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.
1st 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!
2nd 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!
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