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THERIDAMAS。 Tamburlaine！ A Scythian shepherd so embellished
With nature's pride and richest furniture！ His looks do menace heaven and
dare the gods； His fiery eyes are fix'd upon the earth； As if he now devis'd
some stratagem； Or meant to pierce Avernus' darksome vaults To pull
the triple…headed dog from hell。
TAMBURLAINE。 Noble and mild this Persian seems to be； If outward
habit judge the inward man。
TECHELLES。 His deep affections make him passionate。
TAMBURLAINE。 With what a majesty he rears his looks！ In thee；
thou valiant man of Persia； I see the folly of thy emperor。 Art thou
but captain of a thousand horse； That by characters graven in thy brows；
And by thy martial face and stout aspect； Deserv'st to have the leading of
an host？ Forsake thy king； and do but join with me； And we will triumph
over all the world： I hold the Fates bound fast in iron chains； And with my
hand turn Fortune's wheel about； And sooner shall the sun fall from his
sphere Than Tamburlaine be slain or overcome。 Draw forth thy sword；
thou mighty man…at…arms； Intending but to raze my charmed skin； And
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Jove himself will stretch his hand from heaven To ward the blow； and
shield me safe from harm。 See； how he rains down heaps of gold in
showers； As if he meant to give my soldiers pay！ And； as a sure and
grounded argument That I shall be the monarch of the East； He sends this
Soldan's daughter rich and brave； To be my queen and portly
emperess。 If thou wilt stay with me； renowmed man； And lead thy
thousand horse with my conduct； Besides thy share of this Egyptian prize；
Those thousand horse shall sweat with martial spoil Of conquer'd
kingdoms and of cities sack'd： Both we will walk upon the lofty
cliffs； And Christian merchants； that with Russian stems
Plough up huge furrows in the Caspian Sea； Shall vail to us as lords
of all the lake； Both we will reign as consuls of the earth； And mighty
kings shall be our senators。 Jove sometime masked in a shepherd's weed；
And by those steps that he hath scal'd the heavens May we become
immortal like the gods。 Join with me now in this my mean estate； （I call it
mean； because； being yet obscure； The nations far…remov'd admire me not；）
And when my name and honour shall be spread As far as Boreas claps his
brazen wings； Or fair Bootes sends his cheerful light； Then shalt thou
be competitor with me； And sit with Tamburlaine in all his majesty。
THERIDAMAS。 Not Hermes； prolocutor to the gods； Could use
persuasions more pathetical。
TAMBURLAINE。 Nor are Apollo's oracles more true Than thou shalt
find my vaunts substantial。
TECHELLES。 We are his friends； and； if the Persian king Should offer
present dukedoms to our state； We think it loss to make exchange for that
We are assur'd of by our friend's success。
USUMCASANE。 And kingdoms at the least we all expect； Besides the
honour in assured conquests； Where kings shall crouch unto our
conquering swords； And hosts of soldiers stand amaz'd at us； When with
their fearful tongues they shall confess； These are the men that all the
world admires。
THERIDAMAS。 What strong enchantments tice my yielding soul To
these resolved； noble Scythians！ But shall I prove a traitor to my
king？
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
TAMBURLAINE。 No； but the trusty friend of Tamburlaine。
THERIDAMAS。 Won with thy words； and conquer'd with thy looks； I
yield myself； my men； and horse to thee； To be partaker of thy good or ill；
As long as life maintains Theridamas。
TAMBURLAINE。 Theridamas； my friend； take here my hand； Which
is as much as if I swore by heaven； And call'd the gods to witness of my
vow。 Thus shall my heart be still combin'd with thine Until our bodies turn
to elements； And both our souls aspire celestial thrones。 Techelles and
Casane； welcome him。
TECHELLES。 Welcome； renowmed Persian； to us all！
USUMCASANE。 Long may Theridamas remain with us！
TAMBURLAINE。 These are my friends； in whom I more rejoice Than
doth the king of Persia in his crown； And； by the love of Pylades and
Orestes； Whose statues we adore in Scythia； Thyself and them shall
never part from me Before I crown you kings in Asia。 Make much of
them； gentle Theridamas； And they will never leave thee till the death。
THERIDAMAS。 Nor thee nor them； thrice…noble Tamburlaine；
Shall want my heart to be with gladness pierc'd； To do you honour and
security。
TAMBURLAINE。 A thousand thanks； worthy Theridamas。 And now；
fair madam； and my noble lords； If you will willingly remain with
me； You shall have honours as your merits be； Or else you shall be forc'd
with slavery。
AGYDAS。 We yield unto thee； happy Tamburlaine。
TAMBURLAINE。 For you； then； madam； I am out of doubt。
ZENOCRATE。 I must be pleas'd perforce；wretched Zenocrate！
＇Exeunt。＇
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
ACT II。
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
SCENE I。
Enter COSROE； MENAPHON； ORTYGIUS； and CENEUS； with
SOLDIERS。
COSROE。 Thus far are we towards Theridamas； And valiant
Tamburlaine； the man of fame； The man that in the forehead of his fortune
Bears figures of renown and miracle。 But tell me； that hast seen him；
Menaphon； What stature wields he； and what personage？
MENAPHON。 Of stature tall； and straightly fashioned； Like his desire；
lift upwards and divine； So large of limbs； his joints so strongly knit； Such
breadth of shoulders as might mainly bear Old Atlas' burden； 'twixt his
manly pitch； A pearl more worth than all the world is plac'd； Wherein
by curious sovereignty of art Are fix'd his piercing instruments of sight；
Whose fiery circles bear encompassed A heaven of heavenly bodies in
their spheres； That guides his steps and actions to the throne Where honour
sits invested royally； Pale of complexion； wrought in him with passion；
Thirsting with sovereignty and love of arms； His lofty brows in folds
do figure death； And in their smoothness amity and life； About them hangs
a knot of amber hair； Wrapped in curls； as fierce Achilles' was； On which
the breath of heaven delights to play； Making it dance with wanton
majesty； His arms and fingers long and sinewy； Betokening valour
and excess of strength； In every part proportion'd like the man Should
make the world subdu'd to Tamburlaine。
COSROE。 Well hast thou pourtray'd in thy terms of life The face and
personage of a wondrous man： Nature doth strive with Fortune and
his stars To make him famous in accomplish'd worth； And well his merits
shew him to be made His fortune's master and the king of men； That could
persuade； at such a sudden pinch； With reasons of his valour and his life； A
thousand sworn and overmatching foes。 Then； when our powers in points
of swords are join'd； And clos'd in compass of the killing bullet； Though
strait the passage and the port be made That leads to palace of my
brother's life； Proud is his fortune if we pierce it not； And； when the
princely Persian diadem Shall overweigh his weary witless head； And fall；
like mellow'd fruit； with shakes of death； In fair Persia noble
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
Tamburlaine Shall be my regent； and remain as king。
ORTYGIUS。 In happy hour we have set the crown Upon your kingly
head； that seeks our honour In joining with the man ordain'd by heaven To
further every action to the best。
CENEUS。 He that with shepherds and a little spoil Durst； in disdain of
wrong and tyranny； Defend his freedom 'gainst a m