The Online Library of Liberty

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• Preface
• Publisher's Notice
• Introduction
• Tamburlaine the Great. In Two Parts.
• Tamburlaine the Great, Part Tbe First.
• The Prologue.
• Persons Represented. 1
• Tamburlaine the Great. Part the First.: Act the First.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Act the Second.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• Scene VII.
• Act the Third.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Act the Fourth.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Act the Fifth.
• Scene I.
• Tamburlaine the Great. Part the Second
• Prologue.
• Persons Represented.
• Tamburlaine the Great. Part the Second: Act the First.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene II.
• Act the Second.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Act the Third.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Act the Fourth.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Act the Fifth.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus.
• Persons Represented.
• The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI. 1
• Scene VII.
• Scene VIII.
• Scene IX.
• Scene X.
• Scene XI.
• Scene XII.
• Scene XIII.
• Scene XIV.
• Scene XV.
• Scene XVI.
• Appendix to Dr. Faustus.
• Ballad of Faustus.

SCENE I.

EnterCosroe, Menaphon, Ortvgius, Ceneus, with other Soldiers.

Cos.

• Thus far are we towards Theridamas,
• And valiant Tamburlaine, the man of fame,
• The man that in the forehead of his fortune
• Bears figures of renown and miracle.
• But tell me, that hast seen him, Menaphon,
• What stature wields he, and what personage?

Men.

• Of stature tall, and straightly fashionéd,
• Like his desire lift upward and divine,
• So large of limbs, his joints so strongly knit,
• Such breadth of shoulders as might mainly bear

  10

• Old Atlas' burthen;—'twixt his manly pitch,1
• A pearl, more worth than all the world, is placed,
• Wherein by curious sovereignty of art
• Are fixed his piercing instruments of sight,
• Whose fiery circles bear encompasséd
• A heaven of heavenly bodies in their spheres,
• That guides his steps and actions to the throne,
• Where honour sits invested royally:
• Pale of complexion, wrought m him with passion,
• Thirsting with sovereignty and1 love of arms;

  20

• His lofty brows in folds do figure death,
• And in their smoothness amity and life;
• About them hangs a knot of amber hair,
• Wrapped in curls, as fierce Achilles' was,
• On which the breath of Heaven delights to play,
• Making it dance with wanton majesty.—
• His arms and fingers, long, and sinewy,2
• Betokening valour and excess of strength;—
• In every part proportioned like the man
• Should make the world subdued to Tamburlaine.

  30

Cos.

• Well hast thou pourtrayed in thy terms of life
• The face and personage of a wondrous man;
• Nature3 doth strive with Fortune and his stars
• To make him famous in accomplished worth;
• And well his merits show him to be made
• His fortune's master and the king of men,
• That could persuade at such a sudden pinch,
• With reasons of his valour and his life,
• A thousand sworn and overmatching foes.
• Then, when our powers in points of swords are joined

  40

• And closed in compass of the killing bullet,
• Though strait the passage and the port1 be made
• That leads to palace of my brother's life,
• Proud is his fortune if we pierce it not.
• And when the princely Persian diadem
• Shall overweigh his weary witless head,
• And fall like mellowed fruit with shakes of death,
• In fair Persia, noble Tamburlaine
• Shall be my regent and remain as king.

Orty.

• In happy hour we have set the crown

  50

• Upon your kingly head that seeks our honour,
• In joining with the man ordained by Heaven,
• To further every action to the best.

Cen.

• 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 stuffed with treasure for his highest thoughts!

Cos.

• And such shall wait on worthy Tamburlaine.

  60

• Our army will be forty thousand strong,
• When Tamburlaine and brave Theridamas
• Have met us by the river Araris;
• And all conjoined to meet the witless king,
• That now is marching near to Parthia,
• And with unwilling soldiers faintly armed,
• To seek revenge on me and Tamburlaine,
• To whom, sweet Menaphon, direct me straight.

Men.

• I will, my lord. [Exeunt.

[1]Originally the height to which a falcon soared; hence for height in general. Here it means the shoulders.

[1]So 4to.—8vo. “with.”

[2]This is Dyce's emendation for the 8vo.'s “snowy.” The 4to. reads:—“His armes long, his fingers snowy-white.”

[3]Dyce suggests that Shakespeare had this line in his mind when he wrote,—“Nature and Fortune jom'd to make thee great,”—King John, III. I. But the form of expression is common.

[1]Gate.