Now sit and laugh* our regiment † to scorn;
And that which might resolve me into tears,
Men from the farthest equinoctial line

Have swarm'd 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 maimèd empery.
Afric and Europe bordering on your land,
And continent to your dominions,

How easily may you, with a mighty host,
Pass into Græcia, as did Cyrus once,

And cause them to withdraw their forces home,
Lest you ¶ subdue the pride of Christendom!

[Trumpet within.

Cos. But, Menaphon, what means this trumpet's

sound?

MEN. Behold, my lord, Ortygius and the rest Bringing the crown to make you emperor!

* sit and laugh] Old eds. “ sits and laughs."

+ regiment] i. e. rule, government.

resolve] i. e. dissolve. So the 8vo.--The 4to "dissolue." $ ships] So the 4to.-The 8vo "

shippe." Pass] So the 8vo.-The 4to "Hast." ¶ you] So the 8vo.-The 4to " they."

Re-enter ORTYGIUS and CENEUS,* with others, bearing a crown.

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 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 wallèd towns,
Wanting both pay and martial discipline,
Begin in troops to threaten civil war,
And openly exclaim against their‡ 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.

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.

* Ceneus] Here both the old eds. “ Cenerus."
+ states] i. e. noblemen, persons of rank.
their] So the 8vo.-The 4to "the."

ORTY. And, in assurance of desir'd success,
We here do crown thee monarch of the East,
Emperor of Asia and Persia ;*

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 + Caspian Lake.

ALL. 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 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.

ORTY. We knew ||, my lord, before we brought the

crown,

Intending your investion so near

The residence of your despised brother,

* and Persia] So the 8vo.-The 4to " and of Persia." tever-raging] So the 8vo.-The 4to " riuer raging." ALL] So the 4to.-Omitted in the 8vo.

§ And Jove may, &c.] i. e. And may Jove, &c. This collecation of words is sometimes found in later writers: so in the Prologue to Fletcher's Woman's Prize,-" Which this may prove!"

knew] So the 8vo.-The 4to "knowe."

The lords would not be too exasperate
To injury 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.

[Trumpets sounded.

ALL. God save the king!

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Enter TAMBURLAINE leading ZENOCRATE, TECHELLES, USUMCASANE, AGYDAS, MAGNETES, Lords, and Soldiers loaden with treasure.

TAMB. 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 Ægyptia.

ZENO. Ah, shepherd, pity my distressed plight!

lords] So the 4to.-The 8vo" Lord."

† injury] This verb frequently occurs in our early writers. "Then haue you iniuried manie." Lyly's Alexander and Campaspe, sig. D 4 ed. 1591. It would seem to have fallen into disuse soon after the commencement of the 17th century: in Heywood's Womun killed with kindness, 1607, we find,

"You injury that good man, and wrong me too." Sig. F 2. but in ed. 1617" injury "is altered to " iniure." ALL] So the 4to.-Omitted in the 8vo.

(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 with these Median lords

To Memphis, from my uncle's country of Media,
Where, all my youth, I have been governèd,
Have pass'd the army of the mighty Turk,
Bearing his privy-signet and his hand
To safe conduct us thorough+ Africa.

MAG. 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.

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 betroth'd?

ZENO. I am, my lord,-for so you do import.

*Who, travelling, &c.] The halting metre shews that there is some corruption in this and the next line.

thorough] So the 8vo.-The 4to "through."