Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n
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A07974
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Hannibal and Scipio An historicall tragedy. Acted in the yeare 1635. by the Queenes Majesties Servants, at their private house in Drury Lane. The author Thomas Nabbes.
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Nabbes, Thomas, 1605?-1645?
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1637
(1637)
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STC 18341; ESTC S113063
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35,038
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80
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most seeme possessour When she command's a restitution Of her lent favours that she may conferre them Vpon another This consideration Might invite mercy Scip. When superiour justice Mak's us her instrument should we be partiall I th' execution 't were to mock the power And call downe vengeance Yet I grieve for Syphax That he deserv's the punishment whose weaknesse Suffer'd a peece of painted earth to tempt him From his religion and neglect the gods Whom he invok't for witnesse to that vow A woman made him violate Syph. 'T is my hope Shee may deceive thee too and with her charmes Bewitch the boasting Conquerour that 's her slave From 's faith to Rome Massa. His madnesse will betray me To a reproach Syph. It tak's from mine owne suffering To see mine enemy in the same danger When he by his adulterous embraces Receiv's the like infection int' his soule That made me sick of vertue and of all But my disease Scip. Doe you enjoy the Lady Massa. Yes she 's my wife Scip. Yoar act was somewhat rash Before her husbands death Doth the religion You pay Numidia's gods warrant it law full Massa. Syphax is dead in his captivity His life was mine which I but lent him only For Romes great triumph Scip. Wee 'l consult a little And then dispose you Syphax Syph. As your will Adviseth you It is the curse of greatnesse To be it's owne destruction So we see That mountaine Cedars have the least defence Gainst stormes when shrubs confront their violence Exeunt Scene the third Scipio Massanissa remaining Scip. When first you freely did commit your selfe Vnto my charge and promis'd with a vow My liking only should dispose your actions Either you lov'd them or your flattery Pretended admiration of some vertues You thought possest me One I must confesse I glory to be master of that 's continence I have converst with beauties rich as Nature Did ever make art proud to counterfeit Might have commanded some that conquest gave me Yet have I still kept out desire but you Have yeelded to that passion doth betray A weakenesse in you will obscure the glory Of all your other goodnesse Thinke how dangerous 'T is to a yong man on whose expectation Opinions eye is fix't to mixe his actions With wanton pleasures when his thoughts transferre The wicked objects of his humorous sense Vnto his soule that poison all her faculties And make them uselesse Noble Massanissa Your good deeds sung by fame are musicke to me Your errours I had rather you your selfe Would silently consider and reforme Before with any shew of least unkindnesse You force me to reprove them Massa. Let not Scipio Deny those errors an excuse If nature Had a like cloth'd mens dispositions And all did weare one habit of the mind You need not urge th' example of your owne T' instruct anothers continence for all From a necessited and innate temperance Would be as you are Though I doe not boast Command o're pleasures I pursue them not With an intemperate appetite but make Reason my guide that tell 's me to provide For a succession doth become the judgement Of a wise King Posterity may well Be call'd th' eternity of life he never Dy's that hath issue for which I have marryed Her mine owne conquest gave me Scip. Your owne conquest Pray doe not arrogate too much you must not Dispose Romes prisoners whilst you fight her quarrell The warr 's not yours though yours the victory She must attend her sentence from our Senate Which hardly will be partiall to her beauty Though 't were adulterated with more art Then e're lasciviousinesse was mistresse of And rack 't invention for Let Sophonisba Be then deliver'd up Massa. Perhaps your selfe After your boasted continence would have her To be your owne Scip. Is that your jealousie Weake passionate man that through thy blinded reason Foresee'st not thine owne danger by th' example Of others misery and yet art ripe To maintaine grossest errours of thy will And seeme discretions master Had not Syphax Bewitch by magick of her wanton eye Into a dotage broke his faith with Rome He might have flourish't in his height of glory And still commanded over his Division Which Rome will add to Massanissas Kingdome Yeelding up Sophonisba Massa. You would seeme To give me mines upon condition I should restore the gold reserving only The earth to trample on In Sophonisba I have a treature mine owne life shall ransome If she be forc't away and to consent She should be yeelded up to any Romane Were worse then sacriledge though I should scare The hallowed sta'ues of Nunsidias gods Downe from their altars and convert their Temples Into the loathsom'st uses of necessity Kings oathes are equall with decrees of Fate Those I have made I cannot violate Scip. Then I disclaime thee Ther 's not so much danger In a knowne foe as a suspected friend To prevent an incendium it is best To quench a brand before it fire the rest Exit Massa. He 's angry and I must not let it grow To ripenesse of his hate I am resolv'd To be th' example of a constancy Fame shall proclaime for wonder Scene the fourth To him Sophonisba She 's already Come e're my wish could summon her Her sight Begins to shake the weake foundation Of my resolves Like stones shot from an engine She ruin's with the battery of her eye What my intents had built Soph. Why is my Lord Thus clowdy I expected entertainment Of other difference such as cheerefull love Present's desire with from the enterchange Of smiles and amorous glaunces Massa Sophonisba I was new enter'd into meditations Of death and other wretchednesse depend's Vpon mortality Soph. Is that the argument Of your dejectednesse it shew's too much Of womans weakenesse Man should have a spirit Above the feare any consideration Can worke within him Death is but an entrance To our eternity and if our life Merit a blessednesse hereafter we Should runne with joy to meete it Massa. But if one Possest of happinesse beyond the hope Of any greater that denies another Can be in expectation more then what His soule enjoy's already apprehended A separation from it by the malice Of death or other accident 't would force him Weep silently within though shame restrain'd His outward teares Sopho. This circumstance would seeme To prepare something that should have relation Vnto your selfe or me Perhaps the Consull Hath urg'd that I should be deliver'd up To Romes disposing Massanissas vow Made with religious ceremony cannot If he respect the gods consent to it And rather then their tyranny should make me Wretched a new to my first earth returne me The worst remaines of Sophonisba Massa. Dare shee Dye then to quit her feares Sopho. And meete the instrument With greater cherefalnesse then fondest parents Can shew at the returne of their decre child From long captivity This tender frame Lodgeth a masculine and heroick spirit And if thy passionate love deny's thy selfe