Act 8 Scene 5

Outside the deserted outpost. Enter Roman troops with the body of Hannibal on a wooden carrier. 

Alarum and Enter Scipio Africanus, Gaius Terentius Varro and Fabius Maximus and other troops. 

Gaius Terentius Varro: Behold Gentlemen! The reason of a thousand tears lies deceased in front of thee; made weak by time and ferocious Roman onslaught and thereafter relentless Roman quest! Though we couldst not catch him alive, but by Jove, we have his corpse and so we have truly avenged our fallen comrades who didst fall to his evil tactics.

Fabius Maximus: ‘Tis but sad that a general of his calibre had to meet such a shambolic end, he didst deserve full accolades for his achievements, but they were ‘gainst us, so I canst not confer him with any such honours! Although we all must truly admit that even in death he doth seem to be one step ahead of us!

Gaius Terentius Varro: ‘Twas his very nature to be deceitful, and aye, in that regard he was the master, forever the elusive fox, who wouldst thrive in the thicket to deal a deadly blow on his enemies by catching them unawares. Tried we to catch him so and yet he hath defied us!

Fabius Maximus: Aye, and he brought near disaster to us and now, as we speak, we take heavens as the witness, and pray that the dead sons of Rome may now, truly, rest in peace!

Scipio Africanus: Aye, ‘tis true that horror to us Romans he didst bring, with his strange and seemingly surreal touch and ingenious strategies; but aye, one fact which none of us can deny, that an abler or more gifted general, the world at this hour had never seen. ‘Twas a pity, even a cruel irony that he was not born to the Romans, for those that he sought to bitterly destroy hath risen from the ashes of his fire to be the phoenix! And those he sought to protect and uplift hath fallen into bitter oblivion! Well gentlemen such is life, which mayst raise thee to seventh heaven or drop thee deeper than the seventh hell! The treacherous Carthage didst not supply him help during the height of his conquests, which prevented him from marching on Rome! We were able to consolidate, and quickly turn things around. He was, and will forever remain in the hallowed halls of history as a high class general, inspite of being a butcher of Roman souls! ‘Tis true that once even I wanted to think of him as this barbarian beast who didst butcher the sons of Rome, to thus render an entire generation fatherless, but aye, as it turned out, that I didst learn much from his tactics, and in my mind he was, and always shallst remain my true tutor, and mentor, who didst artfully guide me to victory! So Gentlemen, how then should we respect my mentor, who was also my most hated foe? Being Romans, we must rise above petty thoughts of exacting dire revenge on the dead, and honour the greatest foe which made our Republic stronger than ever! Let us at once say that Hannibal is at our gates when any calamity doth strike, only to remind us how easily didst we “buy” ourselves out of that crisis! Then whenever our great Republic be threatened, let us remember that it was on the very brink of collapse, and how we, the Romans, took that as our “finest hour” and heroically fought off the foreign invader! Mothers wouldst sooth their unruly babes with the fear of Hannibal, to instill discipline from a very young age, which wouldst bode well for our Republic! Statues of him shallst be erected to remind us how we may easily overcome any foe, for we are favoured by the Gods! So Gentlemen, let us not tarry, and build a grand mausoleum to this fallen swordsman, general, and loyal son of Carthage, who fought us soulfully and solely for loyalty to what he believed in, and may we remember, that since the Republic is bigger than any of us, show the same loyalty and self-sacrifice as we did to overcome him!

Others: Amen! Let us proceed! All Hail Scipio! All Hail Hannibal!

[Exeunt with the body, Alarum and Flourish!!

Act 8 Scene 4

Libyssa, eastern shore of the sea of marmara, there a deserted military outpost.

In a room with sparse belongings, Enter Hannibal.

Hannibal: In this yeasty age, harrowed I am of being chased like a hare by the Roman hounds. I didst flee, wherever a semblance or a vestige of Roman hatred blossomed in a king’s court. I faced them all, the entire gamut of receptions ranging from apathy to warmth, ridicule to admiration, yet Rome prevailed! Thus as evening casts a forlorn pall yonder, and the ships to their docks return, so should men who have toiled hard to their loving homes. But I, the self-styled vagabond on a self-imposed exile, have nowhere to return. Hated by the oligarchs, chased by the Romans, I am but a shadow of my former self. Made frail with age, I possess not the passion or zeal to take on the Romans. As I see the birds take flight to their lovely homes, I too feel a longing to leave this world for I feel that slowly I am becoming a ghost or a shade! But hark! What noise is that?

A distant note of thunder, then gusts of wind followed my mist which engulfs the room.

Enter Ghosts of Hamilcar, Hasdrubal the Fair, Hasdrubal and Mago.

Ghost of Hamilcar: Nay son, not thee, but ‘tis me who is the apparition hither, along with thy dead brethren!

Ghost of Hasdrubal the Fair: ‘Tis been a long time since we’ve met, and grown yea have I see! Hurry now, the Romans are near.

Ghost of Hasdrubal: Brother, quick flee this place or join us!

Ghost of Mago: Now dear brother, now, do it, now!

Hannibal [startled]: Hark! Truly thou canst not be real, but are just the fragments o’th’tired mind of an old and wearied homesick traveller, which doth conjure images from his past to draw comfort. Yet methinks ye are come to find me to tell me of an impending danger! Speak!

Ghost of Hamilcar: Son, I am hither to warn thee of a Roman assault hither, as betrayed thou art. Soon make thy choice and drink to it!

Others: Come Brother, flee or use the Ring! Use the Ring! Use the Ring!

Ghost of Hamilcar: Time is short for we can no longer stay hither, soon surrounded thou shallst be! Choose now!

[Exeunt the Ghosts

Hannibal: What devilry was this? Did I hallucinate or were such visions palpable enough to warn me of danger? I hear noises without, truly the Romans are near, I see it [looking outside the window and spotting approaching figures] Well then ‘tis time to follow the advice and swallow the gall I had with me for some time now, yet, it had escaped my mind!

He opens his ring, which looks like a shining piece of stone to the untrained eye, and is but a container of vile, and pours the liquid into a chalice of water.

With this poison I shall end my struggle for it shallst relieve the Romans of the anxiety they have so long experienced, since they think it tries their patience too much to wait for an old man's death! Soon brothers and dearest father, thou shallst be joined by me! Romans failed thou have, Ha! ‘Tis hither that my tale shallst come to its end!

Drinks the poison and writhes in pain for a while, and then dies.

Alarum. Enter Roman troops.

1^st Soldier: Thither he is, hie, for we must take him ere he may die!

2^nd Soldier [approaches]: ‘Tis too late, for he is slain; from the poison from this ring, I doth gather! Go pronounce this news to the Captain!

[Exeunt a few soldiers

1^st Soldiers: Rest of you, help me carry him out!

[Exeunt Roman troops with Hannibal’s corpse

Act 8 Scene 3

Ten years after the previous scene, Hannibal's tent, somewhere in Asia Minor.

Enter Hannibal, who paces nervously up and down and then finally sits down.

Hannibal: The tent is warm and soothing, and it doth seem to me that this shallst be a safe refuge for now whilst providing me good comfort. I didst move swiftly whenever I smelt the slightest hint of danger, and thus far it has proved worth it. I knowest not which man, rattled by the ravages of time, is forced move about at first light, to and fro, like the prized king in chess to avoid capture! But hush, I shouldst not talk in a voice of fervent tone, for out there are Roman posts, sentinels of the dark, who at my slightest stir, will rise forth to take me prisoner!

Yet I lay hither to contemplate about my life sans Carthage. I didst visit Tyre, that land from whither our forefathers set sail to establish that great power at the mouth of Gibraltar. Aye, but safety mayst only be found on dry land which canst be controlled be controlled by the sea. I didst go to the Armenian Court, where the king Antiochus III didst welcome me with open arms, and bade me command his army. Thither I didst meet an old fool, who I recall, wouldst easily beat any other old fool in sheer size and scale of stupidity. Phormio, his name was who didst propose idiotic ideas of warfare, which were plainly rebuked by me. The king turned out to be far greater in stupidity when than I had imagined, and whilst I reported that a formation wouldst be enough for even the far exceeding greed of the Romans, he dismissed me to make his own flawed battle plans ‘gainst Rome! His loss was assured, which made me fly from his court!

Then I thought that this king was an exception, but as it turned out, almost all of them, were too indolent and addicts of sycophants. Soon they started to form alliances with Rome. Some however didst resist better- I recall myself thither. Countless wars, some worth of note, others mere minor skirmishes didst follow, and yet I wouldst never win a semblance of trust from them. Only did I have a glimmer of hope, ‘twas ‘gainst King Eumenes II of Pergamon, the ally of Rome. I didst manage to my steps, and now in this naval conflict, unlike the one whither Seleucid lost, I didst exercise my venomous vantage. Pots filled with the vilest adders I did throw to disarm all Eumene’s ships to give Prusias I of Bithynia a naval victory. But alas, that was not to stand for Prusias too proved to be the spineless wretch to bend his knees to Rome!

By a strange twist of heart, some say due to fear, he didst decide to give me up; but I am not the person to allow myself as a pray to Roman snares! So to Libyssa did I flee, to chart out a new course of action or take up a final stand. The proof of my existence hither shallst not chance, for I will carry what I wouldst need, and burn the rest sans tarry! Ahoy! The birds rise, and softly so must I; to live and fight another day. The horse awaits and methinks ‘tis time to make haste!

[Exit

Act 8 Scene 2

Rome, the Capitol. 

Emergency meeting of the Senate underway to discuss the state of affairs in Carthage and to extradite Hannibal. 

Enter Scipio Africanus, Gaius Terentius Varro, Fabius Maximus and two senior senators.

Gaius Terentius Varro: ‘Tis been three months or more and our main foe, hath trodden from one king’s court to another across the eastern lands. The Carthaginians claim he is in exile, that his escape is not their doing, and judging by their servile nature, methinks Hannibal didst impose this exile on himself.

1^st Senator: We must continue, with greater zeal to track down our greatest enemy, as he seeks refuge in the courts of our enemies, to plot ‘gainst us.

Scipio Africanus: Myself have posted scouts and there are reports which speak, that he didst journey to Tyre, that land of their forefathers, but presently, if he hasn’t fled, he keeps his state in the court of Antiochus III of Syria in the great city of Ephesus.

Fabius Maximus: If that be true, then, prithee, why doth I hear reports that he didst arm himself at the head of an army?

Gaius Terentius Varro: Thou heardst right, aye, for he keeps himself busy by plotting ‘gainst us whilst quietly slipping through our fingers like grains of sand from the Sahara! There are reports that he wouldst launch an assault on us using the king's army.

Scipio Africanus: To that gentlemen we shouldst note, that I have the fullest confidence in the report o’th’spy, who says that the king doth plan an attack on our shores, but Hannibal shallst be away in the king’s court pondering over the knights and pawns in morose foreboding.

2^nd Senator: Prithee if we know of an assault, shouldst we not make haste to defend our shores?

Scipio Africanus: Aye, good senator fret not, for at first light me and my troops shallst be there to greet them. Without Hannibal's effortless guile, they shallst fall like a pack of cards. Then I the victor shallst write a letter to the king whilst holding hostages and ask him to immediately extradite Hannibal in return for the hostages. Then let him flee for soon the net of diplomacy will take root to scoop up the perch. If this fails then I will redouble my efforts to ensnare him!

Fabius Maximus: Then let us part for the night, as at an end today’s discussion is!

Others: Let us all!

[Exeunt

Act 8 Scene 1

The Praetor’s office, late at night in Carthage.Enter Hannibal, who paces up and down nervously.

Hannibal: The still night beckons; and I must make this move, for Rome shallst never have me. Alas! People of Carthage, I have failed thee again, first as general and now as Praetor. Full well their trust I didst gain, but my greatest folly was to believe in the leadership of Carthage, which had rotten beyond use before my ascent of the Alps. The War was lost before metal tasted blood, and now I know why. Reforms galore I didst put forth, which made the people happy but the arrogant elders cried foul; no country’s fate shouldst ever be entrusted upon them!

 They doth care only to increase their land holdings; and doth bend to any degree like a creeper, and comply even with a mortal enemy. Happy they doth seem, conniving with Rome to, but alas, they realize not that Rome, with her powers enhanced, shall like a Kraken, with its myriad tentacles wrap and sink this ship. This I canst not allow, whilst I am still in office, but it doth seem scared them I have with Cannae. The ghosts of Cannae wouldst forever haunt them till beloved Carthage is done to dust, but not under my watch! Yet these greedy thugs conspire to have me killed, or worse still, have me delivered to Rome!

They rue the loss of their privileges, for ‘twas I who decreed the membership o’th’Council to be one year and that their office be subject to public election, with two whole years being the fullest term. This didst open up their moral decay, and they showed their decadent selves! Now like a hungry wolf pack in winter, they wouldst pounce on me, but methinks me is too clever for their silvered hands and heads, and I shallst flee in absolute silence, at an ungodly hour, before the wolf pack strikes! Hark! Who goes thither!

Enter a messenger

Messenger: Sire, ‘tis time, the horse awaits at the gates. As per thy orders the vessel to Tyre is at the docks, ready to sail at first tide. I suggest we hie, for conspirators and Roman troops are at large!

Hannibal: Hail Messenger! Thou hast done what a true and noble son of Carthage wouldst do! I shall take to sea, come away at once!

[Exeunt

Act 7 Scene 6

Carthage, in the desolate streets at night time, a few years after the Battle of Zama.Enter four citizens.

1^st citizen: Up in the heavens, mefeels there’s husbandry; and down hither, that too was tried and I daresay, much achieved! Our great leader, the Praetor hath done much to allay our fears.

2^nd citizen: Aye, indeed Hannibal, ‘tis clear to one and all that his administrative skills far surpass his military prowess! He is the best man to lead this beleaguered state and hath thus far borne his duties well- far too well for someone in the Council ever has or wouldst have done!

3^rd citizen: Aye, thou speakst sooth for there are many hither who doth despise him, but ay, he hath restored faith and belief in the system, whilst undertaking the great challenge of uprooting corruption that didst cripple this great city. Reforms galore he hath announced and implemented, to rebuild the lost glory of older times.

4^th citizen: My father didst tell me, but for the oligarchs, we wouldst have been stronger than Rome! But alas, that was not to be! For if that were so then peace and prosperity wouldst have easily come to us now! And now Hannibal doth give us this hope!

2^nd citizen: He didst not sit still whence came he to know the blatant corruption prevailing amongst the judges. They didst, in their haughty and arrogant state, abuse power. He didst once cause a lictor to hold the quaestor, who had arrogantly opposed him, to be thus produced in front of the common people, so that the people couldst pass judgement. Thus biding his people to do so he found the true nature of their rapacious hunger! Later he didst impeach the whole bench of judges, thus ending their rapine tyranny. He proposed and enacted a stringent law that read: New Judges be chosen for a year in office, no further term be extended for the judges who have lived their term.

4^th citizen: So we can now all plainly see who endeth the judges’ tyranny; for those cruel and rapacious lords have finally fallen from their high ivory towers, let them the dirt and grime of this ancient land, forever devour!

Methinks this new law for all time hence stem the clout of such tyrants from ever arising!

1^st citizen: We must pray that is the case, but mefears that sans Hannibal, this new law mayst fall flat, for they have preyed on us for years and decades, and they wouldst not want to relinquish their prize without much fight. Dark days may be at hand, but methinks the Praetor is strong and Roman levy still needs to be paid!

3^rd citizen: Aye, I agree, and we must recall that he has seen death and treachery from close quarters, so methinks he shallst be able to preside these tidings without much ado, but what about the public purse, doth he have what it takes to disperse public money to the Romans?

1^st citizen: Hannibal didst find the neglectful men squandering precious coffers, and farmers falling prey to this gross injustice. No more! Said he that the farmer shallst suffer! ‘Tis known he thus decreed, that officers of ill-repute, who for their rapacious greed, let go of precious public sums need punishment, and methinks he laid some reforms, too great for the common men to comprehend, that wouldst pay the Romans without disturbing our pockets.

2^nd citizen: Aye, the like I have heard from quarters close to the high offices, and soon the Roman levy will be done with no additional taxes or yokes on our necks.

3^rd citizen: Well then let us pray that the husbandry in the heavens is good sign, and let it foretell the good and just reign of Hannibal lasting a thousand years through the grace of his reforms and our vigilant selves!

Others: Amen!

Alarum

1^st citizen: Come ‘tis getting late, and lest we catch the morning chill or be prey to the hoodlum, we must hie. Good morrow all!

Others: Amen!

[Exeunt all but 4^th citizen

4^th citizen: Heavens, but only I doth know the myriad ills that doth plague this ancient land of our ancestors. Many a hideous fact I didst hide from those young and tender ears. Hannibal son of Hamilcar, thou hast led us well, in the field of battle and ay, even in the murky realm of politics. Thou hast tried to uphold the integrity, piety and honesty of thy great office and hath borne thy duties exceedingly well. Thou tried to wage wars in Africa, but were’t recalled as it didst displease the Romans! Hark Hannibal, hark! Hark good Praetor hark, for in the air there is foul gossip. Through thy noble deeds, thou hast made many enemies hither, and Rome wouldst soon any day call for thy head as soon as Carthaginian prosperity reaches new zeniths. They plot, scheme and conspire night and day, to get thee thrown to Rome! But, I canst not say these aloud in the middle of the night, for people mayst take me for a loon; hie I must to home, and yet my mind, uneasy it lies for it senses dark things nearby! May the future bode well for our Carthage and our beloved Praetor, and may the gods have mercy on this man wizened by the burden of advanced years. Keep us all safe! Amen!

[Exit 

Act 7 Scene 5

Carthage, the Council hall.Enter Councillors, Asdrubal Hoedus and Gisco and Hannibal.

Gisco: ‘Tis time, the bell rings in the distance-taxes as per the Roman levy must be paid!

Asdrubal Hoedus: Ay, ‘tis true and the states finances have been exhausted by this war, and the heart aches to think that this ungodly sum be bestowed upon the public.

Other Councillors agree and some are moved to tears. Hannibal laughs, very loudly and visibly. Enraged by Hannibal's laugh at this hour of despair Asdrubal Hoedus questions him.

Asdrubal Hoedus: What seemeth hither which is so full of mirth and joy that ye, noble and honourable Hannibal art moved to such laughter at Carthage’s darkest hour? Knowest not thou that this affliction is thy doing? Then prithee tell us, why doth thou break the grief of this Council by this brazen display of jovial mirth? Explain the reason for this heretic glee to the astonished Councillors of Carthage!

Hannibal: Were it possible for all to see my heart, as my countenance which plainly visible be, thou wouldst have been that these gleeful wisps of mirth come not from immoderate joy but from a mind, thoroughly disenchanted from the proceedings of this Council. However, if thou art given to rack thy brains, thou shallst find my laughter more akin to reason than thy ungainly tears! Then thou ought to have wept when from thee thy arms were robbed, thy citizens hanged, sea-worthy vessels charred in plain sight, and thou were’t forbidden to engage in foreign wars without Roman consent. These were the mortal blows didst lay us prostrate, yet tears roll when we must part with our silvers as loss of wealth is the worst of all losses; but I ask, when I was winning the war ‘gainst Rome, ‘twas this very Council which didst reject the offer of thousands of golden rings from my brother, who now lies slain in the sands! Was it not unjust for fellow Carthaginians to let our great nation to ruin when we could have a great victory over Rome! ‘Tis true that Rome wouldst still have stood, but peace we couldst bring unto us, with similar inflicting terms, thereby watching as the victors. But ‘twas not to be!

Gisco: Well Hannibal, we agree that wronged thou were’t by Hanno the Great, the wisest miser of those times, but now is it sooth to chafe and fret when times require urgent action?

Hannibal: Nay ‘tis not, but if I ask thee hold thy selves and not melt in tears without knowing what didst cause them, and how the tables should have been turned, how we, who art now left disarmed and undefended ‘gainst the military might of many a powerful state in Africa, who had been up in arms in these hours, could have feasted in our glory. Why, when such humiliation was inflicted not a groan, not even a slightest sigh was heard. Yet on the question of a simple tax, tears that doth suite the crocodile o’th’Nile, were seen and moans were heard which told us that all were lost!

Asdrubal Hoedus: But is it not true that thou forced us unto this treaty?

Hannibal: Aye I did, for the safety and preservation of our culture, I did. But did I forbid grieving in public? Did I tell yea just to accept this proposal from Rome with glee and mirth? If thou thought that was the case then thou were’t wrong, or maybe, I was, for to thy customs still a foreigner I am! Even so, what I ask now is to undertake some reforms to pay the indemnity rather than waste way in wanton despair.

The Councillors discuss amongst themselves, and consult Asdrubal Hoedus and Gisco seem to come up with a proposal.

Gisco: Noble Hannibal, thou hath valour tongued spurred us to action. These are tough and drastic times and they call for immediate measures. So I hereby nominate, along with the consent and popular support of the other Councillors, Hannibal as the Praetor, so that his wisdom mayst guide us further!

Asdrubal Hoedus: Aye! Let it thus conclude!

Others: Aye! We agree!

Hannibal: Well gentlemen ‘tis settled then, I am but a novice in the fields of ruling, but time, patience, diligence and thy support, I shallst strive to uphold all that is truly a part of our great cultural heritage. I must begin at the earliest and see how the war indemnity be paid without much taxation!

[Exeunt Meanwhile away in Rome, Alarum, Hautboys, Enter Scipio the Younger, with great pomp and show like a true conquering hero in the centre of a grand cavalcade.

The citizens throng the streets and soldiers remain on guard as Scipio approaches the Capitol; then Enter Senators.

1^st Senator: Welcome, General Scipio, we have eagerly awaited thy return, to bestow on thee laurels and honours that thou truestly deserve, and have fought with great courage, valour and dignity to achieve!

Scipio the Younger: I am humbled by this generous offer, and just to see a great joy amongst the citizens and the people of Rome at the conclusion of this hasty, and ill-conceived conflict, which didst claim many valiant Roman lives, and a rendered a generation fatherless. But now is not the time of sorrow, but ‘tis the hour of rejoice, and the time for me to take the solemn pledge of defending Rome’s honour for as long as I draw breath, no harm shallst come to Rome from Carthage, its allies or from any enemy that dare look to challenge the very Idea of Rome! To my last capable day, I shallst remain a loyal and capable servant of Rome and the Republic!

Others: Bravo! All Hail Scipio the Younger! All Hail! Bravo!

2^nd Senator: Now, we the representatives of the Republic do hereby, unanimously declare and bestow, upon thee the name of Scipio Africanus, for completely vanquishing our most formidable foe, the evil Hannibal, from Carthage and thus introducing Roman footprints in the soil of Africa! All Hail Scipio Africanus! All Hail!

Scipio Africanus: I am exalted with such an honour and wouldst fully devote myself towards upholding its dignity and integrity till the last day of my life.

Others: All Hail Scipio Africanus! All Hail!

[Exeunt

Act 7 Scene 4

Carthage, the Council Hall.Enter Gisco, Asdrubal Hoedus, Hannibal and other elder statesmen.

Gisco: Are the ambassadors returned? Have ye heard anything of the sort?

Asdrubal Hoedus: They are come and wouldst appear before the Council.

Alarum, and enter the ambassadors.

1^st Ambassador: This humble servant of Rome wishest to lay before this Council, the terms of peace which shallst conclude this war, as formed by Scipio and the high Council at Tunis.

Gisco: Prithee, go forth.

1^st Ambassador: The conditions so dictated go that Carthage shallst remain a sovereign state, free to rule by its laws, all their cities in Africa they are to keep. To Rome, they shallst the slaves and captives submit; all ships save ten triremes, all elephants nurtured to fight must go to the Roman stables, and no more shouldst they be so raised. Wars shallst be fought only with Roman consent even ‘gainst the powerful nations in Africa. Massinassa be bequeathed all the sum which from him that was taken. Money and corn must fill the Roman auxiliaries till more envoys hie to us returned. That being done, the Romans still, have to receive ten thousand euboic talents of silver, made by fifty annual instalments. A hundred hostages, nominated by Scipio he must have, and ships too as recompense for the wrecking of the Roman galley. That being done truce is at hand, but, even if one o’th’statuettes is violated then be prepared for neither truce nor peace, but war!

Gisco: Why didst neither the earth shake nor the oceans swell to swallow this city ere the Council was made to hear such shameful and intolerable tidings? ‘Tis disgraceful that we in all our grandeur must bear such humiliation. We are not cowards who wouldst submit to such demands and hence peace canst not be concluded.

Hannibal, angered and enraged by such outrageous and ill-timed patriotism, rises and takes Gisco by the arm and drags him out, much to the dismay of the Councillors who exchange looks and murmurs filled with reproach.

Elder Councillor: Hannibal, knowest thou not, that ‘tis ‘gainst the decorum of the house to do so?

Hannibal: [Letting go of Gisco]: I am deeply vexed and to all assembled hither, I place my sincerest apologies. As I left thy city, at a tender age of nine, and didst not return till after six-and-thirty years, I didst have full leisure to indoctrinate myself in the arts of war, aye,  and that I do flatter myself if I sayst that I made some strides in that regard. As to thy laws and customs I am ignorant, yet not arrogant, so that thee mayst instruct them to me. Turning to more immediate issues of discourse, methinks that the heavens must see our offerings and gods be delighted by them, for they have prompted the very word PEACE! To the Roman ears, this word could be lost if not for the hand of the divine. They dist forget that word, like the case of actors o’th’ramp. Even these conditions, hark good citizens of Carthage, hark, are a blessing for all and sundry to live in peace and harmony. I appeal to the collective wisdom and conscience of prominent members gathered hither, to debate and choose the best course of action which wouldst suite the needs of the good citizens of this city!

There are murmurs among the councillors and people debate, and many seem displeased at Gisco.

1^st Councillor: ‘Tis an honour on my part to announce that we have decided unanimously decided for peace. Ambassadors, thy terms are acceptable.

2^nd Ambassador: ‘Tis for thy own good that thou doth accept this most generous of terms proposed by the good and noble Scipio. Thus peace is concluded and the Second Punic war officially is brought to a close. Here are the names nominated by Scipio. [Hands the list to Gisco]

Gisco: So let it be known that though the terms are a trifle harsh, we are to abide by them for the general good of the people. [Aside] Thou lamentable that such a great shame is brought upon Carthage by a foolhardy general who waged war without the consent of this very council where he doth stands!

[Exeunt the Ambassadors

Asdrubal Hoedus: Well then peace is concluded, and yet we must remain wary that wisdom and prosperity shan’t together dwell. The Romans, invincible as they have become, never will they be blinded by the dazzle of good fortune, for ‘twouldst be to all’s intrigue should they act not so. Success, like the gloss of new clothes, is strange only to the eyes of the pauper, but to a prince, ay, they are but happenstance. Thus, we must remember, that, Roman sense of success lieth not only in conquest but also i’th’preservation of the conquered culture, and this shallst propel them for ages to come.

Gisco: So the purpose of the council is now fulfilled; let us now part and commence on the other important tasks.

Others: Let us!

[Exeunt

Act 7 Scene 3

Zama, the Battlefield, Hannibal's camp.Enter Hannibal and Mago.

Hannibal: How goes the mood in the camps? Are the newly commissioned elephants come?

Mago: They are come my liege; and are ready to do battle. The mood is reserved, but men have high hopes.

Hannibal: So March, and call on my aid to dress me in battle attire.

Mago: I shallst.

[Exit Mago

Hannibal: This war doth give me an uneasy feel for strategies galore have been thought. Thus ‘tis time for the actual war to be fought.

[Exit

 

Battlefield in Zama; Roman camp.Enter Scipio the Younger and other officers.

Scipio the Younger: Officers listen forth; remember our plans for their elephant charge; and forget not that the Numidians fill our already sturdy camps. Feel the beats of vengeance, gyrating to rhythms of these drums; the time has come! This place shallst be our redemption of Cannae and salvation to all those who fight hither, in this day, with me and for Rome! Brothers, thou art not simple soldiers hither, thou art the personification of Rome’s will for its everlasting reign!

Others: Rome! Rome! We will not forget Cannae! We will our dead comrades avenge! To Victory!

[Exeunt 

The two armies form up, and the battle begins. Carthaginians use their elephants, their shock weapon of war, and charge the Roman ranks. The Romans practised in the art of war step aside and let them pass between them. When the elephants have stopped, they are butchered with Roman spears. 

The moral of the Carthaginians take a shattering blow, yet the two infantries engage in combat, along with their cavalries. 

Action is both on and offstage.

Enter the Roman infantry fighting tooth and nail with the Carthaginian infantry, which is then attacked at the rear by the Numidian cavalry, now fighting for Rome!

Roman Officer: How doth thou feel when thou dost get the bitter and torturous taste of thy own vile medicine?

Carthaginian Officer: Surrounded we are, may be, but aye, vanquished we are not. We shallst not drop till our last breath leave our body.

Roman Officer: Thy vanity shallst fall to my valiant blade.

The fighting resumes and the Romans are victorious. The Carthaginians are all but obliterated and some are taken prisoner. 

Another part of the battlefield.Enter Mago & Scipio fighting along with others.

Mago: Rally on men, rally on, this foe may not be crushed but it is assailable. We can win!

Scipio the Younger: I am flummoxed by thy tomfoolery, ‘tis clear that that yea canst never win. There can be no virtue in raising the moral of dead men!

Mago: ‘Tis then yea that shallst to my blade fall.

They fight and after severe noteworthy swordsmanship from both parties, Scipio the Younger prevails and kills Mago. The Romans take the remaining Carthaginians prisoner, as the battle is overwhelmingly won by them! 

Carthage, the city. Enter Hannibal and a few of his retreating troops and the citizens of Carthage from opposite ends. 

Hannibal: With profound grief and heartfelt sorrow, I pronounce this sad and terrible news, that the day we have well and truly lost. Friends have perished and my tactics have been vanquished by those of the superior foe. They have taken 20000 Carthaginian troops as prisoner and soon wouldst overrun & plunder this city is truce isn’t immediately called. I beg thee, let not my failure cost my beloved Carthage and its people, culture more than already occurred. Prithee call for truce and agree to whatever the terms the Romans offer.

Citizens: Aye, we shallst hie to tell the Council.

[Exeunt all but Hannibal

 

Hannibal: The end of my powers as I see them hath arrived, the saga mayst near its demise.

 [Exeunt

Act 7 Scene 2

An open field in Zama, near Carthage.Enter Hannibal and Scipio the Younger, followed by their banners. The banners stand aside and Scipio the Younger and Hannibal face each other, and are apparently stupefied in amazement. Hannibal begins. 

Hannibal: Scipio the Younger, I am honoured and most pleased, that I have the occasion to stand close to thee and give thee audience. Thou art full of youthful vigour, much like that I didst posses long before this day, and yet so noble that tales of thy valour precede thee.

Scipio the Younger: The pleasure and honour, if there is any, is mine alone. Thou doth flatter me by thy comparisons, but thou art the senior, so, Prithee speakst thy mind free.

Hannibal: Aye, but a better and an abler Roman general I have not met, who hath, with his own two hands taken control o’th’course of war. War, aye, so full of surprises it is. No mortal, can nor shouldst try to decipher the codes that dictate it unpredictable tides; for they are as full of deceit as some crafty painter’s work, who wouldst hide the devil i’th’details. Indeed war is an ocean wither tales of joy and sorrow are sung with equal passion by the ship’s crew! The ravages of war do affect both the victor and the vanquished withal. Thy victories mayst be great, so great that scholars may study it at a later date; but alas, none can however, with swelling joy contemplate the splendour of that victory, but push on with a solemn vow to achieve final victory.

Fortune is like the most promiscuous whore, whose support wavers and flutters as does the flag i’th’winds. Such is the work of fortune, at a stroke all successes of a man’s lifelong quest, is erased whilst his rivals, in that little while, gaineth clear vantage. Scipio, thou art young, and therefore know not how the subtle and swift hand of fate deal the a sweeping blow and steal all thy successes. Thy young life mayst not recall such treacherous tales, yet warn thee I must, for ‘twas not long before, I was in thy place, able to exhort the Romans to peace on my own terms. Yet thou didst resist, and fortune smiled on thee to propel thee forth. Now hither, in this shore of the relentless river of time, I doth stand before thee and beg thee, to consider thy next steps very clearly. Art thou sure of thy victory?

Thou doth hold the same power in thy gripe, as I did after Cannae, Prithee, mayst still swing for thy worst. We shallst accept thy demands withal. It seemeth Providence, doth decide, that Carthage shouldst hold sway only over their home, whilst, all other lands shallst be governed by the Roman laws. We wouldst thus, to follow this sacred decree, and surrender Sicily, Sardinia and Hispania, and all other islands that doth lie between our kingdoms. I request, thee, noble and honourable as thou art; thou shallst not wrongly judge, and rightly thou shallst accept these humble terms.

Scipio the Younger: Honourable and noble though thou may be; yet I must say well informed in the state of affairs thou art not! Thou speakst as if thou were’t choosing to surrender those lands to impede our march thither! Well I’ll have thee known, that, we the Romans have already acquired those lands and art gathered hither not to take them from thee but to save thy city from our wrath. I am indeed truly honoured by these kind words and thy gracious presence but to bare facts I must plunge. The reason behind this dialogue was the most unfortunate of incidents. When true talks of peace were afoot, calamity didst strike a Roman galley.

The citizens of Carthage, out of wanton greed, looted and plundered, and dismantled every part o’th’ship, and every such part didst fall to their greedy hands. Indeed if that be forgiven, who ever, other than thee or thy people, are responsible for this outrageous war that doth claim a thousand lives a year? Rebellions spark, whither brother ‘gainst brother rise didst with ravenous swords rise to drain each other’s blood; beautiful fields were waylaid, which in time gave way to barren ruin. Honourable and noble Hannibal, if thou wishest at this instant to end this bloodshed, then I recommend that other than thy lands elsewhere, on behalf of the Republic of Rome, I propose a tax of five thousand euobic talents of silver, to be paid in fifty annual instalments, upon thy state, as punishment for their unlawful acts. Honourable and noble Hannibal, these are our terms, and since thou hath shown the greatest pains in counselling me in the vagaries of war I shallst forever be grateful to thee; but true honour may lie in ending of deaths. So what say you?

Hannibal: Though art valiant in thought and speech as thou art in action. However, a tax in these trying times with only Africa as our foraging ground may be difficult to get. Thy demands seem misconstrued for they seem excessive and too unfair. So let us, as good and worthy warriors part, to win the day, to the best o’th’abilities, we must execute our art.

Scipio the Younger: ‘Tis sad that thou doth not compromise. Well ‘tis then war! So on that note we must move on.

[Exeunt 

Hannibal’s military camp, near Zama.Enter a few veteran troops, then Enter Hannibal.

Hannibal: Cheer up thy sprites, for we shallst get our long awaited chance after Cannae to redeem ourselves in the battlefields. Rise, rise to the distant drums that beat, awaken and shake off thy slumber, for we must draw the battle lines once again, to teach these fools valuable lessons. Forget not, how we did achieve victories galore in the foreign lands, where we were always outnumbered. Rack thy brains to usher in those hard times where astute and brilliant Roman generals, with our guile, were ambushed and killed. Bring to thy mind those armies that we didst cut down; and time again beckons us. No matter how large the force, time and again we gained resounding victory. So gentlemen, with these thoughts and a gallant mood, on the morrow we shallst march to meet our foe in armed conflict. Glory to Carthage!

Others: Glory to Carthage! Glory to Hannibal! We follow thee to victory!

[Exeunt 

Roman military camp, near Zama.Enter Roman troops, led by Scipio the Younger.

Scipio the Younger: Citizens of Rome, we who have suffered during this most wanted war, shallst on the morrow, seize this moment and signal its final chapter. Our adversary may be strong, yet remember, that we are stronger and more determined. Our powers of conquest have us the masters of Sicily and Hispania, and as the new day dawns, Africa shallst be added as well. Aye, from this moment on, we shallst set sails and tirelessly march, to bring dissident kingdoms, conniving states and maligned tribes under our belt of rule. The battle about to commence, shallst to the world, in a blaze of glory, anoint us as their sole masters. Enliven thy selves, for thou art Romans every each one of yea; aye are both its faculties and its genius’. Forever may, the Sun in the zenith stay for our everlasting empire to thrive. Eternal, imperial Rome!

Others: Rome! Rome! All hail Rome!

[Exeunt

Act 7 Scene 1

Hispania, Hannibal's Tent, Early morning.Enter Hannibal, distressed and agitated, and is cursing the Gods for his recent misfortunes in war.

Hannibal: The gleaming dawn without, that shouldst enliven a man’s spirit to renew his zeal to continue in unrelenting strides, towards his desirous design, but alas, in me it canst not instill progressive thoughts. Hither, as I breathe in the cold winter air, I choke and suffocate in the claustrophobic thoughts that are aroused by these vile morning mists. Since that greatest of battles, which I doubt not, shallst forever be marked for its ingenious design, and for centuries be revered by the generals of later date; ay, since that, our fortunes have swayed like a ship caught up in a violent tempest. I had not the means to take Rome, so to continue this conflict; I had to satiate my thirst by inciting a general revolt. Emissaries I sent, to many a foreign land, to go forth and build bridges of bonds so that we may maintain our vantage over Rome! To these Carthaginian heads, I sent and envoy, no less than my noble brother. Yet all these measures were feeble, and all faltered and melted away like wisps of fine vapour in the heat of the cold morning sun. Those men that doth seat and hold sway over my homeland, have given me the unkindest cut. It doth seem by some villainy, and the unseen hand of fate, those Councillors took the first steps to toughen Rome. I was not allowed the reinforcements I longed; I found that my new found and old allies had me wronged; and the sly Romans like a fox, did watch and wait, and in my absence laid the baits, that stopped all anti-Roman sentiments. Thereafter still many battles ensued, and the Romans, I pursued, but all came to nought, as the fortunes o’th’ships of war, wavering in the doldrums took its final course, towards Rome! As the morning dew evaporates, so did my victories vanish into thin air. Friends allies, troops and nobles, whose support and loyalty made me come this far in my quest, abused and slowly faded, as do the last embers of a dying bonfire without. The situation, as such, is far worse and my eviction from Italia is almost certain. Yet I must fight on, along with the rest of my men until the strength from body ebbs. The only hope for me, if at all it doth exist, is a miracle, but the sombre dawn and morose sun only foretell that more gloom is to come- Hark! Who’s here? - A messenger? Then thou mayst enter!

Enter a messenger

Messenger: Sire, I bring thee a message from the halls of Carthaginian Council.

Hannibal: [Aside] What do these fools and treacherous cheats want from me? Surely now the Romans have been too tough to handle and now they find their enormous and illicit wealth within the reach of a Roman sword! Life, bitter it is for now I must protect the very skin of the people whom I would love to flay!

What message doth thou bringest? Speak plainly!

Messenger: The supreme Council doth command thee to bring forth thy martial talents, for our home Carthage his under assault from thine mortal enemy, Scipio the Younger.

Hannibal: Tyrants! Traitors! Villains! Why, if scoff me they couldest when I didst need them most, do they beg me when their ill-gotten wealth be lost Roman steel? Surely a deal that can broker and part with only a fraction of their wealth, why waste time in procuring the services of the man that they mostly distrust? I should see them burn and rot and wasted, their corpses thrown to the gulls to gorge...Yet that would mean destroying the very Idea for which my father didst lay down his life, for which I have wasted my best years in foreign lands without the feeling the softness of a woman’s touch, suffered the horrors of war, treason, famine and betrayal. O accursed my life has been, for I have been fighting the wrong enemy!

Messenger: To thee sire, I agree, every word of it. But now is not the time for cowardice, but valour; not stupefaction but action; not personal glory but homeland honour. So I beg thee, come forth to thy own country and fight the Romans, if not for the Council then at the very least for its people.

Hannibal: Aye good messenger, thy words have plucked out my weariness and I long to see the country of my birth. Besides, the war hither is over, and to avenge my brother, beloved Hasdrubal, to Carthage I shallst march for the feeling of vengeance is better than the lethargy of inaction! Onward ho!

[Exeunt

Act 6 Scene 4

New Carthage, Hispania.Hasdrubal’s head quarters, inside a room.Enter Hasdrubal and an old man.

Hasdrubal: A great calamitous battle rages without; like a ceaseless tempest, a never ending nightmare it is! The control o’th’ships are lost and good men fight to their end; to see the dawn of fancy shattered before their eyes, to see the bud nipped when ‘twas time for it to bloom and blossom.

Old man: Aye, methinks ‘tis the designs of nature that it should happen-

Hasdrubal: Aye but ‘tis true that some of those designs bear earthly origins!

Old Man: Three score and seventeen years have I seen, and yes I doth agree, that most dire events have roots inside the bosom of mother earth; whose seeds are planted by naive souls, which grow up to devour the very hands that didst give them life!

Hasdrubal: Old father, doth thou sayst that Hannibal's dreams are shattered? That his and that of free Carthage’s days are numbered?

Old Man: Aye, so before I fall to Roman butchery I must flee, may be I shallst be spared the Roman blade!

[Exit the Old Man

Hasdrubal: So he spoke, and so he spoke that “old man far from here”, whilst I must sulk and fight on, for ‘tis my brunt to bear! But hark-

Thunder cracks outside, and rain begins to pour.

Aye, the wraths of the Gods are clear! Old father thou art excused I shallst bear thee no ill will. Hush silly mind hush; beguile me not away from these important tasks, stray me not asunder, for I must live tell see how we didst fight ‘gainst lightning and thunder!

Enter Scipio the Younger, sword in hand ready to do battle ‘gainst Hasdrubal 

Scipio the Younger: For Rome, I, the son of Publius Scipio, as commander of Rome’s legions and leader of battle, am here to finish the conquest of Hispania for Rome!!

Hasdrubal: Do that thou shallst only over my corpse!

Hasdrubal unsheathes his sword and they start to fight. The fight is fierce and sword and shield make noises as they meet in battle. Scipio the younger proves to be the better swordsman and soon lands the death blow on Hasdrubal.

Scipio the Younger: The end of thy rule is come!

Hasdrubal: Soon I shallst wither away but lo and behold what doth I see before me? I see the fading autumn sun between the hillocks and the descent of a cool autumn eve! The look of this land is forlorn, for this invader; like the unseasonal rains didst wash away the last vestiges of our sway...But the fight elsewhere shallst continue for as long as Hannibal still draws breath, there shallst be a thousand Hasdrubals who shallst rise and fall to oppose Rome, as did I right here right now![Dies]

Scipio the Younger: So heroic thou fallst Hasdrubal that even Rome shallst take note! But for now Hispania is ours, and soon Carthage will be too!

[Exit