Shall be reserved, and you in better state, Than if you were arrived in Syria, The mighty soldan of Ægyptia. Zeno. Ah, shepherd! pity my distressed plight, (If, as thou seem'st, thou art so mean a man,) And seek not to enrich thy followers By lawless rapine from a silly maid, Who travelling with these Median lords To Memphis, from my uncle's country of Media,1 Mag. And since we have arrived in Scythia, Aid and assistance, if we stand in need. Tamb. But now you see these letters and commands Are countermanded by a greater man; And through my provinces you must expect If you intend to keep your treasure safe. But, since I love to live at liberty, As easily may you get the soldan's crown As any prizes out of my precinct; For they are friends that help to wean my state 10 20 1 For the sake of the metre Cunningham reads:-" With these my uncle's lords To Memphis from his country of Media." VOL. I. B 'Till men and kingdoms help to strengthen it, 30 And must maintain my life exempt from servitude.— Zeno. I am my lord-for so you do import. Tamb. I am a lord, for so my deeds shall prove : And yet a shepherd by my parentage. But, lady, this fair face and heavenly hue Must grace his bed that conquers Asia, And means to be a terror to the world, By east and west, as Phoebus doth his course. As with their weight shall make the mountains quake, Fighting for passage, tilt within the earth. Tech. As princely lions, when they rouse themselves, Stretching their paws, and threatening herds of beasts, So in his armour looketh Tamburlaine. Methinks I see kings kneeling at his feet, And he with frowning brows and fiery looks, Spurning their crowns from off their captive heads. 40 50 1 Not to be valued; as in Richard III., i. 4:-"Inestimable stones, unvalued jewels." Usum. And making thee and me, Techelles, kings, That even to death will follow Tamburlaine. Tamb. Nobly resolved, sweet friends and fol lowers! These Lords, perhaps do scorn our estimates, Even as thou hopest to be eternised, By living Asia's mighty emperor. Agyd. I hope our ladies' treasures and Our 60 70 own, May serve for ransom to our liberties : Return our mules and empty camels back, Where her betrothed lord Alcidamas, Mag. And wheresoever we repose ourselves, 80 We will report but well of Tamburlaine. Tamb. Disdains Zenocrate to live with me? Or you, my lords, to be my followers? Think you I weigh this treasure more than you? Not all the gold in India's wealthy arms And then myself to fair Zenocrate. Tech. What now!-in love? Tamb. Techelles, women must be flattered: But this is she with whom I am in 6 love. 1 Old copies "Rhodolfe." 2 Cf. 1594' Taming of a Shrew : "Thou shalt have garments wrought of Median silk 90 100 Enter a Soldier. Sold. News! news! Tamb. How now-what's the matter? Sold. A thousand Persian horsemen are at hand, Sent from the king to overcome us all. 110 Tamb. How now, my lords of Egypt, and Zenocrate ! How !-must your jewels be restored again, And I, that triumphed so, be overcome? How say you, lordings,-is not this your hope? Agyd. We hope yourself will willingly restore them. Tamb. Such hope, such fortune, have the thousand horse. Soft ye, my lords, and sweet Zenocrate! You must be forced from me ere you go. 120 A thousand horsemen !-We five hundred foot!— An odds too great for us to stand against. But are they rich ?—and is their armour good? Sold. Their plumèd helms are wrought with beaten gold, Their swords enamelled, and about their necks Hangs1 massy chains of gold, down to the waist, In every part exceeding brave 2 and rich. Tamb. Then shall we fight courageously with them? Or look you I should play the orator? 1 So the 8vo. Modern editors (including Dyce) read "hang." It is very common to find in old writers a plural subject joined to a singular verb. See Abbott's Shakespearean Grammar (§ 333). I have retained the seeming anomaly wherever it occurs in the editio princeps. 2 * Gaily dressed. The use of the word "brave" in this sense is very common. |