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-tir'd,
Unharness them, and let me have fresh horse.
So, now their best is done to honour me,
Take them and hang them both up presently.

TREB. Wild tyrant! barb'rous bloody Tamburlaine! TAMB. Take them away, Theridamas; see them despatch'd.

THER. I will, my lord.

[Exit, with the Kings of Trebizond and Syria. 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 ignominous servitude,

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

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

TAME. No, though Asphaltis' lake were liquid

gold,

And offer'd me as ransom for thy life,

Yet should'st thou die. Shoot at him all at once.
[They shoot.
So, now he hangs like Bagdad's governor,
Having as many bullets in his flesh

As there be breaches in the batter'd walls.
Go now, and bind the burghers hand and foot,
And cast them headlong in the city's lake.
Tartars and Persians shall inhabit there,
And to command the city, I will build
A citadel that all Africa,

Which hath been subject to the Persian king,

Shall pay me tribute for in Babylon.

TECH. What shall be done with their wives and children, my lord?

TAMB. Techelles, drown them all, man, woman,

and child.

Leave not a Babylonian in the town.

TECH. I will about it straight. Come, soldiers.

[Exit, with Soldiers.

TAMB. Now, Casane, where's the Turkish Alcoran,

And all the heaps of superstitious books

Found in the temples of that Mahomet,

Whom I have thought a god? They shall be burnt. USUM. Here they are, my lord.

TAMB. Well said; let there be a fire presently. In vain, I see, men worship Mahomet :

My sword hath sent millions of Turks to hell,
Slain all his priests, his kinsmen, and his friends,
And yet I live untouch'd by Mahomet.
There is a God, full of revengeful wrath,

From whom the thunder and the lightning breaks,
Whose scourge I am, and him will I obey :
So, Casane, fling them in the fire.

Now, Mahomet, if thou have any power,
Come down thyself and work a miracle.
Thou art not worthy to be worshipped.
That suffer'st flame of fire to burn the writ
Wherein the sum of thy religion rests.

Why send'st thou not a furious whirlwind down
To blow thy Alcoran up to thy throne,
Where men report thou sit'st by God himself?
Or vengeance on the head of Tamburlaine
That shakes his sword against thy majesty,
And spurns the abstracts of thy foolish laws?
Well, soldiers, Mahomet remains in hell;
He cannot hear the voice of Tamburlaine;
Seek out another Godhead to adore,
The God that sits in heav'n, if any God;
For he is God alone, and none but he.

Re-enter TECHELLES.

TECH. I have fulfill'd your highness' will, my lord.

Thousands of men, drown'd in Asphaltis' lake,
Have made the waters swell above the banks,
And fishes, fed by human carcases,
Amaz'd, swim up and down upon the waves,
As when they swallow assafoetida,

Which makes them fleet aloft and gape for air.

TAMB. Well then, my friendly lords, what more

remains,

But that we leave sufficient garrison,

And presently depart to Persia

To triumph after all our victories?

THER. Aye, good my lord; let us in haste to Persia,

And let this captain be remov'd the walls

To some high hill above the city here.

TAMB. Let it be so; about it soldiers;

But stay; I feel myself distemper'd suddenly.
TECH. What is it dares distemper Tamburlaine?
TAMB. Something, Techelles; but I know not
what-

But forth, ye vassals, whatsoe'er it be,

Sickness or death can never conquer me. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Enter CALLAPINE, AMASIA, and Soldiers, with drums and trumpets.

CALL. King of Amasia, now our mighty host
Marcheth in Asia Major where the streams

Of Euphrates aud Tigris swiftly run,
And here we may behold great Babylon
Circled about with Limnasphaltis' lake
Where Tamburlaine with all his army lies,

Which being faint and weary with the siege,
We may lie ready to encounter him
Before his host be full from Babylon,

And so revenge our latest grievous loss,
If God or Mahomet send any aid.

AMA. Doubt not, my lord, but we shall conquer him.

The monster that hath drunk a sea of blood,
And yet gapes still for more to quench his thirst,
Our Turkish swords shall headlong send to hell,
And that vile carcase drawn by warlike kings
The fowls shall eat; for never sepulchre
Shall grace that base-born tyrant Tamburlaine.
CALL. When I record my parents' slavish life,
Their cruel death, mine own captivity,
My viceroy's bondage under Tamburlaine,
Methinks I could sustain a thousand deaths
To be reveng'd of all his villainy.

Ah, sacred Mahomet! thou that hast seen
Millions of Turks perish by Tamburlaine,
Kingdoms made waste, brave cities sack'd and burnt,
And but one post is left to honour thee,
Aid thy obedient servant, Callapine,
And make him after all these overthrows
To triumph over cursed Tamburlaine.

AMA. Fear not, my lord; I see great Mahomet
Clothed in purple clouds, and on his head
A chaplet brighter than Apollo's crown,
Marching about the air with armed men
To join with you against this Tamburlaine.