Have past the army of the mighty Turk, That even to death will follow Tamburlaine. Bearing his privy signet and his hand

Tamb. Nobly resolved, sweet friends and To safe conduct us thorough Africa.

followers ! Mag. And since we have arrived in These Lords, perhaps do scorn our estiScythia,

mates, Besides rich presents from the puissant Cham, And think we prattle with distempered We have his highness' letters to command spirits ; Aid and assistance, if we stand in need. But since they measure our deserts so mean, Tamb. But now you see these letters and That in conceit bear empires on our spears, commands

Affecting thoughts coequal with the clouds, Are countermanded by a greater man; They shall be kept our forcéd followers, And through my provinces you must expect Till with their eyes they view us emperors. Letters of conduct from my mightiness, Zeno. The Gods, defenders of the innoIf you intend to keep your treasure safe.

cent, But since I love to live at liberty,

Will never prosper your intended drifts, As easily may you get the soldan's crown That thus oppress poor friendless passengers. As any prizes out of my precinct ;

Therefore at least admit us liberty, For they are friends that heip to wean my Even as thou hopest to be eternized, state

By living Asia's mighty emperor. 'Till men and kingdoms help to strengthen Agyd. I hope our ladies' treasures and it,

our own, And must maintain my life exempt from May serve for ransom to our liberties : servitude

Return our mules and empty camels back, But, tell me, madam, is your grace be- That we may travel into Syria, trothed?

Where her betrothed lord Alcidamas, Zeno. I am-my lord--for so you do im- Expects th' arrival of her highness' person. port.

Mag. And wheresoever we repose our. Tamb. I ani a lord, for so my deeds shall selves, prove;

We will report but well of Tamburlaine. And yet a shepherd by my parentage.

Tamb. Disdains Zenocrate to live with But, la 'v this fair face and heavenly hue me? Must pime his bed that conquers Asia, Or you, my lords, to be my followers ? And mcans to be a terror to the world, Think you I weigh this treasure more than Measuring the limits of his empery

you? By east and west, as Phæbus doth his Not all the gold in India's wealthy arms

Shall buy the meanest soldier in my train. Lie here ye weeds that I disdain to wear! Zenocrate, lovelier than the love of Jove, This complete armour and this curtle axe Brighter than is the silver Rhodope, Are adjuncts more beseeming Tamburlaine. Fairer than whitest snow on Scythian hills, – And, madam, whatsoever you esteem Thy person is more worth to Tamburlaine, Of this success and loss unvalued,

Than the possession of the Persian crown, Both may invest you empress of the East; Which gracious stars have promised at my And these that seem but silly country swains birth. May have the leading of so great an host, A hundred Tartars shall attend on thee, As with their weight shall make the moun- Mounted on steeds swifter than Pegasus ; tains quake,

Thy garments shall be made of Median Even as when windy exhalations

silk, Fighting for passage, tilt within the earth. Enchased with precious jewels of mine own, Tech. As princely lions, when they rouse More rich and valurous than Zenocrate's. themselves,

With milk-white barts upon an ivory sled, Stretching their paws, and threatening herds Thou shalt be drawn amidst the frozen of beasts,

pools, So in his armour looketh Tamburlaine. And scale the icy mountains' lofty tops, Methinks I see kings kneeling at his feet, Which with thy beauty will be soon resolved And he with frowning brows and fiery looks, My martial prizes with five hundred men, Spurning their crowns from off their captive Won on the fifty-headed Wolga's waves, heads.

Shall we all offer to Zenocrate, Usum. And making thee and me, Te And then myself to fair Zenocrate chelles, kings,

Tech. What now !-in love?

1

course,

Tamb. Techelles, women must be flat- And 'gainst the general we will lift our tered :

swords, But this is she with whom I am in love. And either lance his greedy thirsting throat,

Or take him prisoner, and his chain shall serve Enter a Soldier.

For manacles, till he be ransomed home. Sold. News ! news!

Tech. I hear them come; shall we enTamb. How now-what's the matter?

counter them? Sold. A thousand Persian horsemen are Tamb. Keep all your standings and not at hand,

stir a foot, Sent from the king to overcome us all. Myself will bide the danger of the brunt. Tamb. How now, my lords of Egypt, and

Enter Theridamas and others. Zenocrate ! How !-must your jewels be restored again, Ther. Where is this Scythian [this] TamAnd I, that triumphed so, be overcome?

burlaine? How say you, lordings,-is not this your Tamb. Who seek'st thou, Persian 2-1 hope ?

am Tamburlaine. Agyd. We hope yourself will willingly re- Ther. Tamburlaine !-A Scythian shepstore them.

herd so embellished Tamb. Such hope, such fortune, have the With nature's pride and richest furniture ! thousand horse.

His looks do menace Heaven and dare the Soft ye, my lords, and sweet Zenocrate ! gods : You must be forced from me ere you go. His fiery eyes are fixed upon the earth, A thousand horsemen !-We five hundred As if he now devised some stratagem, foot

Or meant to pierce Avernus' darksome vauts An odds too great for us to stand against. To pull the triple-headed dog from hell. But are they rich ?—and is their armour

Tamb. Noble and mild this Persian seems good?

to be, Sold. Their pluméd helms are wrought If outward habit judge the inward man. with beaten gold,

Tech. His deep affections make him pasTheir swords enamelled, and about their sionate. necks

Tamb. With what a majesty he rears his Hang massy chains of gold, down to the looks! waist,

In thee, thou valiant man of Persia, In every part exceeding brave and rich. I see the folly of thy emperor. Tamb. Then shall we fight courageously Art thou but captain of a thousand horse, with them?

That by characters graven in thy brows, Or look you I should play the orator? And by thy martial face and stout aspect, Tech. No: cowards and faint-hearted Deserv'st to have the leading of an host? runaways

Forsake thy king, and do but join with me, Look for orations when the foe is near : And we will triumph over all the world ; Our swords shall play the orator for us. I hold the fates bound fast in iron chains, Usum. Come ! let us meet them at the And with my hand turn fortune's wheel mountain top,

about: And with a sudden and a hot alarum, And sooner shall the sun fall from his sphere, Drive all their horses headlong down the Than Tamburlaine be slain or overcome. hill.

Draw forth thy sword, thou mighty man at Tech. Come, let us march !

arms, Tamb. Stay! ask a parle first.

Intending but to raze my charmed skin,

And Jove himself will stretch his hand from The Soldiers enter.

Heaven Open the mails, yet guard the treasure sure ; To ward the blow and shield me safe from Lay out our golden wedges to the view, harm. That their reflections may amaze the Per- See how he rains down heaps of gold in sians ;

showers, And look we friendly on them when they As if he meant to give my soldiers pay! come ;

And as a sure and grounded argument, But if they offer word or violence,

That I shall be the monarch of the East, We'll fight five hundred men at arms to one, He sends this soldan's daughter rich and Before we part with our possession.

brave,

To be my queen and portly emperess. To be partaker of thy good or ill,
If thou wilt stay with me, renowned man, As long as life maintains Theridamas.
And lead thy thousand horse with my con- Tamb. Theridamas, my friend, take here
dùct,

my hand, Besides thy share of this Egyptian prize, Which is as much as if I swore by Heaven, Those thousand horse shall sweat with mar- And call'd the gods to witness of my vow. tial spoil

Thus shall my heart be still combined with Of conquered kingdoms and of cities sacked ; thine Both we will walk upon the lofty cliffs, Until our bodies turn to elements, And Christian merchants that with Russian And both our souls aspire celestial thrones. stems

Techelles and Casane, welcome him! Plough up huge furrows in the Caspian sea, Tech. Welcome, renowned Persian to us Shall vail to us, as lords of all the lake.

all ! Both we will reign as consuls of the earth, Usum. Long may Theridamas remain And mighty kings shall be our senators.

with us! Jove sometimes masked in a shepherd's Tamb. These are my friends, in whom I weed,

more rejoice And by those steps that he hath scaled the Than doth the king of Persia in his crown, heavens

And by the love of Pylades and Orestes, May we become immortal like the gods. Whose statues we adore in Scythia, Join with me now in this my mean estate, Thyself and them shall never part from me (I call it mean because being yet obscure, Before I crown you kings in Asia. The nations far removed admire me not,) Make much of them, gentle Theridamas, And when my name and honour shall be And they will never leave thee till the death, spread

Ther. Nor thee nor them, thrice noble As far as Boreas claps his brazen wings,

Tamburlaine, Or fair Böötes sends his cheerful light, Shall want my heart to be with gladness Then shalt thou be competitor with me,

pierced, And sit with Tamburlaine in all his majesty. To do you honour and security. Ther. Not Hermes, prolocutor to the Tamb. A thousand thanks, worthy The. gods,

ridamas, Could use persuasions more pathetical. And now fair madam, and my noble lords, Tamb. Nor are Apollo's oracles more If you will willingly remain with me true,

You shall have honours as your merits be; Than thou shalt find my vaunts substantial. Or else you shall be forced with slavery. Tech. We are his friends, and if the Per- Agvd. We yield unto thee, happy Tamsian king

burlaine. Should offer present dukedoms to our state, Tamb. For you then, madam, I am out We think it loss to make exchange for that of doubt. We are assured of by our friend's success. Zeno. I must be pleased perforce. Usum. And kingdoms at the least we all Wretched Zenocrate! (Exeunt.

expect, Besides the honour in assured conquests, When kings shall crouch unto our conquer

ACT THE SECOND. ing swords And hosts of soldiers stand amazed at us ;

SCENE I. When with their fearful tongues they shall confess,

Enter Cosroe, Menaphon, Ortygius, These are the men that all the world ad

Ceneus, with other soldiers. mires.

Cos. Thus far are we towards Therida. Ther. What strong enchantments tice my mas, yielding soul

And valiant Tamburlaine, the man of fame, To these resolved, noble Scythians ?

The man that in the forehead of his fortune But shall I prove a traitor to my king? Bears figures of renown and miracle.

Tamb. No, but the trusty friend of Tam- But tell me, that hast seen him, Menaphon, burlaine.

What stature wields he, and what personT'ker. Won with thy words, and con- age? quered with thy looks,

Men. Of stature tall, and straightly 1 yield myself, my men, and horse to thee, fashioned,

Like his desire lift upward and divine, Upon your kingly head that seeks our So large of limbs, his joints so strongly honour, knit,

In joining with the man ordained by Heaven, Such breadth of shoulders as might mainly To further every action to the best. bear

Cen. He that with shepherds and a little Old Atlas' burthen ;-'twixt his manly spoil pitch,

Durst in disdain of wrong and tyranny, A pearl, more worth than all the world, is Defend his freedom 'gainst a monarchy, placed,

What will he do supported by a king, Wherein by curious sovereignty of art Leading a troop of gentlemen and lords, Are fixed his piercing instruments of sight, And stuffed with treasure for his highest Whose fiery circles bear encompassed

thoughts ! A heaven of heavenly bodies in their spheres, Cos. And such shall wait on worthy TamThat guides his steps and actions to the burlaine. throne,

Our army will be forty thousand strong, Where honour sits invested royally : When Tamburlaine and brave Theridamas Pale of complexion, wrought in him with Have met us by the river Araris ; passion,

And all conjoined to meet the witless king, Thirsting with sovereignty and love of arms; That now is marching near to Parthia, His lofty brows in folds do figure death, And with unwilling soldiers faintly armed, And in their smoothness amity and life ; To seek revenge on me and Tamburlaine, About them hangs a knot of amber hair, To whom, sweet Menaphon, direct me Wrapped in curls, as fierce Achilles' was, straight, On which the breath of Heaven delights to Men. I will, my lord.

[Exeunt. play, Making it dance with wanton majesty.-

SCENE II.
His arms and fingers, long, and sinewy,
Betokening valour and excess of strength ;-

Enter Mycetes, Meander, with other Lords;

and Soldiers. In every part proportioned like the man Should make the world subdued to Tam- Myc. Come, my Meander, let us to this burlaine.

gear. Cos. Well hast thou pourtrayed in thy I tell you true, my heart is swoln with wrath terms of life

On this same thievish villain, Tamburlaine, The face and personage of a wondrous And, on that false Cosroe, my traitorous man;

brother. Nature doth strive with Fortune and his Would it not grieve a king to be so abused stars

And have a thousand horsemen ta'en To make him famous in accomplished

away? worth ;

And, which is worse, to have his diadem And well his merits shew him to be made Sought for by such scald knaves as love him His fortune's master and the king of men, not? That could persuade at such a sudden pinch, I think it would ; well then, by Heavens I With reasons of his valour and his life,

swear, A thousand sworn and overmatching foes. Aurora shall not peep out of her doors, Then, when our powers in points of swords But I will have Cosroe by the head, are joined

And kill proud Tamburlaine with point of And closed in compass of the killing bullet, sword. Though strait the passage and the port be Tell you the rest, Meander ; have said. made

Meand. Then having past Armenian deThat leads to palace of my brother's life,

serts now, Proud is his fortune if we pierce it not. And pitched our tents under the Georgian And when the princely Persian diadem

hills, Shall overweigh his weary witless head, Whose tops are covered with Tartarian And fall like mellowed fruit with shakes of thieves, death,

That lie in ambush, waiting for a prey, In säir Persia, noble Tamburlaine

What should we do but bid them battle Shall be my regent and remain as king.

straight, Orty. In happy hour we have set the And rid the world of those detested troops ? crown

Lest, if we let them linger here awhile,

men

sworn

They gather strength by power of fresh And you march on their slaughtered car supplies.

casses, This country swarms with vile outrageous Share equally the gold that bought thei:

lives, That live by rapine and by lawless spoil, And live like gentlemen in Persia. Fit soldiers for the wicked Tamburlaine ; Strike up the drum ! and march courage And he that could with gifts and promises

ously! Inveigle him that led a thousand horse, Fortune herself doth sit upon our crests. And make him false his faith unto his king, Myc. He tells you true, my masters : sc Will quickly win such as be like himself.

he does. Therefore cheer up your minds ; prepare to Drums, why sound ye not, when Meander fight;

speaks? [Exeunt, drums sounding. He that can take or slaughter Tamburlaine, Shall rule the province of Albania :

SCENE III.
Who brings that traitor's head, Theridamas,
Shall have a government in Media,

Enter Cosroe, Tamburlaine, Theridamas, Beside the spoil of him and all his train :

Techelles, Usumcasane and Ortygius, But if Cosroe, (as our spials say,

with others. And as we know) remains with Tambur- Cos. Now, worthy Tamburlaine, have laine,

reposed His Highness' pleasure is that he should live, In thy approved fortunes all my hope. And be reclaimed with princely lenity. What think'st thou, man, shall come of our A Spy. A hundred horsemen of my com- attempts? pany

For even as from assured oracle, Scouting abroad upon these champion plains I take thy doom for satisfaction. Have viewed the army of the Scythians, Tamb. And so mistake you not a whit, Which make report it far exceeds the

my Lord ; king's.

For fates and oracles [of] Heaven have Meand. Suppose they be in number infinite,

To royalize the deeds of Tamburlaine, Yet being void of martial discipline,

And make them blest that share in his All running headlong after greedy spoils, attempts. And more regarding gain than victory, And doubt you not but, if you favour me, Like to the cruel brothers of the earth, And let my fortunes and my valour sway Sprung of the teeth of dragons venomous, To some direction in your martial deeds, Their careless swords shall lance their The world will strive with hosts of men at fellows' throats,

arms, And make us triumph in their overthrow. To swarm unto the ensign I support : Myc. Was there such brethren, sweet The host of Xerxes, which by fame is said Meander, say,

To have drank the mighty Parthian Araris, That sprung of teeth of dragons venomous? Was but a handful to that we will have. Meand. So poets say, my lord.

Our quivering lances, shaking in the air, Myc. And 'tis a pretty toy to be a poet. And bullets, like Jove's dreadful thunderWell, well, Meander, thou art deeply read, bolts, And having thee, I have a jewel sure. Enrolled in flames and fiery smouldering Go on, my Lord, and give your charge, I mists, say ;

Shall threat the gods more than Cyclopian Thy wit will make us conquerors to-day.

wars : Meand. Then, noble soldiers, to entrap And with our sun-bright armour as these thieves,

march, That live confounded in disordered troops, We'll chase the stars from heaven and dim If wealth or riches may prevail with them, We have our camels laden all with gold, That stand and muse at our admired arms. Which you that be but common soldiers Ther. You hear, my Lord, what working Shall fling in every corner of the field ;

words he hath : And while the base-born Tartars take it up, But when you see his actions stop bis You, fighting more for honour than for gold, speech, Shall massacre those greedy-minded slaves ; Your speech will stay or so extol his worth And when their scattered army is subdued, As I shall be commended and excused

We

their eyes