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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.

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[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.

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

3 Rule. Cf. Edward II., v. 1:

"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 1 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,

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How easily may you, with a mighty host,

Pass into Græcia, as did Cyrus once,

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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

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Now living idle in the walled 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.

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Orty. And in assurance of desired success,

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We here do crown thee monarch of the East,
Emperor of Asia and of Persia ;

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.2 Long live Cosroe, mighty emperor !
Cos. And Jove may never let me longer live
Than I may seek to gratify your love,

And cause the soldiers that thus honour me

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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.

Shall be reserved, and you in better state,
Than if you were arrived in Syria,
Even in the circle of your father's arms,

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
Where all my youth I have been governed,
Have past the army of the mighty Turk,
Bearing his privy signet and his hand

To safe conduct us thorough Africa.

Mag. And since we have arrived in Scythia, Besides rich presents from the puissant Cham, We have his highness' letters to command

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
Letters of conduct from my mightiness,

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

ΙΟ

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

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