8
THE FIRST PART OF
ACT I.
The hope of Persia, and the very legs
Whereon our state doth lean as on a staff,
That holds us up and foils our neighbour foes :
Thou shalt be leader of this thousand horse,
Whose foaming gall with rage and high disdain
Have sworn the death of wicked Tamburlaine.
Go frowning forth ; but come thou smiling home,
As did Sir Paris with the Grecian dame :
Return with speed ; time passeth swift away ;
Our life is frail, and we may die to-day.
Whereon our state doth lean as on a staff,
That holds us up and foils our neighbour foes :
Thou shalt be leader of this thousand horse,
Whose foaming gall with rage and high disdain
Have sworn the death of wicked Tamburlaine.
Go frowning forth ; but come thou smiling home,
As did Sir Paris with the Grecian dame :
Return with speed ; time passeth swift away ;
Our life is frail, and we may die to-day.
Ther. Before the moon renew her borrow'd light,
Doubt not, my lord and gracious sovereign,
But Tamburlaine and that Tartarian rout[1]
Shall either perish by our warlike hands,
Or plead for mercy at your highness' feet.
Doubt not, my lord and gracious sovereign,
But Tamburlaine and that Tartarian rout[1]
Shall either perish by our warlike hands,
Or plead for mercy at your highness' feet.
Myc. Go, stout Theridamas; thy words are swords,
And with thy looks thou conquerest all thy foes.
I long to see thee back return from thence,
That I may view these milk-white steeds of mine
All loaden with the heads of killed men,
And, from their knees even to their hoofs below,
Besmear'd with blood that makes a dainty show.
Ther. Then now, my lord, I humbly take my leave.
And with thy looks thou conquerest all thy foes.
I long to see thee back return from thence,
That I may view these milk-white steeds of mine
All loaden with the heads of killed men,
And, from their knees even to their hoofs below,
Besmear'd with blood that makes a dainty show.
Ther. Then now, my lord, I humbly take my leave.
Myc. Theridamas, farewell ten thousand times.
Exit Theridamas.
Ah, Menaphon, why stay'st thou thus behind,
When other men press[2] forward for renown ?
Go, Menaphon, go into Scythia,
And foot by foot follow Theridamas.
Exit Theridamas.
Ah, Menaphon, why stay'st thou thus behind,
When other men press[2] forward for renown ?
Go, Menaphon, go into Scythia,
And foot by foot follow Theridamas.
Cos. Nay, pray you[3], let him stay ; a greater [task]
Fits Menaphon than warring with a thief :
Create him pro-rex of all[4] Africa,
That he may win the Babylonians' hearts,
Which will revolt from Persian government,
Unless they have a wiser king than you.
Fits Menaphon than warring with a thief :
Create him pro-rex of all[4] Africa,
That he may win the Babylonians' hearts,
Which will revolt from Persian government,
Unless they have a wiser king than you.
Myc. Unless they have a wiser king than you !
These are his words ; Meander, set them down.
These are his words ; Meander, set them down.
Cos. And add this to them, that all Asia
Lament to see the folly of their king.
Lament to see the folly of their king.
Myc. Well, here I swear by this my royal seat
Cos. You may do well to kiss it, then.
Cos. You may do well to kiss it, then.
Myc. Emboss'd with silk as best beseems my state,
To be reveng'd for these contemptuous words!
O, where is duty and allegiance now?
Fled to the Caspian or the Ocean main ?
What shall I call thee! brother? no, a foe;
Monster of nature, shame unto thy stock,
That dar'st presume thy sovereign for to mock !
Meander, come : I am abus'd, Meander.
Exeunt all except Cosore and Menaphon.
To be reveng'd for these contemptuous words!
O, where is duty and allegiance now?
Fled to the Caspian or the Ocean main ?
What shall I call thee! brother? no, a foe;
Monster of nature, shame unto thy stock,
That dar'st presume thy sovereign for to mock !
Meander, come : I am abus'd, Meander.
Exeunt all except Cosore and Menaphon.
Cos. Ah, Menaphon, I pass not[6]for his threats!
The plot is laid by Persian noblemen
And captains of the Median garrisons
To crown me emperor of Asia:
But this it is that doth excruciate
The very substance of my vèxed soul,
To see our neighbours, that were wont to quake
And tremble at the Persian monarch's name,
Now sit and laugh our regiment[7] to scorn;
And that which might resolve[8] me into tears,
Men from the farthest equinoctial line
Have swarm'd in troops into the Eastern India,
Lading their ships[9] with gold and precious stones,
And made their spoils from all our provinces.
The plot is laid by Persian noblemen
And captains of the Median garrisons
To crown me emperor of Asia:
But this it is that doth excruciate
The very substance of my vèxed soul,
To see our neighbours, that were wont to quake
And tremble at the Persian monarch's name,
Now sit and laugh our regiment[7] to scorn;
And that which might resolve[8] me into tears,
Men from the farthest equinoctial line
Have swarm'd in troops into the Eastern India,
Lading their ships[9] with gold and precious stones,
And made their spoils from all our provinces.
Men. This should entreat your highness to rejoice,
Since Fortune gives you opportunity
To gain the title of a conqueror
By curing of this maimed empery.
Afric and Europe bordering on your land,
And continent to your dominions,
How easily may you, with a mighty host,
Pass[10] into Gnecia, as did Cyrus once,
And cause them to withdraw their forces home,
Lest you[11] subdue the pride of Christendom !
Trumpet within.
Since Fortune gives you opportunity
To gain the title of a conqueror
By curing of this maimed empery.
Afric and Europe bordering on your land,
And continent to your dominions,
How easily may you, with a mighty host,
Pass[10] into Gnecia, as did Cyrus once,
And cause them to withdraw their forces home,
Lest you[11] subdue the pride of Christendom !
Trumpet within.
Cos. But, Menaphon, what means this trumpet's sound?
Men. Behold, my lord, Ortygius and the rest
Bringing the crown to make you emperor !
Bringing the crown to make you emperor !
Re-enter Ortyigus and Ceneus [12], with others, bearing a crown.
Orty. Maignificent and mighty prince Cosroe,
We, in the name of other Persian states[13]
And commons of this mighty monarchy,
Present thee with th' imperial diadem.
We, in the name of other Persian states[13]
And commons of this mighty monarchy,
Present thee with th' imperial diadem.
- ↑ rout] i. e. crew.
- ↑ press] So the 8vo. The 4to "prease."
- ↑ you] So the 8vo. Omitted in the 4to.
- ↑ all] So the 4to. Omitted in the 8vo.
- ↑ mated] i. e. confounded
- ↑ pass not] i. e. care not.
- ↑ regiment] i. e. rule, government.
- ↑ resolve] i.e. dissolve. So the 8vo. The 4to "disolue."
- ↑ ships] So the 4to. The 8vo "shipie."
- ↑ Pass] So the 8vo. The 4to "Hast."
- ↑ you] So the 8vo. The 4to "they."
- ↑ Ceneus] Here both the old eds. "Conerua."
- ↑ states] i. e. noblemen, persons of rank.
