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The Works of Christopher Marlowe

Tamburlaine Part 1

Act: 2 Scene: 5<<

[Enter] Cosroe, Tamburlaine, Theridamas, Menaphon, Meander, Oreygius , Techelles , Usumcasane, with others.

Tamburlaine

Holde thee Cosroe, weare two imperiall Crownes.

Thinke thee invested now as royally,

Even by the mighty hand of Tamburlaine,

As if as many kinges as could encompasse thee,

With greatest pompe had crown'd thee Emperour.

Cosroe

So do I thrice renowmed man at armes,

And none shall keepe the crowne but Tamburlaine:

Thee doo I make my Regent of Persea ,

And Generall Lieftenant of my Armies.

Meander, you that were our brothers Guide,

And chiefest Counsailor in all his acts,

Since he is yeelded to the stroke of War,

On your submission we with thanks excuse,

And give you equall place in our affaires.

Meander

Most happy Emperour in humblest tearms

I vow my service to your Majestie,

With utmost vertue of my faith and dutie.

Cosroe

Thanks good Meander, then Cosroe reign

And governe Persea in her former pomp:

Now send Ambassage to thy neighbor Kings,

And let them know the Persean King is chang'd:

From one that knew not what a King should do,

To one that can commaund what longs thereto:

And now we will to faire Persepolis,

With twenty thousand expert souldiers.

The Lords and Captaines of my brothers campe,

With litle slaughter take Meanders course,

And gladly yeeld them to my gracious rule:

Ortigius and Menaphon, my trustie friendes,

Now will I gratify your former good,

And grace your calling with a greater sway.

Ortygius

And as we ever aim'd at your behoofe,

And sought your state all honor it deserv'd,

So will we with our powers and our lives,

Indevor to preserve and prosper it.

Cosroe

I will not thank thee (sweet Ortigius)

Better replies shall proove my purposes.

And now Lord Tamburlaine, my brothers Campe

I leave to thee, and to Theridamas,

To follow me to faire Persepolis

Then will we march to all those Indian Mines,

My witlesse brother to the Christians lost:

And ransome them with fame and usurie.

And till thou overtake me Tamburlaine,

(Staying to order all the scattered troopes)

Farewell Lord Regent, and his happie friends,

I long to sit upon my brothers throne.

Menaphon

Your Majestie shall shortly have your wish,

And ride in triumph through Persepolis

Exeunt.

Manent Tamburlaine, Techelles, Theridamas, Usumcasane.

Tamburlaine

And ride in triumph through Persepolis ?

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?

Techelles

Omy Lord, tis sweet and full of pompe.

Usumcasane

To be a King, is halfe to be a God.

Theridamas

A God is not so glorious as a King,

I thinke the pleasure they enjoy in heaven

Can not compare with kingly joyes in earth.

To weare a Crowne enchac'd with pearle and golde,

Whose vertues carte with it life and death.

To aske, and have: commaund, and be obeied.

When looks breed love, with lookes to gaine the prize.

Such power attractive shines in princes eies.

Tamburlaine

Why say Theridamas, wilt thou be a king?

Theridamas

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

Tamburlaine

What saies my other friends, wil you be kings?

Techelles

I, if I could with all my heart my Lord.

Tamburlaine

Why, that's wel said Techelles, so would I,

And so would you my maisters, would you not?

Usumcasane

What then my Lord ?

Tamburlaine

Why then Casane ,shall we wish for ought

The world affoords in greatest noveltie,

And rest attemplesse, faint and destitute?

Me thinks we should not, I am strongly moov'd,

That if I should desire the Persean Crowne,

I could attaine it with a woondrous ease,

And would not all our souldiers soone consent,

If we should aime at such a dignitie?

Theridamas

I know they would with our perswasions.

Tamburlaine

Why then Theridamas, Ile first assay,

To get the Persean Kingdome to my selfe:

Then thou for Parthia, they for Scythia and Medea.

And if I prosper, all shall be as sure,

As if the Turke, the Pope, Affrike and Greece,

Came creeping to us with their crownes apace.

Techelles

Then shall we send to this triumphing King,

And bid him battell for his novell Crowne?

Usumcasane

Nay quickly then, before his roome be hot.

Tamburlaine

Twil proove a pretie jest (in faith) my friends.

Theridamas

A jest to chardge on twenty thousand men?

I judge the purchase more important far.

Tamburlaine

Judge by thy selfe Theridamas, not me,

For presently Techelles here shal haste,

To bid him battaile ere he passe too farre,

And lose more labor than the gaine will quight.

Then shalt thou see the Scythian Tamburlaine,

Make but a jest to win the Persean crowne.

Techelles, take a thousand horse with thee,

And bid him turne him back to war with us,

That onely made him King to make us sport.

We will not steale upon him cowardly,

But give him warning and more warriours.

Haste thee Techelles, we will follow thee.

What saith Theridamas?

Theridamas

Goe on for me.

Exeunt.

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