Chapter XI: Act I: Scene I

[_Enter_] MYCETES, COSROE, MEANDER, THERIDAMAS, ORTYGIUS, CENEUS, [MENAPHON,] _with others._

_Myc._ Brother Cosroe, I find myself aggriev’d,
Yet insufficient to express the same,
For it requires a great and thund’ring speech:
Good brother, tell the cause unto my lords;
I know you have a better wit than I. 5

_Cos._ Unhappy Persia, that in former age
Hast been the seat of mighty conquerors,
That, in their prowess and their policies,
Have triumph’d over Afric and the bounds
Of Europe, where the sun dares scarce appear 10
For freezing meteors and congealed cold,
Now to be rul’d and governed by a man
At whose birthday Cynthia with Saturn join’d,
And Jove, the Sun, and Mercury denied
To shed [their] influence in his fickle brain! 15
Now Turks and Tartars shake their swords at thee,
Meaning to mangle all thy provinces.

_Myc._ Brother, I see your meaning well enough,
And through your planets I perceive you think
I am not wise enough to be a king; 20
But I refer me to my noblemen
That know my wit, and can be witnesses.
I might command you to be slain for this:
Meander, might I not?

_Meand._ Not for so small a fault, my sovereign lord. 25

_Myc._ I mean it not, but yet I know I might;
Yet live; yea, live, Mycetes wills it so.
Meander, thou, my faithful counsellor,
Declare the cause of my conceived grief,
Which is, God knows, about that Tamburlaine,
That, like a fox in midst of harvest time, 31
Doth prey upon my flocks of passengers;
And, as I hear, doth mean to pull my plumes:
Therefore ’tis good and meet for to be wise.

_Meand._ Oft have I heard your majesty complain 35
Of Tamburlaine, that sturdy Scythian thief,
That robs your merchants of Persepolis
Trading by land unto the Western Isles,
And in your confines with his lawless train
Daily commits incivil[266] outrages, 40
Hoping (misled by dreaming prophecies)
To reign in Asia, and with barbarous arms
To make himself the monarch of the East;
But ere he march in Asia or display
His vagrant ensign in the Persian fields, 45
Your grace hath taken order by Theridamas
Charg’d with a thousand horse, to apprehend
And bring him captive to your highness’ throne.

_Myc._ Full true thou speak’st, and like thyself, my lord,
Whom I may term a Damon for thy love: 50
Therefore ’tis best, if so it like you all,
To send my thousand horse incontinent[267]
To apprehend that paltry Scythian.
How like you this, my honourable lords?
Is it not a kingly resolution? 55

_Cos._ It cannot choose, because it comes from you.

_Myc._ Then hear thy charge, valiant Theridamas,
The chiefest captain of Mycetes’ host,
The hope of Persia, and the very legs
Whereon our State doth lean as on a staff, 60
That holds us up, and foils our neighbour foes.
Thou shalt be leader of this thousand horse,
Whose foaming pall with rage and high disdain
Have sworn the death of wicked Tamburlaine.
Go frowning forth; but come thou smiling home, 65
As did Sir Paris with the Grecian dame;
Return with speed—time passeth swift away;
Our life is frail, and we may die to-day.

_Ther._ Before the moon renew her borrowed light,
Doubt not, my lord and gracious sovereign, 70
But Tamburlaine and that Tartarian rout,
Shall either perish by our warlike hands,
Or plead for mercy at your highness’ feet.

_Myc._ Go, stout Theridamas, thy words are swords, 74
And with thy looks thou conquerest all thy foes;
I long to see thee back return from thence,
That I may view these milk-white steeds of mine
All loaden with the heads of killed men.
And from their knees e’en to their hoofs below
Besmear’d with blood that makes a dainty show. 80

_Ther._ Then now, my lord, I humbly take my leave.

_Myc._ Theridamas, farewell! ten thousand times.
_Exit_ THERIDAMAS.
Ah, Menaphon, why stay’st thou thus behind,
When other men press forward for renown?
Go, Menaphon, go into Scythia; 85
And foot by foot follow Theridamas.

_Cos._ Nay, pray you let him stay; a greater [task]
Fits Menaphon than warring with a thief.
Create him Prorex[268] of all Africa,
That he may win the Babylonians’ hearts 90
Which will revolt from Persian government,
Unless they have a wiser king than you.

_Myc._ “Unless they have a wiser king than you!”
These are his words; Meander, set them down.

_Cos._ And add this to them—that all Asia 95
Laments to see the folly of their king.

_Myc._ Well, here I swear by this my royal seat,—

_Cos._ You may do well to kiss it then.

_Myc._ Emboss’d with silk as best beseems my state,
To be reveng’d for these contemptuous words.
Oh, where is duty and allegiance now? 101
Fled to the Caspian or the Ocean main?
What shall I call thee? Brother?—No, a foe;
Monster of nature! Shame unto thy stock
That dar’st presume thy sovereign for to mock!
Meander, come: I am abus’d, Meander. 106

_Exeunt all but_ COSROE _and_ MENAPHON.

_Men._ How now, my lord? What, mated[269] and amaz’d
To hear the king thus threaten like himself!

_Cos._ Ah, Menaphon, I pass[270] not for his threats;
The plot is laid by Persian noblemen 110
And captains of the Median garrisons
To crown me Emperor of Asia;
But this it is that doth excruciate
The very substance of my vexed soul— 114
To see our neighbours that were wont to quake
And tremble at the Persian monarch’s name,
Now sit and laugh our regiment[271] to scorn;
And that which might resolve[272] me into tears,
Men from the farthest equinoctial line 119
Have swarm’d in troops into the Eastern India,
Lading their ships with gold and precious stones,
And made their spoils from all our provinces.

_Men._ This should entreat your highness to rejoice,
Since Fortune gives you opportunity
To gain the title of a conqueror 125
By curing of this maimed empery.
Afric and Europe bordering on your land,
And continent to your dominions,
How easily may you, with a mighty host,
Pass into Græcia, as did Cyrus once, 130
And cause them to withdraw their forces home,
Lest you subdue the pride of Christendom. [_Trumpet within._]

_Cos._ But, Menaphon, what means this trumpet’s sound?

_Men._ Behold, my lord, Ortygius and the rest
Bringing the crown to make you Emperor! 135

_Enter_ ORTYGIUS _and_ CENEUS _bearing a crown with others_.

_Orty._ Magnificent and mighty Prince Cosroe,
We, in the name of other Persian states[273]
And commons of this mighty monarchy,
Present thee with th’ imperial diadem.

_Cen._ The warlike soldiers and the gentlemen,
That heretofore have fill’d Persepolis 141
With Afric captains taken in the field,
Whose ransom made them march in coats of gold,
With costly jewels hanging at their ears,
And shining stones upon their lofty crests, 145
Now living idle in the walled towns,
Wanting both pay and martial discipline,
Begin in troops to threaten civil war,
And openly exclaim against the king:
Therefore, to stay all sudden mutinies, 150
We will invest your highness Emperor,
Whereat the soldiers will conceive more joy
Than did the Macedonians at the spoil
Of great Darius and his wealthy host.

_Cos._ Well, since I see the state of Persia droop 155
And languish in my brother’s government,
I willingly receive th’ imperial crown,
And vow to wear it for my country’s good,
In spite of them shall malice my estate.

_Orty._ And in assurance of desir’d success, 160
We here do crown thee monarch of the East,
Emperor of Asia and Persia;
Great Lord of Media and Armenia;
Duke of Africa and Albania,
Mesopotamia and of Parthia, 165
East India and the late-discovered isles;
Chief Lord of all the wide, vast Euxine sea,
And of the ever-raging Caspian lake.
Long live Cosroe, mighty Emperor!

_Cos._ And Jove may[274] never let me longer live
Than I may seek to gratify your love, 171
And cause the soldiers that thus honour me
To triumph over many provinces!
By whose desires of discipline in arms
I doubt not shortly but to reign sole king, 175
And with the army of Theridamas,
(Whither we presently will fly, my lords)
To rest secure against my brother’s force.

_Orty._ We knew, my lord, before we brought the crown,
Intending your investion[275] so near 180
The residence of your despised brother,
The lords would not be too exasperate
To injure or suppress your worthy title;
Or, if they would, there are in readiness
Ten thousand horse to carry you from hence,
In spite of all suspected enemies. 185

_Cos._ I know it well, my lord, and thank you all.

_Orty._ Sound up the trumpets then. God save the King! [_Trumpets
sound._] _Exeunt._

SCENE II.

[_Enter_] TAMBURLAINE _leading_ ZENOCRATE, TECHELLES, USUMCASANE, [AGYDAS, MAGNETES] _and other_ Lords, _and_ Soldiers, _loaden with treasure_.

_Tamb._ Come, lady, let not this appal your thoughts;
The jewels and the treasure we have ta’en
Shall be reserv’d, and you in better state,
Than if you were arriv’d in Syria,
Even in the circle of your father’s arms, 5
The mighty Soldan of Egyptia.

_Zeno._ Ah, shepherd! pity my distressed plight,
(If, as thou seemst, thou art so mean a man,)
And seek not to enrich thy followers
By lawless rapine from a silly maid, 10
Who travelling with these Median lords
To Memphis, from my uncle’s country, Media,[276]
Where all my youth I have been governed,
Have pass’d the army of the mighty Turk,
Bearing his privy signet and his hand 15
To safe conduct us thorough Africa.

_Mag._ And since we have arriv’d in Scythia,
Besides rich presents from the puissant Cham,
We have his highness’ letters to command
Aid and assistance, if we stand in need. 20

_Tamb._ But now you see these letters and commands
Are countermanded by a greater man;
And through my provinces you must expect
Letters of conduct from my mightiness,
If you intend to keep your treasure safe. 25
But, since I love to live at liberty,
As easily may you get the Soldan’s crown
As any prizes out of my precinct;
For they are friends that help to wean my state
Till men and kingdoms help to strengthen it, 30
And must maintain my life exempt from servitude.—
But, tell me, madam, is your grace betroth’d?

_Zeno._ I am—my lord—for so you do import.

_Tamb._ I am a lord, for so my deeds shall prove:
And yet a shepherd by my parentage. 35
But, lady, this fair face and heavenly hue
Must grace his bed that conquers Asia,
And means to be a terror to the world,
Measuring the limits of his empery
By east and west, as Phœbus doth his course. 40
Lie here ye weeds that I disdain to wear!
This complete armour and this curtle-axe[277]
Are adjuncts more beseeming Tamburlaine.
And, madam, whatsoever you esteem
Of this success and loss unvalued,[278] 45
Both may invest you Empress of the East;
And these that seem but silly country swains
May have the leading of so great an host,
As with their weight shall make the mountains quake,
Even as when windy exhalations 50
Fighting for passage, tilt within the earth.

_Tech._ As princely lions, when they rouse themselves,
Stretching their paws, and threat’ning herds of beasts,
So in his armour looketh Tamburlaine.
Methinks I see kings kneeling at his feet, 55
And he with frowning brows and fiery looks,
Spurning their crowns from off their captive heads.

_Usum._ And making thee and me, Techelles, kings,
That even to death will follow Tamburlaine.

_Tamb._ Nobly resolv’d, sweet friends and followers! 60
These lords, perhaps do scorn our estimates,
And think we prattle with distempered spirits;
But since they measure out deserts so mean,
That in conceit bear empires on our spears,
Affecting thoughts coequal with the clouds, 65
They shall be kept our forced followers,
Till with their eyes they view us emperors.

_Zeno._ The gods, defenders of the innocent,
Will never prosper your intended drifts,
That thus oppress poor friendless passengers. 70
Therefore at least admit us liberty,
Even as thou hop’st to be eternised,
By living Asia’s mighty Emperor.

_Agyd._ I hope our lady’s treasure and our own
May serve for ransom to our liberties. 75
Return our mules and empty camels back,
That we may travel into Syria,
Where her betrothed lord Alcidamas,
Expects th’ arrival of her highness’ person.

_Mag._ And wheresoever we repose ourselves, 80
We will report but well of Tamburlaine.

_Tamb._ Disdains Zenocrate to live with me?
Or you, my lords, to be my followers?
Think you I weigh this treasure more than you?
Not all the gold in India’s wealthy arms 85
Shall buy the meanest soldier in my train.
Zenocrate, lovelier than the love of Jove,
Brighter than is the silver Rhodope.
Fairer than whitest snow on Scythian hills,—
Thy person is more worth to Tamburlaine, 90
Than the possession of the Persian crown,
Which gracious stars have promis’d at my birth.
A hundred Tartars shall attend on thee,
Mounted on steeds swifter than Pegasus;
Thy garments shall be made of Median silk, 95
Enchas’d with precious jewels of mine own,
More rich and valurous[279] than Zenocrate’s.
With milk-white harts upon an ivory sled,
Thou shalt be drawn amidst the frozen pools,
And scale the icy mountains’ lofty tops, 100
Which with thy beauty will be soon resolv’d.
My martial prizes with five hundred men,
Won on the fifty-headed Volga’s waves,
Shall we all offer to Zenocrate,—
And then myself to fair Zenocrate. 105

_Tech._ What now!—in love?

_Tamb._ Techelles, women must be flattered:
But this is she with whom I am in love.

_Enter a_ Soldier.

_Sold._ News! news!

_Tamb._ How now, what’s the matter? 110

_Sold._ A thousand Persian horsemen are at hand,
Sent from the king to overcome us all.

_Tamb._ How now, my lords of Egypt, and Zenocrate!
How!—must your jewels be restor’d again,
And I that triumph’d so be overcome? 115
How say you, lordings,—is not this your hope?

_Agyd._ We hope yourself will willingly restore them.

_Tamb._ Such hope, such fortune, have the thousand horse.
Soft ye, my lords, and sweet Zenocrate!
You must be forced from me ere you go. 120
A thousand horsemen!—We five hundred foot!—
An odds too great for us to stand against.
But are they rich? And is their armour good?

_Sold._ Their plumed helms are wrought with beaten gold, 124
Their swords enamell’d, and about their necks
Hangs massy chains of gold, down to the waist,
In every part exceeding brave[280] and rich.

_Tamb._ Then shall we fight courageously with them?
Or look you I should play the orator?

_Tech._ No; cowards and faint-hearted runaways 130
Look for orations when the foe is near.
Our swords shall play the orator for us.

_Usum._ Come! let us meet them at the mountain foot,
And with a sudden and an hot alarum,
Drive all their horses headlong down the hill. 135

_Tech._ Come, let us march!

_Tamb._ Stay, Techelles! ask a parley first.

_The_ Soldiers _enter_.

Open the mails,[281] yet guard the treasure sure;
Lay out our golden wedges to the view, 139
That their reflections may amaze the Persians;
And look we friendly on them when they come;
But if they offer word or violence,
We’ll fight five hundred men-at-arms to one,
Before we part with our possession. 144
And ’gainst the general we will lift our swords,
And either lance his greedy thirsting throat,
Or take him prisoner, and his chain shall serve
For manacles, till he be ransom’d home.

_Tech._ I hear them come; shall we encounter them?

_Tamb._ Keep all your standings and not stir a foot, 150
Myself will bide the danger of the brunt.

_Enter_ THERIDAMAS _with others_.

_Ther._ Where is this Scythian Tamburlaine?

_Tamb._ Whom seek’st thou, Persian?—I am Tamburlaine.

_Ther._ Tamburlaine!—
A Scythian shepherd so embellished 155
With nature’s pride and richest furniture!
His looks do menace Heaven and dare the gods:
His fiery eyes are fix’d upon the earth,
As if he now devis’d some stratagem, 159
Or meant to pierce Avernus’ darksome vaults
To pull the triple-headed dog from hell.

_Tamb._ Noble and mild this Persian seems to be,
If outward habit judge the inward man.

_Tech._ His deep affections make him passionate.

_Tamb._ With what a majesty he rears his looks! 165
In thee, thou valiant man of Persia,
I see the folly of thy emperor.
Art thou but captain of a thousand horse,
That by characters graven in thy brows,
And by thy martial face and stout aspect, 170
Deserv’st to have the leading of an host!
Forsake thy king, and do but join with me,
And we will triumph over all the world.
I hold the Fates bound fast in iron chains,
And with my hand turn Fortune’s wheel about:
And sooner shall the sun fall from his sphere 176
Than Tamburlaine be slain or overcome.
Draw forth thy sword, thou mighty man-at-arms,
Intending but to raze my charmed skin,
And Jove himself will stretch his hand from Heaven 180
To ward the blow and shield me safe from harm.
See how he rains down heaps of gold in showers,
As if he meant to give my soldiers pay!
And as a sure and grounded argument,
That I shall be the monarch of the East, 185
He sends this Soldan’s daughter rich and brave,
To be my Queen and portly Emperess.
If thou wilt stay with me, renowmed man,
And lead thy thousand horse with my conduct,
Besides thy share of this Egyptian prize, 190
Those thousand horse shall sweat with martial spoil
Of conquered kingdoms and of cities sack’d.
Both we will walk upon the lofty clifts,
And Christian merchants[282] that with Russian stems
Plough up huge furrows in the Caspian sea, 195
Shall vail[283] to us, as lords of all the lake.
Both we will reign as consuls of the earth,
And mighty kings shall be our senators.
Jove sometimes masked in a shepherd’s weed,
And by those steps that he hath scal’d the Heavens 200
May we become immortal like the gods.
Join with me now in this my mean estate,
(I call it mean because, being yet obscure,
The nations far remov’d admire me not,) 204
And when my name and honour shall be spread
As far as Boreas claps his brazen wings,
Or fair Boötes sends his cheerful light,
Then shalt thou be competitor[284] with me,
And sit with Tamburlaine in all his majesty.

_Ther._ Not Hermes, prolocutor to the gods, 210
Could use persuasions more pathetical.

_Tamb._ Nor are Apollo’s oracles more true,
Than thou shalt find my vaunts substantial.

_Tech._ We are his friends, and if the Persian king
Should offer present dukedoms to our state, 215
We think it loss to make exchange for that
We are assur’d of by our friend’s success.

_Usum._ And kingdoms at the least we all expect,
Besides the honour in assured conquests,
Where kings shall crouch unto our conquering swords, 220
And hosts of soldiers stand amaz’d at us;
When with their fearful tongues they shall confess
These are the men that all the world admires.

_Ther._ What strong enchantments ’tice my yielding soul!
Are these resolved nobles[285] Scythians? 225
But shall I prove a traitor to my king?

_Tamb._ No, but the trusty friend of Tamburlaine.

_Ther._ Won with thy words, and conquered with thy looks,
I yield myself, my men, and horse to thee,
To be partaker of thy good or ill, 230
As long as life maintains Theridamas.

_Tamb._ Theridamas, my friend, take here my hand,
Which is as much as if I swore by Heaven
And call’d the gods to witness of my vow.
Thus shall my heart be still combin’d with thine
Until our bodies turn to elements, 236
And both our souls aspire celestial thrones.
Techelles and Casane, welcome him!

_Tech._ Welcome, renowmed Persian, to us all!

_Usum._ Long may Theridamas remain with us! 240

_Tamb._ These are my friends, in whom I more rejoice
Than doth the King of Persia in his crown,
And by the love of Pylades and Orestes,
Whose statues we adore in Scythia,
Thyself and them shall never part from me 245
Before I crown you kings in Asia.
Make much of them, gentle Theridamas,
And they will never leave thee till the death.

_Ther._ Nor thee nor them, thrice noble Tamburlaine,
Shall want my heart to be with gladness pierc’d
To do you honour and security. 251

_Tamb._ A thousand thanks, worthy Theridamas.
And now fair madam, and my noble lords,
If you will willingly remain with me
You shall have honours as your merits be; 255
Or else you shall be forc’d with slavery.

_Agyd._ We yield unto thee, happy Tamburlaine.

_Tamb._ For you then, madam, I am out of doubt.

_Zeno._ I must be pleas’d perforce. Wretched Zenocrate! _Exeunt._ 260