Tamburlaine the Great Volume I Part 5

MYCETES. O G.o.ds, is this Tamburlaine the thief?

I marvel much he stole it not away.

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

SCENE V.

Enter COSROE, TAMBURLAINE, MENAPHON, MEANDER, ORTYGIUS, THERIDAMAS, TECh.e.l.lES, USUMCASANE, with others.

TAMBURLAINE. Hold thee, Cosroe; wear two imperial crowns; Think thee invested now as royally, Even by the mighty hand of Tamburlaine, As if as many kings as could encompa.s.s thee With greatest pomp had crown'd thee emperor.

COSROE. So do I, thrice-renowmed man-at-arms; [103]

And none shall keep the crown but Tamburlaine: Thee do I make my regent of Persia, And general-lieutenant of my armies.-- Meander, you, that were our brother's guide, And chiefest [104] counsellor in all his acts, Since he is yielded to the stroke of war, On your submission we with thanks excuse, And give you equal place in our affairs.

MEANDER. Most happy [105] emperor, in humblest terms I vow my service to your majesty, With utmost virtue of my faith and duty.

COSROE. Thanks, good Meander.--Then, Cosroe, reign, And govern Persia in her former pomp.

Now send emba.s.sage to thy neighbour kings, And let them know the Persian king is chang'd, From one that knew not what a king should do, 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.

ORTYGIUS. And as we ever aim'd [106] at your behoof, And sought your state all honour it [107] deserv'd, So will we with our powers and our [108] lives Endeavour to preserve and prosper it.

COSROE. I will not thank thee, sweet Ortygius; Better replies shall prove my purposes.-- And now, Lord Tamburlaine, my brother's camp I leave to thee and to Theridamas, To follow me to fair Persepolis; Then will we [109] 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.

MEANDER. Your majesty shall shortly have your wish, And ride in triumph through Persepolis.

[Exeunt all except TAMBURLAINE, THERIDAMAS, TECh.e.l.lES, and USUMCASANE.]

TAMBURLAINE. And ride in triumph through Persepolis!-- Is it not brave to be a king, Tech.e.l.les?-- Usumcasane and Theridamas, Is it not pa.s.sing brave to be a king, And ride in triumph through Persepolis?

TECh.e.l.lES. O, my lord, it is sweet and full of pomp!

USUMCASANE. To be a king is half to be a G.o.d.

THERIDAMAS. A G.o.d is not so glorious as a king: I think the pleasure they enjoy in heaven, Cannot compare with kingly joys in [110] 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 s.h.i.+nes in princes' eyes.

TAMBURLAINE. Why, say, Theridamas, wilt thou be a king?

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

TAMBURLAINE. What say my other friends? will you be kings?

TECh.e.l.lES. I, if I could, with all my heart, my lord.

TAMBURLAINE. Why, that's well said, Tech.e.l.les: so would I;-- And so would you, my masters, would you not?

USUMCASANE. What, then, my lord?

TAMBURLAINE. Why, then, Casane, [111] shall we wish for aught The world affords in greatest novelty, And rest attemptless, faint, and dest.i.tute?

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?

THERIDAMAS. I know they would with our persuasions.

TAMBURLAINE. Why, then, Theridamas, I'll first a.s.say 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. [112]

TECh.e.l.lES. Then shall we send to this triumphing king, And bid him battle for his novel crown?

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

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

THERIDAMAS. A jest to charge on twenty thousand men!

I judge the purchase [113] more important far.

TAMBURLAINE. Judge by thyself, Theridamas, not me; For presently Tech.e.l.les here shall haste To bid him battle ere he pa.s.s too far, And lose more labour than the gain will quite: [114]

Then shalt thou see this [115] Scythian Tamburlaine Make but a jest to win the Persian crown.-- Tech.e.l.les, take a thousand horse with thee, And bid him turn him [116] 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 [117] more warriors: Haste thee, Tech.e.l.les; we will follow thee.

[Exit TECh.e.l.lES.]

What saith Theridamas?

THERIDAMAS. Go on, for me.

[Exeunt.]

SCENE VI.

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

COSROE. 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 h.e.l.l, Where flames shall ever feed upon his soul.

MEANDER. Some powers divine, or else infernal, mix'd Their angry seeds at his conception; For he was never sprung [118] of human race, Since with the spirit of his fearful pride, He dares [119] so doubtlessly resolve of rule, And by profession be ambitious.

ORTYGIUS. What G.o.d, or fiend, or spirit of the earth, Or monster turned to a manly shape, Or of what mould or mettle he be made, What star or fate [120] soever govern him, Let us put on our meet encountering minds; And, in detesting such a devilish thief, In love of honour and defence of right, Be arm'd against the hate of such a foe, Whether from earth, or h.e.l.l, or heaven he grow.

COSROE. n.o.bly resolv'd, my good Ortygius; And, since we all have suck'd one wholesome air, And with the same proportion of elements Resolve, [121] I hope we are resembled, Vowing our loves to equal death and life.

Let's cheer our soldiers to encounter him, That grievous image of ingrat.i.tude, That fiery thirster after sovereignty, And burn him in the fury of that flame That none can quench but blood and empery.

Resolve, my lords and loving soldiers, now To save your king and country from decay.

Then strike up, drum; and all the stars that make The loathsome circle of my dated life, Direct my weapon to his barbarous heart, That thus opposeth him against the G.o.ds, And scorns the powers that govern Persia!