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Both may invest you empress of the East； And these that seem but silly
country swains May have the leading of so great an host As with their
weight shall make the mountains quake； Even as when windy exhalations；
Fighting for passage； tilt within the earth。
TECHELLES。 As princely lions； when they rouse themselves；
Stretching their paws； and threatening herds of beasts； So in his armour
looketh Tamburlaine。 Methinks I see kings kneeling at his feet； And he
with frowning brows and fiery looks Spurning their crowns from off their
captive heads。
USUMCASANE。 And making thee and me； Techelles； kings； That
even to death will follow Tamburlaine。
TAMBURLAINE。 Nobly resolv'd； sweet friends and followers！ These
lords perhaps do scorn our estimates； And think we prattle with
distemper'd spirits： But； since they measure our deserts so mean； That in
conceit bear empires on our spears； Affecting thoughts coequal with
the clouds； They shall be kept our forced followers Till with their eyes
they view us emperors。
ZENOCRATE。 The gods； defenders of the innocent。 Will never
prosper your intended drifts； That thus oppress poor friendless passengers。
Therefore at least admit us liberty； Even as thou hop'st to be eternized By
living Asia's mighty emperor。
AGYDAS。 I hope our lady's treasure and our own May serve for
ransom to our liberties： Return our mules and empty camels back； That we
may travel into Syria； Where her betrothed lord； Alcidamus； Expects the
arrival of her highness' person。
MAGNETES。 And wheresoever we repose ourselves； We will report
but well of Tamburlaine。
TAMBURLAINE。 Disdains Zenocrate to live with me？ Or you； my
lords； to be my followers？ Think you I weigh this treasure more than you？
Not all the gold in India's wealthy arms Shall buy the meanest soldier in
my train。 Zenocrate； lovelier than the love of Jove； Brighter than is the
silver Rhodope； Fairer than whitest snow on Scythian hills； Thy
person is more worth to Tamburlaine Than the possession of the Persian
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
crown； Which gracious stars have promis'd at my birth。 A hundred Tartars
shall attend on thee； Mounted on steeds swifter than Pegasus； Thy
garments shall be made of Median silk； Enchas'd with precious jewels of
mine own； More rich and valurous than Zenocrate's； With milk…white
harts upon an ivory sled Thou shalt be drawn amidst the frozen
pools； And scale the icy mountains' lofty tops； Which with thy beauty
will be soon resolv'd： My martial prizes； with five hundred men； Won
on the fifty…headed Volga's waves； Shall we all offer to Zenocrate；
And then myself to fair Zenocrate。
TECHELLES。 What now！ in love？
TAMBURLAINE。 Techelles； women must be flattered： But this is she
with whom I am in love。
Enter a SOLDIER。
SOLDIER。 News； news！
TAMBURLAINE。 How now！ what's the matter？
SOLDIER。 A thousand Persian horsemen are at hand； Sent from the
king to overcome us all。
TAMBURLAINE。 How now； my lords of Egypt； and Zenocrate！ Now
must your jewels be restor'd again； And I； that triumph'd so； be
overcome？ How say you； lordings？ is not this your hope？
AGYDAS。 We hope yourself will willingly restore them。
TAMBURLAINE。 Such hope； such fortune； have the thousand horse。
Soft ye； my lords； and sweet Zenocrate！ You must be forced from me ere
you go。 A thousand horsemen！ we five hundred foot！ An odds too great
for us to stand against。 But are they rich？ and is their armour good！
SOLDIER。 Their plumed helms are wrought with beaten gold； Their
swords enamell'd； and about their necks Hang massy chains of gold down
to the waist； In every part exceeding brave and rich。
TAMBURLAINE。 Then shall we fight courageously with them？ Or
look you I should play the orator？
TECHELLES。 No； cowards and faint…hearted runaways Look for
orations when the foe is near： Our swords shall play the orators for us。
USUMCASANE。 Come； let us meet them at the mountain…top；
And with a sudden and an hot alarum Drive all their horses headlong
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
down the hill。
TECHELLES。 Come； let us march。
TAMBURLAINE。 Stay； Techelles； ask a parle first。
The SOLDIERS enter。
Open the mails； yet guard the treasure sure： Lay out our golden
wedges to the view； That their reflections may amaze the Persians； And
look we friendly on them when they come： But； if they offer word or
violence； We'll fight； five hundred men…at…arms to one； Before we part
with our possession； And 'gainst the general we will lift our swords； And
either lance his greedy thirsting throat； Or take him prisoner； and his
chain shall serve For manacles till he be ransom'd home。
TECHELLES。 I hear them come： shall we encounter them？
TAMBURLAINE。 Keep all your standings； and not stir a foot： Myself
will bide the danger of the brunt。
Enter THERIDAMAS with others。
THERIDAMAS。 Where is this Scythian Tamburlaine？
TAMBURLAINE。 Whom seek'st thou； Persian？ I am Tamburlaine。
THERIDAMAS。 Tamburlaine！ A Scythian shepherd so embellished
With nature's pride and richest furniture！ His looks do menace heaven and
dare the gods； His fiery eyes are fix'd upon the earth； As if he now devis'd
some stratagem； Or meant to pierce Avernus' darksome vaults To pull
the triple…headed dog from hell。
TAMBURLAINE。 Noble and mild this Persian seems to be； If outward
habit judge the inward man。
TECHELLES。 His deep affections make him passionate。
TAMBURLAINE。 With what a majesty he rears his looks！ In thee；
thou valiant man of Persia； I see the folly of thy emperor。 Art thou
but captain of a thousand horse； That by characters graven in thy brows；
And by thy martial face and stout aspect； Deserv'st to have the leading of
an host？ Forsake thy king； and do but join with me； And we will triumph
over all the world： I hold the Fates bound fast in iron chains； And with my
hand turn Fortune's wheel about； And sooner shall the sun fall from his
sphere Than