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CENEUS。 He that with shepherds and a little spoil Durst； in disdain of
wrong and tyranny； Defend his freedom 'gainst a monarchy； What will he
do supported by a king； Leading a troop of gentlemen and lords； And
stuff'd with treasure for his highest thoughts！
COSROE。 And such shall wait on worthy Tamburlaine。 Our army will
be forty thousand strong； When Tamburlaine and brave Theridamas Have
met us by the river Araris； And all conjoin'd to meet the witless king； That
now is marching near to Parthia； And； with unwilling soldiers faintly arm'd；
To seek revenge on me and Tamburlaine； To whom； sweet Menaphon；
direct me straight。
MENAPHON。 I will； my lord。 ＇Exeunt。＇
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
SCENE II。
Enter MYCETES； MEANDER； with other LORDS； and SOLDIERS。
MYCETES。 Come； my Meander； let us to this gear。 I tell you true； my
heart is swoln with wrath On this same thievish villain Tamburlaine； And
of that false Cosroe； my traitorous brother。 Would it not grieve a king
to be so abus'd； And have a thousand horsemen ta'en away？ And； which is
worse； to have his diadem Sought for by such scald knaves as love
him not？ I think it would： well； then； by heavens I swear； Aurora shall not
peep out of her doors； But I will have Cosroe by the head； And kill proud
Tamburlaine with point of sword。 Tell you the rest； Meander： I have said。
MEANDER。 Then； having pass'd Armenian deserts now； And pitch'd
our tents under the Georgian hills； Whose tops are cover'd with Tartarian
thieves； That lie in ambush； waiting for a prey； What should we do but bid
them battle straight； And rid the world of those detested troops？ Lest； if we
let them linger here a while； They gather strength by power of fresh
supplies。 This country swarms with vile outragious men That live by
rapine and by lawless spoil； Fit soldiers for the wicked Tamburlaine；
And he that could with gifts and promises Inveigle him that led a thousand
horse； And make him false his faith unto his king； Will quickly win
such as be like himself。 Therefore cheer up your minds； prepare to
fight： He that can take or slaughter Tamburlaine； Shall rule the province of
Albania； Who brings that traitor's head； Theridamas； Shall have a
government in Media； Beside the spoil of him and all his train： But；
if Cosroe （as our spials say； And as we know） remains with Tamburlaine；
His highness' pleasure is that he should live； And be reclaim'd with
princely lenity。
Enter a SPY。
SPY。 An hundred horsemen of my company； Scouting abroad upon
these champion plains； Have view'd the army of the Scythians；
Which make report it far exceeds the king's。
MEANDER。 Suppose they be in number infinite； Yet being void of
martial discipline； All running headlong； greedy after spoils； And
more regarding gain than victory； Like to the cruel brothers of the earth；
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
Sprung of the teeth of dragons venomous； Their careless swords
shall lance their fellows' throats； And make us triumph in their
overthrow。
MYCETES。 Was there such brethren； sweet Meander； say； That sprung
of teeth of dragons venomous？
MEANDER。 So poets say； my lord。
MYCETES。 And 'tis a pretty toy to be a poet。 Well； well； Meander；
thou art deeply read； And having thee； I have a jewel sure。 Go on； my lord；
and give your charge； I say； Thy wit will make us conquerors to…day。
MEANDER。 Then； noble soldiers； to entrap these thieves That live
confounded in disorder'd troops； If wealth or riches may prevail with them；
We have our camels laden all with gold； Which you that be but common
soldiers Shall fling in every corner of the field； And； while the base…born
Tartars take it up； You； fighting more for honour than for gold； Shall
massacre those greedy…minded slaves； And； when their scatter'd army is
subdu'd； And you march on their slaughter'd carcasses； Share equally the
gold that bought their lives； And live like gentlemen in Persia。 Strike up
the drum； and march courageously： Fortune herself doth sit upon our
crests。
MYCETES。 He tells you true； my masters； so he does。 Drums； why
sound ye not when Meander speaks？ ＇Exeunt； drums sounding。＇
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
SCENE III。
Enter COSROE； TAMBURLAINE； THERIDAMAS； TECHELLES；
USUMCASANE； and ORTYGIUS； with others。
COSROE。 Now； worthy Tamburlaine； have I repos'd In thy approved
fortunes all my hope。 What think'st thou； man； shall come of our attempts？
For； even as from assured oracle； I take thy doom for satisfaction。
TAMBURLAINE。 And so mistake you not a whit； my lord； For fates
and oracles ＇of＇ heaven have sworn To royalize the deeds of Tamburlaine；
And make them blest that share in his attempts： And doubt you not but； if
you favour me； And let my fortunes and my valour sway To some
direction in your martial deeds； The world will strive with hosts of
men…at…arms To swarm unto the ensign I support。 The host of Xerxes；
which by fame is said To drink the mighty Parthian Araris； Was but a
handful to that we will have： Our quivering lances； shaking in the air； And
bullets； like Jove's dreadful thunderbolts； Enroll'd in flames and fiery
smouldering mists； Shall threat the gods more than Cyclopian wars； And
with our sun…bright armour； as we march； We'll chase the stars from
heaven； and dim their eyes That stand and muse at our admired arms。
THERIDAMAS。 You see； my lord； what working words he hath； But；
when you see his actions top his speech； Your speech will stay； or so
extol his worth As I shall be commended and excus'd For turning my poor
charge to his direction： And these his two renowmed friends； my lord；
Would make one thirst and strive to be retain'd In such a great degree
of amity。
TECHELLES。 With duty and with amity we yield Our utmost
service to the fair Cosroe。
COSROE。 Which I esteem as portion of my crown。 Usumcasane and
Techelles both； When she that rules in Rhamnus' golden gates；
And makes a passage for all prosperous arms； Shall make me solely
emperor of Asia； Then shall your meeds and valours be advanc'd To
rooms of honour and nobility。
TAMBURLAINE。 Then haste； Cosroe； to be king alone； That I with
these my friends and all my men May triumph in our long…expected fate。
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
The king； your brother； is now hard at hand： Meet with the fool； and rid
your royal shoulders Of such a burden as outweighs the sands And all the
craggy rocks of Caspia。
Enter a MESSENGER。
MESSENGER。 My lord； We have discovered the enemy Ready to
charge you with a mighty army。
COSROE。 Come； Tamburlaine； now whet thy winged sword； And lift
thy lofty arm into the clouds； That it may reach the king of Persia's
crown； And set it safe on my victorious head。
TAMBURLAINE。 See where it is； the keenest curtle…axe That e'er
made passage thorough Persian arms！ These are the wings shall make it
fly as swift As doth the lightning or the breath of heaven； And kill as
sure as it swiftly flies。
COSROE。 Thy words assure me of kind success： Go； valiant soldier；
go before； and charge The fainting army of that foolish king。
TAMBURLAINE。 Usumcasane and Techelles； come： We are enow to
scare the enemy； And more than needs to make an emperor。 ＇Exeunt to the
battle。＇
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
SCENE IV。
Enter MYCETES with his crown in his hand。
MYCETES。 Accurs'd be he that first invented war！ They knew not； ah；
they knew not； simple men； How those were hit by pelting cannon…
shot Stand staggering like a quivering aspen…leaf Fearing the force of
Boreas' boisterous blasts！ In