For I will cast myself from off these walls
Or die some death of quickest violence
Before I bide the wrath of Tamburlaine.

Gov. Villains, cowards, traitors to our state!
Fall to the earth and pierce the pit of hell,
That legions of tormenting spirits may vex
Your slavish bosoms with continual pains!
I care not, nor the town will ever yield,
As long as any life is in my breast.

Enter THERIDAMAS, TECHELLES, and Soldiers without the walls.

Ther. Thou desperate governor of Babylon,
To save thy life, and us a little labour,
Yield speedily the city to our hands,

Or else be sure thou shalt be forced with pains,
More exquisite than ever traitor felt.

Gov. Tyrant! I turn the traitor in thy throat,
And will defend it in despite of thee.—
Call up the soldiers to defend these walls!
Tech. Yield, foolish governor; we offer more
Than ever yet we did to such proud slaves
As durst resist us till our third day's siege.
Thou seest us prest to give the last assault,
And that shall bide no more regard of parle.1

Gov. Assault and spare not; we will never yield.

40

50

60

[Alarms: and they scale the walls.

Enter TAMBURLAINE (drawn in his chariot by the Kings

1 Old copies "parlie."

of Trebizond and Soria), USUMCASANE, AMYRAS,
and CELEBINUS; the two spare1 Kings of Natolia and
Jerusalem; and others.

Tamb. The stately buildings of fair Babylon,
Whose lofty pillars, higher than the clouds,
Were wont to guide the seaman in the deep,
Being carried thither by the cannon's force,
Now fill the mouth of Limnasphaltis' lake
And make a bridge unto the battered walls.
Where Belus, Ninus, and great Alexander
Have rode in triumph, triumphs Tamburlaine,

Whose chariot wheels have burst the Assyrians' bones
Drawn with these kings on heaps of carcases.

Now in the place where fair Semiramis,

Courted by kings and peers of Asia,

Hath trod the measures,2 do my soldiers march;

And in the streets, where brave Assyrian dames

Have rid in pomp like rich Saturnia,

With furious words and frowning visages

My horsemen brandish their unruly blades.

Re-enter THERIDAMAS and TECHELLES, bringing in the Governor of Babylon.

Who have ye there, my lords?

Ther. The sturdy governor of Babylon,

70

80

1 I.e. the kings out of harness.

3 A stately dance. Cf. Much Ado, ii. 1 :-" The first suit is hot and hasty like a Scotch jig, and full as fantastical; the wedding mannerly, modest as a measure, full of state and ancientry."

That made us all the labour for the town,

And used such slender reckoning of your majesty.

Tamb. Go, bind the villain; he shall hang in chains Upon the ruins of this conquered town. Sirrah, the view of our vermilion tents, (Which threatened more than if the region. Next underneath the element of fire

Were full of comets and of blazing stars,

Whose flaming trains should reach down to the earth,) 90

Could not affright you; no, nor I myself,

The wrathful messenger of mighty Jove,

That with his sword hath quailed all earthly kings,

Could not persuade you to submission,

But still the ports were shut; villain! I say,
Should I but touch the rusty gates of hell,

The triple-headed Cerberus would howl

And wake black Jove to crouch and kneel to me;
But I have sent volleys of shot to you,

Yet could not enter till the breach was made.

Gov. Nor, if my body could have stopt the breach, Should'st thou have entered, cruel Tamburlaine. 'Tis not thy bloody tents can make me yield, Nor yet thyself, the anger of the Highest, For though thy cannon shook the city walls, My heart did never quake, or courage faint.

100

Tamb. Well, now I'll make it quake; go draw him1 up, Hang him in chains upon the city walls.

And let my soldiers shoot the slave to death.

1 So 4to.-8vo. "it."

2 Old copies "vp in."

ΠΙΟ

Gov. Vile monster! born of some infernal hag, And sent from hell to tyrannise on earth, Do all thy worst; nor death, nor Tamburlaine, Torture, nor pain, can daunt my dreadless mind. Tamb. Up with him, then; his body shall be scared. Gov. But, Tamburlaine, in Limnasphaltis' lake There lies more gold than Babylon is worth, Which, when the city was besieged, I hid.

Save but my life and I will give it thee.

Tamb. Then for all your valour you would save your

life?

Whereabout lies it?

Gov. Under a hollow bank, right opposite

Against the western gate of Babylon.

120

Tamb. Go thither, some of you, and take his

gold;

The rest-forward with execution!

Away with him hence, let him speak no more.
I think I make your courage something quail.
When this is done, we'll march from Babylon,
And make our greatest haste to Persia.

[They hang up the Governor in chains.

These jades are broken-winded and half tired,
Unharness them, and let me have fresh horse.

[Attendants unharness the Kings of Trebizond and

Soria.

So, now their best is done to honour me,

Take them and hang them both up presently.

Treb. Vild tyrant! barbarous bloody Tamburlaine !

130

Tamb. Take them away, Theridamas; see them de

spatched.

Ther. I will, my lord.

[Exit with the Kings of Trebizond and Soria. Tamb. Come, Asian viceroys; to your tasks awhile, And take such fortune as your fellows felt.

Orc. First let thy Scythian horse tear both our limbs, Rather than we should draw thy chariot, And like base slaves abject our princely minds. To vile and ignominious servitude.

Jer. Rather lend me thy weapon, Tamburlaine, That I may sheathe it in this breast of mine.

140

A thousand deaths could not torment our hearts
More than the thought of this doth vex our souls.
Amy. They will talk still, my lord, if you don't bridle

them.

Tamb. Bridle them, and let me to my coach.

[They bridle them. Amy. See now, my lord, how brave the captain hangs. Tamb. 'Tis brave indeed, my boy; well done. Shoot first, my lord, and then the rest shall follow. Ther. Then have at him to begin withal.

150

[THERIDAMAS shoots.

Gov. Yet save my life, and let this wound appease The mortal fury of great Tamburlaine.

Tamb. No, though Asphaltis' lake were liquid gold, And offered me as ransom for thy life,

Shoot at him all at once.

Yet should'st thou die.

So, now he hangs like Bagdet's governor,

[They shoot.