The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• 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 II.

EnterMycetes, Meander, with other Lords and Soldiers.

Myc.

• Come, my Meander, let us to this gear.1
• I tell you true, my heart is swoln with wrath
• On this same thievish villain, Tamburlaine,
• And, on that false Cosroe, my traitorous brother.
• Would it not grieve a king to be so abused
• And have a thousand horsemen ta'en away?
• And, which is worse, to have his diadem
• Sought for by such scald2 knaves as love him not?
• I think it would; well then, by Heavens I swear,
• Aurora shall not peep out of her doors,

  10

• But I will have Cosroe by the head,
• And kill proud Tamburlaine with point of sword.
• Tell you the rest, Meander: I have said.

Meand.

• Then having past Armenian deserts now,
• And pitched our tents under the Georgian hills,
• Whose tops are covered 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 awhile,

  20

• They gather strength by power of fresh supplies.
• This country swarms with vile outrageous 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

  30

• 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 spials1 say,
• And as we know) remains with Tamburlaine,
• His Highness' pleasure is that he should live,
• And be reclaimed with princely lenity.

A Spy.

• A hundred horsemen of my company
• Scouting abroad upon these champion2 plains

  40

• Have viewed the army of the Scythians,
• Which make report it far exceeds the king's.

Meand.

• Suppose they be in number infinite,
• Yet being void of martial discipline,
• All running headlong after greedy1 spoils,
• And more regarding gain than victory,
• Like to the cruel brothers of the earth,
• Sprong2 of the teeth of dragons venomous,
• Their careless swords shall lanch their fellows' throats,
• And make us triumph in their overthrow.

  50

Myc.

• Was there such brethren, sweet Meander, say,
• That sprang of teeth of dragons venomous?

Meand.

• So poets say, my lord.

Myc.

• 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.

Meand.

• Then, noble soldiers, to entrap these thieves,
• That live confounded in disordered troops,

  60

• 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 scattered army is subdued,
• And you march on their slaughtered carcases,
• Share equally the gold that bought their lives,

  70

• And live like gentlemen in Persia.
• Strike up the drum! and march courageously!
• Fortune herself doth sit upon our crests.

Myc.

• He tells you true, my masters: so he does.
• Drums, why sound ye not, when Meander speaks?
• [Exeunt, drums sounding.

[1]Business. Cf. Edward II., v. 5:—“So now must I about this gear” Henry VI., 1. 4:—“Well said, my masters, and welcome all to this gear; the sooner the better.”

[2]Scurvy, low, paltry. Cf. Antony and Cleopatra, v. 2 —

• “Saucy lictors
• Will catch at us like strumpets, and scald rhymers
• Ballad us out of tune.”

[1]Espials, spies. Cf. I Henry VI., i. 4 —“The prince's spials have informed me.”

[2]The old form of “champain.”

[1]Dyce printed “greedy after spoils.”

[2]So the old copies. in the Second Part we have the spelling “sprung.” VOL. I. C