University of Virginia Library

Scæna. 6.

Cosroe, Meander, Ortygius, Menaphon, with other Souldiers.
Cos.
What means this diuelish shepheard to aspire
With such a Giantly presumption.
To cast vp hils against the face of heauen:
And dare the force of angrie Iupiter.
But as he thrust them vnderneath the hils,
And prest out fire from their burning iawes:
So will I fend this monstrous slaue to hell,
Where flames shall euer feed vpon his soule.

mean.
Some powers diuine, or els infernall, mixt
Their angry seeds at his conception:
For he was neuer sprong of humaine race,
Since with the spirit of his fearefull pride,
He dares so doubtlesly resolue of rule.
And by profession be ambitious.

Ort.
What God or Feend, or spirit of the earth,
Or Monster turned to a manly shape,
Or of what mould or mettel he be made,
What star or state soeuer gouerne him,
Let vs put on our meet incountring mindes,
And in detesting such a diuelish Thiefe,
In loue of honor & defence of right,
Be arm'd against the hate of such a foe,
Whether from earth, or hell, or heauen he grow.

Cos.
Nobly resolu'd, my good Ortygius.
And since we all haue suckt one wholsome aire,
And with the same proportion of Elements,
Resolue, I hope we are resembled,
Uowing our loues to equall death and life,
Let's cheere our souldiers to incounter him,
That grieuous image of ingratude:
That fiery thirster after Soueraingtie:
And burne him in the fury of that flame,
That none can quence but blood and Emperie,
Resolue my Lords and louing souldiers now,
To saue your King and country from decay:
Then strike vp Drum, and all the Starres that make
The loathsome Circle of my dated life,
Direct my weapon to his barbarous heart,
That thus opposeth him against the Gods,
And scornes the Powers that gouerne Persea.

Enter to the Battell, & after the battell, enter Cosroe wounded, Theridamas, tamburlaine, Techelles, Vsumeasane, with others.
Cos.
Barbarous and bloody Tamburlaine,
Thus to depriue me of my crowne and life.
Treacherous and false theridamas,
Euen at the morning of my happy state,
Scarce being seated in my royall throne,
To worke my downfall and vntimely end.
An vncouth paine torments my grieued soule,
And death arrests the organe of my voice.
Who entring at the breach thy sword hath made,
Sackes euery vaine and artier of my heart,
Bloody and insatiate Tamburlain.

tam.
The thirst of raigne and sweetnes of a crown,
That causde the eldest sonne of heauenly Ops,
To thrust his doting father from his chaire,
And place himselfe in the Emperiall heauen,
Moou'd me to manage armes against thy state.
What better president than mightie Ioue?
Nature that fram'd vs of foure Elements,
Warring within our breasts for regiment,
Doth teach vs all to haue aspyring minds:
Our soules, whose faculties can comprehend
The wondrous Architecture of the world:
And measure euery wandring plannets course.
Still climing after knowledge infinite,
And alwaies moouing as the restles Spheares.
Wils vs to weare our selues and neuer rest.
Untill we reach the ripest fruit of all.
That perfect blisse and sole felicitie.
The sweet fruition of an earthly crowne.

Ther.
And that made me to ioine with tamburlain
For he is grosse and like the massie earth,
That mooues not vpwards, nor by princely deeds
Doth meane to soare aboue the highest sort.

Tec.
And that made vs the friends of Tamburlaine.
To lift our swords against the Persean King.

Vsum.
For as when Ioue did thrust old Saturn down,
Neptune and Dis gain'd each of them a Crowne.
So do we hope to raign in Asia,
If tamburlain he plac'd in Persea.

Cos.
The strangest men that euer nature made,
I know not how to take their tyrannies.
My bloodlesse body waxeth chill and colde,
And with my blood my life slides through my wound.
My soule begins to take her flight to hell.
And sommons all my sences to depart:
The heat and moisture which did feed each other,
For want of nourishment to feed them both.
Is drie and cold, and now dooth gastly death
With greedy tallents gripe my bleeding hart.
And like a Harpyr tires on my life.
Theridamas and Tamburlaine, I die,
And fearefull vengeance light vpon you both.

He takes the Crowne and puts it on.
tam.
Not all the curses which the furies breathe,
Shall make me leaue so rich a prize as this:
Theridamas, techelles, and the rest,
Who thinke you now is king of Persea?

All.
Tamburlaine, tamburlaine.

Tamb.
Though Mars himselfe the angrie God of armes,
And all the earthly Potentates conspire,
To dispossesse me of this Diadem:
Yet will I weare it in despight of them,
As great commander of this Easterne world,
If you but say that tamburlaine shall raigne.

Al.
Long liue tamburlaine, and raigne in Asia.

tamb.
So, now it is more surer on my head,
Than if the Gods had held a Parliament:
And all pronounst me king of Persea.