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.

CALLAPINE with ALMEDA, his Keeper, discovered. Call. Sweet Almeda, pity the ruthful plight

• Of Callapine, the son of Bajazeth,
• Born to be monarch of the western world,
• Yet here detained by cruel Tamburlaine.

Aim.

• My lord, I pity it, and with all my heart
• Wish you release; but he whose wrath is death,
• My sovereign lord, renowmid Tamburlaine,
• Forbids you farther liberty than this.

Call.

• Ah, were I now but half so eloquent
• To paint in words what I'll perform in deeds,

  10

• I know thou would'st depart from hence with me.

Aim.

• Not for all Afric: therefore move me not.

Call.

• Yet hear rne speak, my gentle Almeda.

Aim.

• No speech to that end, by your favour, sir.

Call.

• By Cairo1 runs

Aim.

• No talk of running, I tell you, sir.

Call.

• A little farther, gentle Almeda.

Aim.

• Well, sir, what of this?

Call.

• By Cairo runs to Alexandria bay Darote's streams, wherein at2
• A Turkish galley of my royal fleet,
• Waiting my coming to the river side,
• Hoping by some means I shall be released,
• Which, when I come aboard, will hoist up sail,
• And soon put forth into the Terrene sea,
• Where, 'twixt the isles of Cyprus and of Crete
• We quickly may in Turkish seas arrive.
• Then shalt thou see a hundred kings and more,
• Upon their knees, all bid me welcome home.
• Amongst so many crowns of burnished gold,

  30

• Choose which thou wilt, all are at thy command;
• A thousand galleys, manned with Christian slaves,
• I freely give thee, which shall cut the straits,
• And bring armados from1 the coasts of Spain
• Fraughted with gold of rich America;
• The Grecian virgins shall attend on thee,
• Skilful in music and in amorous lays,
• As fair as was Pygmalion's ivory girl
• Or lovely lo metamorphosid.
• With naked negroes shall thy coach be drawn,

  40

• And as thou rid'st in triumph through the streets
• The pavement underneath thy chariot wheels
• With Turkey carpets shall be covered,
• And cloth of Arras hung about the walls,
• Fit objects for thy princely eye to pierce.
• A hundred bassoes, clothed in crimson silk,
• Shall ride before thee on Barbarian steeds;
• And when thou goest, a golden canopy
• Enchased with precious stones, which shine as
• bright
• As that fair veil that covers all the world,

  50

• When Phoebus, leaping from the hemisphere,
• Descendeth downward to the antipodes,—
• And more than this—for all I cannot tell.

Aim.

• How far hence lies the galley, say you?

Call.

• Sweet Almeda, scarce half a league from hence.

Aim.

• But need2 we not be spied going aboard ?

Call.

• Betwixt the hollow hanging of a hill,
• And crooked bending of a craggy rock,
• The sails wrapt up, the mast and tacklings down,
• She lies so close that none can find her out

  60

Aim.

• I like that well: but tell me, my lord, if I should let you go, would you be as good as your word? shall I be made a king for my labour?

Call.

• As I am Callapine the emperor,
• And by the hand of Mahomet I swear
• Thou shalt be crowned a king, and be my mate.

Aim.

• Then hear I swear, as I am Almeda
• Your keeper under Tamburlaine the Great,
• (For that's the style and title I have yet,)
• Although he sent a thousand armed men

  70

• To intercept this haughty enterprise,
• Yet would I venture to conduct your grace,
• And die before I brought you back again.

Call.

• Thanks, gentle Almeda; then let us haste.
• Lest time be past, and lingering let us both.

Aim.

• When you will, my lord; I am ready.

Call.

• Even straight; and farewell, cursèd Tamburlaine.
• Now go I to revenge my father's death.
• [Exeunt.

[1]Oldcopies, “Cario “(which I take to be a mispnnt, not a recognised form like Cairon in scene I,

[2]So 410.—8vo. “an.”

[2]i.e.can we escape being spied