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The emp'ror of the world, and earthly god,
Shall end the warlike progress he intends,
And travel headlong to the lake of hell,
Where legions of devils, (knowing he must die
Here, in Natolia, by your highness' hands,)
All brandishing their brands of quenchless fire,
Stretching their monstrous paws, grin with their teeth,
And guard the gates to entertain his soul.

CALL. Tell us, viceroys, the number of your men,
And what our army royal is esteem'd.

Jer. From Palestina and Jerusalem,
Of Hebrews three score thousand fighting men
Are come since last we showed to your majesty.

Orc. So from Arabia desert, and the bounds
Of that sweet land, whose brave metropolis
Re-edified the fair Semiramis,
Came forty thousand warlike foot and horse,
Since last we number'd to your majesty.

Treb. From Trebizond, in Asia the Less,
Naturaliz’d Turks and stout Bithynians
Came to my band, full fifty thousand more
(That fighting know not what retreat doth mean,
Nor e'er return but with the victory,)
Since last we number'd to your majesty.

Syr. Of Syrians from Halla is repair'd,
And neighbour cities of your highness' land,
Ten thousand horse, and thirty thousand foot,
Since last we number'd to your majesty;
So that the royal army is esteem'd
Six hundred thousand valiant fighting men.

CALL. Then welcome, Tamburlaine, unto thy

death. Come, puissant viceroys, let us to the field, (The Persians' sepulchre) and sacrifice Mountains of breathless men to Mahomet Who now, with Jove, opens the firmament To see the slaughter of our enemies. Enter TAMBURLAINE and his three Sons, USUMCA

SANE, &c. Tamb. How now, Casane? See a knot of kings, Sitting as if they were a telling riddles. Usum. My lord, your presence makes them pale

and wan: Poor souls! they look as if their deaths were near.

Tamb. And so it is, Casane; I am here ; But yet I'll save their lives, and make them slaves. Ye petty kings of Turkey, I am come, As Hector did, unto the Grecian camp, To overdare the pride of Grecia, And set his warlike person to the view Of fierce Achilles, rival of his fame: I do you honour in the simile; For if I should, as Hector did Achilles, (The)worthiest knight that ever brandish'd sword,) Challenge in combat any of you all, I see how fearfully ye would refuse, And fly my glove as from a scorpion.

Orc. Now thou art fearful of thy army's strength, Thou would'st with overmatch of person fight; But shepherd's issue, base-born Tamburlaine,

As ye

Think of thy end ! this sword shall lance thy throat.
Tamb. Villain! the shepherd's issue (at whose

birth
Heaven did afford a gracious aspect,
And join'd those stars that shall be opposite,
Even till the dissolution of the world,
And never meant to make a conqueror
So famous as is mighty Tamburlaine)
Shall so torment thee and that Callapine,
That, like a roguish runaway, suborn'd
That villain there, that slave, that Turkish dog,
To false his service to his sovereign,

shall curse the birth of Tamburlaine. Call. Rail not, vile Scythian! I shall now re

venge My father's vile abuses, and mine own.

Jer. By Mahomet ! he shall be tied in chains, Rowing with Christians in a Brigandine About the Grecian isles to rob and spoil, And turn him to his ancient trade again : Methinks the slave should make a lusty thief. CALL. Nay, when the battle ends, all we will

meet, And sit in council to invent some pain That most may vex his body and his soul. Tamb. Sirrah, Callapine! I'll hang a clog about

your Neck for running away; again you shall Not trouble me thus to come and fetch

you; But as for you, viceroys, you shall have bits,

And, harness'd like my horses, draw my coach;
And when ye stay, be lash'd with whips of wire.
I'll have you learn to feed on provender
And in a stable lie upon the planks.

ORC. But, 'Tamburlaine, first thou shalt kneel to

us,

And humbly crave a pardon for thy life.

TREB. The common soldiers of our mighty host Shall bring thee bound unto our genʼral's tent. SYR. And all have jointly sworn thy cruel death, Or bind thee in eternal torments' wrath.

TAMB. Well, sirs, diet yourselves; you know I shall

Have occasion shortly to journey you.

CEL. See, father, how Almeda the jailor looks upon us.

TAMB. Villain! traitor! damned fugitive!

I'll make thee wish the earth did swallow thee,
See'st thou not death within my wrathful looks?
Go, villain, cast thee headlong from a rock!
Or rip thy bowels, and rend out thy heart
T'appease my wrath! or else I'll torture thee,
Searing thy hateful flesh with burning irons
And drops of scalding lead, while all thy joints
Be rack'd and beat asunder with the wheel;

For, if thou liv'st, not any

element

Shall shroud thee from the wrath of Tamburlaine.

CALL. Well, in despite of thee he shall be king. Come, Almeda; receive this crown of me,

I here invest thee king of Ariadan

Bord'ring on Mare Rosso, near to Mecca.
ORC. What! Take it, man.

ALM. Good my lord, let me take it.

CALL. Dost thou ask him leave? Here; take it. TAMB. Go to, sirrah, take your crown, and make the half dozen.

up

So, sirrah, now you are a king, you must give arms. ORC. So he shall and wear thy head in his scutcheon.

TAMB. No; let him hang a bunch of keys on his standard

To put him remembrance he was a jailor, that When I take him, I may knock out his brains With them, and lock you in the stable, when you Shall come sweating from my chariot.

TREB. Away; let us to the field, that the villain may be slain.

TAMB. Sirrah, prepare whips and bring my chariot to my tent,

For as soon as the battle is done,

I'll ride in triumph through the camp.

Enter THERIDAMAS, TECHELLES, and their Train.
How now, ye petty kings? Lo, here are bugs
Will make the hair stand upright on your heads,
And cast your crowns in slavery at their feet.
Welcome, Theridamas and Techelles, both!
See

ye this rout, and know ye this same king? THER. Aye, my Lord; he was Callapine's keeper. TAM. Well, now ye see he is a king. Look to him, Theridamas, when we are fighting, lest he

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