[298] Ed. 1. reads "ouse," which becomes "house" in ed. 2. [299] Cn. Scipio, who fell fighting in Spain, B.C. 212. See Livy, xxv. 36. [300] See Livy, xxv. 34. SCENE II. SOPHONISBA'S _bedchamber_. _Enter_ ARCATHIA; NYCEA, _with tapers_; SOPHONISBA, _in her night attire, followed by_ ZANTHIA. _So._ Watch at the doors: and till we be reposed Let no one enter. Zanthia, undo me. _Zan._ With this motto under your girdle: _You had been undone if you had not been undone_. Humblest service! _So._ I wonder, Zanthia, why the custom is, To use such ceremony, such strict shape, About us women: forsooth the bride must steal Before her lord to bed; and then delays, Long expectations, all against known wishes. 10 I hate these figures in locution, These about phases forced by ceremony; We must still seem to fly what we most seek, And hide ourselves from what we fain would find. Let those that think and speak and do just acts, Know form can give no virtue to their acts, Nor detract vice. _Zan._ Alas, fair princess! those that are strongly form'd And truly shap'd, may naked walk; but we, We things call'd women, only made for show 20 And pleasure, created to bear children And play at shuttlecock; we imperfect mixtures, Without respective ceremony used, And ever compliment, alas! what are we? Take from us formal custom and the courtesies Which civil fashion hath still used to us, We fall to all contempt. O women, how much, How much are you beholding to ceremony! _So._ You are familiar. Zanthia, my shoe. _Zan._ 'Tis wonder, madam, you tread not awry. 30 _So._ Your reason, Zanthia. _Zan._ You go very high. _So._ Hark! music! music! _The Ladies lay the Princess in a fair bed, and close the curtains, whilst_ MASSINISSA _enters_. _Ny._ The bridegroom! _Arca._ The bridegroom! _So._ Haste, good Zanthia: help! keep yet the doors! _Zan._ Fair fall you, lady; so, admit, admit. _Enter four Boys, anticly attired, with bows and quivers, dancing to the cornets a fantastic measure_; MASSINISSA _in his nightgown, led by_ ASDRUBAL _and_ HANNO, _followed by_ BYTHEAS _and_ JUGURTH. _The Boys draw the curtains, discovering_ SOPHONISBA, _to whom_ MASSINISSA _speaks_. _Mass._ You powers of joy, gods of a happy bed, Show you are pleased; sister and wife of Jove, High-fronted Juno, and thou Carthage patron, Smooth-chinn'd Apollo, both give modest heat And temperate graces! [MASSINISSA _draws a white ribbon forth_[301] _of the bed, as from the waist of_ SOPHONISBA. Lo, I unloose thy waist! She that is just in love is god-like chaste. 40 Io to Hymen!