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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 lend it thee； Till I may see thee hemm'd with armed men；
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
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。＇
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
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； 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 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 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 at your behoof； And sought
your state all honour it deserv'd； So will we with our powers and
our 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 march to all those Indian mines My witless brother to the
Christians lost； And ransom them with fame and usury： And； till thou
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
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
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； 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；
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
and Greece； Came creeping to us with their crowns a…piece。
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 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： Then shalt thou see
this Scythian Tamburlaine Make but a jest to win the Persian
crown。 Techelles； take a thousand horse with thee； And bid him turn
him 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
more warriors： Haste thee； Techelles； we will follow thee。 ＇Exit
TECHELLES。＇ What saith Theridamas？
THERIDAMAS。 Go on； for me。 ＇Exeunt。＇
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
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 el