Hide his crown as the foolish king of Persia did. SYR. No, Tamburlaine; he shall not be put to that exigent, I warrant thee. TAM. You know not, sir. But now, my followers and my loving friends, TECH. I smile to think how, when this field is fought ORC. No; we will meet thee, slavish Tamburlaine. [Exeunt. ACT THE FOURTH. SCENE I. Alarums.-AMYRAS and CELEBINUS issue from the tent where CALPHAS sits asleep. AMY. Now in their glories shine the golden crowns Of these proud Turks, much like so many suns That half dismay the majesty of heaven. Now, brother, follow we our father's sword, That flies with fury swifter than our thoughts, And cuts down armies with his conquering wings. AMY. Brother! Ho! what given so much to sleep, CAL. Away, ye fools! my father needs not me, Nor you in faith, but that you will be thought More childish valourous than manly wise. If half our camp should sit and sleep with me, My father were enough to scare the foe. You do dishonour to his majesty, To think our helps will do him any good. AMY. What! Dar'st thou then be absent from the field, Knowing my father hates thy cowardice, And oft hath warn'd thee to be still in field, It works remorse of conscience in me; I take no pleasure to be murderous, Nor care for blood when wine will quench my thirst. CEL. O cowardly boy! Fie! for shame come forth; Thou dost dishonour manhood and thy house. CAL. Go, go, tall stripling, fight you for us both, And take my other toward brother here, Amy. You will not go then? Amy. Were all the lofty mounts of Zona Mundi Cal. Take you the honour, I will take my ease; My wisdom shall excuse my cowardice. I go into the field before I need! [Alarums.- Amyras and Celebinus exeunt. The bullets fly at random where they list; And should I go and kill a thousand men, I were as soon rewarded with a shot, And sooner far, than he that never fights; And should I go and do no harm nor good, I might have harm which all the good I have, Join'd with my father's crown, would never cure. I will to cards. Perdicas. Perd. Here, my lord. Cal. Come thou and I will go away to cards to drive away the time. VOL. I. 10 PERD. Content, my lord: but what shall we play for? CAL. Who shall kiss the fairest of the Turk's concubines first, when my father hath conquer'd them. PERD. Agreed, i'faith. [They play. CAL. They say I am a coward, Perdicas, and I fear as little their taratantaras, their swords or their cannons as I do a naked lady in a net of gold, and, for fear I should be afraid, would put it off and come to bed with me. PERD. Such a fear, my lord, would never make ye retire. CAL. I would my father would let me be put in the front of such a battle once to try my valour. [Alarms.] What a coil they keep! I believe there will be some hurt done anon amongst them. SCENE II. [Exeunt. Enter TAMBURLAINE, THERIDAMAS, TECHELLES, USUMCASANE, AMYRAS, and CELEBINUS, lead ing the Turkish kings. TAMB. See how, ye slaves, my children, stoop your pride, And lead your bodies sheeplike to the sword. And tickle not your spirits with desire AMY. Shall we let go these kings again, my lord, To gather greater numbers 'gainst our power, [He goes in and brings him out. THER. Yet pardon him, I pray your majesty. TECH. AND USUм. Let all of us entreat your highness' pardon. TAMB. Stand by, ye base, unworthy soldiers! Know ye not yet the argument of arms? AMY. Good my lord, let him be forgiv'n for once, And we will force him to the field hereafter. TAMB. Stand up, my boys, and I will teach ye arms, And what the jealousy of wars must do. |