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The Works of Christopher Marlowe

Tamburlaine Part 1

Act: 1 Scene: 1

Unhappie Persea, that in former age

Hast bene the seat of mightie Conquerors,

That in their prowesse and their pollicies,

Have triumpht over Affrike , and the bounds

Of Europe wher the Sun dares scarce appeare,

For freezing meteors and conjealed colde:

Now to be rulde and governed by a man,

At whose byrth-day Cynthia with Saturne joinde,

And Jove, the Sun, and Mercurie denied

To shed their influence in his fickle braine,

Now Turkes and Tartars shake their swords at thee,

Meaning to mangle all thy Provinces.

It cannot choose, because it comes from you.

Nay, pray you let him stay, a greater task

Fits Menaphon, than warring with a Thiefe:

Create him Prorex of Assiria ,

That he may win the Babylonians hearts,

Which will revolt from Persean government,

Unlesse they have a wiser king than you.

And ad this to them, that all Asia

Lament to see the follie of their King.

You may doe well to kisse it then.

Ah Menaphon, I passe not for his threates,

The plot is laid by Persean Noble men,

And Captaines of the Medean garrisons,

To crowne me Emperour of Asia .

But this it is that doth excruciate

The verie substance of my vexed soule:

To see our neighbours that were woont to quake

And tremble at the Persean Monarkes name,

Now sits and laughs our regiment to scorne:

And that which might resolve me into teares,

Men from the farthest Equinoctiall line,

Have swarm'd in troopes into the Easterne India:

Lading their shippes with golde and pretious stones:

And made their spoiles from all our provinces.

But Menaphon , what means this trumpets sound?

Wel, since I see the state of Persea droope,

And languish in my brothers government:

I willingly receive th'emperiall crowne,

And vow to weare it for my countries good:

In spight of them shall malice my estate.

And Jove may never let me longer live,

Then I may seeke to gratifie your love,

And cause the souldiers that thus honour me,

To triumph over many Provinces.

By whose desires of discipline in Armes,

I doubt not shortly but to raigne sole king,

And with the Armie of Theridamas,

Whether we presently will flie (my Lords)

To rest secure against my brothers force.

I know it wel my Lord, and thanke you all.