TAMBURLAINE. Why, say, Theridamas, wilt thou be a king? THERIDAMAS. Nay, though I praise it, I can live without it. TAMBURLAINE. What say my other friends? will you be kings? TECHELLES. I, if I could, with all my heart, my lord. TAMBURLAINE. Why, that's well said, Techelles: so would I;-- And so would you, my masters, would you not? USUMCASANE. What, then, my lord? TAMBURLAINE. Why, then, Casane, [111] shall we wish for aught The world affords in greatest novelty, And rest attemptless, faint, and destitute? Methinks we should not. I am strongly mov'd, That if I should desire the Persian crown, I could attain it with a wondrous ease: And would not all our soldiers soon consent, If we should aim at such a dignity? THERIDAMAS. I know they would with our persuasions. TAMBURLAINE. Why, then, Theridamas, I'll first assay To get the Persian kingdom to myself; Then thou for Parthia; they for Scythia and Media; And, if I prosper, all shall be as sure As if the Turk, the Pope, Afric, and Greece, Came creeping to us with their crowns a-piece. [112] TECHELLES. Then shall we send to this triumphing king, And bid him battle for his novel crown? USUMCASANE. Nay, quickly, then, before his room be hot. TAMBURLAINE. 'Twill prove a pretty jest, in faith, my friends. THERIDAMAS. A jest to charge on twenty thousand men! I judge the purchase [113] more important far. TAMBURLAINE. Judge by thyself, Theridamas, not me; For presently Techelles here shall haste To bid him battle ere he pass too far, And lose more labour than the gain will quite: [114] Then shalt thou see this [115] Scythian Tamburlaine Make but a jest to win the Persian crown.-- Techelles, take a thousand horse with thee, And bid him turn him [116] back to war with us, That only made him king to make us sport: We will not steal upon him cowardly, But give him warning and [117] more warriors: Haste thee, Techelles; we will follow thee. [Exit TECHELLES.] What saith Theridamas? THERIDAMAS. Go on, for me. [Exeunt.] SCENE VI. Enter COSROE, MEANDER, ORTYGIUS, and MENAPHON, with SOLDIERS. COSROE. What means this devilish shepherd, to aspire With such a giantly presumption, To cast up hills against the face of heaven, And dare the force of angry Jupiter? But, as he thrust them underneath the hills, And press'd out fire from their burning jaws, So will I send this monstrous slave to hell, Where flames shall ever feed upon his soul.