Act 6 Scene 3

A port in western Italia.

Enter Scipio the Younger, with his newly formed legion and a priest with some offerings. 

Scipio the Younger: The winds that blow across the high seas, the sun that doth shine in all its splendour and pride; and the waves that rush into the silent shores, all, yes all, shallst bear witness to the rebirth of Rome. Men, feel, feel the forces of nature changing sides and the tides of war shifting as does the sands of the vast African desert. At this hour, feel the freedom, the glory of the imperial eagle; rejuvenate thyselves for thou art Romans; gathered hither to pass into the realm of the indomitable and unconquerable warriors of Rome! Come; chastise thyselves along with me, from within to embrace the duties of Rome!

Soldiers: All hail Scipio! All hail Rome! We shallst!

Scipio the Younger: Peace, men, my words doth stir thee into quick action, but action must be carefully used. Even the Gods advice caution for an army wanting of caution is soldier sans weapons in a battlefield! To achieve this most daunting and arduous of tasks, to be accomplished by Neptune’s will, I have hither a priest known by many to make even Neptune smile. I prithee priest, mayst thou begin thy ceremonies!

Priest: Aye, all the offerings are put forth and in good stead they are. Let us begin sans much ado.

The priest and Scipio the younger pray to Neptune whilst offering sacrifices to appease Him.

Scipio the Younger: May we sail, safely and smoothly into the enemy shores, to smash into their unsuspecting vessels on their unguarded docks by our triremes. May we unseat Carthage as the dominant powers of these seas! So much so that we mayst have time still for our good friend Hannibal, if need be, to tend to him and his affairs in the Republics of Italia! Victory for Rome!

Others: Aye, Amen!

Scipio the Younger: Amen, and from this moment on we shallst have none to waste on words, our actions must speak louder than the waves of the Atlantic which doth relentlessly lash at the Pillars of Hercules in Gibraltar. Men, we march to victory!

[Exeunt