 | Tamburlaine the Great |  |
Scæna. 2,
Mycetes, Meander, with other Lords and Souldiers.Mycetes.
Come my Meander, let vs to this geere,
I tel you true my heart is swolne with wrath,
On this same theeuish villaine tamburlaine.
And of that false Cosroe, my traiterous brother
Would it not grieue a King to be so abusde.
And haue a thousand horsmen tane away?
And which is worst to haue his Diadem
Sought for by such scalde knaues as loue him not?
I thinke it would: wel then, by heauens I sweare,
Aurora shall not peepe out of her doores,
And kill proud Tamburlaine with point of sword.
Tell you the rest (Meander) I haue said.
Mean.
Then hauing past Armenian desarts now,
And pitch our tents vnder the Georgean hilles.
Whose tops are couered with Tartarian thieues,
That lie in ambush, waiting for a pray:
What should we doe but bid them battaile straight,
And rid the world of those detested troopes?
Least if we let them lynger here a while,
They gather strength by power of fresh supplies.
This countrie swarmes with vile outragious men,
That liue by rapine and by lawlesse spoile,
Fit Souldiers for the wicked Tamburlaine.
And he that could with giftes and promises.
Inueigle him that lead a thousand horse,
And make him false his faith vnto his King,
Will quickly win such as are like himselfe.
Therefore cheere vp your mindes, prepare to fight,
He that can take or slaughter tamburlaine,
Shall rule the Prouince of Albania.
Who brings that Traitors head theridamas,
Shal haue a gouernment in Medea:
Beside the spoile of him and all his traine:
But if Cosroe (as our Spials say,
And as we know) remaines with tamburlaine,
His Highnesse pleasure is that he should liue,
And be reclaim'd with princely lenitie.
A Spy.
An hundred horsmen of my company
Scowting abroad vpon these champion plaines,
Haue view'd the army of the Scythians,
Which make reports it far exceeds the Kings.
Suppose they be in number infinit,
Yet being void of Martiall discipline,
All running headlong after greedy spoiles:
And more regarding gaine than victory:
Like to the cruell brothers of the earth,
Sprong of the teeth of Dragons venomous,
Their carelesse swords shal lanch their fellowes throats
And make vs triumph in their ouerthrow.
Myc.
Was there such brethren, sweet Meander, say
That sprong of teeth of Dragons venomous.
Meand.
So Poets say, my Lord.
Myce.
And tis a prety toy to be a Poet.
Wel, wel (Meander) thou art deeply read:
And hauing thee, I haue a iewell sure:
Go on my Lord, and giue your charge I say,
Thy wit will make vs Conquerors to day.
Mean.
Then noble souldiors, to intrap these theeues,
That liue confounded in disordered troopes,
If wealth or riches may preuaile with them,
We haue our Cammels laden all with gold:
Which you that be but common souldiers,
Shall fling in euery corner of the field:
And while the base borne Tartars take it vp,
You fighting more for honor than for gold,
Shall massacre those greedy minded slaues.
And when their scattered armie is subdu'd:
And you march on their slaughtered carkasses,
Share equallly the gold that bought their liues,
And liue like Gentlemen in Persea,
Strike vp the Drum and martch corragiously,
Fortune her selfe dooth sit vpon our Crests.
Myc.
He tels you true, my maisters, so he does.
Drums, why sound ye not whe Meand. speaks.
Exeunt
| Tamburlaine the Great | |