Act 3 Scene 4

Northern Italia, Hannibal’s camp, near the foothills of the Alps.

Enter Hannibal, Mago, Maharbal and Hano.

Hannibal: Yond there we must plan our next move, to catch the Romans off guard.

Mago: [Aside] Hasdrubal is entrusted with Hispania, and I hither to accompany my beloved brother in this perilous trek, know not which is better.

So, I feel we need to traverse those mountains to land into Italia and surprise our enemies. Ay, but is it necessary?

Hannibal: Ay, ‘tis so dear brother for we must not Rome fight the war on their terms. Into Italia we’ll reach, much to Rome’s dismay and then expose their flanks and rear to strike upon them that fatal and lethal blow.

Maharbal: Hannibal, I see the logic in thy arguments and feel the same urge to overthrow the Romans, shouldst we not use safer routes to attain our goal?

Hano: ‘Tis not wise to risk our troops across these alps, where smoother terrain greets us yond there, where marching shallst not be tedious, and so the soldiers shallst not be withered and be ready to fight their way through into Rome.

Hannibal: Precisely this is what we must avoid, for I hear on the other side there are tribes hostile towards Rome and Rome itself has not that many troops whom we can’t beat, by use of cunning. Then after I have vigour-tongued, persuaded them to join our worthy cause, ay, and after a short and shrewd victory in the battlefield, they shallst bolster our ranks with the men we may lose in this vicious trek. The easier and less hostile route is the most expected route, which our enemy shallst secure and slaughter us all, using their vast reserves of legions.

Mago: Ay, but brother to risk our beasts, in the cold unforgiving weather is not advisable. To be afraid of Rome’s military might is cowardice, brother didst we not march out of Hispania answering to thy call of war and victory ‘gainst Rome? To hear that same general speak of not wanting an out and out war ‘gainst Rome is nothing but cowardice. Our troops with surprise and cunning shallst equally beat Roman armies, both big and small. Prithee rethink thy decision.

Maharbal: Ay, Hannibal doest as thy brother tellest thee, for thy elephants do not like the bitterness of the cruel cold climate yonder.

Hannibal: Gentlemen peace; and judge not me so fast dear Mago. Bent on fighting Rome I am, ay, but not the way, which is most obviously feasible to them. Comrades, mark this, that Rome isn’t the usual foe, which can be seeked and slayed like a hunter would a lion. It is more like a rock or a huge pile’o’that, which with careful planning and skillful scheming must be slowly and yet steadily, dismantled. No malicious design and plans must be too harsh when used ‘gainst Rome, for those can only prevent it from soaring upwards. One victory ‘gainst Rome shallst not be enough. At each moment of our quest we must remain a step ahead our bitter rivals. Rome at our slightest hint of aloofness and a small sense of self-satisfaction; shallst to us inflict terrible blows. Then when the tide turns to their favour, and winds change directions, they shallst catch them and then ride the elephant of victory. Nay, by crossing the Alps, which is perilous in every possible way, we’ll snatch from them their illusion of safety and show what feats this Carthaginian army can. Debarred from the warring tribal groups, whom I shallst with rhetoric, persuade them to join our cause, then they shallst fuel our dwindled rank and file to wage a war ‘gainst Rome. Quickly the initiatives we shallst seize and then, when the hapless Roman troops do prepare to confront us, traps galore shallst be set give them a warm greeting. Mental toughness is an art that must with patience be cultivated, to defeat a formidable foe of the stature of Rome. So for that I calculate, that through, yonder if we cross the alps, on the other side lies Po valley, which is our intended point, as these men do not seek Roman superiority over their lands. Their help to us is essential as planned in advance by our beloved brother Hasdrubal the Fair. So meet we with any hindrance we shallst overcome them as if they didst not exist, for either a way we shallst by our hard work find, else with equal industry and unconquered hearts; a way we’ll make and grind.

Others: So we shallst all.

[Exeunt

The Alps, cold, frigid landscape and there a place where a rockfall is in the way of the advancing army. Enter Hannibal, Mago, Maharbal, and Hano, along with travel weary troops.

1st soldier:[To 2nd soldier] Hark stop, brother spottest thou those rocks that prevent our escape from this treacherous mountains?
2nd soldier:[To 1st soldier] Ay, I do brother and wish that some miracle may chance. Already many of our fellow troops have been way laid in these vicious mountains through which our leader tirelessly leads us on. May he know the answer? Ay probably so!

Hannibal: What do thee speak about? Tellest us what bothers thee apart from the torments of the journey.

1st soldier: Sir, a rockfall blocks our way down this pass which by far is the smoothest there is in these mountains. We must remove them, and yet by bare hands the task is near impossible.

Hannibal: It needst not be done like that; fetch firewood from the nearby bushes and shrubs in the small forest yond there, and then bring thou vinegar. Put thou those sticks in the places whither the rock seemeth lose, and then, pour over these the vinegar. This job requires a lot o’th’things so be not a niggard in fetching them. Then, when all is done put fire to all those sticks soaked in vinegar in fire, and await the result.

2nd soldier: As thy orders general!

The soldiers bring the required items, and do as per orders. Then miniature explosions are triggered which removes the rockfall and clears the way.


All the troops: All Hail Hannibal! All Hail!

Mago: When said thou that a way thou shallst for us make I did believe thee yet hadn’t expected such an event to occur. Brother thou art a genius and ay the most capable leader of any Carthaginian army!

Others: All Hail Hannibal! Victory ‘gainst Rome is almost hither!

Hannibal: I heartily thank thee; prithee now let us move on.

[Exeunt

Act 3 Scene 3

Carthage, the Council Hall. Meeting between the 30 Councillors.

Enter all councillors, lead by Hanno the great; guards, officials, and attendants.

Hanno the great: I did meet the son of Hamilcar, who keeps his merry state in the new land north of our beloved Carthage. To say sooth, he is much like his father, in looks and in actions he resembles his father to an extraordinary degree.

[Aside] That I did side with Rome to prevent his father’s victories ‘gainst them are true, but ay, I acted only in my interested, well that may have been to his detriment. But ay, that was to my gains so to Carthage’s; for it has everything to gain from trade rather than from war.

To talk about his achievements in Hispania, well they are outstanding, for he hath united them for Carthage’s cause. Having secured his place there he points out that aggressive moves ‘gainst Rome be made, for he believes that he with his sole mortal arms, can with a few troops snatch away the soul of Rome! Vociferous he was towards our policies of piece, and dismissed them as near treasonous acts deserving of no pity but would he have grown so had we not made piece?

A Councillor: Nay, noble Hanno, thou who art great, and ay thou art true too!

Hanno the great: Great or not for gods it is to decide. But I am indeed humbled by thee. Ay, and besides these he menacingly reported soon there shallst be war and that he would mobilize his forces and strike Rome in Italia itself! Such thoughts give me grim vision, of the fatal mistake this general commits, at this very tender age, makes me fear he may fall like Bellerophon, whilst climbing Olympus itself! Ay, yet I fear ‘tis difficult to stop such a rough and headstrong youth. When I did put forth the council’s views in front of him, sooner rather than later he did turn into a raging storm and proclaimed war. Diplomacy he liked not. Yet we must support the Barcid in war ‘gainst Rome.

A Senior Councillor: We all agree with thee Hanno and would do our best to resolve mortal conflict. But if damages sustained by Rome in Carthage be irreparable, then, abatement of war shallst not chance. I hear Roman envoys are here and they shallst convey the their decisions.
[Aside] ‘Tis most likely a war shall be sparked.

Hanno the great: Lets us hope for the best for we know not how to control him there.

Alarum. Enter Roman envoys Gaius Flaminius and Publius Scipio, followed by Roman guards

Publius Scipio: Hither we are to show ourselves and make our grievances known; and hearing them thou mayst become forlorn. But duties are duties which must perform, according to the given customs and norms. So, thus said in merry delight, for we may be in for a long drawn fight. War is inevitable, unless thou give up thy lands in Iberia.

Gaius Flaminius: What my noble colleague means is that yield lands of amounts what ever we demand; else face war.

Hanno the great: Gentlemen, I hear both thy points entirely, and forsee that yielding without a good cause is not worth the effort.

Publius Scipio: But when our protectorate is besieged it is nothing but war ‘gainst Rome.

Hanno the great: We canst not reign in our troops their, and not the general who is a Barcid!

Publius Scipio: What wantest thou: hither I hold the sides of my toga, tell shallst there be peace or war?

Hanno the great: Let Rome decide!

Publius Scipio: War!

Hanno the great: Then ‘tis settled the 2nd Punic War beckons and countrymen, we all must unite

Gaius Flaminius: So shallst Rome. Good morrow to all

[Exeunt the Romans

Hanno the great: That done and dusted communicate this decision to our troops in Hispania. [Aside] Ay, however Hannibal, if thou be victorious, then thou shallst achieve it entirely thy own!

[Exeunt

Act 3 Scene 2

Saguntum, inside the city gates. Alarum and Flourish, Enter Hannibal victorious, followed by Hasdrubal and Mago, and two promising generals Maharbal and Hano; and Carthaginian soldiers and citizens.

Hannibal: Citizens of Saguntum, though many of thee were tricked by Rome into fighting ’gainst us, thy liberators, but, ay; putting that behind; those of thee that still art drawing breath; here, listen, that from this day on, thou art free men. The abolishment of the shackles of Roman servitude, and the yoke of slavery that Rome does impose on its allies, is the sole purpose of the people of Carthage, thereby now, all we ask is thy moral support, for this shall be a base from which we shall rid the world of Rome. Citizens! What is still in thy minds? After Rome’s blatant betrayal is it meet that thou shouldst stab our backs? Nay, for even if thou were’t lifeless objects, like this sword that I now draw forth, or like the walls and pillars of thy great city, even they wouldst not think twice before joining our noble cause. But thou art of flesh and blood, brain and brawn, and intelligence. Using thy logic, with which thou art bestowed, think, that shallst thee keep confiding with back-stabbing and double dealing Rome or shallst thou associate with plain-speaking Carthage? Saguntines the choice is thine to make, whilst I wait to hear it.

1st citizen: Hannibal, we shallst do as thou pleasest, as of now thee holds all the cards. Rome shallst not be be ever trusted. However, we demand a few things from thee.

Hannibal: Prithee, name them.

2nd citizen: In return for our support as a Carthaginian military base, and supply of horses, which are the minions of their breed, and tributes we demand a permanent garrison of 20000 men.

Hannibal: Granted and what amount of support shallst we get from thee?

1st citizen: 9000 o’th’ best horses that money can buy and able people can chance upon in this world; noble ally to the Carthaginian cause and handsome tributes some of which we now have at hand from our villages.

The citizens give Hannibal the tributes.

Hannibal: It is most gratifying to see such acts of affection from one’s erstwhile foe, which today we receive not from friends. Well and truly we are allies.

All citizens: All hail noble Hannibal! All Hail!

[Exeunt the citizens and troops

Hannibal: This meeting done, none more to worry about here in Hispania. Hence to Italia to liberate the others like these men that reel under the accursed Roman rule. This city gives us the vantage from where we will assault Roman heartland and slaughter their troops that outnumber us many times, by use of cunning. Noble Hasdrubal, I fear that thou shallst have to stay on here, for I feel with thy presence, Hispania is secured and safely invested to serve the purpose of Carthage. Maharbal, tell us about thy thoughts on cavalry that we hope to gain and so to, when he is done I shallst seek audience from noble Hano.

Hasdrubal: What ever is thy wish Hannibal, and I shall see to it that it does not fall, if it does then believe brother so do I.

Maharbal: These people are true to their words and the horses shallst give us the edge over these clumsy Roman equestrians. Besides it is of great honour to support thee and a matter of dignity to fight alongside thee. The challenges of open battles are immense, ay but I am bent up to do it against the Romans.

Hano: And so shallst I follow suit; my gallic heavy cavalry and Maharbal’s numidian light cavalry shallst mow down the Roman counterparts.

Hannibal: Brother Mago, I will need thy valiant support, to accompany me into Rome and then communicate with the others for help if and when we may needst it.
Mago: Ay, thy vision I shallst hope to fulfill and try to bring my generous support from the home government.

Hannibal: So, we with little rest must march up country and thither, set up camp to summon the demise and the decadence of Rome.

Others: Carthage shallst be victorious!

[Exeunt