Act 5 Scene 1

Apulia, Fabius’ tent in the Roman Camp, near the pass towards Campania.

Enter Fabius Maximus, and his generals.

Fabius: Hast thou heard any news of our foe, his movements or maneuvers?

1^st General: Nay my liege. ‘Tis however to be known that he didst make some peace with the some villagers, who to his demands, alleged didst comply, whilst to him giving ample resources to last the fall and winter. ‘Tis also heard that those villagers who didst oppose were dealt with stern hands, perhaps to draw us to open conflict. He mayst have his way ‘gainst those rustic folk, but our defences he canst not penetrate, for the requisite troops he has not.

Fabius: Ay, general, thou sayst sooth what ever thou sayst, for by spies thy news is confirmed. ‘Tis also more known, that to find comfortable quarters for the winter he and his men shallst attempt to cross this pass. Thus to fight him forth in any place else this is utterly futile. Order the legions to set up defenses so that hither either Rome gets the prisoner they want, or to my blade Hannibal falls.

All generals: Ay, it shallst be done as is thy command.

[Exeunt

Apulia, Hannibal’s tent in his camp, near the pass, close to the Roman camp.

Enter Hannibal and Mago.

Mago: Harsh winter is upon us, escaping through the pass shallst involve us hoodwinking the Romans. Dear brother, from thy fertile brain, hatchest thou the most marvelous form of trickery so that without a drop of blood we shallst completely shatter their morale, for they have blocked only way to our comfort, by a large gathering of men. Thinkest thou of any such schemes?

Hannibal: Ay, dear brother I have, and thou get to play a grand role in that. The pass, sits around a forest, so do my scouts report. Informants in the villages near gather the Roman mood; they wouldst love the prospect our capture and trial. Thus they wouldst feel that if I do turn my back from the pass through the forest, then they shallst have the element of surprise, and be able to take us prisoner. What I do plan, is to trick them into thinking, that we shallst retreat through the pass. Thus, lured by the prospect of an easy victory, the Romans; like mice to cheese and common flies to fire; rush like an enormous herd, thus gushing as a stream into the woods, whilst leaving the pass unguarded. Then the army and us shallst take up our positions and march without conflict to comfortable homes. Listenest with utmost care thy role.

Mago: Prithee proceed.

Hannibal: Thou shallst ride my horse, and take my flag, and take some light cavalry with thee. The forest is not thick, and the horses shallst have a free run at times. Advance as close as to the first sentry post, then whence they do notice and raise the alarm, retreat around the forest to join us at the base of our pass. Take thou the leanest and fittest o’th’horses, for thou shallst need to outrun the Roman cavalry. Whence joined, we shall commence our journey.

Mago: Thinkest thou that the Romans, thus deceived, shall not with maddening rage attack our forces? They could still fullwell stop us short for they doth outnumber us.

Hannibal: Ah, but therein lies the greatest stratagem of military ways. If I know Fabius well, then this staunch, astute strategist shallst use the standard military tactics, which dissuades him strictly from taking any action ‘gainst us. Thus once tricked he shallst stay in the forest, for confrontation on our terms he means to avoid, whatever the costs. Still, if some fools do try to storm our positions, they shallst fall prey to our ambush, for in this shrubs these bulky Romans cannot fight. But methinks this shallst not take place, and we wouldst get an easy victory in bypassing his lines. This shallst to his authority a deathblow give, how he shallst ever recover, my mortal brains do not conceive.

Mago: Thou art a genius, thy plan from this moment shallst be afoot.

[Exeunt

The forest near the pass, where the sentry post stands.

Enter Fabius, his generals, and his legions.

1^st General: ‘Tis hither Sir, where the enemy tried to give us the slip, as goes the sentry’s report who did see Hannibal’s flag, and heard some movements of the troops.

2^nd General: Yonder I see some motion, and these tracks prate their whereabouts, methinks we shouldst storm them and take them prisoner.

Fabius: I see it so, indeed, how cowardly these rabble seem when threatened by a real army. Gather all our troops and march into the forest.

Fabius and his men scour the forest and are about to encounter its end, when a wounded messenger on a horse comes.

Enter messenger.

Fabius: What now messenger, why doth thou bear signs of battle, tellest me what hath chanced in the pass.

Messenger: Noble Dictator, no sooner didst the legions leave the pass unguarded than we didst notice the enemy gathering near it, soon they shallst commence their march through it and be safely away. We the few sentry’s didst try to stop them but were mowed down and we feel back. I was told that the major force had strode in to the woods to pursue the fleeing enemy, and thus realized ‘twas a trap! These pass is surrounded by the one called Hannibal, and as soon as this decoy run is done, they shallst swiftly give us the slip. O the horrors of trickery! I faint…

Fabius: Messenger!

The messenger drops, dead.

2^nd General: Canst we still not persecute them, the forest is near its end..

1^st General: That wouldst mean conflict in their terms; two armies already have fallen to such ambushes.

Fabius: Ay, general thou sayst sooth. We have been properly tricked. To go forth and assault is not the standard practice, also now it shallst be wrong, for that is strictly forbidden in present era military doctrine, and rightly so for no general in his sound state of health shouldst attack the enemy when they hold vantage. Our job hither is done, to Rome we must march, and let the senate decide our fate.

2^nd General: Thou hath failed us Noble Dictator, under thy command we shallst no longer fight, for our services from this point on are to those that confront the enemy in the open fields.

Fabius: I forgive thee; mayst thou with thy might end his reign of terror. May the republic stands tall despite all faults.

[Exeunt

Act 4 Scene 5

Roman province of Apulia, Italia.Enter three Roman villagers.

1^st villager: This our republic, for which, we toil day and night, to feed both of civil and military rank, thus to see them to our aid whence the marauder’s come. Yet, from various reports, I gather that those who pillage our fields are in their acts stronger than republic's men, who have fallen to the buffet of the enemy.

If these be true then we must lament for the demise of Rome.

2^nd villager: Methinks the republic hath diseases and do not defend us when ‘tis most needed. Why else would they send forth a sickly army to our aid only to be blown away by the enemy? Then state that it desires to not to engage feigning strategy whilst ‘tis lackluster cowardice.

3^rd villager: I agree with thee good brethren, for mefears the death of Rome and rise of this grand enemy of ours; his name we hear is Hannibal. ‘Tis said that his name summons him to that place where ‘tis pronounced.

1^st villager: Prithee, be it not so, for he may lash upon our untouched fields, as if they were his.

2^nd villager: Nay ‘twere better then to listen to what he says. He may be honourable in his demands.

Alarum, Enter Hannibal with his army.

Hannibal: Villagers of Apulia, I come in good humour, not to gore thee in blood, but to speak to thee as a worthy ally. I come not hither to ravage these fields, but to tell the tale of Roman treachery, which like treason, ruins both the trickster and the tricked. Prithee, listen.

2^nd villager: Prithee sir, make it known to us.

Hannibal: I come from Hispania, to fight the cruel oppressive tyranny of Rome, for by beloved Carthage. As thou with thine own to eyes have seen, that in times of good, taxes from thee are exacted by the Romans; but when times of turbulence arrive, these double-dealing fiends turn back on the false promises, and stay securely shut in their premier fortresses; leaving the hapless souls as thee to fend for themselves. Speak, am I not true?

Villagers: Aye, thou art.

Hannibal: And dare I go further and state, that these people who claim to be thy protectors and the guardians of law, justice and peace, do not let other civilizations in harmony. The taxes that the rulers of Rome exact from its citizens, like thee, are used ‘gainst various o’th’other nations and us. Waging war is their passion, and yet it seemeth a bitter irony that, when ‘tis for punishment we visit their doors, they are quick to hide their useless selves as does a rat in the sewers, whilst using their hapless subjects as bait.

3^rd villager: Ha, so true indeed, such tyranny we shallst not live under forever.

Hannibal: Then ‘tis for thine and our own good, that we unite as one ‘gainst this feeble oppressor, who shallst with little effort be overthrown. I shallst not remain thy enemy or tormentor forever, so let us at this our join up. Thou taketh note, that I come not hither to fight the Italians, but to fight Rome at their behest. So art thou with us to see the fall of Rome, or art thee so blind to embrace death along with thy republic?

1^st villager: Thee we shallst not disregard, nor fear, we’re with thee.

[Aside] To protect ourselves, what choice to we have than to back the mightier.

Other villagers: So shall we!

Hannibal: Thy news greets us withal. Thou mayst leave to take up thy duties. Men, we camp hither tonight, on the morrow we march, when we awaken at first light.

[Exeunt