_Sci._ To counsel then; 40 Grief fits weak hearts, revenging virtue men. Thus I think fit, before that Syphax know How deeply Carthage sinks, let's beat swift march Up even to Cirta, and whilst Syphax snores With his, late thine---- _Mass._ With mine! no, Scipio; Libya hath poison, asps, knives, and too much earth To make one grave. With mine! Not; she can die. Scipio, with mine! Jove, say it, thou dost lie. _Sci._ Temperance be Scipio's honour. _Læ._ Cease your strife, She is a woman. _Mass._ But she is my wife. 50 _Læ._ And yet she is no god. _Mass._ And yet she's more: I do not praise gods' goodness, but adore; Gods cannot fall, and for their constant goodness (Which is necessited) they have a crown Of never-ending pleasures; but faint man (Framed to have his weakness made the heavens' glory), If he with steady virtue holds all siege That power, that speech, that pleasure, that full sweets, A world of greatness can assail him with, Having no pay but self-wept misery, 60 A[352] beggar's treasure-heap,--that man I'll praise Above the gods. _Sci._ The Libyan speaks bold sense. _Mass._ By that by which all is, proportion, I speak with thought. _Sci._ No more. _Mass._ Forgive my admiration: You touch'd a string to which my sense was quick. Can you but think? Do, do; my grief--my grief-- Would make a saint blaspheme! Give some relief; As thou art Scipio, forgive that I forget I am a soldier. Such woes Jove's ribs would burst: Few speak less ill that feel so much of worst.-- 70 My ear attends. _Sci._ Before then Syphax join, With new-strength'd Carthage, or can once unwind His tangled sense from out so wild[353] amaze, Fall we like sudden lightning 'fore his eyes: Boldness and speed are all of victories. _Mass._ Scipio, let Massinissa clip thy knees! May once these eyes view Syphax? shall this arm Once make him feel his sin? O ye gods! My cause, my cause! Justice is so huge odds, That he who with it fears, heaven must renounce 80 In his creation. _Sci._ Beat then a close quick march! Before the morn shall shake cold dews through skies, Syphax shall tremble at Rome's thick alarms. _Mass._ Ye powers, I challenge conquest to just arms. [_With a full flourish of cornets, they depart._ [349] The text is corrupt.--"Sees _me_ thus" (_i.e._, see me grateful), "sees the thus" (_i.e._, incense), and "sees this use" (_i.e._, interest of thanks) are alike unsatisfactory. [350] Old eds. "Romes." [351] Old eds. "worth." [352] Old eds. "And beggars treasure heapt." [353] Ed. 2. "vilde." ACT IV.[354] SCENE I. _Near Cirta._