And which is worst to haue his Diadem

Sought for by such scalde knaues as loue him not?

I thinke it would: wel then, by heauens I sweare,
Aurora shall not peepe out of her doores,
But I will haue Cosroe by the head,

530

And kill proud Tamburlaine with point of sword.
Tell you the rest (Meander) I haue said.

535

Mean. Then hauing past Armenian desarts now,
And pitcht our tents vnder the Georgean hilles,
Whose tops are couered with Tartarian thieues,
That lie in ambush, waiting for a pray:
What should we doe but bid them battaile straight,
And rid the world of those detested troopes?
Least if we let them lynger here a while,
They gather strength by power of fresh supplies.
This countrie swarmes with vile outragious men,
That liue by rapine and by lawlesse spoile,
Fit Souldiers for the wicked Tamburlaine.
And he that could with giftes and promises
Inueigle him that lead a thousand horse,
And make him false his faith vnto his King,
Will quickly win such as are like himselfe.
Therefore cheere vp your mindes, prepare to fight.

540

545

550

He that can take or slaughter Tamburlaine,
Shall rule the Prouince of Albania.

Who brings that Traitors head Theridamas,
Shal haue a gouernment in Medea,

555

Beside the spoile of him and all his traine:
But if Cosroe (as our Spials say,

And as we know) remaines with Tamburlaine,
His Highnesse pleasure is that he should liue,
And be reclaim'd with princely lenitie.

A Spy. An hundred horsmen of my company
Scowting abroad vpon these champion plaines,
Haue view'd the army of the Scythians,
Which make reports it far exceeds the Kings.
Mean. Suppose they be in number infinit,

Yet being void of Martiall discipline,
All running headlong after greedy spoiles:

560

565

530 worse 1592, Dyce to Bull. 538 pitcht 1592, 1605: pitch 1590 547 the] that 1605 550 the King 1605 551 are] be 1592, Dyce to Bull. 557 Besides 1605 561 S.D. Enter a Spy add. Dyce 565 makes 1605 report 1592, 1605 etc. exc. Wag. 568 after greedy] greedy after conj. Dyce1, Dyce

And more regarding gaine than victory:
Like to the cruell brothers of the earth,
Sprong of the teeth of Dragons venomous,

570

Their carelesse swords shal lanch their fellowes throats And make vs triumph in their ouerthrow.

Myc. Was there such brethren, sweet Meander, say That sprong of teeth of Dragons venomous ? Meand. So Poets say, my Lord.

Myce. And tis a prety toy to be a Poet. Wel, wel (Meander) thou art deeply read: And hauing thee, I haue a iewell sure:

575

Thy wit will make vs Conquerors to day.

Go on my Lord, and giue your charge I say,

580

That liue confounded in disordered troopes,

Mean. Then noble souldiors, to intrap these theeues,

585

If wealth or riches may preuaile with them,
We haue our Cammels laden all with gold:
Which you that be but common souldiers,
Shall fling in euery corner of the field:
And while the base borne Tartars take it vp,
You fighting more for honor than for gold,
Shall massacre those greedy minded slaues.
And when their scattered armie is subdu'd:
And you march on their slaughtered carkasses,
Share equally the gold that bought their liues,
And liue like Gentlemen in Persea,
Strike vp the Drum and martch corragiously,
Fortune her selfe dooth sit vpon our Crests.

Myc. He tels you true, my maisters, so he does.
Drums, why sound ye not when Meand(er) speaks.

590

595

Exeunt.

Actus 2. Scana 3.

Cosroe, Tamburlaine, Theridamas, Techelles, Vsumcasane,

Tambu

Ortygius, with others.

Cosroe. Now worthy Tamburlaine, haue I reposde, In thy approoued Fortunes all my hope,

What thinkst thou man, shal come of our attemptes? For euen as from assured oracle,

I take thy doome for satisfaction.

Tamb. And so mistake you not a whit my Lord.

600

For Fates and Oracles (of) heauen haue sworne,
To roialise the deedes of Tamburlaine :
And make them blest that share in his attemptes.
And doubt you not, but if you fauour me,

605

And let my Fortunes and my valour sway
To some direction in your martiall deeds,

The world will striue with hostes of men at armes

615

To swarme vnto the Ensigne I support.
The host of Xerxes, which by fame is said
To drinke the mightie Parthian Araris,
Was but a handful to that we will haue.
Our quiuering Lances shaking in the aire,
And bullets like Ioues dreadfull Thunderbolts,
Enrolde in flames and fiery smoldering mistes,
Shall threat the Gods more than Cyclopian warres,
And with our Sun-bright armour as we march,
Weel chase the Stars from heauen, and dim their eies
That stand and muse at our admyred armes.

620

Therid. You see my Lord, what woorking woordes he hath. But when you see his actions top his speech, Your speech will stay, or so extol his worth, As I shall be commended and excusde

625

For turning my poore charge to his direction.

And these his two renowmed friends my Lord,

Would make one thrust and striue to be retain'd
In such a great degree of amitie.

630

Tech. With dutie and with amitie we yeeld Our vtmost seruice to the faire Cosroe.

Cos. Which I esteeme as portion of my crown. Vsumcasane and Techelles both,

When she that rules in Rhamnis golden gates,

635

And makes a passage for all prosperous Armes :
Shall make me solely Emperour of Asia,
Then shall your meeds and vallours be aduaunst
To roomes of honour and Nobilitie.

640

Tam. Then haste Cosroe to be king alone,
That I with these my friends and all my men,
May triumph in our long expected Fate.
The King your Brother is now hard at hand,

Meete with the foole, and rid your royall shoulders
Of such a burthen, as outwaies the sands

And all the craggie rockes of Caspea.

(Enter a Messenger.)

Mess. My Lord, we haue discouered the enemie Ready to chardge you with a mighty armie.

545

Cos. Come, Tamburlain, now whet thy winged sword And lift thy lofty arme into the cloudes,

650

That it may reach the King of Perseas crowne,

And set it safe on my victorious head.

Tam. See where it is, the keenest Cutle-axe,
That ere made passage thorow Persean Armes.
These are the wings shall make it flie as swift,
As dooth the lightening or the breath of heauen,
And kill as sure as it swiftly flies.

Cos. Thy words assure me of kind successe :

Go valiant Souldier, go before and charge
The fainting army of that foolish King.
Tamb. Vsumcasane and Techelles come,

We are enough to scarre the enemy,

655

660

And more than needes to make an Emperour. (Exeunt.)

(Scene IV.)

To the Battaile, and Mycetes comes out alone with
his Crowne in his hand, offering to hide it.

Myc. Accurst be he that first inuented war,
They knew not, ah, they knew not simple men,
How those were hit by pelting Cannon shot,
Stand staggering like a quiuering Aspen leafe,
Fearing the force of Boreas boistrous blasts.
In what a lamentable case were I,

665

If Nature had not giuen me wisedomes lore?

670

For Kings are clouts that euery man shoots at,

Our Crowne the pin that thousands seeke to cleaue.
Therefore in pollicie I thinke it good
To hide it close: a goodly Stratagem,

And far from any man that is a foole.

675

646 S.D. add. Dyce

656 or the breath] o'er the breadth conj. Coll. 662 enough 1590, 1605: enow 1592 663 S.D. add. Rob. Scene IV. add. Dyce 667 Stand] Stand those 1605

So shall not I be knowen, or if I bee,
They cannot take away my crowne from me.
Here will I hide it in this simple hole.

Enter Tamburlain.

Tam. What fearful coward stragling from the camp When Kings themselues are present in the field?

Myc. Thou liest.

680

Tam. Base villaine, darst thou giue the lie?
Myc. Away, I am the King: go, touch me not.
Thou breakst the law of Armes vnlesse thou kneele,
And cry me mercie, noble King.

685

Tam. Are you the witty King of Persea?
Myce. I marie am I: haue you any suite to me?
Tam. I would intreat you to speak but three wise wordes.
Myce. So I can when I see my time.

Tam. Is this your Crowne ?

Myce. I, Didst thou euer see a fairer ?

Tamb. You will not sell it, wil ye?

690

Myce. Such another word, and I will haue thee executed.

Tamb. Wel, I meane you shall haue it againe.

Here take it for a while, I lend it thee,
Till I may see thee hem'd with armed men.
Then shalt thou see me pull it from thy head:
Thou art no match for mightie Tamburlaine.
Myce. O Gods, is this Tamburlaine the thiefe,
I marueile much he stole it not away.

Sound trumpets to the battell, and he runs in.

(Scene V.)

700

(Exit.)

Cosroe, Tamburlaine, Theridamas, Menaphon, Meander, Ortygius, Techelles, Vsumcasane, with others.

705

Tamb. Holde thee Cosroe, weare two imperiall Crownes. Thinke thee inuested now as royally,

Euen by the mighty hand of Tamburlaine,

682 giue 1590, 1592, Rob., Dyce1, Bull, Wag.: giue me 1605, Dyce, Cunn.

703 S.D. add. Dyce

Scene V. add. Dyce