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slave to hell； Where flames shall ever feed upon his soul。
MEANDER。 Some powers divine； or else infernal； mix'd Their angry
seeds at his conception； For he was never sprung of human race；
Since with the spirit of his fearful pride； He dares so doubtlessly
resolve of rule； And by profession be ambitious。
ORTYGIUS。 What god； or fiend； or spirit of the earth； Or monster
turned to a manly shape； Or of what mould or mettle he be made； What
star or fate soever govern him； Let us put on our meet encountering
minds； And； in detesting such a devilish thief； In love of honour and
defence of right； Be arm'd against the hate of such a foe； Whether from
earth； or hell； or heaven he grow。
COSROE。 Nobly resolv'd； my good Ortygius； And； since we all have
suck'd one wholesome air； And with the same proportion of elements
Resolve； I hope we are resembled； Vowing our loves to equal death
and life。 Let's cheer our soldiers to encounter him； That grievous image of
ingratitude； That fiery thirster after sovereignty； And burn him in the fury
of that flame That none can quench but blood and empery。 Resolve； my
lords and loving soldiers； now To save your king and country from decay。
Then strike up； drum； and all the stars that make The loathsome circle of
my dated life； Direct my weapon to his barbarous heart； That thus
opposeth him against the gods； And scorns the powers that govern Persia！
＇Exeunt； drums sounding。＇
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
SCENE VII。
Alarms of battle within。 Then enter COSROE wounded；
TAMBURLAINE； THERIDAMAS； TECHELLES； USUMCASANE； with
others。
COSROE。 Barbarous and bloody Tamburlaine； Thus to deprive
me of my crown and life！ Treacherous and false Theridamas； Even at the
morning of my happy state； Scarce being seated in my royal throne； To
work my downfall and untimely end！ An uncouth pain torments my
grieved soul； And death arrests the organ of my voice； Who； entering at
the breach thy sword hath made； Sacks every vein and artier of my
heart。 Bloody and insatiate Tamburlaine！
TAMBURLAINE。 The thirst of reign and sweetness of a crown； That
caus'd the eldest son of heavenly Ops To thrust his doting father from his
chair； And place himself in the empyreal heaven； Mov'd me to manage
arms against thy state。 What better precedent than mighty Jove？ Nature；
that fram'd us of four elements Warring within our breasts for
regiment； Doth teach us all to have aspiring minds： Our souls；
whose faculties can comprehend The wondrous architecture of the world；
And measure every wandering planet's course； Still climbing after
knowledge infinite； And always moving as the restless spheres； Will us to
wear ourselves； and never rest； Until we reach the ripest fruit of all；
That perfect bliss and sole felicity； The sweet fruition of an earthly crown。
THERIDAMAS。 And that made me to join with Tamburlaine； For he
is gross and like the massy earth That moves not upwards； nor by princely
deeds Doth mean to soar above the highest sort。
TECHELLES。 And that made us； the friends of Tamburlaine； To lift
our swords against the Persian king。
USUMCASANE。 For as； when Jove did thrust old Saturn down；
Neptune and Dis gain'd each of them a crown； So do we hope to reign in
Asia； If Tamburlaine be plac'd in Persia。
COSROE。 The strangest men that ever nature made！ I know not how
to take their tyrannies。 My bloodless body waxeth chill and cold； And with
my blood my life slides through my wound； My soul begins to take her
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flight to hell； And summons all my senses to depart： The heat and moisture；
which did feed each other； For want of nourishment to feed them both；
Are dry and cold； and now doth ghastly Death With greedy
talents gripe my bleeding heart； And like a harpy tires on my
life。 Theridamas and Tamburlaine； I die： And fearful vengeance light
upon you both！ ＇Dies。TAMBURLAINE takes COSROE'S crown； and
puts it on his own head。＇
TAMBURLAINE。 Not all the curses which the Furies breathe
Shall make me leave so rich a prize as this。 Theridamas； Techelles； and the
rest； Who think you now is king of Persia？
ALL。 Tamburlaine！ Tamburlaine！
TAMBURLAINE。 Though Mars himself； the angry god of arms； And
all the earthly potentates conspire To dispossess me of this diadem； Yet
will I wear it in despite of them； As great commander of this eastern world；
If you but say that Tamburlaine shall reign。
ALL。 Long live Tamburlaine； and reign in Asia！
TAMBURLAINE。 So； now it is more surer on my head Than if the
gods had held a parliament； And all pronounc'd me king of Persia。
＇Exeunt。＇
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
ACT III。
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
SCENE I。
Enter BAJAZETH； the KINGS OF FEZ； MOROCCO； and ARGIER；
with others； in great pomp。
BAJAZETH。 Great kings of Barbary； and my portly bassoes；
We hear the Tartars and the eastern thieves； Under the conduct of one
Tamburlaine； Presume a bickering with your emperor； And think to rouse
us from our dreadful siege Of the famous Grecian Constantinople。 You
know our army is invincible； As many circumcised Turks we have； And
warlike bands of Christians renied； As hath the ocean or the
Terrene sea Small drops of water when the moon begins To join in
one her semicircled horns： Yet would we not be brav'd with foreign power；
Nor raise our siege before the Grecians yield； Or breathless lie before the
city…walls。
KING OF FEZ。 Renowmed emperor and mighty general； What；
if you sent the bassoes of your guard To charge him to remain in Asia； Or
else to threaten death and deadly arms As from the mouth of mighty
Bajazeth？
BAJAZETH。 Hie thee； my basso； fast to Persia； Tell him thy
lord； the Turkish emperor； Dread lord of Afric； Europe； and Asia； Great
king and conqueror of Graecia； The ocean； Terrene； and the Coal…black sea；
The high and highest monarch of the world； Wills and commands； （for say
not I entreat；） Not once to set his foot in Africa； Or
spread his colours in Graecia； Lest he incur the fury of my wrath：
Tell him I am content to take a truce； Because I hear he bears a valiant
mind： But if； presuming on his silly power； He be so mad to manage arms
with me； Then stay thou with him；say； I bid thee so； And if； before the
sun have measur'd heaven With triple circuit； thou regreet us not；
We mean to take his morning's next arise For messenger he will not be
reclaim'd； And mean to fetch thee in despite of him。
BASSO。 Most great and puissant monarch of the earth； Your basso
will accomplish your behest； And shew your pleasure to the Persian； As
fits the legate of the stately Turk。 ＇Exit。＇
KING OF ARGIER。 They say he is the king of Persia； But； if he dare
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attempt to stir your siege； 'Twere requisite he should be ten times more；
For all flesh quakes at your magnificence。
BAJAZETH。 True； Argier； and tremble＇s＇ at my looks。
KING OF MOROCCO。 The spring is hinder'd by your smothering
host； For neither rain can fall upon the earth； Nor sun reflex his virtuous
beams thereon； The ground is mantled with such multitudes。
BAJAZETH。 All this is true as holy Mahomet； And all the trees are
blasted with our breaths。
KING OF FEZ。 What thinks your greatness best to be achiev'd In
pursuit of the city's overthrow？
BAJAZETH。 I will the