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