed, he discovers Vangue
185
Hah! Can any woman turn to such a devil?
186
Or... or... Vangue! Vangue!
VANGUE
Yes... yes...
SYPHAX
Speak, slave!
187
How camest thou here?
VANGUE
Here?
SYPHAX
Zanthia, Zanthia!
188
Where’s Sophonisba? Speak at full, at full,
189
Give me particular faith, or know thou art not...
ZANTHIA
190
Your pardon, just-moved prince, and private ear.
SYPHAX
191
Ill actions have some grace, that they can fear.
VANGUE
192
How came I laid? Which way was I made drunk?
193
Where am I? Think I, or is my state advanced?
194
O Jove, how pleasant is it but to sleep
195
In a king’s bed!
SYPHAX
Sleep there thy lasting sleep,
196
Improvident, base, o’er-thirsty slave!
Syphax kills Vangue
197
Die pleased, a king’s couch is thy too proud grave.
198
Through this vault sayst thou?
ZANTHIA
As you give me grace
199
To live, ’tis true.
SYPHAX
We will be good to Zanthia.
200
Go cheer thy lady, and be private to us.
ZANTHIA
201
As to my life.
She descends after Sophonisba
SYPHAX
I'll use this Zanthia,
202
And trust her as our dogs drink dangerous Nile,
203
only for thirst, that fly the crocodile.
204
Wise Sophonisba knows love’s tricks of art:
205
Without much hindrance pleasure hath no heart.
206
Despite all virtue or weak plots I must:
207
Seven-walled Babel cannot bear out lust.
Descends through the vault
Scene 2
[Neighborhood of Utica]
Cornets sound marches; enter Scipio and Laelius with the complements of a Roman General before them; at the other door, Massinissa and Jugurth
MASSINISSA
1
Let not the virtue of the world suspect
2
Sad Massinissa’s faith, nor once condemn
3
Our just revolt. Carthage first gave me life,
4
Her ground gave food, her air first lent me breath:
5
The earth was made for men, not men for earth.
6
Scipio, I do not thank the Gods for life,
7
Much less vile men, or earth: know, best of lords,
8
It is a happy being, breath well famed,
9
For which Jove sees these thus. Men, be not fooled
10
With piety to place, tradition’s fear;
11
A just man’s country Jove makes everywhere.
SCIPIO
12
Well urgeth Massinissa. But to leave
13
A city so ingrate, so faithless, so more vile
14
Than civil speech may name, fear not; such vice
15
To scourge is Heaven’s most grateful sacrifice.
16
Thus all confess, first they have broke a faith
17
To the most due, so just to be observed
18
That barbarousness itself may well blush at them.
19
Where is thy passion? They have shared thy crown,
20
Thy proper right of birth, contrived thy death.
21
Where is thy passion? Given thy beauteous spouse
22
To thy most hated rival. Statue, not man!
23
And last, thy friend Gelosso (man worth gods)
24
With tortures have they rent to death.
MASSINISSA
O Gelosso,
25
For thee full eyes...
SCIPIO
No passion for the rest?
MASSINISSA
26
O Scipio, my grief for him may be expressed by tears,
27
But for the rest silence, and secret anguish
28
Shall waste... shall waste. Scipio, he that can weep
29
Grieves not, like me, private deep inward drops
30
Of blood. My heart! For god’s rights give me leave
31
To be a short time man.
SCIPIO
Stay, prince.
MASSINISSA
I cease.
32
Forgive if I forget thy presence, Scipio.
33
Thy face makes Massinissa more than man,
34
And here before your steady power a vow
35
As firm as fate I make: when I desist
36
To be commanded by thy virtue, Scipio,
37
Or fall from friend of Rome’s, revenging gods
38
Afflict me worth your torture. I have given
39
Of passion and of faith my heart.
SCIPIO
To counsel, then.
40
Grief fits weak hearts, revenging virtue men.
41
Thus I think fit, before that Syphax know
42
How deeply Carthage sinks, let’s beat swift march
43
Up even to Cirta, and whilst Syphax snores
44
With his, late thine...
MASSINISSA
With mine? No, Scipio;
45
Libya hath poison, asps, knives, and to much earth
46
To make one grave. With mine? Not! She can die.
47
Scipio, with mine? Jove, say it, thou dost lie.
SCIPIO
48
Temperance be Scipio’s honor.
LAELIUS
Cease your strife:
49
She is a woman.
MASSINISSA
But she is my wife.
LAELIUS
50
And yet she is no god.
MASSINISSA
And yet she's more:
51
I do not praise gods’ goodness, but adore.
52
Gods cannot fall, and for their constant goodness
53
(Which is necessited) they have a crown
54
Of never-ending pleasures. But faint man
55
(Framed to have his weakness made the heavens’ glory),
56
If he with steady virtue holds all siege
57
That power, that speech, that pleasure, that full sweets,
58
A world of greatness can assail him with,
59
Having no pay but self-wept misery,
60
A beggar’s treasure-heap, that man I’ll praise
61
Above the gods.
SCIPIO
The Libyan speaks bold sense.
MASSINISSA
62
By that by which all is, proportion,
63
I speak with thought.
SCIPIO
No more.
MASSINISSA
Forgive my admiration:
64
You touched a string to which my sense was quick,
65
Can you but think? Do, do. My grief... my grief
66
Would make a saint blaspheme! Give some relief,
67
As thou art Scipio, forgive that I forget,
68
I am a soldier. Such woes Jove’s ribs would burst,
69
Few speak lesse ill that feel so much of worst.
70
My ear attends.
SCIPIO
Before then Syphax join,
71
With new-strengthed Carthage, or can once unwind
72
His tangled sense from out so wild amaze,
73
Fall we like sudden lightning ‘fore his eyes:
74
Boldness and spead are all of victories.
MASSINISSA
75
Scipio, let Massinissa clip thy knees!
76
May once these eyes view Syphax? Shall this arm
77
Once make him feel his sin? O ye gods!
78
My cause, my cause! Justice is so huge odds,
79
That he who with it fears, heaven must renounce
80
In his creation.
SCIPIO
Beat then a close quick march!
81
Before the morn shall shake cold dews through skies,
82
Syphax shall tremble at Rome’s thick alarms.
MASSINISSA
83
Ye powers, I challenge conquest to just arms.
With a full florish of cornets they depart
ACT FOUR
Scene 1
[Near Cirta]
Organs, viols and voices play for this act; enter Sophonisba and Zanthia, as out of a cave’s mouth
SOPHONISBA
1
Where are we, Zanthia?
ZANTHIA
Vangue said the cave
2
Opened in Belos’ forest.
SOPHONISBA
Lord, how sweet
3
I scent the air! The huge long vault’s close vein,
4
What damps it breathed! In Belos’ forest, sayest?
5
Be valiant, Zanthia. How far's Utica
6
From these most heavy shades?
ZANTHIA
Ten easy leagues.
SOPHONISBA
7
There’s Massinissa. My true Zanthia,
8
Shall’s venture nobly to escape and touch
9
My lord’s just arms? Love’s wings so justly heave
10
The body up that, as our toes shall trip
11
Over the tender and obedient grass,
12
Scarce any drop of dew is dashed to ground.
13
And see the willing shade of friendly night
14
Makes safe our instant haste. Boldness and speed
15
Make actions most impossible succeed.
ZANTHIA
16
But madam, know the forest hath no way
17
But one to pass, the which holds strictest guard.
SOPHONISBA
18
Do not betray me, Zanthia.
ZANTHIA
I, madam?
SOPHONISBA
No,
19
I not mistrust thee, yet... but...
ZANTHIA
Here you may
20
Delay your time.
SOPHONISBA
Ay, Zanthia, delay,
21
By which we may yet hope... yet hope, alas!
22
How all benumbed's my sense! Chance hath so often struck
23
I scarce can feel. I should now curse the gods,
24
Call on the furies, stamp the patient earth,
25
Cleave my stretched cheeks with sound, speak from all sense
26
But loud and full of players’ eloquence.
27
No, no; what shall we eat?
ZANTHIA
Madam, I’ll search
28
For some ripe nuts which autumn hath shook down
29
From the unleaved hasel; then some cooler air
30
Shall lead me to a spring. Or I will try
31
The courteous pale of some poor foresters
32
For milk.
Exit Zanthia
SOPHONISBA
Do, Zanthia. O happiness
33
Of those that know not pride or lust of city!
34
There’s no man blessed but those that most men pity.
35
O fortunate poore maids that are not forced
36
To wed for state nor are for state divorced!
37
Whom policy of kingdoms doth not marry
38
But pure affection makes to love or vary,
39
You feel no love which you dare not to show,
40
Nor show a love which doth not truly grow.
41
O you are surely blessed of the sky!
42
You live, that know not death before you die.
Through the vault’s mouth, in his night gown, torch in his hand, Syphax enters just behind Sophonisba
43
You are...
SYPHAX
...in Syphax’s arms! Thing of false lip,
44
What god shall now release thee?
SOPHONISBA
Art a man?
SYPHAX
45
Thy limbs shall feel! Despite thy virtue, know
46
I'll thread thy richest pearl. This forest’s deaf,
47
As is my lust. Night and the god of silence
48
Swells my full pleasures, no more shalt thou delude
49
My easy credence. Virgin of fair brow,
50
Well-featured creature, and our utmost wonder,
51
Queen of our youthful bed, be proud,
Syphax setteth away his light and prepareth to embrace Sophonosiba
52
I’ll use thee.
Sophonisba snatcheth out her knife
SOPHONISBA
53
Look thee, view this! Show but one strain of force,
54
Bow but to seize this arm, and by myself,
55
Or more by Massinissa, this good steel
56
Shall set my soul on wing. Thus, formed gods, see,
57
And men with gods’ worth, envy nought but me!
SYPHAX
58
Do, strike thy breast. Know, being dead, I’ll use
59
With highest lust of sense thy senseless flesh,
60
And even then thy vexed soul shall see,
61
Without resistance, thy trunk prostitute
62
Unto our appetite.
SOPHONISBA
I shame to make thee know
63
How vile thou speakest. Corruption then as much
64
As thou shalt do; but frame unto thy lusts
65
Imagination’s utmost sin: Syphax,
66
I speak all frightless, know I live or die
67
To Massinissa. Nor the force of fate
68
Shall make me leave his loue, or slake thy hate.
69
I will speak no more.
SYPHAX
70
Thou hast amazed us: woman’s forced use,
71
Like unripe fruits, no sooner got but waste.
72
They have proportion, color but no taste.
73
[Aside]
Think, Syphax... Sophonisba, rest thine own.74
Our guard!
Enter a guard
75
Creature of most astonishing virtue,
76
If with faire usage, love, and passionate courtings
77
We may obtain the heaven of thy bed,
78
We cease no suit. From other force be free:
79
We dote not on thy body, but love thee.
SOPHONISBA
80
Wilt thou keep faith?
SYPHAX
81
By thee and by that power
82
By which thou art thus glorious, trust my vow.
83
Our guard, convey the royalest excellence
84
That ever was called woman to our palace;
85
Observe her with strict care.
[Enter Zanthia]
SOPHONISBA
Dread Syphax, speak
86
As thou art worthy: is not Zanthia false?
SYPHAX
87
To thee she is.
SOPHONISBA
As thou art then thyself,
88
Let her not be.
SYPHAX
She is not!
The guard seizeth Zanthia
ZANTHIA
89
Thus most speed:
90
When two foes are grown friends, partakers bleed.
SYPHAX
91
When plants must florish their manure must rot.
SOPHONISBA
92
Syphax, be recompensed: I hate thee not.
Sophonisba exits
SYPHAX
93
A wasting flame feeds on my amorous blood,
94
Which we must cool or die. What way all power,
95
All speech, full opportunity can make,
96
We have made fruitless trial. Infernal Jove,
97
You resolute angels that delight in flames,
98
To you, all wonder working spirits, I fly!
99
Since heaven helps not, deepest hell we’ll try.
100
Here, in this desert, the great soul of charms,
101
Dreadful Erichtho lives, whose dismal brow
102
Contemns all roofs or civil coverture.
103
Forsaken graves and tombs, the ghosts forced out,
104
She joys to inhabit.
Infernal music plays softly whilst Erichtho enters, and when she speaks ceaseth
105
A loathsome yellow leanness spreades her face,
106
A heavy hell-like paleness loads her cheeks,
107
Unknown to a clear heaven. But if dark winds
108
Or thick black clouds drive back the blinded stars
109
When her deep magic makes forced heaven quake
110
And thunder spite of Jove. Erichtho then
111
From naked graves stalks out, heaves proud her head
112
With long uncombed hair loaden, and strives to snatch
113
The night’s quick sulphur. Then she bursts up tombs,
114
From half-rot sear-cloths then she scrapes dry gums
115
For her black rites. But when she finds a corpse
116
Newly graved, whose entrails yet not turn
117
To slimy filth, with greedy havock then
118
she makes fierce spoil and swells with wicked triumph
119
To bury her lean knuckles in his eyes.
120
Then doth she gnaw the pale and o’ergrown nails
121
From his dry hand. But if she find some life
122
Yet lurking close, she bites his gelid lips,
123
And sticking her black tongue in his dry throat
124
She breathes dire murmurs, which enforce him bear
125
Her baneful secrets to the spirits of horror.
126
To her first sound, the gods yield any harm,
127
As trembling once to hear a second charm.
128
She is...
ERICHTHO
...here, Syphax, here! Quake not, for know
129
I know thy thoughts. Thou wouldst entreat our power,
130
Nice Sophonisba's passion to enforce
131
To thy affection, be all full of Jove.
132
’Tis done, ’tis done; to us heave, earth, sea, air,
133
And Fate itself obeys. The beasts of death,
134
And all the terrors angry gods invented
135
(T'afflict th'ignorance of patient man),
136
Tremble at us. The rolled-up snake uncurls
137
His twisted knots at our affrighting voice.
138
Are we incensed? The king of flames grows pale,
139
Lest he be choked with black and earthy fumes,
140
Which our charms raise. Be joyed, make proud thy lust,
141
I do not pray you, gods: my breath’s “You must”.
SYPHAX
142
Deep-knowing spirit, mother of all high
143
Misterious science, what may Syphax yield,
144
Worthy thy art, by which my soul's thus eased?
145
The gods first made me live, but thou live pleased.
ERICHTHO
146
Know then, our love, hard by the reverent ruins
147
Of a once glorious temple reared to Jove,
148
Whose very rubbish (like the pitied fall
149
Of virtue much unfortunate) yet bears
150
A deathless majesty, though now quite rased,
151
Hurled down by wrath and lust of impious kings,
152
So that where holy flamens wont to sing
153
Sweet hymns to heaven, there the daw and crow,
154
The ill-voiced raven, and still-chattering pie,
155
Send out ungrateful sound and loathsome filth;
156
Where statues and Jove’s acts were vively limned
157
Boys with black coals, draw the veiled parts of nature
158
And leacherous actions of imagined lust;
159
Where tombs and beauteous urns of well-dead men
160
Stood in assured rest, the shepherd now
161
Unloads his belly, corruption most abhorred
162
Mingling itself with their renowned ashes,
163
Ourself quakes at it.
164
There once a charnel house, now a vast cave,
165
Over whose brow a pale and untrod grove
166
Throws out her heavy shade, the mouth thick arms
167
Of darksome yew (sun-proof) for ever choke.
168
Within rests barren darkness; fruitless drought
169
Pines in eternal night; the steam of Hell
170
Yields not so lazy air; there, that's my cell.
171
From thence a charm which Jove dare not hear twice,
172
Shall force her to thy bed. But Syphax, know:
173
Love is the highest rebel to our art.
174
Therefore I charge thee, by the fear of all
175
Which thou knowest dreadful, or more, by ourself:
176
As with swift haste she passeth to thy bed
177
And easy to thy wishes yields, speak not one word,
178
Nor dare, as thou dost fear thy loss of joys
179
T'admit one light, one light.
SYPHAX
As to my fate,
180
I yield my guidance.
ERICHTHO
Then, when I shall force
181
The air to music and the shades of night
182
To form sweet sounds, make proud thy raised delight.
183
Meantime, behold, I go a charm to rear
184
Whose potent sound will force ourself to fear.
[Exit Erichtho]
SYPHAX
185
Whither is Syphax heaved? At length shall’s joy
186
Hopes more desired than heaven? Sweet laboring earth,
187
Let heaven be unformed with mighty charms,
188
Let Sophonisba only fill these arms.
189
Jove, we’ll not envy thee. Blood’s appetite
190
Is Syphax’s god. My wisdom is my sense,
191
Without a man I hold no excellence.
192
Give me long breath, young beds, and sickness’ ease;
193
For we hold firm that’s lawfull which doth please.
Infernal music softly
194
Hark, hark! Now rise infernal tones,
195
The deep-fetched groans
196
Of laboring spirits that attend
197
Erichtho.
ERICHTHO
198
Within
Erichtho.
SYPHAX
199
Now crack the trembling earth, and send
200
Shrieks that portend
201
Affrightment to the gods which hear
202
Erichtho.
ERICHTHO
203
Within
Erichtho.
A treble viol and a base lute play softly within the canopy
204
Hark, hark, now softer melody strikes mute
205
Disquiet nature. O thou power of sound,
206
How thou dost melt me! Hark, now even heaven
207
Gives up his soul amongst us. Now's the time
208
When greedy expectation strains mine eyes
209
For their loved object. Now Erichtho willed
210
Prepare my appetite for love’s strict gripes.
211
O you dear founts of pleasure, blood and beauty,
212
Raise active Venus worth fruition
213
Of such provoking sweetness. Hark, she comes!
A short song to soft music above
214
Now nuptial hymns enforced spirits sing.
215
Hark, Syphax, hark! Now hell and heaven rings.
Cantant
216
With music spite of Phoebus. Peace, she comes!
Enter Erichtho in the shape of Sophonisba, her face veiled and hasteth in the bed of Syphax
217
Fury of blood’s impatient: Erichtho,
218
‘Bove thunder sit. To thee, egregious soul,
219
Let all flesh bend. Sophonisba, thy flame
220
But equal mine, and we’ll joy such delight
221
That gods shall not admire but even spite!
Syphax hasteneth within the canopy as to Sophonisba’s bed
ACT FIVE
Scene 1
[Bedchamber in the palace of Syphax]
A base lute and a treble viol play for the act; Syphax draws the curtains and discovers Erichtho lying with him
ERICHTHO
1
Ha, ha, ha!
SYPHAX
Light, light!
ERICHTHO
Ha, ha!
SYPHAX
2
Thou rotten scum of hell!
3
O my abhorred heat! O loathed delusion!
They leap out of the bed [and] Syphax takes him to his sword
ERICHTHO
4
Why, fool of kings, could thy weak soul imagine
5
That ’tis within the grasp of heaven or hell
6
To enforce love? Why, know love dotes the fates,
7
Jove groans beneath his weight: mere ignorant thing,
8
Know we, Erichtho, with a thirsty womb
9
Have coveted full threescore suns for blood of kings.
10
We that can make enraged Neptune toss
11
His huge curled locks without one breath of wind,
12
We that can make heaven slide from Atlas’ shoulder,
13
We in the pride and height of covetous lust,
14
Have wished with woman’s greedines to fill
15
Our longing arms with Syphax’s well-strung limbs.
16
And dost thou think if philters or hell’s charms
17
Could have enforced thy use we would have deigned
18
Brain sleights? No, no, now are we full
19
Of our dear wishes. Thy proud heat, well wasted,
20
Hath made our limbs grow young. Our love, farwell!
21
Know he that would force love thus seeks his hell.
Erichtho slips into the ground as Syphax offers his sword to her
SYPHAX
22
Can we yet breathe? is any plagued like me?
23
Are we — let’s think — O now contempt, my hate
24
To thee, thy thunder, sulphur and scorned name!
25
He whose life’s loathed, and he who breathes to curse
26
His very being; let him thus with me
Syphax kneels at the altar
27
Fall ‘fore an altar sacred to black powers
28
And thus dare heavens! O thou whose blasting flames
29
Hurl barren droughts upon the patient earth,
30
And thou, gay god of riddles and strange tales,
31
Hot-brained Phoebus, all add if you can
32
Something unto my misery! If aught
33
Of plagues lurk in your deep-trenched brows,
34
Which yet I know not, let them fall like bolts,
35
Which wrathful Jove drives strong into my bosom.
36
If any chance of war, or news ill-voiced,
37
Mischeife unthought of lurk, come, gift us all,
38
Heap curse on curse: we can no lower fall.
Out of the altar the ghost of Asdrubal ariseth
ASDRUBAL
39
Lower, lower...
SYPHAX
What damned air is formed
40
Into that shape? Speak, speak! We cannot quake!
41
Our flesh knows not ignoble tremblings, speak!
42
We dare thy terror. Methinks hell and fate
43
Should dread a soul with woes made desperate.
ASDRUBAL
44
Know me the spirit of great Asdrubal,
45
Father to Sophonisba, whose bad heart
46
Made justly most unfortunate: for know
47
I turned unfaithful, after which the field
48
Chanced to our loss, when of thy men there fell
49
Six thousand souls, next fight of Libyans ten.
50
After which loss we unto Carthage flying,
51
Th’enraged people cried their army fell
52
Through my base treason. Straight my revengeful Furies
53
Makes them pursue me, I with resolute haste
54
Made to the grave of all our ancestors
55
Where, poisoned, hoped my bones should have long rest.
56
But see, the violent multitude arrives,
57
Tear down our monument, and me now dead
58
Deny a grave, hurl us among the rocks
59
To staunch beasts’ hunger. Therefore thus ungraved
60
I seek slow rest: now dost thou know more woes,
61
And more must feel. Mortals, O fear to slight
62
Your gods and vows: Jove’s arm is of dread might.
SYPHAX
63
Yet speak: shall I o’ercome approaching foes?
ASDRUBAL
64
Spirits of wrath know nothing but their woes.
Exit
Enter Nuntius
NUNTIUS
65
My liege, my liege!
66
The scouts of Cirta bring intelligence
67
Of sudden danger: full ten thousand horse,
68
Fresh and well-rid, strong Massinissa leads
69
As wings to Roman legions that march swift
70
Led by that man of conquest, Scipio.
SYPHAX
Scipio?
NUNTIUS
71
Direct to Cirta.
A march far off is heard
72
Hark! Their march is heard even to the city.
SYPHAX
73
Help! Our guard, my arms!
74
Bid all our leaders march! Beat thick alarms!
75
I have seen things which thou wouldst quake to hear.
76
Boldness and strength! The shame of slaves be fear.
77
Up, heart! Hold sword! though waves roll thee on shelf,
78
Though fortune leave thee, leave not thou thyself.
Exit arming
Scene 2
[Neigborhood of Cirta]
Enter two pages with targets and javelins; Laelius and Jugurth with halberds; Scipio and Massinissa armed; cornets sounding a march
SCIPIO
1
Stand!
MASSINISSA
Give the word, stand!
SCIPIO
Part the file!
MASSINISSA
Give way!
2
Scipio, by thy great name but greater virtue,
3
By our eternal love, give me the chance
4
Of this day’s battle. Let not thy envied fame
5
Vouchsafe t’oppose the Roman legions
6
Against one weakened prince of Libya.
7
This quarrel’s mine, mine be the stroke of fight!
8
Let us and Syphax hurl our well-forced darts
9
Each unto other’s breast. O (what should I say?)
10
Thou beyond epithet, thou whom proud lords of fortune
11
May even envy... Alas, my joy’s so vast
12
Makes me seem lost. Let us thunder and lightning
13
Strike from our brave arms! Look, look, seize that hill!
14
Hark, he comes near! From thence discern us strike
15
Fire worth Jove; mount up, and not repute
16
Me very proud, though wondrous resolute.
17
My cause: my cause is my bold heartening odds,
18
That sevenfold shield; just arms should fright the gods.
SCIPIO
19
Thy words are full of honor; take thy fate.
MASSINISSA
20
Which we do scorn to feare, to Scipio state
21
Worthy his heart. Now let the forced brass
22
Sound on!
Cornets sound a march; Scipio leads his train up to the mount
23
Jugurth, clasp sure our casque,
24
Arm us with care, and Jugurth: if I fall
25
Through this day’s malice or our fathers’ sins,
26
If it in thy sword lie, break up my breast
27
And save my heart that never fell nor sued
28
To aught but Jove and Sophonisba. Sound
29
Stern hearteners unto wounds and blood, sound loud,
30
For we have named Sophonisba!
Cornets a florish
Cornets, a march far off
SCIPIO
31
Hark, hark, he comes! Stand blood, now multiply
32
Force more than fury! Sound high, sound high, we strike
33
For Sophonisba!
Enter Syphax armed, his pages with shields and darts before; cornets sounding marches
SYPHAX
34
For Sophonisba!
MASSINISSA
35
Syphax!
SYPHAX
Massinissa!
MASSINISSA
Betwixt us two,
36
Let single fight try all.
SYPHAX
Well urged.
MASSINISSA
Well granted.
37
Of you, my stars, as I am worthy you,
38
I implore aid. And O, if angels wait
39
Upon good hearts, my genius be as strong
40
As I am just.
SYPHAX
Kings’ glory is their wrong.
41
He that may only do just act's a slave.
42
My god’s my arm, my life, my heaven; my grave
43
To me all end.
MASSINISSA
Give day, gods. Life, not death,
44
To him that onely fears blaspheming breath.
45
For Sophonisba!
SYPHAX
For Sophonisba!
Cornets sound a charge; Massinissa and Syphax combat; Syphax falls; Massinissa unclasps Syphax’s casque, and is ready to kil him [when] Syphax speaks
SYPHAX
46
Unto thy fortune, not to thee, we yield!
MASSINISSA
47
Lives Sophonisba yet unstained? Speak just:
48
Yet ours unforced?
SYPHAX
Let my heart fall more low
49
Than is my body, if only to thy glory
50
She lives not yet all thine.
MASSINISSA
Rise, rise, cease strife!
51
Hear a most deep revenge: from us take life!
Cornets sound a march; Scipio and Laelius enter; Scipio passeth to his throne; Massinissa presents Syphax to Scipio’s feet; cornets sounding a florish
52
To you all power of strength; and next to thee,
53
Thou spirit of triumph, born for victory,
54
I heave these hands. March we to Cirta straight
55
My Sophonisba with swift haste to win,
56
In honor and in love all mean is sin.
Exit Massinissa and Jugurth
SCIPIO
57
As we are Rome’s great Generall, thus we press
58
Thy captive neck. But as still Scipio,
59
And sensible of just humanity,
60
We weep thy bondage. Speak, thou ill-chanced man,
61
What spirit took thee when thou wert our friend
62
(Thy right hand given both to gods and us
63
With such most passionate vows and solemn faith),
64
Thou fledst with such most foul disloyalty
65
To now weak Carthage? Strengthening their bad arms,
66
Who lately scornd thee with all loathed abuse,
67
Who never entertain for love but use?
SYPHAX
68
Scipio, my fortune is captived, not I,
69
Therefore I’ll speak bold truth; nor once mistrust
70
What I shall say, for now being wholy yours
71
I must not feign: Sophonisba, 'twas she,
72
T'was Sophonisba that solicited
73
My forced revolt. T’was her resistless suit,
74
Her love to her dear Carthage, ’ticed me break
75
All faith with men. T’was she made Syphax false.
76
She that loves Carthage with such violence
77
And hath such moving graces to allure,
78
That she will turn a man that once hath sworn
79
Himself on's father’s bones her Carthage foe
80
To be that city’s champion and high friend.
81
Hir hymeneal torch burnt down my house;
82
Then was I captived, when her wanton arms
83
There moving clasped about my neck. O charms,
84
Able to turn even Fate! But this, in my true grief,
85
Is some just joy, that my love-sotted foe
86
Shall seize that plague; that Massinissa’s breast
87
Her hands shall arm, and that ere long you’ll try
88
She can force him your foe as well as I.
SCIPIO
89
Laelius, Laelius, take a choice troop of horse
90
And spur to Cirta. To Massinissa thus:
91
Syphax’s palace, crown’s spoil, city’s sack,
92
Be free to him. But if our new-leagued friend
93
Possess that woman of so moving art,
94
Charge him with no less weight than his dear vow,
95
Our love, all faith, that he resigne her the
96
As he shall answer Rome, will him give up
97
A Roman prisoner to the Senate’s doom:
98
She is a Carthaginian. Now our laws
99
Wise men prevent not actions, but euer cause.
SYPHAX
100
Good Malice, so, as liberty so dear,
101
Prove my revenge: what I cannot possess
102
Another shall not. That’s some happiness.
Exeunt the cornets flourishing
Scene 3
[Cirta]
The cornets afar off sounding a charge; a soldier wounded at one door; enters at the other Sophonisba, two pages before her with lights, two women bearing up her train
SOLDIER
1
Princess, O fly! Syphax hath lost the day,
2
And captived lies. The Roman legions
3
Have seized the town, and with inveterate hate
4
Make slaves or murder all. Fire and steel,
5
Fury and night hold all. Fair queen, O fly!
6
We bleed for Carthage, all for Carthage die!
Exit
The cornets sounding a march; enter pages with javelins and targets, Massinissa and Jugurth, Massinissa’s beaver shut
MASSINISSA
7
March to the palace.
SOPHONISBA
Whate’er man thou art,
8
Of Libya thy fair arms speak, give heart
9
To amazed weakeness. Hear her, that for long time
10
Hath seen no wished light. Sophonisba,
11
A name for misery much known, ’tis she
12
Entreats of thy graced sword this only boon:
13
Let me not kneel to Rome. For though no cause
14
Of mine deserves their hate, though Massinissa
15
Be ours to heart, yet Roman generals
16
Make proud their triumphs with whatever captives.
17
O ’tis a nation which from soul I fear,
18
As one well knowing the much grounded hate
19
They bear to Asdrubal and Carthage blood.
20
Therefore, with tears that wash thy feet, with hands
21
Unused to beg, I clasp thy manly knees:
22
O save me from their fetters and contempt,
23
Their proud insults and more than insolence!
24
Or, if it rest not in thy grace of breath
25
To grant such freedom, give me long-wished death;
26
For ’tis not much loathed life that now we craue,
27
Only an unshamed death and silent grave
28
We will now deign to bend for.
MASSINISSA
Rarity!
Massinissa disarms his head
29
By thee and this right hand thou shalt live free!
SOPHONISBA
30
We cannot now be wretched.
MASSINISSA
Stay the sword!
31
Let slaughter cease! Sounds soft as Leda’s breast
Soft music
32
Slide through all ears. This night be love’s high feast.
SOPHONISBA
33
O’erwhelm me not with sweets! Let me not drink
34
‘Till my breast burst, O Jove, thy nectar-skink!
She sinks into Massinissa’s arms
MASSINISSA
35
She is o’ercome with joy!
SOPHONISBA
Help! Help to bear
36
Some happiness, ye powers, I have joy to spare!
37
Enough to make a god! O Massinissa!
MASSINISSA
Peace!
38
A silent thinking makes full joys increase!
Enter Laelius
LAELIUS
39
Massinissa.
MASSINISSA
Laelius.
LAELIUS
Thine ear.
MASSINISSA
Stand off.
[Massinissa and Laelius move away from Sophonisba]
LAELIUS
40
From Scipio thus: by thy late vow of faith,
41
And mutual league of endless amity,
42
As thou respects his virtue or Rome’s force,
43
Deliver Sophonisba to our hand.
MASSINISSA
44
Sophonisba?
LAELIUS
Sophonisba.
SOPHONISBA
[Aside]
My lord
45
Looks pale, and from his half-burst eyes a flame
46
Of deep disquiet breaks. The gods turn false
47
My sad presage!
MASSINISSA
Sophonisba?
LAELIUS
Even she.
MASSINISSA
48
Shee killed not Scipio’s father nor his uncle,
49
Great Cneius.
LAELIUS
Carthage did.
MASSINISSA
To her what’s Carthage?
LAELIUS
50
Know ’twas her father Asdrubal struck off
51
His father’s head. Give place to faith and fate!
MASSINISSA
52
’Tis cross to honor.
LAELIUS
But ’tis just to state.
53
So speaketh Scipio. Do not thou detain
54
A Roman prisoner, due to this great triumph,
55
As thou shalt answer Rome and him.
MASSINISSA
Laelius.
56
We now are in Rome’s power. Laelius,
57
View Massinissa do a loathed act,
58
Most sinking from that state his heart did keep.
59
Look, Laelius, look! See Massinissa weep!
60
Know I have made a vow more dear to me
61
Than my soul’s endless being: she shall rest
62
Free from Rome’s bondage.
LAELIUS
But dost thou forget
63
Thy vow, yet fresh, thus breathed: “When I desist
64
To be commanded by thy virtue, Scipio,
65
Or fall from friend of Rome, revenging gods,
66
Afflict me with your torture.”
MASSINISSA
Laelius, enough.
67
Salute the Roman, tell him we will act
68
What shall amaze him.
LAELIUS
Wilt thou yield her, then?
MASSINISSA
69
She shall arrive there straight.
LAELIUS
Best fate of men
70
To thee.
MASSINISSA
And Scipio.
[Aside]
Have I lived, O heavens,
71
To be enforcedly perfidious?
[Exit Laelius with pages]
SOPHONISBA
72
What unjust grief afflicts my worthy lord?
MASSINISSA
73
Thank me, ye gods, with much beholdingness;
74
For mark, I do not curse you.
SOPHONISBA
Tell me, sweet,
75
The cause of thy much anguish.
MASSINISSA
Ha, the cause?
76
Let's see: wreathe back thine arms, bend down thy neck,
77
Practice base prayers, make fit thyself for bondage.
SOPHONISBA
78
Bondage?
MASSINISSA
Bondage. Roman bondage.
SOPHONISBA
No, No!
MASSINISSA
79
How then have I vowed well to Scipio?
SOPHONISBA
80
How then to Sophonisba?
MASSINISSA
Right, which way?
81
Run mad! Impossible! Distraction!
SOPHONISBA
82
Dear lord, thy patience! Let it maze all power,
83
And list to her in whose sole heart it rests
84
To keep thy faith upright.
MASSINISSA
Wilt thou be slaved?
SOPHONISBA
85
No, free.
MASSINISSA
How then keep I my faith?
SOPHONISBA
My death
86
Gives help to all. From Rome so rest we free;
87
So brought to Scipio, faith is kept in thee.
Enter a page with a bowl of wine
MASSINISSA
88
Thou darest not die... Some wine! Thou darest not die!
SOPHONISBA
89
How near was I unto the curse of man: joy.
90
How like was I yet once to have been glad!
91
He that ne’er laughed may with a constant face
92
Contemn Jove’s frown: Happiness makes us base.
She takes a bowl into which Massinissa puts poison
93
Behold me, Massinissa, like thyself,
94
A king and soldier. And I prithee keep
95
My last command.
MASSINISSA
Speak, sweet.
SOPHONISBA
Dear, do not weep.
96
And now, with undismayed resolve behold,
97
To save you... you (for honor and just faith
98
Are most true gods which we should much adore),
99
With even disdainful vigor I give up
100
An abhorred life!
She drinks
You have been good to me,
101
And I do thank thee, heaven. O my stars,
102
I bless your goodness, that with breast unstained,
103
Faith pure, a virgin wife, tried to my glory
104
I die, of female faith, the long-lived story;
105
Secure from bondage and all servile harms,
106
But more most happy in my husband’s arms.
She sinks
JUGURTH
107
Massinissa, Massinissa!
MASSINISSA
Covetous,
108
Fame-greedy lady, could no scope of glory,
109
No reasonable proportion of goodness
110
Fill thy great breast, but thou must prove immense
111
Incomprehence in virtue! What wouldst thou
112
Not only be admired, but even adored?
113
O glory ripe for heaven! Sirs, help, help, help!
114
Let us to Scipio with what speed you can!
115
For piety make haste, whilst yet we are man!
Exeunt bearing Sophonisba in a chair
Scene 4
[Neighborhood of Cirta]
Cornets a march; enter Scipio in full state, triumphal ornaments carried before him, and Syphax bound; at the other door Laelius
SCIPIO
1
What answers Massinissa? Will he send
2
That Sophonisba of so moving tongue?
LAELIUS
3
Full of dismayed unsteadiness he stood,
4
His right hand locked in hers, which hand he gave
5
As pledge from Rome she ever should live free.
6
But when I entered and well urged this vow
7
And thy command, his great heart sunk with shame.
8
His eyes lost spirit, and his heat of life
9
Sank from his face, as one that stood benumbed,
10
All mazed, t'effect impossibilities,
11
For either unto her or Scipio
12
He must break vow. Long time he tossed his thoughts,
13
And as you see a snowball being rolled,
14
At first a handful yet long bowled about
15
Insensibly acquires a mighty globe,
16
So his cold grief through agitation grows,
17
And more he thinks the more of grief he knows.
18
At last he seemed to yield her.
SYPHAX
Mark, Scipio:
19
Trust him that breaks a vow?
SCIPIO
How then trust thee?
SYPHAX
20
O misdoubt him not, when he's thy slave like me.
Enter Massinissa, all in black
MASSINISSA
21
Scipio.
SCIPIO
Massinissa.
MASSINISSA
General.
SCIPIO
King.
MASSINISSA
22
Lives there no mercy for one soul of Carthage,
23
But must see baseness?
SCIPIO
Wouldst thou joy thy peace,
24
Deliver Sophonisba straight and cease.
25
Do not grasp that which is too hot to hold:
26
We grace thy grief, and hold it with soft sense;
27
Enjoy good courage, but ‘void insolence.
28
I tell thee, Rome and Scipio deign to bear
29
So low a breast as for her say, we fear.
MASSINISSA
30
Do not, do not. Let not the fright of nations
31
Know so vile terms. She rests at thy dispose.
SYPHAX
32
To my soul joy! Shall Sophonisba then
33
With me go bound and wait on Scipio’s wheel?
34
When th' whole world’s giddy, one man cannot reel!
MASSINISSA
35
Starve thy lean hopes, and Romans, now behold
36
A sight would sad the gods, make Phoebus cold.
Organ and recorders play to a single voice; enter in the meantime the mournful solemnity of Massinissa’s presenting Sophonisba’s body
37
Look, Scipio, see what hard shift we make
38
To keep our vows. Here, take, I yield her thee,
39
And Sophonisba, I keep vow: thou art still free.
SYPHAX
40
Burst my vexed heart! The torture that most racks
41
An enemy is his foe’s royal acts.
SCIPIO
42
The glory of thy virtue live forever:
43
Brave hearts may be obscured, but extinct never.
Scipio adorns Massinissa
44
Take from the general of Rome this crown,
45
This robe of triumph, and this conquest’s wreath,
46
This scepter, and this hand: forever breathe
47
Rome’s very minion. Live worth thy fame
48
As far from faintings as from now base name.
MASSINISSA
49
Thou, whom like sparkling steel the strokes of chance
50
Made hard and firm, and like wildfire turned,
51
The more cold fate, more bright thy virtue burned,
52
And in whole seas of miseries didst flame.
53
On thee, loved creature of a deathless fame,
Massinissa adorns Sophonisba
54
Rest all my honour. O thou for whom I drink
55
So deep of grief, that he must only think,
56
Not dare to speak, that would express my woe;
57
Small rivers murmur, deep gulfs silent flow.
58
My grief is here, not here. Heave gently then,
59
Women’s right wonder, and just shame of men.
Cornets a short florish; Exeunt all but Massinissa
Epilogue
MASSINISSA
1
And now,
2
With lighter passion, though with most just fear,
3
I change my person, and do hither bear
4
Another’s voice, who with a phrase as weak
5
As his deserts now willed me thus formed, speak:
6
If words well sensed, best suiting subject grave,
7
Noble true story, may once boldly crave
8
Acceptance gracious; if he whose fires
9
Envy not others, nor himself admires;
10
If scenes exempt from ribaldry or rage,
11
Of taxings indiscreet, may please the stage;
12
If such may hope applause, he not commands,
13
Yet craves as due the justice of your hands.
14
But freely he protests, howe’er it is—
15
Or well, or ill, or much, not much amiss—
16
With constant modesty he doth submit
17
To all, save those that have more tongue than wit.