THE FIRST PART OF TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT. ACT I. SCENE I. Enter MYCETES, COSROE, MEANDER, THERIDAMAS, ORTYGIUS, CENEUS, MENAPHON, with others. Myc. Brother Cosroe, I find myself agriev'd; For it requires a great and thundering speech : Cos. Unhappy Persia, that in former age At whose birth-day Cynthia with Saturn join'd, To shed their* influence in his fickle brain! Myc. Brother, I see your meaning well enough, But I refer me to my noblemen, That know my wit, and can be witnesses. MEAN. Not for so small a fault, my sovereign lord. *their] Old eds. "his." ↑ through] So the 4to.-The 8vo "thorough." Daily commits incivil* outrages, Hoping (misled by dreaming prophecies) Whom I may term a Damon for thy love: 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 * incivil] i. e. barbarous. So the 8vo.-The 4to "unciuill." + incontinent] i. e. forthwith, immediately. chiefest] So the 8vo.-The 4to chiefe." As did Sir Paris with the Grecian dame : THER. Before the moon renew her borrow'd 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, from their knees even to their hoofs below, Ah, Menaphon, why stay'st thou thus behind, And foot by foot follow Theridamas. Cos. Nay, pray youf, let him stay; a greater [task] Fits Menaphon than warring with a thief: Create him pro-rex of all§ Africa, That he may win the Babylonians' hearts, *rout] i. e. crew. + press] So the 8vo.-The 4to "prease." Which will revolt from Persian government, 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. Emboss'd with silk as best beseems my state, To be reveng'd for these contemptuous words! Oh, 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. MEN. How now, my lord? what, mated* and amaz'd To hear the king thus threaten like himself! Cos. Ah, Menaphon, I pass not† 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 vexèd soul, To see our neighbours, that were wont to quake mated] i. e. confounded. t pass not] i. e. care not. |