And like a harpy tires1 on my life. 50 Theridamas and Tamburlaine, I die : And fearful vengeance light upon you both! [COSROE dies.—TAMBURLAINE takes the crown and puts it on. Tamb. Not all the curses which the 2 furies breathe, Shall make me leave so rich a prize as this. Theridamas, Techelles, and the rest, Who think you now is king of Persia ? All. Tamburlaine! Tamburlaine ! Tamb. Though Mars himself, the angry god of arms, And all the earthly potentates conspire To dispossess me of this diadem, Yet will I wear it in despite of them, As great commander of this eastern world, If you but say that Tamburlaine shall reign. All. Long live Tamburlaine and reign in Asia! 60 [Exeunt. ACT THE THIRD. SCENE I. Enter BAJAZETH, the Kings of FEZ, MOROCCO, and ARGIER, with others in great pomp. Baj. Great kings of Barbary and my portly bassoes,1 We hear the Tartars and the eastern thieves, Under the conduct of one Tamburlaine, Presume a bickering with your emperor, And think to rouse us from our dreadful siege Of the famous Grecian Constantinople. You know our army is invincible; As many circumcised Turks we have, As hath the ocean or the Terrene sea 10 1 The old form of Pashas. Dyce compares a 2 I.e. Christians who have abjured their faith. passage of Sir John Maundevile (p. 209, ed. 1725) :—“And that Ydole is the God of false Christen that han reneyed hire feythe." K. of Fez. Renowmèd emperor, and mighty general, Or else to threaten death and deadly arms Baj. Hie thee, my basso, fast to Persia, And mean to fetch thee in despite of him. Bas. Most great and puissant monarch of the earth, Your basso will accomplish your behest, And show your pleasure to the Persian, VOL. 1. 20 30 40 [Exit BAS. D Arg. They say he is the king of Persia ; Baj. True, Argier; and tremble[s] at my looks. K. of Mor. The spring is hindered by your smother ing host, For neither rain can fall upon the earth, Nor sun reflex1 his virtuous beams thereon, And all the trees are blasted with our breaths. 50 K. of Fez. What thinks your greatness best to be achieved In pursuit of the city's overthrow? Baj. I will the captive pioners 2 of Argier And all the sea my gallies countermand. Then shall our footmen lie within the trench, 60 [Exeunt. 1 Cf. iv. 4, 1. 2, "Reflexing hues of blood upon their heads." 2 The old form (found in Shakespeare, Milton, &c.) of "pioneers." SCENE II. Enter ZENOCRATE, AGYDAS, ANIPPE, with others. Agyd. Madam Zenocrate, may I presume (Which of your whole displeasures should be most,) Zeno. Although it be digested long ago, Zeno. Ah, life and soul, still hover in his breast Or else unite you to his life and soul, That I may live and die with Tamburlaine ! 1 Image, picture. 10 20 |