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diff --git a/old/tmbn210.txt b/old/tmbn210.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..899ad3f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/tmbn210.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4513 @@ +**The Project Gutenberg Etext of Tamburlaine the Great, Part 2** +by Christopher Marlowe +#6 in our series by Christopher Marlowe + +Also see: +Tamburlaine the Great PT 1, by Christopher Marlowe[tmbn10.*]1094 + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. 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Young, Mississauga, Ontario, +Canada, using an IBM compatible 486-33 computer, a Hewlett Packard +Scanjet IIP scanner, OmniPage Pro OCR software, and Microsoft Word +software, August 1998. + + + + + +Comments on the preparation of the E-Text: + +ANGLE BRACKETS: + +Any place where angle brackets are used, i.e. < >, it is +a change made during the preparation of this E-Text. The +original printed book did not use this character at all. + + +SQUARE BRACKETS: + +The square brackets, i.e. [ ] are copied from the printed book, +without change, except that the stage directions usually do not +have closing brackets. These have been added. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +For this E-Text version of the book, the footnotes have been +consolidated at the end of the play. + +Numbering of the footnotes has been changed, and each footnote +is given a unique identity in the form <XXX>. One aditional +footnote <<a>> has been inserted. + +Many of the footnotes refer back to notes to "The First Part +Of Tamburlaine the Great." These references have been copied +and inserted into the notes to this play. + + +CHANGES TO THE TEXT: + +Character names were expanded. For Example, TAMBURLAINE was +TAMB., ZENOCRATE was ZENO., etc. + + + + + +THE SECOND PART OF +TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT + + + + +EDITED BY THE REV. ALEXANDER DYCE + + +The Second Part of Tamburlaine the Great. +Concerning the old eds., see the prefatory matter +to THE FIRST PART.<<a>> + + THE PROLOGUE. +The general welcomes Tamburlaine receiv'd, +When he arrived last upon the<1> stage, +Have made our poet pen his Second Part, +Where Death cuts off the progress of his pomp, +And murderous Fates throw all his triumphs<2> down. +But what became of fair Zenocrate, +And with how many cities' sacrifice +He celebrated her sad<3> funeral, +Himself in presence shall unfold at large. + + DRAMATIS PERSONAE. +TAMBURLAINE, king of Persia. +CALYPHAS, > +AMYRAS, > his sons. +CELEBINUS, > +THERIDAMAS, king of Argier. +TECHELLES, king of Fez. +USUMCASANE, king of Morocco. +ORCANES, king of Natolia. +KING OF TREBIZON. +KING OF SORIA. +KING OF JERUSALEM. +KING OF AMASIA. +GAZELLUS, viceroy of Byron. +URIBASSA. +SIGISMUND, King of Hungary. +FREDERICK, > +BALDWIN, > Lords of Buda and Bohemia. +CALLAPINE, son to BAJAZETH, and prisoner to TAMBURLAINE. +ALMEDA, his keeper. +GOVERNOR OF BABYLON. +CAPTAIN OF BALSERA. +HIS SON. +ANOTHER CAPTAIN. +MAXIMUS, PERDICAS, Physicians, Lords, Citizens, Messengers, +Soldiers, and Attendants. + +ZENOCRATE, wife to TAMBURLAINE. +OLYMPIA, wife to the CAPTAIN OF BALSERA. +Turkish Concubines. + + + THE SECOND PART OF + TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT. + + + + ACT I. + + + SCENE I. + + Enter ORCANES king of Natolia, GAZELLUS viceroy of Byron, + URIBASSA,<4> and their train, with drums and trumpets. + +ORCANES. Egregious viceroys of these eastern parts, +Plac'd by the issue of great Bajazeth, +And sacred lord, the mighty Callapine, +Who lives in Egypt prisoner to that slave +Which kept his father in an iron cage,-- +Now have we march'd from fair Natolia +Two hundred leagues, and on Danubius' banks +Our warlike host, in complete armour, rest, +Where Sigismund, the king of Hungary, +Should meet our person to conclude a truce: +What! shall we parle with the Christian? +Or cross the stream, and meet him in the field? + +GAZELLUS. King of Natolia, let us treat of peace: +We all are glutted with the Christians' blood, +And have a greater foe to fight against,-- +Proud Tamburlaine, that now in Asia, +Near Guyron's head, doth set his conquering feet, +And means to fire Turkey as he goes: +'Gainst him, my lord, you must address your power. + +URIBASSA. Besides, King Sigismund hath brought from Christendom +More than his camp of stout Hungarians,-- +Sclavonians, Almains, Rutters,<5> Muffs, and Danes, +That with the halberd, lance, and murdering axe, +Will hazard that we might with surety hold. + +ORCANES.<6> Though from the shortest northern parallel, +Vast Grantland, compass'd with the Frozen Sea, +(Inhabited with tall and sturdy men, +Giants as big as hugy<7> Polypheme,) +Millions of soldiers cut the<8> arctic line, +Bringing the strength of Europe to these arms, +Our Turkey blades shall glide through all their throats, +And make this champion<9> mead a bloody fen: +Danubius' stream, that runs to Trebizon, +Shall carry, wrapt within his scarlet waves, +As martial presents to our friends at home, +The slaughter'd bodies of these Christians: +The Terrene<10> main, wherein Danubius falls, +Shall by this battle be the bloody sea: +The wandering sailors of proud Italy +Shall meet those Christians, fleeting with the tide, +Beating in heaps against their argosies, +And make fair Europe, mounted on her bull, +Trapp'd with the wealth and riches of the world, +Alight, and wear a woful mourning weed. + +GAZELLUS. Yet, stout Orcanes, pro-rex of the world, +Since Tamburlaine hath muster'd all his men, +Marching from Cairo<11> northward, with his camp, +To Alexandria and the frontier towns, +Meaning to make a conquest of our land, +'Tis requisite to parle for a peace +With Sigismund, the king of Hungary, +And save our forces for the hot assaults +Proud Tamburlaine intends Natolia. + +ORCANES. Viceroy of Byron, wisely hast thou said. +My realm, the centre of our empery, +Once lost, all Turkey would be overthrown; +And for that cause the Christians shall have peace. +Sclavonians, Almains, Rutters, Muffs, and Danes, +Fear<12> not Orcanes, but great Tamburlaine; +Nor he, but Fortune that hath made him great. +We have revolted Grecians, Albanese, +Sicilians, Jews, Arabians, Turks, and Moors, +Natolians, Sorians,<13> black<14> Egyptians, +Illyrians, Thracians, and Bithynians,<15> +Enough to swallow forceless Sigismund, +Yet scarce enough t' encounter Tamburlaine. +He brings a world of people to the field, +>From Scythia to the oriental plage<16> +Of India, where raging Lantchidol +Beats on the regions with his boisterous blows, +That never seaman yet discovered. +All Asia is in arms with Tamburlaine, +Even from the midst of fiery Cancer's tropic +To Amazonia under Capricorn; +And thence, as far as Archipelago, +All Afric is in arms with Tamburlaine: +Therefore, viceroy,<17> the Christians must have peace. + + Enter SIGISMUND, FREDERICK, BALDWIN, and their + train, with drums and trumpets. + +SIGISMUND. Orcanes, (as our legates promis'd thee,) +We, with our peers, have cross'd Danubius' stream, +To treat of friendly peace or deadly war. +Take which thou wilt; for, as the Romans us'd, +I here present thee with a naked sword: +Wilt thou have war, then shake this blade at me; +If peace, restore it to my hands again, +And I will sheathe it, to confirm the same. + +ORCANES. Stay, Sigismund: forgett'st thou I am he +That with the cannon shook Vienna-walls, +And made it dance upon the continent, +As when the massy substance of the earth +Quiver[s] about the axle-tree of heaven? +Forgett'st thou that I sent a shower of darts, +Mingled with powder'd shot and feather'd steel, +So thick upon the blink-ey'd burghers' heads, +That thou thyself, then County Palatine, +The King of Boheme,<18> and the Austric Duke, +Sent heralds out, which basely on their knees, +In all your names, desir'd a truce of me? +Forgett'st thou that, to have me raise my siege, +Waggons of gold were set before my tent, +Stampt with the princely fowl that in her wings +Carries the fearful thunderbolts of Jove? +How canst thou think of this, and offer war? + +SIGISMUND. Vienna was besieg'd, and I was there, +Then County Palatine, but now a king, +And what we did was in extremity +But now, Orcanes, view my royal host, +That hides these plains, and seems as vast and wide +As doth the desert of Arabia +To those that stand on Bagdet's<19> lofty tower, +Or as the ocean to the traveller +That rests upon the snowy Appenines; +And tell me whether I should stoop so low, +Or treat of peace with the Natolian king. + +GAZELLUS. Kings of Natolia and of Hungary, +We came from Turkey to confirm a league, +And not to dare each other to the field. +A friendly parle<20> might become you both. + +FREDERICK. And we from Europe, to the same intent;<21> +Which if your general refuse or scorn, +Our tents are pitch'd, our men stand<22> in array, +Ready to charge you ere you stir your feet. + +ORCANES. So prest<23> are we: but yet, if Sigismund +Speak as a friend, and stand not upon terms, +Here is his sword; let peace be ratified +On these conditions specified before, +Drawn with advice of our ambassadors. + +SIGISMUND. Then here I sheathe it, and give thee my hand, +Never to draw it out, or<24> manage arms +Against thyself or thy confederates, +But, whilst I live, will be at truce with thee. + +ORCANES. But, Sigismund, confirm it with an oath, +And swear in sight of heaven and by thy Christ. + +SIGISMUND. By Him that made the world and sav'd my soul, +The Son of God and issue of a maid, +Sweet Jesus Christ, I solemnly protest +And vow to keep this peace inviolable! + +ORCANES. By sacred Mahomet, the friend of God, +Whose holy Alcoran remains with us, +Whose glorious body, when he left the world, +Clos'd in a coffin mounted up the air, +And hung on stately Mecca's temple-roof, +I swear to keep this truce inviolable! +Of whose conditions<25> and our solemn oaths, +Sign'd with our hands, each shall retain a scroll, +As memorable witness of our league. +Now, Sigismund, if any Christian king +Encroach upon the confines of thy realm, +Send word, Orcanes of Natolia +Confirm'd<26> this league beyond Danubius' stream, +And they will, trembling, sound a quick retreat; +So am I fear'd among all nations. + +SIGISMUND. If any heathen potentate or king +Invade Natolia, Sigismund will send +A hundred thousand horse train'd to the war, +And back'd by<27> stout lanciers of Germany, +The strength and sinews of the imperial seat. + +ORCANES. I thank thee, Sigismund; but, when I war, +All Asia Minor, Africa, and Greece, +Follow my standard and my thundering drums. +Come, let us go and banquet in our tents: +I will despatch chief of my army hence +To fair Natolia and to Trebizon, +To stay my coming 'gainst proud Tamburlaine: +Friend Sigismund, and peers of Hungary, +Come, banquet and carouse with us a while, +And then depart we to our territories. + [Exeunt.] + + + SCENE II. + + Enter CALLAPINE, and ALMEDA his keeper. + +CALLAPINE. Sweet Almeda, pity the ruthful plight +Of Callapine, the son of Bajazeth, +Born to be monarch of the western world, +Yet here detain'd by cruel Tamburlaine. + +ALMEDA. My lord, I pity it, and with my heart +Wish your release; but he whose wrath is death, +My sovereign lord, renowmed<28> Tamburlaine, +Forbids you further liberty than this. + +CALLAPINE. Ah, were I now but half so eloquent +To paint in words what I'll perform in deeds, +I know thou wouldst depart from hence with me! + +ALMEDA. Not for all Afric: therefore move me not. + +CALLAPINE. Yet hear me speak, my gentle Almeda. + +ALMEDA. No speech to that end, by your favour, sir. + +CALLAPINE. By Cairo<29> runs-- + +ALMEDA. No talk of running, I tell you, sir. + +CALLAPINE. A little further, gentle Almeda. + +ALMEDA. Well, sir, what of this? + +CALLAPINE. By Cairo runs to Alexandria-bay +Darotes' stream,<30> wherein at<31> anchor lies +A Turkish galley of my royal fleet, +Waiting my coming to the river-side, +Hoping by some means I shall be releas'd; +Which, when I come aboard, will hoist up sail, +And soon put forth into the Terrene<32> sea, +Where,<33> 'twixt the isles of Cyprus and of Crete, +We quickly may in Turkish seas arrive. +Then shalt thou see a hundred kings and more, +Upon their knees, all bid me welcome home. +Amongst so many crowns of burnish'd gold, +Choose which thou wilt, all are at thy command: +A thousand galleys, mann'd with Christian slaves, +I freely give thee, which shall cut the Straits, +And bring armadoes, from<34> the coasts of Spain, +Fraughted with gold of rich America: +The Grecian virgins shall attend on thee, +Skilful in music and in amorous lays, +As fair as was Pygmalion's ivory girl +Or lovely Io metamorphosed: +With naked negroes shall thy coach be drawn, +And, as thou rid'st in triumph through the streets, +The pavement underneath thy chariot-wheels +With Turkey-carpets shall be covered, +And cloth of arras hung about the walls, +Fit objects for thy princely eye to pierce: +A hundred bassoes, cloth'd in crimson silk, +Shall ride before thee on Barbarian steeds; +And, when thou goest, a golden canopy +Enchas'd with precious stones, which shine as bright +As that fair veil that covers all the world, +When Phoebus, leaping from his hemisphere, +Descendeth downward to th' Antipodes:-- +And more than this, for all I cannot tell. + +ALMEDA. How far hence lies the galley, say you? + +CALLAPINE. Sweet Almeda, scarce half a league from hence. + +ALMEDA. But need<35> we not be spied going aboard? + +CALLAPINE. Betwixt the hollow hanging of a hill, +And crooked bending of a craggy rock, +The sails wrapt up, the mast and tacklings down, +She lies so close that none can find her out. + +ALMEDA. I like that well: but, tell me, my lord, +if I should let you go, would you be as good as +your word? shall I be made a king for my labour? + +CALLAPINE. As I am Callapine the emperor, +And by the hand of Mahomet I swear, +Thou shalt be crown'd a king, and be my mate! + +ALMEDA. Then here I swear, as I am Almeda, +Your keeper under Tamburlaine the Great, +(For that's the style and title I have yet,) +Although he sent a thousand armed men +To intercept this haughty enterprize, +Yet would I venture to conduct your grace, +And die before I brought you back again! + +CALLAPINE. Thanks, gentle Almeda: then let us haste, +Lest time be past, and lingering let<36> us both. + +ALMEDA. When you will, my lord: I am ready. + +CALLAPINE. Even straight:--and farewell, cursed Tamburlaine! +Now go I to revenge my father's death. + [Exeunt.] + + + SCENE III. + + Enter TAMBURLAINE, ZENOCRATE, and their three sons, + CALYPHAS, AMYRAS, and CELEBINUS, with drums and trumpets. + +TAMBURLAINE. Now, bright Zenocrate, the world's fair eye, +Whose beams illuminate the lamps of heaven, +Whose cheerful looks do clear the cloudy air, +And clothe it in a crystal livery, +Now rest thee here on fair Larissa-plains, +Where Egypt and the Turkish empire part +Between thy sons, that shall be emperors, +And every one commander of a world. + +ZENOCRATE. Sweet Tamburlaine, when wilt thou leave these arms, +And save thy sacred person free from scathe, +And dangerous chances of the wrathful war? + +TAMBURLAINE. When heaven shall cease to move on both the poles, +And when the ground, whereon my soldiers march, +Shall rise aloft and touch the horned moon; +And not before, my sweet Zenocrate. +Sit up, and rest thee like a lovely queen. +So; now she sits in pomp and majesty, +When these, my sons, more precious in mine eyes +Than all the wealthy kingdoms I subdu'd, +Plac'd by her side, look on their mother's face. +But yet methinks their looks are amorous, +Not martial as the sons of Tamburlaine: +Water and air, being symboliz'd in one, +Argue their want of courage and of wit; +Their hair as white as milk, and soft as down, +(Which should be like the quills of porcupines, +As black as jet, and hard as iron or steel,) +Bewrays they are too dainty for the wars; +Their fingers made to quaver on a lute, +Their arms to hang about a lady's neck, +Their legs to dance and caper in the air, +Would make me think them bastards, not my sons, +But that I know they issu'd from thy womb, +That never look'd on man but Tamburlaine. + +ZENOCRATE. My gracious lord, they have their mother's looks, +But, when they list, their conquering father's heart. +This lovely boy, the youngest of the three, +Not long ago bestrid a Scythian steed, +Trotting the ring, and tilting at a glove, +Which when he tainted<37> with his slender rod, +He rein'd him straight, and made him so curvet +As I cried out for fear he should have faln. + +TAMBURLAINE. +Well done, my boy! thou shalt have shield and lance, +Armour of proof, horse, helm, and curtle-axe, +And I will teach thee how to charge thy foe, +And harmless run among the deadly pikes. +If thou wilt love the wars and follow me, +Thou shalt be made a king and reign with me, +Keeping in iron cages emperors. +If thou exceed thy elder brothers' worth, +And shine in complete virtue more than they, +Thou shalt be king before them, and thy seed +Shall issue crowned from their mother's womb. + +CELEBINUS. Yes, father; you shall see me, if I live, +Have under me as many kings as you, +And march with such a multitude of men +As all the world shall<38> tremble at their view. + +TAMBURLAINE. These words assure me, boy, thou art my son. +When I am old and cannot manage arms, +Be thou the scourge and terror of the world. + +AMYRAS. Why may not I, my lord, as well as he, +Be term'd the scourge and terror of<39> the world? + +TAMBURLAINE. Be all a scourge and terror to<40> the world, +Or else you are not sons of Tamburlaine. + +CALYPHAS. But, while my brothers follow arms, my lord, +Let me accompany my gracious mother: +They are enough to conquer all the world, +And you have won enough for me to keep. + +TAMBURLAINE. Bastardly boy, sprung<41> from some coward's loins, +And not the issue of great Tamburlaine! +Of all the provinces I have subdu'd +Thou shalt not have a foot, unless thou bear +A mind courageous and invincible; +For he shall wear the crown of Persia +Whose head hath deepest scars, whose breast most wounds, +Which, being wroth, sends lightning from his eyes, +And in the furrows of his frowning brows +Harbours revenge, war, death, and cruelty; +For in a field, whose superficies<42> +Is cover'd with a liquid purple veil, +And sprinkled with the brains of slaughter'd men, +My royal chair of state shall be advanc'd; +And he that means to place himself therein, +Must armed wade up to the chin in blood. + +ZENOCRATE. My lord, such speeches to our princely sons +Dismay their minds before they come to prove +The wounding troubles angry war affords. + +CELEBINUS. No, madam, these are speeches fit for us; +For, if his chair were in a sea of blood, +I would prepare a ship and sail to it, +Ere I would lose the title of a king. + +AMYRAS. And I would strive to swim through<43> pools of blood, +Or make a bridge of murder'd carcasses,<44> +Whose arches should be fram'd with bones of Turks, +Ere I would lose the title of a king. + +TAMBURLAINE. Well, lovely boys, ye shall be emperors both, +Stretching your conquering arms from east to west:-- +And, sirrah, if you mean to wear a crown, +When we<45> shall meet the Turkish deputy +And all his viceroys, snatch it from his head, +And cleave his pericranion with thy sword. + +CALYPHAS. If any man will hold him, I will strike, +And cleave him to the channel<46> with my sword. + +TAMBURLAINE. Hold him, and cleave him too, or I'll cleave thee; +For we will march against them presently. +Theridamas, Techelles, and Casane +Promis'd to meet me on Larissa-plains, +With hosts a-piece against this Turkish crew; +For I have sworn by sacred Mahomet +To make it parcel of my empery. +The trumpets sound; Zenocrate, they come. + Enter THERIDAMAS, and his train, with drums and trumpets. +Welcome, Theridamas, king of Argier. + +THERIDAMAS. My lord, the great and mighty Tamburlaine, +Arch-monarch of the world, I offer here +My crown, myself, and all the power I have, +In all affection at thy kingly feet. + +TAMBURLAINE. Thanks, good Theridamas. + +THERIDAMAS. Under my colours march ten thousand Greeks, +And of Argier and Afric's frontier towns +Twice twenty thousand valiant men-at-arms; +All which have sworn to sack Natolia. +Five hundred brigandines are under sail, +Meet for your service on the sea, my lord, +That, launching from Argier to Tripoly, +Will quickly ride before Natolia, +And batter down the castles on the shore. + +TAMBURLAINE. Well said, Argier! receive thy crown again. + Enter USUMCASANE and TECHELLES. +Kings of Morocco<47> and of Fez, welcome. + +USUMCASANE. Magnificent and peerless Tamburlaine, +I and my neighbour king of Fez have brought, +To aid thee in this Turkish expedition, +A hundred thousand expert soldiers; +>From Azamor to Tunis near the sea +Is Barbary unpeopled for thy sake, +And all the men in armour under me, +Which with my crown I gladly offer thee. + +TAMBURLAINE. Thanks, king of Morocco: take your crown again. + +TECHELLES. And, mighty Tamburlaine, our earthly god, +Whose looks make this inferior world to quake, +I here present thee with the crown of Fez, +And with an host of Moors train'd to the war,<48> +Whose coal-black faces make their foes retire, +And quake for fear, as if infernal<49> Jove, +Meaning to aid thee<50> in these<51> Turkish arms, +Should pierce the black circumference of hell, +With ugly Furies bearing fiery flags, +And millions of his strong<52> tormenting spirits: +>From strong Tesella unto Biledull +All Barbary is unpeopled for thy sake. + +TAMBURLAINE. Thanks, king of Fez: take here thy crown again. +Your presence, loving friends and fellow-kings, +Makes me to surfeit in conceiving joy: +If all the crystal gates of Jove's high court +Were open'd wide, and I might enter in +To see the state and majesty of heaven, +It could not more delight me than your sight. +Now will we banquet on these plains a while, +And after march to Turkey with our camp, +In number more than are the drops that fall +When Boreas rents a thousand swelling clouds; +And proud Orcanes of Natolia +With all his viceroys shall be so afraid, +That, though the stones, as at Deucalion's flood, +Were turn'd to men, he should be overcome. +Such lavish will I make of Turkish blood, +That Jove shall send his winged messenger +To bid me sheathe my sword and leave the field; +The sun, unable to sustain the sight, +Shall hide his head in Thetis' watery lap, +And leave his steeds to fair Bootes'<53> charge; +For half the world shall perish in this fight. +But now, my friends, let me examine ye; +How have ye spent your absent time from me? + +USUMCASANE. My lord, our men of Barbary have march'd +Four hundred miles with armour on their backs, +And lain in leaguer<54> fifteen months and more; +For, since we left you at the Soldan's court, +We have subdu'd the southern Guallatia, +And all the land unto the coast of Spain; +We kept the narrow Strait of Jubalter,<55> +And made Canaria call us kings and lords: +Yet never did they recreate themselves, +Or cease one day from war and hot alarms; +And therefore let them rest a while, my lord. + +TAMBURLAINE. They shall, Casane, and 'tis time, i'faith. + +TECHELLES. And I have march'd along the river Nile +To Machda, where the mighty Christian priest, +Call'd John the Great,<56> sits in a milk-white robe, +Whose triple mitre I did take by force, +And made him swear obedience to my crown. +>From thence unto Cazates did I march, +Where Amazonians met me in the field, +With whom, being women, I vouchsaf'd a league, +And with my power did march to Zanzibar, +The western part of Afric, where I view'd +The Ethiopian sea, rivers and lakes, +But neither man nor child in all the land: +Therefore I took my course to Manico, +Where,<57> unresisted, I remov'd my camp; +And, by the coast of Byather,<58> at last +I came to Cubar, where the negroes dwell, +And, conquering that, made haste to Nubia. +There, having sack'd Borno, the kingly seat, +I took the king and led him bound in chains +Unto Damascus,<59> where I stay'd before. + +TAMBURLAINE. Well done, Techelles!--What saith Theridamas? + +THERIDAMAS. I left the confines and the bounds of Afric, +And made<60> a voyage into Europe, +Where, by the river Tyras, I subdu'd +Stoka, Podolia, and Codemia; +Then cross'd the sea and came to Oblia, +And Nigra Silva, where the devils dance, +Which, in despite of them, I set on fire. +>From thence I cross'd the gulf call'd by the name +Mare Majore of the inhabitants. +Yet shall my soldiers make no period +Until Natolia kneel before your feet. + +TAMBURLAINE. Then will we triumph, banquet and carouse; +Cooks shall have pensions to provide us cates, +And glut us with the dainties of the world; +Lachryma Christi and Calabrian wines +Shall common soldiers drink in quaffing bowls, +Ay, liquid gold, when we have conquer'd him,<61> +Mingled with coral and with orient<62> pearl. +Come, let us banquet and carouse the whiles. + [Exeunt.] + + + + ACT II. + + + SCENE I. + + Enter SIGISMUND, FREDERICK, and BALDWIN, with their train. + +SIGISMUND. Now say, my lords of Buda and Bohemia, +What motion is it that inflames your thoughts, +And stirs your valours to such sudden arms? + +FREDERICK. Your majesty remembers, I am sure, +What cruel slaughter of our Christian bloods +These heathenish Turks and pagans lately made +Betwixt the city Zula and Danubius; +How through the midst of Varna and Bulgaria, +And almost to the very walls of Rome, +They have, not long since, massacred our camp. +It resteth now, then, that your majesty +Take all advantages of time and power, +And work revenge upon these infidels. +Your highness knows, for Tamburlaine's repair, +That strikes a terror to all Turkish hearts, +Natolia hath dismiss'd the greatest part +Of all his army, pitch'd against our power +Betwixt Cutheia and Orminius' mount, +And sent them marching up to Belgasar, +Acantha, Antioch, and Caesarea, +To aid the kings of Soria<63> and Jerusalem. +Now, then, my lord, advantage take thereof,<64> +And issue suddenly upon the rest; +That, in the fortune of their overthrow, +We may discourage all the pagan troop +That dare attempt to war with Christians. + +SIGISMUND. But calls not, then, your grace to memory +The league we lately made with King Orcanes, +Confirm'd by oath and articles of peace, +And calling Christ for record of our truths? +This should be treachery and violence +Against the grace of our profession. + +BALDWIN. No whit, my lord; for with such infidels, +In whom no faith nor true religion rests, +We are not bound to those accomplishments +The holy laws of Christendom enjoin; +But, as the faith which they profanely plight +Is not by necessary policy +To be esteem'd assurance for ourselves, +So that we vow<65> to them should not infringe +Our liberty of arms and victory. + +SIGISMUND. Though I confess the oaths they undertake +Breed little strength to our security, +Yet those infirmities that thus defame +Their faiths,<66> their honours, and religion,<67> +Should not give us presumption to the like. +Our faiths are sound, and must be consummate,<68> +Religious, righteous, and inviolate. + +FREDERICK. Assure your grace, 'tis superstition +To stand so strictly on dispensive faith; +And, should we lose the opportunity +That God hath given to venge our Christians' death, +And scourge their foul blasphemous paganism, +As fell to Saul, to Balaam, and the rest, +That would not kill and curse at God's command, +So surely will the vengeance of the Highest, +And jealous anger of his fearful arm, +Be pour'd with rigour on our sinful heads, +If we neglect this<69> offer'd victory. + +SIGISMUND. Then arm, my lords, and issue suddenly, +Giving commandment to our general host, +With expedition to assail the pagan, +And take the victory our God hath given. + [Exeunt.] + + + SCENE II. + + Enter ORCANES, GAZELLUS, and URIBASSA, with their train. + +ORCANES. Gazellus, Uribassa, and the rest, +Now will we march from proud Orminius' mount +To fair Natolia, where our neighbour kings +Expect our power and our royal presence, +T' encounter with the cruel Tamburlaine, +That nigh Larissa sways a mighty host, +And with the thunder of his martial<70> tools +Makes earthquakes in the hearts of men and heaven. + +GAZELLUS. And now come we to make his sinews shake +With greater power than erst his pride hath felt. +An hundred kings, by scores, will bid him arms, +And hundred thousands subjects to each score: +Which, if a shower of wounding thunderbolts +Should break out of the bowels of the clouds, +And fall as thick as hail upon our heads, +In partial aid of that proud Scythian, +Yet should our courages and steeled crests, +And numbers, more than infinite, of men, +Be able to withstand and conquer him. + +URIBASSA. Methinks I see how glad the Christian king +Is made for joy of our<71> admitted truce, +That could not but before be terrified +With<72> unacquainted power of our host. + + Enter a Messenger. + +MESSENGER. Arm, dread sovereign, and my noble lords! +The treacherous army of the Christians, +Taking advantage of your slender power, +Comes marching on us, and determines straight +To bid us battle for our dearest lives. + +ORCANES. Traitors, villains, damned Christians! +Have I not here the articles of peace +And solemn covenants we have both confirm'd, +He by his Christ, and I by Mahomet? + +GAZELLUS. Hell and confusion light upon their heads, +That with such treason seek our overthrow, +And care so little for their prophet Christ! + +ORCANES. Can there be such deceit in Christians, +Or treason in the fleshly heart of man, +Whose shape is figure of the highest God? +Then, if there be a Christ, as Christians say, +But in their deeds deny him for their Christ, +If he be son to everliving Jove, +And hath the power of his outstretched arm, +If he be jealous of his name and honour +As is our holy prophet Mahomet, +Take here these papers as our sacrifice +And witness of thy servant's<73> perjury! + [He tears to pieces the articles of peace.] +Open, thou shining veil of Cynthia, +And make a passage from th' empyreal heaven, +That he that sits on high and never sleeps, +Nor in one place is circumscriptible, +But every where fills every continent +With strange infusion of his sacred vigour, +May, in his endless power and purity, +Behold and venge this traitor's perjury! +Thou, Christ, that art esteem'd omnipotent, +If thou wilt prove thyself a perfect God, +Worthy the worship of all faithful hearts, +Be now reveng'd upon this traitor's soul, +And make the power I have left behind +(Too little to defend our guiltless lives) +Sufficient to discomfit<74> and confound +The trustless force of those false Christians!-- +To arms, my lords!<75> on Christ still let us cry: +If there be Christ, we shall have victory. + [Exeunt.] + + + SCENE III. + + Alarms of battle within. Enter SIGISMUND wounded. + +SIGISMUND. Discomfited is all the Christian<76> host, +And God hath thunder'd vengeance from on high, +For my accurs'd and hateful perjury. +O just and dreadful punisher of sin, +Let the dishonour of the pains I feel +In this my mortal well-deserved wound +End all my penance in my sudden death! +And let this death, wherein to sin I die, +Conceive a second life in endless mercy! + [Dies.] + + Enter ORCANES, GAZELLUS, URIBASSA, with others. + +ORCANES. Now lie the Christians bathing in their bloods, +And Christ or Mahomet hath been my friend. + +GAZELLUS. See, here the perjur'd traitor Hungary, +Bloody and breathless for his villany! + +ORCANES. Now shall his barbarous body be a prey +To beasts and fowls, and all the winds shall breathe, +Through shady leaves of every senseless tree, +Murmurs and hisses for his heinous sin. +Now scalds his soul in the Tartarian streams, +And feeds upon the baneful tree of hell, +That Zoacum,<77> that fruit of bitterness, +That in the midst of fire is ingraff'd, +Yet flourisheth, as Flora in her pride, +With apples like the heads of damned fiends. +The devils there, in chains of quenchless flame, +Shall lead his soul, through Orcus' burning gulf, +>From pain to pain, whose change shall never end. +What say'st thou yet, Gazellus, to his foil, +Which we referr'd to justice of his Christ +And to his power, which here appears as full +As rays of Cynthia to the clearest sight? + +GAZELLUS. 'Tis but the fortune of the wars, my lord, +Whose power is often prov'd a miracle. + +ORCANES. Yet in my thoughts shall Christ be honoured, +Not doing Mahomet an<78> injury, +Whose power had share in this our victory; +And, since this miscreant hath disgrac'd his faith, +And died a traitor both to heaven and earth, +We will both watch and ward shall keep his trunk<79> +Amidst these plains for fowls to prey upon. +Go, Uribassa, give<80> it straight in charge. + +URIBASSA. I will, my lord. + [Exit.] + +ORCANES. And now, Gazellus, let us haste and meet +Our army, and our brother[s] of Jerusalem, +Of Soria,<81> Trebizon, and Amasia, +And happily, with full Natolian bowls +Of Greekish wine, now let us celebrate +Our happy conquest and his angry fate. + [Exeunt.] + + + SCENE IV. + + The arras is drawn, and ZENOCRATE is discovered lying + in her bed of state; TAMBURLAINE sitting by her; three + PHYSICIANS about her bed, tempering potions; her three + sons, CALYPHAS, AMYRAS, and CELEBINUS; THERIDAMAS, + TECHELLES, and USUMCASANE. + +TAMBURLAINE. Black is the beauty of the brightest day; +The golden ball of heaven's eternal fire, +That danc'd with glory on the silver waves, +Now wants the fuel that inflam'd his beams; +And all with faintness, and for foul disgrace, +He binds his temples with a frowning cloud, +Ready to darken earth with endless night. +Zenocrate, that gave him light and life, +Whose eyes shot fire from their<82> ivory brows,<83> +And temper'd every soul with lively heat, +Now by the malice of the angry skies, +Whose jealousy admits no second mate, +Draws in the comfort of her latest breath, +All dazzled with the hellish mists of death. +Now walk the angels on the walls of heaven, +As sentinels to warn th' immortal souls +To entertain divine Zenocrate: +Apollo, Cynthia, and the ceaseless lamps +That gently look'd upon this<84> loathsome earth, +Shine downwards now no more, but deck the heavens +To entertain divine Zenocrate: +The crystal springs, whose taste illuminates +Refined eyes with an eternal sight, +Like tried silver run through Paradise +To entertain divine Zenocrate: +The cherubins and holy seraphins, +That sing and play before the King of Kings, +Use all their voices and their instruments +To entertain divine Zenocrate; +And, in this sweet and curious harmony, +The god that tunes this music to our souls +Holds out his hand in highest majesty +To entertain divine Zenocrate. +Then let some holy trance convey my thoughts +Up to the palace of th' empyreal heaven, +That this my life may be as short to me +As are the days of sweet Zenocrate.-- +Physicians, will no<85> physic do her good? + +FIRST PHYSICIAN. My lord, your majesty shall soon perceive, +An if she pass this fit, the worst is past. + +TAMBURLAINE. Tell me, how fares my fair Zenocrate? + +ZENOCRATE. I fare, my lord, as other empresses, +That, when this frail and<86> transitory flesh +Hath suck'd the measure of that vital air +That feeds the body with his dated health, +Wane with enforc'd and necessary change. + +TAMBURLAINE. May never such a change transform my love, +In whose sweet being I repose my life! +Whose heavenly presence, beautified with health, +Gives light to Phoebus and the fixed stars; +Whose absence makes<87> the sun and moon as dark +As when, oppos'd in one diameter, +Their spheres are mounted on the serpent's head, +Or else descended to his winding train. +Live still, my love, and so conserve my life, +Or, dying, be the author<88> of my death. + +ZENOCRATE. Live still, my lord; O, let my sovereign live! +And sooner let the fiery element +Dissolve, and make your kingdom in the sky, +Than this base earth should shroud your majesty; +For, should I but suspect your death by mine, +The comfort of my future happiness, +And hope to meet your highness in the heavens, +Turn'd to despair, would break my wretched breast, +And fury would confound my present rest. +But let me die, my love; yes,<89> let me die; +With love and patience let your true love die: +Your grief and fury hurts my second life. +Yet let me kiss my lord before I die, +And let me die with kissing of my lord. +But, since my life is lengthen'd yet a while, +Let me take leave of these my loving sons, +And of my lords, whose true nobility +Have merited my latest memory. +Sweet sons, farewell! in death resemble me, +And in your lives your father's excellence.<90> +Some music, and my fit will cease, my lord. + [They call for music.] + +TAMBURLAINE. Proud fury, and intolerable fit, +That dares torment the body of my love, +And scourge the scourge of the immortal God! +Now are those spheres, where Cupid us'd to sit, +Wounding the world with wonder and with love, +Sadly supplied with pale and ghastly death, +Whose darts do pierce the centre of my soul. +Her sacred beauty hath enchanted heaven; +And, had she liv'd before the siege of Troy, +Helen, whose beauty summon'd Greece to arms, +And drew a thousand ships to Tenedos, +Had not been nam'd in Homer's Iliads,-- +Her name had been in every line he wrote; +Or, had those wanton poets, for whose birth +Old Rome was proud, but gaz'd a while on her, +Nor Lesbia nor Corinna had been nam'd,-- +Zenocrate had been the argument +Of every epigram or elegy. + [The music sounds--ZENOCRATE dies.] +What, is she dead? Techelles, draw thy sword, +And wound the earth, that it may cleave in twain, +And we descend into th' infernal vaults, +To hale the Fatal Sisters by the hair, +And throw them in the triple moat of hell, +For taking hence my fair Zenocrate. +Casane and Theridamas, to arms! +Raise cavalieros<91> higher than the clouds, +And with the cannon break the frame of heaven; +Batter the shining palace of the sun, +And shiver all the starry firmament, +For amorous Jove hath snatch'd my love from hence, +Meaning to make her stately queen of heaven. +What god soever holds thee in his arms, +Giving thee nectar and ambrosia, +Behold me here, divine Zenocrate, +Raving, impatient, desperate, and mad, +Breaking my steeled lance, with which I burst +The rusty beams of Janus' temple-doors, +Letting out Death and tyrannizing War, +To march with me under this bloody flag! +And, if thou pitiest Tamburlaine the Great, +Come down from heaven, and live with me again! + +THERIDAMAS. Ah, good my lord, be patient! she is dead, +And all this raging cannot make her live. +If words might serve, our voice hath rent the air; +If tears, our eyes have water'd all the earth; +If grief, our murder'd hearts have strain'd forth blood: +Nothing prevails,<92> for she is dead, my lord. + +TAMBURLAINE. FOR SHE IS DEAD! thy words do pierce my soul: +Ah, sweet Theridamas, say so no more! +Though she be dead, yet let me think she lives, +And feed my mind that dies for want of her. +Where'er her soul be, thou [To the body] shalt stay with me, +Embalm'd with cassia, ambergris, and myrrh, +Not lapt in lead, but in a sheet of gold, +And, till I die, thou shalt not be interr'd. +Then in as rich a tomb as Mausolus'<93> +We both will rest, and have one<94> epitaph +Writ in as many several languages +As I have conquer'd kingdoms with my sword. +This cursed town will I consume with fire, +Because this place bereft me of my love; +The houses, burnt, will look as if they mourn'd; +And here will I set up her stature,<95> +And march about it with my mourning camp, +Drooping and pining for Zenocrate. + [The arras is drawn.] + + + + ACT III. + + + SCENE I. + + Enter the KINGS OF TREBIZON and SORIA,<96> one bringing a + sword and the other a sceptre; next, ORCANES king of + Natolia, and the KING OF JERUSALEM with the imperial crown, + after, CALLAPINE; and, after him, other LORDS and ALMEDA. + ORCANES and the KING OF JERUSALEM crown CALLAPINE, and the + others give him the sceptre. + +ORCANES. Callapinus Cyricelibes, otherwise Cybelius, son and +successive heir to the late mighty emperor Bajazeth, by the aid +of God and his friend Mahomet, Emperor of Natolia, Jerusalem, +Trebizon, Soria, Amasia, Thracia, Ilyria, Carmania, and all the +hundred and thirty kingdoms late contributory to his mighty +father,--long live Callapinus, Emperor of Turkey! + +CALLAPINE. Thrice-worthy kings, of Natolia and the rest, +I will requite your royal gratitudes +With all the benefits my empire yields; +And, were the sinews of th' imperial seat +So knit and strengthen'd as when Bajazeth, +My royal lord and father, fill'd the throne, +Whose cursed fate<97> hath so dismember'd it, +Then should you see this thief of Scythia, +This proud usurping king of Persia, +Do us such honour and supremacy, +Bearing the vengeance of our father's wrongs, +As all the world should blot his<98> dignities +Out of the book of base-born infamies. +And now I doubt not but your royal cares +Have so provided for this cursed foe, +That, since the heir of mighty Bajazeth +(An emperor so honour'd for his virtues) +Revives the spirits of all<99> true Turkish hearts, +In grievous memory of his father's shame, +We shall not need to nourish any doubt, +But that proud Fortune, who hath follow'd long +The martial sword of mighty Tamburlaine, +Will now retain her old inconstancy, +And raise our honours<100> to as high a pitch, +In this our strong and fortunate encounter; +For so hath heaven provided my escape +>From all the cruelty my soul sustain'd, +By this my friendly keeper's happy means, +That Jove, surcharg'd with pity of our wrongs, +Will pour it down in showers on our heads, +Scourging the pride of cursed Tamburlaine. + +ORCANES. I have a hundred thousand men in arms; +Some that, in conquest<101> of the perjur'd Christian, +Being a handful to a mighty host, +Think them in number yet sufficient +To drink the river Nile or Euphrates, +And for their power enow to win the world. + +KING OF JERUSALEM. And I as many from Jerusalem, +Judaea,<102> Gaza, and Sclavonia's<103> bounds, +That on mount Sinai, with their ensigns spread, +Look like the parti-colour'd clouds of heaven +That shew fair weather to the neighbour morn. + +KING OF TREBIZON. And I as many bring from Trebizon, +Chio, Famastro, and Amasia, +All bordering on the Mare-Major-sea, +Riso, Sancina, and the bordering towns +That touch the end of famous Euphrates, +Whose courages are kindled with the flames +The cursed Scythian sets on all their towns, +And vow to burn the villain's cruel heart. + +KING OF SORIA. From Soria<104> with seventy thousand strong, +Ta'en from Aleppo, Soldino, Tripoly, +And so unto my city of Damascus,<105> +I march to meet and aid my neighbour kings; +All which will join against this Tamburlaine, +And bring him captive to your highness' feet. + +ORCANES. Our battle, then, in martial manner pitch'd, +According to our ancient use, shall bear +The figure of the semicircled moon, +Whose horns shell sprinkle through the tainted air +The poison'd brains of this proud Scythian. + +CALLAPINE. Well, then, my noble lords, for this my friend +That freed me from the bondage of my foe, +I think it requisite and honourable +To keep my promise and to make him king, +That is a gentleman, I know, at least. + +ALMEDA. That's no matter,<106> sir, for being a king; +or Tamburlaine came up of nothing. + +KING OF JERUSALEM. Your majesty may choose some 'pointed time, +Performing all your promise to the full; +'Tis naught for your majesty to give a kingdom. + +CALLAPINE. Then will I shortly keep my promise, Almeda. + +ALMEDA. Why, I thank your majesty. + [Exeunt.] + + + SCENE II. + + Enter TAMBURLAINE and his three sons, CALYPHAS, AMYRAS, and + CELEBINUS; USUMCASANE; four ATTENDANTS bearing the hearse of + ZENOCRATE, and the drums sounding a doleful march; the town + burning. + +TAMBURLAINE. So burn the turrets of this cursed town, +Flame to the highest region of the air, +And kindle heaps of exhalations, +That, being fiery meteors, may presage +Death and destruction to the inhabitants! +Over my zenith hang a blazing star, +That may endure till heaven be dissolv'd, +Fed with the fresh supply of earthly dregs, +Threatening a dearth<107> and famine to this land! +Flying dragons, lightning, fearful thunder-claps, +Singe these fair plains, and make them seem as black +As is the island where the Furies mask, +Compass'd with Lethe, Styx, and Phlegethon, +Because my dear Zenocrate is dead! + +CALYPHAS. This pillar, plac'd in memory of her, +Where in Arabian, Hebrew, Greek, is writ, +THIS TOWN, BEING BURNT BY TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT, +FORBIDS THE WORLD TO BUILD IT UP AGAIN. + +AMYRAS. And here this mournful streamer shall be plac'd, +Wrought with the Persian and th'<108> Egyptian arms, +To signify she was a princess born, +And wife unto the monarch of the East. + +CELEBINUS. And here this table as a register +Of all her virtues and perfections. + +TAMBURLAINE. And here the picture of Zenocrate, +To shew her beauty which the world admir'd; +Sweet picture of divine Zenocrate, +That, hanging here, will draw the gods from heaven, +And cause the stars fix'd in the southern arc, +(Whose lovely faces never any view'd +That have not pass'd the centre's latitude,) +As pilgrims travel to our hemisphere, +Only to gaze upon Zenocrate. +Thou shalt not beautify Larissa-plains, +But keep within the circle of mine arms: +At every town and castle I besiege, +Thou shalt be set upon my royal tent; +And, when I meet an army in the field, +Those<109> looks will shed such influence in my camp, +As if Bellona, goddess of the war, +Threw naked swords and sulphur-balls of fire +Upon the heads of all our enemies.-- +And now, my lords, advance your spears again; +Sorrow no more, my sweet Casane, now: +Boys, leave to mourn; this town shall ever mourn, +Being burnt to cinders for your mother's death. + +CALYPHAS. If I had wept a sea of tears for her, +would not ease the sorrows<110> I sustain. + +AMYRAS. As is that town, so is my heart consum'd +With grief and sorrow for my mother's death. + +CELEBINUS. My mother's death hath mortified my mind, +And sorrow stops the passage of my speech. + +TAMBURLAINE. But now, my boys, leave off, and list to me, +That mean to teach you rudiments of war. +I'll have you learn to sleep upon the ground, +March in your armour thorough watery fens, +Sustain the scorching heat and freezing cold, +Hunger and thirst,<111> right adjuncts of the war; +And, after this, to scale a castle-wall, +Besiege a fort, to undermine a town, +And make whole cities caper in the air: +Then next, the way to fortify your men; +In champion<112> grounds what figure serves you best, +For which<113> the quinque-angle form is meet, +Because the corners there may fall more flat +Whereas<114> the fort may fittest be assail'd, +And sharpest where th' assault is desperate: +The ditches must be deep; the<115> counterscarps +Narrow and steep; the walls made high and broad; +The bulwarks and the rampires large and strong, +With cavalieros<116> and thick counterforts, +And room within to lodge six thousand men; +It must have privy ditches, countermines, +And secret issuings to defend the ditch; +It must have high argins<117> and cover'd ways +To keep the bulwark-fronts from battery, +And parapets to hide the musketeers, +Casemates to place the great<118> artillery, +And store of ordnance, that from every flank +May scour the outward curtains of the fort, +Dismount the cannon of the adverse part, +Murder the foe, and save the<119> walls from breach. +When this is learn'd for service on the land, +By plain and easy demonstration +I'll teach you how to make the water mount, +That you may dry-foot march through lakes and pools, +Deep rivers, havens, creeks, and little seas, +And make a fortress in the raging waves, +Fenc'd with the concave of a monstrous rock, +Invincible by nature<120> of the place. +When this is done, then are ye soldiers, +And worthy sons of Tamburlaine the Great. + +CALYPHAS. My lord, but this is dangerous to be done; +We may be slain or wounded ere we learn. + +TAMBURLAINE. Villain, art thou the son of Tamburlaine, +And fear'st to die, or with a<121> curtle-axe +To hew thy flesh, and make a gaping wound? +Hast thou beheld a peal of ordnance strike +A ring of pikes, mingled with shot and horse,<122> +Whose shatter'd limbs, being toss'd as high as heaven, +Hang in the air as thick as sunny motes, +And canst thou, coward, stand in fear of death? +Hast thou not seen my horsemen charge the foe, +Shot through the arms, cut overthwart the hands, +Dying their lances with their streaming blood, +And yet at night carouse within my tent, +Filling their empty veins with airy wine, +That, being concocted, turns to crimson blood, +And wilt thou shun the field for fear of wounds? +View me, thy father, that hath conquer'd kings, +And, with his<123> host, march'd<124> round about the earth, +Quite void of scars and clear from any wound, +That by the wars lost not a drop<125> of blood, +And see him lance<126> his flesh to teach you all. + [He cuts his arm.] +A wound is nothing, be it ne'er so deep; +Blood is the god of war's rich livery. +Now look I like a soldier, and this wound +As great a grace and majesty to me, +As if a chair of gold enamelled, +Enchas'd with diamonds, sapphires, rubies, +And fairest pearl of wealthy India, +Were mounted here under a canopy, +And I sat down, cloth'd with a massy robe +That late adorn'd the Afric potentate, +Whom I brought bound unto Damascus' walls. +Come, boys, and with your fingers search my wound, +And in my blood wash all your hands at once, +While I sit smiling to behold the sight. +Now, my boys, what think ye of a wound? + +CALYPHAS. I know not<127> what I should think of it; +methinks 'tis a pitiful sight. + +CELEBINUS. 'Tis<128> nothing.--Give me a wound, father. + +AMYRAS. And me another, my lord. + +TAMBURLAINE. Come, sirrah, give me your arm. + +CELEBINUS. Here, father, cut it bravely, as you did your own. + +TAMBURLAINE. It shall suffice thou dar'st abide a wound; +My boy, thou shalt not lose a drop of blood +Before we meet the army of the Turk; +But then run desperate through the thickest throngs, +Dreadless of blows, of bloody wounds, and death; +And let the burning of Larissa-walls, +My speech of war, and this my wound you see, +Teach you, my boys, to bear courageous minds, +Fit for the followers of great Tamburlaine.-- +Usumcasane, now come, let us march +Towards Techelles and Theridamas, +That we have sent before to fire the towns, +The towers and cities of these hateful Turks, +And hunt that coward faint-heart runaway, +With that accursed<129> traitor Almeda, +Till fire and sword have found them at a bay. + +USUMCASANE. I long to pierce his<130> bowels with my sword, +That hath betray'd my gracious sovereign,-- +That curs'd and damned traitor Almeda. + +TAMBURLAINE. Then let us see if coward Callapine +Dare levy arms against our puissance, +That we may tread upon his captive neck, +And treble all his father's slaveries. + [Exeunt.] + + + SCENE III. + + Enter TECHELLES, THERIDAMAS, and their train. + +THERIDAMAS. Thus have we march'd northward from Tamburlaine, +Unto the frontier point<131> of Soria;<132> +And this is Balsera, their chiefest hold, +Wherein is all the treasure of the land. + +TECHELLES. Then let us bring our light artillery, +Minions, falc'nets, and sakers,<133> to the trench, +Filling the ditches with the walls' wide breach, +And enter in to seize upon the hold.--<134> +How say you, soldiers, shall we not? + +SOLDIERS. Yes, my lord, yes; come, let's about it. + +THERIDAMAS. But stay a while; summon a parle, drum. +It may be they will yield it quietly,<135> +Knowing two kings, the friends<136> to Tamburlaine, +Stand at the walls with such a mighty power. + [A parley sounded.--CAPTAIN appears on the walls, + with OLYMPIA his wife, and his SON.] + +CAPTAIN. What require you, my masters? + +THERIDAMAS. Captain, that thou yield up thy hold to us. + +CAPTAIN. To you! why, do you<137> think me weary of it? + +TECHELLES. Nay, captain, thou art weary of thy life, +If thou withstand the friends of Tamburlaine. + +THERIDAMAS. These pioners<138> of Argier in Africa, +Even in<139> the cannon's face, shall raise a hill +Of earth and faggots higher than thy fort, +And, over thy argins<140> and cover'd ways, +Shall play upon the bulwarks of thy hold +Volleys of ordnance, till the breach be made +That with his ruin fills up all the trench; +And, when we enter in, not heaven itself +Shall ransom thee, thy wife, and family. + +TECHELLES. Captain, these Moors shall cut the leaden pipes +That bring fresh water to thy men and thee, +And lie in trench before thy castle-walls, +That no supply of victual shall come in, +Nor [any] issue forth but they shall die; +And, therefore, captain, yield it quietly.<141> + +CAPTAIN. Were you, that are the friends of Tamburlaine,<142> +Brothers of<143> holy Mahomet himself, +I would not yield it; therefore do your worst: +Raise mounts, batter, intrench, and undermine, +Cut off the water, all convoys that can,<144> +Yet I am<145> resolute: and so, farewell. + [CAPTAIN, OLYMPIA, and SON, retire from the walls.] + +THERIDAMAS. Pioners, away! and where I stuck the stake, +Intrench with those dimensions I prescrib'd; +Cast up the earth towards the castle-wall, +Which, till it may defend you, labour low, +And few or none shall perish by their shot. + +PIONERS. We will, my lord. + [Exeunt PIONERS.] + +TECHELLES. A hundred horse shall scout about the plains, +To spy what force comes to relieve the hold. +Both we, Theridamas, will intrench our men, +And with the Jacob's staff measure the height +And distance of the castle from the trench, +That we may know if our artillery +Will carry full point-blank unto their walls. + +THERIDAMAS. Then see the bringing of our ordnance +Along the trench into<146> the battery, +Where we will have gallions of six foot broad, +To save our cannoneers from musket-shot; +Betwixt which shall our ordnance thunder forth, +And with the breach's fall, smoke, fire, and dust, +The crack, the echo, and the soldiers' cry, +Make deaf the air and dim the crystal sky. + +TECHELLES. Trumpets and drums, alarum presently! +And, soldiers, play the men; the hold<147> is yours! + [Exeunt.] + + + SCENE IV. + + Alarms within. Enter the CAPTAIN, with OLYMPIA, and his + SON. + +OLYMPIA. Come, good my lord, and let us haste from hence, +Along the cave that leads beyond the foe: +No hope is left to save this conquer'd hold. + +CAPTAIN. A deadly bullet, gliding through my side, +Lies heavy on my heart; I cannot live: +I feel my liver pierc'd, and all my veins, +That there begin and nourish every part, +Mangled and torn, and all my entrails bath'd +In blood that straineth<148> from their orifex. +Farewell, sweet wife! sweet son, farewell! I die. + [Dies.] + +OLYMPIA. Death, whither art thou gone, that both we live? +Come back again, sweet Death, and strike us both! +One minute and our days, and one sepulchre +Contain our bodies! Death, why com'st thou not +Well, this must be the messenger for thee: + [Drawing a dagger.] +Now, ugly Death, stretch out thy sable wings, +And carry both our souls where his remains.-- +Tell me, sweet boy, art thou content to die? +These barbarous Scythians, full of cruelty, +And Moors, in whom was never pity found, +Will hew us piecemeal, put us to the wheel, +Or else invent some torture worse than that; +Therefore die by thy loving mother's hand, +Who gently now will lance thy ivory throat, +And quickly rid thee both of pain and life. + +SON. Mother, despatch me, or I'll kill myself; +For think you I can live and see him dead? +Give me your knife, good mother, or strike home:<149> +The Scythians shall not tyrannize on me: +Sweet mother, strike, that I may meet my father. + [She stabs him, and he dies.] + +OLYMPIA. Ah, sacred Mahomet, if this be sin, +Entreat a pardon of the God of heaven, +And purge my soul before it come to thee! + [She burns the bodies of her HUSBAND and SON, + and then attempts to kill herself.] + + Enter THERIDAMAS, TECHELLES, and all their train. + +THERIDAMAS. How now, madam! what are you doing? + +OLYMPIA. Killing myself, as I have done my son, +Whose body, with his father's, I have burnt, +Lest cruel Scythians should dismember him. + +TECHELLES. 'Twas bravely done, and like a soldier's wife. +Thou shalt with us to Tamburlaine the Great, +Who, when he hears how resolute thou wert,<150> +Will match thee with a viceroy or a king. + +OLYMPIA. My lord deceas'd was dearer unto me +Than any viceroy, king, or emperor; +And for his sake here will I end my days. + +THERIDAMAS. But, lady, go with us to Tamburlaine, +And thou shalt see a man greater than Mahomet, +In whose high looks is much more majesty, +Than from the concave superficies +Of Jove's vast palace, the empyreal orb, +Unto the shining bower where Cynthia sits, +Like lovely Thetis, in a crystal robe; +That treadeth Fortune underneath his feet, +And makes the mighty god of arms his slave; +On whom Death and the Fatal Sisters wait +With naked swords and scarlet liveries; +Before whom, mounted on a lion's back, +Rhamnusia bears a helmet full of blood, +And strows the way with brains of slaughter'd men; +By whose proud side the ugly Furies run, +Hearkening when he shall bid them plague the world; +Over whose zenith, cloth'd in windy air, +And eagle's wings join'd<151> to her feather'd breast, +Fame hovereth, sounding of<152> her golden trump, +That to the adverse poles of that straight line +Which measureth the glorious frame of heaven +The name of mighty Tamburlaine is spread; +And him, fair lady, shall thy eyes behold. +Come. + +OLYMPIA. Take pity of a lady's ruthful tears, +That humbly craves upon her knees to stay, +And cast her body in the burning flame +That feeds upon her son's and husband's flesh. + +TECHELLES. Madam, sooner shall fire consume us both +Than scorch a face so beautiful as this, +In frame of which Nature hath shew'd more skill +Than when she gave eternal chaos form, +Drawing from it the shining lamps of heaven. + +THERIDAMAS. Madam, I am so far in love with you, +That you must go with us: no remedy. + +OLYMPIA. Then carry me, I care not, where you will, +And let the end of this my fatal journey +Be likewise end to my accursed life. + +TECHELLES. No, madam, but the<153> beginning of your joy: +Come willingly therefore. + +THERIDAMAS. Soldiers, now let us meet the general, +Who by this time is at Natolia, +Ready to charge the army of the Turk. +The gold and<154> silver, and the pearl, ye got, +Rifling this fort, divide in equal shares: +This lady shall have twice so much again +Out of the coffers of our treasury. + [Exeunt.] + + + SCENE V. + + Enter CALLAPINE, ORCANES, the KINGS OF JERUSALEM, TREBIZON, + and SORIA, with their train, ALMEDA, and a MESSENGER. + +MESSENGER. Renowmed<155> emperor, mighty<156> Callapine, +God's great lieutenant over all the world, +Here at Aleppo, with an host of men, +Lies Tamburlaine, this king of Persia, +(In number more than are the<157> quivering leaves +Of Ida's forest, where your highness' hounds +With open cry pursue the wounded stag,) +Who means to girt Natolia's walls with siege, +Fire the town, and over-run the land. + +CALLAPINE. My royal army is as great as his, +That, from the bounds of Phrygia to the sea +Which washeth Cyprus with his brinish waves, +Covers the hills, the valleys, and the plains. +Viceroys and peers of Turkey, play the men; +Whet all your<158> swords to mangle Tamburlaine, +His sons, his captains, and his followers: +By Mahomet, not one of them shall live! +The field wherein this battle shall be fought +For ever term'd<159> the Persians' sepulchre, +In memory of this our victory. + +ORCANES. Now he that calls himself the<160> scourge of Jove, +The emperor of the world, and earthly god, +Shall end the warlike progress he intends, +And travel headlong to the lake of hell, +Where legions of devils (knowing he must die +Here in Natolia by your<161> highness' hands), +All brandishing their<162> brands of quenchless fire, +Stretching their monstrous paws, grin with<163> their teeth, +And guard the gates to entertain his soul. + +CALLAPINE. Tell me, viceroys, the number of your men, +And what our army royal is esteem'd. + +KING OF JERUSALEM. From Palestina and Jerusalem, +Of Hebrews three score thousand fighting men +Are come, since last we shew'd your<164> majesty. + +ORCANES. So from Arabia Desert, and the bounds +Of that sweet land whose brave metropolis +Re-edified the fair Semiramis, +Came forty thousand warlike foot and horse, +Since last we number'd to your majesty. + +KING OF TREBIZON. From Trebizon in Asia the Less, +Naturaliz'd Turks and stout Bithynians +Came to my bands, full fifty thousand more, +(That, fighting, know not what retreat doth mean, +Nor e'er return but with the victory,) +Since last we number'd to your majesty. + +KING OF SORIA. Of Sorians<165> from Halla is repair'd,<166> +And neighbour cities of your highness' land,<167> +Ten thousand horse, and thirty thousand foot, +Since last we number'd to your majesty; +So that the army royal is esteem'd +Six hundred thousand valiant fighting men. + +CALLAPINE. Then welcome, Tamburlaine, unto thy death!-- +Come, puissant viceroys, let us to the field +(The Persians' sepulchre), and sacrifice +Mountains of breathless men to Mahomet, +Who now, with Jove, opens the firmament +To see the slaughter of our enemies. + + Enter TAMBURLAINE with his three SONS, CALYPHAS, AMYRAS, + and CELEBINUS; USUMCASANE, and others. + +TAMBURLAINE. How now, Casane! see, a knot of kings, +Sitting as if they were a-telling riddles! + +USUMCASANE. My lord, your presence makes them pale and wan: +Poor souls, they look as if their deaths were near. + +TAMBURLAINE. Why, so he<168> is, Casane; I am here: +But yet I'll save their lives, and make them slaves.-- +Ye petty kings of Turkey, I am come, +As Hector did into the Grecian camp, +To overdare the pride of Graecia, +And set his warlike person to the view +Of fierce Achilles, rival of his fame: +I do you honour in the simile; +For, if I should, as Hector did Achilles, +(The worthiest knight that ever brandish'd sword,) +Challenge in combat any of you all, +I see how fearfully ye would refuse, +And fly my glove as from a scorpion. + +ORCANES. Now, thou art fearful of thy army's strength, +Thou wouldst with overmatch of person fight: +But, shepherd's issue, base-born Tamburlaine, +Think of thy end; this sword shall lance thy throat. + +TAMBURLAINE. Villain, the shepherd's issue (at whose birth +Heaven did afford a gracious aspect, +And join'd those stars that shall be opposite +Even till the dissolution of the world, +And never meant to make a conqueror +So famous as is<169> mighty Tamburlaine) +Shall so torment thee, and that Callapine, +That, like a roguish runaway, suborn'd +That villain there, that slave, that Turkish dog, +To false his service to his sovereign, +As ye shall curse the birth of Tamburlaine. + +CALLAPINE. Rail not, proud Scythian: I shall now revenge +My father's vile abuses and mine own. + +KING OF JERUSALEM. By Mahomet, he shall be tied in chains, +Rowing with Christians in a brigandine +About the Grecian isles to rob and spoil, +And turn him to his ancient trade again: +Methinks the slave should make a lusty thief. + +CALLAPINE. Nay, when the battle ends, all we will meet, +And sit in council to invent some pain +That most may vex his body and his soul. + +TAMBURLAINE. Sirrah Callapine, I'll hang a clog about +your neck for running away again: you shall not +trouble me thus to come and fetch you.-- +But as for you, viceroy[s], you shall have bits, +And, harness'd<170> like my horses, draw my coach; +And, when ye stay, be lash'd with whips of wire: +I'll have you learn to feed on<171> provender, +And in a stable lie upon the planks. + +ORCANES. But, Tamburlaine, first thou shalt<172> kneel to us, +And humbly crave a pardon for thy life. + +KING OF TREBIZON. The common soldiers of our mighty host +Shall bring thee bound unto the<173> general's tent<.> + +KING OF SORIA. And all have jointly sworn thy cruel death, +Or bind thee in eternal torments' wrath. + +TAMBURLAINE. Well, sirs, diet yourselves; you know I +shall have occasion shortly to journey you. + +CELEBINUS. See, father, how Almeda the jailor looks upon us! + +TAMBURLAINE. Villain, traitor, damned fugitive, +I'll make thee wish the earth had swallow'd thee! +See'st thou not death within my wrathful looks? +Go, villain, cast thee headlong from a rock, +Or rip thy bowels, and rent<174> out thy heart, +T' appease my wrath; or else I'll torture thee, +Searing thy hateful flesh with burning irons +And drops of scalding lead, while all thy joints +Be rack'd and beat asunder with the wheel; +For, if thou liv'st, not any element +Shall shroud thee from the wrath of Tamburlaine. + +CALLAPINE. Well, in despite of thee, he shall be king.-- +Come, Almeda; receive this crown of me: +I here invest thee king of Ariadan, +Bordering on Mare Roso, near to Mecca. + +ORCANES. What! take it, man. + +ALMEDA. [to Tamb.] Good my lord, let me take it. + +CALLAPINE. Dost thou ask him leave? here; take it. + +TAMBURLAINE. Go to, sirrah!<175> take your crown, and make up +the half dozen. So, sirrah, now you are a king, you must give +arms.<176> + +ORCANES. So he shall, and wear thy head in his scutcheon. + +TAMBURLAINE. No;<177> let him hang a bunch of keys on his +standard, to put him in remembrance he was a jailor, that, +when I take him, I may knock out his brains with them, +and lock you in the stable, when you shall come sweating +from my chariot. + +KING OF TREBIZON. Away! let us to the field, that the villain +may be slain. + +TAMBURLAINE. Sirrah, prepare whips, and bring my chariot +to my tent; for, as soon as the battle is done, I'll ride +in triumph through the camp. + Enter THERIDAMAS, TECHELLES, and their train. +How now, ye petty kings? lo, here are bugs<178> +Will make the hair stand upright on your heads, +And cast your crowns in slavery at their feet!-- +Welcome, Theridamas and Techelles, both: +See ye this rout,<179> and know ye this same king? + +THERIDAMAS. Ay, my lord; he was Callapine's keeper. + +TAMBURLAINE. Well, now ye see he is a king. Look to him, +Theridamas, when we are fighting, lest he hide his crown +as the foolish king of Persia did.<180> + +KING OF SORIA. No, Tamburlaine; he shall not be put +to that exigent, I warrant thee. + +TAMBURLAINE. You know not, sir.-- +But now, my followers and my loving friends, +Fight as you ever did, like conquerors, +The glory of this happy day is yours. +My stern aspect<181> shall make fair Victory, +Hovering betwixt our armies, light on me, +Loaden with laurel-wreaths to crown us all. + +TECHELLES. I smile to think how, when this field is fought +And rich Natolia ours, our men shall sweat +With carrying pearl and treasure on their backs. + +TAMBURLAINE. You shall be princes all, immediately.-- +Come, fight, ye Turks, or yield us victory. + +ORCANES. No; we will meet thee, slavish Tamburlaine. + [Exeunt severally.] + + + + ACT IV. + + + SCENE I. + + Alarms within. AMYRAS and CELEBINUS issue from the tent + where CALYPHAS sits asleep.<182> + +AMYRAS. Now in their glories shine the golden crowns +Of these proud Turks, much like so many suns +That half dismay the majesty of heaven. +Now, brother, follow we our father's sword, +That flies with fury swifter than our thoughts, +And cuts down armies with his conquering wings. + +CELEBINUS. Call forth our lazy brother from the tent, +For, if my father miss him in the field, +Wrath, kindled in the furnace of his breast, +Will send a deadly lightning to his heart. + +AMYRAS. Brother, ho! what, given so much to sleep, +You cannot<183> leave it, when our enemies' drums +And rattling cannons thunder in our ears +Our proper ruin and our father's foil? + +CALYPHAS. Away, ye fools! my father needs not me, +Nor you, in faith, but that you will be thought +More childish-valourous than manly-wise. +If half our camp should sit and sleep with me, +My father were enough to scare<184> the foe: +You do dishonour to his majesty, +To think our helps will do him any good. + +AMYRAS. What, dar'st thou, then, be absent from the fight, +Knowing my father hates thy cowardice, +And oft hath warn'd thee to be still in field, +When he himself amidst the thickest troops +Beats down our foes, to flesh our taintless swords? + +CALYPHAS. I know, sir, what it is to kill a man; +It works remorse of conscience in me. +I take no pleasure to be murderous, +Nor care for blood when wine will quench my thirst. + +CELEBINUS. O cowardly boy! fie, for shame, come forth! +Thou dost dishonour manhood and thy house. + +CALYPHAS. Go, go, tall<185> stripling, fight you for us both, +And take my other toward brother here, +For person like to prove a second Mars. +'Twill please my mind as well to hear, both you<186> +Have won a heap of honour in the field, +And left your slender carcasses behind, +As if I lay with you for company. + +AMYRAS. You will not go, then? + +CALYPHAS. You say true. + +AMYRAS. Were all the lofty mounts of Zona Mundi +That fill the midst of farthest Tartary +Turn'd into pearl and proffer'd for my stay, +I would not bide the fury of my father, +When, made a victor in these haughty arms, +He comes and finds his sons have had no shares +In all the honours he propos'd for us. + +CALYPHAS. Take you the honour, I will take my ease; +My wisdom shall excuse my cowardice: +I go into the field before I need! + [Alarms within. AMYRAS and CELEBINUS run out.] +The bullets fly at random where they list; +And, should I<187> go, and kill a thousand men, +I were as soon rewarded with a shot, +And sooner far than he that never fights; +And, should I go, and do no harm nor good, +I might have harm, which all the good I have, +Join'd with my father's crown, would never cure. +I'll to cards.--Perdicas! + + Enter PERDICAS. + +PERDICAS. Here, my lord. + +CALYPHAS. +Come, thou and I will go to cards to drive away the time. + +PERDICAS. Content, my lord: but what shall we play for? + +CALYPHAS. Who shall kiss the fairest of the Turks' concubines +first, when my father hath conquered them. + +PERDICAS. Agreed, i'faith. + [They play.] + +CALYPHAS. They say I am a coward, Perdicas, and I fear +as little their taratantaras, their swords, or their cannons +as I do a naked lady in a net of gold, and, for fear I should be +afraid, would put it off and come to bed with me. + +PERDICAS. Such a fear, my lord, would never make ye retire. + +CALYPHAS. I would my father would let me be put in the front +of such a battle once, to try my valour! [Alarms within.] +What a coil they keep! I believe there will be some hurt done +anon amongst them. + + Enter TAMBURLAINE, THERIDAMAS, TECHELLES, USUMCASANE; + AMYRAS and CELEBINUS leading in ORCANES, and the KINGS + OF JERUSALEM, TREBIZON, and SORIA; and SOLDIERS. + +TAMBURLAINE. +See now, ye<188> slaves, my children stoop your pride,<189> +And lead your bodies<190> sheep-like to the sword!-- +Bring them, my boys, and tell me if the wars +Be not a life that may illustrate gods, +And tickle not your spirits with desire +Still to be train'd in arms and chivalry? + +AMYRAS. Shall we let go these kings again, my lord, +To gather greater numbers 'gainst our power, +That they may say, it is not chance doth this, +But matchless strength and magnanimity? + +TAMBURLAINE. No, no, Amyras; tempt not Fortune so: +Cherish thy valour still with fresh supplies, +And glut it not with stale and daunted foes. +But where's this coward villain, not my son, +But traitor to my name and majesty? + [He goes in and brings CALYPHAS out.] +Image of sloth, and picture of a slave, +The obloquy and scorn of my renown! +How may my heart, thus fired with mine<191> eyes, +Wounded with shame and kill'd with discontent, +Shroud any thought may<192> hold my striving hands +>From martial justice on thy wretched soul? + +THERIDAMAS. Yet pardon him, I pray your majesty. + +TECHELLES and USUMCASANE. +Let all of us entreat your highness' pardon. + +TAMBURLAINE. Stand up,<193> ye base, unworthy soldiers! +Know ye not yet the argument of arms? + +AMYRAS. Good my lord, let him be forgiven for once,<194> +And we will force him to the field hereafter. + +TAMBURLAINE. Stand up, my boys, and I will teach ye arms, +And what the jealousy of wars must do.-- +O Samarcanda, where I breathed first, +And joy'd the fire of this martial<195> flesh, +Blush, blush, fair city, at thine<196> honour's foil, +And shame of nature, which<197> Jaertis'<198> stream, +Embracing thee with deepest of his love, +Can never wash from thy distained brows!-- +Here, Jove, receive his fainting soul again; +A form not meet to give that subject essence +Whose matter is the flesh of Tamburlaine, +Wherein an incorporeal<199> spirit moves, +Made of the mould whereof thyself consists, +Which makes me valiant, proud, ambitious, +Ready to levy power against thy throne, +That I might move the turning spheres of heaven; +For earth and all this airy region +Cannot contain the state of Tamburlaine. + [Stabs CALYPHAS.] +By Mahomet, thy mighty friend, I swear, +In sending to my issue such a soul, +Created of the massy dregs of earth, +The scum and tartar of the elements, +Wherein was neither courage, strength, or wit, +But folly, sloth, and damned idleness, +Thou hast procur'd a greater enemy +Than he that darted mountains at thy head, +Shaking the burden mighty Atlas bears, +Whereat thou trembling hidd'st thee in the air, +Cloth'd with a pitchy cloud for being seen.--<200> +And now, ye canker'd curs of Asia, +That will not see the strength of Tamburlaine, +Although it shine as brightly as the sun, +Now you shall<201> feel the strength of Tamburlaine, +And, by the state of his supremacy, +Approve<202> the difference 'twixt himself and you. + +ORCANES. Thou shew'st the difference 'twixt ourselves and thee, +In this thy barbarous damned tyranny. + +KING OF JERUSALEM. Thy victories are grown so violent, +That shortly heaven, fill'd with the meteors +Of blood and fire thy tyrannies have made, +Will pour down blood and fire on thy head, +Whose scalding drops will pierce thy seething brains, +And, with our bloods, revenge our bloods<203> on thee. + +TAMBURLAINE. Villains, these terrors, and these tyrannies +(If tyrannies war's justice ye repute), +I execute, enjoin'd me from above, +To scourge the pride of such as Heaven abhors; +Nor am I made arch-monarch of the world, +Crown'd and invested by the hand of Jove, +For deeds of bounty or nobility; +But, since I exercise a greater name, +The scourge of God and terror of the world, +I must apply myself to fit those terms, +In war, in blood, in death, in cruelty, +And plague such peasants<204> as resist in<205> me +The power of Heaven's eternal majesty.-- +Theridamas, Techelles, and Casane,<206> +Ransack the tents and the pavilions +Of these proud Turks, and take their concubines, +Making them bury this effeminate brat; +For not a common soldier shall defile +His manly fingers with so faint a boy: +Then bring those Turkish harlots to my tent, +And I'll dispose them as it likes me best.-- +Meanwhile, take him in. + +SOLDIERS. We will, my lord. + [Exeunt with the body of CALYPHAS.] + +KING OF JERUSALEM. O damned monster! nay, a fiend of hell, +Whose cruelties are not so harsh as thine, +Nor yet impos'd with such a bitter hate! + +ORCANES. Revenge it,<207> Rhadamanth and Aeacus, +And let your hates, extended in his pains, +Excel<208> the hate wherewith he pains our souls! + +KING OF TREBIZON. May never day give virtue to his eyes, +Whose sight, compos'd of fury and of fire, +Doth send such stern affections to his heart! + +KING OF SORIA. May never spirit, vein, or artier,<209> feed +The cursed substance of that cruel heart; +But, wanting moisture and remorseful<210> blood, +Dry up with anger, and consume with heat! + +TAMBURLAINE. Well, bark, ye dogs: I'll bridle all your tongues, +And bind them close with bits of burnish'd steel, +Down to the channels of your hateful throats; +And, with the pains my rigour shall inflict, +I'll make ye roar, that earth may echo forth +The far-resounding torments ye sustain; +As when an herd of lusty Cimbrian bulls +Run mourning round about the females' miss,<211> +And, stung with fury of their following, +Fill all the air with troublous bellowing. +I will, with engines never exercis'd, +Conquer, sack, and utterly consume +Your cities and your golden palaces, +And, with the flames that beat against the clouds, +Incense the heavens, and make the stars to melt, +As if they were the tears of Mahomet +For hot consumption of his country's pride; +And, till by vision or by speech I hear +Immortal Jove say "Cease, my Tamburlaine," +I will persist a terror to the world, +Making the meteors (that, like armed men, +Are seen to march upon the towers of heaven) +Run tilting round about the firmament, +And break their burning lances in the air, +For honour of my wondrous victories.-- +Come, bring them in to our pavilion. + [Exeunt.] + + + SCENE II. + + Enter OLYMPIA. + +OLYMPIA. Distress'd Olympia, whose weeping eyes, +Since thy arrival here, behold<212> no sun, +But, clos'd within the compass of a<213> tent, +Have<214> stain'd thy cheeks, and made thee look like death, +Devise some means to rid thee of thy life, +Rather than yield to his detested suit, +Whose drift is only to dishonour thee; +And, since this earth, dew'd with thy brinish tears, +Affords no herbs whose taste may poison thee, +Nor yet this air, beat often with thy sighs, +Contagious smells and vapours to infect thee, +Nor thy close cave a sword to murder thee, +Let this invention be the instrument. + + Enter THERIDAMAS. + +THERIDAMAS. Well met, Olympia: I sought thee in my tent, +But, when I saw the place obscure and dark, +Which with thy beauty thou wast wont to light, +Enrag'd, I ran about the fields for thee, +Supposing amorous Jove had sent his son, +The winged Hermes, to convey thee hence; +But now I find thee, and that fear is past, +Tell me, Olympia, wilt thou grant my suit? + +OLYMPIA. My lord and husband's death, with my sweet son's, +(With whom I buried all affections +Save grief and sorrow, which torment my heart,) +Forbids my mind to entertain a thought +That tends to love, but meditate on death, +A fitter subject for a pensive soul. + +THERIDAMAS. Olympia, pity him in whom thy looks +Have greater operation and more force +Than Cynthia's in the watery wilderness; +For with thy view my joys are at the full, +And ebb again as thou depart'st from me. + +OLYMPIA. Ah, pity me, my lord, and draw your sword, +Making a passage for my troubled soul, +Which beats against this prison to get out, +And meet my husband and my loving son! + +THERIDAMAS. Nothing but still thy husband and thy son? +Leave this, my love, and listen more to me: +Thou shalt be stately queen of fair Argier; +And, cloth'd in costly cloth of massy gold, +Upon the marble turrets of my court +Sit like to Venus in her chair of state, +Commanding all thy princely eye desires; +And I will cast off arms to<215> sit with thee, +Spending my life in sweet discourse of love. + +OLYMPIA. No such discourse is pleasant in<216> mine ears, +But that where every period ends with death, +And every line begins with death again: +I cannot love, to be an emperess. + +THERIDAMAS. Nay, lady, then, if nothing will prevail, +I'll use some other means to make you yield: +Such is the sudden fury of my love, +I must and will be pleas'd, and you shall yield: +Come to the tent again. + +OLYMPIA. Stay now, my lord; and, will you<217> save my honour, +I'll give your grace a present of such price +As all the world can not afford the like. + +THERIDAMAS. What is it? + +OLYMPIA. An ointment which a cunning alchymist +Distilled from the purest balsamum +And simplest extracts of all minerals, +In which the essential form of marble stone, +Temper'd by science metaphysical, +And spells of magic from the mouths<218> of spirits, +With which if you but 'noint your tender skin, +Nor pistol, sword, nor lance, can pierce your flesh. + +THERIDAMAS. Why, madam, think you to mock me thus palpably? + +OLYMPIA. To prove it, I will 'noint my naked throat, +Which when you stab, look on your weapon's point, +And you shall see't rebated<219> with the blow. + +THERIDAMAS. Why gave you not your husband some of it, +If you lov'd him, and it so precious? + +OLYMPIA. My purpose was, my lord, to spend it so, +But was prevented by his sudden end; +And for a present easy proof thereof,<220> +That I dissemble not, try it on me. + +THERIDAMAS. I will, Olympia, and will<221> keep it for +The richest present of this eastern world. + [She anoints her throat.<222>] + +OLYMPIA. Now stab, my lord, and mark your weapon's point, +That will be blunted if the blow be great. + +THERIDAMAS. Here, then, Olympia.-- + [Stabs her.] +What, have I slain her? Villain, stab thyself! +Cut off this arm that at murdered my<223> love, +In whom the learned Rabbis of this age +Might find as many wondrous miracles +As in the theoria of the world! +Now hell is fairer than Elysium;<224> +A greater lamp than that bright eye of heaven, +>From whence the stars do borrow<225> all their light, +Wanders about the black circumference; +And now the damned souls are free from pain, +For every Fury gazeth on her looks; +Infernal Dis is courting of my love, +Inventing masks and stately shows for her, +Opening the doors of his rich treasury +To entertain this queen of chastity; +Whose body shall be tomb'd with all the pomp +The treasure of my<226> kingdom may afford. + [Exit with the body.] + + + SCENE III. + + Enter TAMBURLAINE, drawn in his chariot by the KINGS OF + TREBIZON and SORIA,<227> with bits in their mouths, + reins in his<228> left hand, and in his right hand a whip + with which he scourgeth them; AMYRAS, CELEBINUS, TECHELLES, + THERIDAMAS, USUMCASANE; ORCANES king of Natolia, and the + KING OF JERUSALEM, led by five<229> or six common SOLDIERS; + and other SOLDIERS. + +TAMBURLAINE. Holla, ye pamper'd jades of Asia!<230> +What, can ye draw but twenty miles a-day, +And have so proud a chariot at your heels, +And such a coachman as great Tamburlaine, +But from Asphaltis, where I conquer'd you, +To Byron here, where thus I honour you? +The horse that guide the golden eye of heaven, +And blow the morning from their nostrils,<231> +Making their fiery gait above the clouds, +Are not so honour'd in<232> their governor +As you, ye slaves, in mighty Tamburlaine. +The headstrong jades of Thrace Alcides tam'd, +That King Aegeus fed with human flesh, +And made so wanton that they knew their strengths, +Were not subdu'd with valour more divine +Than you by this unconquer'd arm of mine. +To make you fierce, and fit my appetite, +You shall be fed with flesh as raw as blood, +And drink in pails the strongest muscadel: +If you can live with it, then live, and draw +My chariot swifter than the racking<233> clouds; +If not, then die like beasts, and fit for naught +But perches for the black and fatal ravens. +Thus am I right the scourge of highest Jove; +And see the figure of my dignity, +By which I hold my name and majesty! + +AMYRAS. Let me have coach,<234> my lord, that I may ride, +And thus be drawn by<235> these two idle kings. + +TAMBURLAINE. Thy youth forbids such ease, my kingly boy: +They shall to-morrow draw my chariot, +While these their fellow-kings may be refresh'd. + +ORCANES. O thou that sway'st the region under earth, +And art a king as absolute as Jove, +Come as thou didst in fruitful Sicily, +Surveying all the glories of the land, +And as thou took'st the fair Proserpina, +Joying the fruit of Ceres' garden-plot,<236> +For love, for honour, and to make her queen, +So, for just hate, for shame, and to subdue +This proud contemner of thy dreadful power, +Come once in fury, and survey his pride, +Haling him headlong to the lowest hell! + +THERIDAMAS. Your majesty must get some bits for these, +To bridle their contemptuous cursing tongues, +That, like unruly never-broken jades, +Break through the hedges of their hateful mouths, +And pass their fixed bounds exceedingly. + +TECHELLES. Nay, we will break the hedges of their mouths, +And pull their kicking colts<237> out of their pastures. + +USUMCASANE. Your majesty already hath devis'd +A mean, as fit as may be, to restrain +These coltish coach-horse tongues from blasphemy. + +CELEBINUS. How like you that, sir king? why speak you not? + +KING OF JERUSALEM. Ah, cruel brat, sprung from a tyrant's loins! +How like his cursed father he begins +To practice taunts and bitter tyrannies! + +TAMBURLAINE. Ay, Turk, I tell thee, this same<238> boy is he +That must (advanc'd in higher pomp than this) +Rifle the kingdoms I shall leave unsack'd, +If Jove, esteeming me too good for earth, +Raise me, to match<239> the fair Aldeboran, +Above<240> the threefold astracism of heaven, +Before I conquer all the triple world.-- +Now fetch me out the Turkish concubines: +I will prefer them for the funeral +They have bestow'd on my abortive son. + [The CONCUBINES are brought in.] +Where are my common soldiers now, that fought +So lion-like upon Asphaltis' plains? + +SOLDIERS. Here, my lord. + +TAMBURLAINE. +Hold ye, tall<241> soldiers, take ye queens a-piece,-- +I mean such queens as were kings' concubines; +Take them; divide them, and their<242> jewels too, +And let them equally serve all your turns. + +SOLDIERS. We thank your majesty. + +TAMBURLAINE. Brawl not, I warn you, for your lechery; +For every man that so offends shall die. + +ORCANES. Injurious tyrant, wilt thou so defame +The hateful fortunes of thy victory, +To exercise upon such guiltless dames +The violence of thy common soldiers' lust? + +TAMBURLAINE. +Live continent,<243> then, ye slaves, and meet not me +With troops of harlots at your slothful heels. + +CONCUBINES. O, pity us, my lord, and save our honours! + +TAMBURLAINE. Are ye not gone, ye villains, with your spoils? + [The SOLDIERS run away with the CONCUBINES.] + +KING OF JERUSALEM. O, merciless, infernal cruelty! + +TAMBURLAINE. Save your honours! 'twere but time indeed, +Lost long before ye knew what honour meant. + +THERIDAMAS. It seems they meant to conquer us, my lord, +And make us jesting pageants for their trulls. + +TAMBURLAINE. And now themselves shall make our pageant, +And common soldiers jest<244> with all their trulls. +Let them take pleasure soundly in their spoils, +Till we prepare our march to Babylon, +Whither we next make expedition. + +TECHELLES. Let us not be idle, then, my lord, +But presently be prest<245> to conquer it. + +TAMBURLAINE. We will, Techelles.--Forward, then, ye jades! +Now crouch, ye kings of greatest Asia, +And tremble, when ye hear this scourge will come +That whips down cities and controlleth crowns, +Adding their wealth and treasure to my store. +The Euxine sea, north to Natolia; +The Terrene,<246> west; the Caspian, north northeast; +And on the south, Sinus Arabicus; +Shall all<247> be loaden with the martial spoils +We will convey with us to Persia. +Then shall my native city Samarcanda, +And crystal waves of fresh Jaertis'<248> stream, +The pride and beauty of her princely seat, +Be famous through the furthest<249> continents; +For there my palace royal shall be plac'd, +Whose shining turrets shall dismay the heavens, +And cast the fame of Ilion's tower to hell: +Thorough<250> the streets, with troops of conquer'd kings, +I'll ride in golden armour like the sun; +And in my helm a triple plume shall spring, +Spangled with diamonds, dancing in the air, +To note me emperor of the three-fold world; +Like to an almond-tree<251> y-mounted<252> high +Upon the lofty and celestial mount +Of ever-green Selinus,<253> quaintly deck'd +With blooms more white than Erycina's<254> brows,<255> +Whose tender blossoms tremble every one +At every little breath that thorough heaven<256> is blown. +Then in my coach, like Saturn's royal son +Mounted his shining chariot<257> gilt with fire, +And drawn with princely eagles through the path +Pav'd with bright crystal and enchas'd with stars, +When all the gods stand gazing at his pomp, +So will I ride through Samarcanda-streets, +Until my soul, dissever'd from this flesh, +Shall mount the milk-white way, and meet him there. +To Babylon, my lords, to Babylon! + [Exeunt.] + + + + ACT V. + + + SCENE I. + + Enter the GOVERNOR OF BABYLON, MAXIMUS, and others, upon + the walls. + +GOVERNOR. What saith Maximus? + +MAXIMUS. My lord, the breach the enemy hath made +Gives such assurance of our overthrow, +That little hope is left to save our lives, +Or hold our city from the conqueror's hands. +Then hang out<258> flags, my lord, of humble truce, +And satisfy the people's general prayers, +That Tamburlaine's intolerable wrath +May be suppress'd by our submission. + +GOVERNOR. Villain, respect'st thou<259> more thy slavish life +Than honour of thy country or thy name? +Is not my life and state as dear to me, +The city and my native country's weal, +As any thing of<260> price with thy conceit? +Have we not hope, for all our batter'd walls, +To live secure and keep his forces out, +When this our famous lake of Limnasphaltis +Makes walls a-fresh with every thing that falls +Into the liquid substance of his stream, +More strong than are the gates of death or hell? +What faintness should dismay our courages, +When we are thus defenc'd against our foe, +And have no terror but his threatening looks? + + Enter, above, a CITIZEN, who kneels to the GOVERNOR. + +CITIZEN. My lord, if ever you did deed of ruth, +And now will work a refuge to our lives, +Offer submission, hang up flags of truce, +That Tamburlaine may pity our distress, +And use us like a loving conqueror. +Though this be held his last day's dreadful siege, +Wherein he spareth neither man nor child, +Yet are there Christians of Georgia here, +Whose state he<261> ever pitied and reliev'd, +Will get his pardon, if your grace would send. + +GOVERNOR. How<262> is my soul environed! +And this eterniz'd<263> city Babylon +Fill'd with a pack of faint-heart fugitives +That thus entreat their shame and servitude! + + Enter, above, a SECOND CITIZEN. + +SECOND CITIZEN. My lord, if ever you will win our hearts, +Yield up the town, and<264> save our wives and children; +For I will cast myself from off these walls, +Or die some death of quickest violence, +Before I bide the wrath of Tamburlaine. + +GOVERNOR. Villains, cowards, traitors to our state! +Fall to the earth, and pierce the pit of hell, +That legions of tormenting spirits may vex +Your slavish bosoms with continual pains! +I care not, nor the town will never yield +As long as any life is in my breast. + + Enter THERIDAMAS and TECHELLES, with SOLDIERS. + +THERIDAMAS. Thou desperate governor of Babylon, +To save thy life, and us a little labour, +Yield speedily the city to our hands, +Or else be sure thou shalt be forc'd with pains +More exquisite than ever traitor felt. + +GOVERNOR. Tyrant, I turn the traitor in thy throat, +And will defend it in despite of thee.-- +Call up the soldiers to defend these walls. + +TECHELLES. Yield, foolish governor; we offer more +Than ever yet we did to such proud slaves +As durst resist us till our third day's siege. +Thou seest us prest<265> to give the last assault, +And that shall bide no more regard of parle.<266> + +GOVERNOR. Assault and spare not; we will never yield. + [Alarms: and they scale the walls.] + + Enter TAMBURLAINE, drawn in his chariot (as before) by the + KINGS OF TREBIZON and SORIA; AMYRAS, CELEBINUS, USUMCASANE; + ORCANES king of Natolia, and the KING OF JERUSALEM, led by + SOLDIERS;<267> and others. + +TAMBURLAINE. The stately buildings of fair Babylon, +Whose lofty pillars, higher than the clouds, +Were wont to guide the seaman in the deep, +Being carried thither by the cannon's force, +Now fill the mouth of Limnasphaltis' lake, +And make a bridge unto the batter'd walls. +Where Belus, Ninus, and great Alexander +Have rode in triumph, triumphs Tamburlaine, +Whose chariot-wheels have burst<268> th' Assyrians' bones, +Drawn with these kings on heaps of carcasses. +Now in the place, where fair Semiramis, +Courted by kings and peers of Asia, +Hath trod the measures,<269> do my soldiers march; +And in the streets, where brave Assyrian dames +Have rid in pomp like rich Saturnia, +With furious words and frowning visages +My horsemen brandish their unruly blades. + Re-enter THERIDAMAS and TECHELLES, bringing in the + GOVERNOR OF BABYLON. +Who have ye there, my lords? + +THERIDAMAS. The sturdy governor of Babylon, +That made us all the labour for the town, +And us'd such slender reckoning of<270> your majesty. + +TAMBURLAINE. Go, bind the villain; he shall hang in chains +Upon the ruins of this conquer'd town.-- +Sirrah, the view of our vermilion tents +(Which threaten'd more than if the region +Next underneath the element of fire +Were full of comets and of blazing stars, +Whose flaming trains should reach down to the earth) +Could not affright you; no, nor I myself, +The wrathful messenger of mighty Jove, +That with his sword hath quail'd all earthly kings, +Could not persuade you to submission, +But still the ports<271> were shut: villain, I say, +Should I but touch the rusty gates of hell, +The triple-headed Cerberus would howl, +And make<272> black Jove to crouch and kneel to me; +But I have sent volleys of shot to you, +Yet could not enter till the breach was made. + +GOVERNOR. Nor, if my body could have stopt the breach, +Shouldst thou have enter'd, cruel Tamburlaine. +'Tis not thy bloody tents can make me yield, +Nor yet thyself, the anger of the Highest; +For, though thy cannon shook the city-walls,<273> +My heart did never quake, or courage faint. + +TAMBURLAINE. Well, now I'll make it quake.--Go draw him<274> up, +Hang him in<275> chains upon the city-walls, +And let my soldiers shoot the slave to death. + +GOVERNOR. Vile monster, born of some infernal hag, +And sent from hell to tyrannize on earth, +Do all thy worst; nor death, nor Tamburlaine, +Torture, or pain, can daunt my dreadless mind. + +TAMBURLAINE. Up with him, then! his body shall be scar'd.<276> + +GOVERNOR. But, Tamburlaine, in Limnasphaltis' lake +There lies more gold than Babylon is worth, +Which, when the city was besieg'd, I hid: +Save but my life, and I will give it thee. + +TAMBURLAINE. +Then, for all your valour, you would save your life? +Whereabout lies it? + +GOVERNOR. Under a hollow bank, right opposite +Against the western gate of Babylon. + +TAMBURLAINE. Go thither, some of you, and take his gold:-- + [Exeunt some ATTENDANTS.] +The rest forward with execution. +Away with him hence, let him speak no more.-- +I think I make your courage something quail.-- + [Exeunt ATTENDANTS with the GOVERNOR or BABYLON.] +When this is done, we'll march from Babylon, +And make our greatest haste to Persia. +These jades are broken-winded and half-tir'd; +Unharness them, and let me have fresh horse. + [ATTENDANTS unharness the KINGS or TREBIZON and SORIA] +So; now their best is done to honour me, +Take them and hang them both up presently. + +KING OF TREBIZON. +Vile<277> tyrant! barbarous bloody Tamburlaine! + +TAMBURLAINE. Take them away, Theridamas; see them despatch'd. + +THERIDAMAS. I will, my lord. + [Exit with the KINGS or TREBIZON and SORIA.] + +TAMBURLAINE. Come, Asian viceroys; to your tasks a while, +And take such fortune as your fellows felt. + +ORCANES. 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 ignominious servitude. + +KING OF JERUSALEM. 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. + +AMYRAS. +They will talk still, my lord, if you do not bridle them. + +TAMBURLAINE. Bridle them, and let me to my coach. + + [ATTENDANTS bridle ORCANES king of Natolia, and the + KING OF JERUSALEM, and harness them to the chariot.-- + The GOVERNOR OF BABYLON appears hanging in chains + on the walls.--Re-enter THERIDAMAS.] + +AMYRAS. See, now, my lord, how brave the captain hangs! + +TAMBURLAINE. 'Tis brave indeed, my boy:--well done!-- +Shoot first, my lord, and then the rest shall follow. + +THERIDAMAS. Then have at him, to begin withal. + [THERIDAMAS shoots at the GOVERNOR.] + +GOVERNOR. Yet save my life, and let this wound appease +The mortal fury of great Tamburlaine! + +TAMBURLAINE. No, though Asphaltis' lake were liquid gold, +And offer'd me as ransom for thy life, +Yet shouldst thou die.--Shoot at him all at once. + [They shoot.] +So, now he hangs like Bagdet's<278> governor, +Having as many bullets in his flesh +As there be breaches in her batter'd wall. +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,<279> that all Africa, +Which hath been subject to the Persian king, +Shall pay me tribute for in Babylon. + +TECHELLES. +What shall be done with their wives and children, my lord? + +TAMBURLAINE. Techelles, drown them all, man, woman, and child; +Leave not a Babylonian in the town. + +TECHELLES. I will about it straight.--Come, soldiers. + [Exit with SOLDIERS.] + +TAMBURLAINE. 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. + +USUMCASANE. Here they are, my lord. + +TAMBURLAINE. Well said!<280> let there be a fire presently. + [They light a fire.] +In vain, I see, men worship Mahomet: +My sword hath sent millions of Turks to hell, +Slew all his priests, his kinsmen, and his friends, +And yet I live untouch'd by Mahomet. +There is a God, full of revenging wrath, +>From whom the thunder and the lightning breaks, +Whose scourge I am, and him will I<281> obey. +So, Casane; fling them in the fire.-- + [They burn the books.] +Now, Mahomet, if thou have any power, +Come down thyself and work a miracle: +Thou art not worthy to be worshipped +That suffer'st<282> flames of fire to burn the writ +Wherein the sum of thy religion rests: +Why send'st<283> thou not a furious whirlwind down, +To blow thy Alcoran up to thy throne, +Where men report thou sitt'st<284> by God himself? +Or vengeance on the head<285> 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 heaven, if any god, +For he is God alone, and none but he. + + Re-enter TECHELLES. + +TECHELLES. I have fulfill'd your highness' will, my lord: +Thousands of men, drown'd in Asphaltis' lake, +Have made the water swell above the banks, +And fishes, fed<286> by human carcasses, +Amaz'd, swim up and down upon<287> the waves, +As when they swallow assafoetida, +Which makes them fleet<288> aloft and gape<289> for air. + +TAMBURLAINE. Well, then, my friendly lords, what now remains, +But that we leave sufficient garrison, +And presently depart to Persia, +To triumph after all our victories? + +THERIDAMAS. Ay, good my lord, let us in<290> haste to Persia; +And let this captain be remov'd the walls +To some high hill about the city here. + +TAMBURLAINE. Let it be so;--about it, soldiers;-- +But stay; I feel myself distemper'd suddenly. + +TECHELLES. What is it dares distemper Tamburlaine? + +TAMBURLAINE. Something, Techelles; but I know not what.-- +But, forth, ye vassals!<291> whatsoe'er<292> it be, +Sickness or death can never conquer me. + [Exeunt.] + + + SCENE II. + + Enter CALLAPINE, KING OF AMASIA, a CAPTAIN, and train, + with drums and trumpets. + +CALLAPINE. King of Amasia, now our mighty host +Marcheth in Asia Major, where the streams +Of Euphrates<293> and Tigris swiftly run; +And here may we<294> 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. + +KING OF AMASIA. 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 carcass, drawn by warlike kings, +The fowls shall eat; for never sepulchre +Shall grace this<295> base-born tyrant Tamburlaine. + +CALLAPINE. When I record<296> my parents' slavish life, +Their cruel death, mine own captivity, +My viceroys' bondage under Tamburlaine, +Methinks I could sustain a thousand deaths, +To be reveng'd of all his villany.-- +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 host is left to honour thee, +Aid<297> thy obedient servant Callapine, +And make him, after all these overthrows, +To triumph over cursed Tamburlaine! + +KING OF AMASIA. 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. + +CAPTAIN. Renowmed<298> general, mighty Callapine, +Though God himself and holy Mahomet +Should come in person to resist your power, +Yet might your mighty host encounter all, +And pull proud Tamburlaine upon his knees +To sue for mercy at your highness' feet. + +CALLAPINE. Captain, the force of Tamburlaine is great, +His fortune greater, and the victories +Wherewith he hath so sore dismay'd the world +Are greatest to discourage all our drifts; +Yet, when the pride of Cynthia is at full, +She wanes again; and so shall his, I hope; +For we have here the chief selected men +Of twenty several kingdoms at the least; +Nor ploughman, priest, nor merchant, stays at home; +All Turkey is in arms with Callapine; +And never will we sunder camps and arms +Before himself or his be conquered: +This is the time that must eternize me +For conquering the tyrant of the world. +Come, soldiers, let us lie in wait for him, +And, if we find him absent from his camp, +Or that it be rejoin'd again at full, +Assail it, and be sure of victory. + [Exeunt.] + + + SCENE III. + + Enter THERIDAMAS, TECHELLES, and USUMCASANE. + +THERIDAMAS. Weep, heavens, and vanish into liquid tears! +Fall, stars that govern his nativity, +And summon all the shining lamps of heaven +To cast their bootless fires to the earth, +And shed their feeble influence in the air; +Muffle your beauties with eternal clouds; +For Hell and Darkness pitch their pitchy tents, +And Death, with armies of Cimmerian spirits, +Gives battle 'gainst the heart of Tamburlaine! +Now, in defiance of that wonted love +Your sacred virtues pour'd upon his throne, +And made his state an honour to the heavens, +These cowards invisibly<299> assail his soul, +And threaten conquest on our sovereign; +But, if he die, your glories are disgrac'd, +Earth droops, and says that hell in heaven is plac'd! + +TECHELLES. O, then, ye powers that sway eternal seats, +And guide this massy substance of the earth, +If you retain desert of holiness, +As your supreme estates instruct our thoughts, +Be not inconstant, careless of your fame, +Bear not the burden of your enemies' joys, +Triumphing in his fall whom you advanc'd; +But, as his birth, life, health, and majesty +Were strangely blest and governed by heaven, +So honour, heaven, (till heaven dissolved be,) +His birth, his life, his health, and majesty! + +USUMCASANE. Blush, heaven, to lose the honour of thy name, +To see thy footstool set upon thy head; +And let no baseness in thy haughty breast +Sustain a shame of such inexcellence,<300> +To see the devils mount in angels' thrones, +And angels dive into the pools of hell! +And, though they think their painful date is out, +And that their power is puissant as Jove's, +Which makes them manage arms against thy state, +Yet make them feel the strength of Tamburlaine +(Thy instrument and note of majesty) +Is greater far than they can thus subdue; +For, if he die, thy glory is disgrac'd, +Earth droops, and says that hell in heaven is plac'd! + + Enter TAMBURLAINE,<301> drawn in his chariot (as before) + by ORCANES king of Natolia, and the KING OF JERUSALEM, + AMYRAS, CELEBINUS, and Physicians. + +TAMBURLAINE. What daring god torments my body thus, +And seeks to conquer mighty Tamburlaine? +Shall sickness prove me now to be a man, +That have been term'd the terror of the world? +Techelles and the rest, come, take your swords, +And threaten him whose hand afflicts my soul: +Come, let us march against the powers of heaven, +And set black streamers in the firmament, +To signify the slaughter of the gods. +Ah, friends, what shall I do? I cannot stand. +Come, carry me to war against the gods, +That thus envy the health of Tamburlaine. + +THERIDAMAS. Ah, good my lord, leave these impatient words, +Which add much danger to your malady! + +TAMBURLAINE. Why, shall I sit and languish in this pain? +No, strike the drums, and, in revenge of this, +Come, let us charge our spears, and pierce his breast +Whose shoulders bear the axis of the world, +That, if I perish, heaven and earth may fade. +Theridamas, haste to the court of Jove; +Will him to send Apollo hither straight, +To cure me, or I'll fetch him down myself. + +TECHELLES. +Sit still, my gracious lord; this grief will cease,<302> +And cannot last, it is so violent. + +TAMBURLAINE. Not last, Techelles! no, for I shall die. +See, where my slave, the ugly monster Death, +Shaking and quivering, pale and wan for fear, +Stands aiming at me with his murdering dart, +Who flies away at every glance I give, +And, when I look away, comes stealing on!-- +Villain, away, and hie thee to the field! +I and mine army come to load thy back +With souls of thousand mangled carcasses.-- +Look, where he goes! but, see, he comes again, +Because I stay! Techelles, let us march, +And weary Death with bearing souls to hell. + +FIRST PHYSICIAN. Pleaseth your majesty to drink this potion, +Which will abate the fury of your fit, +And cause some milder spirits govern you. + +TAMBURLAINE. Tell me what think you of my sickness now? + +FIRST PHYSICIAN. I view'd your urine, and the hypostasis,<303> +Thick and obscure, doth make your danger great: +Your veins are full of accidental heat, +Whereby the moisture of your blood is dried: +The humidum and calor, which some hold +Is not a parcel of the elements, +But of a substance more divine and pure, +Is almost clean extinguished and spent; +Which, being the cause of life, imports your death: +Besides, my lord, this day is critical, +Dangerous to those whose crisis is as yours: +Your artiers,<304> which alongst the veins convey +The lively spirits which the heart engenders, +Are parch'd and void of spirit, that the soul, +Wanting those organons by which it moves, +Cannot endure, by argument of art. +Yet, if your majesty may escape this day, +No doubt but you shall soon recover all. + +TAMBURLAINE. Then will I comfort all my vital parts, +And live, in spite of death, above a day. + [Alarms within.] + + Enter a Messenger. + +MESSENGER. My lord, young Callapine, that lately fled +from your majesty, hath now gathered a fresh army, and, +hearing your absence in the field, offers to set upon<305> us +presently. + +TAMBURLAINE. See, my physicians, now, how Jove hath sent +A present medicine to recure my pain! +My looks shall make them fly; and, might I follow, +There should not one of all the villain's power +Live to give offer of another fight. + +USUMCASANE. I joy, my lord, your highness is so strong, +That can endure so well your royal presence, +Which only will dismay the enemy. + +TAMBURLAINE. I know it will, Casane.--Draw, you slaves! +In spite of death, I will go shew my face. + [Alarms. Exit TAMBURLAINE with all the rest (except the + PHYSICIANS), and re-enter presently.] + +TAMBURLAINE. Thus are the villain cowards<306> fled for fear, +Like summer's vapours vanish'd by the sun; +And, could I but a while pursue the field, +That Callapine should be my slave again. +But I perceive my martial strength is spent: +In vain I strive and rail against those powers +That mean t' invest me in a higher throne, +As much too high for this disdainful earth. +Give me a map; then let me see how much +Is left for me to conquer all the world, +That these, my boys, may finish all my wants. + [One brings a map.] +Here I began to march towards Persia, +Along Armenia and the Caspian Sea, +And thence unto<307> Bithynia, where I took +The Turk and his great empress prisoners. +Then march'd I into Egypt and Arabia; +And here, not far from Alexandria, +Whereas<308> the Terrene<309> and the Red Sea meet, +Being distant less than full a hundred leagues, +I meant to cut a channel to them both, +That men might quickly sail to India. +>From thence to Nubia near Borno-lake, +And so along the Aethiopian sea, +Cutting the tropic line of Capricorn, +I conquer'd all as far as Zanzibar. +Then, by the northern part of Africa, +I came at last to Graecia, and from thence +To Asia, where I stay against my will; +Which is from Scythia, where I first began,<310> +Backward[s] and forwards near five thousand leagues. +Look here, my boys; see, what a world of ground +Lies westward from the midst of Cancer's line +Unto the rising of this<311> earthly globe, +Whereas the sun, declining from our sight, +Begins the day with our Antipodes! +And shall I die, and this unconquered? +Lo, here, my sons, are all the golden mines, +Inestimable drugs and precious stones, +More worth than Asia and the world beside; +And from th' Antarctic Pole eastward behold +As much more land, which never was descried, +Wherein are rocks of pearl that shine as bright +As all the lamps that beautify the sky! +And shall I die, and this unconquered? +Here, lovely boys; what death forbids my life, +That let your lives command in spite of death. + +AMYRAS. Alas, my lord, how should our bleeding hearts, +Wounded and broken with your highness' grief, +Retain a thought of joy or spark of life? +Your soul gives essence to our wretched subjects,<312> +Whose matter is incorporate in your flesh. + +CELEBINUS. Your pains do pierce our souls; no hope survives, +For by your life we entertain our lives. + +TAMBURLAINE. But, sons, this subject, not of force enough +To hold the fiery spirit it contains, +Must part, imparting his impressions +By equal portions into<313> both your breasts; +My flesh, divided in your precious shapes, +Shall still retain my spirit, though I die, +And live in all your seeds<314> immortally.-- +Then now remove me, that I may resign +My place and proper title to my son.-- +First, take my scourge and my imperial crown, +And mount my royal chariot of estate, +That I may see thee crown'd before I die.-- +Help me, my lords, to make my last remove. + [They assist TAMBURLAINE to descend from the chariot.] + +THERIDAMAS. A woful change, my lord, that daunts our thoughts +More than the ruin of our proper souls! + +TAMBURLAINE. Sit up, my son, [and] let me see how well +Thou wilt become thy father's majesty. + +AMYRAS. With what a flinty bosom should I joy +The breath of life and burden of my soul, +If not resolv'd into resolved pains, +My body's mortified lineaments<315> +Should exercise the motions of my heart, +Pierc'd with the joy of any dignity! +O father, if the unrelenting ears +Of Death and Hell be shut against my prayers, +And that the spiteful influence of Heaven +Deny my soul fruition of her joy, +How should I step, or stir my hateful feet +Against the inward powers of my heart, +Leading a life that only strives to die, +And plead in vain unpleasing sovereignty! + +TAMBURLAINE. Let not thy love exceed thine honour, son, +Nor bar thy mind that magnanimity +That nobly must admit necessity. +Sit up, my boy, and with these<316> silken reins +Bridle the steeled stomachs of these<317> jades. + +THERIDAMAS. My lord, you must obey his majesty, +Since fate commands and proud necessity. + +AMYRAS. Heavens witness me with what a broken heart + [Mounting the chariot.] +And damned<318> spirit I ascend this seat, +And send my soul, before my father die, +His anguish and his burning agony! + [They crown AMYRAS.] + +TAMBURLAINE. Now fetch the hearse of fair Zenocrate; +Let it be plac'd by this my fatal chair, +And serve as parcel of my funeral. + +USUMCASANE. Then feels your majesty no sovereign ease, +Nor may our hearts, all drown'd in tears of blood, +Joy any hope of your recovery? + +TAMBURLAINE. Casane, no; the monarch of the earth, +And eyeless monster that torments my soul, +Cannot behold the tears ye shed for me, +And therefore still augments his cruelty. + +TECHELLES. Then let some god oppose his holy power +Against the wrath and tyranny of Death, +That his tear-thirsty and unquenched hate +May be upon himself reverberate! + [They bring in the hearse of ZENOCRATE.] + +TAMBURLAINE. Now, eyes, enjoy your latest benefit, +And, when my soul hath virtue of your sight, +Pierce through the coffin and the sheet of gold, +And glut your longings with a heaven of joy. +So, reign, my son; scourge and control those slaves, +Guiding thy chariot with thy father's hand. +As precious is the charge thou undertak'st +As that which Clymene's<319> brain-sick son did guide, +When wandering Phoebe's<320> ivory cheeks were scorch'd, +And all the earth, like Aetna, breathing fire: +Be warn'd by him, then; learn with awful eye +To sway a throne as dangerous as his; +For, if thy body thrive not full of thoughts +As pure and fiery as Phyteus'<321> beams, +The nature of these proud rebelling jades +Will take occasion by the slenderest hair, +And draw thee<322> piecemeal, like Hippolytus, +Through rocks more steep and sharp than Caspian cliffs:<323> +The nature of thy chariot will not bear +A guide of baser temper than myself, +More than heaven's coach the pride of Phaeton. +Farewell, my boys! my dearest friends, farewell! +My body feels, my soul doth weep to see +Your sweet desires depriv'd my company, +For Tamburlaine, the scourge of God, must die. + [Dies.] + +AMYRAS. Meet heaven and earth, and here let all things end, +For earth hath spent the pride of all her fruit, +And heaven consum'd his choicest living fire! +Let earth and heaven his timeless death deplore, +For both their worths will equal him no more! + [Exeunt.] + + +<<a>> <From THE FIRST PART OF TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT> + +< Tamburlaine the Great. Who, from a Scythian Shephearde + by his rare and woonderfull Conquests, became a most + puissant and mightye Monarque. And (for his tyranny, + and terrour in Warre) was tearmed, The Scourge of God. + Deuided into two Tragicall Discourses, as they were + sundrie times shewed vpon Stages in the Citie of London. + By the right honorable the Lord Admyrall, his seruauntes. + Now first, and newlie published. London. Printed by + Richard Ihones: at the signe of the Rose and Crowne + neere Holborne Bridge. 1590. 4to. + +The above title-page is pasted into a copy of the FIRST PART OF +TAMBURLAINE in the Library at Bridge-water House; which copy, +excepting that title-page and the Address to the Readers, is the +impression of 1605. I once supposed that the title-pages which +bear the dates 1605 and 1606 (see below) had been added to the +4tos of the TWO PARTS of the play originally printed in 1590; +but I am now convinced that both PARTS were really reprinted, +THE FIRST PART in 1605, and THE SECOND PART in 1606, and that +nothing remains of the earlier 4tos, except the title-page and +the Address to the Readers, which are preserved in the Bridge- +water collection. + +In the Bodleian Library, Oxford, is an 8vo edition of both PARTS +OF TAMBURLAINE, dated 1590: the title-page of THE FIRST PART +agrees verbatim with that given above; the half-title-page of +THE SECOND PART is as follows; + + The Second Part of The bloody Conquests of mighty + Tamburlaine. With his impassionate fury, for the death + of his Lady and loue faire Zenocrate; his fourme of + exhortacion and discipline to his three sons, and the + maner of his own death. + +In the Garrick Collection, British Museum, is an 8vo edition of +both PARTS dated 1592: the title-page of THE FIRST PART runs thus; + + Tamburlaine the Great. Who, from a Scythian Shepheard, + by his rare and wonderfull Conquestes, became a most + puissant and mightie Mornarch [sic]: And (for his + tyrannie, and terrour in warre) was tearmed, The Scourge + of God. The first part of the two Tragicall discourses, + as they were sundrie times most stately shewed vpon + Stages in the Citie of London. By the right honorable + the Lord Admirall, his seruauntes. Now newly published. + Printed by Richard Iones, dwelling at the signe of the + Rose and Crowne neere Holborne Bridge. + +The half-title-page of THE SECOND PART agrees exactly with that +already given. Perhaps the 8vo at Oxford and that in the British +Museum (for I have not had an opportunity of comparing them) are +the same impression, differing only in the title-pages. + +Langbaine (ACCOUNT OF ENGL. DRAM. POETS, p. 344) mentions an 8vo +dated 1593. + +The title-pages of the latest impressions of THE TWO PARTS are +as follows; + + Tamburlaine the Greate. Who, from the state of a + Shepheard in Scythia, by his rare and wonderfull + Conquests, became a most puissant and mighty Monarque. + London Printed for Edward White, and are to be solde + at the little North doore of Saint Paules-Church, at + the signe of the Gunne, 1605. 4to. + + Tamburlaine the Greate. With his impassionate furie, + for the death of his Lady and Loue fair Zenocrate: his + forme of exhortation and discipline to his three Sonnes, + and the manner of his owne death. The second part. + London Printed by E. A. for Ed. White, and are to be + solde at his Shop neere the little North doore of Saint + Paules Church at the Signe of the Gun. 1606. 4to. + +The text of the present edition is given from the 8vo of 1592, +collated with the 4tos of 1605-6.> + +<1> the] So the 4to.--The 8vo "our." + +<2> triumphs] So the 8vo.--The 4to "triumph." + +<3> sad] Old eds. "said." + +<4> Uribassa] In this scene, but only here, the old eds. have +"Upibassa." + +<5> Almains, Rutters] RUTTERS are properly--German troopers, +(REITER, REUTER). In the third speech after the present one +this line is repeated VERBATIM: but in the first scene of +our author's FAUSTUS we have,-- + + "Like ALMAIN RUTTERS with their horsemen's staves." + +<6> ORCANES.] Omitted in the old eds. + +<7> hugy] i.e. huge. + +<8> cut the] So the 8vo.--The 4to "out of." + +<9> champion] i.e. champaign. + +<10> Terrene] i.e. Mediterranean (but the Danube falls into the +Black Sea.) + +<11> Cairo] Old eds. "Cairon:" but they are not consistent in +the spelling of this name; afterwards (p. 45, sec. col.) <See +note 29.> they have "Cario." + +<12> Fear] i.e. frighten. + +<13> Sorians] So the 4to.--Here the 8vo has "Syrians"; but +elsewhere in this SEC. PART of the play it agrees with the 4to +in having "Sorians," and "Soria" (which occurs repeatedly,--the +King of SORIA being one of the characters).--Compare Jonson's +FOX, act iv. sc. 1; + + "whether a ship, + Newly arriv'd from SORIA, or from + Any suspected part of all the Levant, + Be guilty of the plague," &c. + +On which passage Whalley remarks; "The city Tyre, from whence +the whole country had its name, was anciently called ZUR or ZOR; +since the Arabs erected their empire in the East, it has been +again called SOR, and is at this day known by no other name in +those parts. Hence the Italians formed their SORIA." + +<14> black] So the 8vo.--The 4to "AND black." + +<15> Egyptians, +Illyrians, Thracians, and Bithynians] +So the 8vo (except that by a misprint it gives "Illicians").-- +The 4to has,-- + + "Egyptians, + + FREDERICK. And we from Europe to the same intent + Illirians, Thracians, and Bithynians"; + +a line which belongs to a later part of the scene (see next +col.) being unaccountably inserted here. <See note 21.> + +<16> plage] i.e. region. So the 8vo.--The 4to "Place." + +<17> viceroy] So the 8vo.--The 4to "Vice-royes." + +<18> Boheme] i.e. Bohemia. + +<19> Bagdet's] So the 8vo in act v. sc. 1. Here it has +"Badgeths": the 4to "Baieths." + +<20> parle] So the 8vo.--Here the 4to "parley," but before, +repeatedly, "parle." + +<21> FREDERICK. And we from Europe, to the same intent] +So the 8vo.--The 4to, which gives this line in an earlier part +of the scene (see note §, preceding col.), <i.e. note 15> +omits it here. + +<22> stand] So the 8vo.--The 4to "are." + +<23> prest] i.e. ready. + +<24> or] So the 8vo.--The 4to "and." + +<25> conditions] So the 4to.--The 8vo "condition." + +<26> Confirm'd] So the 4to.--The 8vo "Confirme." + +<27> by] So the 8vo.--The 4to "with." + +<28> renowmed] See note ||, p. 11. (Here the old eds. agree.) + + <Note ||, from p. 11. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the + Great): + + "renowmed] i.e. renowned.--So the 8vo.--The 4to + "renowned."--The form "RENOWMED" (Fr. renomme) occurs + repeatedly afterwards in this play, according to the 8vo. + It is occasionally found in writers posterior to Marlowe's + time. e.g. + + "Of Constantines great towne RENOUM'D in vaine." + Verses to King James, prefixed to Lord Stirling's + MONARCHICKE TRAGEDIES, ed. 1607.> + +<29> Cairo] Old eds. "Cario." See note ¶, p. 43. <i.e. note +11.> + +<30> stream] Old eds. "streames." + +<31> at] So the 4to.--The 8vo "an." + +<32> Terrene] i.e. Mediterranean. + +<33> Where] Altered by the modern editors to "Whence,"--an +alteration made by one of them also in a speech at p. 48, sec. +col., <see note 57> which may be compared with the present +one,-- + + "Therefore I took my course to Manico, + WHERE, unresisted, I remov'd my camp; + And, by the coast," &c. + +<34> from] So the 4to.--The 8vo "to." + +<35> need] i.e. must. + +<36> let] i.e. hinder. + +<37> tainted] i.e. touched, struck lightly; see Richardson's +DICT. in v. + +<38> shall] So the 8vo.--The 4to "should." + +<39> of] So the 8vo.--The 4to "to." + +<40> to] So the 8vo.--The 4to "of." + +<41> sprung] So the 8vo.--The 4to "sprong".--See note ?, +d. <p.> 14. + + <Note ?, from p. 14. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the + Great): + + "Sprung] Here, and in the next speech, both the old eds. + "SPRONG": but in p. 18, l. 3, first col., the 4to has + "SPRUNG", and in the SEC. PART of the play, act iv. sc. 4, + they both give "SPRUNG from a tyrants loynes."> + + <Page 18, First Column, Line 3, The First Part of + Tamburlaine the Great, + "For he was never sprung of human race,"> + +<42> superficies] Old eds. "superfluities."--(In act iii. sc. 4, +we have, + + "the concave SUPERFICIES + Of Jove's vast palace.") + +<43> through] So the 4to.--The 8vo "thorow." + +<44> carcasses] So the 8vo.--The 4to "carkasse." + +<45> we] So the 8vo.--The 4to "yon (you)." + +<46> channel] i.e. collar, neck,--collar-bone. + +<47> Morocco] The old eds. here, and in the next speech, +"Morocus"; but see note ?, p. 22. + + <note ?, from p. 22. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the + Great): + + "Morocco] Here the old eds. "Moroccus,"--a barbarism which + I have not retained, because previously, in the stage- + direction at the commencement of this act, p. 19, they + agree in reading "Morocco."> + +<48> war] So the 8vo.--The 4to "warres." + +<49> if infernal] So the 8vo.--The 4to "if THE infernall." + +<50> thee] Old eds. "them." + +<51> these] So the 4to.--The 8vo "this." + +<52> strong] A mistake,--occasioned by the word "strong" +in the next line. + +<53> Bootes'] So the 4to.--The 8vo "Boetes." + +<54> leaguer] i.e. camp. + +<55> Jubalter] Here the old eds. have "Gibralter"; but in the +First Part of this play they have "JUBALTER": see p. 25, +first col. + + <p. 25, first col. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the + Great): + + "And thence unto the Straits of Jubalter;"> + +<56> The mighty Christian Priest, + Call'd John the Great] Concerning the fabulous personage, +PRESTER JOHN, see Nares's GLOSS. in v. + +<57> Where] See note ¶, p. 45. <i.e. note 33.> + +<58> Byather] The editor of 1826 printed "Biafar": but it is +very doubtful if Marlowe wrote the names of places correctly. + +<59> Damascus] Here the old eds. "Damasco." See note *, p. 31. + + <note *, from p. 31. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the + Great): + + "Damascus] Both the old eds. here "Damasco:" but in many + other places they agree in reading "Damascus."> + +<60> And made, &c.] A word dropt out from this line. + +<61> him] i.e. the king of Natolia. + +<62> orient] Old eds. "orientall" and "oriental."--Both in our +author's FAUSTUS and in his JEW OF MALTA we have "ORIENT pearl." + +<63> Soria] See note ?, p. 44. <i.e. note 13.> + +<64> thereof] So the 8vo.--The 4to "heereof." + +<65> that we vow] i.e. that which we vow. So the 8vo.--The 4to +"WHAT we vow." Neither of the modern editors understanding the +passage, they printed "WE THAT vow." + +<66> faiths] So the 8vo.--The 4to "fame." + +<67> and religion] Old eds. "and THEIR religion." + +<68> consummate] Old eds. "consinuate." The modern editors +print "continuate," a word which occurs in Shakespeare's +TIMON OF ATHENS, act i. sc. 1., but which the metre determines +to be inadmissible in the present passage.--The Revd. J. Mitford +proposes "continent," in the sense of--restraining from +violence. + +<69> this] So the 8vo.--The 4to "the." + +<70> martial] So the 4to.--The 8vo "materiall." + +<71> our] So the 4to.--The 8vo "your." + +<72> With] So the 4to.--The 8vo "Which." + +<73> thy servant's] He means Sigismund. So a few lines after, +"this traitor's perjury." + +<74> discomfit] Old eds. "discomfort." (Compare the first line +of the next scene.) + +<75> lords] So the 8vo.--The 4to "lord." + +<76> Christian] So the 8vo.--The 4to "Christians." + +<77> Zoacum] "Or ZAKKUM.--The description of this tree is taken +from a fable in the Koran, chap. 37." Ed. 1826. + +<78> an] So the 8vo.--The 4to "any." + +<79> We will both watch and ward shall keep his trunk] +i.e. We will that both watch, &c. So the 4to.--The 8vo has +"AND keepe." + +<80> Uribassa, give] So the 8vo.--The 4to "Vribassa, AND giue." + +<81> Soria] See note ?, p. 44. <i.e. note 13.> + +<82> their] So the 4to.--Not in the 8vo. + +<83> brows] Old eds. "bowers." + +<84> this] So the 8vo.--The 4to "the." + +<85> no] So the 4to.--The 8vo "not." + +<86> and] So the 4to.--The 8vo "a." + +<87> makes] So the 4to.--The 8vo "make." + +<88> author] So the 4to.--The 8vo "anchor." + +<89> yes] Old eds. "yet." + +<90> excellence] So the 4to.--The 8vo "excellency." + +<91> cavalieros] i.e. mounds, or elevations of earth, to +lodge cannon. + +<92> prevails] i.e. avails. + +<93> Mausolus'] Wrong quantity. + +<94> one] So the 8vo ("on").--The 4to "our." + +<95> stature] See note §, p. 27.--So the 8vo.--The 4to "statue." +Here the metre would be assisted by reading "statua," which is +frequently found in our early writers: see my REMARKS ON +MR. COLLIER'S AND MR. KNIGHT'S EDITIONS OF SHAKESPEARE, p. 186. + + <note §, from p. 27. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the + Great): + + "stature] So the 8vo.--The 4to "statue:" but again, in the + SECOND PART of this play, act ii. sc. 4, we have, according + to the 8vo-- + + "And here will I set up her STATURE." + + and, among many passages that might be cited from our + early authors, compare the following; + + "The STATURES huge, of Porphyrie and costlier matters + made." + Warner's ALBIONS ENGLAND, p. 303. ed. 1596. + + "By them shal Isis STATURE gently stand." + Chapman's BLIND BEGGER OF ALEXANDRIA, 1598, sig. A 3. + + "Was not Anubis with his long nose of gold preferred + before Neptune, whose STATURE was but brasse?" + Lyly's MIDAS, sig. A 2. ed. 1592."> + +<96> Soria] See note ?, p. 44. <i.e. note 13.> + +<97> fate] So the 8vo.--The 4to "fates." + +<98> his] Old eds. "our." + +<99> all] So the 8vo.--Omitted in the 4to. + +<100> honours] So the 8vo.--The 4to "honour." + +<101> in conquest] So the 4to.--The 8vo "in THE conquest." + +<102> Judaea] So the 8vo.--The 4to "Juda." + +<103> Sclavonia's] Old eds. "Scalonians" and "Sclauonians." + +<104> Soria] See note ?, p. 44. <i.e. note 13.> + +<105> Damascus] Here the old eds. "Damasco." See note *, +p. 31. + + <note *, from p. 31. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the + Great): + + "Damascus] Both the old eds. here "Damasco:" but in many + other places they agree in reading "Damascus.""> + +<106> That's no matter, &c.] So previously (p. 46, first col.) +Almeda speaks in prose, "I like that well," &c. + + <p. 46, first col. (This play): + + "ALMEDA. I like that well: but, tell me, my lord, + if I should let you go, would you be as good as + your word? shall I be made a king for my labour?"> + + +<107> dearth] Old eds. "death." + +<108> th'] So the 8vo.--Omitted in the 4to. + +<109> Those] Old eds. "Whose." + +<110> sorrows] So the 8vo.--The 4to "sorrow." + +<111> thirst] So the 4to.--The 8vo "colde." + +<112> champion] i.e. champaign. + +<113> which] Old eds. "with." + +<114> Whereas] i.e. Where. + +<115> the] So the 8vo.--The 4to "and." + +<116> cavalieros] See note ?, p. 52. <i.e. note 91.> + +<117> argins] "Argine, Ital. An embankment, a rampart.<"> +Ed., 1826. + +<118> great] So the 8vo.--The 4to "greatst." + +<119> the] Old eds. "their." + +<120> by nature] So the 8vo.--The 4to "by THE nature." + +<121> a] So the 4to.--The 8vo "the." + +<122> A ring of pikes, mingled with shot and horse] Qy. "foot" +instead of "shot"? (but the "ring of pikes" is "foot").--The +Revd. J. Mitford proposes to read, "A ring of pikes AND HORSE, +MANGLED with shot." + +<123> his] So the 8vo--The 4to "this." + +<124> march'd] So the 4to.--The 8vo "martch." + +<125> drop] So the 8vo.--The 4to "dram." + +<126> lance] So the 4to.--Here the 8vo "lanch": but afterwards +more than once it has "lance." + +<127> I know not, &c.] This and the next four speeches are +evidently prose, as are several other portions of the play. + +<128> 'Tis] So the 4to.--The 8vo "This." + +<129> accursed] So the 4to.--The 8vo "cursed." + +<130> his] So the 4to.--The 8vo "the." + +<131> point] So the 8vo.--The 4to "port." + +<132> Soria] See note ?, p. 44. <i.e. note 13.> + +<133> Minions, falc'nets, and sakers] "All small pieces of +ordnance." Ed. 1826. + +<134> hold] Old eds. "gold" and "golde." + +<135> quietly] So the 8vo.--The 4to "quickely." + +<136> friends] So the 4to.--The 8vo "friend." + +<137> you] So the 4to.--The 8vo "thou." + +<138> pioners] See note ||, p. 20. + + <note ||, from p. 20. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the + Great): + + "pioners] The usual spelling of the word in our early + writers (in Shakespeare, for instance)."> + +<139> in] So the 8vo.--The 4to "to." + +<140> argins] See note ?<sic>, p. 55. <note ?? p. 55, +i.e. note 117.> + +<141> quietly] So the 8vo.--The 4to "quickely." + +<142> Were you, that are the friends of Tamburlaine] So the 8vo. +--The 4to "Were ALL you that are friends of Tamburlaine." + +<143> of] So the 8vo.--The 4to "to." + +<144> all convoys that can] i.e. (I believe) all convoys +(conveyances) that can be cut off. The modern editors alter +"can" to "come." + +<145> I am] So the 8vo.--The 4to "am I." + +<146> into] So the 8vo.--The 4to "vnto." + +<147> hold] So the 4to.--The 8vo "holdS." + +<148> straineth] So the 4to.--The 8vo "staineth." + +<149> home] So the 8vo.--The 4to "haue." + +<150> wert] So the 8vo.--The 4to "art." + +<151> join'd] So the 4to.--The 8vo "inioin'd." + +<152> of] So the 8vo.--The 4to "in." + +<153> the] Added perhaps by a mistake of the transcriber +or printer. + +<154> and] So the 8vo.--The 4to "the." + +<155> Renowmed] See note ||, p. 11. So the 8vo.--The 4to +"Renowned." + + <Note ||, from p. 11. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the + Great). + + "renowmed] i.e. renowned.--So the 8vo.--The 4to "renowned." + --The form "RENOWMED" (Fr. renomme) occurs repeatedly + afterwards in this play, according to the 8vo. It is + occasionally found in writers posterior to Marlowe's time. + e.g. + + "Of Constantines great towne RENOUM'D in vaine." + Verses to King James, prefixed to Lord Stirling's + MONARCHICKE TRAGEDIES, ed. 1607."> + +<156> emperor, mighty] So the 8vo.--The 4to "emperour, +AND mightie." + +<157> the] So the 4to.--The 8vo "this." + +<158> your] So the 8vo.--The 4to "our." + +<159> term'd] Old eds. "terme." + +<160> the] So the 4to.--Omitted in the 8vo. + +<161> your] So the 8vo.--The 4to "our." + +<162> brandishing their] So the 4to.--The 8vo "brandishing +IN their." + +<163> with] So the 4to.--Omitted in the 8vo. + +<164> shew'd your] So the 8vo.--The 4to "shewed TO your." + +<165> Sorians] See note ?, p. 44. <i.e. note 13.> + +<166> repair'd] So the 8vo.--The 4to "prepar'd." + +<167> And neighbour cities of your highness' land] So the 8vo.-- +Omitted in the 4to. + +<168> he] i.e. Death. So the 8vo.--The 4to "it." + +<169> is] So the 8vo.--The 4to "the." + +<170> harness'd] So the 8vo.--The 4to "harnesse." + +<171> on] So the 4to.--The 8vo "with" (the compositor having +caught the word from the preceding line). + +<172> thou shalt] So the 8vo.--The 4to "shalt thou." + +<173> the] So the 8vo.--The 4to "our." + +<174> and rent] So the 8vo.--The 4to "or rend." + +<175> Go to, sirrah] So the 8vo.--The 4to "Goe sirrha." + +<176> give arms] An heraldic expression, meaning--shew armorial +bearings (used, of course, with a quibble). + +<177> No] So the 4to.--The 8vo "Go." + +<178> bugs] i.e. bugbears, objects to strike you with terror. + +<179> rout] i.e. crew, rabble. + +<180> as the foolish king of Persia did] See p. 16, first col. + + <p. 15, first col. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the + Great, ACT II, Scene IV): + + " SCENE IV. + + Enter MYCETES with his crown in his hand. + + MYCETES. Accurs'd be he that first invented war! + They knew not, ah, they knew not, simple men, + How those were hit by pelting cannon-shot + Stand staggering like a quivering aspen-leaf + Fearing the force of Boreas' boisterous blasts! + + <page 16> + + In what a lamentable case were I, + If nature had not given me wisdom's lore! + For kings are clouts that every man shoots at, + Our crown the pin that thousands seek to cleave: + Therefore in policy I think it good + To hide it close; a goodly stratagem, + And far from any man that is a fool: + So shall not I be known; or if I be, + They cannot take away my crown from me. + Here will I hide it in this simple hole. + + Enter TAMBURLAINE. + + TAMBURLAINE. + What, fearful coward, straggling from the camp, + When kings themselves are present in the field?"> + +<181> aspect] So the 8vo.--The 4to "aspects." + +<182> sits asleep] At the back of the stage, which was supposed +to represent the interior of the tent. + +<183> You cannot] So the 8vo.--The 4to "Can you not." + +<184> scare] So the 8vo.--The 4to "scarce." + +<185> tall] i.e. bold, brave. + +<186> both you] So the 8vo.--The 4to "you both." + +<187> should I] So the 8vo.--The 4to "I should." + +<188> ye] So the 8vo.--The 4to "my." + +<189> stoop your pride] i.e. make your pride to stoop. + +<190> bodies] So the 8vo.--The 4to "glories." + +<191> mine] So the 4to.--The 8vo "my." + +<192> may] So the 4to.--The 8vo "nay." + +<193> up] The modern editors alter this word to "by," not +understanding the passage. Tamburlaine means--Do not KNEEL +to me for his pardon. + +<194> once] So the 4to.--The 8vo "one." + +<195> martial] So the 8vo.--The 4to "materiall." (In this +line "fire" is a dissyllable") + +<196> thine] So the 8vo.--The 4to "thy." + +<197> which] Old eds. "with." + +<198> Jaertis'] So the 8vo.--The 4to "Laertis." By "Jaertis'" +must be meant--Jaxartes'. + +<199> incorporeal] So the 8vo.--The 4to "incorporall." + +<200> for being seen] i.e. "that thou mayest not be seen." +Ed. 1826. See Richardson's DICT. in v. FOR. + +<201> you shall] So the 8vo.--The 4to "shall ye." + +<202> Approve] i.e. prove, experience. + +<203> bloods] So the 4to.--The 8vo "blood." + +<204> peasants] So the 8vo.--The 4to "parsants." + +<205> resist in] Old eds "resisting." + +<206> Casane] So the 4to.--The 8vo "VSUM Casane." + +<207> it] So the 8vo.--Omitted in the 4to. + +<208> Excel] Old eds. "Expell" and "Expel." + + +<209> artier] See note *, p. 18. + + <Note *, from p. 18. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the + Great): + + "Artier] i.e. artery. This form occurs again in the SEC. + PART of the present play: so too in a copy of verses by + Day; + + "Hid in the vaines and ARTIERS of the earthe." + SHAKESPEARE SOC. PAPERS, vol. i. 19. + + The word indeed was variously written of old: + + "The ARTER strynge is the conduyt of the lyfe spiryte." + Hormanni VULGARIA, sig. G iii. ed. 1530. + + "Riche treasures serue for th'ARTERS of the war." + Lord Stirling's DARIUS, act ii. Sig. C 2. ed. 1604. + + "Onelye the extrauagant ARTIRE of my arme is brused." + EVERIE WOMAN IN HER HUMOR, 1609, sig. D 4. + + "And from the veines some bloud each ARTIRE draines." + Davies's MICROCOSMOS, 1611, p. 56."> + +<210> remorseful] i.e. compassionate. + +<211> miss] i.e. loss, want. The construction is--Run round +about, mourning the miss of the females. + +<212> behold] Qy "beheld"? + +<213> a] So the 4to.--The 8vo "the." + +<214> Have] Old eds. "Hath." + +<215> to] So the 8vo.--The 4to "and." + +<216> in] So the 8vo.--The 4to "to." + +<217> now, my lord; and, will you] So the 8vo.--The 4to +"GOOD my Lord, IF YOU WILL." + +<218> mouths] So the 4to.--The 8vo "mother." + +<219> rebated] i.e. blunted. + +<220> thereof] So the 8vo.--The 4to "heereof." + +<221> and will] So the 4to.--The 8vo "and I wil." + +<222> She anoints her throat] This incident, as Mr. Collier +observes (HIST. OF ENG. DRAM. POET., iii. 119) is borrowed +from Ariosto's ORLANDO FURIOSO, B. xxix, "where Isabella, +to save herself from the lawless passion of Rodomont, anoints +her neck with a decoction of herbs, which she pretends will +render it invulnerable: she then presents her throat to the +Pagan, who, believing her assertion, aims a blow and strikes +off her head." + +<223> my] Altered by the modern editors to "thy,"--unnecessarily. + +<224> Elysium] Old eds. "Elisian" and "Elizian." + +<225> do borrow] So the 4to.--The 8vo "borow doo." + +<226> my] So the 4to (Theridamas is King of Argier).--The 8vo +"thy." + +<227> Soria] See note ?, p. 44. <i.e. note 13.> + +<228> his] So the 4to.--The 8vo "their." + +<229> led by five] So the 4to.--The 8vo "led by WITH fiue." + +<230> Holla, ye pamper'd jades of Asia, &c.] The ridicule +showered on this passage by a long series of poets, will +be found noticed in the ACCOUNT OF MARLOWE AND HIS WRITINGS. + + <The "Account of Marlowe and His Writings," is the + introduction to this book of "The Works of Christopher + Marlowe." That is, the book from which this play has been + transcribed. The following is a footnote from page xvii + of that introduction.> + + <"Tamb. Holla, ye pamper'd jades of Asia!" &c. + p. 64, sec. col. + + This has been quoted or alluded to, generally with ridicule, + by a whole host of writers. Pistol's "hollow pamper'd jades + of Asia" in Shakespeare's HENRY IV. P. II. Act ii. sc. 4, + is known to most readers: see also Beaumont and Fletcher's + COXCOMB, act ii. sc. 2; Fletcher's WOMEN PLEASED, act iv. + sc. 1; Chapman's, Jonson's, and Marston's EASTWARD HO, + act ii. sig. B 3, ed. 1605; Brathwait's STRAPPADO FOR THE + DIUELL, 1615, p. 159; Taylor the water-poet's THIEFE and + his WORLD RUNNES ON WHEELES,--WORKES, pp. 111 [121], 239, + ed. 1630; A BROWN DOZEN OF DRUNKARDS, &c. 1648, sig. A 3; + the Duke of Newcastle's VARIETIE, A COMEDY, 1649, p. 72; + --but I cannot afford room for more references.--In 1566 + a similar spectacle had been exhibited at Gray's Inn: + there the Dumb Show before the first act of Gascoigne and + Kinwelmersh's JOCASTA introduced "a king with an imperiall + crowne vpon hys head," &c. "sitting in a chariote very + richly furnished, drawen in by iiii kings in their dublets + and hosen, with crownes also vpon theyr heads, representing + vnto vs ambition by the historie of Sesostres," &c. + +<231> And blow the morning from their nostrils] Here "nostrils" +is to be read as a trisyllable,--and indeed is spelt in the 4to +"nosterils."--Mr. Collier (HIST. OF ENG. DRAM. POET., iii. 124) +remarks that this has been borrowed from Marlowe by the anonymous +author of the tragedy of CAESAR AND POMPEY, 1607 (and he might +have compared also Chapman's HYMNUS IN CYNTHIAM,--THE SHADOW +OF NIGHT, &c. 1594, sig. D 3): but, after all, it is only +a translation; + + "cum primum alto se gurgite tollunt + Solis equi, LUCEMQUE ELATIS NARIBUS EFFLANT." + AEN. xii. 114 + +(Virgil being indebted to Ennius and Lucilius). + +<232> in] So the 8vo.--The 4to "as." + +<233> racking] i.e. moving like smoke or vapour: see +Richardson's DICT. in v. + +<234> have coach] So the 8vo.--The 4to "haue A coach." + +<235> by] So the 4to.--The 8vo "with." + +<236> garden-plot] So the 4to.--The 8vo "GARDED plot." + +<237> colts] i.e. (with a quibble) colts'-teeth. + +<238> same] So the 8vo.--Omitted in the 4to. + +<239> match] So the 8vo.--The 4to "march." + +<240> Above] So the 8vo.--The 4to "About." + +<241> tall] i.e. bold, brave. + +<242> their] So the 4to.--Omitted in the 8vo. + +<243> continent] Old eds. "content." + +<244> jest] A quibble--which will be understood by those +readers who recollect the double sense of JAPE (jest) in our +earliest writers. + +<245> prest] i.e. ready. + +<246> Terrene] i.e. Mediterranean. + +<247> all] So the 8vo.--Omitted in the 4to. + +<248> Jaertis'] See note **, p. 62. <i.e. note 198.> So the +8vo.--The 4to "Laertes." + +<249> furthest] So the 4to.--The 8vo "furthiest." + +<250> Thorough] So the 8vo.--The 4to "Through." + +<251> Like to an almond-tree, &c.] This simile in borrowed +from Spenser's FAERIE QUEENE, B. i. C. vii. st. 32; + + "Upon the top of all his loftie crest, + A bounch of heares discolourd diversly, + With sprincled pearle and gold full richly drest, + Did shake, and seemd to daunce for iollity; + Like to an almond tree ymounted hye + On top of greene Selinis all alone, + With blossoms brave bedecked daintily; + Whose tender locks do tremble every one + At everie little breath that under heaven is blowne." + +The first three books of THE FAERIE QUEENE were originally +printed in 1590, the year in which the present play was first +given to the press: but Spenser's poem, according to the +fashion of the times, had doubtless been circulated in +manuscript, and had obtained many readers, before its +publication. In Abraham Fraunce's ARCADIAN RHETORIKE, 1588, +some lines of the Second Book of THE FAERIE QUEENE are +accurately cited. And see my Acc. of Peele and his Writings, +p. xxxiv, WORKS, ed. 1829. + +<252> y-mounted] So both the old eds.--The modern editors print +"mounted"; and the Editor of 1826 even remarks in a note, that +the dramatist, "finding in the fifth line of Spenser's stanza +the word 'y-mounted,' and, probably considering it to be too +obsolete for the stage, dropped the initial letter, leaving only +nine syllables and an unrythmical line"! ! ! In the FIRST PART +of this play (p. 23, first col.) we have,-- + + "Their limbs more large and of a bigger size + Than all the brats Y-SPRUNG from Typhon's loins:" + +but we need not wonder that the Editor just cited did not +recollect the passage, for he had printed, like his predecessor, +"ERE sprung." + +<253> ever-green Selinus] Old eds. "EUERY greene Selinus" +and "EUERIE greene," &c.--I may notice that one of the modern +editors silently alters "Selinus" to (Spenser's) "Selinis;" +but, in fact, the former is the correct spelling. + +<254> Erycina's] Old eds. "Hericinas." + +<255> brows] So the 4to.--The 8vo "bowes." + +<256> breath that thorough heaven] So the 8vo.--The 4to "breath +FROM heauen." + +<257> chariot] Old eds. "chariots." + +<258> out] Old eds. "our." + +<259> respect'st thou] Old eds. "RESPECTS thou:" but afterwards, +in this scene, the 8vo has, "Why SEND'ST thou not," and "thou +SIT'ST." + +<260> of] So the 8vo.--The 4to "in." + +<261> he] So the 4to.--The 8vo "was." + +<262> How, &c.] A mutilated line. + +<263> eterniz'd] So the 4to.--The 8vo "enternisde." + +<264> and] So the 4to.--Omitted in the 8vo. + +<265> prest] i.e. ready. + +<266> parle] Here the old eds. "parlie": but repeatedly before +they have "parle" (which is used more than once by Shakespeare). + +<267> Orcanes, king of Natolia, and the King of Jerusalem, +led by soldiers] Old eds. (which have here a very imperfect +stage-direction) "the two spare kings",--"spare" meaning-- +not then wanted to draw the chariot of Tamburlaine. + +<268> burst] i.e. broken, bruised. + +<269> the measures] i.e. the dance (properly,--solemn, +stately dances, with slow and measured steps). + +<270> of] So the 8vo.--The 4to "for." + +<271> ports] i.e. gates. + +<272> make] So the 4to.--The 8vo "wake." + +<273> the city-walls) So the 8vo.--The 4to "the walles." + +<274> him] So the 4to.--The 8vo "it." + +<275> in] Old eds. "VP in,<">--the "vp" having been repeated +by mistake from the preceding line. + +<276> scar'd] So the 8vo; and, it would seem, rightly; +Tamburlaine making an attempt at a bitter jest, in reply +to what the Governor has just said.--The 4to "sear'd." + +<277> Vile] The 8vo "Vild"; the 4to "Wild" (Both eds., +a little before, have "VILE monster, born of some infernal hag", +and, a few lines after, "To VILE and ignominious servitude":-- +the fact is, our early writers (or rather, transcribers), +with their usual inconsistency of spelling, give now the one +form, and now the other: compare the folio SHAKESPEARE, +1623, where we sometimes find "vild" and sometimes "VILE.") + +<278> Bagdet's] So the 8vo.--The 4to "Badgets." + +<279> A citadel, &c.] Something has dropt out from this line. + +<280> Well said] Equivalent to--Well done! as appears from +innumerable passages of our early writers: see, for instances, +my ed. of Beaumont and Fletcher's WORKS, vol. i. 328, vol. ii. +445, vol. viii. 254. + +<281> will I] So the 8vo.--The 4to "I will." + +<282> suffer'st] Old eds. "suffers": but see the two following +notes. + +<283> send'st] So the 8vo.--The 4to "sends." + +<284> sit'st] So the 8vo.--The 4to "sits." + +<285> head] So the 8vo.--The 4to "blood." + +<286> fed] Old eds. "feede." + +<287> upon] So the 8vo.--Omitted in the 4to. + +<288> fleet] i.e. float. + +<289> gape] So the 8vo.--The 4to "gaspe." + +<290> in] So the 8vo.--Omitted in the 4to. + +<291> forth, ye vassals] Spoken, of course, to the two kings +who draw his chariot. + +<292> whatsoe'er] So the 8vo.--The 4to "whatsoeuer." + +<293> Euphrates] See note §, p. 36. + + <note §, from p. 36. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the + Great): + + "Euphrates] So our old poets invariably, I believe, + accentuate this word."> + + <Note: 'Euphrates' was printed with no accented characters + at all.> + +<294> may we] So the 8vo.--The 4to "we may." + +<295> this] So the 8vo.--The 4to "that" (but in the next speech +of the same person it has "THIS Tamburlaine"). + +<296> record] i.e. call to mind. + +<297> Aid] So the 8vo.--The 4to "And." + +<298> Renowmed] See note ||, p. 11. So the 8vo.--The 4to +"Renowned."--The prefix to this speech is wanting in the old eds. + + <note ||, from p. 11. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the + Great): + + "renowmed] i.e. renowned.--So the 8vo.--The 4to "renowned." + --The form "RENOWMED" (Fr. renomme) occurs repeatedly + afterwards in this play, according to the 8vo. It is + occasionally found in writers posterior to Marlowe's time. + e.g. + + "Of Constantines great towne RENOUM'D in vaine." + Verses to King James, prefixed to Lord Stirling's + MONARCHICKE TRAGEDIES, ed. 1607."> + +<299> invisibly] So the 4to.--The 8vo "inuincible." + +<300> inexcellence] So the 4to.--The 8vo "inexcellencie." + +<301> Enter Tamburlaine, &c.] Here the old eds. have no stage- +direction; and perhaps the poet intended that Tamburlaine should +enter at the commencement of this scene. That he is drawn in his +chariot by the two captive kings, appears from his exclamation +at p. 72, first col. "Draw, you slaves!" + +<302> cease] So the 8vo.--The 4to "case." + +<303> hypostasis] Old eds. "Hipostates." + +<304> artiers] See note *, p. 18. + + <Note *, from p. 18. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the + Great): + + "Artier] i.e. artery. This form occurs again in the SEC. + PART of the present play: so too in a copy of verses by + Day; + + "Hid in the vaines and ARTIERS of the earthe." + SHAKESPEARE SOC. PAPERS, vol. i. 19. + + The word indeed was variously written of old: + + "The ARTER strynge is the conduyt of the lyfe spiryte." + Hormanni VULGARIA, sig. G iii. ed. 1530. + + "Riche treasures serue for th'ARTERS of the war." + Lord Stirling's DARIUS, act ii. Sig. C 2. ed. 1604. + + "Onelye the extrauagant ARTIRE of my arme is brused." + EVERIE WOMAN IN HER HUMOR, 1609, sig. D 4. + + "And from the veines some bloud each ARTIRE draines." + Davies's MICROCOSMOS, 1611, p. 56."> + +<305> upon] So the 4to.--The 8vo "on." + +<306> villain cowards] Old eds. "VILLAINES, cowards" (which +is not to be defended by "VILLAINS, COWARDS, traitors to our +state", p. 67, sec. col.). Compare "But where's this COWARD +VILLAIN," &c., p. 61 sec. col. + +<307> unto] So the 8vo.--The 4to "to." + +<308> Whereas] i.e. Where. + +<309> Terrene] i.e. Mediterranean. + +<310> began] So the 8vo.--The 4to "begun." + +<311> this] So the 8vo.--The 4to "the." + +<312> subjects] Mr. Collier (Preface to COLERIDGE'S SEVEN +LECTURES ON SHAKESPEARE AND MILTON, p. cxviii) says that here +"subjects" is a printer's blunder for "substance": YET HE TAKES +NO NOTICE OF TAMBURLAINE'S NEXT WORDS, "But, sons, this SUBJECT +not of force enough," &c.--The old eds. are quite right in both +passages: compare, in p. 62, first col.; + + "A form not meet to give that SUBJECT essence + Whose matter is the flesh of Tamburlaine," &c. + +<313> into] So the 8vo.--The 4to "vnto." + +<314> your seeds] So the 8vo.--The 4to "OUR seedes." (In p. 18, +first col., <The First Part of Tamburlaine the Great> we have +had "Their angry SEEDS"; but in p. 47, first col., <this play> +"thy seed":--and Marlowe probably wrote "seed" both here and in +p. 18.) + +<315> lineaments] So the 8vo.--The 4to "laments."--The Editor +of 1826 remarks, that this passage "is too obscure for ordinary +comprehension." + +<316> these] So the 4to.--The 8vo "those." + +<317> these] So the 4to.--The 8vo "those." + +<318> damned] i.e. doomed,--sorrowful. + +<319> Clymene's] So the 8vo.--The 4to "Clymeus." + +<320> Phoebe's] So the 8vo.--The 4to "Phoebus." + +<321> Phyteus'] Meant perhaps for "Pythius'", according to the +usage of much earlier poets: + + "And of PHYTON [i.e. Python] that Phebus made thus fine + Came Phetonysses," &c. + Lydgate's WARRES OF TROY, B. ii. SIG. K vi. ed. + 1555. + +Here the modern editors print "Phoebus'". + +<322> thee] So the 8vo.--The 4to "me." + +<323> cliffs] Here the old eds. "clifts" and "cliftes": +but see p. 12, line 5, first col. + + <p. 12, first col. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the + Great): + + "Both we will walk upon the lofty cliffs;* + + * cliffs] So the 8vo.--The 4to "cliftes."> + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Tamburlaine the Great, Part 2, + diff --git a/old/tmbn210.zip b/old/tmbn210.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..49efec2 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/tmbn210.zip |