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