In whose high looks is much more majesty,
Than from the concave superficies
Of Jove's vast palace, the empyreal orb,
Unto the shining bower where Cynthia sits,
Like lovely Thetis, in a crystal robe;
That treadeth Fortune underneath his feet,
And makes the mighty god of arms his slave;
On whom Death and the Fatal Sisters wait
With naked swords and scarlet liveries;
Before whom, mounted on a lion's back,
Rhamnusia bears a helmet full of blood,

And strows the way with brains of slaughter'd

men;

By whose proud side the ugly Furies run, Hearkening when he shall bid them plague the world;

Over whose zenith, cloth'd in windy air,
And eagle's wings join'd* to her feather'd breast,
Fame hovereth, sounding of + her golden trump,
That to the adverse poles of that straight line
Which measureth the glorious frame of heaven
The name of mighty Tamburlaine is spread;
And him, fair lady, shall thy eyes behold.
Come.

Olym. Take pity of a lady's ruthful tears,
That humbly craves upon her knees to stay,
And cast her body in the burning flame
That feeds upon her son's and husband's flesh.
Tech. Madam, sooner shall fire consume us both
Than scorch a face so beautiful as this,

In frame of which Nature hath shew'd more skill Than when she gave eternal chaos form, Drawing from it the shining lamps of heaven. Ther. Madam, I am so far in love with you, That you must go with us: no remedy.

Olym. Then carry me, I care not, where you will,

And let the end of this my fatal journey

Be likewise end to my accursed life.

SCENE V.

Enter CALLAPINE, ORCANES, the KINGS OF JERUSALEM, TREBIZON, and SORIA, with their train, ALMEDA, and a Messenger.

Mes. Renowmèd* emperor, mighty + Callapine,
God's great lieutenant over all the world,
Here at Aleppo, with an host of men,
Lies Tamburlaine, this king of Persia,

(In number more than are the ‡ quivering leaves
Of Ida's forest, where your highness' hounds
With open cry pursue the wounded stag,)
Who means to girt Natolia's walls with siege,
Fire the town, and over-run the land.

Call. My royal army is as great as his,
That, from the bounds of Phrygia to the sea
Which washeth Cyprus with his brinish waves,
Covers the hills, the valleys, and the plains.
Viceroys and peers of Turkey, play the men;
Whet all your § swords to mangle Tamburlaine,
His sons, his captains, and his followers:
By Mahomet, not one of them shall live!
The field wherein this battle shall be fought
For ever term'd || the Persians' sepulchre,
In memory of this our victory.

Orc. Now he that calls himself the scourge of

Jove,

The emperor of the world, and earthly god,
Shall end the warlike progress he intends,
And travel headlong to the lake of hell,
Where legions of devils (knowing he must die
Here in Natolia by your ** highness' hands),
All brandishing their ++ brands of quenchless fire,
Stretching their monstrous paws, grin with ‡‡
their teeth,

And guard the gates to entertain his soul.

Call. Tell me, viceroys, the number of your

men,

And what our army royal is esteem'd.

K. of Jer. From Palestina and Jerusalem,

Are come, since last we shew'd your §§ majesty. Orc. So from Arabia Desert, and the bounds

Of that sweet land whose brave metropolis

* Renowmed] See note I, p. 11. So the 8vo.-The 4to "Renowned."

temperor, mighty] So the 8vo.-The 4to emperour, and mightie."

the] So the 4to.-The Svo "this." § your] So the 8vo.-The 4to "our." term'd] Old eds. "terme."

the] So the 4to.-Omitted in the 8vo.

** your] So the 8vo.-The 4to "our."

brandishing their] So the 4to.-The 8vo "brandish

ing in their."

11 with] So the 4to.-Omitted in the 8vo.

§§ show'd your] So the Svo.-The 4to "howed to your."

Tamb. Villain, traitor, damnèd fugitive,
I'll make thee wish the earth had swallow'd thee!
See'st thou not death within my wrathful looks?
Go, villain, cast thee headlong from a rock,
Or rip thy bowels, and rent out thy heart,
T' appease my wrath; or else I'll torture thee,
Searing thy hateful flesh with burning irons
And drops of scalding lead, while all thy joints
Be rack'd and beat asunder with the wheel;
For, if thou liv'st, not any element

Shall shroud thee from the wrath of Tamburlaine.
Call. Well, in despite of thee, he shall be king.—
Come, Almeda; receive this crown of me:
I here invest thee king of Ariadan,
Bordering on Mare Roso, near to Mecca.

Orc. What! take it, man.

Alm. [to Tamb.] Good my lord, let me take it. Call. Dost thou ask him leave? here; take it. Tamb. Go to, sirrah!† take your crown, and make up the half dozen. So, sirrah, now you are a king, you must give arms.+

Orc. So he shall, and wear thy head in his scutcheon.

Tamb. No; § let him hang a bunch of keys on his standard, to put him in remembrance he was a jailor, that, when I take him, I may knock out his brains with them, and lock you in the stable, when you shall come sweating from my chariot.

K. of Treb. Away! let us to the field, that the villain may be slain.

Tamb. Sirrah, prepare whips, and bring my chariot to my tent; for, as soon as the battle is done, I'll ride in triumph through the camp.

Enter THERIDAMAS, TECHELLES, and their train. How now, ye petty kings? lo, here are bugs Will make the hair stand upright on your heads, And cast your crowns in slavery at their feet!Welcome, Theridamas and Techelles, both : See ye this rout,+ and know ye this same king! Ther. Ay, my lord; he was Callapine's keeper. Tamb. Well, now ye see he is a king. Look to him, Theridamas, when we are fighting, lest he hide his crown as the foolish king of Persia did.‡

K. of Sor. No, Tamburlaine; he shall not be put to that exigent, I warrant thee.

Tamb. You know not, sir.But now, my followers and my loving friends, Fight as you ever did, like conquerors, The glory of this happy day is yours. My stern aspèct § shall make fair Victory, Hovering betwixt our armies, light on me, Loaden with laurel-wreaths to crown us all. Tech. I smile to think how, when this field is

fought

And rich Natolia ours, our men shall sweat With carrying pearl and treasure on their backs. Tamb. You shall be princes all, immediately.Come, fight, ye Turks, or yield us victory. Orc. No; we will meet thee, slavish Tamburlaine. [Exeunt severally.

SCENE I.'

Alarms within. AMYRAS and CELEBINUS issue from the tent where CALYPHAS sits asleep. ||

Amy. Now in their glories shine the golden

crowns

Of these proud Turks, much like so many suns
That half dismay the majesty of heaven.
Now, brother, follow we our father's sword,
That flies with fury swifter than our thoughts,
And cuts down armies with his conquering wings.

* and rent] So the 8vo.-The 4to "or rend."

Go to, sirrah] So the 8vo.-The 4to "Goe sirrha.”

t give arms] An heraldic expression, meaning-shew armorial bearings (used, of course, with a quibble). § No] So the 4to. -The 8vo "Go."

sits asleep] At the back of the stage, which was supposed to represent the interior of the tent.

Cel. Call forth our lazy brother from the tent, For, if my father miss him in the field, Wrath, kindled in the furnace of his breast, Will send a deadly lightning to his heart.

Amy. Brother, ho! what, given so much to sleep,

You cannot leave it, when our enemies' drums
And rattling cannons thunder in our ears
Our proper ruin and our father's foil?

Caly. Away, ye fools! my father needs not me, Nor you, in faith, but that you will be thought More childish-valourous than manly-wise.

* bugs] i.e. bugbears, objects to strike you with terror. trout] i.e. crew, rabble.

as the foolish king of Persia did] See p. 16, first col.

Knowing my father hates thy cowardice,
And oft hath warn'd thee to be still in field,
When he himself amidst the thickest troops
Beats down our foes, to flesh our taintless
swords?

Caly. I know, sir, what it is to kill a man ;
It works remorse of conscience in me.

I take no pleasure to be murderous,

Nor care for blood when wine will quench my thirst.

Cel. O cowardly boy! fie, for shame, come forth!

Thou dost dishonour manhood and thy house. Caly. Go, go, tallt stripling, fight you for us both,

And take my other toward brother here,
For person like to prove a second Mars.
"Twill please my mind as well to hear, both you‡
Have won a heap of honour in the field,
And left your slender carcasses behind,
As if I lay with you for company.

Amy. You will not go, then?
Caly. You say true.

Amy. Were all the lofty mounts of Zona
Mundi

That fill the midst of farthest Tartary
Turn'd into pearl and proffer'd for my stay,
I would not bide the fury of my father,
When, made a victor in these haughty arms,
He comes and finds his sons have had no shares
In all the honours he propos'd for us.

Caly. Take you the honour, I will take my

ease;

My wisdom shall excuse my cowardice:
I go into the field before I need!

[Alarms within. AMYRAS and CELEBINUS run out.
The bullets fly at random where they list;
And, should I§ go, and kill a thousand men,
I were as soon rewarded with a shot,
And sooner far than he that never fights;
And, should I go, and do no harm nor good,
I might have harm, which all the good I have,
Join'd with my father's crown, would never cure.
I'll to cards.-Perdicas!

• Vecare] So the 8vo.-The 4to "scarce." tall] i.e. bold, brave.

both you] So the 8vo.-The 4to "you both." should I] So the 8vo.-The 4to "I should."

Caly. They say I am a coward, Perdicas, and I fear as little their taratantaras, their swords, or their cannons as I do a naked lady in a net of gold, and, for fear I should be afraid, would put it off and come to bed with me.

Perd. Such a fear, my lord, would never make ye retire.

Caly. I would my father would let me be put in the front of such a battle once, to try my valour! [Alarms within.] What a coil they keep! I believe there will be some hurt done anon amongst them.

Enter TAMBURLAINE, THERIDAMAS, TECHELLES, USUMCASANE; AMYRAS and CELEBINUS leading in ORCANES, and the KINGS OF JERUSALEM, TREBIZON, and SORIA; and Soldiers.

Tamb. See now, ye* slaves, my children stoop

your pride,+

And lead your bodies sheep-like to the sword!—
Bring them, my boys, and tell me if the wars
Be not a life that may illustrate gods,
And tickle not your spirits with desire
Still to be train'd in arms and chivalry?

Amy. Shall we let go these kings again, my

lord,

To gather greater numbers 'gainst our power,
That they may say, it is not chance doth this,
But matchless strength and magnanimity?

Tamb. No, no, Amyras; tempt not Fortune so:
Cherish thy valour still with fresh supplies,
And glut it not with stale and daunted foes.
But where's this coward villain, not my son,
But traitor to my name and majesty?

[He goes in and brings CALYPHAS out. Image of sloth, and picture of a slave, The obloquy and scorn of my renown! How may my heart, thus firèd with mine §

eyes,

Wounded with shame and kill'd with discontent,

ye] So the 8vo. -The 4to "my."

† stoop your pride] i.e. make your pride to stoop. bodies] So the 8vo -The 4to " glories."

§ mine] So the 4to.-The 8vo "my."

Shroud any thought may* hold my striving hands From martial justice on thy wretched soul?

Ther. Yet pardon him, I pray your majesty. Tech. and Usum. Let all of us entreat your highness' pardon.

Tamb. Stand up,† ye base, unworthy soldiers! Know ye not yet the argument of arms?

once,+

And we will force him to the field hereafter.

Tamb. Stand up, my boys, and I will teach ye

arms,

And what the jealousy of wars must do.—
O Samarcanda, where I breathed first,
And joy'd the fire of this martial § flesh,
Blush, blush, fair city, at thine || honour's foil,
And shame of nature, which ¶ Jaertis'** stream,
Embracing thee with deepest of his love,
Can never wash from thy distainèd brows!-
Here, Jove, receive his fainting soul again;
A form not meet to give that subject essence
Whose matter is the flesh of Tamburlaine,
Wherein an incorporeal ++ spirit moves,
Made of the mould whereof thyself consists,
Which makes me valiant, proud, ambitious,
Ready to levy power against thy throne,
That I might move the turning spheres of heaven;
For earth and all this airy region
Cannot contain the state of Tamburlaine.

[Stabs CALYPHAS.

By Mahomet, thy mighty friend, I swear,
In sending to my issue such a soul,
Created of the massy dregs of earth,
The scum and tartar of the elements,
Wherein was neither courage, strength, or wit,
But folly, sloth, and damnèd idleness,
Thou hast procur'd a greater enemy
Than he that darted mountains at thy head,
Shaking the burden mighty Atlas bears,
Whereat thou trembling hidd'st thee in the air,
Cloth'd with a pitchy cloud for being seen.++-
And now, ye canker'd curs of Asia,

* may] So the 4to.-The 8vo "nay."

tup] The modern editors alter this word to "by," not understanding the passage. Tamburlaine meansDo not kneel to me for his pardon.

t once] So the 4to.-The 8vo "one."

§ martial] So the 8vo.-The 4to "materiall." (In this

line "fire" is a dissyllable")

thine] So the 8vo.-The 4to "thy."
which] Old eds. "with."

** Jaertis'] So the 8vo. -The 4to "Lacrtis." By "Jaertis'" must be meant-Jaxartes'.

++ incorporeal] So the Svo.-The 4to "incorporall." It for being seen] i.e. "that thou mayest not be seen." Ed. 1826. See Richardson's Dict. in v. For.

K. of Jer. Thy victories are grown so violent,' That shortly heaven, fill'd with the meteors Of blood and fire thy tyrannies have made, Will pour down blood and fire on thy head, Whose scalding drops will pierce thy seething brains,

And, with our bloods, revenge our bloods + on

thee.

Tamb. Villains, these terrors, and these tyrannies (If tyrannies war's justice ye repute),

I execute, enjoin'd me from above,

To scourge the pride of such as Heaven abhors;
Nor am I made arch-monarch of the world,
Crown'd and invested by the hand of Jove,
For deeds of bounty or nobility;
But, since I exercise a greater name,
The scourge of God and terror of the world,
I must apply myself to fit those terms,
In war, in blood, in death, in cruelty,
And plague such peasants § as resist in me
The power of Heaven's eternal majesty.—
Theridamas, Techelles, and Casane,¶
Ransack the tents and the pavilions

Of these proud Turks, and take their concubines,
Making them bury this effeminate brat ;
For not a common soldier shall defile
His manly fingers with so faint a boy:
Then bring those Turkish harlots to my tent,
And I'll dispose them as it likes me best.-
Meanwhile, take him in.

Soldiers. We will, my lord.

[Exeunt with the body of CALYPHAS. K. of Jer. O damnèd monster! nay, a fiend of

hell,

Whose cruelties are not so harsh as thine,
Nor yet impos'd with such a bitter hate!

Orc. Revenge it,** Rhadamanth and Eacus,
And let your hates, extended in his pains,
Excel ++ the hate wherewith he pains our souls!

* you shall] So the 8vo.-The 4to "shall ye."

↑ Approve] i.e. prove, experience.
bloods] So the 4to.-The 8vo "blood."

§ peasants] So the 8vo. - The 4to "parsants."
resist in] Old eds " 'resisting."

Casane] So the 4to.-The 8vo "Vsum Casane." **it] So the Svo.-Omitted in the 4to.

tt Excel] Old eds. "Expell" and "Expel."