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MYCETES。 Brother； I see your meaning well enough； And
through your planets I perceive you think I am not wise enough to be a
king： But I refer me to my noblemen； That know my wit； and can be
witnesses。 I might command you to be slain for this； Meander； might I
not？
MEANDER。 Not for so small a fault； my sovereign lord。
MYCETES。 I mean it not； but yet I know I might。 Yet live； yea； live；
Mycetes wills it so。 Meander； thou； my faithful counsellor； Declare the
cause of my conceived grief； Which is； God knows； about that
Tamburlaine； That； like a fox in midst of harvest…time； Doth prey upon my
flocks of passengers； And； as I hear； doth mean to pull my plumes：
Therefore 'tis good and meet for to be wise。
MEANDER。 Oft have I heard your majesty complain Of Tamburlaine；
that sturdy Scythian thief； That robs your merchants of Persepolis Trading
by land unto the Western Isles； And in your confines with his lawless train
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Daily commits incivil outrages； Hoping （misled by dreaming
prophecies） To reign in Asia； and with barbarous arms To make himself
the monarch of the East： But； ere he march in Asia； or display His vagrant
ensign in the Persian fields； Your grace hath taken order by Theridamas；
Charg'd with a thousand horse； to apprehend And bring him captive to
your highness' throne。
MYCETES。 Full true thou speak'st； and like thyself； my lord； Whom I
may term a Damon for thy love： Therefore 'tis best； if so it like you all； To
send my thousand horse incontinent To apprehend that paltry Scythian。
How like you this； my honourable lords？ Is it not a kingly resolution？
COSROE。 It cannot choose； because it comes from you。
MYCETES。 Then hear thy charge； valiant Theridamas； The
chiefest captain of Mycetes' host； 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。
THERIDAMAS。 Before the moon renew her borrow'd light； Doubt not；
my lord and gracious sovereign； But Tamburlaine and that Tartarian
rout Shall either perish by our warlike hands； Or plead for mercy at
your highness' feet。
MYCETES。 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。
THERIDAMAS。 Then now； my lord； I humbly take my leave。
MYCETES。 Theridamas； farewell ten thousand times。 ＇Exit
THERIDAMAS。＇ Ah； Menaphon； why stay'st thou thus behind； When
other men press forward for renown？ Go； Menaphon； go into Scythia；
And foot by foot follow Theridamas。
COSROE。 Nay； pray you； let him stay； a greater ＇task＇ Fits
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
Menaphon than warring with a thief： Create him pro…rex of all Africa；
That he may win the Babylonians' hearts； Which will revolt from Persian
government； Unless they have a wiser king than you。
MYCETES。 Unless they have a wiser king than you！ These are his
words； Meander； set them down。
COSROE。 And add this to them；that all Asia Lament to see the folly
of their king。
MYCETES。 Well； here I swear by this my royal seat
COSROE。 You may do well to kiss it； then。
MYCETES。 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 COSROE and MENAPHON。＇
MENAPHON。 How now； my lord！ what； mated and amaz'd To
hear the king thus threaten like himself！
COSROE。 Ah； Menaphon； I pass not 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 vexed soul； To see our neighbours； that were wont to quake And
tremble at the Persian monarch's name； Now sit and laugh our
regiment to scorn； And that which might resolve me into tears；
Men from the farthest equinoctial line Have swarm'd in troops into the
Eastern India； Lading their ships with gold and precious stones； And
made their spoils from all our provinces。
MENAPHON。 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 into Graecia； as did Cyrus once； And cause them to withdraw
their forces home； Lest you subdue the pride of Christendom！
＇Trumpet within。＇
COSROE。 But； Menaphon； what means this trumpet's sound？
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
MENAPHON。 Behold； my lord； Ortygius and the rest Bringing the
crown to make you emperor！
Re…enter ORTYGIUS and CENEUS； with others； bearing a
crown。
ORTYGIUS。 Magnificent and mighty prince Cosroe； We； in the name
of other Persian states And commons of this mighty monarchy；
Present thee with th' imperial diadem。
CENEUS。 The warlike soldiers and the gentlemen； That heretofore
have fill'd Persepolis With Afric captains taken in the field； Whose ransom
made them march in coats of gold； With costly jewels hanging at their ears；
And shining stones upon their lofty crests； Now living idle in the walled
towns； Wanting both pay and martial discipline； Begin in troops to
threaten civil war； And openly exclaim against their king： Therefore；
to stay all sudden mutinies； We will invest your highness emperor；
Whereat the soldiers will conceive more joy Than did the Macedonians at
the spoil Of great Darius and his wealthy host。
COSROE。 Well； since I see the state of Persia droop And languish in
my brother's government； I willingly receive th' imperial crown； And vow
to wear it for my country's good； In spite of them shall malice my estate。
ORTYGIUS。 And； in assurance of desir'd success； We here do crown
thee monarch of the East Emperor of Asia and Persia； Great lord
of Media and Armenia； Duke of Africa and Albania； Mesopotamia and of
Parthia； East India and the late…discover'd isles； Chief lord of all the wide
vast Euxine Sea； And of the ever…raging Caspian Lake。
ALL。 Long live Cosroe； mighty emperor！
COSROE。 And Jove may never let me longer live Than I may
seek to gratify your love； And cause the soldiers that thus honour me To
triumph over many provinces！ By whose desires of discipline in arms I
doubt not shortly but to reign sole king； And with the army of Theridamas
（Whither we presently will fly； my lords；） To rest secure against my
brother's force。
ORTYGIUS。 We knew； my lord； before we brought the crown；
Intending your investion so near The residence of your despised brother；
The lords would not be too exasperate To injury or suppress
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
your worthy title； Or； if they would； there are in readiness Ten thousand
horse to carry you from hence； In spite of all suspected enemi