Tamburlaine the Great — Part 1Marlowe, Christopher
General
Tamburlaine the Great — Part 1
Marlowe, Christopher
English drama; Historical drama; Timur, 1336-1405 -- Drama; Tragedies (Drama)
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 [179] 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. [180]
TAMBURLAINE. Now, king of bassoes, who is conqueror?
BAJAZETH. Thou, by the fortune of this damned foil. [181]
TAMBURLAINE. Where are your stout contributory kings?
Re-enter TECHELLES, THERIDAMAS, and USUMCASANE.
TECHELLES. We have their crowns; their bodies strow the field.
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 [182] 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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