Act 5 Scene 7

Carthage, Carthaginian Council Hall, Enter Hanno the Great and other councillors and the Court accessories.<Sound of Horses approaching>

Hanno the Great: I hear the sound of hooves neighing of horses. Who doth come hither at this hour?

A Councillor: Noble Hanno, ‘tis Hannibal’s brother Mago, who has come, for my liege, he doth beg thy audience and that of this chamber about supplies to sustain the war effort.

Hanno the Great:[Aside] This is most unwelcome. To openly oppose Rome is not my wish, for Rome spares none who fail to destroy her.

Bring him forth; let the council know his mind.

Alarum, Enter Mago, carrying a bag with Carthaginian Guard

Mago: Greetings Lord Hanno, I come forth from distant Italia, on behalf of my brother Hannibal; who has till now nigh singlehandedly has Rome on the run. Thus melords at this most crucial hour we come to thee for military assistance; that thou shouldst bestow upon us to finally vanquish our mortal foe.

Hanno the Great: What may I ask thee; Mago brother of Hannibal on behalf of all present hither; as to what makes thee feel sure and firm of foot to make such a demand?

Mago: Close we are to final victory. Already in three bloody battles we have made Rome taste the bitterness of defeat, whilst we ourselves have not the more bloody been. Now charge on Rome we can, take it we cannot for want of troops, supplies, and equipments of siege. So I hither implore thee to lend thy ears to our plight and place in my command a legions of valiant Carthaginians to answer the just and noble cause of freedom to pursue and persecute Rome, enabling Carthaginian republic to reign supreme. Beguiled be not, ever, into thinking me lords that I come before thee without tangible proof of these worthwhile successes which have themselves been got through a lot of sacrifice. But that can stay awhile, for time now has come to walk my talk. For proof that I say sooth is bore by these bags I doth hold. Behold good councilmen the rings collected from the hands of slain Roman Generals, over 50,000 of whom were felled in one fell swoop in the Battle of Cannae-

Drops the rings from the bag, and the gold rings fall with a bang on the floor, making quite a clutter, and much to the dismay of the council men.

-So councilmen all of whom are present hither, cast thy eyes in the countless rings that doth adorn the council floor is just payment for all the help that can be conjured.

The Councillors whisper amongst themselves, some are worried and others cautious, then Hanno the great rises clapping his hands.

Hanno the Great: Bravo, Bravo, brave Hannibal outdid himself I see. So to say sooth if he the great Hannibal didst achieve all this without our need then what need has he to drag us to this conflict. If by the Gods he is undefeated sans our help then let him sans our help defeat this foe of ours.

Mago: I agree, but Prithee hark my words with care, my brother’s army is built for quick and cunning victories, it canst not withstand sieges of long dread. So the men is what we need from thee, come now, are these rings not payment enough to turn a few thousands of men and supplies? Must Carthage renounce all claims in this war that is waged in the foreign lands, just to maintain its oligopolies?

Hanno the Great: Young Mago, thou didst flee these lands many years ago with thy father and brothers, so ‘tis certain that thou aren’t aware of our functions. Well to tell thee sooth, hark that neither me nor does the council welcome the decision of open war with Rome. The Romans still doth command many Republics and united they are in this hour of grief. We ourselves must tend to affairs in Africa and thus many men we can spare not. He mayst still face defeat even we do bolster yea with our troops, for only fools would warrant an absolute victory. So good Mago here this now, that direct Carthaginian involvement would be noted and if the siege be lost, Rome will bide the time; and in the opportune moments arrival strike us down hard, then defenceless we shallst be and watch Carthage burn by Roman hands. Nay, I shallst not let it chance so hence forth and go tell thy brother that he shallst have to do it by his own will. Take those coins with thee, and hence ho!

Mago: ‘Tis not thou who doth speakst; ‘tis thy greed and vanity that doth burst forth its seams. Doomed you all have our beloved Carthage, doomed you have my brother, fine, ‘tis here that thou must rot and watch as thy ignorance, greed, corruption like a leech, suck our native land dry! But, what care thee! O Noble Sons of Carthage, who doth desire to fill only their coffers with decadent wealth. Farewell!

[Exeunt Mago and Carthaginian Guard after his sack is full again with their help

Hanno the Great: Now Councilmen that this matter has met its end we shall refrain from all business all together.

Councillors: Aye, we must.

[Exeunt