MYCETES. Then hear thy charge, valiant Theridamas, The chiefest [10] 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 [11] 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 [12] forward for renown? Go, Menaphon, go into Scythia, And foot by foot follow Theridamas. COSROE. Nay, pray you, [13] let him stay; a greater [task] Fits Menaphon than warring with a thief: Create him pro-rex of all [14] 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 [15] and amaz'd To hear the king thus threaten like himself!