Orty. In happy hour we have set the crown Upon your kingly head that seeks our honour, In joining with the man ordain'd by Heaven, To further ev'ry action to the best.

Cex. He that with shepherds and a little spoil Durst in disdain of wrong and tyranny, Defend his freedom 'gainst a monarchy, What will he do supported by a king, Leading a troop of gentlemen and lords, And stuff'd with treasure for his highest thoughts?

Cos. And such shall wait on worthy Tamburlaine. Our army will be forty thousand strong, When Tamburlaine and brave Theridamas Have met us by the river Araris; And all conjoin'd to meet the witless king, That now is marching near to Parthia, And with unwilling soldiers faintly arm’d, To seek revenge on me and Tamburlaine, To whom, sweet Menaphon, direct me straight. Men. I will, my lord.

(Exeunt.

SCENE II. Enter MYCETES, MEANDER, with other Lords ; and

Soldiers. Myc. Come, my Meander, let us to this geer. I tell you true, my heart is swoln with wrath On this same thievish villain, Tamburlaine, And on that false Cosroe, my traiterous brother. Would it not grieve a king to be so abus'd And have a thousand horsemen ta'en away?

And which is worse, to have his diadem
Sought for by such scald knaves as love him not?
I think it would; well then, by Heavens I swear,
Aurora shall not peep out of her doors,
But I will have Cosroe by the head,
And kill proud Tamburlaine with point of sword.
Tell

you the rest, Meander; I have said.
MEAND. Then having past Armenian deserts now,
And pitch'd our tents under the Georgian hills,
Whose tops are cover'd with Tartarian thieves,
That lie in ambush, waiting for a prey,
What should we do but bid them battle straight,
And rid the world of those detested troops ?
Lest, if we let them linger here awhile,
They gather strength by pow'r of fresh supplies.
This country swarms with vile outragious men
That live by rapine and by lawless spoil,
Fit soldiers for the wicked Tamburlaine;
And he that could with gifts and promises
Inveigle him that led a thousand horse,
And make him false his faith unto his king,
Will quickly win such as be like himself.
Therefore cheer

prepare to fight!
He that can take or slaughter Tamburlaine,
Shall rule the province of Albania:
Who brings that traitor's head, Theridamas,
Shall have a government in Media,
Beside the spoil of him and all his train :
But if Cosroe, (as our spials say,
And as we know) remains with Tamburlaine,

His Highness' pleasure is that he should live,
And be reclaim'd with princely lenity.

A Spy. A hundred horsemen of my company
Scouting abroad upon these champion plains
Have view'd the army of the Scythians,
Which make report it far exceeds the king's.

MEAND. Suppose they be in number infinite,
Yet being void of martial discipline,
All running headlong after greedy spoils,
And more regarding gain than victory,
Like to the cruel brothers of the earth,
Sprung of the teeth of dragons venomous,
Their careless swords shall lance their fellows' throats,
And make us triumph in their overthrow.

Myc. Was there such brethren, sweet Meander,say, That sprung of teeth of dragons venomous ?

MEAND. So poets say, my lord.

Myc. And 'tis a pretty toy to be a poet.
Well, well, Meander, thou art deeply read,
- And having thee, I have a jewel sure.

Go on, my Lord, and give your charge, I say;
Thy wit will make us conquerors to-day.
MEAND. Then, noble soldiers, to entrap these

thieves,
That live confounded in disorder'd troops,
If wealth or riches may prevail with them,
We have our camels laden all with gold,
Which

you

that be but common soldiers Shall fling in ev'ry corner of the field ; And while the base-born Tartars take it up,

You, fighting more for honour than for gold,
Shall massacre those greedy-minded slaves;
And when their scatter'd army is subdu'd,
And you march on their slaughter'd carcasses,
Share equally the gold that bought their lives,
And live like gentlemen in Persia.

Strike up the drum! and march courageously!
Fortune herself doth sit upon our crests.

Myc. He tells you true, my masters: so he does. Drums, why sound ye not, when Meander speaks? [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Enter COSROE, TAMBURLAINE, THERIDAMAS, TECHELLES, USUMCASANE and ORTYGIUS, with others.

Cos. Now, worthy Tamburlaine, have I repos'd In thy approved fortune all my hope.

What think'st thou, man, shall come of our attempts?

For e'en as from assured oracle,

I take thy doom for satisfaction.

TAMB. And so mistake you not a whit, my For fates and oracles [of] Heav'n have sworn To royalize the deeds of Tamburlaine,

Lord;

And make them blest that share in his attempts.
And doubt you not, but if you favour me,
And let my fortunes and my valour sway

To some direction in your martial deeds,
The world will strive with hosts of men at arms,
To swarm unto the ensign I support :

1

The host of Xerxes, which by fame is said
T'have drank the mighty Parthian Araris,
Was but a handful to that we will have.
Our quiv'ring lances, shaking in the air,
And bullets, like Jove's dreadful thunderbolts,
Enroll'd in flames and fiery smould'ring mists,
Shall threat the gods more than Cyclopian wars:
And with our sun-bright armour as we march,
We'll chase the stars from heaven and dim their eyes
That stand and muse at our admired arms.

THER. You see, my Lord, what working words he
hath;

But when you see his actions stop his speech,
Your speech will stay or so extol his worth
As I shall be commended, and excus'd
For turning my poor charge to his direction.
And these his two renowned friends, my lord,
Would make one thrust and strive to be retain❜d
In such a great degree of amity.

TECH. With duty and with amity we yield
Our utmost service to the fair Cosroe.

Cos. Usumcasane and Techelles both,
When she* that rules in Rhamnus' golden gates,
And makes a passage for all prosp❜rous arms,
Shall make me solely emperor of Asia,

Then shall your meeds and valours be advanc'd
To rooms of honour and nobility.

TAMB. Then haste, Cosroe, to be king alone,
That I with these, my friends, and all my men