Even from the fiery-spangled veil of Heaven, Shall give the world to note for all my birth, That virtue solely is the sum of glory, And fashions men with true nobility.— Enter two or three Attendants. Hath Bajazeth been fed to-day? Atten.1 I, my lord. 190 Tamb. Bring him forth; and let us know if the town be ransacked. [Exeunt Attendants. Enter TECHELles, Theridamas, USUMCASANE, and others. Tech. The town is ours, my lord, and fresh supply Of conquest and of spoil is offered us. Tamb. That's well, Techelles; what's the news? March2 on us with such eager violence, As if there were no way3 but one with us. 200 tempest. I should like to keep the word weeds (remembering the line in i. 2, "Jove sometimes masked in a shepherd's weed); but Broughton's proposed reading, "cottagers' off-strowed weeds," is ridiculous. Old copies, "An." 2 So 4to.-8vo. "martcht on with us." 3 I.e., as if we must die. The reader will remember Mistress Quickly's words,-"For after I saw him fumble with the sheets and play with flowers and smile upon his fingers' ends, I knew there was but one way.' Tamb. No more there is not, I warrant thee, Techelles. They bring in BAJAZETH and Zabina. Ther. We know the victory is ours, my lord; But let us save the reverend Soldan's life, And now, my footstool, if I lose the field, You hope of liberty and restitution? Here let him stay, my masters, from the tents, Till we have made us ready for the field. Pray for us, Bajazeth; we are going. 210 [Exeunt TAMBURLAINE, TECHELLES, Usumcasane, Baj. Go, never to return with victory. Break up the earth, and with their firebrands, 220 That lingering pains may massacre his heart, Baj. Ah, fair Zabina! we may curse his power; Zab. Then is there left no Mahomet, no God, To our infamous monstrous slaveries. Gape earth, and let the fiends infernal view A hell as hopeless and as full of fear As are the blasted banks of Erebus, Where shaking ghosts with ever-howling groans To get a passage to Elysium! 3 Why should we live? O, wretches, beggars, slaves! Why live we, Bajazeth, and build up nests So high within the region of the air By living long in this oppression, That all the world will see and laugh to scorn The former triumphs of our mightiness In this obscure infernal servitude? 1 8vo. "aie."-4to. "aye." 230 240 250 2 I.e., "bent back in reflections on our former happiness."-Dyce. 3 Old copies "Elisian." Baj. O life, more loathsome to my vexèd thoughts 260 270 280 1 Vomit. 2 Old copies "objection." 3 Slave. Cf. iii. 2, 1. 38 :—“Is far from villany or servitude." Hath hitherto been stayed with wrath and hate Zab. Sweet Bajazeth, I will prolong thy life, [She goes out. Baj. Now, Bajazeth, abridge thy baneful days, That may be ministers of my decay. Hide now thy stainèd face in endless night, 290 300 [He brains himself against the cage. Re-enter ZABINA. Zab. What do mine eyes behold? my husband dead! His skull all riven in twain! his brains dashed out,— |