! The emp'ror of the world, and earthly god, CALL. Tell us, viceroys, the number of your men, Jer. From Palestina and Jerusalem, Orc. So from Arabia desert, and the bounds Treb. From Trebizond, in Asia the Less, Syr. Of Syrians from Halla is repair'd, 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. birth 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; 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, 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. 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. 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 |