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DRAMATIS PERSONAE。
MYCETES； king of Persia。 COSROE； his brother。 MEANDER； 》
THERIDAMAS； 》 ORTYGIUS； 》 Persian lords。 CENEUS； 》
MENAPHON； 》 TAMBURLAINE； a Scythian shepherd。 TECHELLES； 》
USUMCASANE； 》 his followers。 BAJAZETH； emperor of the Turks。
KING OF FEZ。 KING OF MOROCCO。 KING OF ARGIER。 KING OF
ARABIA。 SOLDAN OF EGYPT。 GOVERNOR OF DAMASCUS。
AGYDAS； 》 MAGNETES； 》 Median lords。 CAPOLIN； an Egyptian。
PHILEMUS； Bassoes； Lords； Citizens； Moors； Soldiers； and Attendants。
ZENOCRATE； daughter to the Soldan of Egypt。 ANIPPE； her maid。
ZABINA； wife to BAJAZETH。 EBEA； her maid。 Virgins of Damascus。
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
ACT I。
SCENE I。
Enter MYCETES； COSROE； MEANDER； THERIDAMAS；
ORTYGIUS； CENEUS； MENAPHON； with others。
MYCETES。 Brother Cosroe； I find myself agriev'd； Yet insufficient to
express the same； For it requires a great and thundering speech： Good
brother； tell the cause unto my lords； I know you have a better wit than I。
COSROE。 Unhappy Persia；that in former age Hast been the seat of
mighty conquerors； That； in their prowess and their policies； Have
triumph'd over Afric； and the bounds Of Europe where the sun dares
scarce appear For freezing meteors and congealed cold； Now to be rul'd
and govern'd by a man At whose birth…day Cynthia with Saturn join'd； And
Jove； the Sun； and Mercury denied To shed their influence in his fickle
brain！ Now Turks and Tartars shake their swords at thee； Meaning to
mangle all thy provinces。
MYCETES。 Brother； I see your meaning well enough； And
through your planets I perceive you think I am not wise enough to be a
king： But I refer me to my noblemen； That know my wit； and can be
witnesses。 I might command you to be slain for this； Meander； might I
not？
MEANDER。 Not for so small a fault； my sovereign lord。
MYCETES。 I mean it not； but yet I know I might。 Yet live； yea； live；
Mycetes wills it so。 Meander； thou； my faithful counsellor； Declare the
cause of my conceived grief； Which is； God knows； about that
Tamburlaine； That； like a fox in midst of harvest…time； Doth prey upon my
flocks of passengers； And； as I hear； doth mean to pull my plumes：
Therefore 'tis good and meet for to be wise。
MEANDER。 Oft have I heard your majesty complain Of Tamburlaine；
that sturdy Scythian thief； That robs your merchants of Persepolis Trading
by land unto the Western Isles； And in your confines with his lawless train
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
Daily commits incivil outrages； Hoping （misled by dreaming
prophecies） To reign in Asia； and with barbarous arms To make himself
the monarch of the East： But； ere he march in Asia； or display His vagrant
ensign in the Persian fields； Your grace hath taken order by Theridamas；
Charg'd with a thousand horse； to apprehend And bring him captive to
your highness' throne。
MYCETES。 Full true thou speak'st； and like thyself； my lord； Whom I
may term a Damon for thy love： Therefore 'tis best； if so it like you all； To
send my thousand horse incontinent To apprehend that paltry Scythian。
How like you this； my honourable lords？ Is it not a kingly resolution？
COSROE。 It cannot choose； because it comes from you。
MYCETES。 Then hear thy charge； valiant Theridamas； The
chiefest captain of Mycetes' host； The hope of Persia； and the very
legs Whereon our state doth lean as on a staff； That holds us up and foils
our neighbour foes： Thou shalt be leader of this thousand horse； Whose
foaming gall with rage and high disdain Have sworn the death of wicked
Tamburlaine。 Go frowning forth； but come thou smiling home； As did Sir
Paris with the Grecian dame： Return with speed； time passeth swift away；
Our life is frail； and we may die to…day。
THERIDAMAS。 Before the moon renew her borrow'd light； Doubt not；
my lord and gracious sovereign； But Tamburlaine and that Tartarian
rout Shall either perish by our warlike hands； Or plead for mercy at
your highness' feet。
MYCETES。 Go； stout Theridamas； thy words are swords； And with
thy looks thou conquerest all thy foes。 I long to see thee back return from
thence； That I may view these milk…white steeds of mine All loaden with
the heads of killed men； And； from their knees even to their hoofs below；
Besmear'd with blood that makes a dainty show。
THERIDAMAS。 Then now； my lord； I humbly take my leave。
MYCETES。 Theridamas； farewell ten thousand times。 ＇Exit
THERIDAMAS。＇ Ah； Menaphon； why stay'st thou thus behind； When
other men press forward for renown？ Go； Menaphon； go into Scythia；
And foot by foot follow Theridamas。
COSROE。 Nay； pray you； let him stay； a greater ＇task＇ Fits
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
Menaphon than warring with a thief： Create him pro…rex of all Africa；
That he may win the Babylonians' hearts； Which will revolt from Persian
government； Unless they have a wiser king than you。
MYCETES。 Unless they have a wiser king than you！ These are his
words； Meander； set them down。
COSROE。 And add this to them；that all Asia Lament to see the folly
of their king。
MYCETES。 Well； here I swear by this my royal seat
COSROE。 You may do well to kiss it； then。
MYCETES。 Emboss'd with silk as best beseems my state； To be
reveng'd for these contemptuous words！ O； where is duty and allegiance
now？ Fled to the Caspian or the Ocean main？ What shall I call thee？
brother？ no； a foe； Monster of nature； shame unto thy stock； That dar'st
presume thy sovereign for to mock！ Meander； come： I am abus'd；
Meander。 ＇Exeunt all except COSROE and MENAPHON。＇
MENAPHON。 How now； my lord！ what； mated and amaz'd To
hear the king thus threaten like himself！
COSROE。 Ah； Menaphon； I pass not for his threats！ The plot is
laid by Persian noblemen And captains of the Median garrisons To crown
me empe