ACT V.

SCENE I.

Enter the GOVERNOR of DAMASCUS, with three or four CITIZENS, and four VIRGINS with branches of laurel in their hands.

Gov. Still doth this man, or rather god of war,
Batter our walls and beat our turrets down;
And to resist with longer stubbornness,

Or hope of rescue from the Soldan's power,
Were but to bring our wilful overthrow,
And make us desperate of our threaten'd lives.
We see his tents have now been altered
With terrors to the last and cruel'st hue;
His coal-black colours, every where advanc'd,
Threaten our city with a general spoil;
And, if we should with common rites of arms
Offer our safeties to his clemency,

I fear the custom proper to his sword,
Which he observes as parcel of his fame,
Intending so to terrify the world,
By any innovation or remorse +

Will never be dispens'd with till our deaths.
Therefore, for these our harmless virgins' sakes §,
Whose honours and whose lives rely on him,

Damascus] Both the old eds. here "Damasco:" but in many other places they agree in reading "Damascus." + remorse] i. e. pity.

sakes] So the 8vo.-The 4to "sake."

Let us have hope that their unspotted prayers,
Their blubber'd* cheeks, and hearty, humble moans,
Will melt his fury into some remorse,

And use us like a loving conqueror †.

FIRST VIRG. If humble suits or imprecations
(Utter'd with tears of wretchedness and blood
Shed from the heads and hearts of all our sex,
Some made your wives, and some your children,)
Might have entreated your obdurate breasts
To entertain some care of our securities
Whiles only danger beat upon our walls,

These more than dangerous warrants of our death
Had never been erected as they be,

Nor you depend on such weak helps§ as we.

Gov. Well, lovely virgins, think our country's care, Our love of honour, loath to be inthrall'd To foreign powers and rough imperious yokes, Would not with too much cowardice or|| fear, Before all hope of rescue were denied, Submit yourselves and us to servitude. Therefore, in that your safeties and our own, Your honours, liberties, and lives were weigh'd In equal care and balance with our own,

* blubber'd] That this word formerly conveyed no ludicrous idea, appears from many passages of our early writers.

+ And use us like a loving conqueror] "i. e. And that he will use us like, &c." Ed. 1826.

care] So the 4to.-The 8vo " cares." Shelps] So the 8vo.-The 4to "help." or] So the 8vo.-The 4to " for."

Endure as we the malice of our stars,

The wrath of Tamburlaine and power* of wars;
Or be the means the overweighing Heavens
Have kept to qualify these hot extremes,
And bring us pardon in your cheerful looks.

SEC. VIRG. Then here, before the Majesty of Hea

ven

And holy patrons of Egyptia,

With knees and hearts submissive we entreat
Grace to our words and pity to our looks,
That this device may prove propitious,

And through the eyes and ears of Tamburlaine
Convey events of mercy to his heart;
Grant that these signs of victory we yield
May bind the temples of his conquering head,
To hide the folded furrows of his brows,
And shadow his displeased countenance
With happy looks of ruth and lenity.
Leave us, my lord, and loving countrymen :
What simple virgins may persuade, we will.
Gov. Farewell, sweet virgins, on whose safe re-

turn

Depends our city, liberty, and lives.

*

[Exeunt all, except the Virgins.

power] So the 8vo.-The 4to "powers."

Enter TAMBURLAINE, all in black and very melancholy, TECHELLES, THERIDAMAS, USUMCASANE, with others.

TAMB. What, are the turtles fray'd out of their
nests?

Alas, poor fools, must you be first shall feel

The sworn destruction of Damascus ?

They knew* my custom; could they not as well Have sent ye out, when first my milk-white flags, Through which sweet Mercy threw her gentle beams, Reflexed + them on your‡ disdainful eyes,

As§ now, when fury and incensed hate

Flings slaughtering terror from my coal-black tents ||, And tells for truth submission ¶ comes too late? FIRST VIRG. Most happy king and emperor of the earth,

Image of honour and nobility,

For whom the powers divine have made the world,
And on whose throne the holy Graces sit;
In whose sweet person is compris'd the sum
Of Nature's skill and heavenly majesty;
Pity our plights! oh, pity poor Damascus !
Pity old age, within whose silver hairs
Honour and reverence evermore have reign'd!

knew] So the 8vo.-The 4to "know."
+ Reflexed] Old eds. " "Reflexing."
your] Qy."their"?

As] So the 8vo.-The 4to " And."
tents] So the 8vo.-The 4to "tent."
¶ submission] Old eds. " submissions."

Pity the marriage-bed, where many a lord
In prime and glory of his loving joy

Embraceth now with tears of ruth and blood
The jealous body of his fearful wife,

Whose cheeks and hearts, so punish'd with conceit +
To think thy puissant never-stayed arm

Will part their bodies, and prevent their souls
From heavens of comfort yet their age might bear,
Now wax all pale and wither'd to the death,
As well for grief our ruthless governor
Haththus refus'd the mercy of thy hand,
(Whose sceptre angels kiss and Furies dread,)
As for their liberties, their loves, or lives!
Oh, then, for these, and such as we ourselves,
For us, for infants, and for all our bloods,
That never nourish'd § thought against thy rule,
Pity, oh, pity, sacred emperor,

The prostrate service of this wretched town;
And take in sign thereof this gilded wreath,
Whereto each man of rule hath given his hand,
And wish'd, as worthy subjects, happy means
To be investers of thy royal brows

Even with the true Egyptian diadem !

TAMB. Virgins, in vain you labour to prevent That which mine honour swears shall be perform'd.

*

of ruth and] So the 8vo.-The 4to "and ruth of." + conceit] See note, p. 55.

Hath] So the 4to.-The 8vo "Haue."

§ nourish'd] So the 8vo.-The 4to "nourish."
wish'd] So the 8vo.-The 4to "wish."