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And kill proud Tamburlaine with point of sword。
Tell you the rest； Meander： I have said。
MEANDER。 Then； having pass'd Armenian deserts now；
And pitch'd our tents under the Georgian hills；
Whose tops are cover'd with Tartarian thieves；
That lie in ambush； waiting for a prey；
What should we do but bid them battle straight；
And rid the world of those detested troops？
Lest； if we let them linger here a while；
They gather strength by power of fresh supplies。
This country swarms with vile outragious men
That live by rapine and by lawless spoil；
Fit soldiers for the wicked Tamburlaine；
And he that could with gifts and promises
Inveigle him that led a thousand horse；
And make him false his faith unto his king；
Will quickly win such as be like himself。
Therefore cheer up your minds； prepare to fight：
He that can take or slaughter Tamburlaine；
Shall rule the province of Albania；
Who brings that traitor's head； Theridamas；
Shall have a government in Media；
Beside the spoil of him and all his train：
But； if Cosroe （as our spials say；
And as we know） remains with Tamburlaine；
His highness' pleasure is that he should live；
And be reclaim'd with princely lenity。
Enter a SPY。
SPY。 An hundred horsemen of my company；
Scouting abroad upon these champion plains；
Have view'd the army of the Scythians；
Which make report it far exceeds the king's。
MEANDER。 Suppose they be in number infinite；
Yet being void of martial discipline；
All running headlong； greedy after spoils；
And more regarding gain than victory；
Like to the cruel brothers of the earth；
Sprung of the teeth of dragons venomous；
Their careless swords shall lance their fellows' throats；
And make us triumph in their overthrow。
MYCETES。 Was there such brethren； sweet Meander； say；
That sprung of teeth of dragons venomous？
MEANDER。 So poets say； my lord。
MYCETES。 And 'tis a pretty toy to be a poet。
Well； well； Meander； thou art deeply read；
And having thee； I have a jewel sure。
Go on； my lord； and give your charge； I say；
Thy wit will make us conquerors to…day。
MEANDER。 Then； noble soldiers； to entrap these thieves
That live confounded in disorder'd troops；
If wealth or riches may prevail with them；
We have our camels laden all with gold；
Which you that be but common soldiers
Shall fling in every corner of the field；
And； while the base…born Tartars take it up；
You； fighting more for honour than for gold；
Shall massacre those greedy…minded slaves；
And； when their scatter'd army is subdu'd；
And you march on their slaughter'd carcasses；
Share equally the gold that bought their lives；
And live like gentlemen in Persia。
Strike up the drum； and march courageously：
Fortune herself doth sit upon our crests。
MYCETES。 He tells you true； my masters； so he does。
Drums； why sound ye not when Meander speaks？
＇Exeunt； drums sounding。＇
SCENE III。
Enter COSROE； TAMBURLAINE； THERIDAMAS； TECHELLES；
USUMCASANE；
and ORTYGIUS； with others。
COSROE。 Now； worthy Tamburlaine； have I repos'd
In thy approved fortunes all my hope。
What think'st thou； man； shall come of our attempts？
For； even as from assured oracle；
I take thy doom for satisfaction。
TAMBURLAINE。 And so mistake you not a whit； my lord；
For fates and oracles ＇of＇ heaven have sworn
To royalize the deeds of Tamburlaine；
And make them blest that share in his attempts：
And doubt you not but； if you favour me；
And let my fortunes and my valour sway
To some direction in your martial deeds；
The world will strive with hosts of men…at…arms
To swarm unto the ensign I support。
The host of Xerxes； which by fame is said
To drink the mighty Parthian Araris；
Was but a handful to that we will have：
Our quivering lances； shaking in the air；
And bullets； like Jove's dreadful thunderbolts；
Enroll'd in flames and fiery smouldering mists；
Shall threat the gods more than Cyclopian wars；
And with our sun…bright armour； as we march；
We'll chase the stars from heaven； and dim their eyes
That stand and muse at our admired arms。
THERIDAMAS。 You see； my lord； what working words he hath；
But； when you see his actions top his speech；
Your speech will stay； or so extol his worth
As I shall be commended and excus'd
For turning my poor charge to his direction：
And these his two renowmed friends； my lord；
Would make one thirst and strive to be retain'd
In such a great degree of amity。
TECHELLES。 With duty and with amity we yield
Our utmost service to the fair Cosroe。
COSROE。 Which I esteem as portion of my crown。
Usumcasane and Techelles both；
When she that rules in Rhamnus' golden gates；
And makes a passage for all prosperous arms；
Shall make me solely emperor of Asia；
Then shall your meeds and valours be advanc'd
To rooms of honour and nobility。
TAMBURLAINE。 Then haste； Cosroe； to be king alone；
That I with these my friends and all my men
May triumph in our long…expected fate。
The king； your brother； is now hard at hand：
Meet with the fool； and rid your royal shoulders
Of such a burden as outweighs the sands
And all the craggy rocks of Caspia。
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 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 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。
MYCETES。 Accurs'd be he that first invented war！
They knew not； ah； they knew not； simple men；
How those were hit by pelting cannon…shot
Stand staggering 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 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 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； 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 le