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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 V.

EnterCosroe, Tamburlaine, Theridamas, Menaphon, Meander, Ortygius, Techelles, Usumcasane, with others.

Tamb.

• 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 crowned thee emperor.

Cos.

• So do I, thrice renowméd 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,

  10

• And chiefest1 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.

Meand.

• Most happy emperor, in humblest terms,
• I vow my service to your majesty,
• With utmost virtue of my faith and duty.

Cos.

• Thanks, good Meander: then, Cosroe, reign,
• And govern Persia in her former pomp!
• Now send embassage to thy neighbour kings,

  20

• And let them know the Persian king is changed,
• 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,

  30

• And grace your calling with a greater sway.

Orty.

• And as we ever aimed1 at your behoof,
• And sought your state all honour it2 deserved,
• So will we with our powers and our3 lives
• Endeavour to preserve and prosper it.

Cos.

• 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.

  40

• 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 overtake me, Tamburlaine,
• (Staying to order all the scattered troops,)
• Farewell, lord regent and his happy friends!
• I long to sit upon my brother's throne.

Meand.

• Your majesty shall shortly have your wish,
• And ride in triumph through Persepolis.
• [All go Slip out but TAMB.,. TECH., THER., and USUM.

Tamb.

• “And ride in triumph through Persepolis!”

  50

• 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?”

Tech.

• O, my lord, 'tis sweet and full of pomp.

Usum.

• To be a king is half to be a god.

Ther.

• 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 enchased with pearl and gold,

  60

• Whose virtues carry with it life and death;1
• To ask and have, command and be obeyed;
• When looks breed love, with looks to gain the prize,
• Such power attractive shines in princes' eyes!

Tamb.

• Why say, Theridamas, wilt thou be a king?

Ther.

• Nay, though I praise it, I can live without it.

Tamb.

• What say my other friends? Will you be kings?

Tech.

• I, if I could, with all my heart, my lord.

Tamb.

• Why, that's well said, Techelles; so would I,
• And so would you, my masters, would you not?

  70

Usum.

• What then, my lord?

Tamb.

• Why then, Casane,1 shall we wish for aught
• The world affords in greatest novelty,
• And rest attemptless, faint, and destitute?
• Methinks we should not: I am strongly moved,
• 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?

Ther.

• I know they would with our persuasions.

  80

Tamb.

• 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, and Greece,
• Came creeping to us with their crowns apiece.2

Tech.

• Then shall we send to this triumphing king,
• And bid him battle for his novel crown?

Usum.

• Nay, quickly then, before his room be hot.

Tamb.

• 'Twill prove a pretty jest, in faith, my friends.

  90

Ther.

• A jest to charge on twenty thousand men!
• I judge the purchase3 more important far.

Tamb.

• 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 game 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 him1 back to war with us,

  100

• 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.
• What saith Theridamas?

Ther.

• Go on for me. [Exeunt.

[1]So 4t0.—8vo. “chiefe.”

[1]So 4to.—8vo. “and.”

[2]So 4to.—8vo. “is.”

[3]So 4t0.—Omitted in 8vo.

[1]Broughton compares 3 Henry VI., i. 2:—

• “Father, do but think
• How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown,
• Within whose circuit is Ehzium
• And all that poets feign of bliss and joy.”

[1]Old copies read “Casanes.”

[2]So 4to.—8vo. “apace.”

[3]“Purchase” is often found as a cant word for “thieving, filching.” Here it seems to mean an “expedition in search of plunder.”

[1]Old copies “his.”