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KING OF FEZ。 What thinks your greatness best to be achiev'd In
pursuit of the city's overthrow？
BAJAZETH。 I will the captive pioners of Argier Cut off the
water that by leaden pipes Runs to the city from the mountain Carnon；
Two thousand horse shall forage up and down； That no relief or succour
come by land； And all the sea my galleys countermand： Then shall our
footmen lie within the trench； And with their cannons； mouth'd like Orcus'
gulf； Batter the walls； and we will enter in； And thus the Grecians shall be
conquered。 ＇Exeunt。＇
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
SCENE II。
Enter ZENOCRATE； AGYDAS； ANIPPE； with others。
AGYDAS。 Madam Zenocrate； may I presume To know the cause of
these unquiet fits That work such trouble to your wonted rest？ 'Tis more
than pity such a heavenly face Should by heart's sorrow wax so wan and
pale； When your offensive rape by Tamburlaine （Which of your whole
displeasures should be most） Hath seem'd to be digested long ago。
ZENOCRATE。 Although it be digested long ago； As his exceeding
favours have deserv'd； And might content the Queen of Heaven； as well As
it hath chang'd my first…conceiv'd disdain； Yet since a farther passion feeds
my thoughts With ceaseless and disconsolate conceits； Which
dye my looks so lifeless as they are； And might； if my extremes had full
events； Make me the ghastly counterfeit of death。
AGYDAS。 Eternal heaven sooner be dissolv'd； And all that pierceth
Phoebus' silver eye； Before such hap fall to Zenocrate！
ZENOCRATE。 Ah； life and soul； still hover in his breast； And
leave my body senseless as the earth； Or else unite you to his life
and soul； That I may live and die with Tamburlaine！
Enter； behind； TAMBURLAINE； with TECHELLES； and others。
AGYDAS。 With Tamburlaine！ Ah； fair Zenocrate； Let not a man so
vile and barbarous； That holds you from your father in despite； And keeps
you from the honours of a queen； （Being suppos'd his worthless
concubine；） Be honour'd with your love but for necessity！ So； now the
mighty Soldan hears of you； Your highness needs not doubt but in short
time He will； with Tamburlaine's destruction； Redeem you from this
deadly servitude。
ZENOCRATE。 Leave to wound me with these words； And
speak of Tamburlaine as he deserves： The entertainment we have had of
him Is far from villany or servitude； And might in noble minds be counted
princely。
AGYDAS。 How can you fancy one that looks so fierce； Only dispos'd
to martial stratagems？ Who； when he shall embrace you in his arms； Will
tell how many thousand men he slew； And； when you look for amorous
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
discourse； Will rattle forth his facts of war and blood； Too harsh a
subject for your dainty ears。
ZENOCRATE。 As looks the sun through Nilus' flowing stream； Or
when the Morning holds him in her arms； So looks my lordly love； fair
Tamburlaine； His talk much sweeter than the Muses' song They
sung for honour 'gainst Pierides； Or when Minerva did with
Neptune strive： And higher would I rear my estimate Than Juno； sister to
the highest god； If I were match'd with mighty Tamburlaine。
AGYDAS。 Yet be not so inconstant in your love； But let the young
Arabian live in hope； After your rescue to enjoy his choice。 You see；
though first the king of Persia； Being a shepherd； seem'd to love you much；
Now； in his majesty； he leaves those looks； Those words of favour； and
those comfortings； And gives no more than common courtesies。
ZENOCRATE。 Thence rise the tears that so distain my cheeks； Fearing
his love through my unworthiness。
＇TAMBURLAINE goes to her； and takes her away lovingly by the
hand； looking wrathfully on AGYDAS； and says nothing。 Exeunt all
except AGYDAS。＇
AGYDAS。 Betray'd by fortune and suspicious love； Threaten'd with
frowning wrath and jealousy； Surpris'd with fear of hideous revenge；
I stand aghast； but most astonied To see his choler shut in secret thoughts；
And wrapt in silence of his angry soul： Upon his brows was pourtray'd
ugly death； And in his eyes the fury of his heart； That shone
as comets； menacing revenge； And cast a pale complexion on his cheeks。
As when the seaman sees the Hyades Gather an army of Cimmerian
clouds； （Auster and Aquilon with winged steeds； All sweating； tilt about
the watery heavens； With shivering spears enforcing thunder…claps； And
from their shields strike flames of lightning；） All…fearful folds his sails；
and sounds the main； Lifting his prayers to the heavens for aid Against the
terror of the winds and waves； So fares Agydas for the late…felt frowns；
That send a tempest to my daunted thoughts； And make my soul
divine her overthrow。
Re…enter TECHELLES with a naked dagger； and USUMCASANE。
TECHELLES。 See you； Agydas； how the king salutes you！ He bids
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
you prophesy what it imports。
AGYDAS。 I prophesied before； and now I prove The killing frowns of
jealousy and love。 He needed not with words confirm my fear； For words
are vain where working tools present The naked action of my threaten'd
end： It says； Agydas； thou shalt surely die； And of extremities elect the
least； More honour and less pain it may procure； To die by this resolved
hand of thine Than stay the torments he and heaven have sworn。 Then
haste； Agydas； and prevent the plagues Which thy prolonged fates may
draw on thee： Go wander free from fear of tyrant's rage； Removed from
the torments and the hell Wherewith he may excruciate thy soul； And let
Agydas by Agydas die； And with this stab slumber eternally。 ＇Stabs
himself。＇
TECHELLES。 Usumcasane； see； how right the man Hath hit the
meaning of my lord the king！
USUMCASANE。 Faith； and； Techelles； it was manly done； And； since
he was so wise and honourable； Let us afford him now the bearing hence；
And crave his triple…worthy burial。
TECHELLES。 Agreed； Casane； we will honour him。 ＇Exeunt； bearing
out the body。＇
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
SCENE III。
Enter TAMBURLAINE； TECHELLES； USUMCASANE；
THERIDAMAS； a BASSO； ZENOCRATE； ANIPPE； with others。
TAMBURLAINE。 Basso； by this thy lord and master knows I mean to
meet him in Bithynia： See； how he comes！ tush； Turks are full of brags；
And menace more than they can well perform。 He meet me in the
field； and fetch thee hence！ Alas； poor Turk！ his fortune is too weak
T' encounter with the strength of Tamburlaine： View well my camp； and
speak indifferently； Do not my captains and my soldiers look As if they
meant to conquer Africa？
BASSO。 Your men are valiant； but their number few； And cannot
terrify his mighty host： My lord； the great commander of the world；
Besides fifteen contributory kings； Hath now in arms ten thousand
janizaries； Mounted on lusty Mauritanian steeds； Brought to the war by
men of Tripoly； Two hundred thousand footmen that have serv'd In two set
battles fought in Graecia； And for the expedition of this war； If he think
good； can from his garrisons Withdraw as many more to follow him。
TECHELLES。 The more he brings； the greater is the spoil； For； when
they perish by our warlike hands； We mean to set our footmen on
their steeds； And rifle all those stately janizars。
TAMBURLAINE。 But will those kings accompany your lord？
BASSO。 Such as his highness please； but some must stay To rule the
provinces he late subdu'd。
TAMBURLAINE。 ＇To his OFFICERS＇ Then fight courageously： their
crowns are yours； This hand