Act 3 Scene 1

A village in Hispania, near Saguntum. Enter three villagers.

1st villager: Yonder I see many noxious fumes, which blacken the sky above; this black smoke carries the scent of war.

2nd villager: Brother, thou art right, for these tried nostrils of mine speaks that this familiar smell foretells of more devastation to follow, mefears that tranquil village life may again be left in turbulence and turmoil.

3rd villager: Why so? Why do ye assume that war will ravage our lands; when, that city is taken; and all these lands that fall lie within that city’s administration, if that city be razed only then we need to fear, else all our anxieties shallst be fallow.

2nd villager: Armies canst not be trusted home, fullwell they may seem harmless, but ay, by getting a slightest hint they may fool the likes of us. Our ripened grains, which for long have fed us well, may now fall in their hands, who knows, if that will satiate their voracious appetite!

1st villager: A cause for concern that certainly is. Still simple villagers may be spared if we are careful and cautious. Win we their leaders to our sides then some leniency may be received, this shallst be our only hope, but ay, diversion of food remains a problem. Lord, is it meet that simple villagers like us should yearn and think hard about matters of diplomacy?

3rd villager: We the tillers o’th’land, sons of the soil, needst not strain our smooth and naïve brains to discuss over the matters of the state. Prudent obedience we must give to who ever remains the rulers of that war ravaged city yonder.

2nd villager: Then hence ho, as soon as the war tires itself out, we will keep an eye on the activities of the troops that occupy the city, then when the time is ripe to act , act we shall and ay, that too decisively, for with the generals deals we must strike, ay be ready if from next season they demand from us a hike.

1st villager: Ay, brother and hope that the plan succeeds.

3rd villager: [Aside] Ay, thy plans are laudable, but my years of sweat and labour have taught me not to think one battle ends as it ends, for the battle is only a precursor to a war, with far reaching consequences. One war fuels another and that another till both sides are done and dusted, till both have no more to give or get from meaningless and dire conflict. Places of previous battles are in turn revisited by the losers and yet more deaths are caused due to vengeance. Wretched kerns like us with simple souls are left to bear the brutal brunt. Yet to prevent meaningless torture at this very moment, prepare we must for peaceful surrender.

[To the other villagers] Ahem, well my aged years makes me relive the mystical moments of my youth. The sun is at its zenith, so hie home to attend to my cattle I must. Goodbye and good luck to thee, my brethren.

1st villager: Goodbye and adieu to all. Now to our daily tasks we must put heed to.

[Exeunt

Act 2 Scene 7

Saguntum, the battle field. Enter Hannibal, Hasdrubal, Mago, Carthaginian captains and troops

Senior Captain: Our scouts report of huge defences along the erect and robust city walls.

Hannibal: These Saguntines are determined for a long siege. But we are determined more to break and wear them down.

Hasdrubal: Saguntines shallst feel the cost of withholding the Roman cause. We shall, with our forces storm their city and meet force with force and then brutal arm’d, force them onto surrender.

Mago: Our battalions we must spread out; to strike both left and right; front and rear. Rest we shallst give them not.

Hannibal: Worry not dear Mago, wear them down we will; and give no respite to the hapless Saguntines. Rome, as arrogant as it is, didst not furbish arms nor men to its new ally. Overconfidence lulls them to a false sense of security, which we must break. To sustain the Saguntines cause, ay, they have failed. So do my spies report. Grossly do they underestimate the powers of our troops. They show no aggressive intent in protecting their newly formed Protectorate. Thus we will now to the world and to Rome reveal; what hideous powers we do conceal. Soldiers, march we fearlessly on to the lion’s den, wherein we shall slaughter the foes like a falcon would a wren.

Hasdrubal: Vigilance is the need o’th’hour; soon on enemy soil we will set foot, and valour arm’d, sever of their heads.

Mago: And thence countrymen and thence, like brave martyrs we call upon thee to avenge our fallen braves; and answer back Rome in its same coin to end their fiendish ways.

Hannibal: So now men, with firm and unbending resolve, let us and our siege battery strike this city; and dig deep for long haul. Hence ho and we march, Forward!

Soldiers and others: We will follow you and die for you. All Hail!! Noble Hannibal, all Hail!! He shallst lead us to the glory of freedom and nectar of victory!! All Hail!

[Exeunt

Act 2 Scene 6

Hannibal’s headquarters, Hispania Enter Hannibal

Hannibal: Spring, summer, autumn, winter; ay, these are seasons, which, provide different moods upon the minds of simple men. My mind, they affect not. Seasons pass by, in their steady annual march; whilst I, melancholically brood over dried and dusty thoughts. Rain, which does quench the summer traveller’s thirst, the healer of heated earth, the harbinger of blossom; even on arid lands, the provider of hope; that providence is at hand; cannot remove the perennial drought that does enflame my aggrieved heart. Sleep the curer of many ills and infirmities, comes not to me. Only blooded dreams and aghast silhouettes appear in my sleep, appalling me from within. Woe is the accursed time, for this sickly hour, that mars many meticulous generals, is forever permanent on Hispania, whilst the sun of imperial glory and gay abandon shines, brighter than ever on the Roman state. Thou Lord! Doth thee want us to be bereft of victory? My mind concludes that every thought and action put forth to oust Rome has come to naught, disasters have stuck to near and dear, high and low, and kith and kin, and yet rome have prospered, gaining from the constant eastern glow. The last to fall to treason’s fitful axe was none other than my well beloved brother.Noble and fair thou were’t fair brother; and so I heartily fare thee well; may I be thy able pupil and serve Carthage till I fell.

Alarum outside

Hark! What noise rings out? The soldiers, yesterday did with joyous greeting and childish admiration, all hailed me as my noble father’s embodiment; then later did proclaim me as the supreme commander Carthage in Hispania and Iberia. Now I wait, with restless temper, for a false move by Rome, and then shallst I and all my nation and soldiers embark upon our rightful and justified cause, to validate and uplift Carthaginian goodwill and unmask Roman felony.

Enter a Servant

How do report of the commotion without?

Servant: Sir, the Roman ambassador to Hispania seeks thy audience over some important matters of the state.

Hannibal: Bring him to me.

[Exit servant

Tricks of Rome do seem plentiful and endless. Rome, triest thou thy worst means and worst to win me to thy side but all those shallst be in vain. I shallst not budge or be moved by spiteful talk and deceitful smiles. For I have noted that thou art famous for thy myriad if guiles. Restless peace, thunderous tranquil and calamitous calm; ay, to heal these I shall not use Roman balm. Such pernicious problems with warfare shall be solved.

Alarum. Enter Roman ambassador to Hispania, Gaius Terentius Varro; followed by Roman flag bearers and troops, they followed by Carthaginian troops.

Gaius Terentius Varro: I come from the Roman senate, as an ambassador of harmony, to thy office to hereby inform thee of certain Roman plans in these lands.

Hannibal: Pray proceed.

Gaius Terentius Varro: Hereafter Saguntum, this Hispanic city, is to become a Roman protectorate, and that Rome shall interfere if that city be harmed.

Hannibal: Blasted deal! Thou rogue, Saguntum is south if the river Ebro, this city is firmly within Carthaginian gripe, nay this intervention shall lead untimely conflict if it be true for it is a clear breach of the treaty as signed by my brother.

Gaius Terentius Varro: It is the truth, and it is final; actest thou as thou likest. Yet for my part there is not much reason to tempt us to conflict, we mean no harm by this slight breach of pact.

Hannibal: Silence thou Roman villain!! As per the facts any breach leads to outright battle, which must shortly ensue. It is a pity that Rome is so inconsiderate!

Gaius Terentius Varro: Then war it shall be! With the Saguntines, yet it is my solemn duty to warn thee of a long struggle. [Aside] A short one if thou surrender quickly.

[Exeunt all others except Hannibal

Hannibal: Hmm, the drums of war ring out, we must prepare for this quest with full fervour.

Enter Hasdrubal and Mago

Hasdrubal: Brother, do we hear of some discontent between thee and Rome?

Hannibal: Thou hearsest sooth, my brother

Mago: Then must we believe that war is imminent?

Hannibal: Ay, it is and thus let us put ourselves to the test.On the morrow ring out the alarum of war in our compound. Go to and get thou a good night’s sleep, then on the morrow our generals do we meet. So to that; let us put forward our military might. Since, the best warriors are those that can claim victory in a fight.

[Exeunt

Act 2 Scene 5

Rome, the Capitol, at night, special meeting of consuls and their deputy, convened by Consul Publius Cornelius Scipio.

Enter Publius Cornelius Scipio, Fabius Maximus, Lucius Aemilius Paullus, Sempronius Longus, Gaius Terentius Varro and Gaius Flaminius.

Publius Scipio: Gentlemen, we meet at this most untimely hour, to discuss matters that concern our state withal.

Fabius Maximus: I hear some rumour, that some great power lay in wait; in far and distant Hispania. Is it true that our dear Carthaginian friends-those Barcids attempt a kind of invasion of Rome?

Lucius Aemilius Paullus: This is grave news; for now to counter this threat we must act with prudence.

Publius Scipio: Senators please maintain thy peace; anxiety has no place when our military is there to put off Carthaginian rabble. In Po valley we have as Sempronius brings news; we have our forces ready to attack There we shall out maneuver the Spanish and then overrun their establishments.

Fabius Maximus: Ay, would that not be too hasty, the Carthaginians, shrewd as they are, may make some attempt to aid the Spanish.

Sempronius Longus: Such an upheaval can be prevented if Hasdrubal the Fair can be taken care of. My faithful servant, Marcenidorus, who would do the will of Rome, shallst find a way to do so. I doth have bestowed him ample authority. Assassination of their leader will put them on the defensive.

Gaius Terentius Varro: Shall that be just as well that Marcenidorus says, Consul?

Sempronius Longus: Yes, Marcenidorus is skilled in doing what would otherwise be sacrilege. The job will be done as if ‘twere a chance occurring.

Publius Scipio: Ay, this sounds better then shall we, with a single blow fell two birds. The young Barca, too naïve to cause us harm and challenge Rome’s imperial sway.

Gaius Flaminius: Noble Scipio, perhaps ‘tis not the time to belittle a Barca, a son of Hamilcar should always be dealt with caution. No half measure is a good one.

Sempronius Longus: Noble Flaminius, thy knowledge of the enemy too little. This fits not a general of thy calibre. The Carthaginians have owe their loyalty to Hasdrubal the Fair, ‘twill take time to make Hannibal the chief. This is what we shall exploit.

Gaius Flaminius: Hannibal may evolve into a deadly serpent; for venomous kind shallst not change his fangs, but in times relentless march, redouble its shape and increase its gall.

Publius Scipio: Grant that, but due to absence of support from their internal Governance, he shall remain crippled, and thereby writhe in the agony of despair. Nay, the plan to send out hardened troops shallst be persisted with, which shall in due course ensure our outright victory.

Fabius Maximus: [Aside] Confidence, put forth in the right path is a virtue; deposited in the wrong in becomes a menacing vice that spoils and mars many a champion.

Gentlemen I do believe that, our strategy of limited war shallst win us more friends than foes.

Publius Scipio: Then that is settled but now focus we must on the savage butchery of the rioters. Noble
Gaius Flaminius, heardst thou of any news of the unrest in the Illyrian region? If so prithee bring it out to us in this special meeting.

Gaius Flaminius: I doth have heard reports from our messengers their that the Illyrian people have openly revolted ‘gainst Rome.

Lucius Aemilius Paullus: What ho! I must need to hie their and put to rest this serious debacle. My legions are mostly around that place.

Fabius Maximus: Prithee school thy self; thou and Flaminius shallst crush this revolt, whilst Scipio and Sempronius shallst deal with the Spanish. I here will keep state and aid in both the war efforts by financial and military support.
Gaius Terentius Varro, thou shallst be our ambassador to Spain when the war there is done and thou shallst to the city of Saguntum, which shall be made our protectorate. It is a very strategic place, and once the smoke of war dies out it shall yield us good fortune if it sides with us. Then we can march into Hispania and Iberia and drive the Carthaginians from their new homes.

The rest: We shall perform, as our sovereign republic is ours to protect.

Publius Scipio: At that note let us disperse to our myriad of tasks that we have at hand. For now, the vile fumes of war does strangle our beloved land. Towards a better future our fight shall be fought. Later in peacetime this effort, will fortunes many shall have bought. Greetings galore thou shallst find if we act as men at this hour with crystal clear minds.

[Exeunt