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The Works of Christopher Marlowe

Tamburlaine Part 1

Act: 4 Scene: 3

Renowmed Souldane, have ye lately heard

The overthrow of mightie Bajazeth,

About the confines of Bythinia?

The slaverie wherewith he persecutes

The noble Turke and his great Emperesse?

Let griefe and furie hasten on revenge,

Let Tamburlaine for his offences feele

Such plagues as heaven and we can poure on him.

I long to breake my speare upon his crest,

And proove the weight of his victorious arme:

For Fame I feare hath bene too prodigall,

In sounding through the world his partiall praise.

My mind presageth fortunate successe,

And Tamburlaine, my spirit doth foresee

The utter ruine of thy men and thee.

Act: 5 Scene: 1

What cursed power guides the murthering hands,

Of this infamous Tyrants souldiers,

That no escape may save their enemies:

Nor fortune keep them selves from victory.

Lye down Arabia, wounded to the death,

And let Zenocrates faire eies beholde

That as for her thou bearst these wretched armes,

Even so for her thou diest in these armes:

Leaving thy blood for witnesse of thy love.

Then shal I die with full contented heart,

Having beheld devine Zenocrate,

Whose sight with joy would take away my life,

As now it bringeth sweemesse to my wound,

If I had not bin wounded as I am.

Ah that the deadly panges I suffer now,

Would lend an howers license to my tongue:

To make discourse of some sweet accidents

Have chanc'd thy merits in this worthies bondage.

And that I might be privy to the state,

Of thy deserv'd contentment and thy love:

But making now a vertue of thy sight,

To drive all sorrow from my fainting soule:

Since Death denies me further cause of joy,

Depriv'd of care, my heart with comfort dies,

Since thy desired hand shall close mine eies.