Act 3 Scene 6

Po valley, Northern Italia, Hannibal’s camp.

Hannibal, Mago, Maharbal, Hano and remnants of his erstwhile army, bolstered after a small victory over Scipio’s army arrive their an camp for the night.

In Hannibal’s tent, Enter Hannibal and Mago.

Mago: Brother we art hither; to meet the tribals, ay, but these natives look not friendly in their wild attire. Shallst they be to us any use if they canst mingle with our troops? And if that fear be sooth; then engage we must the brunt of the Roman forces with our beleaguered and tired troops?

Hannibal: These soldiers are tired because their muscles ache from fatigue and stomachs grumble for want of fresh meat. Mentally they can still take on Rome; for they now have tasted victory which alone shallst fuel their half-empty bowels to march and defeat Rome. Soldiers they are and need only a good victory to get their act together. So worry not dear brother, for these are highly motivated men and to them fighting is only second nature. As for the lack of troops; seasoned mercenaries I hope to gather from the chieftains with whom we did hold parley and counseled them for the need of joining the Carthaginian cause. This shallst beef up our shrunken ranks, which shallst full well suffice for ambush and surprise attacks shallst be my principle modes of warfare to stifle and sniff out Rome, the seemingly almighty Rome! So we must at this hour await their support and good Gallic horses.

Alarum, and then Flourish, with hautboys. Enter Gallic tribal chief, and his guards followed by attendants

Chief: Hannibal, we and other war-chiefs have thought deeply over thy words which seemed to charged with passionate fervour. Thy arguments gainst Roman’s make us realize that thy hatred for Rome far exceeds ours. Thou sayst Rome hath killed thy father with tricks and felony, and duped people in to accept their lordship for the promise of stability and prosperity. Hannibal, we are no strangers to this fact either and many of us have suffered the same fate, and yet we do not feel that rising ‘gainst Rome would do us any good. Roman’s are far superior with their highly trained and heavily armoured soldiers. Our warriors with all their ferocity, art no match to them. Yet I do tellest thee and that too wholeheartedly; that we as warriors are brutal, savage, ruthless and eager to draw Roman blood, yet for want of discipline we falter each time we rise ‘gainst Rome. Shallst thee teach us the ways to beat Rome if we join thy side?

Hannibal: Noble chieftain, thy worries of defeating Rome art baseless, for to think about the cunning tricks I am hither. All I need is thy unfailing support.

Chief: Sayst thou that shrewd warfare shallst clinch the victory ‘gainst Rome? Ay art thou that much sure that Rome’s mighty troops shallst bow down to our combined yet still lesser force? Is success that much closer to thee?

Hannibal: I was; now more than ever I am. If givest me thou thine best bred horses and thy fiercest warriors then our war machine shallst mow down Rome. As for success, ay I believe that I shallst gain it, I really do

Chief: Very well but freedom thou sayst is thy cause, then we shallst be free to rule us after ye have gone?

Hannibal: Indeed, so do we have thy solemn and unbending support?

Chief: Ye do; for I see a fire that shines in thine eyes like a true warrior. This omen is good for it foretells we art on the right track. So from this our let us be friends and whatever thou wishest thou shallst get from us thou shallst and let us unite to plot the demise of Rome.

Hannibal: I thankest thee from the bottom of my heart!

Chief: Join our feast on the morrow in our camp. Thither we will fill thy ranks with our most veteran troops and finest horses. Then hence, we disperse to our huts, tomorrow we plan to encounter Rome.

Hannibal & Mago: So do we; amen, and goodnight.

[Exeunt

Act 3 Scene 5

Ticinus, Roman military camp under Publius Cornelius Scipio, in Po valley. Enter Publius Scipio, his son, Scipio the younger.

Publius Scipio: How do our scouting legions report on Hannibal’s progress?

Scipio the younger: My liege Hannibal seems to have done the impossible. When our scouts did reach his alleged camp, they did report that in front of them lay desolate ruins. Quickly from they tracked his traces and to their and our combined astonishment found that Hannibal, has with his entire force crossed over the Alps. ‘Tis known he had elephants.

Publius Scipio: What sayst thou son? [Aside] First he evades us by marching onto Italia, this time round, we find him right at our doorstep! Hush, hush, no more surprises can he ever pull off, for if here we do face his exhausted army, we shallst lay them to their rest.

Meanest thou that his troops mayst be on us at any instant? Aye from thy face I conjure that ‘tis true! Troops must at this hour be hastened to meet this hostile enemy.

Enter Flavius, a messenger

Scipio the younger: Ay, good Flavius, tellest us the newest state o’th’war.

Flavius: General Scipio and thou his right noble son; slay me not for hearing this, but this is sooth. Yond there in the horizon dark clouds of dust amass, as Hannibal’s men charge upon our humble camp craving for Roman blood.

Publius Scipio: Thou fantasisest thou boy, their army is fatigued with travel and are in no way in fighting condition.

Scipio the younger: Noble father, if that be sooth then why does he charge us? Nay, me fears he senses our lack of numbers hither and wishes to gain a swift and telling victory.

Publius Scipio: Yet if that be the case, even then we must go forth to ward him of. Flavius, go tell thou the drummers to produce their rhythmic chant, whilst we arm ourselves to defend this humble camp.

Flavius: As per thy orders; My Lord!

Scipio the younger: Away we all to the theatre of war.

[Exeunt

The scene is now shifted to a battlefield where some troops lay dead. Sounds of war from within.

Re- Enter Publius Scipio fighting with Hano on horseback, and then Scipio falls, and the Carthaginians leave him whilst chasing away other Roman troops.

Publius Scipio: Flee, flee thou cowards who wishest not to fight. Watch as thy valiant commander falls like a true champion.

Soldiers rush by and some try to kill him. Publius Scipio tries his best and remains alive. Sound of approaching hooves from within.

Publius Scipio: Is that the sound of friend or foe! Alas only time shallst let me know!

Re-Enter Scipio the younger, on horse back with troops who manage to kill off the Carthaginians.

Scipio the younger: Here liest thou valiant father, and still drawing breath? Ay, fortune hath favoured us and our lives are saved, but shame to those bastards who run in the face of adversity and calamity. Come; on my horse thou shallst keep thy state whilst I ride back from whence I came to rescue thee after slaying the Carthaginians thither. But regretful this day is; for we are beaten and these few honorable troops shallst for their and Rome’s dignity shallst save us whilst we flee to our stronger allies.

Publius Scipio: Son by this act thou hast not only showed the duty of a noble son, but ay of a noble and able Roman soldier. Camaraderie, self sacrifice are the virtues that maketh a true Roman and these I have taught thee well, as seemeth by thy bold action on this day. So on and away!

[Exeunt Publius Scipio and Scipio the younger on horse back

Rest of the troops die.

Enter Hannibal, Mago, Maharbal and Hano.

Maharbal: The cavalry has achieved as thou hath planned.

Hano: Ay, I agree.

Mago: All is sound; yet the need for more troops grows ever profound.

Hannibal: Fear not, gentlemen, as thou hast seen the power of strategy over brute strength. As for new soldiers to bolster our beleaguered ranks come let us make our mission known to the tribals who oppose Rome. I shallst send missives to them and in times due course we shallst get their much valued support. At this instant let us feast for this is the 1st of many more victories.

[Exeunt