Christopher Marlowe - Tamburlaine the Great - Part 1

ORTYGIUS. In happy hour we have set the crown

Upon your kingly head, that seeks our honour

In joining with the man ordain'd by heaven

To further every action to the best.

CENEUS. He that with shepherds and a little spoil

Durst, in disdain of wrong and tyranny,

Defend his freedom 'gainst a monarchy,

What will he do supported by a king,

Leading a troop of gentlemen and lords,

And stuff'd with treasure for his highest thoughts!

COSROE. And such shall wait on worthy Tamburlaine.

Our army will be forty thousand strong,

When Tamburlaine and brave Theridamas

Have met us by the river Araris;

And all conjoin'd to meet the witless king,

That now is marching near to Parthia,

And, with unwilling soldiers faintly arm'd,

To seek revenge on me and Tamburlaine;

To whom, sweet Menaphon, direct me straight.

MENAPHON. I will, my lord.

[Exeunt.]

Enter MYCETES, MEANDER, with other LORDS; and SOLDIERS.

MYCETES. Come, my Meander, let us to this gear.

I tell you true, my heart is swoln with wrath

On this same thievish villain Tamburlaine,

And of 73 that false Cosroe, my traitorous brother.

Would it not grieve a king to be so abus'd,

And have a thousand horsemen ta'en away?

And, which is worse, 74 to have his diadem

Sought for by such scald knaves as love him not?

I think it would: well, then, by heavens I swear,

Aurora shall not peep out of her doors,

But I will have Cosroe by the head,

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 75 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 76 king,

Will quickly win such as be 77 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 78 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 79 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 80 spoils,

And more regarding gain than victory,

Like to the cruel brothers of the earth,

Sprung 81 of the teeth of 82 dragons venomous,

Their careless swords shall lance 83 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 84 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.]

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