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!
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