assuming the poet's acquaintance with George Whetstone's condensed version of Fortescue in The English Myrror, 1586 (pp. 78-83). It would seem probable, however, that Thomas Newton's Notable History of the Saracens, 1575, furnished Marlowe with a number of proper names and suggested the story of Sigismund in Part II, while Messrs. Herford and Wagner have shown that individual passages of Part I are taken in all probability from the Latin of Petrus Perondinus (1553).

1

The second part of Tamburlaine is confessedly an afterthought, not contemplated when the first part was written. It is mostly Marlowe's invention. The story of Olympia, however, was taken, as Collier first pointed out, from Ariosto (Orlando Furioso, Bk. XXIX). It would be of interest to determine the precise channel through which this tale reached the dramatist; he may, of course, have known it in the Italian, but it is more likely that he read it in MS. in Sir John Harington's translation, which after years of preparation was published in 1591. A similar instance of borrowing from a MS. source occurs at the end of the fourth act of Part II (ll. 4098-4103), where six lines are copied from the as yet unpublished Fairy Queen, and copied so carelessly as to leave a tell-tale Alexandrine in the midst of the usual pentameters of dramatic verse.

1 Academy, xxiv, pp. 265, 266,

To the Gentlemen Readers: and others

that take pleasure in reading

Histories.

Gentlemen, and curteous Readers whosoeuer: I haue here published in print for your sakes, the two tragical Discourses of the Scythian Shepheard, Tamburlaine, that became so great a Conquerour, and so mightie a Monarque: My hope is, that they wil be now no lesse acceptable vnto you to read 5 after your serious affaires and studies, then they haue bene (lately) delightfull for many of you to see, when the same were shewed in London vpon stages: I haue (purposely) omitted and left out some fond and friuolous Iestures, digressing (and in my poore opinion) far vnmeet for the matter, which 10 I thought, might seeme more tedious vnto the wise, than any way els to be regarded, though (happly) they haue bene of some vaine conceited fondlings greatly gaped at, what times they were shewed vpon the stage in their graced deformities: neuertheles now, to be mixtured in print with such matter 15 of worth, it wuld prooue a great disgrace to so honorable & stately a historie: Great folly were it in me, to commend vnto your wisedomes, either the eloquence of the Authour that writ them, or the worthinesse of the matter it selfe; I therefore leaue vnto your learned censures, both the one and 20 the other, and my selfe the poore printer of them vnto your most curteous and fauourable protection; which if you vouchsafe to accept, you shall euermore binde mee to imploy what trauell and seruice I can, to the aduauncing and pleasuring of your excellent degree.

Yours, most humble at commaundement,
R. I. Printer

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The Two Tragicall Discourses of Mighty Tamburlaine, the

Scythian Shepheard, &c.

The Prologue.

From iygging vaines of riming mother wits,
And such conceits as clownage keepes in pay,
Weele lead you to the stately tent of War,
Where you shall heare the Scythian Tamburlaine
Threatning the world with high astounding tearms
And scourging kingdoms with his conquering sword.
View but his picture in this tragicke glasse,
And then applaud his fortunes as you please.

Actus 1. Scana I.

Mycetes, Cosroe, Meander, Theridamas, Orlygius,
Ceneus, with others.

Mycetes.

Brother Cosroe, I find my selfe agreeu'd,
Yet insufficient to expresse the same:
For it requires a great and thundring speech:
Good brother tell the cause vnto my Lords,
I know you haue a better wit than I.

Cos. Vnhappie Persea, that in former age
Hast bene the seat of mightie Conquerors,
That in their prowesse and their pollicies,
Haue triumpht ouer Affrike, and the bounds.
Of Europe, wher the Sun dares scarce appeare,
For freezing meteors and coniealed colde:
Now to be rulde and gouerned by a man,
At whose byrth-day Cynthia with Saturne ioinde,
And Ioue, the Sun and Mercurie denied

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Heading The two... Tamburlaine 1590: The first part of the two Tamburlaine 1592: The Tragicall Conquestes of Tamburlaine 1695 8 you please] they passe conj. Coll. 17 Affrica 1605 19 meteors] waters conj. Coll.

To shed their influence in his fickle braine,
Now Turkes and Tartars shake their swords at thee
Meaning to mangle all thy Prouinces.

Mycet. Brother, I see your meaning well enough.
And thorough your Planets I perceiue you thinke,
I am not wise enough to be a kinge,

But I refer me to my noble men,

That knowe my wit, and can be witnesses:
I might command you to be slaine for this,
Meander, might I not?

Meand. Not for so small a fault my soueraigne Lord.
Mycet. I meane it not, but yet I know I might,
Yet liue, yea, liue, Mycetes wils it so :

Meander, thou my faithfull Counsellor,
Declare the cause of my conceiued griefe,
Which is (God knowes) about that Tamburlaine,
That like a Foxe in midst of haruest time,
Dooth pray vppon my flockes of Passengers.
And as I heare, doth meane to pull my plumes,
Therefore tis good and meete for to be wise.
Meand. Oft haue I heard your Maiestie complain,
Of Tamburlaine, that sturdie Scythian thiefe,

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That robs your merchants of Persepolis,

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Treading by land vnto the Westerne Isles,

And in your confines with his lawlesse traine,
Daily commits inciuill outrages.

Hoping (misled by dreaming prophesies)

To raigne in Asia, and with barbarous Armes,

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lord

Myce. Ful true thou speakst, & like thy selfe my

Whom I may tearme a Damon for thy loue.

Therefore tis best, if so it lik you all,

To send my thousand horse incontinent,
To apprehend that paltrie Scythian.
How like you this, my honorable Lords?
Is it not a kingly resolution?

23 their Dyce ctc.: his 1590-1605 vnciuill 1605

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