University of Virginia Library

Actus. 1.

Scæna. I.

Mycetes, Cosroe, Meander, Theridamas, Ortygius, Ceneus, with others.
Mycetes.
Brother Cosroe, I find my selfe agreeu'd,
Yet insufficient to expresse the same:
For it requires a great and thundring speech:
Good brother tell the cause vnto my Lords,
I know you haue a better wit than I.

Cos.
Unhappie Persea, that in former age
Hast bene the seat of mightie Conquerors,
That in their prowesse and their pollicies,
Haue triumpht ouer Affrike, and the bounds
Of Europe, wher the Sun dares scarce appeare,
For freezing meteors and coniealed colde:
Now to be rulde and gouerned by a man,
At whose byrth-day Cynthia with Saturne ioinde,
And Ioue, the Sun and Mercurie denied
To shed his influence in his fickle braine,
Now Turkes and Tartars shake their swords at thee
Meaning to mangle all thy Prouinces,

Mycet.
Brother, I see your meaning well enough,
And thorough your Planets I perceiue you thinke,
I am not wise enough to be a kinge,
But I refer me to my noble men,
That knowe my wit, and can be witnesses:
I might command you to be slaine for this,
Meander, might I not?

Meand.
Not for so small a fault my soueraigne Lord

Mycet.
I meane it not, but yet I know I might,
Yet liue, yea, liue, Mycetes wils it so:
Meander, thou my faithfull Counsellor,
Declare the cause of my conceiued griefe,
Which is (God knowes) about that Tamburlaine,
That like a Foxe in midst of haruest time,
Dooth pray vpnon my flockes of Passengers.
And as I heare, doth meane to pull my plumes,
Therefore tis good and meete for to be wise.

Meand.
Oft haue I heard your Maiestie complain,
Of Tamburlaine, that sturdie Scythian thiefe,
That robs your merchants of Persepolis,
Treading by land vnto the Westerne Isles,
And in your confines with his lawlesse traine,
Daily commits inciuill outrages.
Hoping (misled by dreaming prophesies)
To raigne in Asia, and with barbarous Armes,
To make himselfe the Monarch of the East:
But ere he march in Asia, or display
His vagrant Ensigne in the Persean fields,
Your Grace hath taken order by Theridimas,
Chardg'd with a thousand horse, to apprehend
And bring him Captiue to your Highnesse throne,

Myce.
Ful true thou speakst, & like thy selfe my lord
Whom I may tearme a Damon for thy loue.
Therefore tis best, if so it lik you all,
To send my thousand horse incontinent,
To apprehend that paltrie Scythian.
How like you this, my honorable Lords?
Is it not a kingly resolution?

Cosr.
It cannot choose, because it comes from you.

Myce.
Then heare thy charge, valiant Theridimas
The chiefest Captaine of Mycetes hoste,
The hope of Persea, and the verie legges
Whereon our state both leane, as on a staffe,
That holds vs vp, and foiles our neighbour foes.
Thou shalt be leader of this thousand horse,
Whose foming galle with rage and high disdaine,
Haue sworne the death of wicked Tamburlaine.
Go frowning foorth, but come thou smyling home,
As did Sir Paris with the Grecian Dame,
Returne with speed, time passeth swift away,
Our life is fraile, and we may die to day.

Ther.
Before the Moone renew her borrowed light,
Doubt not my Lord and gratious Soueraigne,
But Tamburlaine, and that Tartarian rout,
Shall either perish by our warlike hands,
Or plead for mercie at your highnesse feet.

Myce.
Go, stout Theridimas, thy words are swords
And with thy lookes thou conquerest all thy foes:
I long to see thee backe returne from thence,
That I may view these milk-white steeds of mine.
All loden with the heads of killed men,
And from their knees, euen to their hoofes below,
Besmer'd with blood, that makes a dainty show.

The.
Then now my Lord, I humbly take my leaue.

Exit.
Myc.
Therid. farewel ten thousand times,
Ah, Menaphon, why staiest thou thus behind,
When other men prease forward for renowne:
Go Menaphon, go into Scythia,
And foot by foot follow Theridamas:

Cos.
Nay, pray you let him stay, a greater
Fits Menaphon, than warring with a Thiefe:
Create him Prorex of Affrica,
That he may win the Babylonians hearts,
Which will reuolt from Persean gouernment,
Unlesse they haue a wiser king than you.

Myc.
Unlesse they haue a wiser king than you?
These are his words, Meander set them downe.

Cos.
And ad this to them, that all Asia
Lament to see the follie of their King.

Myc.
Well here I sweare by this my royal seat.

Cos.
You may doe well to kisse it then.

Myc.
Embost with silke as best beseemes my state,
To be reueng'd for these contemptuous words.
O where is dutie and allegeance now?
Fled to the Caspean or the Ocean maine?
What, shall I call thee brother? No, a foe,
Monster of Nature, shame vnto thy stocke,
That dar st presume thy Soueraigne for to mocke.
Meander come, I am abus'd Meander.

Exit.
Manent Cosroe & Menaphon.
Mena.
How now my Lord, what, mated and amaz'd
To heare the king thus thraten like himselfe?

Cos.
Ah Menaphon, I passe not for his threates,
The plot is laid by Persean Noble men,
And Captaines of the Medean garrisons,
To crowne me Emperour of Asia,
But this it is that doth excruciate
The verie substance of my vexed soule:
To see our neighbours that were woont to quake
And tremble at the Persean Monarkes name,
Now sits and laughs our regiment to scorne,
And that which might resolue me into teares:
Men from the farthest Equinoctiall line,
Haue swarm'd in troopes into the Easterne India:
Lading their shippes with golde and pretious stones:
And made their spoiles from all our prouinces.

Mena.
This should intreat your highnesse to reioice,
Since Fortune giues you opportunity,
To gaine the tytle of a Conquerour,
By curing of this mained Emperie,
Affrike and Europe bordering on your land,
And continent to your Dominions:
How easely may you with a mightie hoste,
Passe into Græcia, as did Cyrus once.
And cause them to withdraw their forces home,
Least you subdue the pride of Christendome.?

Cos.
But Menaph. what means thistrumpets sound

Mena.
Behold, my Lord Ortigius, and the rest,
Bringing the Crowne to make you Emperour.

Enter Ortigius & Conerus bearing a Crowne with others.
Ort.
Magnificent and mightie Prince Cosroe,
We in the name of other Persean states,
And commons of this mightie Monarchie,
Present thee with th'Emperiall Diadem.

Cene.
The warlike Souldiers, & the Gentlemen,
That heretofore haue fild Persepolis
With Affrike Captaines, taken in the field:
Whose ransome made them martch in coates of gold,
With costlie iewels hanging at their eares,
And shining stones vpon their loftie Crestes,
Now liuing idle in the walled townes,
Wanting both pay and martiall discipline.
Begin in troopes to threaten ciuill warre.
And openly exclaime against the King.
Therefore to stay all sodaine mutinies,
We will inuest your Highnesse Emperour:
Whereat the Souldiers will conceiue more ioy,
Then did the Macedonians at the spoile
Of great Darius and his wealthy hoast.

Cosr.
Wel, since I see the state of Persea droope,
And languish in my brothers gouernment:
I willingly receiue th'mperiall crowne,
And vow to weare it for my countries good:
In spight of them shall malice my estate.

Ortyg.
And in assurance of desir'd successe,
We here doo crowne thee Monarch of the East,
Emperour of Asia, and of Persea,
Great Lord of Medea and Armenia:
Duke of Affrica and Albania,
Mesopotamia and of Parthia,
East India and the late discouered Isles,
Chiefe Lord of all the wide vast Euxine sea,
And of the euer raging Caspian Lake:
Long liue Cosroe mighty Emperour.

Cosr.
And Ioue may neuer let me longer liue,
Then I may seeke to gratifie your loue,
And cause the souldiers that thus honour me,
To triumph ouer many Prouinces.
By whose desires of discipline in Armes,
I doubt not shortly but to raigne sole king,
And with the Armie of Theridamas,
Whether we presently will flie (my Lords)
To rest secure against my brothers force.

Ortyg
We knew my Lord, before we brought the crowne,
Intending your inuestion so neere,
The residence of your dispised brother,
The Lord would not be too exasperate,
To iniure or suppresse your woorthy tytle.
Or if they would, there are in readines
Ten thousand horse to carie you from hence,
In spite of all suspected enemies.

Cosr.
I know it wel my Lord, & thanke you all.

Ortyg.
Sound vp the trumpets then,
God saue the King.

Exeunt.

Scœna. 2:

Tamburlaine leading Zenocrate: Techelles, Vsumeasane, other Lords and Souldiers loden with treasure.
Tam.
Come lady, let not this appal your thoughts
The iewels and the treasure we haue tane
Shall be reseru'd, and you in better state,
Than if you were arriu'd in Siria.
Euen in the circle of your Fathers armes:
The mightie Souldan of Egyptia.

Zeno.
Ah Shepheard, pity my distressed plight,
(If as thou seem'st, thou art so meane a man)
And seeke not to inrich thy followers,
By lawlesse rapine from a silly maide.
Who traueiling with these Medean Lords
To Memphis, from my vncles country of Medea,
Where all my youth I haue bene gouerned,
Haue past the armie of the mightie Turke:
Bearing his priuie signet and his hand:
To safe conduct vs thorow Affrica:

Mag.
And since we haue arriu'd in Scythia,
Besides rich presents from the puisant Cham,
We haue his highnesse letters to command
Aide and assistance if we stand in need.

Tam.
But now you see these letters & commandes,
Are countermanded by a greater man:
And through my prouinces you must expect
Letters of conduct from my mightinesse,
If you intend to keep your treasure safe.
But since I loue to liue at liberty,
As easely may you get the Souldans crowne,
As any prizes out of my precinct.
For they are friends that help to weane my state,
Till men and kingdomes help to strengthen it:
And must maintaine my life exempt from seruitude.
But tell me Maddam, is your grace betroth'd?

Zen.
I am (my Lord,) for so you do import.

Tam.
I am a Lord, for so my deeds shall prooue,
And yet a shepheard by my Parentage:
But Lady, this faire face and heauenly hew,
Must grace his bed that conquers Asia:
And meanes to be a terrour to the world,
Measuring the limits of his Emperie
By East and west, as Phæbus doth his course:
Lie here ye weedes that I disdaine to weare,
This compleat armor, and this curtle-axe
Are adiuncts more beseeming Tamburlaine.
And Maddam, whatsoeuer you esteeme
Of this successe, and losse vnvallued,
Both may inuest you Empresse of the East:
And these that seeme but silly country Swaines,
May haue the leading of so great an host,
As with their waight shall make the mountains quake.
Euen as when windy exhalations,
Fighting for passage, tilt within the earth.

Tec.
As princely Lions when they rouse themselues,
Stretching their pawes, and threatning heardes of Beastes.
So in his Armour looketh Tamburlaine:
Me thinks I see kings kneeling at his feet,
And he with frowning browes and fiery lookes,
Spurning their crownes from off their captiue heads.

Vsum.
And making thee and me Techelles, kinges,
That euen to death will follow Tamburlaine.

Tam.
Nobly resolu'd, sweet friends and followers,
These Lords (perhaps) do scorne our estimates:
And thinke we prattle with distempered spirits,
But since they measure our deserts so meane,
That in conceit bear Empires on our speares,
Affecting thoughts coequall with the cloudes,
They shall be kept our forced followers,
Till with their eies thee view vs Emperours.

Zen.
The Gods, defenders of the innocent,
Will neuer prosper your intended driftes,
That thus oppresse poore friendles passengers.
Therefore at least admit vs libertie,
Euen as thou hop'st to be eternized,
By liuing Asias mightie Emperour.

Agid.
I hope our Ladies treasure and our owne,
May serue for ransome to our liberties:
Returne our Mules and emptie Camels backe,
That we may traueile into Siria,
Where her betrothed Lord Alcidamus,
Expects th'arriuall of her highnesse person.

Mag.
And wheresoeuer we repose our selues,
We will report but well of Tamburlaine.

Tamb.
Disdaines Zenocrate to liue with me?
Or you my Lordes to be my followers?
Thinke you I way this treasure more than you?
Not all the Gold in Indias welthy armes,
Shall buy the meanest souldier in my traine.
Zenocrate, louelier than the Loue of Ioue,
Brighter than is the siluer Rhodolfe,
Fairer than whitest snow on Scythian hils,
Thy person is more woorth to Tamburlaine,
Than the possession of the Persean Crowne.
Which gratious starres haue promist at my birth,
A hundreth Tartars shall attend on thee,
Mounted on Steeds, swifter than Pegasus.
Thy Garments shall be made of Medean silke,
Enchast with precious iuelles of mine owne:
More rich and valurous than Zenocrates.
With milke-white Hartes vpon an Iuorie sled,
Thou shalt be drawen amidst the frosen Pooles,
And scale the ysie mountaines lofty tops:
Which with thy beautie will be soone resolu'd.
My martiall prises with fiue hundred men,
Wun on the fiftie headed Vuolgas waues,
Shall all we offer to Zenocrate,
And then my selfe to faire Zenocrate.

Tech.
What now? In loue?

Tam.
Techelles, women must be flatered.
But this is she with whom I am in loue.

Enter a Souldier.
Sould.
Newes, newes.

Tamb.
How now, what's the matter?

Sould.
A thousand Persean horsmen are at hand,
Sent from the King to ouercome vs all.

Tam.
How now my Lords of Egypt & Zenocrate?
Now must your iewels be restor'd againe:
And I that triumpht so be ouercome.
How say you Lordings, Is not this your hope?

Agid.
We hope your selfe wil willingly restore thē.

Tamb.
Such hope, such fortune haue the thousand horse.
Soft ye my Lords and sweet Zenocrate.
You must be forced from me ere you goe:
A thousand horsmen? We fiue hundred foote?
An ods too great, for vs to stand against:
But are they rich? And is their armour good?

Sould.
Their plumed helmes are wrought with beaten golde.
Their swords enameld, and about their neckes
Hangs massie chaines of golde downe to the waste,
In euery part exceeding braue and rich.

Tam.
Then shall we fight couragiously with them,
Or looke you, I should play the Orator?

Tech.
No: cowards and fainthearted runawaies,
Looke for orations when the foe is neere.
Our swordes shall play the Orators for vs.

Vsum.
Come let vs meet them at the mountain foot,
And with a sodaine and an hot alarme
Driue all their horses headlong down the hill.

Tech.
Come let vs martch.

Tam.
Stay Techelles, aske a parlee first,
The Souldiers enter.
Open the Males, yet guard the treasure sure,
Lay out our golden wedges to the view,
That their reflexions may amaze the Perseans.
And looke we friendly on them when they come:
But if they offer word or violence,
Weele fight fiue hundred men at armes to one,
Before we part with our possession.
And gainst the Generall we will lift our swords.
And either lanch his greedy thirsting throat,
Or take him prisoner, and his chaine shall serue
For Manackles, till he be ransom'd home.

Tech.
I heare them come, shal we encounter them?

Tam.
Keep all your standings, and not stir a foote,
My selfe will bide the danger of the brunt.

Enter Theridamas with others.
Ther.
Where is this Scythian Tamberlaine?

Tam.
Whō seekst thou Persean? I am Taburlain.

Ther.
Tamburlaine? A Scythian Shepheard, so imbellished
With Natures pride, and richest furniture,
His looks do menace heauen and dare the Gods,
His fierie eies are fixt vpon the earth.
As if he now deuis'd some Stratageme:
Or meant to pierce Auernas darksome vaults.
To pull the triple headed dog from hell.

tamb.
Noble and milde this Perseau seemes to be,
If outward habit iudge the inward man,

tech.
His deep affections make him passionate.

tamb.
With what a maiesty he rears his looks:
In thee (thou valiant man of Persea)
I see the folly of thy Emperour:
Art thou but Captaine of a thousand horse,
That by Characters grauen in thy browes,
And by thy martiall face and stout aspect,
Deseru'st to haue the leading of an hoste?
Forsake thy king and do but ioine with me
And we will triumph ouer all the world.
I hold the Fates bound fast in yron chaines,
And with my hand turne Fortunes wheel about,
And sooner shall the Sun fall from his Spheare,
Than Tamburlaine be slaine or ouercome.
Draw foorth thy sword, thou mighty man at Armes,
Intending but to rase my charmed skin:
And Ioue himselfe will stretch his hand from heauen,
To ward the blow, and shield me safe from harme,
See how he raines down heaps of gold in showers,
As if he meant to giue my Souldiers pay,
And as a sure and grounded argument,
That I shall be the Monark of the East.
He sends this Souldans daughter rich and braue,
To be my Queen and portly Emperesse,
If thou wilt stay with me, renowmed man,
And lead thy thousand horse with my conduct,
Besides thy share of this Egyptian prise,
Those thousand horse shall sweat with martiall spoile
Of conquered kingdomes, and of Cities sackt,
Both we wil walke vpon the lofty clifts,
And Christian Merchants that with Russian stems
Plow vp huge furrowes in the Caspian sea.
Shall vaile to vs, as Lords of all the Lake.
Both we will raigne as Consuls of the earth,
And mightie kings shall be our Senators,
Ioue sometime masked in a Shepheards weed,
And by those steps that he hath scal'd the heauens,
May we become immortall like the Gods.
Ioine with me now in this my meane estate,
(I cal it meane, because being yet obscure,
The Nations far remoou'd admyre me not)
And when my name and honor shall be spread,
As far as Boreas claps his brazen wings,
Or faire Botëes sends his cheerefull light.
Then shalt thou be Competitor with me,
And sit with Tamburlaine in all his maiestie.

Ther.
Not Hermes Prolocutor to the Gods,
Could vse perswasions more patheticall.

Tam.
Nor are Apollos Oracles more true,
Then thou shalt find my vaunts substantiall.

Tec.
We are his friends, and if the Persean king
Should offer present Dukedomes to our state,
We thinke it losse to make exchange for that,
We are assured of by our friends successe.

Vsum.
And kingdomes at the least we all expect.
Besides the honor in assured conquestes:
Where kings shall crouch vnto our conquering swords,
And hostes of souldiers stand amaz'd at vs,
When with their fearfull tongues they shall confesse
Theise are the men that all the world admires,

Ther.
What stronge enchantments tice my yeelding soule
Are these resolued noble Scythians?
But shall I prooue a Traitor to my King?

Tam.
No, but the trustie friend of Tamburlaine.

Ther.
Won with thy words, & conquered with thy looks,
I yeeld my selfe, my men & horse to thee:
To be partaker of thy good or ill,
As long as life maintaines Theridamas.

Tam.
Theridamas my friend, take here my hand.
Which is as much as if I swore by heauen,
And call'd the Gods to witnesse of my vow,
Thus shall my heart be still combinde with thine,
Untill our bodies turne to Elements:
And both our soules aspire celestiall thrones.
Techelles, and Casane, welcome him.

Tech.
Welcome renowmed Persean to vs all.

Cas.
Long may theridamas remaine with vs.

Tam.
These are my friends in whō I more reioice,
Than dooth the King of Persea in his Crowne:
And by the loue of Pyllades and Orestes,
Whose statutes we adore in Scythia,
Thy selfe and them shall neuer part from me,
Before I crowne you kings in Asia.
Make much of them gentle Theridamas,
And they will neuer leaue thee till the death.

ther.
Nor thee, nor them, thrice noble Tamburlain
Shal want my heart to be with gladnes pierc'd
To do you honor and securitie.

Tam.
A thousand thankes worthy theridamas:
And now faire Madam, and my noble Lords,
If you will willingly remaine with me,
You shall haue honors, as your merits be:
Or els you shall be forc'd with slauerie.

Agid.
We yeeld vnto thee happie Tamburlaine.

tamb.
For you then Maddam, I am out of doubt

Zeno.
I must be pleasde perforce, wretched Zenocrate.

Exeunt.