[303] Old eds. "ancor"--an obvious misprint. The meaning is "our rancorous hatred of the Romans has recoiled on our own heads." [304] Valour (Lat. _virtus_). [305] Ed. 1. "apposd." [306] Ed. 1. "yee." [307] Ed. 2. "fell." [308] Not marked in ed. 1. [309] The words "O wretched fortune!" are given to Bytheas in ed. 1. [310] Quy. "Arm'd hate"? [311] Ed. 1. "me." [312] Ed. 2. "gracefull." [313] Ed. 2. "so." [314] Ready, forward. [315] See note 2, vol. i. p. 87. [316] The image of Pallas at Troy. The safety of the city depended on its possession. [317] Ed. 2. "lightfull." ACT II. SCENE I. _The Senate-house at Carthage._ _Whilst the music for the first Act sounds_, HANNO, CARTHALON, BYTHEAS, GELOSSO, _enter: they place themselves to counsel_, GISCO, _the impoisoner, waiting on them_; HANNO, CARTHALON, _and_ BYTHEAS _setting their hands to a writing, which being offered to_ GELOSSO, _he denies his hand, and, as much offended, impatiently starts up and speaks_. _Enter_ GELOSSO, HANNO, BYTHEAS, CARTHALON. _Gel._ My hand? my hand? rot first; wither in aged shame. _Han._ Will you be so unseasonably wood?[318] _By._ Hold such preposterous zeal as stand[319] against The full decree of Senate, all think fit? _Car._ Nay, most inevitable[320] necessary For Carthage' safety, and the now sole good Of present state, that we must break all faith With Massinissa. Whilst he fights abroad, Let's gain back Syphax, making him our own, By giving Sophonisba to his bed. 10 _Han._ Syphax is Massinissa's greater, and his force Shall give more side to Carthage: as for's queen, And her wise father, they love Carthage fate; Profit and honesty are not one in state. _Gel._ And what decrees our very virtuous Senate Of worthy Massinissa, that now fights, And (leaving wife and bed) bleeds in good arms For right old Carthage? _Car._ Thus 'tis thought fit: Her father, Asdrubal, on sudden shall take in Revolted Syphax; so with doubled strength, 20 Before that Massinissa shall suspect, Slaughter both Massinissa and his troops, And likewise strike with his deep stratagem A sudden weakness into Scipio's arms, By drawing such a limb from the main body Of his yet powerful army: which being done, Dead Massinissa's kingdom we decree To Sophonisba and great Asdrubal For their consent; so this swift plot shall bring Two crowns to her, make Asdrubal a king. 30 _Gel._ So, first faith's breach, murder, adultery, theft! _Car._ What else? _Gel._ Nay, all is done, no mischief left. _Car._ Pish! Prosperous success gives blackest actions glory; The means are unremember'd in most story.