Tamburlaine the Great — Part 2Marlowe, Christopher
History
Tamburlaine the Great — Part 2
Marlowe, Christopher
English drama; Historical drama; Timur, 1336-1405 -- Drama; Tragedies (Drama)
TAMBURLAINE. Well, now I'll make it quake.--Go draw him [274] up,
Hang him in [275] chains upon the city-walls,
And let my soldiers shoot the slave to death.
GOVERNOR. Vile monster, born of some infernal hag,
And sent from hell to tyrannize on earth,
Do all thy worst; nor death, nor Tamburlaine,
Torture, or pain, can daunt my dreadless mind.
TAMBURLAINE. Up with him, then! his body shall be scar'd. [276]
GOVERNOR. But, Tamburlaine, in Limnasphaltis' lake
There lies more gold than Babylon is worth,
Which, when the city was besieg'd, I hid:
Save but my life, and I will give it thee.
TAMBURLAINE.
Then, for all your valour, you would save your life?
Whereabout lies it?
GOVERNOR. Under a hollow bank, right opposite
Against the western gate of Babylon.
TAMBURLAINE. Go thither, some of you, and take his gold:--
[Exeunt some ATTENDANTS.]
The rest forward with execution.
Away with him hence, let him speak no more.--
I think I make your courage something quail.--
[Exeunt ATTENDANTS with the GOVERNOR or BABYLON.]
When this is done, we'll march from Babylon,
And make our greatest haste to Persia.
These jades are broken-winded and half-tir'd;
Unharness them, and let me have fresh horse.
[ATTENDANTS unharness the KINGS or TREBIZON and SORIA]
So; now their best is done to honour me,
Take them and hang them both up presently.
KING OF TREBIZON.
Vile [277] tyrant! barbarous bloody Tamburlaine!
TAMBURLAINE. Take them away, Theridamas; see them despatch'd.
THERIDAMAS. I will, my lord.
[Exit with the KINGS or TREBIZON and SORIA.]
TAMBURLAINE. Come, Asian viceroys; to your tasks a while,
And take such fortune as your fellows felt.
ORCANES. First let thy Scythian horse tear both our limbs,
Rather than we should draw thy chariot,
And, like base slaves, abject our princely minds
To vile and ignominious servitude.
KING OF JERUSALEM. Rather lend me thy weapon, Tamburlaine,
That I may sheathe it in this breast of mine.
A thousand deaths could not torment our hearts
More than the thought of this doth vex our souls.
AMYRAS.
They will talk still, my lord, if you do not bridle them.
TAMBURLAINE. Bridle them, and let me to my coach.
[ATTENDANTS bridle ORCANES king of Natolia, and the
KING OF JERUSALEM, and harness them to the chariot.--
The GOVERNOR OF BABYLON appears hanging in chains
on the walls.--Re-enter THERIDAMAS.]
AMYRAS. See, now, my lord, how brave the captain hangs!
TAMBURLAINE. 'Tis brave indeed, my boy:--well done!--
Shoot first, my lord, and then the rest shall follow.
THERIDAMAS. Then have at him, to begin withal.
[THERIDAMAS shoots at the GOVERNOR.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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