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 SIGISMUND, FREDERICK, BALDWIK, and their train.

Sig.

• Now say, my lords of Buda and Bohemia,
• What motion is it that inflames your thoughts,
• And stirs your valours to such sudden arms?

Fred.

• Your majesty remembers, I am sure,
• What cruel slaughter of our Christian bloods
• These heathenish Turks and Pagans lately made,
• Betwixt the city Zula and Danubius;
• How through the midst of Varna and Bulgaria,
• And almost to the very walls of Rome,
• They have, not long since, massacred our camp.

  10

• It resteth now, then, that your majesty
• Take all advantages of time and power,
• And work revenge upon these infidels.
• Your highness knows, for Tamburlaine's repair,
• That strikes a terror to all Turkish hearts,
• Natolia hath dismissed the greatest part
• Of all his army, pitched against our power,
• Betwixt Cutheia and Orminius' mount,
• And sent them marching up to Belgasar,
• Acantha, Antioch, and Caesarea,

  20

• To aid the kings of Soria,^and Jerusalem.
• Now then, my lord, advantage take thereof,
• And issue suddenly upon the rest;
• That in the fortune of their overthrow,
• We may discourage all the pagan troop,
• That dare attempt to war with Christians.

Sig.

• But calls not then your grace to memory
• The league we lately made with King Orcanes,
• Confirmed by oath and articles of peace,
• And calling Christ for record of our truths?
• This should be treachery and violence
• Against the grace of our profession.

Bald.

• No whit, my lord, for with such infidels,
• In whom no faith nor true religion rests,
• We are not bound to those accomplishments
• The holy laws of Christendom enjoin;
• But as the faith, which they profanely plight,
• Is not by necessary policy
• To be esteemed assurance for ourselves,
• So that we vow to them should not infringe
• Our liberty of arms or victory.

Sig.

• Though I confess the oaths they undertake
• Breed little strength to our security,
• Yet those infirmities that thus defame
• Their faiths, their honours, and their religion,
• Should not give us presumption to the like.
• Our faiths are sound, and must be consummate,1 Religious, righteous, and inviolate.

Fred.

• Assure your grace 'tis superstition
• To stand so strictly on dispensive faith;

  50

• And should we lose the opportunity
• That God hath given to venge our Christians' death,
• And scourge their foul blasphemous Paganism,
• As fell to Saul, to Balaam, and the rest,
• That would not kill and curse at God's command,
• So surely will the vengeance of the Highest,
• And jealous anger of His fearful arm,
• Be poured with rigour on our sinful heads,
• If we neglect this offered victory.

Sig.

• Then arm, my lords, and issue suddenly,

  60

• Giving commandment to our general host,
• With expedition to assail the Pagan,
• And take the victory our God hath given. [Exeunt.

[1]This is Dyce's emendation for the old copies, “consmuate.”