Afric and Europe bord'ring on your land,
And continent to your dominions,

How eas❜ly may you, with a mighty host,
Pass into Grecia, as did Cyrus once!

And cause them to withdraw their forces home,
Lest you subdue the pride of Christendom.

Cos. But, Menaphon, what means this trumpet's
sound?

MEN. Behold, my lord, Ortygius and the rest Bringing the crown to make you emperor!

Enter ORTYGIUS and CENEUS, with others, bearing a Crown.

ORTY. Magnificent and mighty Prince Cosroe, We, in the name of other Persian states And Commons of the mighty monarchy,

Present thee with th' imperial diadem.

CEN. The warlike soldiers and the gentlemen, That heretofore have fill'd Persepolis

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,
Now living idle in the walled towns,
Wanting both pay and martial discipline,
Begin in troops to threaten civil war,
And openly exclaim against their king:
Therefore, to stop all sudden mutinies,
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
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,
We here do crown thee monarch of the East,
Emperor of Asia and of Persia ;

Great Lord of Media and Armenia ;
Duke of Africa and Albania,

Mesopotamia and of Parthia,

East India and the late discover'd isles;
Chief lord of all the vast wide Euxine Sea,
And of the ever-raging Caspian Lake.

ALL. Long live Cosroe, mighty emperor!
Cos. And Jove may never let me longer live
Than I may seek to gratify your love,
And cause the soldiers that thus honour me
To triumph over many provinces,

By whose desire of discipline in arms

I doubt not shortly but to reign sole king,
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 so near

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.

Cos. I know it well, my lord, and thank you all.
ORTY. Sound up the trumpets then-

God save the king!

SCENE II.

[Exeunt omnes.

Enter TAMBURLAINE, leading ZENOCRATE, followed by TECHELLES, USU MCASANE, AGYDAS, MAGNETES, Lords, and Soldiers, loaded 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, The mighty soldan of Egyptia.

ZENO. Ah, shepherd! pity my distressed plight, (If, as thou seem'st, thou art so mean a man,) And seek not to enrich thy followers

By lawless rapine from a silly maid,

Who travelling with these Median lords

To Memphis, from my uncle's country of Media,
Where, all my youth, I have been governed,

Have past the army of the mighty Turk,
Bearing his privy signet and his hand
To safe conduct us thorough Africa.

MAG. And since we have arrived in Scythia,

Besides rich presents from the puissant Cham,
We have his highness' letters to command
Aid and assistance, if we stand in need.

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.
But since I love to live at liberty,

As eas❜ly 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;
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
And yet a shepherd by my parentage.
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 Phoebus doth his course.
Lie here ye weeds that I disdain to wear!
This complete armour and this curtle axe
Are adjuncts more beseeming Tamburlaine.
And, madam, whatsoever you esteem
Of this success and loss unvalued,

Both may invest you empress of the East;

prove;

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

Fighting for passage, tilt within the earth.

TECH. As princely lions, when they rouse themselves,

Stretching their paws, and threatning herds of beasts, So in his armour looketh Tamburlaine.

Methinks I see kings kneeling at his feet,

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! These Lords, perhaps do scorn our estimates, And think we prattle with distempered spirits; But since they measure our deserts so mean, That in conceit bear empires on our spears, Affecting thoughts coequal with the clouds, 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. Therefore at least admit us liberty,

Even as thou hop'st to be eterniz'd,

By living Asia's mighty emperor.

AGYD. I hope our ladies' treasures and our own, May serve for ransom to our liberties :