_Chorus, with cornets, organ and voices. Io to Hymen!_ _So._ A modest silence, though't be thought A virgin's beauty and her highest honour; Though bashful feignings nicely wrought, Grace her that virtue takes not in, but on her; What I dare think I boldly speak: After my word my well-bold action rusheth. In open flame then passion break! Where virtue prompts, thought, word, act never blusheth. Revenging gods, whose marble hands 50 Crush faithless men with a confounding terror, Give me no mercy if these bands I covet not with an unfeignèd fervour; Which zealous vow when ought can force me t'lame,[302] Load with that plague Atlas would groan at, shame. Io to Hymen! _Chorus. Io to Hymen!_ _Asdru._ Live both high parents of so happy birth, Your stems may touch the skies and shadow earth; Most great in fame, more great in virtue shining. Prosper, O powers! a just, a strong divining. 60 Io to Hymen! _Chorus. Io to Hymen!_ _Enter_ CARTHALON, _his sword drawn, his body wounded, his shield struck full of darts_; MASSINISSA _being ready for bed_. _Car._ To bold hearts Fortune! be not you amazed, Carthage! O Carthage! be not you amazed. _Mass._ Jove made us not to fear; resolve, speak out; The highest misery of man is doubt. Speak, Carthalon! _Car._ The stooping sun, like to some weaker prince, Let his shades spread to an unnatural hugeness, When we, the camp that lay at Utica, From Carthage distant but five easy leagues, 70 Descried from off the watch three hundred sail, Upon whose tops the Roman eagles stretch'd Their large spread wings, which fann'd the evening air, To us cold breath; for well we might discern Rome swam to Carthage. _Asd._ Hannibal, our rancour[303] is come back; thy slight, Thy stratagem, to lead war unto Rome, To quite ourselves, hath now taught desperate Rome T'assail our Carthage: now the war is here. _Mass._ He is nor blest, nor honest, that can fear. 80 _Han._ Ay, but to cast the worst of our distress---- _Mass._ To doubt of what shall be, is wretchedness: Desire, fear, and hope, receive no bond By whom, we in ourselves are never but beyond. On! _Car._ Th' alarum beats necessity of fight; Th' unsober evening draws out reeling forces, Soldiers, half men, who to their colours troop With fury, not with valour: whilst our ships Unrigg'd, unus'd, fitter for fire than water, 90 We save in our barr'd haven from surprise. By this our army marcheth toward the shore, Undisciplin'd young men, most bold to do, If they knew how, or what; when we descry A mighty dust, beat up with horses' hooves: Straight Roman ensigns glitter; Scipio---- _Asd._ Scipio!