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.
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