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,

govern

And
Persia in her former pomp.
Now send embassage to thy neighbour kings,
And let them know the Persian king is chang'd,
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 aim'd+ at your behoof,
And sought your state all honour it‡ deserv'd,
So will we with our powers and our§ lives
Endeavour to preserve and prosper it.

Cos. I will not thank thee, sweet Ortygius ;
Better replies shall prove my purposes.—

* happy] So the 8vo.-The 4to " happiest."
taim'd] So the 4to.-The 8vo "and."
it] So the 4to.-The 8vo "is."

Sour] So the 4to.-Omitted in the 8vo.

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 scatter'd 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 all except Tamb., Ther., Tech., and Usum. 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. Oh, my lord, it is 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 enchas'd with pearl and gold,
Whose virtues carry with it life and death;
To ask and have, command and be obey'd;
When looks breed love, with looks to gain the prize,
Such power attractive shines in princes' eyes.

*

we] So the 8vo.-The 4to " I." tin] Qy." on "?

ト

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. I, 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?
USUм. 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 mov'd,
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 Media;
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 a-piece. ‡
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.

say] Old eds. " sayes" and "saies."

+ Casane] Both the old eds. here" Casanes."
a-piece] So the 4to.-The 8vo "apace."

TAMB. 'Twill prove a pretty jest, in faith, my

friends.

THER. A jest to charge on twenty thousand men !
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 labour than the gain will quite † :
Then shalt thou see this 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.

[Exit Techelles.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VI.

Enter COSROE, MEANDER, ORTYGIUS, and
MENAPHON, with Soldiers.

Cos. What means this devilish shepherd, to aspire With such a giantly presumption,

* purchase] i. e. booty-gain.

this] So the 8vo.-The 4to "the." Shim] Old eds. "his."

and] So the 8vo.-The 4to " with."

t quite] i. e. requite.

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 press'd 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, mix'd 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 mould or mettle he be made,
What star or fate ‡ soever govern him,
Let us put on our meet encountering minds;
And, in detesting such a devilish thief,
In love of honour and defence of right,
Be arm'd against the hate of such a foe,
Whether from earth, or hell, or heaven he grow.
Cos. Nobly resolv'd, my good Ortygius;

And, since we all have suck'd one wholesome air,
And with the same proportion of elements
Resolve§, I hope we are resembled
Vowing our loves to equal death and life.

* sprung] See note, p. 36.

+dures] So the 8vo.-The 4to "dare." fate] Old eds. "state."

§ Resolve] Seems to mean-dissolve (compare

our bodies

turn to elements.” p. 29) : but I suspect some corruption here.