Act 1 Scene 2

Hamilcar’s residence, Carthage. Enter Hamilcar Barca, who paces restlessly up and down a room in his house, and then Stands by the window, sees rain and reflects.

Hamilcar: The rains fall down on the parched earth beneath but, ay, they can with all their splendour only douse the fire in the hearts of the tillers of the soil, but not inside us. No rain, no soothing wind nor bounteous and joyful sunshine can ever cause a stir or provoke feelings, which can bring delight to our souls. I had given it all;fought ‘gainst the feisty waves and threatening tides, against direst thunder and ship-wrecking storms, yet my country faced defeat. Rome is all o’these and more, muchmore than I thought my mortal hands could defeat. However, the fire of revenge burns in me, for it has always been mine sole belief that Rome should never have all the glory .To stop Rome now were to build an army of mine own.That job to be accomplished, I must flee from Carthage, because here the Government is withered and restless, here only idiocracy rules, so no laborious toil shall ever bear fruit. Nay,’twere better to leave home and venture into newly won Iberia, to find new for fortune, lest that too shall in time’s relentless course render a hand to Rome.

Enter Hasdrubal, the Fair

How does the troops now? What about our plans to sail to Iberia?

Hasdrubal, the Fair: Lord Hamilcar, I have given much thought to thy wishes, however to say sooth, our beloved Carthage is not supplied with fleets of sea-worthy vessels that adorn our enemy’s docks. So we must march inland unto the Pillars of Hercules, wherein we shall set sail across the the Gulf of Gibraltar and chase our fortune in the foreign land. But my Lord do you propose to bring along any of thy children along.

Hamilcar: I have given that much thought and, as much I want them to be able warriors, I still cannot
vouch say that they shall be safe thither in the foreign land. I believe these sturdy walls of
this robust fortress shall prevent them from trouble.

Enter Young Hannibal

Young Hannibal: Father I hear a rumble at the northern entry, are these noises made by thy troops.

Hamilcar: Ay, son for I am moving off to a newly conquered place, to renew my war effort and reclaim
our lost grace.

Young Hannibal: Wilt thou noble father, take me there too?

Hamilcar: Nay my son, for thou art too young to make enemies and wage war in uncharted territory.

Young Hannibal: I implore thee father, prithee, take me with thee and teach me all the necessities essential in a true warrior.

Hamilcar: What say you boy! Inside thine eyes I see a fire raging! Wherefore gotst thou this fiery vision, that should, like ornaments of a woman, glorify a man’s face and not be encountered in the innocence of childhood ?

Young Hannibal: From thee most noble father, by virtue and right of birth I do inherit this fire to cast at mine enemies, those that Carthage didst fight against. I know them that thou hatest withal; I feel thy passion and like any beloved son, I would like to assist thee wholeheartedly in thy every single task that thou undertake.

Hamilcar: Do you wish learn the art to crush an invincible Rome?

Young Hannibal: Yes, if thou shalt teach me father.

Hasdrubal, the Fair: Lord Hamilcar, his addition to our midst shall bolster our success not impede it. His desire shall fuel the flame of ambition to defeat Rome. I suggest he be incorporated in the army and taught the martial lessons from this tender age. I feel that from his brothers shall inspiration draw and then I shall teach them all that I have learnt from thee to groom them into feared warriors and cunning
generals.


Hamilcar: So methinks me will.

Enter a senior Captain

Captain: My Lord, the troops are in full readiness; they await your command.

Hamilcar: Go tell them good Captain that on the morrow, at first light, we shall march towards the Pillars of Hercules, and from their set sail. Hasdrubal, the Fair, also ready thy troops.

Hasdrubal, the Fair: I shall shortly.

Captain: I shall do as told.

[Exeunt Hasdrubal, the Fair along with the Captain

Hamilcar: Now son prepare to face thy fate that thou art so eager to put on thy young and immature shoulders.

Young Hannibal: I will father and do thy every bidding from now on.

Hamilcar: Then follow me, son.

[Exeunt

Act 1 Scene 1

Night, outside the city of Carthage, thunder and lightning. Enter four citizens

1st citizen: The Heavens rumble; they herald the coming of restless and uncertain times,where poor men must tread with caution, pay heed to the unnatural deeds and live in fear of unsafe future, tormented by misery and turmoil, as doth seem in night’s sky above.

2nd citizen: Ay, as these clouds summon rain from the Mediterranean, they prate about Rome’s sole reign over all these magnificent lands. These are indeed accursed hours.

[Aside] Things that doth seem unbecoming of nature are given shape,and men liable to complacency are wasted in their full summer bloom.

[To 1st citizen] How stands the state of war now? Did our troops return?

1st citizen: Ay they are come back. The enforcers of governance see the time fit to blame the failed generals of the 1st Punic war generals and cast them off. Yet I hear of the tale of one great general whose name to our mortals ears brings some hope.

3rd citizen: Ay, ‘tis Hamilcar Barca who with some success fought ‘gainst the Romans In Iberia whilst fleeing from Sicily, ay, can even he protect this beleaguered nation, from the plight of Roman tyranny?


4th citizen: It doth seem rather peculiar that we should fall to Rome like rabbits to a falcon !

Enter two soldiers

1st soldier: What meanest thou by this mockery at this horrifying and frightening hour of the night? Heard you not the clock? ‘Tis time that thou fools should hie to thy homes and not discuss the state of affairs that is but the headache of Senators.

2nd soldier: Besides that the night seems rough;’tis not meet that you all should stand and incur the wrath of the heavens.


4th citizen: ‘Tis most needed to go homeward ho, when the heavens to us their anger show; yet I beg thee answer my query: Shall all our lives be touched by the turmoil of the Heavens or we like satiated men live to see happier times.


2nd soldier: To that question, old father, I have no answer; but hope thou still; That our leaders to us will belief instill; so till that time methinks the nightis hazardous to thy cause and so all of thee must now go.

[Exeunt the citizens

1st soldier: That ends, but now I fear the executioners fatal axe shall find many a victim.

2nd soldier: Ay; I agree.

Alarum within and Terrible Noises

2nd soldier: Hark what noise cometh hither; are bloody executions done?

1st soldier: Me fears so but can do nothing for those wretched souls. Lord, keep us sound and let our motherland lose no more sons of theirs at the executioners hands.

2nd soldier: Amen, and let it be.

Alarum

1st soldier: Methinks that the nights business is over;let us proceed to our nightly posts, and hope each morrow bears us welcome notes.

[Exeunt

Prologue

The 1st Punic war is at an end, and Carthage has been humiliated. 

Hamilcar Barca has returned partially victorious- he was driven out of Sicily and then he conquered Hispania.

Well not all of it but he did enough to get a toe hold on that land from where later his son would launch a vicious campaign to unseat Rome herself!

In a desolate shore of a nondescript Hispanic beach. Thunder and Lightning, and Enter Chaos.

Chaos:  Let countrymen young and old!
             Listen You people scared and bold!

             The tale of Tales that I have spun
             the beginning of a humble fun,

             A tale so simple and yet so lost
             buried within the permafrost!

            The time has come, so hear yea all
             of the greatest's rise and fall!
              
            A horrid tale of war and lust
            whose glory is but fading dust.
       
            A fallen Lord and a broken crown
            yet the guilty party was a clown!

            He played along with a lot of dues
            till the setting sun gave him the blues

            An army so strong and vast...
            yet it cannot a day last!
            
            A  father's dream and a son's great quest!
            To conquer both the east and west!
         
             A journey long, arduous and sharp
             of swords and daggers, and flutes and harp!
             
            So now people are you feeling weird?
            'Tis exactly what I feared...

             Hear! Hear! Stay on now
             and remove the sweats from your brow,

             The poor sentry, however swift,
              just gives the soldier a lousy gift!
   
             So there it is, the end is here
             for a mighty fiend approaches near...
           
             Time is short so now I must flee
             and yet fill every heart with glee!
             
             Fret Not! Fret Not! Here thunder doth ring
             and CHAOS does as CHAOS thinks!!

Dramatis Personae

For Carthage:-

Hamilcar Barca, Carthaginian military commander and Hannibal’s father.

Young Hannibal, Hannibal in his early years.

Hannibal, the protagonist, Carthaginian military commander, and a great tactician.

Hasdrubal the Fair, Brother-in-law to Hannibal.

Hasdrubal and Mago, Hannibal’s brothers.

Maharbal and Hano, Cavalry commanders in the army of Hannibal.

Hanno, the Great, Carthaginian Councillors and influential oligarch.

Gisco and Asdrubal Hoedus, Senior Carthaginian Councillors.

Carthaginian Councillors, citizens, captains and military officers, troops, messengers.

For Rome:-

Publius Cornelius Scipio, Commander of Rome’s legions.

Scipio the Younger, later Scipio Africanus, son of Publius Scipio, and Roman legion commander.

Gaius Terentius Varro, influential Senator and military Commander.

Gaius Flaminius, Roman military general.

Fabius Maximus, Roman military general and influential Senator.

Lucius Aemillius Paullus, Roman military general and senior Senator.

Sempronius Longus, Roman military general.

Cnaeus Servilius, Roman Senator and military commander.

Marcenidorus, fictitious Roman spy in Hispania.

Roman Senators, citizens, Italian villagers, military officers and captains, troops, messengers, porters.

Others:-

Hispanic Chieftains and tribesmen.

Gaelic Chieftains and tribesmen.

Horifice, name fictitious, tribal chief to whose daughter Hannibal was betrothed.

Imilce, Hannibal’s wife.

Saguntine citizens and villagers.

Wild Cards:-

Soothsayer, Rome.

Knave, pupil of the soothsayer, Rome.

Old man, resident of Hispania.

Horses, elephants and other animals etc.