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 I.

Enter theSold AnofEgypt, Capolin, Lords, and a Messenger.

Sold.

• Awake, ye men of Memphis!1 — hear the clang
• Of Scythian trumpets! — hear the basilisks,2
• That, roaring, shake Damascus' turrets down!
• The rogue of Volga holds Zenocrate,
• The Soldan's daughter, for his concubine,
• And with a troop of thieves and vagabonds,
• Hath spread his colours to our high disgrace,
• While you, faint-hearted, base Egyptians,
• Lie slumbering on the flowery banks of Nile,
• As crocodiles that unaffrighted rest,
• While thundering cannons rattle on their skins.

Mess.

• Nay, mighty Soldan, did your greatness see
• The frowning looks of fiery Tamburlaine,
• That with his terror and imperious eyes,
• Commands the hearts of his associates,
• It might amaze your royal majesty.

Sold.

• Villain, I tell thee, were that Tamburlaine
• As monstrous1 as Gorgon prince of hell,
• The Soldan would not start a foot from him.
• But speak, what power hath he?

Mess.

• Mighty lord,

  20

• Three hundred thousand men in armour clad,
• Upon their prancing steeds disdainfully,
• With wanton paces trampling on the ground:
• Five hundred thousand footmen threatening shot,
• Shaking their swords, their spears, and iron bills,
• Environing their standard round, that stood
• As bristle-pointed as a thorny wood:
• Their warlike engines and munition
• Exceed the forces of their martial men.

Sold.

• Nay, could their numbers countervail the stars,

  30

• Or ever-drizzling2 drops of April showers,
• Or withered leaves that Autumn shaketh down,
• Yet would the Soldan by his conquering power
• So scatter and consume them in his rage,
• That not a man should3 live to rue their fall.

Capo.

• So might your highness, had you time to sort
• Your fighting men, and raise your royal host;
• But Tamburlaine, by expedition,
• Advantage takes of your unreadiness.

Sold.

• Let him take all the advantages he can,

  40

• Were all the world conspired to fight for him,
• Nay, were he devil, as he is no man,
• Yet in revenge of fair Zenocrate,
• Whom he detaineth in despite of us,
• This arm should send him down to Erebus,
• To shroud his shame in darkness of the night.

Mess.

• Pleaseth your Mightiness to understand,
• His resolution far exceedeth all.
• The first day when he pitcheth down his tents,
• White is their hue, and on his silver crest,

  50

• A snowy feather spangled white he bears,
• To signify the mildness of his mind,
• That, satiate with spoil, refuseth blood.
• But when Aurora mounts the second time
• As red as scarlet is his furniture;
• Then must his kindled wrath be quenched with blood,
• Not sparing any that can manage arms;
• But if these threats move not submission,
• Black are his colours, black pavilion;
• His spear, his shield, his horse, his armour, plumes,

  60

• And jetty feathers, menace death and hell;
• Without respect of sex, degree, or age,
• He razeth all his foes with fire and sword.

Sold.

• Merciless villain! — peasant, ignorant
• Of lawful arms or martial discipline'!
• Pillage and murder are his usual trades.
• The slave usurps the glorious name of war.
• See, Capolin, the fair Arabian king,
• That hath been disappointed by this slave
• Of my fair daughter, and his princely love,

  70

• May have fresh warning to go war with us,
• And be revenged for her disparagement.
• [Exeunt,

[1]“These words are put into the mouth of Judas in Fletcher's Bonduca, at the commencement of Act 11.; and in Fletcher's Wit without Money, v. 2, we find ‘Thou man of Memphis.’” — Dyce.

[2]Pieces of ordnance, so named from their fancied resemblance 10 the serpent.

[1]A trisyllable, of course.

[2]So 4to. — 8vo. “Or drisling drops.”

[3]So 4to. — 8vo. “shal.”