TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT. PART THE FIRST. ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I. Enter MYCETES, COSROE, MEANDER, THERIDAMAS, ORTYGIUS, CENEUS, MENAPHON, with others. Myc. Brother Cosroe, I find myself agriev'd, For it requires a great and thund'ring speech: Cos. Unhappy Persia, that in former age VOL. I. 1 Now Turks and Tartars shake their swords at thee, Meaning to mangle all thy provinces. Myc. Brother, I see your meaning well enough, And thorough your planets I perceive you think I am not wise enough to be a king, But I refer me to my noble men That know my wit, and can be witnesses. I might command you to be slain for this : Meander, might I not? Meand. Not for so small a fault, my sovereign lord. Myc. I mean it not, but yet I know I might; MEAND. Oft have I heard your Majesty complain Your Grace hath taken order by Theridamas, Myc. Full true, thou speak’st, and like thyself, my Lord, Whom I may term a Damon for thy love : Cos. It cannot choose because it comes from you. Myc. Then hear thy charge, valiant Theridamas, The chiefest 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. THER. Before the moon renew her borrow'd light, Doubt not, my Lord and gracious Sovereign, But Tamburlaine and that Tartarian rout, Shall either perish by our warlike hands, Or plead for mercy at your Highness' feet. Myc. Go, stout Theridamas, thy words are swords, - And with thy looks thou conquerest all thy foes; leave. Exit Theridamas. Ah, Menaphon, wliy stay'st thou thus behind, When other men press forward for renown? Go, Menaphon, go into Scythia ; And foot by foot follow Theridamas. Cos. Nay, pray you let him stay; a greater [task*] Fits Menaphon than warring with a thief: Create him Prorex of all Africa, That he may win the Babylonian hearts Which will revolt from Persian government, Unless they have a wiser king than you. Myc.“ Unless they have a wiser king than you." These are his words; Meander, set them down. Cos. And add this to them, that all Asia Myc. Well, here I swear by this my royal seat,- Myc. Emboss'd with silk as best beseems my state, To be reveng'd for these contemptuous words. This word, or one of similar import, has been dropped at the press. |