From one that knew not what a king should do, With twenty thousand expert soldiers. And grace your calling with a greater sway. Orty. And as we ever aimed 1 at your behoof, And sought your state all honour it 2 deserved, So will we with our powers and our 3 lives Endeavour to preserve and prosper it. Cos. I will not thank thee, sweet Ortygius ; And now, Lord Tamburlaine, my brother's camp To follow me to fair Persepolis. Then will we march to all those Indian mines, 30 40 1 So 4to.-8vo. "and." 2 So 4to.-8vo. "is." Meand. Your majesty shall shortly have your wish, And ride in triumph through Persepolis. [All go out but TAMB., TECH., THER., and USUM. Tamb. "And ride in triumph through Persepolis!" 50 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?" 60 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? 1 Broughton compares 3 Henry VI., i. 2:— "Father, do but think How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown, And all that poets feign of bliss and joy." 70 Usum. What then, my lord? Tamb. Why then, Casane,1 shall we wish for aught The world affords in greatest novelty, And rest attemptless, faint, and destitute? Methinks we should not: I am strongly moved, That if I should desire the Persian crown, I could attain it with a wondrous ease. If we should aim at such a dignity? Ther. I know they would with our persuasions. Tamb. Why then, Theridamas, I'll first assay Then thou for Parthia; they for Scythia and Media; As if the Turk, the Pope, Afric, and Greece, Came creeping to us with their crowns apiece.2 80 Usum. Nay, quickly then, before his room be hot. Tamb. 'Twill prove a pretty jest, in faith, my friends. 90 Ther. A jest to charge on twenty thousand men ! I judge the purchase 3 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 game will quite. 3 "Purchase" is often found as a cant word for "thieving, filching." Here it seems to mean an "expedition in search of plunder." Then shalt thou see this Scythian Tamburlaine, Ther. Go on for me. SCENE VI. 100 [Exeunt. Enter COSROE, MEANDER, ORTYGIUS, MENAPHON, with other Soldiers. Cos. What means this devilish shepherd to aspire With such a giantly presumption To cast up hills against the face of heaven, Meand. Some powers divine, or else infernal, mixed Their angry seeds at his conception; For he was never sprong of human race, 1 Old copies "his." Orty. What god, or fiend, or spirit of the earth, Or monster turnèd to a manly shape, Or of what mould or mettle he be made, And since we all have sucked one wholesome air, Vowing our loves to equal death and life. That none can quench but blood and empery. 20 30 To save your king and country from decay. Then strike up, drum; and all the stars that make 40 [Exeunt; martial music. |