Marlowe, Christopher The Complete Works of Christopher Marlowe. Fredson Bowers, ed. Cambridge: The University Press, 1973 1587 MarTambPro Tamburlaine the great Who, from a scythian shepherd, by his rare and wonder- Ful conquests, became a most puissant and mighty mon- Arch and (for his tyranny, and terror in war) was Termed the scourge of god. The two tragical discourses of Mighty Tamburlaine, the Scythian shepherd, etc. The prologue. From jigging veins of rhyming mother wits, And such conceits as clownage keeps in pay, We'll lead you to the stately tent of war, Where you shall hear the scythian Tamburlaine Threat'ning the world with high astounding terms And scourging kingdoms with his conquering sword. View but his picture in this tragic glass, And then applaud his fortunes as you please. MarTa1.1.1 Actus 1. scaena 1. Mycetes, cosroe, meander, theridamas, Ortygius, ceneus, with others. Myc. brother cosroe, i find myself agrieved, Yet insufficient to express the same, For it requires a great and thund'ring speech. Good brother, tell the cause unto my lords; I know you have a better wit than i. Cos. unhappy persia, that in former age Hast been the seat of mighty conquerors, That in their prowess and their policies Have triumphed over afric and the bounds Of europe, where the sun dares scarce appear For freezing meteors and congealed cold, Now to be ruled and governed by a man At whose birthday cynthia with saturn joined, And jove, the sun, and mercury denied To shed their influence in his fickle brain! Now turks and tartars shake their swords at thee, Meaning to mangle all thy provinces. Myc. brother, i see your meaning well enough, And through your planets i perceive you think I am not wise enough to be a king. But i refer me to my noblemen That know my wit, and can be witnesses. Meander, might i not? Mean. not for so small a fault, my sovereign lord. Myc. i mean it not, but yet i know i might. Yet live; yea live; mycetes wills it so. Meander, thou, my faithful counselor, Declare the cause of my conceived grief, Which is, god knows, about that Tamburlaine, That, like a fox in midst of harvest time, Doth prey upon my flocks of passengers, And, as i hear, doth mean to pull my plumes. Therefore 'tis good and meet for to be wise. Mean. oft have i heard your majesty complain Of Tamburlaine, that sturdy scythian thief That robs your merchants of persepolis, Treading by land unto the western isles, And in your confines with his lawless train Daily commits incivil outrages, Hoping (misled by dreaming prophecies) To reign in asia, and with barbarous arms To make himself the monarch of the east. But ere he march in asia or display His vagrant ensign in the persian fields, Your grace hath taken order by theridamas, Charged with a thousand horse, to apprehend And bring him captive to your highness' throne. Myc. full true thou speak'st, and like thyself, My lord, Whom i may term a damon for thy love. Therefore 'tis best, if so it like you all, To send my thousand horse incontinent To apprehend that paltry scythian. How like you this, my honorable lords? Is it not a kingly resolution? Cos. it cannot choose, because it comes from you. Myc. then hear thy charge, valiant theridamas, The chiefest captain of mycetes' host, The hope of persia, and the very legs Whereon our state doth lean, as on a staff That holds us up and foils our neighbor foes. Thou shalt be leader of this thousand horse, Whose foaming gall, with rage and high disdain, Have sworn the death of wicked Tamburlaine. Go frowning forth, but come thou smiling home, As did sir paris with the grecian dame. Our life is frail, and we may die today. Ther. before the moon renew her borrowed light, Doubt not, my lord and gracious sovereign, But Tamburlaine and that tartarian rout Shall either perish by our warlike hands Or plead for mercy at your highness' feet. Myc. go, stout theridamas; thy words are swords, And with thy looks thou conquerest all thy foes. I long to see thee back return from thence, That i may view these milk-white steeds of mine All laden with the heads of killed men, And from their knees even to their hoofs below Besmeared with blood; that makes a dainty show. Ther. then now, my lord, i humbly take my leave. Myc. theridamas, farewell ten thousand times. (exit. Ah, menaphon, why stay'st thou thus behind When other men press forward for renown? Go, menaphon, go into scythia, And foot by foot follow theridamas. Cos. nay, pray you let him stay. a greater (task) Fits menaphon than warring with a thief. Create him prorex of africa, That he may win the babylonians' hearts, Which will revolt from persian government Unless they have a wiser king than you. Myc. unless they have a wiser king than you? These are his words; meander, set them down. Cos. and add this to them: that all asia Lament to see the folly of their king. Myc. well, here i swear by this my royal seat... Cos. you may do well to kiss it then. Myc. embossed with silk as best beseems my state, To be revenged for these contemptuous words. O, where is duty and allegiance now? Fled to the caspian or the ocean main? What, shall i call thee brother? no, a foe, Monster of nature, shame unto thy stock, That dar'st presume thy sovereign for to mock. Meander come. i am abused, meander. (exit. Manent cosroe and menaphon. Men. how now, my lord? what, mated and amazed Cos. ah, menaphon, i pass not for his threats. The plot is laid by persian noblemen And captains of the medean garrisons To crown me emperor of asia. But this it is that doth excruciate The very substance of my vexed soul: To see our neighbors that were wont to quake And tremble at the persian monarch's name Now sit and laugh our regiment to scorn; And that which might resolve me into tears, Men from the farthest equinoctial line Have swarmed in troops into the eastern india, Lading their ships with gold and precious stones, And made their spoils from all our provinces. Men. this should entreat your highness to rejoice, Since fortune gives you opportunity To gain the title of a conqueror By curing of this maimed empery. Afric and europe bordering on your land And continent to your dominions, How easily may you with a mighty host Pass into graecia, as did cyrus once, And cause them to withdraw their forces home, Lest you subdue the pride of christendom. Cos. but, menaphon, what means this trumpet's sound? Men. behold, my lord, ortygius and the rest Bringing the crown to make you emperor! Enter ortygius and ceneus bearing a crown With others. Orty. magnificent and mighty prince cosroe, We, in the name of other persian states And commons of this mighty monarchy, Present thee with th' imperial diadem. Cen. the warlike soldiers and the gentlemen, That heretofore have filled persepolis With afric captains taken in the field, Whose ransom made them march in coats of gold, With costly jewels hanging at their ears And shining stones upon their lofty crests, Now living idle in the walled towns, Wanting both pay and martial discipline, Begin in troops to threaten civil war And openly exclaim against the king. Therefore, to stay all sudden mutinies, We will invest your highness emperor, Than did the macedonians at the spoil Of great darius and his wealthy host. Cos. well, since i see the state of persia droop And languish in my brother's government, I willingly receive th' imperial crown And vow to wear it for my country's good, In spite of them shall malice my estate. Orty. and in assurance of desired success, We here do crown thee monarch of the east, Emperor of asia and persia, Great lord of medea and armenia, Duke of africa and albania, Mesopotamia and of parthia, East india and the late discovered isles, Chief lord of all the wide, vast euxine sea, And of the ever-raging caspian lake. Long live cosroe, mighty emperor! Cos. and jove may never let me longer live Than i may seek to gratify your love, And cause the soldiers that thus honor me To triumph over many provinces; By whose desires of discipline in arms I doubt not shortly but to reign sole king, And with the army of theridamas, Whither we presently will fly, (my lords,) To rest secure against my brother's force. Orty. we knew, my lord, before we brought the crown, Intending your investion so near The residence of your despised brother, The lords would not be too exasperate To injure or suppress your worthy title. Or if they would, there are in readiness Ten thousand horse to carry you from hence In spite of all suspected enemies. Cos. i know it well, my lord, and thank you all. Orty. sound up the trumpets, then. god save the king! (exeunt. MarTa1.1.2 Actus 1. scaena 2. Tamburlaine leading zenocrate, techelles, usum- Casane, other lords, and soldiers laden With treasure. Tamb. come lady, let not this appall your thoughts; The jewels and the treasure we have ta'en Shall be reserved, and you in better state Than if you were arrived in syria, The mighty soldan of egyptia. Zeno. ah, shepherd, pity my distressed plight (if, as thou seem'st, thou art so mean a man,) And seek not to enrich thy followers By lawless rapine from a silly maid, Who, traveling with these medean lords To memphis from my uncle's country of medea, Where all my youth i have been governed, Have passed the army of the mighty turk, Bearing his privy signet and his hand To safe conduct us through africa. Mag. and since we have arrived in scythia, Besides rich presents from the puissant cham, We have his highness' letters to command Aid and assistance if we stand in need. Tamb. but now you see these letters and commands Are countermanded by a greater man, And through my provinces you must expect Letters of conduct from my mightiness, If you intend to keep your treasure safe, But since i love to live at liberty, As easily may you get the soldan's crown As any prizes out of my precinct. For they are friends that help to wean my state, Till men and kingdoms help to strengthen it, And must maintain my life exempt from servitude. But tell me, madam, is your grace betrothed? Zeno. i am, my lord, for so you do import. Tamb. i am a lord, for so my deeds shall prove, And yet a shepherd by my parentage. But, lady, this fair face and heavenly hue Must grace his bed that conquers asia And means to be a terror to the world, Measuring the limits of his empery By east and west, as phoebus doth his course. Lie here, ye weeds that i disdain to wear! This complete armor and this curtle-axe Are adjuncts more beseeming Tamburlaine. And madam, whatsoever you esteem Of this success, and loss unvalued, Both may invest you empress of the east. And these, that seem but silly country swains, May have the leading of so great an host As with their weight shall make the mountains quake, Even as when windy exhalations, Tech. as princely lions when they rouse themselves, Stretching their paws and threatening herds of beasts, So in his armor looketh Tamburlaine. Methinks i see kings kneeling at his feet, And he with frowning brows and fiery looks Spurning their crowns from off their captive heads. Usum. and making thee and me, techelles, kings, That even to death will follow Tamburlaine. Tamb. nobly resolved, sweet friends and followers! These lords perhaps do scorn our estimates, And think we prattle with distempered spirits, But since they measure our deserts so mean, That in conceit bear empires on our spears, Affecting thoughts coequal with the clouds, They shall be kept our forced followers, Till with their eyes they view us emperors. Zeno. the gods, defenders of the innocent, Will never prosper your intended drifts, That thus oppress poor friendless passengers. Therefore at least admit us liberty, Even as thou hop'st to be eternized By living asia's mighty emperor. Agyd. i hope our lady's treasure and our own May serve for ransom to our liberties. Return our mules and empty camels back, That we may travel into syria, Where her betrothed lord, alcidamus, Expects th' arrival of her highness' person. Mag. and wheresoever we repose ourselves, We will report but well of Tamburlaine. Tamb. disdains zenocrate to live with me? Or you, my lords, to be my followers? Think you i weigh this treasure more than you? Not all the gold in india's wealthy arms Shall buy the meanest soldier in my train. Zenocrate, lovelier than the love of jove, Brighter than is the silver rhodope, Fairer than whitest snow on scythian hills, Thy person is more worth to Tamburlaine Than the possession of the persian crown, Which gracious stars have promised at my birth. A hundred tartars shall attend on thee, Mounted on steeds swifter than pegasus. Enchased with precious jewels of mine own, More rich and valurous than zenocrate's. With milk-white harts upon an ivory sled Thou shalt be drawn amidst the frozen pools, And scale the icy mountains' lofty tops, Which with thy beauty will be soon resolved. My martial prizes, with five hundred men Won on the fifty-headed volga's waves, Shall all we offer to zenocrate, And then myself to fair zenocrate. Tech. what now? in love? Tamb. techelles, women must be flattered. But this is she with whom i am in love. Enter a soldier. Sold. news, news! Tamb. how now? what's the matter? Sold. a thousand persian horsemen are at hand, Sent from the king to overcome us all. Tamb. how now, my lords of egypt and zenocrate? Now must your jewels be restored again, And i that triumphed so be overcome? How say you, lordlings? is not this your hope? Agyd. we hope yourself will willingly restore them. Tamb. such hope, such fortune, have the thousand horse. Soft ye, my lords, and sweet zenocrate, You must be forced from me ere you go. A thousand horsemen! we five hundred foot! An odds too great for us to stand against. But are they rich? and is their armor good? Sold. their plumed helms are wrought with beaten gold, Their swords enameled, and about their necks Hang massy chains of gold down to the waist, In every part exceeding brave and rich. Tamb. then shall we fight courageously with them, Or look you i should play the orator? Tech. no; cowards and fainthearted runaways Look for orations when the foe is near. Our swords shall play the orators for us. Usum. come, let us meet them at the mountain foot, And with a sudden and an hot alarm Drive all their horses headlong down the hill. Tech. come, let us march. Tamb. stay, techelles; ask a parley first. The soldiers enter. Lay out our golden wedges to the view, That their reflections may amaze the persians, And look we friendly on them when they come. But if they offer word or violence, We'll fight, five hundred men-at-arms to one, Before we part with our possession. And 'gainst the general we will lift our swords, And either lance his greedy thirsting throat, Or take him prisoner, and his chain shall serve For manacles till he be ransomed home. Tech. i hear them come. shall we encounter them? Tamb. keep all your standings, and not stir a foot: Myself will bide the danger of the brunt. Enter theridamas, with others. Ther. where is this scythian, Tamburlaine? Tamb. whom seek'st thou, persian? i am Tamburlaine. Ther. Tamburlaine! a scythian shepherd so embellished With nature's pride and richest furniture! His looks do menace heaven and dare the gods. His fiery eyes are fixed upon the earth As if he now devised some stratagem, Or meant to pierce avernus' darksome vaults To pull the triple-headed dog from hell. Tamb. noble and mild this persian seems to be, If outward habit judge the inward man. Tech. his deep affections make him passionate. Tamb. with what a majesty he rears his looks! In thee, thou valiant man of persia, I see the folly of thy emperor. Art thou but captain of a thousand horse, That by characters graven in thy brows, And by thy martial face and stout aspect, Deserv'st to have the leading of an host? Forsake thy king and do but join with me, And we will triumph over all the world. I hold the fates bound fast in iron chains, And with my hand turn fortune's wheel about, And sooner shall the sun fall from his sphere Than Tamburlaine be slain or overcome. Draw forth thy sword, thou mighty man-at-arms, Intending but to raze my charmed skin, And jove himself will stretch his hand from heaven See how he rains down heaps of gold in showers, As if he meant to give my soldiers pay; And as a sure and grounded argument That i shall be the monarch of the east, He sends this soldan's daughter, rich and brave, To be my queen and portly empress. If thou wilt stay with me, renowned man, And lead thy thousand horse with my conduct, Besides thy share of this egyptian prize, Those thousand horse shall sweat with martial spoil Of conquered kingdoms and of cities sacked. Both we will walk upon the lofty cliffs, And christian merchants, that with russian stems Plow up huge furrows in the caspian sea, Shall vail to us as lords of all the lake. Both we will reign as consuls of the earth, And mighty kings shall be our senators. Jove sometimes masked in a shepherd's weed, And by those steps that he hath scaled the heavens, May we become immortal like the gods. Join with me now in this my mean estate, (i call it mean because, being yet obscure, The nations far removed admire me not,) And when my name and honor shall be spread As far as boreas claps his brazen wings, Or fair bootes sends his cheerful light, Then shalt thou be competitor with me, And sit with Tamburlaine in all his majesty. Ther. not hermes, prolocutor to the gods, Could use persuasions more pathetical. Tamb. nor are apollo's oracles more true Than thou shalt find my vaunts substantial. Tech. we are his friends, and if the persian king Should offer present dukedoms to our state, We think it loss to make exchange for that We are assured of by our friend's success. Usum. and kingdoms at the least we all expect, Besides the honor in assured conquests, Where kings shall crouch unto our conquering swords And hosts of soldiers stand amazed at us, When with their fearful tongues they shall confess These are the men that all the world admires. Ah, these resolved noble scythians! But shall i prove a traitor to my king? Tamb. no, but the trusty friend of Tamburlaine. Ther. won with thy words, and conquered with thy looks, I yield myself, my men, and horse to thee, To be partaker of thy good or ill, As long as life maintains theridamas. Tamb. theridamas, my friend, take here my hand, Which is as much as if i swore by heaven And called the gods to witness of my vow. Thus shall my heart be still combined with thine, Until our bodies turn to elements, And both our souls aspire celestial thrones. Techelles and casane, welcome him. Tech. welcome, renowned persian, to us all. Usum. long may theridamas remain with us. Tamb. these are my friends in whom i more rejoice Than doth the king of persia in his crown; And by the love of pylades and orestes, Whose statues we adore in scythia, Thyself and them shall never part from me Before i crown you kings in asia. Make much of them , gentle theridamas, And they will never leave thee till the death. Ther. nor thee, nor them, thrice noble Tamburlaine, Shall want my heart to be with gladness pierced, To do you honor and security. Tamb. a thousand thanks, worthy theridamas. And now, fair madam, and my noble lords, If you will willingly remain with me, You shall have honors as your merits be, Or else you shall be forced with slavery. Agyd. we yield unto thee, happy Tamburlaine. Tamb. for you then, madam, i am out of doubt. Zeno. i must be pleased perforce, wretched zenocrate! (exeunt. MarTa1.2.1 Actus 2. scaena 1. Cosroe, menaphon, ortygius, ceneus, With other soldiers. Cos. 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. What stature wields he, and what personage? Men. 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, A pearl more worth than all the world is placed, Wherein by curious sovereignty of art Are fixed 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 honor sits invested royally. Pale of complexion, wrought in him with passion, Thirsting with sovereignty, with 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, Betokening valor and excess of strength -- In every part proportioned like the man Should make the world subdued to Tamburlaine. Cos. well hast thou portrayed in thy terms of life The face and personage of a wondrous man. Nature doth strive with fortune and his stars To make him famous in accomplished worth, And well his merits show 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 valor and his life, A thousand sworn and overmatching foes. Then, when our powers in points of swords are joined, And closed in compass of the killing bullet, Though strait the passage and the port be made That leads to palace of my brother's life, Proud is his fortune if we pierce it not. And when the princely persian diadem Shall overweigh his weary witless head And fall, like mellowed fruit, with shakes of death, In fair persia noble Tamburlaine Orty. in happy hour we have set the crown Upon your kingly head, that seeks our honor In joining with the man ordained by heaven To further every action to the best. Cen. 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 stuffed with treasure for his highest thoughts? Cos. 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 conjoined to meet the witless king That now is marching near to parthia, And with unwilling soldiers faintly armed, To seek revenge on me and Tamburlaine, To whom, sweet menaphon, direct me straight. Men. i will, my lord. (exeunt. MarTa1.2.2 Actus 2. scaena 2. Mycetes, meander, with other lords; and soldiers. Myc. come, my meander, let us to this gear. I tell you true, my heart is swoll'n with wrath On this same thievish villain, Tamburlaine, And of that false cosroe, my traitorous brother. Would it not grieve a king to be so abused And have a thousand horsemen ta'en away? And, which is worse, 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. Mean. then, having passed armenian deserts now, And pitched our tents under the georgian hills, Whose tops are covered 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, This country swarms with vile outrageous men That live by rapine and by lawless spoil, Fit soldiers for the 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 king, Will quickly win such as are 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 medea, Beside 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 reclaimed with princely lenity. Spy. an hundred horsemen of my company, Scouting abroad upon these champion plains, Have viewed the army of the scythians, Which make reports it far exceeds the king's. Mean. suppose they be in number infinite, Yet being void of martial discipline, All running headlong after greedy spoils, And more regarding gain than victory, Like to the cruel brothers of the earth, Sprung of the teeth of dragons venomous, Their careless swords shall lance their fellows' Throats And make us triumph in their overthrow. Myc. was there such brethren, sweet meander, say, That sprung of teeth of dragons venomous? Mean. so poets say, my lord. Myc. 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 today. Mean. then, noble soldiers, to entrap these thieves That live confounded in disordered 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, You, fighting more for honor than for gold, Shall massacre those greedy-minded slaves; And when their scattered army is subdued, And you march on their slaughtered carcasses, Share equally the gold that bought their lives, And live like gentlemen in persia. Strike up the drum and march courageously. Fortune herself doth sit upon our crests. Myc. he tells you true, my masters; so he does. Drums, why sound ye not when meander speaks? (exeunt. MarTa1.2.3 Actus 2. scaena 3. Cosroe, Tamburlaine, theridamas, techelles, Usumcasane, ortygius, with others. Cos. now, worthy Tamburlaine, have i reposed 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. Tamb. 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 favor me And let my fortunes and my valor sway To some direction in your martial deeds, The world will strive with hosts of men-at-arms To swarm unto the ensign i support. The hosts 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, Enrolled in flames and fiery smoldering mists, Shall threat the gods more than cyclopian wars; And with our sun-bright armor, as we march We'll chase the stars from heaven and dim their eyes That stand and muse at our admired arms. Ther. you see, my lord, what working words he hath, But when you see his actions top his speech, Your speech will stay, or so extol his worth As i shall be commended and excused For turning my poor charge to his direction. Would make one thrust and strive to be retained In such a great degree of amity. Tech. with duty and with amity we yield Our utmost service to the fair cosroe. Cos. which i esteem as portion of my crown. Usumcasane and techelles both, When she that rules in rhamnis' golden gates And makes a passage for all prosperous arms Shall make me solely emperor of asia, Then shall your meeds and valors be advanced To rooms of honor and nobility. Tamb. 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. Mes. my lord, we have discovered the enemy Ready to charge you with a mighty army. Cos. come, Tamburlaine, now whet thy winged sword, And lift thy lofty arm into the clouds, That it may reach the king of persia's crown And set it safe on my victorious head. Tamb. see where it is, the keenest curtle-axe That e'er made passage through 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 as it swiftly flies. Cos. thy words assure me of kind success. Go, valiant soldier, go before and charge The fainting army of that foolish king. Tamb. usumcasane and techelles, come. We are enough to scare the enemy, And more than needs to make an emperor. To the battle and mycetes comes out alone with His crown in his hand, offering to hide it. Myc. accursed be he that first invented war! They knew not, ah, they knew not, simple men, How those were hit by pelting cannon shot Stand staggering like a quivering aspen leaf Fearing the force of boreas' boisterous blasts. In what a lamentable case were i, For kings are clouts that every man shoots at, Our crown the pin 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. Tamb. what, fearful coward! straggling from the camp, When kings themselves are present in the field? Myc. thou liest. Tamb. base villain, dar'st thou give the lie? Myc. 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!" Tamb. are you the witty king of persia? Myc. ay, marry, am i. have you any suit to me? Tamb. i would entreat you to speak but three wise words. Myc. so i can, when i see my time. Tamb. is this your crown? Myc. ay. didst thou ever see a fairer? Tamb. you will not sell it, will ye? Myc. such another word, and i will have thee executed. Come, give it me. Tamb. no; i took it prisoner. Myc. you lie; i gave it you. Tamb. then 'tis mine. Myc. no; i mean i let you keep it. Tamb. well, i mean you shall have it again. Here, take it for a while; i lend it thee Till i may see thee hemmed with armed men. Then shalt thou see me pull it from thy head; Thou art no match for mighty Tamburlaine. Myc. o gods, is this Tamburlaine the thief? I marvel much he stole it not away. Sound trumpets to the battle, and he runs in. Cosroe, Tamburlaine, theridamas, menaphon, mean- Der, ortygius, techelles, usumcasane, with others. Tamb. 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 crowned thee emperor. 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 counselor 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. Mean. most happy emperor, in humblest terms I vow my service to your majesty, With utmost virtue of my faith and duty. Cos. thanks, good meander. then, cosroe, reign And govern persia in her former pomp. Now send embassage to thy neighbor kings, And let them know the persian king is changed 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. Orty. and as we ever aimed at your behoof, And sought your state all honor it deserved, So will we with our powers and our lives Endeavor to preserve and prosper it. Cos. 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 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 scattered troops,) Farewell, lord regent and his happy friends. I long to sit upon my brother's throne. Mean. your majesty shall shortly have your wish, And ride in triumph through persepolis. (exeunt. Manent Tamburlaine, techelles, theridamas, Tamb. 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? Tech. o, my lord, 'tis sweet and full of pomp. Usum. to be a king is half to be a god. Ther. a god is not so glorious as a king. I think the pleasure they enjoy in heaven Cannot compare with kingly joys in earth: To wear a crown enchased with pearl and gold, Whose virtues carry with it life and death; To ask and have, command and be obeyed; When looks breed love, with looks to gain the prize, Such power attractive shines in princes' eyes. Tamb. why, say, theridamas, wilt thou be a king? Ther. nay: though i praise it, i can live without it. Tamb. what say my other friends? will you be kings? Tech. ay, if i could, with all my heart, my lord. Tamb. why, that's well said, techelles: so would i. And so would you, my masters, would you not? Usum. what then, my lord? Tamb. why then, casane, shall we wish for aught The world affords in greatest novelty And rest attemptless, faint and destitute? Methinks we should not. i am strongly moved, 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? Ther. i know they would with our persuasions. Tamb. why, then, theridamas, i'll first assay To get the persian kingdom to myself; Then thou for parthia; they for scythia and medea; 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 apace. Tech. then shall we send to this triumphing king, And bid him battle for his novel crown? Usum. nay, quickly then, before his room be hot. Tamb. 'twill prove a pretty jest, in faith, my friends. I judge the purchase more important far. Tamb. judge by thyself, theridamas, not me, For presently techelles here shall haste To bid him battle ere he pass too far And lose more labor than the gain will quite. Then shalt thou see the scythian Tamburlaine Make but a jest to win the persian crown. Techelles, take a thousand horse with thee, And bid him turn him 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 more warriors. Haste thee, techelles; we will follow thee. What saith theridamas? Ther. go on, for me. (exeunt. MarTa1.2.6 Actus 2. scaena 6. Cosroe, meander, ortygius, menaphon, with Other soldiers. Cos. 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 pressed out fire from their burning jaws, So will i send this monstrous slave to hell, Where flames shall ever feed upon his soul. Mean. some powers divine, or else infernal, mixed Their angry seeds at his conception, For he was never sprung of human race, Since with the spirit of his fearful pride, He dares so doubtlessly resolve of rule, And by profession be ambitious. Orty. what god, or fiend, or spirit of the earth, Or monster turned to a manly shape, Or of what mold or mettle he be made, What star or state soever govern him, Let us put on our meet encountering minds, And in detesting such a devilish thief, In love of honor and defense of right Be armed against the hate of such a foe, Whether from earth, or hell, or heaven he grow. Cos. nobly resolved, my good ortygius, And since we all have sucked one wholesome air, And with the same proportion of elements Resolve, i hope we are resembled, 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. Enter to the battle, and after the battle, enter Cosroe wounded, theridamas, Tamburlaine, techelles, Usumcasane, with others. Cos. barbarous 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 artery of my heart. Bloody and insatiate Tamburlaine! Tamb. the thirst of reign and sweetness of a crown, That caused the eldest son of heavenly ops To thrust his doting father from his chair, And place himself in the empyreal heaven, Moved me to manage arms against thy state. What better precedent than mighty jove? Nature, that framed us of four elements Warring within our breasts for regiment, 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 of all, That perfect bliss and sole felicity, The sweet fruition of an earthly crown. 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. Tech. and that made us, the friends of Tamburlaine, To lift our swords against the persian king. Usum. for as when jove did thrust old saturn down, Neptune and dis gained each of them a crown, So do we hope to reign in asia, If Tamburlaine be placed in persia. Cos. 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 dry and cold; and now doth ghastly death With greedy talons gripe my bleeding heart And like a harpy tires on my life. Theridamas and Tamburlaine, i die -- And fearful vengeance light upon you both! Tamburlaine takes the crown, and puts it on. Tamb. not all the curses which the 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! Tamb. 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! Tamb. so; now it is more surer on my head Than if the gods had held a parliament, And all pronounced me king of persia. Finis actus 2. MarTa1.3.1 Actus 3. scaena 1. Bajazeth, the kings of fez, morocco, and Argier, with others, in great pomp. Baj. great kings of barbary and my portly bassoes, 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, As hath the ocean or the terrene sea Small drops of water when the moon begins To join in one her semicircled horns. Yet would we not be braved with foreign power, Nor raise our siege before the grecians yield Or breathless lie before the city walls. K.-of-fez. renowned 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? Baj. hie thee, my basso, 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 once to set his foot in africa, Or spread his colors 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 measured heaven With triple circuit, thou regreet us not, We mean to take his morning's next arise For messenger he will not be reclaimed, And mean to fetch thee in despite of him. Bas. most great and puissant monarch of the earth, Your basso will accomplish your behest And show your pleasure to the persian, As fits the legate of the stately turk. (exit basso. K.-of-arg. they say he is the king of persia; But if he dare attempt to stir your siege, For all flesh quakes at your magnificence. Baj. true, argier, and trembles at my looks. K.-of-mor. the spring is hindered 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. Baj. all this is true as holy mahomet, And all the trees are blasted with our breaths. K.-of-fez. what thinks your greatness best to be Achieved In pursuit of the city's overthrow? Baj. i will the captive pioners 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 succor come by land, And all the sea my galleys countermand. Then shall our footmen lie within the trench, And with their cannons mouthed like orcus' gulf, Batter the walls, and we will enter in; And thus the grecians shall be conquered. (exeunt. MarTa1.3.2 Actus 3. scaena 2. Agidas, zenocrate, anippe, with others. Agyd. 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 seemed to be digested long ago. Zeno. although it be digested long ago, As his exceeding favors have deserved, And might content the queen of heaven as well As it hath changed my first-conceived disdain; Yet, since a farther passion feeds my thoughts With ceaseless and disconsolate conceits. Which dyes my looks so lifeless as they are, And might, if my extremes had full events, Make me the ghastly counterfeit of death. Agyd. eternal heaven sooner be dissolved, Before such hap fall to zenocrate! Zeno. ah, life and soul, still hover in his breast, And leave my body senseless as the earth, Or else unite you to his life and soul, That i may live and die with Tamburlaine! Enter Tamburlaine, with techelles, and others. Agyd. 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 honors of a queen, (being supposed his worthless concubine,) Be honored 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. Zeno. leave to wound me with these words, And speak of Tamburlaine as he deserves. The entertainment we have had of him Is far from villainy or servitude, And might in noble minds be counted princely. Agyd. how can you fancy one that looks so fierce, Only disposed 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 of war and blood, Too harsh a subject for your dainty ears. Zeno. 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 sweeter than the muses' song They sung for honor 'gainst pierides, Or when minerva did with neptune strive; And higher would i rear my estimate Than juno, sister to the highest god, If i were matched with mighty Tamburlaine. Agyd. yet be not so inconstant in your love, But let the young arabian live in hope, After your rescue to enjoy his choice. You see, though first the king of persia, Being a shepherd, seemed to love you much, Now, in his majesty, he leaves those looks, And gives no more than common courtesies. Zeno. thence rise the tears that so distain my cheeks, Fearing his love through my unworthiness. (Tamburlaine goes to her, and takes her away Lovingly by the hand, looking wrathfully on Agydas, and says nothing. Agyd. betrayed by fortune and suspicious love, Threatened with frowning wrath and jealousy, Surprised with fear of 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 portrayed ugly death, And in his eyes the fury of his heart, That shine 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 thunderclaps, 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 sent a tempest to my daunted thoughts And make my soul divine her overthrow. Enter techelles with a naked dagger. Tech. see you, agydas, how the king salutes you. He bids you prophesy what it imports. (exit. Agyd. 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 threatened end. It says, agydas, thou shalt surely die, And of extremities elect the least. More honor 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. 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. Tech. usumcasane, see, how right the man Hath hit the meaning of my lord and king. Usum. faith, and techelles, it was manly done; And, since he was so wise and honorable, Let us afford him now the bearing hence, And crave his triple-worthy burial. Tech. agreed, casane; we will honor him. Act 3. scaena 3. Tamburlaine, techelles, usumcasane, theridamas, Basso, zenocrate, with others. Tamb. basso, by this thy lord and master knows I mean to meet him in bithynia. See, how he comes! tush, turks are full of brags And menace more than they can well perform. He meet me in the field and fetch thee hence! Alas, poor turk, his fortune is too weak T' encounter with the strength of Tamburlaine. View well my camp, and speak indifferently: Do not my captains and my soldiers look As if they meant to conquer africa? Bas. your men are valiant, but their number few, And cannot terrify his mighty host. My lord, the great commander of the world, Besides fifteen contributory kings, Hath now in arms ten thousand janizaries, Mounted on lusty mauritanian steeds, Brought to the war by men of tripoli; Two hundred thousand footmen that have served In two set battles fought in graecia; And for the expedition of this war, If he think good, can from his garrisons Withdraw as many more to follow him. Tech. the more he brings, the greater is the spoil, For when they perish by our warlike hands, We mean to set our footmen on their steeds And rifle all those stately janizars. Tamb. but will those kings accompany your lord? Bas. such as his highness please; but some must stay To rule the provinces he late subdued. This hand shall set them on your conquering heads, That made me emperor of asia. Usum. let him bring millions infinite of men, Unpeopling western africa and greece, Yet we assure us of the victory. Ther. even he, that in a trice vanquished two kings More mighty than the turkish emperor, Shall rouse him out of europe and pursue His scattered army till they yield or die. Tamb. well said, theridamas! speak in that mood, For 'will' and 'shall' best fitteth Tamburlaine, Whose smiling stars give him assured hope Of martial triumph, ere he meet his foes. I that am termed the scourge and wrath of god, The only fear and terror of the world, Will first subdue the turk, and then enlarge Those christian captives which you keep as slaves, Burdening their bodies with your heavy chains, And feeding them with thin and slender fare, That naked row about the terrene sea, And, when they chance to breathe and rest a space, Are punished with bastones so grievously That they lie panting on the galley's side, And strive for life at every stroke they give. These are the cruel pirates of argier, That damned train, the scum of africa, Inhabited with straggling runagates, That make quick havoc of the christian blood. But, as i live, that town shall curse the time That Tamburlaine set foot in africa. Enter bajazeth with his bassoes and contributory Kings. Baj. bassoes and janizaries of my guard, Attend upon the person of your lord, The greatest potentate of africa. Tamb. techelles and the rest, prepare your swords; I mean t' encounter with that bajazeth. Baj. kings of fez, morocco, and argier, He calls me bajazeth, whom you call lord! Note the presumption of this scythian slave! I tell thee, villain, those that lead my horse Have to their names titles of dignity, And dar'st thou bluntly call me bajazeth? Horse Shall lead thee captive through africa, And dar'st thou bluntly call me Tamburlaine? Baj. by mahomet my kinsman's sepulcher, And by the holy alcoran i swear, He shall be made a chaste and lustless eunuch, And in my sarell tend my concubines; And all his captains, that thus stoutly stand, Shall draw the chariot of my empress, Whom i have brought to see their overthrow. Tamb. by this my sword that conquered persia, Thy fall shall make me famous through the world. I will not tell thee how i'll handle thee, But every common soldier of my camp Shall smile to see thy miserable state. K.-of-fez. what means the mighty turkish emperor To talk with one so base as Tamburlaine? K.-of-mor. ye moors and valiant men of barbary, How can ye suffer these indignities? K.-of-arg. leave words, and let them feel your Lances' points, Which glided through the bowels of the greeks. Baj. well said, my stout contributory kings. Your threefold army and my hugy host Shall swallow up these baseborn persians. Tech. puissant, renowned, and mighty Tamburlaine, Why stay we thus prolonging all their lives? Ther. i long to see those crowns won by our swords, That we may reign as kings of africa. Usum. what coward would not fight for such a prize? Tamb. fight all courageously, and be you kings. I speak it, and my words are oracles. Baj. zabina, mother of three braver boys Than hercules, that in his infancy Did pash the jaws of serpents venomous, Whose hands are made to gripe a warlike lance, Their shoulders broad, for complete armor fit, Their limbs more large and of a bigger size Than all the brats y-sprung from typhon's loins, Who, when they come unto their father's age, Will batter turrets with their manly fists -- Sit here upon this royal chair of state, Until i bring this sturdy Tamburlaine And all his captains bound in captive chains. Zab. such good success happen to bajazeth! Tamb. zenocrate, the loveliest maid alive, Fairer than rocks of pearl and precious stone, The only paragon of Tamburlaine, Whose eyes are brighter than the lamps of heaven And speech more pleasant than sweet harmony, That with thy looks canst clear the darkened sky And calm the rage of thundering jupiter -- Sit down by her, adorned with my crown, As if thou wert the empress of the world. Stir not, zenocrate, until thou see Me march victoriously with all my men, Triumphing over him and these his kings, Which i will bring as vassals to thy feet. Till then, take thou my crown, vaunt of my worth, And manage words with her, as we will arms. Zeno. and may my love, the king of persia, Return with victory and free from wound! Baj. now shalt thou feel the force of turkish arms, Which lately made all europe quake for fear. I have of turks, arabians, moors, and jews, Enough to cover all bithynia. Let thousands die! their slaughtered carcasses Shall serve for walls and bulwarks to the rest; And as the heads of hydra, so my power, Subdued, shall stand as mighty as before. If they should yield their necks unto the sword, Thy soldiers' arms could not endure to strike So many blows as i have heads for thee. Thou know'st not, (foolish hardy Tamburlaine,) What 'tis to meet me in the open field, That leave no ground for thee to march upon. Tamb. our conquering swords shall marshal us the way We use to march upon the slaughtered foe, Trampling their bowels with our horses' hoofs, Brave horses bred on the white tartarian hills. My camp is like to julius caesar's host, That never fought but had the victory; Nor in pharsalia was there such hot war As these, my followers, willingly would have. Direct our bullets and our weapons' points, And make your strokes to wound the senseless air; And when she sees our bloody colors spread, Then victory begins to take her flight, Resting herself upon my milk-white tent. But come, my lords, to weapons let us fall; The field is ours, the turk, his wife, and all. (exit with his followers. Baj. come, kings and bassoes, let us glut our swords, That thirst to drink the feeble persians' blood. (exit with his followers. Zab. base concubine, must thou be placed by me That am the empress of the mighty turk? Zeno. disdainful turkess, and unreverend boss, Call'st thou me concubine, that am betrothed Unto the great and mighty Tamburlaine? Zab. to Tamburlaine, the great tartarian thief! Zeno. thou wilt repent these lavish words of thine When thy great basso-master and thyself Must plead for mercy at his kingly feet, And sue to me to be your advocate. Zab. and sue to thee? i tell thee, shameless girl, Thou shalt be laundress to my waiting maid. How lik'st thou her, ebea? will she serve? Ebea. madam, she thinks perhaps she is too fine, But i shall turn her into other weeds And make her dainty fingers fall to work. Zeno. hear'st thou, anippe, how thy drudge doth talk, And how my slave, her mistress, menaceth? Both for their sauciness shall be employed To dress the common soldiers' meat and drink, For we will scorn they should come near ourselves. Anip. yet sometimes let your highness send for them To do the work my chambermaid disdains. They sound the battle within, and stay. Zeno. ye gods and powers that govern persia, And made my lordly love her worthy king, Now strengthen him against the turkish bajazeth, And let his foes, like flocks of fearful roes Pursued by hunters, fly his angry looks, That i may see him issue conqueror. And make him rain down murdering shot from heaven To dash the scythians' brains, and strike them dead That dare to manage arms with him That offered jewels to thy sacred shrine When first he warred against the christians. (to the battle again. Zeno. by this the turks lie weltering in their blood, And Tamburlaine is lord of africa. Zab. thou art deceived. i heard the trumpets sound As when my emperor overthrew the greeks And led them captive into africa. Straight will i use thee as thy pride deserves; Prepare thyself to live and die my slave. Zeno. if mahomet should come from heaven and swear My royal lord is slain or conquered, Yet should he not persuade me otherwise But that he lives and will be conqueror. Bajazeth flies, and he pursues him. the battle Short, and they enter. bajazeth is overcome. Tamb. now, king of bassoes, who is conqueror? Baj. thou, by the fortune of this damned foil. Tamb. where are your stout contributory kings? Enter techelles, theridamas, usumcasane. Tech. we have their crowns; their bodies strow the Field. Tamb. each man a crown? why, kingly fought, i' faith. Deliver them into my treasury. Zeno. now let me offer to my gracious lord His royal crown again, so highly won. Tamb. nay, take the turkish crown from her, zenocrate, And crown me emperor of africa. Zab. no, Tamburlaine; though now thou gat the best, Thou shalt not yet be lord of africa. Ther. give her the crown, turkess, you were best. (he takes it from her, and gives it zenocrate. Zab. injurious villains, thieves, runagates, How dare you thus abuse my majesty? Ther. here, madam, you are empress; she is none. Tamb. not now, theridamas; her time is past. The pillars that have bolstered up those terms Zab. though he be prisoner, he may be ransomed. Tamb. not all the world shall ransom bajazeth. Baj. ah, fair zabina, we have lost the field, And never had the turkish emperor So great a foil by any foreign foe. Now will the christian miscreants be glad, Ringing with joy their superstitious bells, And making bonfires for my overthrow. But ere i die, those foul idolaters Shall make me bonfires with their filthy bones, For though the glory of this day be lost, Afric and greece have garrisons enough To make me sovereign of the earth again. Tamb. those walled garrisons will i subdue, And write myself great lord of africa. So from the east unto the furthest west Shall Tamburlaine extend his puissant arm. The galleys and those pilling brigandines, That yearly sail to the venetian gulf And hover in the straits for christians' wrack, Shall lie at anchor in the isle asant, Until the persian fleet and men of war, Sailing along the oriental sea, Have fetched about the indian continent, Even from persepolis to mexico, And thence unto the straits of gibraltar, Where they shall meet and join their force in one, Keeping in awe the bay of portingale And all the ocean by the british shore; And by this means i'll win the world at last. Baj. yet set a ransom on me, Tamburlaine. Tamb. what, think'st thou Tamburlaine esteems thy gold? I'll make the kings of india, ere i die, Offer their mines to sue for peace to me. And dig for treasure to appease my wrath. Come, bind them both, and one lead in the turk; The turkess let my love's maid lead away. (they bind them. Baj. ah, villains, dare you touch my sacred arms? O mahomet! o sleepy mahomet! Zab. o cursed mahomet, that mak'st us thus The slaves to scythians rude and barbarous! Tamb. come, bring them in, and for this happy conquest Triumph, and solemnize a martial feast. MarTa1.4.1 Actus 4. scaena 1. Soldan of egypt with three or four lords, capolin. Sold. awake, ye men of memphis! hear the clang Of scythian trumpets! hear the basilisks, That roaring shake damascus' turrets down! The rogue of volga holds zenocrate, The soldan's daughter, for his concubine, And with a troop of thieves and vagabonds, Hath spread his colors to our high disgrace, While you, fainthearted base egyptians, Lie slumbering on the flowery banks of nile, As crocodiles that unaffrighted rest While thundering cannons rattle on their skins. Mess. nay, mighty soldan, did your greatness see The frowning looks of fiery Tamburlaine, That with his terror and imperious eyes Commands the hearts of his associates, It might amaze your royal majesty. Sold. villain, i tell thee, were that Tamburlaine As monstrous as gorgon, prince of hell, The soldan would not start a foot from him. But speak, what power hath he? Mess. mighty lord, Three hundred thousand men in armor clad, Upon their prancing steeds, disdainfully With wanton paces trampling on the ground; Five hundred thousand footmen threatening shot, Shaking their swords, their spears, and iron bills, Environing their standard round, that stood As bristle-pointed as a thorny wood; Their warlike engines and munition Exceed the forces of their martial men. Sold. nay, could their numbers countervail the stars, Or ever drizzling drops of april showers, Or withered leaves that autumn shaketh down, Yet would the soldan by his conquering power So scatter and consume them in his rage, That not a man should live to rue their fall. Capo. so might your highness, had you time to sort Your fighting men, and raise your royal host, But Tamburlaine by expedition Advantage takes of your unreadiness. Sold. let him take all th' advantages he can. Nay, were he devil, as he is no man, Yet in revenge of fair zenocrate, Whom he detaineth in despite of us, This arm should send him down to erebus, To shroud his shame in darkness of the night. Mess. pleaseth your mightiness to understand, His resolution far exdeedeth all. The first day when he pitcheth down his tents, White is their hue, and on his silver crest, A snowy feather spangled white he bears, To signify the mildness of his mind That, satiate with spoil, refuseth blood; But when aurora mounts the second time, As red as scarlet is his furniture; Then must his kindled wrath be quenched with blood, Not sparing any that can manage arms; But if these threats move not submission, Black are his colors, black pavilion; His spear, his shield, his horse, his armor, plumes, And jetty feathers menace death and hell; Without respect of sex, degree, or age, He razeth all his foes with fire and sword. Sold. merciless villain, peasant ignorant Of lawful arms or martial discipline! Pillage and murder are his usual trades. The slave usurps the glorious name of war. See capolin, the fair arabian king, That hath been disappointed by this slave Of my fair daughter and his princely love, May have fresh warning to go war with us, And be revenged for her disparagement. MarTa1.4.2 Actus 4. scaena 2. Tamburlaine, techelles, theridamas, usumcasane, Zenocrate, anippe, two moors drawing bajazeth in His cage, and his wife following him. Tamb. bring out my footstool. (they take him out of the cage. Baj. ye holy priests of heavenly mahomet, That, sacrificing, slice and cut your flesh, Staining his altars with your purple blood, Make heaven to frown and every fixed star To suck up poison from the moorish fens, And pour it in this glorious tyrant's throat! Tamb. the chiefest god, first mover of that sphere Will sooner burn the glorious frame of heaven Than it should so conspire my overthrow. But, villain, thou that wishest this to me, Fall prostrate on the low disdainful earth, And be the footstool of great Tamburlaine, That i may rise into my royal throne. Baj. first shalt thou rip my bowels with thy sword And sacrifice my heart to death and hell, Before i yield to such a slavery. Tamb. base villain, vassal, slave to Tamburlaine, Unworthy to embrace or touch the ground That bears the honor of my royal weight, Stoop, villain, stoop! stoop, for so he bids That may command thee piecemeal to be torn, Or scattered like the lofty cedar trees Strook with the voice of thundering jupiter. Baj. then, as i look down to the damned fiends, Fiends, look on me; and thou, dread god of hell, With ebon scepter strike this hateful earth, And make it swallow both of us at once! He gets up upon him to his chair. Tamb. now clear the triple region of the air, And let the majesty of heaven behold Their scourge and terror tread on emperors. Smile stars that reigned at my nativity, And dim the brightness of their neighbor lamps; Disdain to borrow light of cynthia, For i, the chiefest lamp of all the earth, First rising in the east with mild aspect, But fixed now in the meridian line, Will send up fire to your turning spheres And cause the sun to borrow light of you. My sword struck fire from his coat of steel, Even in bithynia, when i took this turk, As when a fiery exhalation, Wrapped in the bowels of a freezing cloud, Fighting for passage, makes the welkin crack And casts a flash of lightning to the earth. But ere i march to wealthy persia, Or leave damascus and th' egyptian fields, As was the fame of clymene's brainsick son That almost brent the axletree of heaven, So shall our swords, our lances, and our shot Then, when the sky shall wax as red as blood, It shall be said i made it red myself, To make me think of nought but blood and war. Zab. unworthy king, that by thy cruelty Unlawfully usurp'st the persian seat, Dar'st thou, that never saw an emperor Before thou met my husband in the field, Being thy captive, thus abuse his state, Keeping his kingly body in a cage, That roofs of gold and sun-bright palaces Should have prepared to entertain his grace? And treading him beneath thy loathsome feet, Whose feet the kings of africa have kissed? Tech. you must devise some torment worse, my lord To make these captives rein their lavish tongues. Tamb. zenocrate, look better to your slave. Zeno. she is my handmaid's slave, and she shall look That these abuses flow not from her tongue. Chide her, anippe. Anip. let these be warnings for you then, my slave, How you abuse the person of the king; Or else i swear to have you whipped stark naked. Baj. great Tamburlaine, great in my overthrow, Ambitious pride shall make thee fall as low, For treading on the back of bajazeth, That should be horsed on four mighty kings. Tamb. thy names and titles and thy dignities Are fled from bajazeth and remain with me, That will maintain it against a world of kings. Put him in again. Baj. is this a place for mighty bajazeth? Confusion light on him that helps thee thus. Tamb. there, while he lives, shall bajazeth be kept, And where i go be thus in triumph drawn; And thou, his wife, shall feed him with the scraps My servitors shall bring thee from my board, For he that gives him other food than this Shall sit by him and starve to death himself. This is my mind, and i will have it so. Not all the kings and emperors of the earth, If they would lay their crowns before my feet, Shall ransom him or take him from his cage. The ages that shall talk of Tamburlaine, Shall talk how i have handled bajazeth. These moors, that drew him from bithynia To fair damascus, where we now remain, Shall lead him with us whereso'er we go. Techelles, and my loving followers, Now may we see damascus' lofty towers, Like to the shadows of pyramides That with their beauties grace the memphian fields. The golden stature of their feathered bird, That spreads her wings upon the city walls, Shall not defend it from our battering shot. The townsmen mask in silk and cloth of gold, And every house is as a treasury; The men, the treasure, and the town are ours. Ther. your tents of white now pitched before the gates, And gentle flags of amity displayed, I doubt not but the governor will yield, Offering damascus to your majesty. Tamb. so shall he have his life, and all the rest. But if he stay until the bloody flag Be once advanced on my vermilion tent, He dies, and those that kept us out so long. And when they see me march in black array, With mournful streamers hanging down their heads, Were in that city all the world contained, Not one should 'scape, but perish by our swords. Zeno. yet would you have some pity for my sake, Because it is my country's and my father's. Tamb. not for the world, zenocrate, if i have sworn. Come, bring in the turk. (exeunt. MarTa1.4.3 Actus 4. scaena 3. Soldan, arabia, capolin, with streaming Colors and soldiers. Sold. methinks we march as meleager did, Environed with brave argolian knights, To chase the savage calydonian boar, Or cephalus, with lusty theban youths, Against the wolf that angry themis sent To waste and spoil the sweet aonian fields. A monster of five hundred thousand heads, Compact of rapine, piracy, and spoil, The scum of men, the hate and scourge of god, Raves in egyptia, and annoyeth us. My lord, it is the bloody Tamburlaine, By murder raised to the persian crown, That dares control us in our territories. To tame the pride of this presumptuous beast, Join your arabians with the soldan's power; Let us unite our royal bands in one And hasten to remove damascus' siege. It is a blemish to the majesty And high estate of mighty emperors, That such a base usurping vagabond Should brave a king, or wear a princely crown. K.-of-ar. renowned soldan, have ye lately heard The overthrow of mighty bajazeth About the confines of bithynia? The slavery wherewith he persecutes The noble turk and his great empress? Sold. i have, and sorrow for his bad success. But, noble lord of great arabia, Be so persuaded that the soldan is No more dismayed with tidings of his fall, Than in the haven when the pilot stands, And views a stranger's ship rent in the winds And shivered against a craggy rock. Yet in compassion to his wretched state, A sacred vow to heaven and him i make, Confirming it with ibis' holy name, That Tamburlaine shall rue the day, the hour, Wherein he wrought such ignominious wrong Unto the hallowed person of a prince, Or kept the fair zenocrate so long, As concubine, i fear, to feed his lust. K.-of-ar. let grief and fury hasten on revenge. Let Tamburlaine for his offenses feel Such plagues as heaven and we can pour on him. I long to break my spear upon his crest And prove the weight of his victorious arm; For fame, i fear, hath been too prodigal In sounding through the world his partial praise. Sold. capolin, hast thou surveyed our powers? Capol. great emperors of egypt and arabia, The number of your hosts united is A hundred and fifty thousand horse, Two hundred thousand foot, brave men-at-arms, Courageous and full of hardiness, As frolic as the hunters in the chase Of savage beasts amid the desert woods. K.-of-ar. my mind presageth fortunate success, The utter ruin of thy men and thee. Sold. then rear your standards; let your sounding drums Direct our soldiers to damascus' walls. Now, Tamburlaine, the mighty soldan comes And leads with him the great arabian king To dim thy baseness and obscurity, Famous for nothing but for theft and spoil; To raze and scatter thy inglorious crew Of scythians and slavish persians. (exeunt. MarTa1.4.4 Actus 4. scaena 4. The banquet, and to it cometh Tamburlaine all In scarlet, theridamas, techelles, usumcasane, The turk, with others. Tamb. now hang our bloody colors by damascus, Reflexing hues of blood upon their heads, While they walk quivering on their city walls, Half dead for fear before they feel my wrath. Then let us freely banquet and carouse Full bowls of wine unto the god of war, That means to fill your helmets full of gold, And make damascus' spoils as rich to you As was to jason colcho's golden fleece. And now, bajazeth, hast thou any stomach? Baj. ay, such a stomach, (cruel Tamburlaine), as i could Willingly feed upon thy blood raw heart. Tamb. nay, thine own is easier to come by. Pluck out that, And 'twill serve thee and thy wife. well, zenocrate, Techelles, and the rest, fall to your victuals. Baj. fall to, and never may your meat digest! Ye furies, that can mask invisible, Dive to the bottom of avernus' pool, And in your hands bring hellish poison up, And squeeze it in the cup of Tamburlaine! Or, winged snakes of lerna, cast your stings, And leave your venoms in this tyrant's dish! Zab. and may this banquet prove as ominous As progne's to th' adulterous thracian king That fed upon the substance of his child. Zeno. my lord, how can you suffer these Outrageous curses by these slaves of yours? Tamb. to let them see, (divine zenocrate), Having the power from the empyreal heaven To turn them all upon their proper heads. Tech. i pray you, give them leave, madam; this speech is A goodly refreshing to them. Ther. but, if his highness would let them be fed, it Would do them more good. Tamb. sirrah, why fall you not to? are you so daintily Brought up, you cannot eat you own flesh? Baj. first, legions of devils shall tear thee in pieces. Usum. villain, knowest thou to whom thou speakest? Tamb. o, let him alone. here; eat, sir; take it from My sword's point, or i'll thrust it to thy heart. (he takes it and stamps upon it. Ther. he stamps it under his feet, my lord. Tamb. take it up, villain, and eat it; or i will make Thee slice the brawns of thy arms into carbonadoes and Eat them. Usum. nay, 'twere better he killed his wife, and then She shall be sure not to be starved, and he be Provided for a month's victual beforehand. Tamb. here is my dagger. dispatch her while she is fat, For if she live but a while longer, she will fall into A consumption with fretting, and then she will not be Worth the eating. Ther. dost thou think that mahomet will suffer this? Tech. 'tis like he will, when he cannot let it. Tamb. go to; fall to your meat. what, not a bit? Belike he hath not been watered today: give him some Drink. (they give him water to drink, and he flings It on the ground. Fast, and welcome, sir, while hunger make you eat. How now, zenocrate, doth not the turk and his wife Make a goodly show at a banquet? Zeno. yes, my lord. Ther. methinks 'tis a great deal better than a Consort of music. Tamb. yet music would do well to cheer up zenocrate. Pray thee tell, why art thou so sad? if thou wilt Have a song, the turk shall strain his voice. Zeno. my lord, to see my father's town besieged, The country wasted, where myself was born, How can it but afflict my very soul? If any love remain in you, my lord, Or if my love unto your majesty May merit favor at your highness' hands, Then raise your siege from fair damascus' walls, And with my father take a friendly truce. Tamb. zenocrate, were egypt jove's own land, Yet would i with my sword make jove to stoop. I will confute those blind geographers That make a triple region in the world, Excluding regions which i mean to trace, And with this pen reduce them to a map, Calling the provinces, cities, and towns, After my name and thine, zenocrate. Here at damascus will i make the point That shall begin the perpendicular. And wouldst thou have me buy thy father's love With such a loss? tell me, zenocrate. Zeno. honor still wait on happy Tamburlaine; Yet give me leave to plead for him, my lord. Tamb. content thyself: his person shall be safe, And all the friends of fair zenocrate, If with their lives they will be pleased to yield, Or may be forced to make me emperor; For egypt and arabia must be mine. Feed, you slave; thou mayst think thyself happy to be Fed from my trencher. Baj. my empty stomach, full of idle heat, Draws bloody humors from my feeble parts, Preserving life by hasting cruel death. My veins are pale, my sinews hard and dry, My joints benumbed; unless i eat, i die. Zab. eat, bajazeth. let us live in spite of them, Looking some happy power will pity and enlarge us. Tamb. here, turk; wilt thou have a clean trencher? Baj. ay, tyrant, and more meat. Tamb. soft, sir, you must be dieted; too much eating Will make you surfeit. Ther. so it would, my lord, 'specially having so small a Walk and so little exercise. (enter a second course of crowns. Cates you desire to finger, are they not? Ther. ay, my lord, but none save kings must feed With these. Tech. 'tis enough for us to see them, and for tambur- Laine only to enjoy them. Tamb. well, here is now to the soldan of egypt, the King of arabia, and the governor of damascus. now, Take these three crowns, and pledge me, my contribu- Tory kings. i crown you here, theridamas, king of Argier; techelles, king of fez; and usumcasane, king Of morocco. how say you to this, turk? these are not Your contributory kings. Baj. nor shall they long be thine, i warrant them. Tamb. kings of argier, morocco, and of fez, You that have marched with happy Tamburlaine As far as from the frozen place of heaven Unto the wat'ry morning's ruddy bower, And thence by land unto the torrid zone, Deserve these titles i endow you with By valor and by magnanimity. Your births shall be no blemish to your fame, For virtue is the fount whence honor springs, And they are worthy she investeth kings. Ther. and, since your highness hath so well vouchsafed, If we deserve them not with higher meeds Than erst our states and actions have retained, Take them away again, and make us slaves. Tamb. well said, theridamas. when holy fates Shall 'stablish me in strong egyptia, We mean to travel to th' antarctic pole, Conquering the people underneath our feet, And be renowned as never emperors were. Zenocrate, i will not crown thee yet, Until with greater honors i be graced. Finis actus quarti. MarTa1.5.1 Actus 5. scaena 1. The governor of damascus with three or four Citizens, and four virgins with branches of Laurel in their hands. Gov. still doth this man, or rather god of war, Batter our walls and beat our turrets down; And to resist with longer stubbornness Were but to bring our willful overthrow, And make us desperate of our threatened lives. We see his tents have now been altered With terrors to the last and cruel'st hue. His coal-black colors, everywhere advanced, Threaten our city with a general spoil; And if we should with common rites of arms Offer our safeties to his clemency, I fear the custom proper to his sword. Which he observes as parcel of his fame, Intending so to terrify the world, By any innovation or remorse Will never be dispensed with till our deaths. Therefore, for these our harmless virgins' sakes, Whose honors and whose lives rely on him, Let us have hope that their unspotted prayers, Their blubbered cheeks, and hearty humble moans Will melt his fury into some remorse, And use us like a loving conqueror. First-v. if humble suits or imprecations (uttered with tears of wretchedness and blood Shed from the heads and hearts of all our sex, Some made your wives, and some your children,) Might have entreated your obdurate breasts To entertain some care of our securities While only danger beat upon our walls, These more than dangerous warrants of our death Had never been erected as they be, Nor you depend on such weak helps as we. Gov. well, lovely virgins, think our country's care, Our love of honor, loath to be enthralled To foreign powers and rough imperious yokes, Would not with too much cowardice or fear, Before all hope of rescue were denied, Submit yourselves and us to servitude. Therefore, in that your safeties and our own, Your honors, liberties, and lives were weighed In equal care and balance with our own, Endure as we the malice of our stars, The wrath of Tamburlaine and power of wars, Or be the means the overweighing heavens Have kept to qualify these hot extremes, And bring us pardon in your cheerful looks. Sec.-v. then here, before the majesty of heaven With knees and hearts submissive we entreat Grace to our words and pity to our looks That this device may prove propitious, And through the eyes and ears of Tamburlaine Convey events of mercy to his heart. Grant that these signs of victory we yield May bind the temples of his conquering head To hide the folded furrows of his brows, And shadow his displeased countenance With happy looks of ruth and lenity. Leave us, my lord, and loving countrymen. What simple virgins may persuade, we will. Gov. farewell, sweet virgins, on whose safe return Depends our city, liberty, and lives. (exeunt. MarTa1.5.2 Actus 5. scaena 2. Tamburlaine, techelles, theridamas, usumcasane, With others; Tamburlaine, all in black and very Melancholy. Tamb. what, are the turtles frayed out of their nests? Alas, poor fools, must you be first shall feel The sworn destruction of damascus? They know my custom; could they not as well Have sent ye out when first my milk-white flags, Through which sweet mercy threw her gentle beams, Reflexing them on your disdainful eyes, As now when fury and incensed hate Flings slaughtering terror from my coal-black tents, And tells for truth submission comes too late? First-v. most happy king and emperor of the earth, Image of honor and nobility, For whom the powers divine have made the world And on whose throne the holy graces sit, In whose sweet person is comprised the sum Of nature's skill and heavenly majesty, Pity our plights! o, pity poor damascus! Pity old age, within whose silver hairs Honor and reverence evermore have reigned. Pity the marriage bed, where many a lord, In prime and glory of his loving joy, Embraceth now with tears of ruth and blood The jealous body of his fearful wife, Whose cheeks and hearts, so punished with conceit Will part their bodies and prevent their souls From heavens of comfort yet their age might bear, Now wax all pale and withered to the death, As well for grief our ruthless governor Hath thus refused the mercy of thy hand, (whose scepter angels kiss and furies dread,) As for their liberties, their loves, or lives. Oh, then, for these, and such as we ourselves, For us, for infants, and for all our bloods, That never nourished thought against thy rule, Pity, o pity, (sacred emperor,) The prostrate service of this wretched town; And take in sign thereof this gilded wreath, Whereto each man of rule hath given his hand, And wished, as worthy subjects, happy means To be investers of thy royal brows Even with the true egyptian diadem. Tamb. virgins, in vain you labor to prevent That which mine honor swears shall be performed. Behold my sword; what see you at the point? First-v. nothing but fear and fatal steel, my lord. Tamb. your fearful minds are thick and misty then, For there sits death; there sits imperious death, Keeping his circuit by the slicing edge. But i am pleased you shall not see him there. He now is seated on my horsemen's spears, And on their points his fleshless body feeds. Techelles, straight go charge a few of them To charge these dames and show my servant, death, Sitting in scarlet on their armed spears. Omnes. o, pity us! Tamb. away with them, i say, and show them death. (they take them away. I will not spare these proud egyptians, Nor change my martial observations For all the wealth of gihon's golden waves. Or for the love of venus, would she leave The angry god of arms and lie with me. They have refused the offer of their lives And know my customs are as peremptory As wrathful planets, death, or destiny. (enter techelles. What, have your horsemen shown the virgins death? Have hoisted up their slaughtered carcasses. Tamb. a sight as baneful to their souls, i think, As are thessalian drugs or mithridate: But go, my lords, put the rest to the sword. (exeunt. Ah, fair zenocrate! divine zenocrate! Fair is too foul an epithet for thee, That in thy passion for thy country's love, And fear to see thy kingly father's harm, With hair dishevelled wip'st thy watery cheeks; And, like to flora in her morning's pride, Shaking her silver tresses in the air, Rain'st on the earth resolved pearl in showers, And sprinklest sapphires on thy shining face, Where beauty, mother to the muses, sits, And comments volumes with her ivory pen, Taking instructions from thy flowing eyes, Eyes, when that ebena steps to heaven, In silence of thy solemn evening's walk, Making the mantle of the richest night, The moon, the planets, and the meteors, light. There angels in their crystal armors fight A doubtful battle with my tempted thoughts For egypt's freedom and the soldan's life, His life that so consumes zenocrate, Whose sorrows lay more siege unto my soul Than all my army to damascus' walls; And neither persia's sovereign nor the turk Troubled my senses with conceit of foil So much by much as doth zenocrate. What is beauty, saith my sufferings, then? If all the pens that ever poets held Had fed the feeling of their masters' thoughts, And every sweetness that inspired their hearts, Their minds, and muses on admired themes; If all the heavenly quintessence they still From their immortal flowers of poesy, Wherein, as in a mirror, we perceive The highest reaches of a human wit; If these had made one poem's period, And all combined in beauty's worthiness, Yet should there hover in their restless heads One thought, one grace, one wonder, at the least, Which into words no virtue can digest. My discipline of arms and chivalry, My nature, and the terror of my name, To harbor thoughts effeminate and faint! Save only that in beauty's just applause, With whose instinct the soul of man is touched; And every warrior that is rapt with love Of fame, of valor, and of victory, Must needs have beauty beat on his conceits. I thus conceiving and subduing both, That which hath stopped the tempest of the gods, Even from the fiery spangled veil of heaven, To feel the lovely warmth of shepherds' flames And march in cottages of strowed weeds, Shall give the world to note, for all my birth, That virtue solely is the sum of glory, And fashions men with true nobility. Who's within there? (enter two or three. Hath bajazeth been fed today? Attend. ay, my lord. Tamb. bring him forth; and let us know if the town Be ransacked. Enter techelles, theridamas, usumcasane, And others. Tech. the town is ours, my lord, and fresh supply Of conquest and of spoil is offered us. Tamb. that's well, techelles. what's the news? Tech. the soldan and the arabian king together March on us with such eager violence As if there were no way but one with us. Tamb. no more there is not, i warrant thee, techelles. (they bring in the turk. Ther. we know the victory is ours, my lord, But let us save the reverend soldan's life For fair zenocrate that so laments his state. Tamb. that will we chiefly see unto, theridamas, For sweet zenocrate, whose worthiness Deserves a conquest over every heart. And now, my footstool, if i lose the field, You hope of liberty and restitution. Here let him stay, my masters, from the tents, Till we have made us ready for the field. Pray for us, bajazeth; we are going. (exeunt. Baj. go, never return with victory! And gore thy body with as many wounds! Sharp forked arrows light upon thy horse! Furies from the black cocytus lake, Break up the earth, and with their firebrands Enforce thee run upon the baneful pikes! Volleys of shot pierce through thy charmed skin, And every bullet dipped in poisoned drugs! Or roaring cannons sever all thy joints, Making thee mount as high as eagles soar! Zab. let all the swords and lances in the field Stick in his breast as in their proper rooms! At every pore let blood come dropping forth, That lingering pains may massacre his heart And madness send his damned soul to hell! Baj. ah, fair zabina! we may curse his power, The heavens may frown, the earth for anger quake, But such a star hath influence in his sword As rules the skies and countermands the gods More than cimmerian styx or destiny. And then shall we in this detested guise, With shame, with hunger, and with horror -- ay, Griping our bowels with retorqued thoughts And have no hope to end our ecstasies. Zab. then is there left no mahomet, no god, No fiend, no fortune, nor no hope of end To our infamous, monstrous slaveries? Gape earth, and let the fiends infernal view A hell as hopeless and as full of fear As are the blasted banks of erebus, Where shaking ghosts with ever howling groans Hover about the ugly ferryman To get a passage to elysium! Why should we live? oh, wretches, beggars, slaves! Why live we, bajazeth, and build up nests So high within the region of the air, By living long in this oppression, That all the world will see and laugh to scorn The former triumphs of our mightiness In this obscure infernal servitude? Baj. o life, more loathsome to my vexed thoughts Than noisome parbreak of the stygian snakes, Which fills the nooks of hell with standing air, Infecting all the ghosts with cureless griefs! That see my crown, my honor, and my name Thrust under yoke and thralldom of a thief, Why feed ye still on day's accursed beams, And sink not quite into my tortured soul? You see my wife, my queen, and empress, Brought up and propped by the hand of fame, Queen of fifteen contributory queens, Now thrown to rooms of black abjection, Smeared with blots of basest drudgery, And villainess to shame, disdain, and misery. Accursed bajazeth, whose words of ruth, That would with pity cheer zabina's heart, And make our souls resolve in ceaseless tears, Sharp hunger bites upon and gripes the root From whence the issue of my thoughts do break. O poor zabina! o my queen, my queen! Fetch me some water for my burning breast, To cool and comfort me with longer date, That in the shortened sequel of my life I may pour forth my soul into thine arms With words of love whose moaning intercourse Hath hitherto been stayed with wrath and hate Of our expressless banned inflictions. Zab. sweet bajazeth, i will prolong thy life As long as any blood or spark of breath Can quench or cool the torments of my grief. (she goes out. Baj. now, bajazeth, abridge thy baneful days, And beat the brains out of thy conquered head, Since other means are all forbidden me, That may be ministers of my decay. O highest lamp of everliving jove, Accursed day, infected with my griefs, Hide now thy stained face in endless night, And shut the windows of the lightsome heavens. Let ugly darkness with her rusty coach Engirt with tempests, wrapped in pitchy clouds, Smother the earth with never fading mists, And let her horses from their nostrils breathe Rebellious winds and dreadful thunderclaps, That in this terror Tamburlaine may live, And my pined soul, resolved in liquid air, May still excruciate his tormented thoughts! Pierce through the center of my withered heart, And make a passage for my loathed life! (he brains himself against the cage. Enter zabina. Zab. what do mine eyes behold? my husband dead! His skull all riven in twain, his brains dashed out! The brains of bajazeth, my lord and sovereign! O bajazeth, my husband and my lord! O bajazeth! o turk! o emperor! Give him his liquor? not i. bring milk and fire, and My blood i bring him again. tear me in pieces. give Me the sword with a ball of wild fire upon it. down With him! down with him! go to, my child. Away, away, away! ah, save that infant! save him, Save him! i, even i, speak to her. the sun was down Streamers white, red, black. here, here, here! fling The meat in his face! Tamburlaine, Tamburlaine! Let the soldiers be buried. hell, death, Tamburlaine, Hell! make ready my coach, my chair, my jewels. I come, i come, i come! (she runs against the cage, and brains herself. Zenocrate with anippe. Zeno. wretched zenocrate, that livest to see Damascus' walls dyed with egyptian blood, Thy father's subjects and thy countrymen; The streets strowed with dissevered joints of men, And wounded bodies gasping yet for life; But most accursed, to see the sun-bright troop Of heavenly virgins and unspotted maids, (whose looks might make the angry god of arms To break his sword and mildly treat of love) On horsemen's lances to be hoisted up, And guiltlessly endure a cruel death. For every fell and stout tartarian steed, That stamped on others with their thundering hooves, When all their riders charged their quivering spears, Began to check the ground and rein themselves, Gazing upon the beauty of their looks. Ah, Tamburlaine, wert thou the cause of this, That term'st zenocrate thy dearest love? Whose lives were dearer to zenocrate But see, another bloody spectacle! Ah, wretched eyes, the enemies of my heart, How are ye glutted with these grievous objects, And tell my soul more tales of bleeding ruth! See, see, anippe, if they breathe or no. Anip. no breath, nor sense, nor motion, in them both. Ah, madam, this their slavery hath enforced, And ruthless cruelty of Tamburlaine! Zeno. earth, cast up fountains from thy entrails, And wet thy cheeks for their untimely deaths. Shake with their weight in sign of fear and grief. Blush, heaven, that gave them honor at their birth And let them die a death so barbarous. Those that are proud of fickle empery And place their chiefest good in earthly pomp, Behold the turk and his great empress! Ah, Tamburlaine my love, sweet Tamburlaine, That fights for scepters and for slippery crowns, Behold the turk and his great empress! Thou, that in conduct of thy happy stars, Sleep'st every night with conquest on thy brows, And yet wouldst shun the wavering turns of war, In fear and feeling of the like distress, Behold the turk and his great empress! Ah, mighty jove and holy mahomet, Pardon my love! o, pardon his contempt Of earthly fortune and respect of pity, And let not conquest, ruthlessly pursued, Be equally against his life incensed In this great turk and hapless empress! And pardon me that was not moved with ruth To see them live so long in misery! Ah, what may chance to thee, zenocrate? Anip. madam, content yourself, and be resolved, Your love hath fortune so at his command, That she shall stay, and turn her wheel no more, As long as life maintains his mighty arm That fights for honor to adorn your head. Enter a messenger. Zeno. what other heavy news now brings philemus? Phil. madam, your father, and th' arabian king, The first affecter of your excellence, Come now, as turnus 'gainst aeneas did, Ready for battle 'gainst my lord the king. Zeno. now shame and duty, love and fear present A thousand sorrows to my martyred soul. Whom should i wish the fatal victory, When my poor pleasures are divided thus, And racked by duty from my cursed heart? My father and my first-betrothed love Must fight against my life and present love, Wherein the change i use condemns my faith And makes my deeds infamous through the world. But as the gods, to end the trojans' toil, Prevented turnus of lavinia And fatally enriched aeneas' love, So, for a final issue to my griefs, To pacify my country and my love, Must Tamburlaine by their resistless powers, With virtue of a gentle victory, Conclude a league of honor to my hope; Then, as the powers divine have preordained, With happy safety of my father's life Send like defense of fair arabia. (they sound to the battle and Tamburlaine Enjoys the victory; after, arabia enters wounded. K.-of-ar. what cursed power guides the murdering hands Of this infamous tyrant's soldiers, That no escape may save their enemies, Nor fortune keep themselves from victory? Lie down, arabia, wounded to the death, And let zenocrate's fair eyes behold That, as for her thou bear'st these wretched arms, Even so for her thou diest in these arms, Leaving thy blood for witness of thy love. Zeno. too dear a witness for such love, my lord. Behold zenocrate, the cursed object Whose fortunes never mastered her griefs. Behold her wounded in conceit for thee, As much as thy fair body is for me! K.-of-ar. then shall i die with full contented heart, Having beheld divine zenocrate, Whose sight with joy would take away my life, As now it bringeth sweetness to my wound, If i had not been wounded as i am. Ah, that the deadly pangs i suffer now Would lend an hour's license to my tongue, Have chanced thy merits in this worthless bondage, And that i might be privy to the state Of thy deserved contentment and thy love. But, making now a virtue of thy sight, To drive all sorrow from my fainting soul, Since death denies me further cause of joy, Deprived of care, my heart with comfort dies, Since thy desired hand shall close mine eyes. Enter Tamburlaine, leading the soldan; Techelles, theridamas, usumcasane, with others. Tamb. come, happy father of zenocrate, A title higher than thy soldan's name. Though my right hand have thus enthralled thee, Thy princely daughter here shall set thee free, She that hath calmed the fury of my sword, Which had ere this been bathed in streams of blood As vast and deep as euphrates or nile. Zeno. o sight thrice welcome to my joyful soul, To see the king, my father, issue safe From dangerous battle of my conquering love! Sold. well met, my only dear zenocrate, Though with the loss of egypt and my crown. Tamb. 'twas i, my lord, that gat the victory, And therefore grieve not at your overthrow, Since i shall render all into your hands, And add more strength to your dominions Than ever yet confirmed th' egyptian crown. The god of war resigns his room to me, Meaning to make me general of the world. Jove, viewing me in arms, looks pale and wan, Fearing my power should pull him from his throne. Where'er i come the fatal sisters sweat, And grisly death, by running to-and-fro To do their ceaseless homage to my sword. And here in afric, where it seldom rains, Since i arrived with my triumphant host, Have swelling clouds, drawn from wide gasping wounds, Been oft resolved in bloody purple showers, A meteor that might terrify the earth, And make it quake at every drop it drinks. Millions of souls sit on the banks of styx, Waiting the back return of charon's boat; That i have sent from sundry foughten fields To spread my fame through hell and up to heaven. And see, my lord, a sight of strange import, Emperors and kings lie breathless at my feet. The turk and his great empress, as it seems, Left to themselves while we were at the fight, Have desperately dispatched their slavish lives: With them arabia, too, hath left his life; All sights of power to grace my victory. And such are objects fit for Tamburlaine, Wherein, as in a mirror, may be seen His honor, that consists in shedding blood When men presume to manage arms with him. Sold. mighty hath god and mahomet made thy hand, (renowned Tamburlaine), to whom all kings Of force must yield their crowns and emperies; And i am pleased with this my overthrow, If, as beseems a person of thy state, Thou hast with honor used zenocrate. Tamb. her state and person want no pomp, you see, And for all blot of foul inchastity, I record heaven, her heavenly self is clear. Then let me find no further time to grace Her princely temples with the persian crown; But here these kings that on my fortunes wait, And have been crowned for proved worthiness Even by this hand that shall establish them, Shall now, adjoining all their hands with mine, Invest her here the queen of persia. What saith the noble soldan and zenocrate? Sold. i yield with thanks and protestations Of endless honor to thee for her love. Tamb. then doubt i not but fair zenocrate Will soon consent to satisfy us both. Zeno. else should i much forget myself, my lord. Ther. then let us set the crown upon her head, That long hath lingered for so high a seat. Tech. my hand is ready to perform the deed, For now her marriage time shall work us rest. Usum. and here's the crown, my lord; help set it on. Tamb. then sit thou down, divine zenocrate, And here we crown thee queen of persia, That late the power of Tamburlaine subdued. As juno, when the giants were suppressed, That darted mountains at her brother jove, So looks my love, shadowing in her brows Triumphs and trophies for my victories; Or as latona's daughter, bent to arms, Adding more courage to my conquering mind. To gratify thee, sweet zenocrate, Egyptians, moors, and men of asia, From barbary unto the western indie, Shall pay a yearly tribute to thy sire; And from the bounds of afric to the banks Of ganges shall his mighty arm extend. And now, my lords and loving followers, That purchased kingdoms by your martial deeds, Cast off your armor, put on scarlet robes, Mount up your royal places of estate, Environed with troops of noblemen, And there make laws to rule your provinces. Hang up your weapons on alcides' post, For Tamburlaine takes truce with all the world. Thy first-betrothed love, arabia, Shall we with honor, as beseems, entomb With this great turk and his fair empress. Then, after all these solemn exequies, We will our rites of marriage solemnize. Finis actus quinti et ultimi huius primae partis. MarTa2.1.1 The bloody conquests Of mighty Tamburlaine. With his impassionate fury for the death of His lady and love, fair zenocrate, his form Of exhortation and discipline to his three Sons, and the manner of his own death. The prologue. The general welcomes Tamburlaine received, When he arrived last upon our stage, Hath made our poet pen his second part, Where death cuts off the progress of his pomp And murderous fates throw all his triumphs down. But what became of fair zenocrate, And with how many cities' sacrifice He celebrated her sad funeral, Himself in presence shall unfold at large. MarTa2.1.1 Actus 1. scaena 1. Orcanes, king of natolia, gazellus, viceroy Of byron, uribassa, and their train, with Drums and trumpets. Orc. egregious viceroys of these eastern parts, Placed by the issue of great bajazeth, And sacred lord, the mighty callapine, Who lives in egypt prisoner to that slave Which kept his father in an iron cage, Now have we marched from fair natolia Two hundred leagues, and on danubius' banks Our warlike host in complete armor rest, Where sigismund, the king of hungary, Should meet our person to conclude a truce. What! shall we parle with the christian, Or cross the stream and meet him in the field? Gaz. king of natolia, let us treat of peace. We are all glutted with the christians' blood, And have a greater foe to fight against, Proud Tamburlaine, that now in asia, Near guyron's head, doth set his conquering feet And means to fire turkey as he goes. Uri. besides, king sigismund hath brought from Christendom More than his camp of stout hungarians - Slavonians, almains, rutters, muffs, and danes, That with the halberd, lance, and murdering axe, Will hazard that we might with surety hold. Orc. though from the shortest northern parallel, Vast gruntland, compassed with the frozen sea, Inhabited with tall and sturdy men, Giants as big as hugy polypheme, Millions of soldiers cut the arctic line, Bringing the strength of europe to these arms, Our turkey blades shall glide through all their Throats, And make this champion mead a bloody fen. Danubius' stream, that runs to trebizon, Shall carry, wrapped within his scarlet waves, As martial presents to our friends at home, The slaughtered bodies of these christians. The terrene main, wherein danubius' falls, Shall by this battle be the bloody sea. The wandering sailors of proud italy Shall meet those christians, fleeting with the tide, Beating in heaps against their argosies, And make fair europe, mounted on her bull, Trapped with the wealth and riches of the world, Alight and wear a woeful mourning weed. Gaz. yet, stout orcanes, prorex of the world, Since Tamburlaine hath mustered all his men, Marching from cairo northward with his camp, To alexandria and the frontier towns, Meaning to make a conquest of our land, 'tis requisite to parle for a peace With sigismund, the king of hungary, And save our forces for the hot assaults Proud Tamburlaine intends natolia. Orc. viceroy of byron, wisely hast thou said. My realm, the center of our empery, Once lost, all turkey would be overthrown; And for that cause the christians shall have peace. Slavonians, almains, rutters, muffs, and danes, Fear not orcanes, but great Tamburlaine, Nor he, but fortune that hath made him great. Sicilians, jews, arabians, turks, and moors, Natolians, sorians, black egyptians, Illyrians, thracians, and bithynians, Enough to swallow forceless sigismund, Yet scarce enough t' encounter Tamburlaine. He brings a world of people to the field: From scythia to the oriental plage Of india, where raging lantchidol Beats on the regions with his boisterous blows, That never seaman yet discovered. All asia is in arms with Tamburlaine. Even from the midst of fiery cancer's tropic To amazonia under capricorn, And thence as far as archipelago, All afric is in arms with Tamburlaine; Therefore, viceroys, the christians must have peace. MarTa2.1.2 Actus 1. scaena 2. Sigismund, frederick, baldwin, and their Train, with drums and trumpets. Sig. orcanes, (as our legates promised thee), We, with our peers, have crossed danubius' stream To treat of friendly peace or deadly war. Take which thou wilt; for, as the romans used, I here present thee with a naked sword. Wilt thou have war, then shake this blade at me; If peace, restore it to my hands again, And i will sheathe it to confirm the same. Orc. stay, sigismund. forgett'st thou i am he That with the cannon shook vienna walls And made it dance upon the continent, As when the massy substance of the earth Quiver about the axletree of heaven? Forgett'st thou that i sent a shower of darts, Mingled with powdered shot and feathered steel, So thick upon the blink-eyed burghers' heads, That thou thyself, then county palatine, The king of boheme, and the austric duke, Sent heralds out, which basely on their knees, In all your names desired a truce of me? Forgett'st thou that to have me raise my siege, Wagons of gold were set before my tent, Stamped with the princely fowl that in her wings Carries the fearful thunderbolts of jove? Sig. vienna was besieged, and i was there, Then county palatine but now a king, And what we did was in extremity. But now, orcanes, view my royal host That hides these plains and seems as vast and wide As doth the desert of arabia To those that stand on bagdad's lofty tower, Or as the ocean to the traveler That rests upon the snowy apennines, And tell me whether i should stoop so low, Or treat of peace with the natolian king. Gaz. kings of natolia and of hungary, We came from turkey to confirm a league, And not to dare each other to the field. A friendly parle might become ye both. Fred. and we from europe, to the same intent, Which if your general refuse or scorn, Our tents are pitched, our men stand in array, Ready to charge you ere you stir your feet. Orc. so prest are we: but yet, if sigismund Speak as a friend, and stand not upon terms, Here is his sword; let peace be ratified On these conditions specified before, Drawn with advice of our ambassadors. Sig. then here i sheathe it and give thee my hand, Never to draw it out or manage arms Against thyself or thy confederates, But whilst i live will be at truce with thee. Orc. but, sigismund, confirm it with an oath, And swear in sight of heaven and by thy christ. Sig. by him that made the world and saved my soul, The son of god and issue of a maid, Sweet jesus christ, i solemnly protest And vow to keep this peace inviolable. Orc. by sacred mahomet, the friend of god, Whose holy alcoran remains with us, Whose glorious body, when he left the world, Closed in a coffin mounted up the air And hung on stately mecca's temple roof, I swear to keep this truce inviolable. Of whose conditions and our solemn oaths, Signed with our hands, each shall retain a scroll As memorable witness of our league. Now, sigismund, if any christian king Encroach upon the confines of thy realm, Confirmed this league beyond danubius' stream, And they will, trembling, sound a quick retreat; So am i feared among all nations. Sig. if any heathen potentate or king Invade natolia, sigismund will send A hundred thousand horse trained to the war, And backed by stout lancers of germany, The strength and sinews of the imperial seat. Orc. i thank thee, sigismund; but, when i war, All asia minor, africa, and greece Follow my standard and my thundering drums. Come, let us go and banquet in our tents. I will dispatch chief of my army hence To fair natolia and to trebizon, To stay my coming 'gainst proud Tamburlaine. Friend sigismund and peers of hungary, Come, banquet and carouse with us a while, And then depart we to our territories. (exeunt. MarTa2.1.3 Actus 1. scaena 3. Callapine with almeda, his keeper. Call. sweet almeda, pity the ruthful plight Of callapine, the son of bajazeth, Born to be monarch of the western world, Yet here detained by cruel Tamburlaine. Alm. my lord, i pity it, and with my heart Wish your release; but he whose wrath is death, My sovereign lord, renowned Tamburlaine, Forbids you further liberty than this. Call. ah, were i now but half so eloquent To paint in words what i'll perform in deeds, I know thou wouldst depart from hence with me. Alm. not for all afric; therefore move me not. Call. yet hear me speak, my gentle almeda. Alm. no speech to that end, by your favor, sir. Call. by cairo runs... Alm. no talk of running, i tell you, sir. Call. a little further, gentle almeda. Alm. well, sir, what of this? Call. by cairo runs to alexandria bay Darotes' stream, wherein at anchor lies A turkish galley of my royal fleet, Waiting my coming to the river side, Hoping by some means i shall be released; Which, when i come aboard, will hoist up sail Where, 'twixt the isles of cyprus and of crete, We quickly may in turkish seas arrive. Then shalt thou see a hundred kings and more, Upon their knees, all bid me welcome home. Amongst so many crowns of burnished gold, Choose which thou wilt, all are at thy command. A thousand galleys, manned with christian slaves, I freely give thee, which shall cut the straits, And bring armadoes from the coasts of spain, Fraughted with gold of rich america. The grecian virgins shall attend on thee, Skillful in music and in amorous lays, As fair as was pygmalion's ivory girl Or lovely io metamorphosed. With naked negroes shall thy coach be drawn, And, as thou rid'st in triumph through the streets, The pavement underneath thy chariot wheels With turkey carpets shall be covered, And cloth of arras hung about the walls, Fit objects for thy princely eye to pierce. A hundred bassoes, clothed in crimson silk, Shall ride before thee on barbarian steeds; And, when thou goest, a golden canopy Enchased with precious stones, which shine as bright As that fair veil that covers all the world, When phoebus, leaping from his hemisphere, Descendeth downward to th' antipodes - And more than this, for all i cannot tell. Alm. how far hence lies the galley, say you? Call. sweet almeda, scarce half a league from hence. Alm. but need we not be spied going aboard? Call. betwixt the hollow hanging of a hill And crooked bending of a craggy rock, The sails wrapped up, the mast and tacklings down, She lies so close that none can find her out. Alm. i like that well. but tell me, my lord, if i Should let you go, would you be as good as your word? Shall i be made a king for my labor? Call. as i am callapine the emperor, And by the hand of mahomet i swear, Thou shalt be crowned a king, and be my mate. Alm. then here i swear, as i am almeda, (for that's the style and title i have yet,) Although he sent a thousand armed men To intercept this haughty enterprise, Yet would i venture to conduct your grace And die before i brought you back again! Call. thanks, gentle almeda. then let us haste, Lest time be past and lingering let us both. Alm. when you will, my lord, i am ready. Call. even straight: and farewell, cursed Tamburlaine. Now go i to revenge my father's death. (exeunt. MarTa2.1.4 Actus 1. scaena 4. Tamburlaine with zenocrate, and his three Sons, calyphas, amyras, and celebinus, With drums and trumpets. Tamb. now, bright zenocrate, the world's fair eye, Whose beams illuminate the lamps of heaven, Whose cheerful looks do clear the cloudy air And clothe it in a crystal livery, Now rest thee here on fair larissa plains, Where egypt and the turkish empire part, Between thy sons that shall be emperors, And every one commander of a world. Zeno. sweet Tamburlaine, when wilt thou leave these arms And save thy sacred person free from scathe And dangerous chances of the wrathful war? Tamb. when heaven shall cease to move on both the poles, And when the ground, whereon my soldiers march, Shall rise aloft and touch the horned moon, And not before, my sweet zenocrate. Sit up, and rest thee like a lovely queen. So, now she sits in pomp and majesty, When these, my sons, more precious in mine eyes Than all the wealthy kingdoms i subdued, Placed by her side, look on their mother's face. But yet methinks their looks are amorous, Not martial as the sons of Tamburlaine. Water and air, being symbolized in one, Argue their want of courage and of wit; Their hair, as white as milk, and soft as down, (which should be like the quills of porcupines, As black as jet, and hard as iron or steel), Bewrays they are too dainty for the wars; Their arms to hang about a lady's neck, Their legs to dance and caper in the air, Would make me think them bastards, not my sons, But that i know they issued from thy womb, That never looked on man but Tamburlaine. Zeno. my gracious lord, they have their mother's looks, But when they list, their conquering father's heart. This lovely boy, the youngest of the three, Not long ago bestrid a scythian steed, Trotting the ring, and tilting at a glove, Which when he tainted with his slender rod, He reined him straight, and made him so curvet As i cried out for fear he should have fall'n. Tamb. well done, my boy! thou shalt have shield and Lance, Armor of proof, horse, helm, and curtle-axe, And i will teach thee how to charge thy foe And harmless run among the deadly pikes. If thou wilt love the wars and follow me, Thou shalt be made a king and reign with me, Keeping in iron cages emperors. If thou exceed thy elder brothers' worth, And shine in complete virtue more than they, Thou shalt be king before them, and thy seed Shall issue crowned from their mother's womb. Cel. yes, father; you shall see me, if i live, Have under me as many kings as you, And march with such a multitude of men As all the world shall tremble at their view. Tamb. these words assure me, boy, thou art my son. When i am old and cannot manage arms, Be thou the scourge and terror of the world. Amy. why may not i, my lord, as well as he, Be termed the scourge and terror to the world? Tamb. be all a scourge and terror to the world, Or else you are not sons of Tamburlaine. Caly. but while my brothers follow arms, my lord, Let me accompany my gracious mother. They are enough to conquer all the world, And you have won enough for me to keep. Tamb. bastardly boy, sprung from some coward's loins, And not the issue of great Tamburlaine! Thou shalt not have a foot, unless thou bear A mind courageous and invincible; For he shall wear the crown of persia Whose head hath deepest scars, whose breast most Wounds. Which being wroth sends lightning from his eyes, And in the furrows of his frowning brows Harbors revenge, war, death, and cruelty; For in a field, whose superficies Is covered with a liquid purple veil And sprinkled with the brains of slaughtered men, My royal chair of state shall be advanced; And he that means to place himself therein, Must armed wade up to the chin in blood. Zeno. my lord, such speeches to our princely sons Dismay their minds before they come to prove The wounding troubles angry war affords. Cel. no, madam, these are speeches fit for us, For if his chair were in a sea of blood, I would prepare a ship and sail to it, Ere i would lose the title of a king. Amy. and i would strive to swim through pools of blood Or make a bridge of murdered carcasses, Whose arches should be framed with bones of turks, Ere i would lose the title of a king. Tamb. well, lovely boys, you shall be emperors both, Stretching your conquering arms from east to west. And, sirrah, if you mean to wear a crown, When we shall meet the turkish deputy And all his viceroys, snatch it from his head, And cleave his pericranion with thy sword. Caly. if any man will hold him, i will strike And cleave him to the channel with my sword. Tamb. hold him, and cleave him too, or i'll cleave thee; For we will march against them presently. Theridamas, techelles, and casane Promised to meet me on larissa plains With hosts apiece against this turkish crew; For i have sworn by sacred mahomet To make it parcel of my empery. The trumpets sound, zenocrate; they come. MarTa2.1.5 Actus 1. scaena 5. Enter theridamas, and his train, Tamb. welcome theridamas, king of argier. Ther. my lord, the great and mighty Tamburlaine, Archmonarch of the world, i offer here My crown, myself, and all the power i have, In all affection at thy kingly feet. Tamb. thanks, good theridamas. Ther. under my colors march ten thousand greeks, And of argier and afric's frontier towns Twice twenty thousand valiant men-at-arms, All which have sworn to sack natolia. Five hundred brigandines are under sail, Meet for your service on the sea, my lord, That, launching from argier to tripoli, Will quickly ride before natolia, And batter down the castles on the shore. Tamb. well said, argier; receive thy crown again. MarTa2.1.6 Actus 1. scaena 6. Enter techelles and usumcasane together. Tamb. kings of morocco and of fez, welcome. Usum. magnificent and peerless Tamburlaine, I and my neighbor king of fez have brought, To aid thee in this turkish expedition, A hundred thousand expert soldiers; From azamor to tunis near the sea Is barbary unpeopled for thy sake, And all the men in armor under me, Which with my crown i gladly offer thee. Tamb. thanks, king of morocco; take your crown again. Tech. and, mighty Tamburlaine, our earthly god, Whose looks make this inferior world to quake, I here present thee with the crown of fez, And with an host of moors trained to the war, Whose coal-black faces make their foes retire And quake for fear, as if infernal jove, Meaning to aid thee in these turkish arms, Should pierce the black circumference of hell, With ugly furies bearing fiery flags, And millions of his strong tormenting spirits; From strong tesella unto biledull All barbary is unpeopled for thy sake. Tamb. thanks, king of fez; take here thy crown again. Your presence, loving friends and fellow kings, Makes me to surfeit in conceiving joy. Were opened wide, and i might enter in To see the state and majesty of heaven, It could not more delight me than your sight. Now will we banquet on these plains a while, And after march to turkey with our camp, In number more than are the drops that fall When boreas rents a thousand swelling clouds. And proud orcanes of natolia With all his viceroys shall be so afraid, That though the stones, as at deucalion's flood, Were turned to men, he should be overcome. Such lavish will i make of turkish blood, That jove shall send his winged messenger To bid me sheathe my sword and leave the field; The sun, unable to sustain the sight, Shall hide his head in thetis' watery lap, And leave his steeds to fair bootes' charge; For half the world shall perish in this fight. But now, my friends, let me examine ye; How have ye spent your absent time from me? Usum. my lord, our men of barbary have marched Four hundred miles with armor on their backs, And lain in leaguer fifteen months and more; For, since we left you at the soldan's court, We have subdued the southern guallatia And all the land unto the coast of spain. We kept the narrow strait of gibraltar, And made canaria call us kings and lords: Yet never did they recreate themselves, Or cease one day from war and hot alarms; And therefore let them rest a while, my lord. Tamb. they shall, casane, and 'tis time, i' faith. Tech. and i have marched along the river nile To machda, where the mighty christian priest, Called john the great, sits in a milk-white robe, Whose triple miter i did take by force, And made him swear obedience to my crown. From thence unto cazates did i march, Where amazonians met me in the field, With whom (being women), i vouchsafed a league, And with my power did march to zanzibar, The western part of afric, where i viewed The ethiopian sea, rivers and lakes, Therefore i took my course to manico, Where, unresisted, i removed my camp; And, by the coast of byather, at last I came to cubar, where the negroes dwell, And, conquering that, made haste to nubia. There, having sacked borno, the kingly seat, I took the king and led him bound in chains Unto damascus, where i stayed before. Tamb. well done, techelles. what saith theridamas? Ther. i left the confines and the bounds of afric, And made a voyage into europe, Where, by the river tyros, i subdued Stoka, padalia, and codemia; Then crossed the sea and came to oblia And nigra silva, where the devils dance, Which, in despite of them, i set on fire. From thence i crossed the gulf called by the name Mare magiore of th' inhabitants. Yet shall my soldiers make no period Until natolia kneel before your feet. Tamb. then will we triumph, banquet, and carouse. Cooks shall have pensions to provide us cates And glut us with the dainties of the world; Lachryma christi and calabrian wines Shall common soldiers drink in quaffing bowls, Ay, liquid gold, when we have conquered him, Mingled with coral and with orient pearl. Come, let us banquet and carouse the whiles. (exeunt. Finis actus primi. MarTa2.2.1 Actus 2. scaena 1. Sigismund, frederick, and baldwin, with With their train. Sig. now say, my lords of buda and bohemia, What motion is it that inflames your thoughts, And stirs your valors to such sudden arms? Fred. your majesty remembers, i am sure, What cruel slaughter of our christian bloods These heathenish turks and pagans lately made Betwixt the city zula and danubius; How through the midst of varna and bulgaria, And almost to the very walls of rome, They have, not long since, massacred our camp. It resteth now, then, that your majesty And work revenge upon these infidels. Your highness knows, for Tamburlaine's repair, That strikes a terror to all turkish hearts, Natolia hath dismissed the greatest part Of all his army pitched against our power Betwixt cutheia and orminius' mount, And sent them marching up to belgasar, Acantha, antioch, and caesarea, To aid the kings of soria and jerusalem. Now, then, my lord, advantage take hereof And issue suddenly upon the rest, That in the fortune of their overthrow We may discourage all the pagan troop That dare attempt to war with christians. Sig. but calls not then your grace to memory The league we lately made with king orcanes, Confirmed by oath and articles of peace, And calling christ for record of our truths? This should be treachery and violence Against the grace of our profession. Bald. no whit, my lord; for with such infidels, In whom no faith nor true religion rests, We are not bound to those accomplishments The holy laws of christendom enjoin; But as the faith which they profanely plight Is not by necessary policy To be esteemed assurance for ourselves, So what we vow to them should not infringe Our liberty of arms and victory. Sig. though i confess the oaths they undertake Breed little strength to our security, Yet those infirmities that thus defame Their faiths, their honors, and religion Should not give us presumption to the like. Our faiths are sound, and must be consummate, Religious, righteous, and inviolate. Fred. assure your grace, 'tis superstition To stand so strictly on dispensive faith; And should we lose the opportunity That god hath given to venge our christians' death And scourge their foul blasphemous paganism, As fell to saul, to balaam, and the rest, That would not kill and curse at god's command, So surely will the vengeance of the highest, And jealous anger of his fearful arm, If we neglect this offered victory. Sig. then arm, my lords, and issue suddenly, Giving commandment to our general host, With expedition to assail the pagan, And take the victory our god hath given. (exeunt. MarTa2.2.2 Actus 2. scaena 2. Orcanes, gazellus, uribassa, with their train. Orc. gazellus, uribassa, and the rest, Now will we march from proud orminius' mount To fair natolia, where our neighbor kings Expect our power and our royal presence, T' encounter with the cruel Tamburlaine, That nigh larissa sways a mighty host, And with the thunder of his martial tools Makes earthquakes in the hearts of men and heaven. Gaz. and now come we to make his sinews shake With greater power than erst his pride hath felt, An hundred kings, by scores, will bid him arms, And hundred thousands subjects to each score; Which, if a shower of wounding thunderbolts Should break out of the bowels of the clouds And fall as thick as hail upon our heads, In partial aid of that proud scythian, Yet should our courages and steeled crests, And numbers more than infinite of men, Be able to withstand and conquer him. Uri. methinks i see how glad the christian king Is made for joy of your admitted truce, That could not but before be terrified With unacquainted power of our host. Enter a messenger. Mess. arm, dread sovereign, and my noble lords! The treacherous army of the christians, Taking advantage of your slender power, Comes marching on us, and determines straight To bid us battle for our dearest lives. Orc. traitors, villains, damned christians! Have i not here the articles of peace And solemn covenants we have both confirmed, He by his christ, and i by mahomet? Gaz. hell and confusion light upon their heads, That with such treason seek our overthrow, And care so little for their prophet christ! Or treason in the fleshly heart of man, Whose shape is figure of the highest god? Then if there be a christ, as christians say, But in their deeds deny him for their christ, If he be son to everliving jove, And hath the power of his outstretched arm, If he be jealous of his name and honor As is our holy prophet mahomet, Take here these papers as our sacrifice And witness of thy servant's perjury. Open, thou shining veil of cynthia, And make a passage from the empyreal heaven, That he that sits on high and never sleeps, Nor in one place is circumscriptible, But everywhere fills every continent With strange infusion of his sacred vigor, May, in his endless power and purity, Behold and venge this traitor's perjury! Thou christ that art esteemed omnipotent, If thou wilt prove thyself a perfect god, Worthy the worship of all faithful hearts, Be now revenged upon this traitor's soul, And make the power i have left behind (too little to defend our guiltless lives) Sufficient to discomfort and confound The trustless force of those false christians. To arms, my lords! on christ still let us cry. If there be christ, we shall have victory. (exeunt. Sound to the battle, and sigismund Comes out wounded. Sig. discomfited is all the christian host, And god hath thundered vengeance from on high, For my accursed and hateful perjury. O just and dreadful punisher of sin, Let the dishonor of the pains i feel In this my mortal well deserved wound End all my penance in my sudden death! And let this death, wherein to sin i die, Conceive a second life in endless mercy! Enter orcanes, gazellus, uribassa, with others. Orc. now lie the christians bathing in their bloods, And christ or mahomet hath been my friend. Gaz. see here the perjured traitor hungary, Bloody and breathless for his villainy. To beasts and fowls, and all the winds shall breathe Through shady leaves of every senseless tree, Murmurs and hisses for his heinous sin. Now scalds his soul in the tartarian streams And feeds upon the baneful tree of hell, That zoacum, that fruit of bitterness, That in the midst of fire is ingraft, Yet flourisheth as flora in her pride, With apples like the heads of damned fiends. The devils there, in chains of quenchless flame, Shall lead his soul through orcus' burning gulf, From pain to pain, whose change shall never end. What say'st thou yet, gazellus, to his foil, Which we referred to justice of his christ And to his power, which here appears as full As rays of cynthia to the clearest sight? Gaz. 'tis but the fortune of the wars, my lord, Whose power is often proved a miracle. Orc. yet in my thoughts shall christ be honored, Not doing mahomet an injury, Whose power had share in this our victory; And since this miscreant hath disgraced his faith And died a traitor both to heaven and earth, We will both watch and ward shall keep his trunk Amidst these plains for fowls to prey upon. Go, uribassa, give it straight in charge. Uri. i will, my lord. (exit uribassa. Orc. and now, gazellus, let us haste and meet Our army, and our brother of jerusalem, Of soria, trebizon, and amasia, And happily, with full natolian bowls Of greekish wine, now let us celebrate Our happy conquest and his angry fate. (exeunt. MarTa2.2.3 Actus 2. scaena ultima. The arras is drawn, and zenocrate lies in her bed Of state; Tamburlaine sitting by her; three Physicians about her bed, tempering potions. Theridamas, techelles, usumcasane, And the three sons. Tamb. black is the beauty of the brightest day; The golden ball of heaven's eternal fire, That danced with glory on the silver waves, And all with faintness and for foul disgrace, He binds his temples with a frowning cloud, Ready to darken earth with endless night. Zenocrate, that gave him light and life, Whose eyes shot fire from their ivory bowers, And tempered every soul with lively heat, Now by the malice of the angry skies, Whose jealousy admits no second mate, Draws in the comfort of her latest breath, All dazzled with the hellish mists of death. Now walk the angels on the walls of heaven, As sentinels to warn th' immortal souls To entertain divine zenocrate. Apollo, cynthia, and the ceaseless lamps That gently looked upon this loathsome earth, Shine downwards now no more, but deck the heavens To entertain divine zenocrate. The crystal springs, whose taste illuminates Refined eyes with an eternal sight, Like tried silver run through paradise To entertain divine zenocrate. The cherubins and holy seraphins, That sing and play before the king of kings, Use all their voices and their instruments To entertain divine zenocrate. And in this sweet and curious harmony, The god that tunes this music to our souls Holds out his hand in highest majesty To entertain divine zenocrate. Then let some holy trance convey my thoughts Up to the palace of th' empyreal heaven, That this my life may be as short to me As are the days of sweet zenocrate. Physicians, will no physic do her good? First-p. my lord, your majesty shall soon perceive, And if she pass this fit, the worst is past. Tamb. tell me, how fares my fair zenocrate? Zeno. i fare, my lord, as other empresses, That, when this frail and transitory flesh Hath sucked the measure of that vital air That feeds the body with his dated health, Wane with enforced and necessary change. Tamb. may never such a change transform my love, In whose sweet being i repose my life, Whose heavenly presence, beautified with health, Whose absence makes the sun and moon as dark As when, opposed in one diameter, Their spheres are mounted on the serpent's head, Or else descended to his winding train. Live still, my love, and so conserve my life, Or, dying, be the author of my death. Zeno. live still, my lord! o, let my sovereign live! And sooner let the fiery element Dissolve and make your kingdom in the sky, Than this base earth should shroud your majesty; For, should i but suspect your death by mine, The comfort of my future happiness And hope to meet your highness in the heavens, Turned to despair, would break my wretched breast, And fury would confound my present rest. But let me die, my love; yes, let me die; With love and patience let your true love die. Your grief and fury hurts my second life. Yet let me kiss my lord before i die, And let me die with kissing of my lord. But since my life is lengthened yet a while, Let me take leave of these my loving sons, And of my lords, whose true nobility Have merited my latest memory. Sweet sons, farewell! in death resemble me, And in your lives your father's excellency. Some music, and my fit will cease, my lord. (they call music. Tamb. proud fury and intolerable fit, That dares torment the body of my love And scourge the scourge of the immortal god! Now are those spheres, where cupid used to sit, Wounding the world with wonder and with love, Sadly supplied with pale and ghastly death, Whose darts do pierce the center of my soul. Her sacred beauty hath enchanted heaven, And had she lived before the siege of troy, Helen, whose beauty summoned greece to arms And drew a thousand ships to tenedos, Had not been named in homer's iliads; Her name had been in every line he wrote. Or, had those wanton poets, for whose birth Old rome was proud, but gazed a while on her, Nor lesbia nor corinna had been named; Of every epigram or elegy. (the music sounds, and she dies. What, is she dead? techelles, draw thy sword And wound the earth, that it may cleave in twain And we descend into th' infernal vaults, To hale the fatal sisters by the hair And throw them in the triple moat of hell, For taking hence my fair zenocrate. Casane and theridamas, to arms! Raise cavalieros higher than the clouds, And with the cannon break the frame of heaven. Batter the shining palace of the sun, And shiver all the starry firmament, For amorous jove hath snatched my love from hence, Meaning to make her stately queen of heaven. What god soever holds thee in his arms, Giving thee nectar and ambrosia, Behold me here, divine zenocrate, Raving, impatient, desperate, and mad, Breaking my steeled lance, with which i burst The rusty beams of janus' temple doors, Letting out death and tyrannizing war, To march with me under this bloody flag! And, if thou pitiest Tamburlaine the great, Come down from heaven, and live with me again! Ther. ah, good my lord, be patient! she is dead, And all this raging cannot make her live. If words might serve, our voice hath rent the air; If tears, our eyes have watered all the earth; If grief, our murdered hearts have strained forth Blood. Nothing prevails, for she is dead, my lord. Tamb. for she is dead! thy words do pierce my soul! Ah, sweet theridamas, say no more. Though she be dead, yet let me think she lives And feed my mind that dies for want of her. Where'er her soul be, thou shalt stay with me, Embalmed with cassia, ambergris, and myrrh, Not lapped in lead, but in a sheet of gold, And till i die thou shalt not be interred. Then in as rich a tomb as mausolus' We both will rest and have one epitaph Writ in as many several languages This cursed town will i consume with fire, Because this place bereft me of my love; The houses, burnt, will look as if they mourned; And here will i set up her statue And march about it with my mourning camp, Drooping and pining for zenocrate. (the arras is drawn. MarTa2.3.1 Actus 3. scaena 1. Enter the kings of trebizon and soria, one bring- Ing a sword and another a scepter; next natolia and Jerusalem with the imperial crown. after, Callapine, and after him, other lords. orcanes And jerusalem crown him and the others give him The scepter. Orc. callapinus cyricelibes, otherwise cybelius, son and Successive heir to the late mighty emperor bajazeth, By the aid of god and his friend mahomet, emperor of Natolia, jerusalem, trebizon, soria, amasia, thracia, Illyria, carmonia, and all the hundred and thirty Kingdoms late contributory to his mighty father. Long live callapinus, emperor of turkey! Call. thrice worthy kings, of natolia and the rest, I will requite your royal gratitudes With all the benefits my empire yields; And were the sinews of th' imperial seat So knit and strengthened as when bajazeth, My royal lord and father, filled the throne, Whose cursed fate hath so dismembered it, Then should you see this thief of scythia, This proud usurping king of persia, Do us such honor and supremacy, Bearing the vengeance of our father's wrongs, As all the world should blot our dignities Out of the book of baseborn infamies. And now i doubt not but your royal cares Hath so provided for this cursed foe, That, since the heir of mighty bajazeth (an emperor so honored for his virtues) Revives the spirits of true turkish hearts, In grievous memory of his father's shame, We shall not need to nourish any doubt, But that proud fortune, who hath followed long Will now retain her old inconstancy And raise our honors to as high a pitch, In this our strong and fortunate encounter; For so hath heaven provided my escape From all the cruelty my soul sustained, By this my friendly keeper's happy means, That jove, surcharged with pity of our wrongs, Will pour it down in showers on our heads, Scourging the pride of cursed Tamburlaine. Orc. i have a hundred thousand men in arms, Some, that in conquest of the perjured christian, Being a handful to a mighty host, Think them in number yet sufficient To drink the river nile or euphrates, And for their power enow to win the world. K.-of-jer. and i as many from jerusalem, Judaea, gaza, and scalonians' bounds, That on mount sinai, with their ensigns spread, Look like the parti-colored clouds of heaven That show fair weather to the neighbor morn. K.-of-tb. and i as many bring from trebizon, Chio, famastro, and amasia, All bordering on the mare major sea, Riso, sancina, and the bordering towns That touch the end of famous euphrates, Whose courages are kindled with the flames The cursed scythian sets on all their towns, And vow to burn the villain's cruel heart. K.-of-sor. from soria with seventy thousand strong, Ta'en from aleppo, soldino, tripoli, And so unto my city of damascus, I march to meet and aid my neighbor kings, All which will join against this Tamburlaine And bring him captive to your highness' feet. Orc. our battle then, in martial manner pitched, According to our ancient use, shall bear The figure of the semicircled moon, Whose horns shall sprinkle through the tainted air The poisoned brains of this proud scythian. Call. well, then, my noble lords, for this my friend That freed me from the bondage of my foe, I think it requisite and honorable To keep my promise and to make him king, That is a gentleman, i know, at least. Tamburlaine came up of nothing. K.-of-jer. your majesty may choose some 'pointed time, Performing all your promise to the full. 'tis nought for your majesty to give a kingdom. Call. then will i shortly keep my promise, almeda. Alm. why, i thank your majesty. (exeunt. MarTa2.3.2 Actus 3. scaena 2. Tamburlaine with usumcasane, and his three sons, Four bearing the hearse of zenocrate, and the Drums sounding a doleful march, the town burning. Tamb. so burn the turrets of this cursed town, Flame to the highest region of the air, And kindle heaps of exhalations That, being fiery meteors, may presage Death and destruction to th' inhabitants! Over my zenith hang a blazing star, That may endure till heaven be dissolved, Fed with the fresh supply of earthly dregs, Threatening a death and famine to this land! Flying dragons, lightning, fearful thunderclaps, Singe these fair plains, and make them seem as black As is the island where the furies mask, Compassed with lethe, styx, and phlegethon, Because my dear zenocrate is dead. Caly. this pillar, placed in memory of her, Where in arabian, hebrew, greek, is writ, This town being burnt by Tamburlaine the great, Forbids the world to build it up again. Amy. and here this mournful streamer shall be placed, Wrought with the persian and egyptian arms, To signify she was a princess born And wife unto the monarch of the east. Cel. and here this table as a register Of all her virtues and perfections. Tamb. and here the picture of zenocrate, To show her beauty which the world admired; Sweet picture of divine zenocrate, That, hanging here, will draw the gods from heaven And cause the stars fixed in the southern arc, (whose lovely faces never any viewed That have not passed the center's latitude,) As pilgrims travel to our hemisphere, Only to gaze upon zenocrate. But keep within the circle of mine arms; At every town and castle i besiege, Thou shalt be set upon my royal tent; And when i meet an army in the field, Those looks will shed such influence in my camp, As if bellona, goddess of the war, Threw naked swords and sulphur balls of fire Upon the heads of all our enemies. And now, my lords, advance your spears again. Sorrow no more, my sweet casane, now. Boys, leave to mourn; this town shall ever mourn, Being burnt to cinders for your mother's death. Caly. if i had wept a sea of tears for her, It would not ease the sorrows i sustain. Amy. as is that town, so is my heart consumed With grief and sorrow for my mother's death. Cel. my mother's death hath mortified my mind, And sorrow stops the passage of my speech. Tamb. but now, my boys, leave off and list to me, That mean to teach you rudiments of war. I'll have you learn to sleep upon the ground, March in your armor through watery fens, Sustain the scorching heat and freezing cold, Hunger and thirst, right adjuncts of the war. And after this, to scale a castle wall, Besiege a fort, to undermine a town, And make whole cities caper in the air. Then next, the way to fortify your men, In champion grounds what figure serves you best, For which the quinque-angle form is meet, Because the corners there may fall more flat Whereas the fort may fittest be assailed, And sharpest where th' assault is desperate. The ditches must be deep, the counterscarps Narrow and steep, the walls made high and broad, The bulwarks and the rampires large and strong, With cavalieros and thick counterforts, And room within to lodge six thousand men. It must have privy ditches, countermines, And secret issuings to defend the ditch. It must have high argins and covered ways To keep the bulwark fronts from battery, And parapets to hide the musketeers, And store of ordnance, that from every flank May scour the outward curtains of the fort, Dismount the cannon of the adverse part, Murder the foe, and save the walls from breach. When this is learned for service on the land, By plain and easy demonstration I'll teach you how to make the water mount, That you may dryfoot march through lakes and pools, Deep rivers, havens, creeks, and little seas, And make a fortress in the raging waves, Fenced with the concave of a monstrous rock, Invincible by nature of the place. When this is done, then are ye soldiers, And worthy sons of Tamburlaine the great. Caly. my lord, but this is dangerous to be done; We may be slain or wounded ere we learn. Tamb. villain, art thou the son of Tamburlaine, And fear'st to die, or with a curtle-axe To hew thy flesh, and make a gaping wound? Hast thou beheld a peal of ordnance strike A ring of pikes, mingled with shot and horse, Whose shattered limbs, being tossed as high as heaven, Hang in the air as thick as sunny motes, And canst thou, coward, stand in fear of death? Hast thou not seen my horsemen charge the foe, Shot through the arms, cut overthwart the hands, Dyeing their lances with their streaming blood, And yet at night carouse within my tent, Filling their empty veins with airy wine, That, being concocted, turns to crimson blood, And wilt thou shun the field for fear of wounds? View me, thy father, that hath conquered kings, And with his host marched round about the earth, Quite void of scars and clear from any wound, That by the wars lost not a dram of blood, And see him lance his flesh to teach you all. (he cuts his arm. A wound is nothing, be it ne'er so deep; Blood is the god of war's rich livery. Now look i like a soldier, and this wound As great a grace and majesty to me, As if a chair of gold enameled, Enchased with diamonds, sapphires, rubies, Were mounted here under a canopy, And i sat down, clothed with the massy robe That late adorned the afric potentate, Whom i brought bound unto damascus' walls. Come, boys, and with your fingers search my wound, And in my blood wash all your hands at once, While i sit smiling to behold the sight. Now, my boys, what think you of a wound? Caly. i know not what i should think of it. Methinks 'tis a pitiful sight. Cel. 'tis nothing. give me a wound, father. Amy. and me another, my lord. Tamb. come, sirrah, give me your arm. Cel. here, father, cut it bravely, as you did your own. Tamb. it shall suffice thou dar'st abide a wound. My boy, thou shalt not lose a drop of blood Before we meet the army of the turk; But then run desperate through the thickest throngs, Dreadless of blows, of bloody wounds, and death; And let the burning of larissa walls, My speech of war, and this my wound you see, Teach you, my boys, to bear courageous minds, Fit for the followers of great Tamburlaine. Usumcasane, now come let us march Towards techelles and theridamas, That we have sent before to fire the towns, The towers and cities of these hateful turks, And hunt that coward faintheart runaway, With that accursed traitor, almeda, Till fire and sword have found them at a bay. Usum. i long to pierce his bowels with my sword, That hath betrayed my gracious sovereign, That cursed and damned traitor, almeda. Tamb. then let us see if coward callapine Dare levy arms against our puissance, That we may tread upon his captive neck, And treble all his father's slaveries. (exeunt. MarTa2.3.3 Actus 3. scaena 3. Techelles, theridamas, and their train. Ther. thus have we marched northward from Tamburlaine, Unto the frontier point of soria, And this is balsera, their chiefest hold, Wherein is all the treasure of the land. Minions, falc'nets, and sakers, to the trench, Filling the ditches with the walls' wide breach, And enter in to seize upon the gold. How say ye, soldiers, shall we not? Soldiers. yes, my lord, yes; come, let's about it. Ther. but stay a while; summon a parle, drum. It may be they will yield it quietly, Knowing two kings, the friends to Tamburlaine, Stand at the walls with such a mighty power. Summon the battle. captain with his wife and son. Capt. what require you, my masters? Ther. captain, that thou yield up thy hold to us. Capt. to you! why, do you think me weary of it? Tech. nay, captain, thou art weary of thy life If thou withstand the friends of Tamburlaine. Ther. these pioners of argier in africa Even in the cannon's face shall raise a hill Of earth and fagots higher than thy fort, And over thy argins and covered ways Shall play upon the bulwarks of thy hold Volleys of ordnance, till the breach be made That with his ruin fills up all the trench; And, when we enter in, not heaven itself Shall ransom thee, thy wife, and family. Tech. captain, these moors shall cut the leaden pipes That bring fresh water to thy men and thee, And lie in trench before thy castle walls, That no supply of victual shall come in, Nor (any) issue forth but they shall die; And, therefore, captain, yield it quietly. Capt. were you, that are the friends of Tamburlaine, Brothers to holy mahomet himself, I would not yield it; therefore do your worst. Raise mounts, batter, intrench, and undermine, Cut off the water, all convoys that can, Yet i am resolute: and so, farewell. Ther. pioners, away! and where i stuck the stake, Intrench with those dimensions i prescribed; Cast up the earth towards the castle wall, Which, till it may defend you, labor low, And few or none shall perish by their shot. Tech. a hundred horse shall scout about the plains To spy what force comes to relieve the hold. Both we, theridamas, will intrench our men, And with the jacob's staff measure the height And distance of the castle from the trench, That we may know if our artillery Will carry full point blank unto their walls. Ther. then see the bringing of our ordnance Along the trench into the battery, Where we will have gabions of six foot broad, To save our cannoneers from musket shot; Betwixt which shall our ordnance thunder forth, And with the breach's fall, smoke, fire, and dust, The crack, the echo, and the soldier's cry, Make deaf the air and dim the crystal sky. Tech. trumpets and drums, alarum presently! And, soldiers, play the men; the hold is yours! Enter the captain, with his wife and son. Olym. come, good my lord, and let us haste from hence Along the cave that leads beyond the foe. No hope is left to save this conquered hold. Capt. a deadly bullet gliding through my side Lies heavy on my heart; i cannot live. I feel my liver pierced, and all my veins, That there begin and nourish every part, Mangled and torn, and all my entrails bathed In blood that straineth from their orifex. Farewell, sweet wife! sweet son, farewell! i die. Olym. death, whither art thou gone, that both we live? Come back again, sweet death, and strike us both. One minute end our days, and one sepulcher Contain our bodies! death, why com'st thou not? Well, this must be the messenger for thee. Now, ugly death, stretch out thy sable wings And carry both our souls where his remains. Tell me, sweet boy, art thou content to die? These barbarous scythians, full of cruelty, And moors, in whom was never pity found, Will hew us piecemeal, put us to the wheel, Or else invent some torture worse than that; Therefore die by thy loving mother's hand, And quickly rid thee both of pain and life. Son. mother, dispatch me, or i'll kill myself; For think ye i can live and see him dead? Give me your knife, good mother, or strike home; The scythians shall not tyrannize on me. Sweet mother, strike, that i may meet my father. (she stabs him. Olym. ah, sacred mahomet, if this be sin, Entreat a pardon of the god of heaven, And purge my soul before it comes to thee. Enter theridamas, techelles, and all their train. Ther. how now, madam! what are you doing? Olym. killing myself, as i have done my son, Whose body, with his father's, i have burnt, Lest cruel scythians should dismember him. Tech. 'twas bravely done, and like a soldier's wife. Thou shalt with us to Tamburlaine the great, Who, when he hears how resolute thou wert, Will match thee with a viceroy or a king. Olym. my lord deceased was dearer unto me Than any viceroy, king, or emperor; And for his sake here will i end my days. Ther. but, lady, go with us to Tamburlaine, And thou shalt see a man greater than mahomet, In whose high looks is much more majesty Than from the concave superficies Of jove's vast palace, the empyreal orb, Unto the shining bower where cynthia sits, Like lovely thetis, in a crystal robe; That treadeth fortune underneath his feet And makes the mighty god of arms his slave; On whom death and the fatal sisters wait With naked swords and scarlet liveries; Before whom, mounted on a lion's back, Rhamnusia bears a helmet full of blood And strows the way with brains of slaughtered men; By whose proud side the ugly furies run, Hearkening when he shall bid them plague the world. Over whose zenith, clothed in windy air, And eagle's wings joined to her feathered breast, Fame hovereth, sounding of her golden trump, That to the adverse poles of that straight line The name of mighty Tamburlaine is spread; And him, fair lady, shall thy eyes behold. Come. Olym. take pity of a lady's ruthful tears, That humbly craves upon her knees to stay And cast her body in the burning flame That feeds upon her son's and husband's flesh. Tech. madam, sooner shall fire consume us both Than scorch a face so beautiful as this, In frame of which nature hath showed more skill Than when she gave eternal chaos form, Drawing from it the shining lamps of heaven. Ther. madam, i am so far in love with you, That you must go with us - no remedy. Olym. then carry me, i care not, where you will, And let the end of this my fatal journey Be likewise end to my accursed life. Tech. no, madam, but the beginning of your joy. Come willingly, therefore. Ther. soldiers, now let us meet the general, Who by this time is at natolia, Ready to charge the army of the turk. The gold, the silver, and the pearl ye got, Rifling this fort, divide in equal shares: This lady shall have twice so much again Out of the coffers of our treasury. (exeunt. MarTa2.3.5 Actus 3. scaena 5. Callapine, orcanes, jerusalem, trebizon, soria. Almeda with their train. Mess. renowned emperor, mighty callapine, God's great lieutenant over all the world, Here at aleppo, with an host of men, Lies Tamburlaine, this king of persia, (in number more than are the quivering leaves Of ida's forest, where your highness' hounds With open cry pursue the wounded stag,) Who means to girt natolia's walls with siege, Fire the town, and overrun the land. Call. my royal army is as great as his, That, from the bounds of phrygia to the sea Which washeth cyprus with his brinish waves, Covers the hills, the valleys, and the plains. Viceroys and peers of turkey, play the men. Whet all your swords to mangle Tamburlaine, By mahomet, not one of them shall live. The field wherein this battle shall be fought For ever term the persians' sepulcher, In memory of this our victory. Orc. now he that calls himself the scourge of jove, The emperor of the world, and earthly god, Shall end the warlike progress he intends And travel headlong to the lake of hell, Where legions of devils (knowing he must die Here in natolia by your highness' hands), All brandishing their brands of quenchless fire, Stretching their monstrous paws, grin with their Teeth, And guard the gates to entertain his soul. Call. tell me, viceroys, the number of your men, And what our army royal is esteemed. K.-of-jer. from palestina and jerusalem, Of hebrews three score thousand fighting men Are come, since last we showed your majesty. Orc. so from arabia desert, and the bounds Of that sweet land whose brave metropolis Re-edified the fair semiramis, Came forty thousand warlike foot and horse, Since last we numbered to your majesty. K.-of-tb. from trebizon in asia the less, Naturalized turks and stout bithynians Came to my bands, full fifty thousand more, That, fighting, know not what retreat doth mean, Nor e'er return but with the victory, Since last we numbered to your majesty. K.-of.sor. of sorians from halla is repaired, And neighbor cities of your highness' land, Ten thousand horse and thirty thousand foot, Since last we numbered to your majesty; So that the army royal is esteemed Six hundred thousand valiant fighting men. Call. then welcome, Tamburlaine, unto thy death. Come, puissant viceroys, let us to the field, (the persians' sepulcher), and sacrifice Mountains of breathless men to mahomet, Who now, with jove, opens the firmament To see the slaughter of our enemies. Tamburlaine with his three sons, usumcasane Tamb. how now, casane! see, a knot of kings, Sitting as if they were a-telling riddles. Usum. my lord, your presence makes them pale and wan. Poor souls, they look as if their deaths were near. Tamb. why, so he is, casane; i am here. But yet i'll save their lives and make them slaves. Ye petty kings of turkey, i am come, As hector did into the grecian camp, To overdare the pride of graecia And set his warlike person to the view Of fierce achilles, rival of his fame. I do you honor in the simile; For, if i should, as hector did achilles, (the worthiest knight that ever brandished sword,) Challenge in combat any of you all, I see how fearfully ye would refuse, And fly my glove as from a scorpion. Orc. now thou art fearful of thy army's strength, Thou wouldst with overmatch of person fight. But, shepherd's issue, baseborn Tamburlaine, Think of thy end; this sword shall lance thy throat. Tamb. villain, the shepherd's issue (at whose birth Heaven did afford a gracious aspect, And joined those stars that shall be opposite Even till the dissolution to the world, And never meant to make a conqueror So famous as is mighty Tamburlaine) Shall so torment thee and that callapine, That, like a roguish runaway, suborned That villain there, that slave, that turkish dog, To false his service to his sovereign, As ye shall curse the birth of Tamburlaine. Call. rail not, proud scythian. i shall now revenge My father's vile abuses and mine own. K.-of-jer. by mahomet, he shall be tied in chains, Rowing with christians in a brigandine About the grecian isles to rob and spoil, And turn him to his ancient trade again. Methinks the slave should make a lusty thief. Call. nay, when the battle ends, all we will meet And sit in council to invent some pain That most may vex his body and his soul. For running away again. you shall not trouble me thus To come and fetch you. But as for you, viceroy, you shall have bits, And, harnessed like my horses, draw my coach; And, when ye stay, be lashed with whips of wire. I'll have you learn to feed on provender And in a stable lie upon the planks. Orc. but, Tamburlaine, first thou shalt kneel to us And humbly crave a pardon for thy life. K.-of-tb. the common soldiers of our mighty host Shall bring thee bound unto the general's tent. K.-of-sor. and all have jointly sworn thy cruel death, Or bind thee in eternal torments' wrath. Tamb. well, sirs, diet yourselves; you know i shall have Occasion shortly to journey you. Cel. see, father, how almeda the jailor looks upon us. Tamb. villain, traitor, damned fugitive, I'll make thee wish the earth had swallowed thee. Seest thou not death within my wrathful looks? Go, villain, cast thee headlong from a rock, Or rip thy bowels and rend out thy heart T' appease my wrath; or else i'll torture thee, Searing thy hateful flesh with burning irons And drops of scalding lead, while all thy joints Be racked and beat asunder with the wheel; For, if thou liv'st, not any element Shall shroud thee from the wrath of Tamburlaine. Call. well, in despite of thee, he shall be king. Come, almeda, receive this crown of me. I here invest thee king of ariadan, Bordering on mare roso, near to mecca. Orc. what! take it, man. Alm. good my lord, let me take it. Call. dost thou ask him leave? here; take it. Tamb. go to, sirrah, take your crown, and make up the Half dozen. so, sirrah, now you are a king, you must Give arms. Orc. so he shall, and wear thy head in his scutcheon. Tamb. no; let him hang a bunch of keys on his standard, To put him in remembrance he was a jailor, that, Them, and lock you in the stable, when you shall Come sweating from my chariot. K.-of-tb. away; let us to the field, that the Villain may be slain. Tamb. sirrah, prepare whips, and bring my chariot to My tent; for, as soon as the battle is done, i'll ride In triumph through the camp. Enter theridamas, techelles, and their train. How now, ye petty kings? lo, here are bugs Will make the hair stand upright on your heads, And cast your crowns in slavery at their feet. Welcome, theridamas and techelles, both. See ye this rout, and know ye this same king? Ther. ay, my lord; he was callapine's keeper. Tamb. well now you see he is a king. look to him, Theridamas, when we are fighting, lest he hide his Crown as the foolish king of persia did. K.-of-sor. no, Tamburlaine; he shall not be put to that Exigent, i warrant thee. Tamb. you know not, sir. But now, my followers and my loving friends, Fight as you ever did, like conquerors; The glory of this happy day is yours. My stern aspect shall make fair victory, Hovering betwixt our armies, light on me, Loaden with laurel wreaths to crown us all. Tech. i smile to think how when this field is fought And rich natolia ours, our men shall sweat With carrying pearl and treasure on their backs. Tamb. you shall be princes all, immediately. Come, fight, ye turks, or yield us victory. Orc. no; we will meet thee, slavish Tamburlaine. (exeunt. MarTa2.4.1 Actus 4. scaena 1. Alarm. amyras and celebinus issue from the tent Where calyphas sits asleep. Amy. now in their glories shine the golden crowns Of these proud turks, much like so many suns That half dismay the majesty of heaven. Now, brother, follow we our father's sword, That flies with fury swifter than our thoughts Cel. call forth our lazy brother from the tent, For if my father miss him in the field, Wrath, kindled in the furnace of his breast, Will send a deadly lightning to his heart. Amy. brother, ho! what, given so much to sleep, You cannot leave it when our enemies' drums And rattling cannons thunder in our ears Our proper ruin and our father's foil? Caly. away, ye fools! my father needs not me, Nor you, in faith, but that you will be thought More childish valorous than manly wise. If half our camp should sit and sleep with me, My father were enough to scar the foe. You do dishonor to his majesty, To think our helps will do him any good. Amy. what, dar'st thou, then, be absent from the fight, Knowing my father hates thy cowardice, And oft hath warned thee to be still in field, When he himself amidst the thickest troops Beats down our foes to flesh our taintless swords? Caly. i know, sir, what it is to kill a man; It works remorse of conscience in me. I take no pleasure to be murderous, Nor care for blood when wine will quench my thirst. Cel. o cowardly boy! fie, for shame, come forth! Thou dost dishonor manhood and thy house. Caly. go, go, tall stripling, fight you for us both, And take my other toward brother here, For person like to prove a second mars, 'twill please my mind as well to hear both you Have won a heap of honor in the field And left your slender carcasses behind, As if i lay with you for company. Amy. you will not go, then? Caly. you say true. Amy. were all the lofty mounts of zona mundi That fill the midst of farthest tartary Turned into pearl and proffered for my stay, I would not bide the fury of my father, When, made a victor in these haughty arms, He comes and finds his sons have had no shares In all the honors he proposed for us. Caly. take you the honor, i will take my ease; I go into the field before i need? (alarm, and amyras and celebinus run in. The bullets fly at random where they list; And should i go and kill a thousand men, I were as soon rewarded with a shot, And sooner far than he that never fights; And should i go and do nor harm nor good, I might have harm, which all the good i have, Joined with my father's crown, would never cure. I'll to cards. perdicas! Perd. here, my lord. Caly. come, thou and i will go to cards to drive Away the time. Perd. content, my lord: but what shall we play for? Caly. who shall kiss the fairest of the turks' Concubines first, when my father hath conquered them? Perd. agreed, i' faith. (they play. Caly. they say i am a coward, perdicas, and i fear as Little their taratantaras, their swords, or their Cannons as i do a naked lady in a net of gold, and, For fear i should be afraid, would put it off and Come to bed with me. Perd. such a fear, my lord, would never make ye retire. Caly. i would my father would let me be put in the front Of such a battle once, to try my valor. (alarm. What a coil they keep! i believe there will be some Hurt done anon amongst them. Enter Tamburlaine, theridamas, techelles, usum- Casane, amyras, celebinus, leading the turkish Kings. Tamb. see now, ye slaves, my children stoop your pride And lead your glories sheeplike to the sword. Bring them, my boys, and tell me if the wars Be not a life that may illustrate gods, And tickle not your spirits with desire Still to be trained in arms and chivalry? Amy. shall we let go these kings again, my lord, To gather greater numbers 'gainst our power, That they may say it is not chance doth this, But matchless strength and magnanimity? Tamb. no, no, amyras; tempt not fortune so. Cherish thy valor still with fresh supplies, But where's this coward villain, not my son, But traitor to my name and majesty? (he goes in and brings him out. Image of sloth, and picture of a slave, The obloquy and scorn of my renown! How may my heart, thus fired with mine eyes, Wounded with shame and killed with discontent, Shroud any thought may hold my striving hands From martial justice on thy wretched soul? Ther. yet pardon him, i pray your majesty. Tc.-and-us. let all of us entreat your highness' pardon. Tamb. stand up, ye base, unworthy soldiers! Know ye not yet the argument of arms? Amy. good, my lord, let him be forgiven for once, And we will force him to the field hereafter. Tamb. stand up, my boys, and i will teach ye arms, And what the jealousy of wars must do. O samarcanda, where i breathed first, And joyed the fire of this martial flesh, Blush, blush, fair city, at thine honor's foil, And shame of nature, which jaertis' stream, Embracing thee with deepest of his love, Can never wash from thy distained brows! Here, jove, receive his fainting soul again, A form not meet to give that subject essence Whose matter is the flesh of Tamburlaine, Wherein an incorporeal spirit moves, Made of the mold whereof thyself consists, Which makes me valiant, proud, ambitious, Ready to levy power against thy throne, That i might move the turning spheres of heaven; For earth and all this airy region Cannot contain the state of Tamburlaine. By mahomet, thy mighty friend, i swear, In sending to my issue such a soul, Created of the massy dregs of earth, The scum and tartar of the elements, Wherein was neither courage, strength, or wit, But folly, sloth, and damned idleness, Thou hast procured a greater enemy Than he that darted mountains at thy head, Shaking the burden mighty atlas bears, Whereat thou trembling hidd'st thee in the air, And now, ye cankered curs of asia, That will not see the strength of Tamburlaine, Although it shine as brightly as the sun, Now you shall feel the strength of Tamburlaine, And, by the state of his supremacy, Approve the difference 'twixt himself and you. Orc. thou show'st the difference 'twixt ourselves And thee, In this thy barbarous damned tyranny. K.-of-jer. thy victories are grown so violent, That shortly heaven, filled with the meteors Of blood and fire thy tyrannies have made, Will pour down blood and fire on thy head, Whose scalding drops will pierce thy seething brains, And, with our bloods, revenge our bloods on thee. Tamb. villains, these terrors, and these tyrannies (if tyrannies war's justice ye repute), I execute, enjoined me from above, To scourge the pride of such as heaven abhors; Nor am i made archmonarch of the world, Crowned and invested by the hand of jove, For deeds of bounty or nobility; But since i exercise a greater name, The scourge of god and terror of the world, I must apply myself to fit those terms, In war, in blood, in death, in cruelty, And plague such peasants as resist in me The power of heaven's eternal majesty. Theridamas, techelles, and casane, Ransack the tents and the pavilions Of these proud turks, and take their concubines, Making them bury this effeminate brat; For not a common soldier shall defile His manly fingers with so faint a boy. Then bring those turkish harlots to my tent, And i'll dispose them as it likes me best. Meanwhile, take him in. Soldiers. we will, my lord. K.-of-jer. o damned monster! nay, a fiend of hell, Whose cruelties are not so harsh as thine, Nor yet imposed with such a bitter hate! Orc. revenge it, rhadamanth and aeacus, And let your hates, extended in his pains, Expel the hate wherewith he pains our souls! Whose sight, composed of fury and of fire, Doth send such stern affections to his heart! K.-of-sor. may never spirit, vein, or artery, feed The cursed substance of that cruel heart; But, wanting moisture and remorseful blood, Dry up with anger, and consume with heat! Tamb. well, bark, ye dogs. i'll bridle all your tongues And bind them close with bits of burnished steel, Down to the channels of your hateful throats; And, with the pains my rigor shall inflict, I'll make ye roar, that earth may echo forth The far resounding torments ye sustain; As when an herd of lusty cimbrian bulls Run mourning round about the females' miss, And, stung with fury of their following, Fill all the air with troublous bellowing. I will, with engines never exercised, Conquer, sack, and utterly consume Your cities and your golden palaces, And with the flames that beat against the clouds, Incense the heavens and make the stars to melt, As if they were the tears of mahomet For hot consumption of his country's pride. And, till by vision or by speech i hear Immortal jove say 'cease, my Tamburlaine,' I will persist a terror to the world, Making the meteors (that like armed men Are seen to march upon the towers of heaven) Run tilting round about the firmament And break their burning lances in the air, For honor of my wondrous victories. Come, bring them in to our pavilion. (exeunt. MarTa2.4.2 Actus 4. scaena 2. Olympia alone. Olym. distressed olympia, whose weeping eyes, Since thy arrival here beheld no sun, But, closed within the compass of a tent, Have stained thy cheeks, and made thee look like Death, Devise some means to rid thee of thy life, Rather than yield to his detested suit, Whose drift is only to dishonor thee; And since this earth, dewed with thy brinish tears, Nor yet this air, beat often with thy sighs, Contagious smells and vapors to infect thee, Nor thy close cave a sword to murder thee, Let this invention be the instrument. Enter theridamas. Ther. well met, olympia. i sought thee in my tent, But when i saw the place obscure and dark, Which with thy beauty thou wast wont to light, Enraged, i ran about the fields for thee, Supposing amorous jove had sent his son, The winged hermes, to convey thee hence. But now i find thee, and that fear is past. Tell me, olympia, wilt thou grant my suit? Olym. my lord and husband's death, with my sweet son's, (with whom i buried all affections Save grief and sorrow, which torment my heart), Forbids my mind to entertain a thought That tends to love, and meditate on death, A fitter subject for a pensive soul. Ther. olympia, pity him in whom thy looks Have greater operation and more force Than cynthia's in the watery wilderness, For with thy view my joys are at the full, And ebb again as thou depart'st from me. Olym. ah, pity me, my lord, and draw your sword, Making a passage for my troubled soul, Which beats against this prison to get out And meet my husband and my loving son. Ther. nothing but still thy husband and thy son? Leave this, my love, and listen more to me: Thou shalt be stately queen of fair argier, And, clothed in costly cloth of massy gold, Upon the marble turrets of my court Sit like to venus in her chair of state, Commanding all thy princely eye desires; And i will cast off arms to sit with thee, Spending my life in sweet discourse of love. Olym. no such discourse is pleasant in mine ears, But that where every period ends with death, And every line begins with death again. I cannot love to be an empress. Ther. nay lady, then, if nothing will prevail, I'll use some other means to make you yield. I must and will be pleased, and you shall yield. Come to the tent again. Olym. stay, good my lord, and, will you save my honor, I'll give your grace a present of such price As all the world cannot afford the like. Ther. what is it? Olym. an ointment which a cunning alchemist Distilled from the purest balsamum And simplest extracts of all minerals, In which the essential form of marble stone, Tempered by science metaphysical, And spells of magic from the mouths of spirits, With which if you but 'noint your tender skin, Nor pistol, sword, nor lance, can pierce your flesh. Ther. why, madam, think ye to mock me thus palpably? Olym. to prove it, i will 'noint my naked throat, Which when you stab, look on your weapon's point, And you shall see't rebated with the blow. Ther. why gave you not your husband some of it, If you loved him, and it so precious? Olym. my purpose was, my lord, to spend it so, But was prevented by his sudden end; And for a present easy proof hereof, That i dissemble not, try it on me. Ther. i will, olympia, and will keep it for The richest present of this eastern world. (she anoints her throat. Olym. now stab, my lord, and mark your weapon's point, That will be blunted if the blow be great. Ther. here, then, olympia. What, have i slain her? villain, stab thyself! Cut off this arm that murdered my love, In whom the learned rabbis of this age Might find as many wondrous miracles As in the theoria of the world. Now hell is fairer than elysium; A greater lamp than that bright eye of heaven, From whence the stars do borrow all their light, Wanders about the black circumference; And now the damned souls are free from pain, For every fury gazeth on her looks. Infernal dis is courting of my love, Inventing masks and stately shows for her, Opening the doors of his rich treasury Whose body shall be tombed with all the pomp The treasure of my kingdom may afford. (exit taking her away. MarTa2.4.3 Actus 4. scaena 3. Tamburlaine, drawn in his chariot by Trebizon and soria with bits in their mouths, Reins in his left hand, and in his right hand a Whip with which he scourgeth them. techelles, Theridamas, usumcasane, amyras, celebinus; natolia And jerusalem, led by with five or six common Soldiers. Tamb. holla, ye pampered jades of asia! What, can ye draw but twenty miles a day, And have so proud a chariot at your heels, And such a coachman as great Tamburlaine, But from asphaltis, where i conquered you, To byron here, where thus i honor you? The horse that guide the golden eye of heaven And blow the morning from their nostrils, Making their fiery gait above the clouds, Are not so honored in their governor As you, ye slaves, in mighty Tamburlaine. The headstrong jades of thrace alcides tamed, That king aegeus fed with human flesh And made so wanton that they knew their strengths, Were not subdued with valor more divine Than you by this unconquered arm of mine. To make you fierce and fit my appetite, You shall be fed with flesh as raw as blood And drink in pails the strongest muscadel. If you can live with it, then live, and draw My chariot swifter than the racking clouds; If not, then die like beasts, and fit for nought But perches for the black and fatal ravens. Thus am i right the scourge of highest jove, And see the figure of my dignity, By which i hold my name and majesty! Amy. let me have coach, my lord, that i may ride, And thus be drawn by these two idle kings. Tamb. thy youth forbids such ease, my kingly boy. They shall tomorrow draw my chariot, While these their fellow kings may be refreshed. And art a king as absolute as jove, Come as thou didst in fruitful sicily, Surveying all the glories of the land, And as thou took'st the fair proserpina, Joying the fruit of ceres' gardenplot, For love, for honor, and to make her queen, So, for just hate, for shame, and to subdue This proud contemner of thy dreadful power, Come once in fury and survey his pride, Haling him headlong to the lowest hell. Ther. your majesty must get some bits for these, To bridle their contemptuous cursing tongues, That, like unruly never broken jades, Break through the hedges of their hateful mouths And pass their fixed bounds exceedingly. Tech. nay, we will break the hedges of their mouths, And pull their kicking colts out of their pastures. Usum. your majesty already hath devised A mean, as fit as may be, to restrain These coltish coach horse tongues from blasphemy. Cel. how like you that, sir king? why speak you not? K.-of-jer. ah, cruel brat, sprung from a tyrant's loins! How like his cursed father he begins To practice taunts and bitter tyrannies! Tamb. ay, turk, i tell thee, this same boy is he That must (advanced in higher pomp than this) Rifle the kingdoms i shall leave unsacked, If jove, esteeming me too good for earth, Raise me to match the fair aldeboran, Above the threefold astracism of heaven, Before i conquer all the triple world. Now fetch me out the turkish concubines. I will prefer them for the funeral They have bestowed on my abortive son. (the concubines are brought in. Where are my common soldiers now, that fought So lionlike upon asphaltis' plains? Soldiers. here, my lord. Tamb. hold ye, tall soldiers, take ye queens apiece - I mean such queens as were kings' concubines. Take them; divide them, and their jewels too, And let them equally serve all your turns. Soldiers. we thank your majesty. For every man that so offends shall die. Orc. injurious tyrant, wilt thou so defame The hateful fortunes of thy victory, To exercise upon such guiltless dames The violence of thy common soldiers' lust? Tamb. live continent, then, ye slaves, and meet not me With troops of harlots at your slothful heels. Concubines. o pity us, my lord, and save our honors. Tamb. are ye not gone, ye villains, with your spoils? (they run away with the ladies. K.-of-jer. o, merciless, infernal cruelty! Tamb. save your honors! 'twere but time indeed, Lost long before you knew what honor meant. Ther. it seems they meant to conquer us, my lord, And make us jesting pageants for their trulls. Tamb. and now themselves shall make our pageant, And common soldiers jest with all their trulls. Let them take pleasure soundly in their spoils, Till we prepare our march to babylon, Whither we next make expedition. Tech. let us not be idle, then, my lord, But presently be prest to conquer it. Tamb. we will, techelles. forward, then, ye jades. Now crouch, ye kings of greatest asia, And tremble when ye hear this scourge will come That whips down cities and controlleth crowns, Adding their wealth and treasure to my store. The euxine sea, north to natolia, The terrene, west; the caspian, north northeast, And on the south, sinus arabicus, Shall all be loaden with the martial spoils We will convey with us to persia. Then shall my native city samarcanda, And crystal waves of fresh jaertis' stream, The pride and beauty of her princely seat, Be famous through the furthest continents; For there my palace royal shall be placed, Whose shining turrets shall dismay the heavens And cast the fame of ilion's tower to hell. Through the streets, with troops of conquered kings, I'll ride in golden armor like the sun, And in my helm a triple plume shall spring, To note me emperor of the threefold world; Like to an almond tree y-mounted high Upon the lofty and celestial mount Of evergreen selinus, quaintly decked With blooms more white than erycina's brows, Whose tender blossoms tremble every one At every little breath that through heaven is blown. Then in my coach, like saturn's royal son Mounted his shining chariot gilt with fire, And drawn with princely eagles through the path Paved with bright crystal and enchased with stars, When all the gods stand gazing at his pomp, So will i ride through samarcanda streets, Until my soul, dissevered from this flesh, Shall mount the milk-white way, and meet him there. To babylon, my lords, to babylon! (exeunt. Finis actus quarti. MarTa2.5.1 Actus 5. scaena 1. Enter the governor of babylon upon the walls With others. Gov. what saith maximus? Max. my lord, the breach the enemy hath made Gives such assurance of our overthrow, That little hope is left to save our lives Or hold our city from the conqueror's hands. Then hang out flags, my lord, of humble truce, And satisfy the people's general prayers, That Tamburlaine's intolerable wrath May be suppressed by our submission. Gov. villain, respect'st thou more thy slavish life Than honor of thy country or thy name? Is not my life and state as dear to me, The city and my native country's weal, As any thing of price with thy conceit? Have we not hope, for all our battered walls, To live secure and keep his forces out, When this our famous lake of limnasphaltis Makes walls afresh with everything that falls Into the liquid substance of his stream, More strong than are the gates of death or hell? What faintness should dismay our courages, When we are thus defensed against our foe, And have no terror but his threatening looks? Cit. my lord, if ever you did deed of ruth, And now will work a refuge to our lives, Offer submission, hang up flags of truce, That Tamburlaine may pity our distress And use us like a loving conqueror. Though this be held his last day's dreadful siege, Wherein he spareth neither man nor child, Yet are there christians of georgia here, Whose state he ever pitied and relieved, Will get his pardon, if your grace would send. Gov. how is my soul environed! And this eternized city babylon Filled with a pack of faintheart fugitives That thus entreat their shame and servitude! Another. my lord, if ever you will win our hearts, Yield up the town, and save our wives and children; For i will cast myself from off these walls Or die some death of quickest violence, Before i bide the wrath of Tamburlaine. Gov. villains, cowards, traitors to our state, Fall to the earth, and pierce the pit of hell, That legions of tormenting spirits may vex Your slavish bosoms with continual pains! I care not, nor the town will never yield As long as any life is in my breast. Enter theridamas and techelles, with other Soldiers. Ther. thou desperate governor of babylon, To save thy life, and us a little labor, Yield speedily the city to our hands, Or else be sure thou shalt be forced with pains More exquisite than ever traitor felt. Gov. tyrant, i turn the traitor in thy throat, And will defend it in despite of thee. Call up the soldiers to defend these walls. Tech. yield, foolish governor; we offer more Than ever yet we did to such proud slaves As durst resist us till our third day's siege. Thou seest us prest to give the last assault, And that shall bide no more regard of parley. Gov. assault and spare not; we will never yield. Alarm, and they scale the walls. Enter Tamburlaine with usumcasane, amyras and Tamb. the stately buildings of fair babylon, Whose lofty pillars, higher than the clouds, Were wont to guide the seaman in the deep, Being carried thither by the cannon's force, Now fill the mouth of limnasphaltis' lake And make a bridge unto the battered walls. Where belus, ninus, and great alexander Have rode in triumph, triumphs Tamburlaine, Whose chariot wheels have burst th' assyrians' bones, Drawn with these kings on heaps of carcasses. Now in the place where fair semiramis, Courted by kings and peers of asia, Hath trod the measures, do my soldiers march, And in the streets, where brave assyrian dames Have rid in pomp like rich saturnia, With furious words and frowning visages My horsemen brandish their unruly blades. (enter theridamas and techelles, bringing the Governor of babylon. Who have ye there, my lords? Ther. the sturdy governor of babylon, That made us all the labor for the town And used such slender reck'ning of your majesty. Tamb. go, bind the villain; he shall hang in chains Upon the ruins of this conquered town. Sirrah, the view of our vermilion tents (which threatened more than if the region Next underneath the element of fire Were full of comets and of blazing stars, Whose flaming trains should reach down to the earth) Could not affright you; no, nor i myself, The wrathful messenger of mighty jove, That with his sword hath quailed all earthly kings, Could not persuade you to submission, But still the ports were shut. villain, i say, Should i but touch the rusty gates of hell, The triple headed cerberus would howl And make black jove to crouch and kneel to me; But i have sent volleys of shot to you, Yet could not enter till the breach was made. Gov. nor if my body could have stopped the breach, Shouldst thou have entered, cruel Tamburlaine. 'tis not thy bloody tents can make me yield, For though thy cannon shook the city walls, My heart did never quake or courage faint. Tamb. well, now i'll make it quake. go, draw him up; Hang him in chains upon the city walls, And let my soldiers shoot the slave to death. Gov. vile monster, born of some infernal hag, And sent from hell to tyrannize on earth, Do all thy worst; nor death, nor Tamburlaine, Torture, or pain, can daunt my dreadless mind. Tamb. up with him, then; his body shall be scarred. Gov. but, Tamburlaine, in limnasphaltis' lake There lies more gold than babylon is worth, Which, when the city was besieged, i hid. Save but my life, and i will give it thee. Tamb. then, for all your valor, you would save your Life? Whereabout lies it? Gov. under a hollow bank, right opposite Against the western gate of babylon. Tamb. go thither, some of you, and take his gold. The rest forward with execution. Away with him hence; let him speak no more. I think i make your courage something quail. When this is done, we'll march from babylon And make our greatest haste to persia. These jades are broken winded and half tired; Unharness them, and let me have fresh horse. So; now their best is done to honor me, Take them and hang them both up presently. K.-of-tb. vile tyrant! barbarous bloody Tamburlaine! Tamb. take them away, theridamas; see them dispatched. Ther. i will, my lord. Tamb. come, asian viceroys, to your tasks a while, And take such fortune as your fellows felt. Orc. first let thy scythian horse tear both our limbs, Rather than we should draw thy chariot, And, like base slaves, abject our princely minds To vile and ignominious servitude. K.-of-jer. rather lend me thy weapon, Tamburlaine, That i may sheathe it in this breast of mine. A thousand deaths could not torment our hearts Amy. they will talk still, my lord, if you do not Bridle them. Tamb. bridle them, and let me to my coach. They bridle them. Amy. see, now, my lord, how brave the captain hangs. Tamb. 'tis brave indeed my boy. well done! Shoot first, my lord, and then the rest shall follow. Ther. then have at him, to begin withal. (theridamas shoots. Gov. yet save my life, and let this wound appease The mortal fury of great Tamburlaine. Tamb. no, though asphaltis' lake were liquid gold, And offered me as ransom for thy life, Yet shouldst thou die. shoot at him all at once. (they shoot. So, now he hangs like bagdad's governor, Having as many bullets in his flesh As there be breaches in her battered wall. Go now, and bind the burghers hand and foot, And cast them headlong in the city's lake. Tartars and persians shall inhabit there; And, to command the city, i will build A citadel, that all africa, Which hath been subject to the persian king, Shall pay me tribute for in babylon. Tech. what shall be done with their wives and children, My lord? Tamb. techelles, drown them all, man, woman, and child; Leave not a babylonian in the town. Tech. i will about it straight. come, soldiers. (exit. Tamb. now, casane, where's the turkish alcoran And all the heaps of superstitious books Found in the temples of that mahomet Whom i have thought a god? they shall be burnt. Usum. here they are, my lord. Tamb. well said; let there be a fire presently. In vain, i see, men worship mahomet. My sword hath sent millions of turks to hell, Slew all his priests, his kinsmen, and his friends, And yet i live untouched by mahomet. There is a god, full of revenging wrath, From whom the thunder and the lightning breaks, Whose scourge i am, and him will i obey. So, casane; fling them in the fire. Come down thyself and work a miracle. Thou art not worthy to be worshipped That suffers flames of fire to burn the writ Wherein the sum of thy religion rests. Why send'st thou not a furious whirlwind down To blow thy alcoran up to thy throne, Where men report thou sitt'st by god himself? Or vengeance on the head of Tamburlaine That shakes his sword against thy majesty And spurns the abstracts of thy foolish laws? Well, soldiers, mahomet remains in hell; He cannot hear the voice of Tamburlaine. Seek out another godhead to adore - The god that sits in heaven, if any god, For he is god alone, and none but he. Tech. i have fulfilled your highness' will, my lord. Thousands of men, drowned in asphaltis' lake, Have made the water swell above the banks, And fishes, fed by human carcasses, Amazed, swim up and down upon the waves, As when they swallow asafoetida, Which makes them fleet aloft and gasp for air. Tamb. well, then, my friendly lords, what now remains, But that we leave sufficient garrison And presently depart to persia, To triumph after all our victories? Ther. ay, good my lord, let us in haste to persia; And let this captain be removed the walls To some high hill about the city here. Tamb. let it be so; about it, soldiers. But stay; i feel myself distempered suddenly. Tech. what is it dares distemper Tamburlaine? Tamb. something, techelles; but i know not what. But, forth, ye vassals! whatsoe'er it be, Sickness or death can never conquer me. (exeunt. MarTa2.5.2 Actus 5. scaena 2. Enter callapine, amasia, with drums and trumpets. Call. king of amasia, now our mighty host Marcheth in asia major, where the streams Of euphrates and tigris swiftly run; And here may we behold great babylon, Circled about with limnasphaltis' lake, Where Tamburlaine with all his army lies, Which being faint and weary with the siege, Before his host be full from babylon, And so revenge our latest grievous loss, If god or mahomet send any aid. K.-or-ama. doubt not, my lord, but we shall conquer him. The monster that hath drunk a sea of blood And yet gapes still for more to quench his thirst, Our turkish swords shall headlong send to hell; And that vile carcass, drawn by warlike kings, The fowls shall eat; for never sepulcher Shall grace this baseborn tyrant Tamburlaine. Call. when i record my parents' slavish life, Their cruel death, mine own captivity, My viceroys' bondage under Tamburlaine, Methinks i could sustain a thousand deaths To be revenged of all his villainy. Ah, sacred mahomet, thou that hast seen Millions of turks perish by Tamburlaine, Kingdoms made waste, brave cities sacked and burnt, And but one host is left to honor thee, Aid thy obedient servant callapine, And make him, after all these overthrows, To triumph over cursed Tamburlaine. K.-of-ama. fear not, my lord. i see great mahomet, Clothed in purple clouds, and on his head A chaplet brighter than apollo's crown, Marching about the air with armed men, To join with you against this Tamburlaine. Renowned general, mighty callapine, Though god himself and holy mahomet Should come in person to resist your power, Yet might your mighty host encounter all, And pull proud Tamburlaine upon his knees To sue for mercy at your highness' feet. Call. captain, the force of Tamburlaine is great, His fortune greater, and the victories Wherewith he hath so sore dismayed the world Are greatest to discourage all our drifts; Yet when the pride of cynthia is at full, She wanes again, and so shall his, i hope; For we have here the chief selected men Of twenty several kingdoms at the least. Nor plowman, priest, nor merchant, stays at home; All turkey is in arms with callapine; And never will we sunder camps and arms This is the time that must eternize me For conquering the tyrant of the world. Come, soldiers, let us lie in wait for him, And if we find him absent from his camp, Or that it be rejoined again at full, Assail it and be sure of victory. (exeunt. MarTa2.5.3 Actus 5. scaena 3. Theridamas, techelles, and usumcasane. Ther. weep, heavens, and vanish into liquid tears! Fall, stars that govern his nativity, And summon all the shining lamps of heaven To cast their bootless fires to the earth And shed their feeble influence in the air. Muffle your beauties with eternal clouds, For hell and darkness pitch their pitchy tents, And death, with armies of cimmerian spirits, Gives battle 'gainst the heart of Tamburlaine. Now in defiance of that wonted love Your sacred virtues poured upon his throne, And made his state an honor to the heavens, These cowards invisibly assail his soul And threaten conquest on our sovereign. But if he die, your glories are disgraced, Earth droops and says that hell in heaven is placed. Tech. o, then, ye powers that sway eternal seats And guide this massy substance of the earth, If you retain desert of holiness, As your supreme estates instruct our thoughts, Be not inconstant, careless of your fame, Bear not the burden of your enemies' joys, Triumphing in his fall whom you advanced, But as his birth, life, health, and majesty Were strangely blest and governed by heaven, So honor, heaven (till heaven dissolved be,) His birth, his life, his health, and majesty! Usum. blush, heaven, to lose the honor of thy name, To see thy footstool set upon thy head; And let no baseness in thy haughty breast Sustain a shame of such inexcellence, To see the devils mount in angels' thrones, And angels dive into the pools of hell. And though they think their painful date is out Which makes them manage arms against thy state, Yet make them feel the strength of Tamburlaine, (thy instrument and note of majesty) Is greater far than they can thus subdue; For, if he die, thy glory is disgraced, Earth droops and says that hell in heaven is placed. Tamb. what daring god torments my body thus And seeks to conquer mighty Tamburlaine? Shall sickness prove me now to be a man, That have been termed the terror of the world? Techelles and the rest, come, take your swords, And threaten him whose hand afflicts my soul. Come, let us march against the powers of heaven And set black streamers in the firmament To signify the slaughter of the gods. Ah, friends, what shall i do? i cannot stand, Come, carry me to war against the gods, That thus envy the health of Tamburlaine. Ther. ah, good my lord, leave these impatient words Which add much danger to your malady. Tamb. why, shall i sit and languish in this pain? No, strike the drums, and, in revenge of this, Come, let us charge our spears, and pierce his breast Whose shoulders bear the axis of the world, That if i perish, heaven and earth may fade. Theridamas, haste to the court of jove; Will him to send apollo hither straight To cure me, or i'll fetch him down myself. Tech. sit still, my gracious lord; this grief will cease And cannot last, it is so violent. Tamb. not last, techelles? no, for i shall die. See where my slave, the ugly monster death, Shaking and quivering, pale and wan for fear, Stands aiming at me with his murdering dart, Who flies away at every glance i give, And when i look away, comes stealing on. Villain, away, and hie thee to the field! I and mine army come to load thy bark With souls of thousand mangled carcasses. Look, where he goes! but see, he comes again Because i stay. techelles, let us march First-phy. pleaseth your majesty to drink this potion, Which will abate the fury of your fit And cause some milder spirits govern you. Tamb. tell me, what think you of my sickness now? First-phy. i viewed your urine, and the hypostasis, Thick and obscure, doth make your danger great. Your veins are full of accidental heat, Whereby the moisture of your blood is dried. The humidum and calor, which some hold Is not a parcel of the elements, But of a substance more divine and pure, Is almost clean extinguished and spent, Which, being the cause of life, imports your death. Besides, my lord, this day is critical, Dangerous to those whose crisis is as yours. Your arteries, which alongst the veins convey The lively spirits which the heart engenders, Are parched and void of spirit, that the soul, Wanting those organons by which it moves, Cannot endure, by argument of art. Yet, if your majesty may escape this day, No doubt but you shall soon recover all. Tamb. then will i comfort all my vital parts, And live, in spite of death, above a day. Alarm within. Mes. my lord, young callapine, that lately fled from Your majesty, hath now gathered a fresh army, and Hearing your absence in the field, offers to set upon Us presently. Tamb. see, my physicians, now, how jove hath sent A present medicine to recure my pain. My looks shall make them fly; and might i follow, There should not one of all the villains's power Live to give offer of another fight. Usum. i joy, my lord, your highness is so strong, That can endure so well your royal presence, Which only will dismay the enemy. Tamb. i know it will, casane. draw, you slaves! In spite of death, i will go show my face. (alarm: Tamburlaine goes in and comes out again With all the rest. Thus are the villains, cowards fled for fear, And could i but a while pursue the field, That callapine should be my slave again. But i perceive my martial strength is spent. In vain i strive and rail against those powers That mean t' invest me in a higher throne, As much too high for this disdainful earth. Give me a map; then let me see how much Is left for me to conquer all the world, That these, my boys, may finish all my wants. (one brings a map. Here i began to march towards persia, Along armenia and the caspian sea, And thence unto bithynia, where i took The turk and his great empress prisoners. Then marched i into egypt and arabia; And here, not far from alexandria, Whereas the terrene and the red sea meet, Being distant less than full a hundred leagues, I meant to cut a channel to them both, That men might quickly sail to india. From thence to nubia near borno lake, And so along the ethiopian sea, Cutting the tropic line of capricorn, I conquered all as far as zanzibar. Then, by the northern part of africa, I came at last to graecia, and from thence To asia, where i stay against my will; Which is from scythia, where i first began, Backward and forwards near five thousand leagues. Look here, my boys; see, what a world of ground Lies westward from the midst of cancer's line Unto the rising of this earthly globe, Whereas the sun, declining from our sight, Begins the day with our antipodes. And shall i die, and this unconquered? Lo, here, my sons, are all the golden mines, Inestimable drugs and precious stones, More worth than asia and the world beside; And from th' antarctic pole eastward behold As much more land, which never was descried, Wherein are rocks of pearl that shine as bright As all the lamps that beautify the sky. And shall i die, and this unconquered? Here, lovely boys; what death forbids my life, Amy. alas, my lord, how should our bleeding hearts, Wounded and broken with your highness' grief, Retain a thought of joy or spark of life? Your soul gives essence to our wretched subjects, Whose matter is incorporate in your flesh. Cel. your pains do pierce our souls; no hope survives, For by your life we entertain our lives. Tamb. but, sons, this subject, not of force enough To hold the fiery spirit it contains, Must part, imparting his impressions By equal portions into both your breasts. My flesh, divided in your precious shapes, Shall still retain my spirit, though i die, And live in all your seeds immortally. Then now remove me, that i may resign My place and proper title to my son. First, take my scourge and my imperial crown, And mount my royal chariot of estate, That i may see thee crowned before i die. Help me, my lords, to make my last remove. Ther. a woeful change, my lord, that daunts our thoughts More than the ruin of our proper souls. Tamb. sit up, my son, let me see how well Thou wilt become thy father's majesty. (they crown him. Amy. with what a flinty bosom should i joy The breath of life and burden of my soul, If not resolved into resolved pains, My body's mortified lineaments Should exercise the motions of my heart, Pierced with the joy of any dignity! O father, if the unrelenting ears Of death and hell be shut against my prayers, And that the spiteful influence of heaven Deny my soul fruition of her joy, How should i step or stir my hateful feet Against the inward powers of my heart, Leading a life that only strives to die, And plead in vain unpleasing sovereignty? Tamb. let not thy love exceed thine honor, son, Nor bar thy mind that magnanimity That nobly must admit necessity. Sit up, my boy, and with these silken reins Bridle the steeled stomachs of those jades. Since fate commands and proud necessity. Amy. heavens witness me with what a broken heart And damned spirit i ascend this seat, And send my soul, before my father die, His anguish and his burning agony! Tamb. now fetch the hearse of fair zenocrate. Let it be placed by this my fatal chair, And serve as parcel of my funeral. Usum. then feels your majesty no sovereign ease, Nor may our hearts, all drowned in tears of blood, Joy any hope of your recovery? Tamb. casane, no. the monarch of the earth, And eyeless monster that torments my soul, Cannot behold the tears ye shed for me, And therefore still augments his cruelty. Tech. then let some god oppose his holy power Against the wrath and tyranny of death, That his tear-thirsty and unquenched hate May be upon himself reverberate! (they bring in the hearse. Tamb. now, eyes, enjoy your latest benefit, And when my soul hath virtue of your sight, Pierce through the coffin and the sheet of gold, And glut your longings with a heaven of joy. So, reign, my son; scourge and control those slaves, Guiding thy chariot with thy father's hand. As precious is the charge thou undertak'st As that which clymene's brainsick son did guide, When wandering phoebe's ivory cheeks were scorched, And all the earth, like aetna, breathing fire. Be warned by him, then learn with awful eye To sway a throne as dangerous as his; For if thy body thrive not full of thoughts As pure and fiery as phyteus' beams, The nature of these proud rebelling jades Will take occasion by the slenderest hair And draw thee piecemeal, like hippolytus, Through rocks more steep and sharp than caspian Cliffs. The nature of thy chariot will not bear A guide of baser temper than myself, More than heaven's coach the pride of phaeton. Farewell, my boys! my dearest friends, farewell! Your sweet desires deprived my company, For Tamburlaine, the scourge of god, must die. Amy. meet heaven and earth, and here let all things end, For earth hath spent the pride of all her fruit, And heaven consumed his choicest living fire. Let earth and heaven his timeless death deplore, For both their worths will equal him no more. Finis.