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ACT II.
SCENE I.
Enter COSROE, MENAPHON, ORTYGIUS, and CENEUS, with SOLDIERS.
COSROE. Thus far are we towards Theridamas,
And valiant Tamburlaine, the man of fame,
The man that in the forehead of his fortune
Bears figures of renown and miracle.
But tell me, that hast seen him, Menaphon,
What stature wields he, and what personage?
MENAPHON. Of stature tall, and straightly fashioned,
Like his desire, lift upwards and divine;
So large of limbs, his joints so strongly knit,
Such breadth of shoulders as might mainly bear
Old Atlas' burden; 'twixt his manly pitch, 65 A pearl more worth than all the world is plac'd,
Wherein by curious sovereignty of art
Are fix'd his piercing instruments of sight,
Whose fiery circles bear encompassed
A heaven of heavenly bodies in their spheres,
That guides his steps and actions to the throne
Where honour sits invested royally;
Pale of complexion, wrought in him with passion,
Thirsting with sovereignty and 66 love of arms;
His lofty brows in folds do figure death,
And in their smoothness amity and life;
About them hangs a knot of amber hair,
Wrapped in curls, as fierce Achilles' was,
On which the breath of heaven delights to play,
Making it dance with wanton majesty;
His arms and fingers long and sinewy, 67 Betokening valour and excess of strength;—
In every part proportion'd like the man
Should make the world subdu'd 68 to Tamburlaine.
COSROE. Well hast thou pourtray'd in thy terms of life
The face and personage of a wondrous man:
Nature doth strive with Fortune 69 and his stars
To make him famous in accomplish'd worth;
And well his merits shew him to be made
His fortune's master and the king of men,
That could persuade, at such a sudden pinch,
With reasons of his valour and his life,
A thousand sworn and overmatching foes.
Then, when our powers in points of swords are join'd,
And clos'd in compass of the killing bullet,
Though strait the passage and the port 70 be made
That leads to palace of my brother's life,
Proud is 71 his fortune if we pierce it not;
And, when the princely Persian diadem
Shall overweigh his weary witless head,
And fall, like mellow'd fruit, with shakes of death,
In fair 72 Persia noble Tamburlaine
Shall be my regent, and remain as king.
ORTYGIUS. In happy hour we have set the crown
Upon your kingly head, that seeks our honour
In joining with the man ordain'd by heaven
To further every action to the best.
CENEUS. He that with shepherds and a little spoil
Durst, in disdain of wrong and tyranny,
Defend his freedom 'gainst a monarchy,
What will he do supported by a king,
Leading a troop of gentlemen and lords,
And stuff'd with treasure for his highest thoughts!
COSROE. And such shall wait on worthy Tamburlaine.
Our army will be forty thousand strong,
When Tamburlaine and brave Theridamas
Have met us by the river Araris;
And all conjoin'd to meet the witless king,
That now is marching near to Parthia,
And, with unwilling soldiers faintly arm'd,
To seek revenge on me and Tamburlaine;
To whom, sweet Menaphon, direct me straight.
MENAPHON. I will, my lord.
[Exeunt.]
COSROE. Thus far are we towards Theridamas,
And valiant Tamburlaine, the man of fame,
The man that in the forehead of his fortune
Bears figures of renown and miracle.
But tell me, that hast seen him, Menaphon,
What stature wields he, and what personage?
MENAPHON. Of stature tall, and straightly fashioned,
Like his desire, lift upwards and divine;
So large of limbs, his joints so strongly knit,
Such breadth of shoulders as might mainly bear
Old Atlas' burden; 'twixt his manly pitch, 65 A pearl more worth than all the world is plac'd,
Wherein by curious sovereignty of art
Are fix'd his piercing instruments of sight,
Whose fiery circles bear encompassed
A heaven of heavenly bodies in their spheres,
That guides his steps and actions to the throne
Where honour sits invested royally;
Pale of complexion, wrought in him with passion,
Thirsting with sovereignty and 66 love of arms;
His lofty brows in folds do figure death,
And in their smoothness amity and life;
About them hangs a knot of amber hair,
Wrapped in curls, as fierce Achilles' was,
On which the breath of heaven delights to play,
Making it dance with wanton majesty;
His arms and fingers long and sinewy, 67 Betokening valour and excess of strength;—
In every part proportion'd like the man
Should make the world subdu'd 68 to Tamburlaine.
COSROE. Well hast thou pourtray'd in thy terms of life
The face and personage of a wondrous man:
Nature doth strive with Fortune 69 and his stars
To make him famous in accomplish'd worth;
And well his merits shew him to be made
His fortune's master and the king of men,
That could persuade, at such a sudden pinch,
With reasons of his valour and his life,
A thousand sworn and overmatching foes.
Then, when our powers in points of swords are join'd,
And clos'd in compass of the killing bullet,
Though strait the passage and the port 70 be made
That leads to palace of my brother's life,
Proud is 71 his fortune if we pierce it not;
And, when the princely Persian diadem
Shall overweigh his weary witless head,
And fall, like mellow'd fruit, with shakes of death,
In fair 72 Persia noble Tamburlaine
Shall be my regent, and remain as king.
ORTYGIUS. In happy hour we have set the crown
Upon your kingly head, that seeks our honour
In joining with the man ordain'd by heaven
To further every action to the best.
CENEUS. He that with shepherds and a little spoil
Durst, in disdain of wrong and tyranny,
Defend his freedom 'gainst a monarchy,
What will he do supported by a king,
Leading a troop of gentlemen and lords,
And stuff'd with treasure for his highest thoughts!
COSROE. And such shall wait on worthy Tamburlaine.
Our army will be forty thousand strong,
When Tamburlaine and brave Theridamas
Have met us by the river Araris;
And all conjoin'd to meet the witless king,
That now is marching near to Parthia,
And, with unwilling soldiers faintly arm'd,
To seek revenge on me and Tamburlaine;
To whom, sweet Menaphon, direct me straight.
MENAPHON. I will, my lord.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE II.
Enter MYCETES, MEANDER, with other LORDS; and SOLDIERS.
MYCETES. Come, my Meander, let us to this gear.
I tell you true, my heart is swoln with wrath
On this same thievish villain Tamburlaine,
And of 73 that false Cosroe, my traitorous brother.
Would it not grieve a king to be so abus'd,
And have a thousand horsemen ta'en away?
And, which is worse, 74 to have his diadem
Sought for by such scald knaves as love him not?
I think it would: well, then, by heavens I swear,
Aurora shall not peep out of her doors,
But I will have Cosroe by the head,
And kill proud Tamburlaine with point of sword.
Tell you the rest, Meander: I have said.
MEANDER. Then, having pass'd Armenian deserts now,
And pitch'd our tents under the Georgian hills,
Whose tops are cover'd with Tartarian thieves,
That lie in ambush, waiting for a prey,
What should we do but bid them battle straight,
And rid the world of those detested troops?
Lest, if we let them linger here a while,
They gather strength by power of fresh supplies.
This country swarms with vile outragious men
That live by rapine and by lawless spoil,
Fit soldiers for the 75 wicked Tamburlaine;
And he that could with gifts and promises
Inveigle him that led a thousand horse,
And make him false his faith unto his 76 king,
Will quickly win such as be 77 like himself.
Therefore cheer up your minds; prepare to fight:
He that can take or slaughter Tamburlaine,
Shall rule the province of Albania;
Who brings that traitor's head, Theridamas,
Shall have a government in Media,
Beside 78 the spoil of him and all his train:
But, if Cosroe (as our spials say,
And as we know) remains with Tamburlaine,
His highness' pleasure is that he should live,
And be reclaim'd with princely lenity.
Enter a SPY.
SPY. An hundred horsemen of my company,
Scouting abroad upon these champion 79 plains,
Have view'd the army of the Scythians;
Which make report it far exceeds the king's.
MEANDER. Suppose they be in number infinite,
Yet being void of martial discipline,
All running headlong, greedy after 80 spoils,
And more regarding gain than victory,
Like to the cruel brothers of the earth,
Sprung 81 of the teeth of 82 dragons venomous,
Their careless swords shall lance 83 their fellows' throats,
And make us triumph in their overthrow.
MYCETES. Was there such brethren, sweet Meander, say,
That sprung of teeth of dragons venomous?
MEANDER. So poets say, my lord.
MYCETES. And 'tis a pretty toy to be a poet.
Well, well, Meander, thou art deeply read;
And having thee, I have a jewel sure.
Go on, my lord, and give your charge, I say;
Thy wit will make us conquerors to-day.
MEANDER. Then, noble soldiers, to entrap these thieves
That live confounded in disorder'd troops,
If wealth or riches may prevail with them,
We have our camels laden all with gold,
Which you that be but common soldiers
Shall fling in every corner of the field;
And, while the base-born Tartars take it up,
You, fighting more for honour than for gold,
Shall massacre those greedy-minded slaves;
And, when their scatter'd army is subdu'd,
And you march on their slaughter'd carcasses,
Share equally the gold that bought their lives,
And live like gentlemen in Persia.
Strike up the 84 drum, and march courageously:
Fortune herself doth sit upon our crests.
MYCETES. He tells you true, my masters; so he does.—
Drums, why sound ye not when Meander speaks?
[Exeunt, drums sounding.]
MYCETES. Come, my Meander, let us to this gear.
I tell you true, my heart is swoln with wrath
On this same thievish villain Tamburlaine,
And of 73 that false Cosroe, my traitorous brother.
Would it not grieve a king to be so abus'd,
And have a thousand horsemen ta'en away?
And, which is worse, 74 to have his diadem
Sought for by such scald knaves as love him not?
I think it would: well, then, by heavens I swear,
Aurora shall not peep out of her doors,
But I will have Cosroe by the head,
And kill proud Tamburlaine with point of sword.
Tell you the rest, Meander: I have said.
MEANDER. Then, having pass'd Armenian deserts now,
And pitch'd our tents under the Georgian hills,
Whose tops are cover'd with Tartarian thieves,
That lie in ambush, waiting for a prey,
What should we do but bid them battle straight,
And rid the world of those detested troops?
Lest, if we let them linger here a while,
They gather strength by power of fresh supplies.
This country swarms with vile outragious men
That live by rapine and by lawless spoil,
Fit soldiers for the 75 wicked Tamburlaine;
And he that could with gifts and promises
Inveigle him that led a thousand horse,
And make him false his faith unto his 76 king,
Will quickly win such as be 77 like himself.
Therefore cheer up your minds; prepare to fight:
He that can take or slaughter Tamburlaine,
Shall rule the province of Albania;
Who brings that traitor's head, Theridamas,
Shall have a government in Media,
Beside 78 the spoil of him and all his train:
But, if Cosroe (as our spials say,
And as we know) remains with Tamburlaine,
His highness' pleasure is that he should live,
And be reclaim'd with princely lenity.
Enter a SPY.
SPY. An hundred horsemen of my company,
Scouting abroad upon these champion 79 plains,
Have view'd the army of the Scythians;
Which make report it far exceeds the king's.
MEANDER. Suppose they be in number infinite,
Yet being void of martial discipline,
All running headlong, greedy after 80 spoils,
And more regarding gain than victory,
Like to the cruel brothers of the earth,
Sprung 81 of the teeth of 82 dragons venomous,
Their careless swords shall lance 83 their fellows' throats,
And make us triumph in their overthrow.
MYCETES. Was there such brethren, sweet Meander, say,
That sprung of teeth of dragons venomous?
MEANDER. So poets say, my lord.
MYCETES. And 'tis a pretty toy to be a poet.
Well, well, Meander, thou art deeply read;
And having thee, I have a jewel sure.
Go on, my lord, and give your charge, I say;
Thy wit will make us conquerors to-day.
MEANDER. Then, noble soldiers, to entrap these thieves
That live confounded in disorder'd troops,
If wealth or riches may prevail with them,
We have our camels laden all with gold,
Which you that be but common soldiers
Shall fling in every corner of the field;
And, while the base-born Tartars take it up,
You, fighting more for honour than for gold,
Shall massacre those greedy-minded slaves;
And, when their scatter'd army is subdu'd,
And you march on their slaughter'd carcasses,
Share equally the gold that bought their lives,
And live like gentlemen in Persia.
Strike up the 84 drum, and march courageously:
Fortune herself doth sit upon our crests.
MYCETES. He tells you true, my masters; so he does.—
Drums, why sound ye not when Meander speaks?
[Exeunt, drums sounding.]
SCENE III.
Enter COSROE, TAMBURLAINE, THERIDAMAS, TECHELLES,
USUMCASANE,
and ORTYGIUS, with others.
COSROE. Now, worthy Tamburlaine, have I repos'd
In thy approved fortunes all my hope.
What think'st thou, man, shall come of our attempts?
For, even as from assured oracle,
I take thy doom for satisfaction.
TAMBURLAINE. And so mistake you not a whit, my lord;
For fates and oracles [of] heaven have sworn
To royalize the deeds of Tamburlaine,
And make them blest that share in his attempts:
And doubt you not but, if you favour me,
And let my fortunes and my valour sway
To some 85 direction in your martial deeds,
The world will 86 strive with hosts of men-at-arms
To swarm unto the ensign I support.
The host of Xerxes, which by fame is said
To drink the mighty Parthian Araris,
Was but a handful to that we will have:
Our quivering lances, shaking in the air,
And bullets, like Jove's dreadful thunderbolts,
Enroll'd in flames and fiery smouldering mists,
Shall threat the gods more than Cyclopian wars;
And with our sun-bright armour, as we march,
We'll chase the stars from heaven, and dim their eyes
That stand and muse at our admired arms.
THERIDAMAS. You see, my lord, what working words he hath;
But, when you see his actions top 87 his speech,
Your speech will stay, or so extol his worth
As I shall be commended and excus'd
For turning my poor charge to his direction:
And these his two renowmed 88 friends, my lord,
Would make one thirst 89 and strive to be retain'd
In such a great degree of amity.
TECHELLES. With duty and 90 with amity we yield
Our utmost service to the fair 91 Cosroe.
COSROE. Which I esteem as portion of my crown.
Usumcasane and Techelles both,
When she 92 that rules in Rhamnus' 93 golden gates,
And makes a passage for all prosperous arms,
Shall make me solely emperor of Asia,
Then shall your meeds 94 and valours be advanc'd
To rooms of honour and nobility.
TAMBURLAINE. Then haste, Cosroe, to be king alone,
That I with these my friends and all my men
May triumph in our long-expected fate.
The king, your brother, is now hard at hand:
Meet with the fool, and rid your royal shoulders
Of such a burden as outweighs the sands
And all the craggy rocks of Caspia.
Enter a MESSENGER.
MESSENGER. My lord,
We have discovered the enemy
Ready to charge you with a mighty army.
COSROE. Come, Tamburlaine; now whet thy winged sword,
And lift thy lofty arm into 95 the clouds,
That it may reach the king of Persia's crown,
And set it safe on my victorious head.
TAMBURLAINE. See where it is, the keenest curtle-axe
That e'er made passage thorough Persian arms!
These are the wings shall make it fly as swift
As doth the lightning or the breath of heaven,
And kill as sure 96 as it swiftly flies.
COSROE. Thy words assure me of kind success:
Go, valiant soldier, go before, and charge
The fainting army of that foolish king.
TAMBURLAINE. Usumcasane and Techelles, come:
We are enow to scare the enemy,
And more than needs to make an emperor.
[Exeunt to the battle.]
USUMCASANE,
and ORTYGIUS, with others.
COSROE. Now, worthy Tamburlaine, have I repos'd
In thy approved fortunes all my hope.
What think'st thou, man, shall come of our attempts?
For, even as from assured oracle,
I take thy doom for satisfaction.
TAMBURLAINE. And so mistake you not a whit, my lord;
For fates and oracles [of] heaven have sworn
To royalize the deeds of Tamburlaine,
And make them blest that share in his attempts:
And doubt you not but, if you favour me,
And let my fortunes and my valour sway
To some 85 direction in your martial deeds,
The world will 86 strive with hosts of men-at-arms
To swarm unto the ensign I support.
The host of Xerxes, which by fame is said
To drink the mighty Parthian Araris,
Was but a handful to that we will have:
Our quivering lances, shaking in the air,
And bullets, like Jove's dreadful thunderbolts,
Enroll'd in flames and fiery smouldering mists,
Shall threat the gods more than Cyclopian wars;
And with our sun-bright armour, as we march,
We'll chase the stars from heaven, and dim their eyes
That stand and muse at our admired arms.
THERIDAMAS. You see, my lord, what working words he hath;
But, when you see his actions top 87 his speech,
Your speech will stay, or so extol his worth
As I shall be commended and excus'd
For turning my poor charge to his direction:
And these his two renowmed 88 friends, my lord,
Would make one thirst 89 and strive to be retain'd
In such a great degree of amity.
TECHELLES. With duty and 90 with amity we yield
Our utmost service to the fair 91 Cosroe.
COSROE. Which I esteem as portion of my crown.
Usumcasane and Techelles both,
When she 92 that rules in Rhamnus' 93 golden gates,
And makes a passage for all prosperous arms,
Shall make me solely emperor of Asia,
Then shall your meeds 94 and valours be advanc'd
To rooms of honour and nobility.
TAMBURLAINE. Then haste, Cosroe, to be king alone,
That I with these my friends and all my men
May triumph in our long-expected fate.
The king, your brother, is now hard at hand:
Meet with the fool, and rid your royal shoulders
Of such a burden as outweighs the sands
And all the craggy rocks of Caspia.
Enter a MESSENGER.
MESSENGER. My lord,
We have discovered the enemy
Ready to charge you with a mighty army.
COSROE. Come, Tamburlaine; now whet thy winged sword,
And lift thy lofty arm into 95 the clouds,
That it may reach the king of Persia's crown,
And set it safe on my victorious head.
TAMBURLAINE. See where it is, the keenest curtle-axe
That e'er made passage thorough Persian arms!
These are the wings shall make it fly as swift
As doth the lightning or the breath of heaven,
And kill as sure 96 as it swiftly flies.
COSROE. Thy words assure me of kind success:
Go, valiant soldier, go before, and charge
The fainting army of that foolish king.
TAMBURLAINE. Usumcasane and Techelles, come:
We are enow to scare the enemy,
And more than needs to make an emperor.
[Exeunt to the battle.]
SCENE IV.
Enter MYCETES with his crown in his hand. 97
MYCETES. Accurs'd be he that first invented war!
They knew not, ah, they knew not, simple men,
How those were 98 hit by pelting cannon-shot
Stand staggering 99 like a quivering aspen-leaf
Fearing the force of Boreas' boisterous blasts!
In what a lamentable case were I,
If nature had not given me wisdom's lore!
For kings are clouts that every man shoots at,
Our crown the pin 100 that thousands seek to cleave:
Therefore in policy I think it good
To hide it close; a goodly stratagem,
And far from any man that is a fool:
So shall not I be known; or if I be,
They cannot take away my crown from me.
Here will I hide it in this simple hole.
Enter TAMBURLAINE.
TAMBURLAINE. What, fearful coward, straggling from the camp,
When kings themselves are present in the field?
MYCETES. Thou liest.
TAMBURLAINE. Base villain, darest thou give me 101 the lie?
MYCETES. Away! I am the king; go; touch me not.
Thou break'st the law of arms, unless thou kneel,
And cry me "mercy, noble king!"
TAMBURLAINE. Are you the witty king of Persia?
MYCETES. Ay, marry, 102 am I: have you any suit to me?
TAMBURLAINE. I would entreat you to speak but three wise words.
MYCETES. So I can when I see my time.
TAMBURLAINE. Is this your crown?
MYCETES. Ay: didst thou ever see a fairer?
TAMBURLAINE. You will not sell it, will you?
MYCETES. Such another word, and I will have thee executed. Come,
give it me.
TAMBURLAINE. No; I took it prisoner.
MYCETES. You lie; I gave it you.
TAMBURLAINE. Then 'tis mine.
MYCETES. No; I mean I let you keep it.
TAMBURLAINE. Well, I mean you shall have it again.
Here, take it for a while: I lend it thee,
Till I may see thee hemm'd with armed men;
Then shalt thou see me pull it from thy head:
Thou art no match for mighty Tamburlaine.
[Exit.]
MYCETES. O gods, is this Tamburlaine the thief?
I marvel much he stole it not away.
[Trumpets within sound to the battle: he runs out.]
MYCETES. Accurs'd be he that first invented war!
They knew not, ah, they knew not, simple men,
How those were 98 hit by pelting cannon-shot
Stand staggering 99 like a quivering aspen-leaf
Fearing the force of Boreas' boisterous blasts!
In what a lamentable case were I,
If nature had not given me wisdom's lore!
For kings are clouts that every man shoots at,
Our crown the pin 100 that thousands seek to cleave:
Therefore in policy I think it good
To hide it close; a goodly stratagem,
And far from any man that is a fool:
So shall not I be known; or if I be,
They cannot take away my crown from me.
Here will I hide it in this simple hole.
Enter TAMBURLAINE.
TAMBURLAINE. What, fearful coward, straggling from the camp,
When kings themselves are present in the field?
MYCETES. Thou liest.
TAMBURLAINE. Base villain, darest thou give me 101 the lie?
MYCETES. Away! I am the king; go; touch me not.
Thou break'st the law of arms, unless thou kneel,
And cry me "mercy, noble king!"
TAMBURLAINE. Are you the witty king of Persia?
MYCETES. Ay, marry, 102 am I: have you any suit to me?
TAMBURLAINE. I would entreat you to speak but three wise words.
MYCETES. So I can when I see my time.
TAMBURLAINE. Is this your crown?
MYCETES. Ay: didst thou ever see a fairer?
TAMBURLAINE. You will not sell it, will you?
MYCETES. Such another word, and I will have thee executed. Come,
give it me.
TAMBURLAINE. No; I took it prisoner.
MYCETES. You lie; I gave it you.
TAMBURLAINE. Then 'tis mine.
MYCETES. No; I mean I let you keep it.
TAMBURLAINE. Well, I mean you shall have it again.
Here, take it for a while: I lend it thee,
Till I may see thee hemm'd with armed men;
Then shalt thou see me pull it from thy head:
Thou art no match for mighty Tamburlaine.
[Exit.]
MYCETES. O gods, is this Tamburlaine the thief?
I marvel much he stole it not away.
[Trumpets within sound to the battle: he runs out.]
SCENE V.
Enter COSROE, TAMBURLAINE, MENAPHON, MEANDER, ORTYGIUS,
THERIDAMAS, TECHELLES, USUMCASANE, with others.
TAMBURLAINE. Hold thee, Cosroe; wear two imperial crowns;
Think thee invested now as royally,
Even by the mighty hand of Tamburlaine,
As if as many kings as could encompass thee
With greatest pomp had crown'd thee emperor.
COSROE. So do I, thrice-renowmed man-at-arms; 103 And none shall keep the crown but Tamburlaine:
Thee do I make my regent of Persia,
And general-lieutenant of my armies.—
Meander, you, that were our brother's guide,
And chiefest 104 counsellor in all his acts,
Since he is yielded to the stroke of war,
On your submission we with thanks excuse,
And give you equal place in our affairs.
MEANDER. Most happy 105 emperor, in humblest terms
I vow my service to your majesty,
With utmost virtue of my faith and duty.
COSROE. Thanks, good Meander.—Then, Cosroe, reign,
And govern Persia in her former pomp.
Now send embassage to thy neighbour kings,
And let them know the Persian king is chang'd,
From one that knew not what a king should do,
To one that can command what 'longs thereto.
And now we will to fair Persepolis
With twenty thousand expert soldiers.
The lords and captains of my brother's camp
With little slaughter take Meander's course,
And gladly yield them to my gracious rule.—
Ortygius and Menaphon, my trusty friends,
Now will I gratify your former good,
And grace your calling with a greater sway.
ORTYGIUS. And as we ever aim'd 106 at your behoof,
And sought your state all honour it 107 deserv'd,
So will we with our powers and our 108 lives
Endeavour to preserve and prosper it.
COSROE. I will not thank thee, sweet Ortygius;
Better replies shall prove my purposes.—
And now, Lord Tamburlaine, my brother's camp
I leave to thee and to Theridamas,
To follow me to fair Persepolis;
Then will we 109 march to all those Indian mines
My witless brother to the Christians lost,
And ransom them with fame and usury:
And, till thou overtake me, Tamburlaine,
(Staying to order all the scatter'd troops,)
Farewell, lord regent and his happy friends.
I long to sit upon my brother's throne.
MEANDER. Your majesty shall shortly have your wish,
And ride in triumph through Persepolis.
[Exeunt all except TAMBURLAINE, THERIDAMAS, TECHELLES, and
USUMCASANE.]
TAMBURLAINE. And ride in triumph through Persepolis!—
Is it not brave to be a king, Techelles?—
Usumcasane and Theridamas,
Is it not passing brave to be a king,
And ride in triumph through Persepolis?
TECHELLES. O, my lord, it is sweet and full of pomp!
USUMCASANE. To be a king is half to be a god.
THERIDAMAS. A god is not so glorious as a king:
I think the pleasure they enjoy in heaven,
Cannot compare with kingly joys in 110 earth;—
To wear a crown enchas'd with pearl and gold,
Whose virtues carry with it life and death;
To ask and have, command and be obey'd;
When looks breed love, with looks to gain the prize,—
Such power attractive shines in princes' eyes.
TAMBURLAINE. Why, say, Theridamas, wilt thou be a king?
THERIDAMAS. Nay, though I praise it, I can live without it.
TAMBURLAINE. What say my other friends? will you be kings?
TECHELLES. I, if I could, with all my heart, my lord.
TAMBURLAINE. Why, that's well said, Techelles: so would I;—
And so would you, my masters, would you not?
USUMCASANE. What, then, my lord?
TAMBURLAINE. Why, then, Casane, 111 shall we wish for aught
The world affords in greatest novelty,
And rest attemptless, faint, and destitute?
Methinks we should not. I am strongly mov'd,
That if I should desire the Persian crown,
I could attain it with a wondrous ease:
And would not all our soldiers soon consent,
If we should aim at such a dignity?
THERIDAMAS. I know they would with our persuasions.
TAMBURLAINE. Why, then, Theridamas, I'll first assay
To get the Persian kingdom to myself;
Then thou for Parthia; they for Scythia and Media;
And, if I prosper, all shall be as sure
As if the Turk, the Pope, Afric, and Greece,
Came creeping to us with their crowns a-piece. 112
TECHELLES. Then shall we send to this triumphing king,
And bid him battle for his novel crown?
USUMCASANE. Nay, quickly, then, before his room be hot.
TAMBURLAINE. 'Twill prove a pretty jest, in faith, my friends.
THERIDAMAS. A jest to charge on twenty thousand men!
I judge the purchase 113 more important far.
TAMBURLAINE. Judge by thyself, Theridamas, not me;
For presently Techelles here shall haste
To bid him battle ere he pass too far,
And lose more labour than the gain will quite: 114 Then shalt thou see this 115 Scythian Tamburlaine
Make but a jest to win the Persian crown.—
Techelles, take a thousand horse with thee,
And bid him turn him 116 back to war with us,
That only made him king to make us sport:
We will not steal upon him cowardly,
But give him warning and 117 more warriors:
Haste thee, Techelles; we will follow thee.
[Exit TECHELLES.]
What saith Theridamas?
THERIDAMAS. Go on, for me.
[Exeunt.]
THERIDAMAS, TECHELLES, USUMCASANE, with others.
TAMBURLAINE. Hold thee, Cosroe; wear two imperial crowns;
Think thee invested now as royally,
Even by the mighty hand of Tamburlaine,
As if as many kings as could encompass thee
With greatest pomp had crown'd thee emperor.
COSROE. So do I, thrice-renowmed man-at-arms; 103 And none shall keep the crown but Tamburlaine:
Thee do I make my regent of Persia,
And general-lieutenant of my armies.—
Meander, you, that were our brother's guide,
And chiefest 104 counsellor in all his acts,
Since he is yielded to the stroke of war,
On your submission we with thanks excuse,
And give you equal place in our affairs.
MEANDER. Most happy 105 emperor, in humblest terms
I vow my service to your majesty,
With utmost virtue of my faith and duty.
COSROE. Thanks, good Meander.—Then, Cosroe, reign,
And govern Persia in her former pomp.
Now send embassage to thy neighbour kings,
And let them know the Persian king is chang'd,
From one that knew not what a king should do,
To one that can command what 'longs thereto.
And now we will to fair Persepolis
With twenty thousand expert soldiers.
The lords and captains of my brother's camp
With little slaughter take Meander's course,
And gladly yield them to my gracious rule.—
Ortygius and Menaphon, my trusty friends,
Now will I gratify your former good,
And grace your calling with a greater sway.
ORTYGIUS. And as we ever aim'd 106 at your behoof,
And sought your state all honour it 107 deserv'd,
So will we with our powers and our 108 lives
Endeavour to preserve and prosper it.
COSROE. I will not thank thee, sweet Ortygius;
Better replies shall prove my purposes.—
And now, Lord Tamburlaine, my brother's camp
I leave to thee and to Theridamas,
To follow me to fair Persepolis;
Then will we 109 march to all those Indian mines
My witless brother to the Christians lost,
And ransom them with fame and usury:
And, till thou overtake me, Tamburlaine,
(Staying to order all the scatter'd troops,)
Farewell, lord regent and his happy friends.
I long to sit upon my brother's throne.
MEANDER. Your majesty shall shortly have your wish,
And ride in triumph through Persepolis.
[Exeunt all except TAMBURLAINE, THERIDAMAS, TECHELLES, and
USUMCASANE.]
TAMBURLAINE. And ride in triumph through Persepolis!—
Is it not brave to be a king, Techelles?—
Usumcasane and Theridamas,
Is it not passing brave to be a king,
And ride in triumph through Persepolis?
TECHELLES. O, my lord, it is sweet and full of pomp!
USUMCASANE. To be a king is half to be a god.
THERIDAMAS. A god is not so glorious as a king:
I think the pleasure they enjoy in heaven,
Cannot compare with kingly joys in 110 earth;—
To wear a crown enchas'd with pearl and gold,
Whose virtues carry with it life and death;
To ask and have, command and be obey'd;
When looks breed love, with looks to gain the prize,—
Such power attractive shines in princes' eyes.
TAMBURLAINE. Why, say, Theridamas, wilt thou be a king?
THERIDAMAS. Nay, though I praise it, I can live without it.
TAMBURLAINE. What say my other friends? will you be kings?
TECHELLES. I, if I could, with all my heart, my lord.
TAMBURLAINE. Why, that's well said, Techelles: so would I;—
And so would you, my masters, would you not?
USUMCASANE. What, then, my lord?
TAMBURLAINE. Why, then, Casane, 111 shall we wish for aught
The world affords in greatest novelty,
And rest attemptless, faint, and destitute?
Methinks we should not. I am strongly mov'd,
That if I should desire the Persian crown,
I could attain it with a wondrous ease:
And would not all our soldiers soon consent,
If we should aim at such a dignity?
THERIDAMAS. I know they would with our persuasions.
TAMBURLAINE. Why, then, Theridamas, I'll first assay
To get the Persian kingdom to myself;
Then thou for Parthia; they for Scythia and Media;
And, if I prosper, all shall be as sure
As if the Turk, the Pope, Afric, and Greece,
Came creeping to us with their crowns a-piece. 112
TECHELLES. Then shall we send to this triumphing king,
And bid him battle for his novel crown?
USUMCASANE. Nay, quickly, then, before his room be hot.
TAMBURLAINE. 'Twill prove a pretty jest, in faith, my friends.
THERIDAMAS. A jest to charge on twenty thousand men!
I judge the purchase 113 more important far.
TAMBURLAINE. Judge by thyself, Theridamas, not me;
For presently Techelles here shall haste
To bid him battle ere he pass too far,
And lose more labour than the gain will quite: 114 Then shalt thou see this 115 Scythian Tamburlaine
Make but a jest to win the Persian crown.—
Techelles, take a thousand horse with thee,
And bid him turn him 116 back to war with us,
That only made him king to make us sport:
We will not steal upon him cowardly,
But give him warning and 117 more warriors:
Haste thee, Techelles; we will follow thee.
[Exit TECHELLES.]
What saith Theridamas?
THERIDAMAS. Go on, for me.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE VI.
Enter COSROE, MEANDER, ORTYGIUS, and MENAPHON, with
SOLDIERS.
COSROE. What means this devilish shepherd, to aspire
With such a giantly presumption,
To cast up hills against the face of heaven,
And dare the force of angry Jupiter?
But, as he thrust them underneath the hills,
And press'd out fire from their burning jaws,
So will I send this monstrous slave to hell,
Where flames shall ever feed upon his soul.
MEANDER. Some powers divine, or else infernal, mix'd
Their angry seeds at his conception;
For he was never sprung 118 of human race,
Since with the spirit of his fearful pride,
He dares 119 so doubtlessly resolve of rule,
And by profession be ambitious.
ORTYGIUS. What god, or fiend, or spirit of the earth,
Or monster turned to a manly shape,
Or of what mould or mettle he be made,
What star or fate 120 soever govern him,
Let us put on our meet encountering minds;
And, in detesting such a devilish thief,
In love of honour and defence of right,
Be arm'd against the hate of such a foe,
Whether from earth, or hell, or heaven he grow.
COSROE. Nobly resolv'd, my good Ortygius;
And, since we all have suck'd one wholesome air,
And with the same proportion of elements
Resolve, 121 I hope we are resembled,
Vowing our loves to equal death and life.
Let's cheer our soldiers to encounter him,
That grievous image of ingratitude,
That fiery thirster after sovereignty,
And burn him in the fury of that flame
That none can quench but blood and empery.
Resolve, my lords and loving soldiers, now
To save your king and country from decay.
Then strike up, drum; and all the stars that make
The loathsome circle of my dated life,
Direct my weapon to his barbarous heart,
That thus opposeth him against the gods,
And scorns the powers that govern Persia!
[Exeunt, drums sounding.]
SOLDIERS.
COSROE. What means this devilish shepherd, to aspire
With such a giantly presumption,
To cast up hills against the face of heaven,
And dare the force of angry Jupiter?
But, as he thrust them underneath the hills,
And press'd out fire from their burning jaws,
So will I send this monstrous slave to hell,
Where flames shall ever feed upon his soul.
MEANDER. Some powers divine, or else infernal, mix'd
Their angry seeds at his conception;
For he was never sprung 118 of human race,
Since with the spirit of his fearful pride,
He dares 119 so doubtlessly resolve of rule,
And by profession be ambitious.
ORTYGIUS. What god, or fiend, or spirit of the earth,
Or monster turned to a manly shape,
Or of what mould or mettle he be made,
What star or fate 120 soever govern him,
Let us put on our meet encountering minds;
And, in detesting such a devilish thief,
In love of honour and defence of right,
Be arm'd against the hate of such a foe,
Whether from earth, or hell, or heaven he grow.
COSROE. Nobly resolv'd, my good Ortygius;
And, since we all have suck'd one wholesome air,
And with the same proportion of elements
Resolve, 121 I hope we are resembled,
Vowing our loves to equal death and life.
Let's cheer our soldiers to encounter him,
That grievous image of ingratitude,
That fiery thirster after sovereignty,
And burn him in the fury of that flame
That none can quench but blood and empery.
Resolve, my lords and loving soldiers, now
To save your king and country from decay.
Then strike up, drum; and all the stars that make
The loathsome circle of my dated life,
Direct my weapon to his barbarous heart,
That thus opposeth him against the gods,
And scorns the powers that govern Persia!
[Exeunt, drums sounding.]
SCENE VII.
Alarms of battle within. Then enter COSROE wounded,
TAMBURLAINE, THERIDAMAS, TECHELLES, USUMCASANE, with others.
COSROE. Barbarous 122 and bloody Tamburlaine,
Thus to deprive me of my crown and life!—
Treacherous and false Theridamas,
Even at the morning of my happy state,
Scarce being seated in my royal throne,
To work my downfall and untimely end!
An uncouth pain torments my grieved soul;
And death arrests the organ of my voice,
Who, entering at the breach thy sword hath made,
Sacks every vein and artier 123 of my heart.—
Bloody and insatiate Tamburlaine!
TAMBURLAINE. The thirst of reign and sweetness of a crown,
That caus'd the eldest son of heavenly Ops
To thrust his doting father from his chair,
And place himself in the empyreal heaven,
Mov'd me to manage arms against thy state.
What better precedent than mighty Jove?
Nature, that fram'd us of four elements
Warring within our breasts for regiment, 124 Doth teach us all to have aspiring minds:
Our souls, whose faculties can comprehend
The wondrous architecture of the world,
And measure every wandering planet's course,
Still climbing after knowledge infinite,
And always moving as the restless spheres,
Will us to wear ourselves, and never rest,
Until we reach the ripest fruit 125 of all,
That perfect bliss and sole felicity,
The sweet fruition of an earthly crown.
THERIDAMAS. And that made me to join with Tamburlaine;
For he is gross and like the massy earth
That moves not upwards, nor by princely deeds
Doth mean to soar above the highest sort.
TECHELLES. And that made us, the friends of Tamburlaine,
To lift our swords against the Persian king.
USUMCASANE. For as, when Jove did thrust old Saturn down,
Neptune and Dis gain'd each of them a crown,
So do we hope to reign in Asia,
If Tamburlaine be plac'd in Persia.
COSROE. The strangest men that ever nature made!
I know not how to take their tyrannies.
My bloodless body waxeth chill and cold,
And with my blood my life slides through my wound;
My soul begins to take her flight to hell,
And summons all my senses to depart:
The heat and moisture, which did feed each other,
For want of nourishment to feed them both,
Are 126 dry and cold; and now doth ghastly Death
With greedy talents 127 gripe my bleeding heart,
And like a harpy 128 tires on my life.—
Theridamas and Tamburlaine, I die:
And fearful vengeance light upon you both!
[Dies.—TAMBURLAINE takes COSROE'S crown, and puts it on
his own head.]
TAMBURLAINE. Not all the curses which the 129 Furies breathe
Shall make me leave so rich a prize as this.
Theridamas, Techelles, and the rest,
Who think you now is king of Persia?
ALL. Tamburlaine! Tamburlaine!
TAMBURLAINE. Though Mars himself, the angry god of arms,
And all the earthly potentates conspire
To dispossess me of this diadem,
Yet will I wear it in despite of them,
As great commander of this eastern world,
If you but say that Tamburlaine shall reign.
ALL. Long live Tamburlaine, and reign in Asia!
TAMBURLAINE. So; now it is more surer on my head
Than if the gods had held a parliament,
And all pronounc'd me king of Persia.
[Exeunt.]
TAMBURLAINE, THERIDAMAS, TECHELLES, USUMCASANE, with others.
COSROE. Barbarous 122 and bloody Tamburlaine,
Thus to deprive me of my crown and life!—
Treacherous and false Theridamas,
Even at the morning of my happy state,
Scarce being seated in my royal throne,
To work my downfall and untimely end!
An uncouth pain torments my grieved soul;
And death arrests the organ of my voice,
Who, entering at the breach thy sword hath made,
Sacks every vein and artier 123 of my heart.—
Bloody and insatiate Tamburlaine!
TAMBURLAINE. The thirst of reign and sweetness of a crown,
That caus'd the eldest son of heavenly Ops
To thrust his doting father from his chair,
And place himself in the empyreal heaven,
Mov'd me to manage arms against thy state.
What better precedent than mighty Jove?
Nature, that fram'd us of four elements
Warring within our breasts for regiment, 124 Doth teach us all to have aspiring minds:
Our souls, whose faculties can comprehend
The wondrous architecture of the world,
And measure every wandering planet's course,
Still climbing after knowledge infinite,
And always moving as the restless spheres,
Will us to wear ourselves, and never rest,
Until we reach the ripest fruit 125 of all,
That perfect bliss and sole felicity,
The sweet fruition of an earthly crown.
THERIDAMAS. And that made me to join with Tamburlaine;
For he is gross and like the massy earth
That moves not upwards, nor by princely deeds
Doth mean to soar above the highest sort.
TECHELLES. And that made us, the friends of Tamburlaine,
To lift our swords against the Persian king.
USUMCASANE. For as, when Jove did thrust old Saturn down,
Neptune and Dis gain'd each of them a crown,
So do we hope to reign in Asia,
If Tamburlaine be plac'd in Persia.
COSROE. The strangest men that ever nature made!
I know not how to take their tyrannies.
My bloodless body waxeth chill and cold,
And with my blood my life slides through my wound;
My soul begins to take her flight to hell,
And summons all my senses to depart:
The heat and moisture, which did feed each other,
For want of nourishment to feed them both,
Are 126 dry and cold; and now doth ghastly Death
With greedy talents 127 gripe my bleeding heart,
And like a harpy 128 tires on my life.—
Theridamas and Tamburlaine, I die:
And fearful vengeance light upon you both!
[Dies.—TAMBURLAINE takes COSROE'S crown, and puts it on
his own head.]
TAMBURLAINE. Not all the curses which the 129 Furies breathe
Shall make me leave so rich a prize as this.
Theridamas, Techelles, and the rest,
Who think you now is king of Persia?
ALL. Tamburlaine! Tamburlaine!
TAMBURLAINE. Though Mars himself, the angry god of arms,
And all the earthly potentates conspire
To dispossess me of this diadem,
Yet will I wear it in despite of them,
As great commander of this eastern world,
If you but say that Tamburlaine shall reign.
ALL. Long live Tamburlaine, and reign in Asia!
TAMBURLAINE. So; now it is more surer on my head
Than if the gods had held a parliament,
And all pronounc'd me king of Persia.
[Exeunt.]
ACT III.
SCENE I.
Enter BAJAZETH, the KINGS OF FEZ, MOROCCO, and ARGIER, with
others, in great pomp.
BAJAZETH. Great kings of Barbary, and my portly bassoes, 130 We hear the Tartars and the eastern thieves,
Under the conduct of one Tamburlaine,
Presume a bickering with your emperor,
And think to rouse us from our dreadful siege
Of the famous Grecian Constantinople.
You know our army is invincible;
As many circumcised Turks we have,
And warlike bands of Christians renied, 131 As hath the ocean or the Terrene 132 sea
Small drops of water when the moon begins
To join in one her semicircled horns:
Yet would we not be brav'd with foreign power,
Nor raise our siege before the Grecians yield,
Or breathless lie before the city-walls.
KING OF FEZ. Renowmed 133 emperor and mighty general,
What, if you sent the bassoes of your guard
To charge him to remain in Asia,
Or else to threaten death and deadly arms
As from the mouth of mighty Bajazeth?
BAJAZETH. Hie thee, my basso, 134 fast to Persia;
Tell him thy lord, the Turkish emperor,
Dread lord of Afric, Europe, and Asia,
Great king and conqueror of Graecia,
The ocean, Terrene, and the Coal-black sea,
The high and highest monarch of the world,
Wills and commands, (for say not I entreat,)
Not 135 once to set his foot in 136 Africa,
Or spread 137 his colours in Graecia,
Lest he incur the fury of my wrath:
Tell him I am content to take a truce,
Because I hear he bears a valiant mind:
But if, presuming on his silly power,
He be so mad to manage arms with me,
Then stay thou with him,—say, I bid thee so;
And if, before the sun have measur'd heaven 138 With triple circuit, thou regreet us not,
We mean to take his morning's next arise
For messenger he will not be reclaim'd,
And mean to fetch thee in despite of him.
BASSO. Most great and puissant monarch of the earth,
Your basso will accomplish your behest,
And shew your pleasure to the Persian,
As fits the legate of the stately Turk.
[Exit.]
KING OF ARGIER. They say he is the king of Persia;
But, if he dare attempt to stir your siege,
'Twere requisite he should be ten times more,
For all flesh quakes at your magnificence.
BAJAZETH. True, Argier; and tremble[s] at my looks.
KING OF MOROCCO. The spring is hinder'd by your smothering host;
For neither rain can fall upon the earth,
Nor sun reflex his virtuous beams thereon,
The ground is mantled with such multitudes.
BAJAZETH. All this is true as holy Mahomet;
And all the trees are blasted with our breaths.
KING OF FEZ. What thinks your greatness best to be achiev'd
In pursuit of the city's overthrow?
BAJAZETH. I will the captive pioners 139 of Argier
Cut off the water that by leaden pipes
Runs to the city from the mountain Carnon;
Two thousand horse shall forage up and down,
That no relief or succour come by land;
And all the sea my galleys countermand:
Then shall our footmen lie within the trench,
And with their cannons, mouth'd like Orcus' gulf,
Batter the walls, and we will enter in;
And thus the Grecians shall be conquered.
[Exeunt.]
others, in great pomp.
BAJAZETH. Great kings of Barbary, and my portly bassoes, 130 We hear the Tartars and the eastern thieves,
Under the conduct of one Tamburlaine,
Presume a bickering with your emperor,
And think to rouse us from our dreadful siege
Of the famous Grecian Constantinople.
You know our army is invincible;
As many circumcised Turks we have,
And warlike bands of Christians renied, 131 As hath the ocean or the Terrene 132 sea
Small drops of water when the moon begins
To join in one her semicircled horns:
Yet would we not be brav'd with foreign power,
Nor raise our siege before the Grecians yield,
Or breathless lie before the city-walls.
KING OF FEZ. Renowmed 133 emperor and mighty general,
What, if you sent the bassoes of your guard
To charge him to remain in Asia,
Or else to threaten death and deadly arms
As from the mouth of mighty Bajazeth?
BAJAZETH. Hie thee, my basso, 134 fast to Persia;
Tell him thy lord, the Turkish emperor,
Dread lord of Afric, Europe, and Asia,
Great king and conqueror of Graecia,
The ocean, Terrene, and the Coal-black sea,
The high and highest monarch of the world,
Wills and commands, (for say not I entreat,)
Not 135 once to set his foot in 136 Africa,
Or spread 137 his colours in Graecia,
Lest he incur the fury of my wrath:
Tell him I am content to take a truce,
Because I hear he bears a valiant mind:
But if, presuming on his silly power,
He be so mad to manage arms with me,
Then stay thou with him,—say, I bid thee so;
And if, before the sun have measur'd heaven 138 With triple circuit, thou regreet us not,
We mean to take his morning's next arise
For messenger he will not be reclaim'd,
And mean to fetch thee in despite of him.
BASSO. Most great and puissant monarch of the earth,
Your basso will accomplish your behest,
And shew your pleasure to the Persian,
As fits the legate of the stately Turk.
[Exit.]
KING OF ARGIER. They say he is the king of Persia;
But, if he dare attempt to stir your siege,
'Twere requisite he should be ten times more,
For all flesh quakes at your magnificence.
BAJAZETH. True, Argier; and tremble[s] at my looks.
KING OF MOROCCO. The spring is hinder'd by your smothering host;
For neither rain can fall upon the earth,
Nor sun reflex his virtuous beams thereon,
The ground is mantled with such multitudes.
BAJAZETH. All this is true as holy Mahomet;
And all the trees are blasted with our breaths.
KING OF FEZ. What thinks your greatness best to be achiev'd
In pursuit of the city's overthrow?
BAJAZETH. I will the captive pioners 139 of Argier
Cut off the water that by leaden pipes
Runs to the city from the mountain Carnon;
Two thousand horse shall forage up and down,
That no relief or succour come by land;
And all the sea my galleys countermand:
Then shall our footmen lie within the trench,
And with their cannons, mouth'd like Orcus' gulf,
Batter the walls, and we will enter in;
And thus the Grecians shall be conquered.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE II.
Enter ZENOCRATE, AGYDAS, ANIPPE, with others.
AGYDAS. Madam Zenocrate, may I presume
To know the cause of these unquiet fits
That work such trouble to your wonted rest?
'Tis more than pity such a heavenly face
Should by heart's sorrow wax so wan and pale,
When your offensive rape by Tamburlaine
(Which of your whole displeasures should be most)
Hath seem'd to be digested long ago.
ZENOCRATE. Although it be digested long ago,
As his exceeding favours have deserv'd,
And might content the Queen of Heaven, as well
As it hath chang'd my first-conceiv'd disdain;
Yet since a farther passion feeds my thoughts
With ceaseless 140 and disconsolate conceits, 141 Which dye my looks so lifeless as they are,
And might, if my extremes had full events,
Make me the ghastly counterfeit 142 of death.
AGYDAS. Eternal heaven sooner be dissolv'd,
And all that pierceth Phoebus' silver eye,
Before such hap fall to Zenocrate!
ZENOCRATE. Ah, life and soul, still hover in his 143 breast,
And leave my body senseless as the earth,
Or else unite you 144 to his life and soul,
That I may live and die with Tamburlaine!
Enter, behind, TAMBURLAINE, with TECHELLES, and others.
AGYDAS. With Tamburlaine! Ah, fair Zenocrate,
Let not a man so vile and barbarous,
That holds you from your father in despite,
And keeps you from the honours of a queen,
(Being suppos'd his worthless concubine,)
Be honour'd with your love but for necessity!
So, now the mighty Soldan hears of you,
Your highness needs not doubt but in short time
He will, with Tamburlaine's destruction,
Redeem you from this deadly servitude.
ZENOCRATE. Leave 145 to wound me with these words,
And speak of Tamburlaine as he deserves:
The entertainment we have had of him
Is far from villany or servitude,
And might in noble minds be counted princely.
AGYDAS. How can you fancy one that looks so fierce,
Only dispos'd to martial stratagems?
Who, when he shall embrace you in his arms,
Will tell how many thousand men he slew;
And, when you look for amorous discourse,
Will rattle forth his facts 146 of war and blood,
Too harsh a subject for your dainty ears.
ZENOCRATE. As looks the sun through Nilus' flowing stream,
Or when the Morning holds him in her arms,
So looks my lordly love, fair Tamburlaine;
His talk much 147 sweeter than the Muses' song
They sung for honour 'gainst Pierides, 148 Or when Minerva did with Neptune strive:
And higher would I rear my estimate
Than Juno, sister to the highest god,
If I were match'd with mighty Tamburlaine.
AGYDAS. Yet be not so inconstant in your love,
But let the young Arabian 149 live in hope,
After your rescue to enjoy his choice.
You see, though first the king of Persia,
Being a shepherd, seem'd to love you much,
Now, in his majesty, he leaves those looks,
Those words of favour, and those comfortings,
And gives no more than common courtesies.
ZENOCRATE. Thence rise the tears that so distain my cheeks,
Fearing his love 150 through my unworthiness.
[TAMBURLAINE goes to her, and takes her away lovingly by
the hand, looking wrathfully on AGYDAS, and says nothing.
Exeunt all except AGYDAS.]
AGYDAS. Betray'd by fortune and suspicious love,
Threaten'd with frowning wrath and jealousy,
Surpris'd with fear of 151 hideous revenge,
I stand aghast; but most astonied
To see his choler shut in secret thoughts,
And wrapt in silence of his angry soul:
Upon his brows was pourtray'd ugly death;
And in his eyes the fury 152 of his heart,
That shone 153 as comets, menacing revenge,
And cast a pale complexion on his cheeks.
As when the seaman sees the Hyades
Gather an army of Cimmerian clouds,
(Auster and Aquilon with winged steeds,
All sweating, tilt about the watery heavens,
With shivering spears enforcing thunder-claps,
And from their shields strike flames of lightning,)
All-fearful folds his sails, and sounds the main,
Lifting his prayers to the heavens for aid
Against the terror of the winds and waves;
So fares Agydas for the late-felt frowns,
That send 154 a tempest to my daunted thoughts,
And make my soul divine her overthrow.
Re-enter TECHELLES with a naked dagger, and USUMCASANE.
TECHELLES. See you, Agydas, how the king salutes you!
He bids you prophesy what it imports.
AGYDAS. I prophesied before, and now I prove
The killing frowns of jealousy and love.
He needed not with words confirm my fear,
For words are vain where working tools present
The naked action of my threaten'd end:
It says, Agydas, thou shalt surely die,
And of extremities elect the least;
More honour and less pain it may procure,
To die by this resolved hand of thine
Than stay the torments he and heaven have sworn.
Then haste, Agydas, and prevent the plagues
Which thy prolonged fates may draw on thee:
Go wander free from fear of tyrant's rage,
Removed from the torments and the hell
Wherewith he may excruciate thy soul;
And let Agydas by Agydas die,
And with this stab slumber eternally.
[Stabs himself.]
TECHELLES. Usumcasane, see, how right the man
Hath hit the meaning of my lord the king!
USUMCASANE. Faith, and, Techelles, it was manly done;
And, since he was so wise and honourable,
Let us afford him now the bearing hence,
And crave his triple-worthy burial.
TECHELLES. Agreed, Casane; we will honour him.
[Exeunt, bearing out the body.]
AGYDAS. Madam Zenocrate, may I presume
To know the cause of these unquiet fits
That work such trouble to your wonted rest?
'Tis more than pity such a heavenly face
Should by heart's sorrow wax so wan and pale,
When your offensive rape by Tamburlaine
(Which of your whole displeasures should be most)
Hath seem'd to be digested long ago.
ZENOCRATE. Although it be digested long ago,
As his exceeding favours have deserv'd,
And might content the Queen of Heaven, as well
As it hath chang'd my first-conceiv'd disdain;
Yet since a farther passion feeds my thoughts
With ceaseless 140 and disconsolate conceits, 141 Which dye my looks so lifeless as they are,
And might, if my extremes had full events,
Make me the ghastly counterfeit 142 of death.
AGYDAS. Eternal heaven sooner be dissolv'd,
And all that pierceth Phoebus' silver eye,
Before such hap fall to Zenocrate!
ZENOCRATE. Ah, life and soul, still hover in his 143 breast,
And leave my body senseless as the earth,
Or else unite you 144 to his life and soul,
That I may live and die with Tamburlaine!
Enter, behind, TAMBURLAINE, with TECHELLES, and others.
AGYDAS. With Tamburlaine! Ah, fair Zenocrate,
Let not a man so vile and barbarous,
That holds you from your father in despite,
And keeps you from the honours of a queen,
(Being suppos'd his worthless concubine,)
Be honour'd with your love but for necessity!
So, now the mighty Soldan hears of you,
Your highness needs not doubt but in short time
He will, with Tamburlaine's destruction,
Redeem you from this deadly servitude.
ZENOCRATE. Leave 145 to wound me with these words,
And speak of Tamburlaine as he deserves:
The entertainment we have had of him
Is far from villany or servitude,
And might in noble minds be counted princely.
AGYDAS. How can you fancy one that looks so fierce,
Only dispos'd to martial stratagems?
Who, when he shall embrace you in his arms,
Will tell how many thousand men he slew;
And, when you look for amorous discourse,
Will rattle forth his facts 146 of war and blood,
Too harsh a subject for your dainty ears.
ZENOCRATE. As looks the sun through Nilus' flowing stream,
Or when the Morning holds him in her arms,
So looks my lordly love, fair Tamburlaine;
His talk much 147 sweeter than the Muses' song
They sung for honour 'gainst Pierides, 148 Or when Minerva did with Neptune strive:
And higher would I rear my estimate
Than Juno, sister to the highest god,
If I were match'd with mighty Tamburlaine.
AGYDAS. Yet be not so inconstant in your love,
But let the young Arabian 149 live in hope,
After your rescue to enjoy his choice.
You see, though first the king of Persia,
Being a shepherd, seem'd to love you much,
Now, in his majesty, he leaves those looks,
Those words of favour, and those comfortings,
And gives no more than common courtesies.
ZENOCRATE. Thence rise the tears that so distain my cheeks,
Fearing his love 150 through my unworthiness.
[TAMBURLAINE goes to her, and takes her away lovingly by
the hand, looking wrathfully on AGYDAS, and says nothing.
Exeunt all except AGYDAS.]
AGYDAS. Betray'd by fortune and suspicious love,
Threaten'd with frowning wrath and jealousy,
Surpris'd with fear of 151 hideous revenge,
I stand aghast; but most astonied
To see his choler shut in secret thoughts,
And wrapt in silence of his angry soul:
Upon his brows was pourtray'd ugly death;
And in his eyes the fury 152 of his heart,
That shone 153 as comets, menacing revenge,
And cast a pale complexion on his cheeks.
As when the seaman sees the Hyades
Gather an army of Cimmerian clouds,
(Auster and Aquilon with winged steeds,
All sweating, tilt about the watery heavens,
With shivering spears enforcing thunder-claps,
And from their shields strike flames of lightning,)
All-fearful folds his sails, and sounds the main,
Lifting his prayers to the heavens for aid
Against the terror of the winds and waves;
So fares Agydas for the late-felt frowns,
That send 154 a tempest to my daunted thoughts,
And make my soul divine her overthrow.
Re-enter TECHELLES with a naked dagger, and USUMCASANE.
TECHELLES. See you, Agydas, how the king salutes you!
He bids you prophesy what it imports.
AGYDAS. I prophesied before, and now I prove
The killing frowns of jealousy and love.
He needed not with words confirm my fear,
For words are vain where working tools present
The naked action of my threaten'd end:
It says, Agydas, thou shalt surely die,
And of extremities elect the least;
More honour and less pain it may procure,
To die by this resolved hand of thine
Than stay the torments he and heaven have sworn.
Then haste, Agydas, and prevent the plagues
Which thy prolonged fates may draw on thee:
Go wander free from fear of tyrant's rage,
Removed from the torments and the hell
Wherewith he may excruciate thy soul;
And let Agydas by Agydas die,
And with this stab slumber eternally.
[Stabs himself.]
TECHELLES. Usumcasane, see, how right the man
Hath hit the meaning of my lord the king!
USUMCASANE. Faith, and, Techelles, it was manly done;
And, since he was so wise and honourable,
Let us afford him now the bearing hence,
And crave his triple-worthy burial.
TECHELLES. Agreed, Casane; we will honour him.
[Exeunt, bearing out the body.]
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