University of Virginia Library

Scæna. I.

Souldan of Egipt with three or four Lords, Capolin
Souldan.
Awake ye men of Memphis, heare the clange
Of Scythian trumpets, heare the Basiliskes,
That roaring, shake Damascus turrets downe.
The rogue of Volga holds zenocrate,
The Souldans daughter for his Concubine,
And with a troope of theeues and vagabondes.
Hath spread his collours to our high disgrace:
While you faint-hearted base Egyptians,
Lie slumbering on the flowrie bankes of Nile,
As Crocodiles that vnaffrighted rest,
While thundring Cannons rattle on their Skins.

Mess.
Nay (mightie Souldan) did your greatnes see
The frowning lookes of fiery Tamburlaine,
That with his terrour and imperious eies,
Commandes the hearts of his associates,
It might amaze your royall maiesty.

Soul.
Uillain. I tell thee, were that tamburlaine.
As monstrous as Gorgon, prince of Hell,
The Souldane would not start a foot from him.
But speake, what power hath he?

Mess.
Mightie Lord,
Three hundred thousand men in armour clad,
Upon their pransing Steeds, disdainfully
With wanton paces trampling on the ground.
Fiue hundred thousand footmen threatning shot,
Shaking their swords, their speares and yron bils,
Enuironing their Standard round, that stood
As bristle-pointed as a thorny wood.
Their warlike Engins and munition
Exceed the forces of their martial men.

Soul.
Nay could their nūbers counteruail the stars
Or euer drisling drops of Aprill showers,
Or withered leaues that Autume shaketh downe.
Yet would the Souldane by his conquering power:
So scatter and consume them in his rage,
That not a man should liue to rue their fall,

Cap.
So might your highnesse, had you time to sort
Your fighting men, and raise your royall hoste.
But tamburlaine, by expedition
Aduantage takes of your vnreadinesse.

Soul.
Let him take all th'aduantages he can,
Were all the world conspird to fight for him,
Nay, were he Deuill, as he is no man,
Yet in reuenge of faire Zenocrate,
Whom he detameth in despight of vs,
This arme should send him downe to Erebus.
To shroud his shame in darknes of the night.

Mess.
Pleaseth your mightinesse to vnderstand,
His resolution far exceedeth all:
The first day when he pitcheth downe his tentes,
White is their hew, and on his siluer crest
A snowy Feather spangled white he beares,
To signify the mildnesse of his minde.
That satiate with spoile refuseth blood:
But when Aurora mounts the second time,
As red as scarlet is his furniture,
Then must his kindled wrath bee quencht with blood,
Not sparing any that can manage armes:
But if these threats mooue not submission.
Black are his collours, blacke Pauilion,
His speare, his shield, his horse, his armour, plumes,
And Ietty Feathers menace death and hell,
Without respect of Sex, degree or age.
He raceth all his foes with fire and sword.

Soul.
Mercilesse villaine, Pesant ignorant,
Of lawfull armes, or martiall discipline:
Pillage and murder are his vsuall trades.
The slaue vsurps the glorious name of war,
See Capolin the faire Arabian king,
That hath bene disapointed by this slaue:
Of my faire daughter, and his princely Loue:
May haue fresh warning to go war with vs,
And be reueng'd for her dispardgement.