 | Tamburlaine the Great |  |
Scæna. I.
The Gouernour of Damasco, with three or foure Citizens, and foure Virgins with branches of Laurell in their hands.Gouernour.
Stil dooth this man or rather God of war,
Batter our walles, and beat our Turrets downe,
Or hope of rescue from the Souldans power,
Were but to bring our wilfull ouerthrow,
And make vs desperate of our threatned liues:
We see his tents haue now bene altered,
With terrours to the last and cruelst hew:
His cole-blacke collours euery where aduaunst,
Threaten our citie with a generall spoile:
And if we should with common rites of Armes,
Offer our safeties to his clemencie,
I feare the custome proper to his sword,
Which he obserues as parcell of his fame:
Intending so to terrifie the world,
By any innouation or remorse,
Will neuer be dispenc'd with til our deaths,
Therfore, for these our harmlesse virgines sakes,
Whose honors and whose liues relie on him:
Let vs haue hope that their vnspotted praiers
Their blubbered cheekes and hartie humble mones
Will melt his furie into some remorse:
And vse vs like a louing Conquerour.
Virg.
If humble suites or imprecations,
(vttered with teares of wretchednesse and blood,
Shead from the heads and hearts of all our Sex.
Some made your wiues, and some your children)
Might haue intreated your obdurate breasts.
To entertaine some care of our securities.
Whiles only danger beat vpon our walles,
These more than dangerous warrants of our death
Had neuer bene erected as they bee,
Nor you depend on such weake helps as we
Go.
Wel, louely Uirgins, think our countries care
To forraine powers, and rough imperious yokes:
Would not with too much cowardize or feare,
Before all hope of rescue were denied,
Submit your selues and vs to seruitude.
Therefore in that your safeties and our owne
Your honors, liberties and liues were weigh'd
In equall care and ballance with our owne,
Endure as we the malice of our stars.
The wrath of Tamburlain, and power of warres.
Or be the means the ouerweighing heauens
Haue kept to quallifie these hot extreames.
And bring vs pardon in your chearfull lookes.
2. Virg.
Then here before the maiesty of heauen,
And holy Patrones of Egyptia,
With knees and hearts submissiue we intreate,
Grace to our words and pitie to our lookes
That this deuise may prooue propitious,
And through the eies and eares of tamburlaine,
Conuey euents of mercie to his heart:
Graunt that these signes of victorie we yeeld
May bind the temples of his conquering head,
To hide the folded furrowes of his browes,
And shadow his displeased countenance,
With happy looks of ruthe and lenity,
Leaue vs my Lord, and louing countrimen,
What simple Uirgins may perswade, we will.
Go.
Farewell (sweet Uirgins) on whose safe return
Depends our citie, libertie, and liues.
Exeunt.
| Tamburlaine the Great | |