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The Works of Christopher Marlowe

Tamburlaine Part 1

Act: 3 Scene: 2

Although it be digested long agoe,

As his exceding favours have deserv'd,

And might content the Queene of heaven as well,

As it hath chang'd my first conceiv'd disdaine.

Yet since a farther passion feeds my thoughts,

With ceaselesse and disconsolate conceits,

Which dies my lookes so livelesse as they are.

And might, if my extreams had full events,

Make me the gastly counterfeit of death.

Ah, life and soule still hover in his Breast,

And leave my body sencelesse as the earth.

Or els unite you to his life and soule,

That I may live and die with Tamburlaine.

Agidas, leave to wound me with these words:

And speake of Tamburlaine as he deserves.

The entertainment we have had of him,

Is far from villanie or servitude.

And might in noble minds be counted princely.

As looks the sun through Nilus flowing stream,

Or when the morning holds him in her armes:

So lookes my Lordly love, faire Tamburlaine .

His talke much sweeter than the Muses song,

They sung for honor gainst Pierides ,

Or when Minerva did with Neptune strive.

And higher would Ireare my estimate,

Than Juno sister to the highest God,

If I were matcht with mightie Tamburlaine.

Thence rise the tears that so distain my cheeks,

Fearing his love through my unworthynesse.

Act: 3 Scene: 3

And may my Love, the king of Persea ,

Returne with victorie, and free from wound.

Disdainful Turkesse and unreverend Bosse,

Cal'st thou me Concubine that am betroath'd

Unto the great and mighty Tamburlaine?

Thou wilt repent these lavish words of thine,

When thy great Bassoe-maister and thy selfe,

Must plead for mercie at his kingly feet,

And sue to me to be your Advocates.

Hearst thou Anippe, how thy drudge doth talk,

And how my slave, her mistresse menaceth.

Both for their sausinesse shall be employed,

To dresse the common souldiers meat and drink.

For we will scorne they should come nere our selves.

Ye Gods and powers that governe Persea,

And made my lordly Love her worthy King:

Now strengthen him against the Turkish Bajazeth,

And let his foes like flockes of fearfull Roes,

Pursude by hunters, flie his angrie lookes,

That I may see him issue Conquerour.

By this the Turks lie weltring in their blood

And Tamburlaine is Lord of Affrica.

If Mahomet should come from heaven and sweare,

My royall Lord is slaine or conquered,

Yet should he not perswade me otherwise,

But that he lives and will be Conquerour.

Now let me offer to my gracious Lord,

His royall Crowne againe, so highly won.