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crowns。＇
TAMBURLAINE。 Theridamas； Techelles； and Casane； here are the
cates you desire to finger； are they not？
THERIDAMAS。 Ay； my lord： but none save kings must feed with
these。
TECHELLES。 'Tis enough for us to see them； and for Tamburlaine
only to enjoy them。
TAMBURLAINE。 Well； here is now to the Soldan of Egypt； the King
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
of Arabia； and the Governor of Damascus。 Now； take these three crowns；
and pledge me； my contributory kings。 I crown you here； Theridamas；
king of Argier； Techelles； king of Fez； and Usumcasane； king of
Morocco。How say you to this； Turk？ these are not your
contributory kings。
BAJAZETH。 Nor shall they long be thine； I warrant them。
TAMBURLAINE。 Kings of Argier； Morocco； and of Fez； You that
have march'd with happy Tamburlaine As far as from the frozen
plage of heaven Unto the watery Morning's ruddy bower； And
thence by land unto the torrid zone； Deserve these titles I endow you with
By valour and by magnanimity。 Your births shall be no blemish to
your fame； For virtue is the fount whence honour springs； And they are
worthy she investeth kings。
THERIDAMAS。 And； since your highness hath so well vouchsaf'd； If
we deserve them not with higher meeds Than erst our states and actions
have retain'd； Take them away again； and make us slaves。
TAMBURLAINE。 Well said； Theridamas： when holy Fates Shall
stablish me in strong Aegyptia； We mean to travel to th' antarctic pole；
Conquering the people underneath our feet； And be renowm'd as
never emperors were。 Zenocrate； I will not crown thee yet； Until with
greater honours I be grac'd。 ＇Exeunt。＇
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
ACT V。
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
SCENE I。
Enter the GOVERNOR OF DAMASCUS with three or four
CITIZENS； and four VIRGINS with branches of laurel in their hands。
GOVERNOR。 Still doth this man； or rather god of war； Batter our
walls and beat our turrets down； And to resist with longer stubbornness；
Or hope of rescue from the Soldan's power； Were but to bring our wilful
overthrow； And make us desperate of our threaten'd lives。 We see his tents
have now been altered With terrors to the last and cruel'st hue； His coal…
black colours； every where advanc'd； Threaten our city with a general
spoil； And； if we should with common rites of arms Offer our safeties to
his clemency； I fear the custom proper to his sword； Which he observes as
parcel of his fame； Intending so to terrify the world； By any innovation or
remorse Will never be dispens'd with till our deaths。 Therefore； for
these our harmless virgins' sakes； Whose honours and whose lives
rely on him； Let us have hope that their unspotted prayers； Their
blubber'd cheeks； and hearty humble moans； Will melt his fury into
some remorse； And use us like a loving conqueror。
FIRST VIRGIN。 If humble suite or imprecations （Utter'd with tears of
wretchedness and blood Shed from the heads and hearts of all our sex；
Some made your wives； and some your children；） Might have entreated
your obdurate breasts To entertain some care of our securities
Whiles only danger beat upon our walls； These more than dangerous
warrants of our death Had never been erected as they be； Nor you depend
on such weak helps as we。 GOVERNOR。 Well； lovely virgins； think
our country's care； Our love of honour； loath to be enthrall'd To foreign
powers and rough imperious yokes； Would not with too much cowardice
or fear； Before all hope of rescue were denied； Submit yourselves
and us to servitude。 Therefore； in that your safeties and our own； Your
honours； liberties； and lives were weigh'd In equal care and balance with
our own； Endure as we the malice of our stars； The wrath of Tamburlaine
and power of wars； Or be the means the overweighing heavens
Have kept to qualify these hot extremes； And bring us pardon in your
cheerful looks。
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
SECOND VIRGIN。 Then here； before the Majesty of Heaven And
holy patrons of Aegyptia； With knees and hearts submissive we entreat
Grace to our words and pity to our looks； That this device may prove
propitious； And through the eyes and ears of Tamburlaine Convey events
of mercy to his heart； Grant that these signs of victory we yield May bind
the temples of his conquering head； To hide the folded furrows of his
brows； And shadow his displeased countenance With happy looks of ruth
and lenity。 Leave us； my lord； and loving countrymen： What simple
virgins may persuade； we will。
GOVERNOR。 Farewell； sweet virgins； on whose safe return Depends
our city； liberty； and lives。 ＇Exeunt all except the VIRGINS。＇
Enter TAMBURLAINE； all in black and very melancholy；
TECHELLES； THERIDAMAS； USUMCASANE； with others。
TAMBURLAINE。 What； are the turtles fray'd out of their nests？ Alas；
poor fools； must you be first shall feel The sworn destruction of Damascus？
They knew my custom； could they not as well Have sent ye out
when first my milk…white flags； Through which sweet Mercy threw her
gentle beams； Reflexed them on their disdainful eyes；
As now when fury and incensed hate Flings slaughtering terror
from my coal…black tents； And tells for truth submission
comes too late？
FIRST VIRGIN。 Most happy king and emperor of the earth； Image of
honour and nobility； For whom the powers divine have made the world；
And on whose throne the holy Graces sit； In whose sweet person is
compris'd the sum Of Nature's skill and heavenly majesty； Pity our plights！
O； pity poor Damascus！ Pity old age； within whose silver hairs Honour
and reverence evermore have reign'd！ Pity the marriage…bed； where many
a lord； In prime and glory of his loving joy； Embraceth now with tears of
ruth and blood The jealous body of his fearful wife； Whose cheeks
and hearts； so punish'd with conceit； To think thy puissant never…
stayed arm Will part their bodies； and prevent their souls From heavens of
comfort yet their age might bear； Now wax all pale and wither'd to the
death； As well for grief our ruthless governor Hath thus refus'd the
mercy of thy hand； （Whose sceptre angels kiss and Furies dread；） As for
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
their liberties； their loves； or lives！ O； then； for these； and such as we
ourselves； For us； for infants； and for all our bloods； That never
nourish'd thought against thy rule； Pity； O； pity； sacred emperor； The
prostrate service of this wretched town； And take in sign thereof this
gilded wreath； Whereto each man of rule hath given his hand； And
wish'd； as worthy subjects； happy means To be investers of thy
royal brows Even with the true Egyptian diadem！
TAMBURLAINE。 Virgins； in vain you labour to prevent That which
mine honour swears shall be perform'd。 Behold my sword； what see you at
the point？
FIRST VIRGIN。 Nothing but fear and fatal steel； my lord。
TAMBURLAINE。 Your fearful minds are thick and misty； then； For
there sits Death； there sits imperious Death； Keeping his circuit by
the slicing edge。 But I am pleas'd you shall not see him there； He now is
seated on my horsemen's spears； And on their points his fleshless body
feeds。 Techelle