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TAMBURLAINE。 Zenocrate； the loveliest maid alive； Fairer than
rocks of pearl and precious stone； The only paragon of Tamburlaine；
Whose eyes are brighter than the lamps of heaven； And speech more
pleasant than sweet harmony； That with thy looks canst clear the darken'd
sky； And calm the rage of thundering Jupiter； Sit down by her； adorned
with my crown； As if thou wert the empress of the world。 Stir not；
Zenocrate； until thou see Me march victoriously with all my men；
Triumphing over him and these his kings； Which I will bring as vassals to
thy feet； Till then； take thou my crown； vaunt of my worth； And manage
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words with her； as we will arms。
ZENOCRATE。 And may my love； the king of Persia； Return with
victory and free from wound！
BAJAZETH。 Now shalt thou feel the force of Turkish arms； Which
lately made all Europe quake for fear。 I have of Turks； Arabians； Moors；
and Jews； Enough to cover all Bithynia： Let thousands die； their
slaughter'd carcasses Shall serve for walls and bulwarks to the rest； And as
the heads of Hydra； so my power； Subdu'd； shall stand as mighty as before：
If they should yield their necks unto the sword； Thy soldiers' arms could
not endure to strike So many blows as I have heads for them。 Thou
know'st not； foolish…hardy Tamburlaine； What 'tis to meet me in the open
field； That leave no ground for thee to march upon。
TAMBURLAINE。 Our conquering swords shall marshal us the way
We use to march upon the slaughter'd foe； Trampling their bowels with our
horses' hoofs； Brave horses bred on the white Tartarian hills My
camp is like to Julius Caesar's host； That never fought but had the victory；
Nor in Pharsalia was there such hot war As these； my followers； willingly
would have。 Legions of spirits； fleeting in the air； Direct our bullets and
our weapons' points； And make your strokes to wound the senseless
light； And when she sees our bloody colours spread； Then Victory
begins to take her flight； Resting herself upon my milk…white tent。 But
come； my lords； to weapons let us fall； The field is ours； the Turk； his wife；
and all。 ＇Exit with his followers。＇
BAJAZETH。 Come； kings and bassoes； let us glut our swords； That
thirst to drink the feeble Persians' blood。 ＇Exit with his followers。＇
ZABINA。 Base concubine； must thou be plac'd by me That am the
empress of the mighty Turk？
ZENOCRATE。 Disdainful Turkess； and unreverend boss； Call'st
thou me concubine； that am betroth'd Unto the great and mighty
Tamburlaine？
ZABINA。 To Tamburlaine； the great Tartarian thief！
ZENOCRATE。 Thou wilt repent these lavish words of thine When thy
great basso…master and thyself Must plead for mercy at his kingly feet；
And sue to me to be your advocate。
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ZABINA。 And sue to thee！ I tell thee； shameless girl； Thou shalt be
laundress to my waiting…maid。 How lik'st thou her； Ebea？ will she serve？
EBEA。 Madam； she thinks perhaps she is too fine； But I shall turn her
into other weeds； And make her dainty fingers fall to work。
ZENOCRATE。 Hear'st thou； Anippe； how thy drudge doth talk？ And
how my slave； her mistress； menaceth？ Both for their sauciness shall be
employ'd To dress the common soldiers' meat and drink； For we will scorn
they should come near ourselves。
ANIPPE。 Yet sometimes let your highness send for them To do the
work my chambermaid disdains。 ＇They sound to the battle within。＇
ZENOCRATE。 Ye gods and powers that govern Persia； And made my
lordly love her worthy king； Now strengthen him against the Turkish
Bajazeth； And let his foes； like flocks of fearful roes Pursu'd by hunters；
fly his angry looks； That I may see him issue conqueror！
ZABINA。 Now； Mahomet； solicit God himself； And make him rain
down murdering shot from heaven； To dash the Scythians' brains； and
strike them dead； That dare to manage arms with him That offer'd
jewels to thy sacred shrine When first he warr'd against the Christians！
＇They sound again to the battle within。＇
ZENOCRATE。 By this the Turks lie weltering in their blood； And
Tamburlaine is lord of Africa。
ZABINA。 Thou art deceiv'd。 I heard the trumpets sound As when my
emperor overthrew the Greeks； And led them captive into Africa。 Straight
will I use thee as thy pride deserves； Prepare thyself to live and die my
slave。
ZENOCRATE。 If Mahomet should come from heaven and swear My
royal lord is slain or conquered； Yet should he not persuade me otherwise
But that he lives and will be conqueror。
Re…enter BAJAZETH； pursued by TAMBURLAINE。
TAMBURLAINE。 Now； king of bassoes； who is conqueror？
BAJAZETH。 Thou； by the fortune of this damned foil。
TAMBURLAINE。 Where are your stout contributory kings？
Re…enter TECHELLES； THERIDAMAS； and USUMCASANE。
TECHELLES。 We have their crowns； their bodies strow the field。
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
TAMBURLAINE。 Each man a crown！ why； kingly fought； i'faith。
Deliver them into my treasury。
ZENOCRATE。 Now let me offer to my gracious lord His royal crown
again so highly won。
TAMBURLAINE。 Nay； take the Turkish crown from her； Zenocrate；
And crown me emperor of Africa。
ZABINA。 No； Tamburlaine； though now thou gat the best； Thou
shalt not yet be lord of Africa。
THERIDAMAS。 Give her the crown； Turkess； you were best。 ＇Takes it
from her。＇
ZABINA。 Injurious villains； thieves； runagates； How dare you thus
abuse my majesty？
THERIDAMAS。 Here； madam； you are empress； she is none。 ＇Gives it
to ZENOCRATE。＇
TAMBURLAINE。 Not now； Theridamas； her time is past： The pillars；
that have bolster'd up those terms； Are faln in clusters at my conquering
feet。
ZABINA。 Though he be prisoner； he may be ransom'd。
TAMBURLAINE。 Not all the world shall ransom Bajazeth。
BAJAZETH。 Ah； fair Zabina！ we have lost the field； And never had
the Turkish emperor So great a foil by any foreign foe。 Now will the
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