Shall either perish by our warlike hands,

Or plead for mercy at your Highness' feet.

Myc. Go, stout Theridamas, thy words are swords,
And with thy looks thou conquerest all thy foes;

I long to see thee back return from thence,
That I may view these milk-white steeds of mine
All loaden with the heads of killed men,

And from their knees e'en to their hoofs below
Besmeared with blood that makes a dainty show.

80

Ther. Then now, my Lord, I humbly take my leave.
Myc. Theridamas, farewell! ten thousand times.
[Exit THERIDAMAS.

Ah, Menaphon, why stay'st thou thus behind,
When other men press forward for renown?
Go, Menaphon, go into Scythia;

And foot by foot follow Theridamas.

Cos. Nay, pray you let him stay; a greater [task]1
Fits Menaphon than warring with a thief:
Create him Prorex 2 of all Africa,

That he may win the Babylonians' hearts
Which will revolt from Persian government,
Unless they have a wiser king than you.

Myc. "Unless they have a wiser king than you.'
These are his words; Meander, set them down.
Cos. And add this to them-that all Asia

Laments to see the folly of their king.
Myc. Well, here I swear by this my royal seat,—

1 The modern editors insert the word "task."

90

2 Viceroy. In Day's Parliament of Bees the master-bee is styled Prorex."

Cos. You may do well to kiss it then.

Myc. Embossed with silk as best beseems my state, To be revenged for these contemptuous words. Oh, where is duty and allegiance now? Fled to the Caspian or the Ocean main? What shall I call thee? brother?-no, a foe; Monster of nature !—Shame unto thy stock That dar'st presume thy sovereign for to mock! Meander, come: I am abused, Meander.

100

[All go out but COSROE and MENAPHON. Men. How now, my Lord? What, mated1 and

amazed

To hear the king thus threaten like himself!

Cos. Ah, Menaphon, I pass not 2 for his threats;

The plot is laid by Persian noblemen

And captains of the Median garrisons

To crown me emperor of Asia :

But this it is that doth excruciate

The very substance of my vexèd soul

To see our neighbours that were wont to quake
And tremble at the Persian monarch's name,
Now sit and laugh our regiment 3 to scorn;
And that which might resolve 4 me into tears,
Men from the farthest equinoctial line

1 Confounded.

ΠΙΟ

2 Care not. Cf. 2 Henry VI., iv. 2:—“As for these silken-coated slaves, I pass not."

Rule. Cf. Edward II., v. I:

"But what are kings when regiment is gone

But perfect shadows in a sunshine day."

4" Resolve" and "dissolve" are used indifferently.

Have swarmed in troops into the Eastern India,
Lading their ships with gold and precious stones,
And made their spoils from all our provinces.
Men. This should entreat your highness to rejoice,
Since Fortune gives you opportunity

To gain the title of a conqueror

By curing of this maimèd empery.

Afric and Europe bordering on your land,

And continent to your dominions,

120

How easily may you, with a mighty host,

Pass into Græcia, as did Cyrus once,

130

And cause them to withdraw their forces home,

Lest you subdue the pride of Christendom.

Cos. But, Menaphon, what means this trumpet's sound? Men. Behold, my lord, Ortygius and the rest

Bringing the crown to make you emperor !

Enter ORTYGIUS and CENEUS,2 with others, bearing a

Crown.

Orty. Magnificent and mighty Prince Cosroe,

We, in the name of other Persian states 3
And Commons of the mighty monarchy,

Present thee with the imperial diadem.

Cen. The warlike soldiers and the gentlemen,

That heretofore have filled Persepolis

With Afric captains taken in the field,

Whose ransom made them march in coats of gold,
With costly jewels hanging at their ears,

And shining stones upon their lofty crests,

1 8vo. "shippe."-4to. "ships.'

140

2 Old copies" Conerus."

3 I.e. nobles.

Now living idle in the wallèd towns,
Wanting both pay and martial discipline,
Begin in troops to threaten civil war,
And openly exclaim against their king:
Therefore, to stop all sudden mutinies,
We will invest your highness emperor,
Whereat the soldiers will conceive more joy,
Than did the Macedonians at the spoil
Of great Darius and his wealthy host.

Cos. Well, since I see the state of Persia droop
And languish in my brother's government,
I willingly receive the imperial crown,
And vow to wear it for my country's good,
In spite of them shall malice1 my estate.

150

Orty. And in assurance of desired success, We here do crown thee monarch of the East, Emperor of Asia and of Persia ;

160

Great Lord of Media and Armenia;
Duke of Africa and Albania,
Mesopotamia and of Parthia,

East India and the late discovered isles;
Chief lord of all the wide, vast Euxine Sea,
And of the ever-raging Caspian Lake.

All. Long live Cosroe, mighty emperor !

Cos. And Jove may never let me longer live

170

Than I may seek to gratify your love,

And cause the soldiers that thus honour me

1 Nares quotes several passages (from Spenser, Jonson, &c.) where "malice" is used as a verb.

2 So 4to.-8vo. gives the line to Ortygius.

To triumph over many provinces !

By whose desire of discipline in arms

I doubt not shortly but to reign sole king,
And with the army of Theridamas,

(Whither we presently will fly, my lords)

To rest secure against my brother's force.

Orty. We knew, my lord, before we brought the crown, Intending your investion1 so near

The residence of your despisèd brother,
The lords would not be too exasperate
To injury 2 or suppress your worthy title;
Or, if they would, there are in readiness.
Ten thousand horse to carry you from hence,
In spite of all suspected enemies.

180

Cos. I know it well, my lord, and thank you all.
Orty. Sound up the trumpets then. [Trumpets sound.
All. God save the king!

SCENE II.

[Exeunt omnes.

Enter TAMBURLAINE leading ZENOCRATE, TECHELLES, USUMCASANE, AGYDAS, MAGNETES, Lords, and Soldiers, loaden with treasure.

Tamb. Come, lady, let not this appal your thoughts; The jewels and the treasure we have ta'en

1 Marlowe's use of this word supports Farmer's correction, "infestion" for "infection," in Richard II., ii, 1.

2 The verb "injury" is not uncommon. To the instances given by Dyce add Dr. Dodypol, v. 2:-"Ashamed that you should injury your estate." 3 So 4to.-8vo. gives the words to Ortygius.