The Works of Christopher Marlowe

Tamburlaine Part 1

Act: 1 Scene: 1
Theridamas
Before the Moone renew her borrowed light,
Doubt not my Lord and gratious Soveraigne,
But Tamburlaine, and that Tartarian rout,
Shall either perish by our warlike hands,
Or plead for mercie at your highnesse feet.
Theridamas
Then now my Lord, I humbly take my leave.
Act: 1 Scene: 2
Theridamas
Where is this Scythian Tamburlaine?
Theridamas
Tamburlaine? [Aside.]
A Scythian Shepheard, so imbellished
With Natures pride, and richest furniture?
His looks do menace heaven and dare the Gods,
His fierie eies are fixt upon the earth,
As if he now devis'd some Stratageme:
Or meant to pierce Avernus darksome vaults,
And pull the triple headed dog from hell.
Theridamas
Not Hermes Prolocutor to the Gods,
Could use perswasions more patheticall.
Theridamas
What stronge enchantments tice my yeelding soule?
Are these resolved noble scythians?
But shall I proove a Traitor to my King?
Theridamas
Won with thy words, and conquered with thy looks,
I yeeld my selfe, my men and horse tothee:
To be partaker of thy good or ill,
As long as life maintaines Theridamas.
Theridamas
Nor thee, nor them, thrice noble Tamburlaine ,
Shal want my heart to be with gladnes pierc'd
To do you honor and securitie.
Act: 2 Scene: 3
Theridamas
You see my Lord, what woorking woordes he hath
But when you see his actions top his speech,
Your speech will stay, or so extol his worth,
As I shall be commended and excusde
For turning my poore charge to his direction.
And these his two renowmed friends my Lord,
Would make one thrust and strive to be retain'd
In such a great degree of amitie.
Act: 2 Scene: 5
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.
Theridamas
Nay, though I praise it, I can live without it.
Theridamas
I know they would with our perswasions.
Theridamas
A jest to chardge on twenty thousand men?
I judge the purchase more important far.
Theridamas
Goe on for me.
Act: 2 Scene: 7
Theridamas
And that made me to joine with Tamburlain,
For he is grosse and like the massie earth,
That mooves not upwards, nor by princely deeds
Doth meane to soare above the highest sort.
All
Tamburlaine, Tamburlaine.
All
Long live Tamburlaine, and raigne in Asia.
Act: 3 Scene: 3
Theridamas
Even he that in a trice vanquisht two kings,
More mighty than the Turkish Emperour:
Shall rouse him out of Europe , and pursue
His scattered armie til they yeeld or die.
Theridamas
I long to see those crownes won by our swords,
That we may raigne as kings of Affrica .
Theridamas
Give her the Crowne Turkesse, you wer best.
Theridamas
Here Madam, you are Empresse, she is none.
Act: 4 Scene: 2
Theridamas
Your tentes of white now pitch'd before the gates
And gentle flags of amitie displaid.
I doubt not but the Governour will yeeld,
Offering Damascus to your Majesty.
Act: 4 Scene: 4
Theridamas
But if his highnesse would let them be fed, it would doe them more good.
Theridamas
He stamps it under his feet my Lord.
Theridamas
Doost thou think that Mahomet wil suffer this?
Theridamas
Me thinks, tis a great deale better than a consort of musicke.
Theridamas
So it would my lord, specially having so smal a walke, and so litle exercise.
Theridamas
I (my Lord) but none save kinges must feede with these.
Theridames
And since your highnesse hath so well vouchsaft,
If we deserve them not with higher meeds
Then erst our states and actions have retain'd,
Take them away againe and make us slaves.
Act: 5 Scene: 1
Omnes
Opitie us.
Theridamas
We know the victorie is ours my Lord,
But let us save the reverend Souldans life,
For faire Zenocrate, that so laments his state.
Theridamas
Then let us set the crowne upon her head,
That long hath lingred for so high a seat.