The Works of Christopher Marlowe

Tamburlaine Part 1


Act: 2 Scene: 5
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.
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?
Why say Theridamas, wilt thou be a king?
What saies my other friends, wil you be kings?
Why, that's wel said Techelles, so would I,
And so would you my maisters, would you not?
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?
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.
Twil proove a pretie jest (in faith) my friends.
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?