Zeno. Ye gods and powers that govern Persia, That I may see him issue conqueror ! Zab. Now, Mahomet, solicit God himself, 190 And make him rain down murdering shot from heaven To dash the Scythians' brains, and strike them dead, That dare to manage arms with him That offered jewels to thy sacred shrine, When first he warred against the Christians! 200 [To the battle again. Zeno. By this the Turks lie weltering in their blood, And Tamburlaine is Lord of Africa. Zab. Thou art deceived.—I heard the trumpets sound, As when my emperor overthrew the Greeks, And led them captive into Africa. Straight will I use thee as thy pride deserves— Prepare thyself to live and die my slave. Zeno. If Mahomet should come from heaven and swear My royal lord is slain or conquerèd, Yet should he not persuade me otherwise 210 - Enter BAJAZETH, pursued by TAMBURLAINE; they fight, and BAJAZETH is overcome. Tamb. Now, king of bassoes, who is conqueror? Baj. Thou, by the fortune of this damnèd foil.1 Enter TECHELLES, THERIDAMAS, and USUMCASANE. Tech. We have their crowns-their bodies strow the field. Tamb. Each man a crown!-Why kingly fought i' faith. Deliver them into my treasury. Zeno. Now let me offer to my gracious lord His royal crown again so highly won. Tamb. Nay, take the crown from her, Zenocrate, 220 And crown me emperor of Africa. Zab. No, Tamburlaine: though now thou gat the best, Thou shalt not yet be lord of Africa. Ther. Give her the crown, Turkess; you were best. [He takes it from her. Zab. Injurious villains !-thieves !-runagates! How dare you thus abuse my majesty? Ther. Here, madam, you are empress; she is none. [Gives it to ZENOCRATE. Tamb. Not now, Theridamas; her time is past. The pillars that have bolstered up those terms, Are fallen in clusters at my conquering feet. 230 Zab. Though he be prisoner, he may be ransomed. 1 Old copies, "soil." "Foil of course meaning sword. But the old editions read soil, which is very probably (?) right, as referring to the ill-chosen field of battle."—Cunningham. I take foil to mean check, defeat," as in line 235, "So great a foil by any foreign foe." 66 Tamb. Not all the world shall ransom Bajazeth. Baj. Ah, fair Zabina! we have lost the field; And never had the Turkish emperor So great a foil by any foreign foe. Now will the Christian miscreants be glad, Shall make me bonfires with their filthy bones. Sailing along the oriental sea, 1 Have fetched about the Indian continent, Even from Persepolis to Mexico, And thence unto the straits of Jubaltèr ; Where they shall meet and join their force in one, 240 250 VOL. I. 1 Plundering. 2 Zante. E And all the ocean by the British 1 shore; And by this means I'll win the world at last. Baj. Yet set a ransom on me, Tamburlaine. 260 Tamb. What, think'st thou Tamburlaine esteems thy gold? I'll make the kings of India, ere I die, Offer their mines to sue for peace to me, And dig for treasure to appease my wrath. Come, bind them both, and one lead in the Turk [They bind them. Baj. Ah, villains !—dare ye touch my sacred arms? O Mahomet!-O sleepy Mahomet ! Zab. O cursed Mahomet, that makes us thus The slaves to Scythians rude and barbarous ! 270 Tamb. Come, bring them in; and for this happy conquest, Triumph and solemnise a martial feast. 1 So 4to.-8vo. "brightest." [Exeunt. ACT THE FOURTH. SCENE I. Enter the SOLDAN of EGYPT, CAPOLIN, Lords, and a Messenger. Sold. Awake, ye men of Memphis ! 1-hear the clang Of Scythian trumpets!—hear the basilisks,2 That, roaring, shake Damascus' turrets down! While thundering cannons rattle on their skins. Mess. Nay, mighty Soldan, did your greatness see 1 "These words are put into the mouth of Judas in Fletcher's Bonduca, at the commencement of Act ii.; and in Fletcher's Wit without Money, v. 2, we find 'Thou man of Memphis.""-Dyce. • Pieces of ordnance, so named from their fancied resemblance to the serpent. |