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