TECH. We are his friends, and if the Persian

king

Should offer present dukedoms to our state,

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,

When kings shall crouch unto our conq'ring swords
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 yield-
ing soul

To these resolved, noble Scythians?

But shall I prove a traitor to my king?

TAMB. No, but the trusty friend of Tamburlaine. THER. Won with thy words, and conquer'd with thy looks,

I yield myself, my men, and horse to thee,
To be partaker of thy good or ill,

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,

And both our souls aspire celestial thrones.
Techelles and Casane, welcome him!

TECH. Welcome, renowned Persian to us all!
USUM. Long may Theridamas remain with us!

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, we adore in Scythia,

Whose statues

Thyself and them shall never part from me
Before I crown you kings in Asia.

Make much of them, gentle Theridamas,
And they will never leave thee to the death.

THER. Nor they nor theirs, thrice noble Tambur

laine,

Shall want my heart to be with gladness pierc'd,
To do you honour and security.

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; 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 [Exeunt.

Zenocrate!

The first edition reads statutes, but as the Scythians worshipped Pylades and Orestes in temples, we have adopted the reading of the quarto as being most probably the correct

one.

VOL. I.

2

ACT THE SECOND.

SCENE I.

Enter CosROE, MENAPHON, ORTYGIUS, CENEUS, with other Soldiers.

Cos. Thus far are we towards Theridamas,
And valiant Tamburlaine, the man of fame,
The man that in the forehead of his fortune
Bears figures of renown and miracle.

But tell me, that hast seen him, Menaphon,
What stature wields he, and what personage?

MEN. Of stature tall, and straightly fashioned,
Like his desire lift upward and divine,

So large of limbs, his joints so strongly knit,
Such breadth of shoulders as might mainly bear
Old Atlas' burthen ;-'twixt this manly pitch,
A pearl more worth than all the world is plac'd,
Wherein by curious sovereignty of art
Are fix'd his piercing instruments of sight,
Whose fiery circles bear encompassed

A heaven of heavenly bodies in their spheres,
That guides his steps and actions to the throne,
Where honour sits invested royally:

Pale of complexion, wrought in him with passion,
Thirsting with sovereignty and love of arms;

His lofty brows in folds do figure death,

* 'Twixt this manly pitch, or height; that is, 'twixt or on such breadth of shoulders,' a pearl (his head) is placed, &c. The old editions read, "his manly pitch;" the alteration in the text, however, renders the phrase more intelligible.

And in their smoothness amity and life;
About them hangs a knot of amber hair,
Wrapped in curls, as fierce Achilles' was,
On which the breath of Heaven delights to play,
Making it dance with wanton majesty.—
His arms and fingers, long, and snowy-white,*
Betokening valour and excess of strength;-
In ev'ry part proportion'd like the man

Should make the world subdued to Tamburlaine.
Cos. Well hast thou pourtrayed in thy terms of life
The face and personage of a wond'rous 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 straight 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.,

• Thus, the octavo: the quarto has "his arms long,-bis fingers snowy white."

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 ev'ry 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 Tamburlaine.
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,
To seek revenge on me and Tamburlaine,
To whom, sweet Menaphon, direct me straight.
MEN. I will, my lord.

SCENE II.

[Exeunt

Enter MYCETES, MEANDER, with other Lords; and

Soldiers.

Myc. Come, my Meander, let us to this geer.

I tell you true, my heart is swoln with wrath
On this same thievish villain, Tamburlaine,

And on that false Cosroe, my traiterous brother.
Would it not grieve a king to be so abus'd
And have a thousand horsemen ta'en away?