The Complete Works of Christopher Marlowe

The Complete Works, Novels, Plays, Stories, Ideas, and Writings of Christopher Marlowe

This Complete Collection includes the following titles:

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1 - Tamburlaine the Great, Part I.

2 - Massacre at Paris

3 - Tamburlaine the Great, Part II.

4 - The Tragedy of Dido Queene of Carthage

5 - Hero and Leander

6 - Edward the Second

7 - The Works of Christopher Marlowe, Vol. 3 (of 3)

8 - The Works of Christopher Marlowe, Vol. 2 (of 3)

9 - Dr. Faustus

10 - The Jew of Malta

Produced by Gary R. Young, and David Widger

TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT,

IN TWO PARTS.

This is Part I.

By Christopher Marlowe

Edited By The Rev. Alexander Dyce.

Skip to Part II.

TRANSCRIBER'S COMMENTS ON THE PREPARATION OF THE E-TEXT: SQUARE BRACKETS:

The square brackets, i.e. [ ] are copied from the printed book, without change, except that the stage directions usually do not have closing brackets. These have been added.

FOOTNOTES:

For this E-Text version of the book, the footnotes have been consolidated at the end of the play.

Numbering of the footnotes has been changed, and each footnote is given a unique identity in the form [XXX].

CHANGES TO THE TEXT:

Character names were expanded. For Example, TAMBURLAINE was TAMB., ZENOCRATE was ZENO., etc.

GREEK: One word, appearing in note 115, was printed in Greek Characters. This word has been transliterated as [deiktikos].

CONTENTS

TO THE GENTLEMEN-READERS AND OTHERS THAT TAKE PLEASURE

THE FIRST PART OF TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT.

ACT I.

SCENE I.

SCENE II.

ACT II.

SCENE I.

SCENE II.

SCENE III.

SCENE IV.

SCENE V.

SCENE VI.

SCENE VII.

ACT III.

SCENE I.

SCENE II.

SCENE III.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

SCENE II.

SCENE III.

SCENE IV.

ACT V.

SCENE I.

FOOTNOTES

Tamburlaine the Great.  Who, from a Scythian Shephearde

by his rare and woonderfull Conquests, became a most

puissant and mightye Monarque.  And (for his tyranny,

and terrour in Warre) was tearmed, The Scourge of God.

Deuided into two Tragicall Discourses, as they were

sundrie times shewed vpon Stages in the Citie of London.

By the right honorable the Lord Admyrall, his seruauntes.

Now first, and newlie published.  London.  Printed by

Richard Ihones:  at the signe of the Rose and Crowne

neere Holborne Bridge.  1590.  4to.

The above title-page is pasted into a copy of the FIRST PART OF TAMBURLAINE in the Library at Bridge-water House; which copy, excepting that title-page and the Address to the Readers, is the impression of 1605. I once supposed that the title-pages which bear the dates 1605 and 1606 (see below) had been added to the 4tos of the TWO PARTS of the play originally printed in 1590; but I am now convinced that both PARTS were really reprinted, THE FIRST PART in 1605, and THE SECOND PART in 1606, and that nothing remains of the earlier 4tos, except the title-page and the Address to the Readers, which are preserved in the Bridge- water collection.

In the Bodleian Library, Oxford, is an 8vo edition of both PARTS OF TAMBURLAINE, dated 1590: the title-page of THE FIRST PART agrees verbatim with that given above; the half-title-page of THE SECOND PART is as follows;

The Second Part of The bloody Conquests of mighty

Tamburlaine.  With his impassionate fury, for the death

of his Lady and loue faire Zenocrate; his fourme of

exhortacion and discipline to his three sons, and the

maner of his own death.

In the Garrick Collection, British Museum, is an 8vo edition of both PARTS dated 1592: the title-page of THE FIRST PART runs thus;

Tamburlaine the Great.  Who, from a Scythian Shepheard,

by his rare and wonderfull Conquestes, became a most

puissant and mightie Mornarch [sic]:  And (for his

tyrannie, and terrour in warre) was tearmed, The Scourge

of God.  The first part of the two Tragicall discourses,

as they were sundrie times most stately shewed vpon

Stages in the Citie of London.  By the right honorable

the Lord Admirall, his seruauntes.  Now newly published.

Printed by Richard Iones, dwelling at the signe of the

Rose and Crowne neere Holborne Bridge.

The half-title-page of THE SECOND PART agrees exactly with that already given. Perhaps the 8vo at Oxford and that in the British Museum (for I have not had an opportunity of comparing them) are the same impression, differing only in the title-pages.

Langbaine (ACCOUNT OF ENGL. DRAM. POETS, p. 344) mentions an 8vo dated 1593.

The title-pages of the latest impressions of THE TWO PARTS are as follows;

Tamburlaine the Greate.  Who, from the state of a

Shepheard in Scythia, by his rare and wonderfull

Conquests, became a most puissant and mighty Monarque.

London Printed for Edward White, and are to be solde

at the little North doore of Saint Paules-Church, at

the signe of the Gunne, 1605.  4to.

Tamburlaine the Greate.  With his impassionate furie,

for the death of his Lady and Loue fair Zenocrate:  his

forme of exhortation and discipline to his three Sonnes,

and the manner of his owne death.  The second part.

London Printed by E. A. for Ed. White, and are to be

solde at his Shop neere the little North doore of Saint

Paules Church at the Signe of the Gun.  1606.  4to.

The text of the present edition is given from the 8vo of 1592, collated with the 4tos of 1605-6.

TO THE GENTLEMEN-READERS 1 AND OTHERS THAT TAKE PLEASURE

IN READING HISTORIES. 2

Gentlemen and courteous readers whosoever:  I have here published

in print, for your sakes, the two tragical discourses of the

Scythian shepherd Tamburlaine, that became so great a conqueror

and so mighty a monarch.  My hope is, that they will be now no

less acceptable unto you to read after your serious affairs and

studies than they have been lately delightful for many of you to

see when the same were shewed in London upon stages.  I have

purposely omitted and left out some fond 3 and frivolous

gestures,

digressing, and, in my poor opinion, far unmeet for the matter,

which I thought might seem more tedious unto the wise than any

way else to be regarded, though haply they have been of some

vain-conceited fondlings greatly gaped at, what time they were

shewed upon the stage in their graced deformities:  nevertheless

now to be mixtured in print with such matter of worth, it would

prove a great disgrace to so honourable and stately a history.

Great folly were it in me to commend unto your wisdoms either the

eloquence of the author that writ them or the worthiness of the

matter itself.  I therefore leave unto your learned censures 4

both the one and the other, and myself the poor printer of them

unto your most courteous and favourable protection; which if you

vouchsafe to accept, you shall evermore bind me to employ what

travail and service I can to the advancing and pleasuring of your

excellent degree.

Yours, most humble at commandment,

R[ichard] J[ones], printer.

THE FIRST PART OF TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT.

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

Threatening 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.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

MYCETES, king of Persia.

COSROE, his brother.

MEANDER,    ]

THERIDAMAS,  ]

ORTYGIUS,    ] Persian lords.

CENEUS,      ]

MENAPHON,    ]

TAMBURLAINE, a Scythian shepherd.

TECHELLES,  ]

USUMCASANE,  ] his followers.

BAJAZETH, emperor of the Turks.

KING OF FEZ.

KING OF MOROCCO.

KING OF ARGIER.

KING OF ARABIA.

SOLDAN OF EGYPT.

GOVERNOR OF DAMASCUS.

AGYDAS,      ]

MAGNETES,    ] Median lords.

CAPOLIN, an Egyptian.

PHILEMUS, Bassoes, Lords, Citizens, Moors, Soldiers, and

Attendants.

ZENOCRATE, daughter to the Soldan of Egypt.

ANIPPE, her maid.

ZABINA, wife to BAJAZETH.

EBEA, her maid.

Virgins of Damascus.

THE FIRST PART OF TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT.

ACT I.

SCENE I.

Enter MYCETES, COSROE, MEANDER, THERIDAMAS, ORTYGIUS,

CENEUS, MENAPHON, with others.

MYCETES. Brother Cosroe, I find myself agriev'd;

Yet insufficient to express the same,

For it requires a great and thundering speech:

Good brother, tell the cause unto my lords;

I know you have a better wit than I.

COSROE. Unhappy Persia,—that in former age

Hast been the seat of mighty conquerors,

That, in their prowess and their policies,

Have triumph'd over Afric, 5 and the bounds

Of Europe where the sun dares scarce appear

For freezing meteors and congealed cold,—

Now to be rul'd and govern'd by a man

At whose birth-day Cynthia with Saturn join'd,

And Jove, the Sun, and Mercury denied

To shed their 6 influence in his fickle brain!

Now Turks and Tartars shake their swords at thee,

Meaning to mangle all thy provinces.

MYCETES. Brother, I see your meaning well enough,

And through 7 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.

I might command you to be slain for this,—

Meander, might I not?

MEANDER. Not for so small a fault, my sovereign lord.

MYCETES. I mean it not, but yet I know I might.—

Yet live; yea, live; Mycetes wills it so.—

Meander, thou, my faithful counsellor,

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.

MEANDER. Oft have I heard your majesty complain

Of Tamburlaine, that sturdy Scythian thief,

That robs your merchants of Persepolis

Trading by land unto the Western Isles,

And in your confines with his lawless train

Daily commits incivil 8 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,

Charg'd with a thousand horse, to apprehend

And bring him captive to your highness' throne.

MYCETES. 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 9

To apprehend that paltry Scythian.

How like you this, my honourable lords?

Is it not a kingly resolution?

COSROE. It cannot choose, because it comes from you.

MYCETES. Then hear thy charge, valiant Theridamas,

The chiefest 10 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 neighbour 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:

Return with speed; time passeth swift away;

Our life is frail, and we may die to-day.

THERIDAMAS. Before the moon renew her borrow'd light,

Doubt not, my lord and gracious sovereign,

But Tamburlaine and that Tartarian rout 11

Shall either perish by our warlike hands,

Or plead for mercy at your highness' feet.

MYCETES. 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 loaden with the heads of killed men,

And, from their knees even to their hoofs below,

Besmear'd with blood that makes a dainty show.

THERIDAMAS. Then now, my lord, I humbly take my leave.

MYCETES. Theridamas, farewell ten thousand times.

[Exit THERIDAMAS.]

Ah, Menaphon, why stay'st thou thus behind,

When other men press 12 forward for renown?

Go, Menaphon, go into Scythia,

And foot by foot follow Theridamas.

COSROE. Nay, pray you, 13 let him stay; a greater [task]

Fits Menaphon than warring with a thief:

Create him pro-rex of all 14 Africa,

That he may win the Babylonians' hearts,

Which will revolt from Persian government,

Unless they have a wiser king than you.

MYCETES. Unless they have a wiser king than you!

These are his words; Meander, set them down.

COSROE. And add this to them,—that all Asia

Lament to see the folly of their king.

MYCETES. Well, here I swear by this my royal seat—

COSROE. You may do well to kiss it, then.

MYCETES. Emboss'd with silk as best beseems my state,

To be reveng'd 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 abus'd, Meander.

[Exeunt all except COSROE and MENAPHON.]

MENAPHON. How now, my lord! what, mated 15 and amaz'd

To hear the king thus threaten like himself!

COSROE. Ah, Menaphon, I pass not 16 for his threats!

The plot is laid by Persian noblemen

And captains of the Median garrisons

To crown me emperor of Asia:

But this it is that doth excruciate

The very substance of my vexed soul,

To see our neighbours, that were wont to quake

And tremble at the Persian monarch's name,

Now sit and laugh our regiment 17 to scorn;

And that which might resolve 18 me into tears,

Men from the farthest equinoctial line

Have swarm'd in troops into the Eastern India,

Lading their ships 19 with gold and precious stones,

And made their spoils from all our provinces.

MENAPHON. 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 20 into Graecia, as did Cyrus once,

And cause them to withdraw their forces home,

Lest you 21 subdue the pride of Christendom!

[Trumpet within.]

COSROE. But, Menaphon, what means this trumpet's sound?

MENAPHON. Behold, my lord, Ortygius and the rest

Bringing the crown to make you emperor!

Re-enter ORTYGIUS and CENEUS, 22 with others, bearing a

crown.

ORTYGIUS. Magnificent and mighty prince Cosroe,

We, in the name of other Persian states 23

And commons of this mighty monarchy,

Present thee with th' imperial diadem.

CENEUS. The warlike soldiers and the gentlemen,

That heretofore have fill'd 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 their 24 king:

Therefore, to stay all sudden mutinies,

We will invest your highness emperor;

Whereat the soldiers will conceive more joy

Than did the Macedonians at the spoil

Of great Darius and his wealthy host.

COSROE. 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.

ORTYGIUS. And, in assurance of desir'd success,

We here do crown thee monarch of the East [;]

Emperor of Asia and Persia; 25

Great lord of Media and Armenia;

Duke of Africa and Albania,

Mesopotamia and of Parthia,

East India and the late-discover'd isles;

Chief lord of all the wide vast Euxine Sea,

And of the ever-raging 26 Caspian Lake.

ALL. 27 Long live Cosroe, mighty emperor!

COSROE. And Jove may 28 never let me longer live

Than I may seek to gratify your love,

And cause the soldiers that thus honour 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.

ORTYGIUS. We knew, 29 my lord, before we brought the crown,

Intending your investion so near

The residence of your despised brother,

The lords 30 would not be too exasperate

To injury 31 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.

COSROE. I know it well, my lord, and thank you all.

ORTYGIUS. Sound up the trumpets, then.

[Trumpets sounded.]

ALL. 32 God save the king!

[Exeunt.]

SCENE II.

Enter TAMBURLAINE leading ZENOCRATE, TECHELLES, USUMCASANE,

AGYDAS, MAGNETES, LORDS, and SOLDIERS loaden with treasure.

TAMBURLAINE. Come, lady, let not this appal your thoughts;

The jewels and the treasure we have ta'en

Shall be reserv'd, and you in better state

Than if you were arriv'd in Syria,

Even in the circle of your father's arms,

The mighty Soldan of Aegyptia.

ZENOCRATE. 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, travelling 33 with these Median lords

To Memphis, from my uncle's country of Media,

Where, all my youth, I have been governed,

Have pass'd the army of the mighty Turk,

Bearing his privy-signet and his hand

To safe-conduct us thorough 34 Africa.

MAGNETES. And, since we have arriv'd in Scythia,

Besides rich presents from the puissant Cham,

We have his highness' letters to command

Aid and assistance, if we stand in need.

TAMBURLAINE. 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 betroth'd?

ZENOCRATE. I am, my lord,—for so you do import.

TAMBURLAINE. 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 armour and this curtle-axe

Are adjuncts more beseeming Tamburlaine.—

And, madam, whatsoever you esteem

Of this success, and loss unvalued, 35

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,

Fighting for passage, tilt within the earth.

TECHELLES. As princely lions, when they rouse themselves,

Stretching their paws, and threatening herds of beasts,

So in his armour 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.

USUMCASANE. And making thee and me, Techelles, kings,

That even to death will follow Tamburlaine.

TAMBURLAINE. Nobly resolv'd, sweet friends and followers!

These lords perhaps do scorn our estimates,

And think we prattle with distemper'd spirits:

But, since they measure our deserts so mean,

That in conceit 36 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.

ZENOCRATE. 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.

AGYDAS. 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 the arrival of her highness' person.

MAGNETES. And wheresoever we repose ourselves,

We will report but well of Tamburlaine.

TAMBURLAINE. 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, 37

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 promis'd at my birth.

A hundred Tartars shall attend on thee,

Mounted on steeds swifter than Pegasus;

Thy garments shall be made of Median silk,

Enchas'd with precious jewels of mine own,

More rich and valurous 38 than Zenocrate's;

With milk-white harts upon an ivory sled

Thou shalt be drawn amidst the frozen pools, 39

And scale the icy mountains' lofty tops,

Which with thy beauty will be soon resolv'd: 40

My martial prizes, with five hundred men,

Won on the fifty-headed Volga's waves,

Shall we all offer 41 to Zenocrate,

And then myself to fair Zenocrate.

TECHELLES. What now! in love?

TAMBURLAINE. Techelles, women must be flattered:

But this is she with whom I am in 42 love.

Enter a SOLDIER.

SOLDIER. News, news!

TAMBURLAINE. How now! what's the matter?

SOLDIER. A thousand Persian horsemen are at hand,

Sent from the king to overcome us all.

TAMBURLAINE. How now, my lords of Egypt, and Zenocrate!

Now must your jewels be restor'd again,

And I, that triumph'd 43 so, be overcome?

How say you, lordings? is not this your hope?

AGYDAS. We hope yourself will willingly restore them.

TAMBURLAINE. 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 armour good!

SOLDIER. Their plumed helms are wrought with beaten gold,

Their swords enamell'd, and about their necks

Hang massy chains of gold down to the waist;

In every part exceeding brave 44 and rich.

TAMBURLAINE. Then shall we fight courageously with them?

Or look you I should play the orator?

TECHELLES. No; cowards and faint-hearted runaways

Look for orations when the foe is near:

Our swords shall play the orators for us.

USUMCASANE. Come, let us meet them at the mountain-top, 45

And with a sudden and an hot alarum

Drive all their horses headlong down the hill.

TECHELLES. Come, let us march.

TAMBURLAINE. Stay, Techelles; ask a parle first.

The SOLDIERS enter.

Open the mails, 46 yet guard the treasure sure:

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 47 his greedy thirsting throat,

Or take him prisoner, and his chain shall serve

For manacles till he be ransom'd home.

TECHELLES. I hear them come:  shall we encounter them?

TAMBURLAINE. Keep all your standings, and not stir a foot:

Myself will bide the danger of the brunt.

Enter THERIDAMAS with others.

THERIDAMAS. Where is this 48 Scythian Tamburlaine?

TAMBURLAINE. Whom seek'st thou, Persian?  I am Tamburlaine.

THERIDAMAS. 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 fix'd upon the earth,

As if he now devis'd some stratagem,

Or meant to pierce Avernus' darksome vaults 49

To pull the triple-headed dog from hell.

TAMBURLAINE. Noble and mild this Persian seems to be,

If outward habit judge the inward man.

TECHELLES. His deep affections make him passionate.

TAMBURLAINE. With what a majesty he rears his looks!—

In thee, thou valiant man of Persia,

I see the folly of thy 50 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

To ward the blow, and shield me safe from harm.

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, 51

To be my queen and portly emperess.

If thou wilt stay with me, renowmed 52 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 conquer'd kingdoms and of cities sack'd:

Both we will walk upon the lofty cliffs; 53

And Christian merchants, 54 that with Russian stems 55

Plough up huge furrows in the Caspian Sea,

Shall vail 56 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 sometime masked in a shepherd's weed;

And by those steps that he hath scal'd 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-remov'd admire me not,)

And when my name and honour shall be spread

As far as Boreas claps his brazen wings,

Or fair Bootes 57 sends his cheerful light,

Then shalt thou be competitor 58 with me,

And sit with Tamburlaine in all his majesty.

THERIDAMAS. Not Hermes, prolocutor to the gods,

Could use persuasions more pathetical.

TAMBURLAINE. Nor are Apollo's oracles more true

Than thou shalt find my vaunts substantial.

TECHELLES. 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 assur'd of by our friend's success.

USUMCASANE. And kingdoms at the least we all expect,

Besides the honour in assured conquests,

Where kings shall crouch unto our conquering swords,

And hosts of soldiers stand amaz'd at us,

When with their fearful tongues they shall confess,

These are the men that all the world admires.

THERIDAMAS. What strong enchantments tice my yielding soul

To these 59 resolved, noble Scythians!

But shall I prove a traitor to my king?

TAMBURLAINE. No; but the trusty friend of Tamburlaine.

THERIDAMAS. Won with thy words, and conquer'd 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.

TAMBURLAINE. Theridamas, my friend, take here my hand,

Which is as much as if I swore by heaven,

And call'd the gods to witness of my vow.

Thus shall my heart be still combin'd with thine

Until our bodies turn to elements,

And both our souls aspire celestial thrones.—

Techelles and Casane, welcome him.

TECHELLES. Welcome, renowmed 60 Persian, to us all!

USUMCASANE. Long may Theridamas remain with us!

TAMBURLAINE. 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 61 we adore in Scythia,

Thyself and them shall never part from me

Before I crown you kings 62 in Asia.

Make much of them, gentle Theridamas,

And they will never leave thee till the death.

THERIDAMAS. Nor thee nor them, 63 thrice-noble Tamburlaine,

Shall want my heart to be with gladness pierc'd,

To do you honour and security.

TAMBURLAINE. A thousand thanks, worthy Theridamas.—

And now, fair madam, and my noble lords,

If you will 64 willingly remain with me,

You shall have honours as your merits be;

Or else you shall be forc'd with slavery.

AGYDAS. We yield unto thee, happy Tamburlaine.

TAMBURLAINE. For you, then, madam, I am out of doubt.

ZENOCRATE. I must be pleas'd perforce,—wretched Zenocrate!

[Exeunt.]

ACT II.

SCENE I.

Enter COSROE, MENAPHON, ORTYGIUS, and CENEUS, with SOLDIERS.

COSROE. Thus far are we towards Theridamas,

And valiant Tamburlaine, the man of fame,

The man that in the forehead of his fortune

Bears figures of renown and miracle.

But tell me, that hast seen him, Menaphon,

What stature wields he, and what personage?

MENAPHON. Of stature tall, and straightly fashioned,

Like his desire, lift upwards and divine;

So large of limbs, his joints so strongly knit,

Such breadth of shoulders as might mainly bear

Old Atlas' burden; 'twixt his manly pitch, 65

A pearl more worth than all the world is plac'd,

Wherein by curious sovereignty of art

Are fix'd his piercing instruments of sight,

Whose fiery circles bear encompassed

A heaven of heavenly bodies in their spheres,

That guides his steps and actions to the throne

Where honour sits invested royally;

Pale of complexion, wrought in him with passion,

Thirsting with sovereignty and 66 love of arms;

His lofty brows in folds do figure death,

And in their smoothness amity and life;

About them hangs a knot of amber hair,

Wrapped in curls, as fierce Achilles' was,