Act 1 — Scene II.

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 hand15 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 exhalations50 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 arms85 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.

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 runaways130 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.

Ther. Where is this Scythian Tamburlaine? Tamb. Whom seek’st thou, Persian?—I am Tamburlaine. Ther. Tamburlaine!— A Scythian shepherd so embellished155 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 sphere176 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 Heaven180 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 Heavens200 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 me245 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! 260 Exeunt.