按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
they should come near ourselves。
ANIPPE。 Yet sometimes let your highness send for them To do the
work my chambermaid disdains。 ＇They sound to the battle within。＇
ZENOCRATE。 Ye gods and powers that govern Persia； And made my
lordly love her worthy king； Now strengthen him against the Turkish
Bajazeth； And let his foes； like flocks of fearful roes Pursu'd by hunters；
fly his angry looks； That I may see him issue conqueror！
ZABINA。 Now； Mahomet； solicit God himself； And make him rain
down murdering shot from heaven； To dash the Scythians' brains； and
strike them dead； That dare to manage arms with him That offer'd
jewels to thy sacred shrine When first he warr'd against the Christians！
＇They sound again to the battle within。＇
ZENOCRATE。 By this the Turks lie weltering in their blood； And
Tamburlaine is lord of Africa。
ZABINA。 Thou art deceiv'd。 I heard the trumpets sound As when my
emperor overthrew the Greeks； And led them captive into Africa。 Straight
will I use thee as thy pride deserves； Prepare thyself to live and die my
slave。
ZENOCRATE。 If Mahomet should come from heaven and swear My
royal lord is slain or conquered； Yet should he not persuade me otherwise
But that he lives and will be conqueror。
Re…enter BAJAZETH； pursued by TAMBURLAINE。
TAMBURLAINE。 Now； king of bassoes； who is conqueror？
BAJAZETH。 Thou； by the fortune of this damned foil。
TAMBURLAINE。 Where are your stout contributory kings？
Re…enter TECHELLES； THERIDAMAS； and USUMCASANE。
TECHELLES。 We have their crowns； their bodies strow the field。
42
… Page 43…
TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
TAMBURLAINE。 Each man a crown！ why； kingly fought； i'faith。
Deliver them into my treasury。
ZENOCRATE。 Now let me offer to my gracious lord His royal crown
again so highly won。
TAMBURLAINE。 Nay； take the Turkish crown from her； Zenocrate；
And crown me emperor of Africa。
ZABINA。 No； Tamburlaine； though now thou gat the best； Thou
shalt not yet be lord of Africa。
THERIDAMAS。 Give her the crown； Turkess； you were best。 ＇Takes it
from her。＇
ZABINA。 Injurious villains； thieves； runagates； How dare you thus
abuse my majesty？
THERIDAMAS。 Here； madam； you are empress； she is none。 ＇Gives it
to ZENOCRATE。＇
TAMBURLAINE。 Not now； Theridamas； her time is past： The pillars；
that have bolster'd up those terms； Are faln in clusters at my conquering
feet。
ZABINA。 Though he be prisoner； he may be ransom'd。
TAMBURLAINE。 Not all the world shall ransom Bajazeth。
BAJAZETH。 Ah； fair Zabina！ we have lost the field； And never had
the Turkish emperor So great a foil by any foreign foe。 Now will the
Christian miscreants be glad； Ringing with joy their superstitious bells；
And making bonfires for my overthrow： But； ere I die； those foul idolaters
Shall make me bonfires with their filthy bones； For； though the glory of
this day be lost； Afric and Greece have garrisons enough To make me
sovereign of the earth again。
TAMBURLAINE。 Those walled garrisons will I subdue； And write
myself great lord of Africa： So from the East unto the furthest West Shall
Tamburlaine extend his puissant arm。 The galleys and those pilling
brigandines； That yearly sail to the Venetian gulf； And hover in the Straits
for Christians' wreck； Shall lie at anchor in the Isle Asant； Until the
Persian fleet and men…of…war； Sailing along the oriental sea； Have fetch'd
about the Indian continent； Even from Persepolis to Mexico； And thence
unto the Straits of Jubalter； Where they shall meet and join their force in
43
… Page 44…
TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
one。 Keeping in awe the Bay of Portingale； And all the ocean by the
British shore； And by this means I'll win the world at last。
BAJAZETH。 Yet set a ransom on me； Tamburlaine。
TAMBURLAINE。 What； think'st thou Tamburlaine esteems thy gold？
I'll make the kings of India； ere I die； Offer their mines； to sue for peace； to
me； And dig for treasure to appease my wrath。 Come； bind them both；
and one lead in the Turk； The Turkess let my love's maid lead away； ＇They
bind them。＇
BAJAZETH。 Ah； villains； dare you touch my sacred arms？ O
Mahomet！ O sleepy Mahomet！
ZABINA。 O cursed Mahomet； that mak'st us thus The slaves to
Scythians rude and barbarous！
TAMBURLAINE。 Come； bring them in； and for this happy conquest
Triumph； and solemnize a martial feast。 ＇Exeunt。＇
44
… Page 45…
TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
ACT IV。
45
… Page 46…
TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
SCENE I。
Enter the SOLDAN OF EGYPT； CAPOLIN； LORDS； and a
MESSENGER。
SOLDAN。 Awake； ye men of Memphis！ hear the clang Of
Scythian trumpets； hear the basilisks； That； roaring； shake
Damascus' turrets down！ The rogue of Volga holds Zenocrate； The
Soldan's daughter； for his concubine； And； with a troop of thieves and
vagabonds； Hath spread his colours to our high disgrace； While you； faint…
hearted base Egyptians； Lie slumbering on the flowery banks of Nile； As
crocodiles that unaffrighted rest While thundering cannons rattle on their
skins。
MESSENGER。 Nay； mighty Soldan； did your greatness see The
frowning looks of fiery Tamburlaine； That with his terror and imperious
eyes Commands the hearts of his associates； It might amaze your royal
majesty。
SOLDAN。 Villain； I tell thee； were that Tamburlaine As
monstrous as Gorgon prince of hell； The Soldan would not start a
foot from him。 But speak； what power hath he？
MESSENGER。 Mighty lord； Three hundred thousand men in armour
clad； Upon their prancing steeds； disdainfully With wanton paces
trampling on the ground； Five hundred thousand footmen threatening shot；
Shaking their swords； their spears； and iron bills； Environing their
standard round； that stood As bristle…pointed as a thorny wood； Their
warlike engines and munition Exceed the forces of their martial men。
SOLDAN。 Nay； could their numbers countervail the stars； Or ever…
drizzling drops of April showers； Or wither'd leaves that autumn
shaketh down； Yet would the Soldan by his conquering power So scatter
and consume them in his rage； That not a man should live to rue
their fall。
CAPOLIN。 So might your highness； had you time to sort Your fighting
men； and raise your royal host； But Tamburlaine by expedition Advantage
takes of your unreadiness。
SOLDAN。 Let him take all th' advantages he can： Were all the world
46
… Page 47…
TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
conspir'd to fight for him； Nay； were he devil； as he is no man； Yet
in revenge of fair Zenocrate； Whom he detaineth in despite of us； This arm
should send him down to Erebus； To shroud his shame in darkness of the
night。
MESSENGER。 Pleaseth your mightiness to understand； His resolution
far exceedeth all。 The first day when he pitcheth down his tents； White is
their hue； and on his silver crest A snowy feather spangled…white he bears；
To signify the mildness of his mind； That； satiate with spoil； refuseth blood：
But； when Aurora mounts the second time； As red as scarlet is his furniture；
Then must his kindled wrath be quench'd with blood； Not sparing any that
can manage arms： But； if these threats move not submission； Black are his
colours； black pavilion； His spear； his shield； his horse； his armour； plumes；
And jetty feathers； menace death and hell； Without respect of sex； degree；
or age； He razeth all his foes with fire and sword。
SOLDAN。 Merciless villain； peasant； ignorant Of lawful arms or
martial discipline！ Pillage and murder are his usual trades： The slave
usurps the glo