e, that hast seen him, Menaphon,
ure wields he, and what personage
?
stature tall, and straightly fashioned,
esire, lift upwards and divine;
limbs, his joints so strongly knit,
h of shoulders as might mainly bear
urden; 'twixt his manly pitch,*
rin worth than all the world is plac'd,

buturious sovereignty of art
quiveercing instruments of sight,
Bulle cles bear encompassed

es, 'divenly bodies in their spheres, threat steps and actions to the throne with en invested royally;

n met

8,

deat

oble

chase th, wrought in him with passion, eyes reignty and love of arms; Found and bolds do figure death,

he

You seeness amity and life; knot of amber hair, Per you seelerce Achilles' was, agresh will st heaven delights to play, Jo commanton majesty ;·

tuning my poor; and sinewy, ‡ dst these his two resess of strength ;— nid make one thirst like the man be such a great degree qu'd § to Tamburlaine. fech. With duty and tray'd in thy terms by utmost service to the

mos. Which I estoom as

racasane and Techellos stature. ("I would when shett that rules in But here it means of, Velim mihi dicas gates, ulders (see the 10th Arch. and Prov. his head.

[

some] So the 4to.-The 8vo "se will] So the Svo.-The 4to "sha So the Svo, exretop] i. e. rise above, surpass.-Or for "sinewy." yenowmed] See note l, p. 11. 8

dir.

"owned."

01hirst] The 8vo "thrust ": the 4to.

ite."!!

and] So the 4to.-The 8vo "not.” cc. of Dram.

the fair] So the Svo.-The 4to "the

Mr. Moxon's

The face and personage of a wondrous man :
Nature doth strive with Fortune* and his stars
To make him famous in accomplish'd worth;
And well his merits shew him to be made
His fortune's master and the king of men,
That could persuade, at such a sudden pinch,
With reasons of his valour and his life,

A thousand sworn and overmatching foes.
Then, when our powers in points of swords are
join'd,

And clos'd in compass of the killing bullet,
Though strait the passage and the port + be made
That leads to palace of my brother's life,
Proud is his fortune if we pierce it not;
And, when the princely Persian diadem
Shall overweigh his weary witless head,

And fall, like mellow'd fruit, with shakes of death,

In fair § Persia noble Tamburlaine
Shall be my regent, and remain as king.

Orty. In happy hour we have set the crown Upon your kingly head, that seeks our honour In joining with the man ordain'd by heaven To further every action to the best.

Cen. He that with shepherds and a little spoil
Durst, in disdain of wrong and tyranny,
Defend his freedom 'gainst a monarchy,
What will he do supported by a king,
Leading a troop of gentlemen and lords,
And stuff'd with treasure for his highest thoughts!
Cos. And such shall wait on worthy Tambur-
laine.

Our army will be forty thousand strong,
When Tamburlaine and brave Theridamas
Have met us by the river Araris ;

And all conjoin'd to meet the witless king,
That now is marching near to Parthia,
And, with unwilling soldiers faintly arm'd,

* Nature doth strive with Fortune, &c.] Qy did Shakespeare recollect this passage when he wrote,"Nature and Fortune join'd to make thee great"? King John, act iii. sc. 1.

+ port] i. e. gate. is] So the 8vo.-The 4to "in.” § In fair, &c.] Here "fair" is to be considered as a dissyllable: compare, in the datas. auth.. ne does presently after. Jew uj multa, ere] i. e. those who were, who have been.

"I'll feas staggering] So the Svo.-The 4to "Stand those

And, af

HOE, TAMBURLAINE, THERIDAMAS, TECHELLES, USUMCASANE, and ORTYGIUS, with others.

Cos. Now, worthy Tamburlaine, have I repos'd athy approved fortunes all my hope.

What think'st thou, man, shall come of our attempts ?

61, even as from assured oracle, take hy doom for satisfaction.

b. And so mistake you not a whit, my lord; or tes and oracles [of] heaven have sworn jo nɔwɔlize the ceds of Tamburlaine,

nd male them blest that share in his attempts:

nd doubt you not but, if you favour me, nd let my fortunes and my valour sway o some* direction in your martial deeds,

he world will + strive with hosts of men-at-arms

o swarm unto the ensign I support. he host of Xerxes, which by fame is said drink the mighty Parthian Araris, Fas but a handful to that we will have: ur quivering lances, shaking in the air, nd bullets, like Jove's dreadful thunderbolts, nroll'd in flames and fiery smouldering mists, all threat the gods more than Cyclopian wars; ad with our sun-bright armour, as we march, e'll chase the stars from heaven, and dim their eyes

hat stand and muse at our admired arms. Ther. You see, my lord, what working words he hath;

ht, when you see his actions top ‡ his speech, our speech will stay, or so extol his worth I shall be commended and excus'd

r turning my poor charge to his direction: ad these his two renowmèd § friends, my lord, Fould make one thirst || and strive to be retain'd such a great degree of amity.

Tech. With duty and ¶ with amity we yield ur utmost service to the fair ** Cosroe.

Cos. Which I esteem as portion of my crown. sumcasane and Techelles both,

Then shett that rules in Rhamnus'‡‡ golden gates,

*some] So the 4to.-The 8vo "scorne." twill] So the 8vo.-The 4to "shall."

1 top] i. e. rise above, surpass.-Old eds. "stop."

§ renowmed] See note I, p. 11. So the 8vo.-The 4to renowned."

thirst] The 8vo "thrust ": the 4to "thrist."

and] So the 4to.-The 8vo "not."

**the fair] So the 8vo. -The 4to "thee faire."

Itt she i. e. Nemesis.

11 Rhamnus'] Old eds. "Rhamnis."

15

assay

and

And makes a passage for all prosperous arms,
Shall make me solely emperor of Asia,
Then shall your meeds* and valours be advanc'd
To rooms of honour and nobility.

èce.* triumphing

Tamb. Then haste, Cosroe, to be king alone, That I with these my friends and all my men May triumph in our long-expected fate. The king, your brother, is now hard at hand Meet with the fool, and rid your royal shoulƊwn? And all the craggy rocks of Caspia. Of such a burden as outweighs the sands

Mes. My lord,

Enter a Messenger.

We have discovered the enemy

his room be

in faith, my

enty thousand

the word is

the camp,

And ha ings themselves are present in the field? ndc. Thou liest.

Sovamb. Base villain, darest thou give me + the

lie?

Myc. Away! I am the king; go; touch me not.

Thou break'st the law of arms, unless thou kneel,

And cry me "mercy, noble king!"

Tamb. Are you the witty king of Persia?

Myc. Ay, marry,t am I: have you any suit to Who

SC

A

ld live

IUS, THERIDAMAS, TECHELLES, USUMONST with hers.

Tamb. Hold thee, Cosroe; wear two imperia

crowns;

Think thee invested now as royally,

Even by the mighty hand of Tamburlaine,
As if as many kings as could encompass thee
With greatest pomp had crown'd thee emperor.
Cos. So do I, thrice-renowmèd man-at-arms;
And none shall keep the crown but Tamburlain
Thee do I make my regent of Persia,
And general-lieutenant of my armies.-
Meander, you, that were our brother's guide,
And chiefest + counsellor in all his acts,

7

Since he is yielded to the stroke of war,
On your submission we with thanks excuse,
And give you equal place in our affairs.
Mean. Most happy emperor, in humble
terms

I vow my service to your majesty,
With utmost virtue of my faith and duty.
Cos. Thanks, good Meander.-Then, Cosre
reign,

And govern Persia in her former pomp.

words.

Myc. So I can when I see my time.

Tamb. Is this your crown?

Myc. Ay: didst thou ever see a fairer ?
Tamb. You will not sell it, will you?
Myc. Such another word, and I will have thee
executed. Come, give it me.

Tamb. No; I took it prisoner.
Myc. You lie; I gave it you.
Tamb. Then 'tis mine.

Myc. No; I mean I let you keep it.
Tamb. Well, I mean you shall have it again.
Here, take it for a while: I lend it thee,
Till I may see thee hemm'd with armèd men;
Then shalt thou see me pull it from thy head:
Thou art no match for mighty Tamburlaine.

[Exit.

Myc. O gods, is this Tamburlaine the thief? I marvel much he stole it not away.

[Trumpets within sound to the battle: he runs out.

*For kings are clouts that every man shoots at,

Our crown the pin, &c.] Clout means the white mark in the butts; pin, the peg in the centre, which fastened it. t me] So the 4to.-Omitted in the 8vo.

Myc. Ay, marry, &c.] From this to "Tamb. Well, I mean you shall have it again" inclusive, the dialogue is prose: compare act iv. sc. 4, p. 29.

And let them know the Persian king is chang
From one that knew not what a king should d
To one that can command what 'longs thereto.
And now we will to fair Persepolis
With twenty thousand expert soldiers.
The lords and captains of my brother's camp
With little slaughter take Meander's course,
And gladly yield them to my gracious rule.-
Ortygius and Menaphon, my trusty friends,
Now will I gratify your former good,

And grace your calling with a greater sway.

Orty. And as we ever aim'd § at your behoof And sought your state all honour it || deserv'd, So will we with our powers and our lives. Endeavour to preserve and prosper it.

Cos. I will not thank thee, sweet Ortygius; Better replies shall prove my purposes.And now, Lord Tamburlaine, my brother's cam I leave to thee and to Theridamas, To follow me to fair Persepolis;

* renowmed man-at-arms] See note II, p. 11. So th Svo.-The 4to "renowned men at armes."

† chiefest] So the 4to.-The 8vo "chiefe."
happy] So the Svo.-The 4to "happiest."

§ aim'd] So the 4to.-The 8vo "and."
it] So the 4to.-The Svo "is."
Toxr] So the 4to.-Omitted in the 8vo.

Then will we * march to all those Indian mines
My witless brother to the Christians lost,
And ransom them with fame and usury:
And, till thou overtake me, Tamburlaine,
(Staying to order all the scatter'd troops,)
Farewell, lord regent and his happy friends.
I long to sit upon my brother's throne.

Mean. Your majesty shall shortly have your wish,

And ride in triumph through Persepolis.

[Exeunt all except TAMB., THER., TECH., and USUM. Tamb. And ride in triumph through Perse

polis!

Is it not brave to be a king, Techelles?—
Usumcasane and Theridamas,

Is it not passing brave to be a king,

And ride in triumph through Persepolis?

Tech. O, my lord, it is sweet and full of pomp! Usum. To be a king is half to be a god. Ther. A god is not so glorious as a king: I think the pleasure they enjoy in heaven, Cannot compare with kingly joys in † earth;— To wear a crown enchas'd with pearl and gold, Whose virtues carry with it life and death; To ask and have, command and be obey'd; When looks breed love, with looks to gain the prize,

Such power attractive shines in princes' eyes. Tamb. Why, say, Theridamas, wilt thou be a king?

Ther. Nay, though I praise it, I can live without it.

Tamb. What say my other friends? will you

be kings?

Tech. I, if I could, with all my heart, my lord. Tamb. Why, that's well said, Techelles: so

would I ;

And so would you, my masters, would you not? Usum. What, then, my lord?

Tamb. Why, then, Casane,‡ shall we wish for aught

The world affords in greatest novelty,
And rest attemptless, faint, and destitute?
Methinks we should not. I am strongly mov'd,
That if I should desire the Persian crown,
I could attain it with a wondrous ease:
And would not all our soldiers soon consent,
If we should aim at such a dignity?

Ther. I know they would with our persuasions.

Tamb. Why, then, Theridamas, I'll first assay To get the Persian kingdom to myself;

Then thou for Parthia; they for Scythia and Media;

And, if I prosper, all shall be as sure

As if the Turk, the Pope, Afric, and Greece, Came creeping to us with their crowns a-piece.* Tech. Then shall we send to this triumphing

king,

And bid him battle for his novel crown?

Usum. Nay, quickly, then, before his room be hot.

Tamb. 'Twill prove a pretty jest, in faith, my friends.

Ther. A jest to charge on twenty thousand

men!

I judge the purchase + more important far.
Tamb. Judge by thyself, Theridamas, not me;
For presently Techelles here shall haste
To bid him battle ere he pass too far,

And lose more labour than the gain will quite :+
Then shalt thou see this § Scythian Tamburlaine
Make but a jest to win the Persian crown.-
Techelles, take a thousand horse with thee,
And bid him turn him back to war with us,
That only made him king to make us sport:
We will not steal upon him cowardly,
But give him warning and ¶ more warriors:
Haste thee, Techelles; we will follow thee.

What saith Theridamas?
Ther. Go on, for me.

SCENE VI.

[Exit TECHELLES.

[Exeunt.

Enter COSROE, MEANDER, ORTYGIUS, and MENAPHON, with Soldiers.

Cos. What means this devilish shepherd, to aspire

With such a giantly presumption,

To cast up hills against the face of heaven,
And dare the force of angry Jupiter?
But, as he thrust them underneath the hills,
And press'd out fire from their burning jaws,
So will I send this monstrous slave to hell,
Where flames shall ever feed upon his soul.