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

Enter a MESSENGER.

MESSENGER. My lord, We have discovered the enemy Ready to charge you with a mighty army.

COSROE. Come, Tamburlaine; now whet thy winged sword, And lift thy lofty arm into<95> the clouds, That it may reach the king of Persia’s crown, And set it safe on my victorious head.

TAMBURLAINE. See where it is, the keenest curtle-axe That e’er made passage thorough Persian arms! These are the wings shall make it fly as swift As doth the lightning or the breath of heaven, And kill as sure<96> as it swiftly flies.

COSROE. Thy words assure me of kind success: Go, valiant soldier, go before, and charge The fainting army of that foolish king.

TAMBURLAINE. Usumcasane and Techelles, come: We are enow to scare the enemy, And more than needs to make an emperor. [Exeunt to the battle.]

SCENE IV.

Enter MYCETES with his crown in his hand.<97>

MYCETES. Accurs’d be he that first invented war! They knew not, ah, they knew not, simple men, How those were<98> hit by pelting cannon-shot Stand staggering<99> like a quivering aspen-leaf Fearing the force of Boreas’ boisterous blasts! In what a lamentable case were I, If nature had not given me wisdom’s lore! For kings are clouts that every man shoots at, Our crown the pin<100> that thousands seek to cleave: Therefore in policy I think it good To hide it close; a goodly stratagem, And far from any man that is a fool: So shall not I be known; or if I be, They cannot take away my crown from me. Here will I hide it in this simple hole.

Enter TAMBURLAINE.

TAMBURLAINE. What, fearful coward, straggling from the camp, When kings themselves are present in the field?

MYCETES. Thou liest.

TAMBURLAINE. Base villain, darest thou give me<101> the lie?

MYCETES. Away! I am the king; go; touch me not. Thou break’st the law of arms, unless thou kneel, And cry me “mercy, noble king!”

TAMBURLAINE. Are you the witty king of Persia?

MYCETES. Ay, marry,<102> am I: have you any suit to me?

TAMBURLAINE. I would entreat you to speak but three wise words.

MYCETES. So I can when I see my time.

TAMBURLAINE. Is this your crown?

MYCETES. Ay: didst thou ever see a fairer?

TAMBURLAINE. You will not sell it, will you?

MYCETES. Such another word, and I will have thee executed. Come, give it me.

TAMBURLAINE. No; I took it prisoner.

MYCETES. You lie; I gave it you.

TAMBURLAINE. Then ‘tis mine.

MYCETES. No; I mean I let you keep it.

TAMBURLAINE. Well, I mean you shall have it again. Here, take it for a while: I lend it thee, Till I may see thee hemm’d with armed men; Then shalt thou see me pull it from thy head: Thou art no match for mighty Tamburlaine. [Exit.]

MYCETES. O gods, 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, TECHELLES, 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 encompass 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 embassage 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, TECHELLES, and USUMCASANE.]

TAMBURLAINE. And ride in triumph through Persepolis!— Is it not brave to be a king, Techelles?— Usumcasane and Theridamas, Is it not passing brave to be a king, And ride in triumph through Persepolis?

TECHELLES. O, my lord, it is sweet and full of pomp!

USUMCASANE. To be a king is half to be a god.

THERIDAMAS. A god 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 shines 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?

TECHELLES. I, if I could, with all my heart, my lord.

TAMBURLAINE. Why, that’s well said, Techelles: 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 destitute? 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 assay 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>

TECHELLES. 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 Techelles here shall haste To bid him battle ere he pass 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.— Techelles, 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, Techelles; we will follow thee. [Exit TECHELLES.] 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 hell, 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 god, 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 hell, or heaven he grow.

COSROE. Nobly 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 ingratitude, 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 gods, And scorns the powers that govern Persia! [Exeunt, drums sounding.]

SCENE VII.

Alarms of battle within. Then enter COSROE wounded, TAMBURLAINE, THERIDAMAS, TECHELLES, USUMCASANE, with others.

COSROE. Barbarous<122> and bloody Tamburlaine, Thus to deprive me of my crown and life!— Treacherous and false Theridamas, Even at the morning of my happy state, Scarce being seated in my royal throne, To work my downfall and untimely end! An uncouth pain torments my grieved soul; And death arrests the organ of my voice, Who, entering at the breach thy sword hath made, Sacks every vein and artier<123> of my heart.— Bloody and insatiate Tamburlaine!

TAMBURLAINE. The thirst of reign and sweetness of a crown, That caus’d the eldest son of heavenly Ops To thrust his doting father from his chair, And place himself in the empyreal heaven, Mov’d me to manage arms against thy state. What better precedent than mighty Jove? Nature, that fram’d us of four elements Warring within our breasts for regiment,<124> Doth teach us all to have aspiring minds: Our souls, whose faculties can comprehend The wondrous architecture of the world, And measure every wandering planet’s course, Still climbing after knowledge infinite, And always moving as the restless spheres, Will us to wear ourselves, and never rest, Until we reach the ripest fruit<125> of all, That perfect bliss and sole felicity, The sweet fruition of an earthly crown.

THERIDAMAS. And that made me to join with Tamburlaine; For he is gross and like the massy earth That moves not upwards, nor by princely deeds Doth mean to soar above the highest sort.

TECHELLES. And that made us, the friends of Tamburlaine, To lift our swords against the Persian king.

USUMCASANE. For as, when Jove did thrust old Saturn down, Neptune and Dis gain’d each of them a crown, So do we hope to reign in Asia, If Tamburlaine be plac’d in Persia.

COSROE. The strangest men that ever nature made! I know not how to take their tyrannies. My bloodless body waxeth chill and cold, And with my blood my life slides through my wound;