ipio had not
beene here, thou Sophonisba frankly hadst bene mine: for at
Laelias hands I could haue found some grace: but surely if Scipio
did once see Sophonisba, and reclined his eyes to viewe hir
perelesse beauty, I doubt not but he would be moued to haue
compassion vpon hir and me, and would iudge hir worthy not
onelye to be queene of Numidia but of all the prouince besides.
But what, do I make this good accompt? The common prouerbe
sayth, that he which counteth before his hoste, must recken
twice: and so perhaps may be my lot: for what know I if Scipio
did wel view hir, whether himselfe would be inamored of hir or
not, and so utterly depriue me of that Iewel? He is a man no
doubt as others be, and it is impossible me think, but that the
hardnesse of his heart must bow to the view of such a noble
beauty. But (beast as I am) what mean these wordes? what follies
doe I vaunt by singing to the deafe, and teachyng of the blynd?
O wretch, wretch, nay more than myserable Wretch. Marke the
words of Scipio, he demaundeth Sophonisba, as a thing belonging
vnto him, for which cause he sayeth that she is the pray and
part of the Romane spoile: but what shall I do? shal I gyue hir
vnto hym? He wyll haue hir, hee constraynes me, he exhortes mee,
hee prayes mee, but I know full well wherevnto those intreaties
tend, and vnder the Grasse what lurking Serpent lieth. Shal I
then put into his hands mine own Sophonisba? But before I so
doe, the armipotent God aboue, with his flashing fires and
flamming brands shall thunder me downe into the depthe of Hell.
The gapyng ground receiue my corps, before I yeld to that
request, the trampling steedes of sauage kinde do teare my
members in thousand gobbets, the desert beastes consume my
flesh, the rauening gripes and carrain kites pick out my tongue
and eyes, before I glutte his rauenous mind with that demaund to
break the fayth which by holy othe I haue promised to performe.
O curssed caitif, but what shall I doe then? it behoueth to
obey, and in despite of my teeth to do that which the Romane
Emperour commaundeth. Alas, by thinking vpon that straight and
needefull lot, I die a thousand deaths: wherfore of euils to
chose the least of twaine, and to preserve my plighted faith,
O swete Sophonisba, thou must die, and by meanes of thy beloued
feere, shalt voyd the yoke of Romanes thral, for so it pleaseth
vnmindeful Ioua to appoynt. The wretched Heauens by cruel fate
haue throwen their lot, that