Tamburlaine the Great, Part 1 by Christopher Marlowe (free ebook reader for iphone TXT) 📕

<155> menace] So the 8vo.—The 4to “meane.”

<156> fetch] So the 8vo.—The 4to “fetcht.”

<157> set] So the 8vo.—The 4to “seate.”

<158> Terrene] i.e. Mediterranean.

<159> to rest or breathe] So the 8vo.—The 4to “to BREATH AND REST.”

<160> bastones] i.e. bastinadoes.

<161> they] So the 8vo.—0mitted in the 4to.

<162> Morocco] Here the old eds. “Moroccus,”—a barbarism which I have not retained, because previously, in the stage-direction at the commencement of this act, p. 19, they agree in reading “Morocco.”

<163> titles] So the 8vo.—The 4to “title.”

<164> sarell] i.e. seraglio.

<165> I’ll] So the 8vo.—The 4to “I will.”

<166> the] So the 8vo.—The 4to “this.”

<167> hugy] i.e. huge.

<168> renowm’d] See note ||, p. 11.<i.e. note 52.> So the 8vo. —The 4to “renowned.”

<169> of] So the 8vo.—The 4to “all.”

<170> rule] So the 8vo.—The 4to “raigne.”

<171> braver] So the 8vo.—The 4to “braue.”

<172> pash] i.e. crush to pieces by a stroke.

<173> y-sprung] Here the old eds. “ySPRONG.”—See note �, p. 14. <i.e. note 81.>

<174> them] Old eds. “thee.”

<175> the] Has perhaps crept in by a mistake of the transcriber or printer.

<176> And make your strokes to wound the senseless light] The old eds. have,

“And make OUR strokes to wound the sencelesse LURE.”

(the last word being, perhaps, in the 8vo “lute.”) Here “light” is a very questionable reading: qy. “air”? (though the third line above ends with that word).

<177> boss] In the GENT. MAG. for Jan. 1841, J. M. proposed to alter “boss” to “Bassa.” But Cotgrave, in his DICT., has; “A fat BOSSE. Femme bien grasse et grosse; une coche.”

<178> advocate] So the 4to.—The 8vo “aduocates.”

<179> That dare, &c.] Something dropt out from this line.

<180> Re-enter Bajazeth, pursued by Tamburlaine] The old eds. have,

“Bajazeth flies, and he pursues him. The battell short [Qto. is short], and they enter, Bajazeth is ouercome.”

This not very intelligible stage-direction means perhaps that, after Bajazeth and Tamburlaine had entered, a short combat was to take place between them.

<181> foil] The old eds. “soil.”

<182> gat] So the 8vo.—The 4to “got.”

<183> pilling] i.e. plundering.

<184> British] So the 4to.—The 8vo “brightest.”

<185> martial] So the 8vo.—The 4to “materiall.”

<186> Awake, ye men of Memphis!] These words are put into the mouth of Judas, in Fletcher’s BONDUCA, at the commencement of act ii.; and in Fletcher’s WIT WITHOUT MONEY, act v. sc. 2. we find “thou man of Memphis.”

<187> basilisks] Pieces of ordnance so called. They were of immense size; see Douce’s ILLUST. OF SHAKESPEARE, i. 425.

<188> monstrous] To be read as a trisyllable.

<189> Or ever-drizzling] So the 4to.—The 8vo “Or drisling.”

<190> should] So the 4to.—The 8vo “shal.”

<191> he devil] So the 8vo.—The 4to “he THE deuill.”

<192> Arabian king] Scil. Alcidamus: see p. 10, l. 9, sec. col.

<Page 10, Second Column, Line 9, This Play: “Where her betrothed lord, Alcidamus,”>

<193> it] So the 4to.—Omitted in the 8vo.

<194> it should] So the 4to.—The 8vo “should it.”

<195> this] So the 8vo.—The 4to “it.”

<196> into] So the 4to.—The 8vo “vnto.”

<197> heart] So the 4to.—The 8vo “soul.”

<198> stoop] Qy. “stoop, STOOP”?

<199> your] Old eds. “their.”—Compare the tenth line of the speech.

<200> to] So the 8vo.—The 4to “on.”

<201> brent] i.e. burnt. So the 8vo.—The 4to “burnt.”

<202> kings] So the 8vo.—The 4to “king.”

<203> from] So the 4to.—The 8vo “in.”

<204> then, for you] So the 4to.—The 8vo “for you then.”

<205> stark nak’d] Compare (among many passages which might be cited from our early poets),—

“rather on Nilus’ mud Lay me STARK NAK’D, and let the water-flies Blow me into abhorring!” Shakespeare’s ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, act v. sc. 2. (where the modern editors print “naked.”)

<206> dignities] So the 8vo.—The 4to “dignitie.”

<207> whiles] So the 8vo.—The 4to “while.”

<208> shalt] So the 4to.—The 8vo “shal.”

<209> grace] Olds eds. “grac’d.”

<210> stature] So the 8vo.—The 4to “statue:” but again, in the SECOND PART of this play, act ii. sc. 4, we have, according to the 8vo—

“And here will I set up her STATURE.”

and, among many passages that might be cited from our early authors, compare the following;

“The STATURES huge, of Porphyrie and costlier matters made.” Warner’s ALBIONS ENGLAND, p. 303. ed. 1596.

“By them shal Isis STATURE gently stand.” Chapman’s BLIND BEGGER OF ALEXANDRIA, 1598, sig. A 3.

“Was not Anubis with his long nose of gold preferred before Neptune, whose STATURE was but brasse?” Lyly’s MIDAS, sig. A 2. ed. 1592.

<211> bird] i.e. the ibis.

<212> are] Old eds. “is.”

<213> country] Old eds. “countries.”

<214> King of Arabia] i.e. Alcidamus; see p. 10, l. 9, sec. col.

<Page 10, Second Column, Line 9, This Play: “Where her betrothed lord, Alcidamus,”>

<215> Calydonian] So the 8vo.—The 4to “Calcedonian.”

<216> lusty] So the 8vo.—Omitted in the 4to.

<217> and] So the 4to.—0mitted in the 8vo.

<218> Renowmed] See note ||. p. 11.<i.e. note 52.> So the 8vo. —The 4to “Renow<ned.”>

<219> Ibis’ holy name] The ibis has been already alluded to in the lines (p. 27, sec. col.),—

“The golden stature of their feather’d bird, That spreads her wings upon the city-walls”;

and it is well known to have been a sacred bird among the Egyptians (see Cicero DE NAT. DEORUM, I. 36). Compare the old play of THE TAMING OF A SHREW;

“Father, I SWEARE BY IBIS’ GOLDEN BEAKE, More faire and radiente is my bonie Kate Then siluer Zanthus,” &c. p. 22. ed. Shakespeare Soc.

In the passage of our text the modern editors substitute “Isis’” for “Ibis’.”

<220> the] So the 8vo.—The 4to “and.”

<221> and] So the 8vo.—Omitted in the 4to.

<222> thy baseness and] So the 8vo.—The 4to “THE basnesse OF.”

<223> mask] So the 8vo.—The 4to “walke.”

<224> My lord, &c.] Something has dropt out: qy. “TAMELY suffer”?

<225> a goodly refreshing for them] So the 8vo.—The 4to “a GOOD refreshing TO them.”

<226> Here] So the 8vo.—The 4to “there.”

<227> it from] So the 8vo.—The 4to “it VP from.”

<228> slice] So the 8vo.—The 4to “fleece.”

<229> will fall] So the 8vo.—The 4to “will NOT fall.”

<230> let] i.e. hinder.

<231> while] i.e. until.

<232> consort] i.e. band.

<233> pen] i.e. his sword.

<234> hastening] So the 4to.—The 8vo “hasting.”

<235> ‘specially] So the 8vo.—The 4to “especially.”

<236> Morocco] Here and in the next speech the old eds. have “Morocus” and “Moroccus:” but see note �, p. 22.<i.e. note 162.>

<237> plage] i.e. region.—Old eds. “place.”

<238> valour] Old eds. “value.”

<239> again] So the 8vo.—Omitted in the 4to.

<240> renowm’d] See note ||. p. 11.<i.e. note 52.> So the 8vo. —The 4to “renown’d.”

<241> Damascus] Both the old eds. here “Damasco:” but in many other places they agree in reading “Damascus.”

<242> remorse] i.e. pity.

<243> sakes] So the 8vo.—The 4to. “sake.”

<244> blubber’d] That this word formerly conveyed no ludicrous idea, appears from many passages of our early writers.

<245> And use us like a loving conqueror] “i.e. And that he will use us like, &c.” Ed. 1826.

<246> care] So the 4to.—The 8vo “cares.”

<247> helps] So the 8vo.—The 4to “help.”

<248> or] So the 8vo.—The 4to “for.”

<249> power] So the 8vo.—The 4to “powers.”

<250> knew] So the 8vo.—The 4to “know.”

<251> Reflexed] Old eds. “Reflexing.”

<252> their] Old eds. “your.”

<253> As] So the 8vo.—The 4to “And.”

<254> tents] So the 8vo.—The 4to “tent.”

<255> submission] Old eds. “submissions.”

<256> of ruth and] So the 8vo.—The 4to “AND ruth OF.”

<257> conceit] i.e. fancy, imagination.

<258> Hath] So the 4to.—The 8vo “Haue.”

<259> nourish’d] So the 8vo.—The 4to “nourish.”

<260> wish’d] So the 8vo.—The 4to “wish.”

<261> imperious] So the 8vo.—The 4to “imprecious.”

<262> passion] i.e. sorrow.

<263> resolved] i.e. dissolved.

<264> Eyes, when that Ebena steps to heaven, &c.] Either the transcriber or the printer has made sad work with this passage; nor am I able to suggest any probable emendation.

<265> fight] So the 8vo.—The 4to “fights.”

<266> Persia’s] Old eds. “Perseans,” and “Persians.”

<267> still] i.e. distil.

<268> I thus conceiving, and subduing both, That which hath stoop’d the chiefest of the gods, Even from the fiery-spangled veil of heaven, To feel the lovely warmth of shepherds’ flames, And mask in cottages of strowed reeds, &c.]

i.e. I thus feeling, and also subduing, the power of Beauty, which has drawn down the chiefest of the gods even from, &c.

The 8vo has, “I thus conceiuing and subduing both. That which hath STOPT the TEMPEST of the Gods, Euen from the fiery spangled vaile of heauen, To feele the louely warmth of shepheards flames, And MARTCH in cottages of strowed WEEDS,” &c.

The 4to has, “I thus concieuing and subduing both, That which hath STOPT the TEMPEST of the Gods, Euen from the SPANGLED FIRIE vaile of heauen, To feele the louely warmth of Shepheardes flames, And MARCH in COATCHES of strowed WEEDES,” &c.

The alterations which I have made in this corrupted passage are supported by the following lines of the play;

“See now, ye slaves, my children STOOP YOUR PRIDE [i.e. make your pride to stoop], And lead your bodies sheep-like to the sword.” Part Second,—act iv. sc. 1.

“The chiefest god, FIRST MOVER OF THAT SPHERE”, &c. Part First,—act iv. sc. 2.

“Jove SOMETIME masked IN A SHEPHERD’S WEED”, &c. Part First,—act i. sc. 2.

Perhaps in the third line of the present passage “fiery-spangled” should be “FIRE-YSPANGLED.”

<269> Attend.] Old eds. “An.” (a misprint probably), which the modern editors understand as “Anippe” (the waiting-maid of Zenocrate).

<270> March on us with] So the 4to.—The 8vo “MARTCHT on WITH vs with.”

<271> As if there were no way but one with us] i.e. as if we were to lose our lives. This phrase, which is common in our early writers, was not obsolete in Dryden’s time: “for, if he heard the malicious trumpeter proclaiming his name before his betters, he knew THERE WAS BUT ONE WAY WITH HIM.” Preface to ALL FOR LOVE.

<272> pore] So the 8vo.—The 4to “dore.”

<273> in] i.e. on.

<274> stay] Old eds. “aie” and “aye.”

<275> retorqued] i.e. bent back in reflections on our former happiness. So the 8vo.—The 4to “retortued.”

<276> A] Old eds. “As.”

<277> Elysium] Old eds. “Elisian.”

<278> thoughts] So the 8vo.—The 4to “thought.”

<279> parbreak] i.e. vomit.

<280> abjection] Old eds. “obiection.”

<281> villainess] i.e. servant, slave,

<282> ruth] So the 8vo.—The 4to “truth.”

<283> resolve] i.e. dissolve.

<284> bann’d] i.e. cursed.

<285> the] So the 4to.—The 8vo “thy.”

<286> ever-living] So the 8vo.—The 4to. “euerlasting.”

<287> give] So the 4to.—The 8vo “AND giue.”

<288> her] Must mean Zenocrate, whom Zabina fancies herself to be addressing.

<289> Let the soldiers be buried.—Hell, death, Tamburlaine] So the 8vo.—Omitted in the 4to. (Where the modern editors got their reading, “Let the soldiers be CURSED,” I know not.)

<290> Make ready my coach] Shakespeare seems to have remembered this passage when he made Ophelia say, “Come, my coach,” &c. HAMLET, act iv. sc. 5.

<291> I come, I come, I come] So the 8vo.—The 4to “I come, I come.”

<292> Egyptians’] So the 4to.—The 8vo “Egiptian.’

<293> The] Old eds. “Thy.”

<294> thy] So the 8vo.—The 4to “thine.”

<295> war] So the 8vo.—The 4to “warres.”

<296> Come] Old eds. “Comes” and “Comep.”

<297> Armed] So the 8vo.—The 4to “Armes.”

<298> final] So the 4to.—The 8vo “small.”

<299> King of Arabia] i.e. Alcidamus; see p. 10, l. 9, sec. col.

<Page 10, Second Column, Line 9, This Play: “Where her betrothed lord, Alcidamus,”>

<300> thy] So the 4to.—The 8vo “my.”

<301> conceit] i.e. fancy, imagination.

<302> have] So the 8vo.—The 4to “hath.”

<303> Euphrates] So our old poets invariably, I believe, accentuate this word. <Note: