Act 2 Scene 1

A stable and beside it an enclosure in new Carthage; four years later. Enter Hamilcar Barca and Young Hannibal

Young Hannibal: I see father that we possess well-groomed horses; these should be extremely helpful in combat- are these the minions of their races?


Hamilcar: Ay my son, these horses as splendid as they are brought ashore from lands far off from here. But good horses alone canst not ensure outright victory; indeed these are but the first requirements; thou shallst note that training cavalry men is a task of great complications. The Romans train legions, but we bereft of support from our motherland canst not do so.

[Aside]’Tis a shame that even after the first bloody battle that our beloved Carthage hath not given us the plenteous it promised.

Son, observeth thou those huge beats prowling there; which should to thy unhardened mettle be straight out’o’the fantasy! Behold for these animals shall be our secret weapon ‘gainst Rome.

Young Hannibal: What creatures, so unearthly and yet so majestic in their stride and they are given spouts to filter out water like fountains back home!

Hamilcar: These, my son, are called Elephants, from distant places such as India and Persia.The Romans do not use them in battle, but Carthage, as thou shall find out later, does, for it is the main source of surprise, power and dominance in combat over Rome. Mark, that which thou didst dismiss as spouts of fountains, is their nose. Their nose has a name- trunk.They can put that for use in conflict. The infantry terrified at this sight shall be hoisted of the firm earth and cast away to die. Those teeth or, tasks are covered with steel shaped like that-the enemy is impaled on it. Those feet which does produce a thunderous sound; ay; can crush enemy troops. Yet boy holdest thy breath; these must be used separately and with utmost care and caution for these in madness do not know; which soldier is friend or foe!

Young Hannibal: What creatures, so unruly that should be used to fight a vicious enemy as Rome.

Hamilcar: Ay, son for this is the point of our meeting, go thou back to thy camp and gather thy belongings For on the morrow we shall march; therein I shall teach thee ways to maneuver the elephants and infantry alike to from a menacing army.

Young Hannibal: I shall act as per thy wish, most noble father.

[Exit

Hamilcar: His desire to conquer his enemies at such a tender age feels me with a sense of joy and belief. That to us all he shall, in due course, bring harmony and relief. Gods impede not this little boy; shower him all the blessings that thou can. For he shall in the future rise up and become a proper man. Thus to all the world and beyond; go pronounce. That he shall from every willing man’s shoulders Rome’s tyrannical rule denounce. So, may he move on from strength to strength. And by halting Rome, go that extra length.

[Exit