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