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TAMBURLAINE。 ＇To his OFFICERS＇ Then fight courageously： their
crowns are yours； This hand shall set them on your conquering heads； That
made me emperor of Asia。
USUMCASANE。 Let him bring millions infinite of men； Unpeopling
Western Africa and Greece； Yet we assure us of the victory。
THERIDAMAS。 Even he； that in a trice vanquish'd two kings More
mighty than the Turkish emperor； Shall rouse him out of Europe； and
pursue His scatter'd army till they yield or die。
TAMBURLAINE。 Well said； Theridamas！ speak in that mood； For
WILL and SHALL best fitteth Tamburlaine； Whose smiling stars give him
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assured hope Of martial triumph ere he meet his foes。 I that am term'd the
scourge and wrath of God； The only fear and terror of the world； Will first
subdue the Turk； and then enlarge Those Christian captives which you
keep as slaves； Burdening their bodies with your heavy chains； And
feeding them with thin and slender fare； That naked row about the
Terrene sea； And； when they chance to rest or breathe a space；
Are punish'd with bastones so grievously That they lie
panting on the galleys' side； And strive for life at every stroke they give。
These are the cruel pirates of Argier； That damned train； the scum of
Africa； Inhabited with straggling runagates； That make quick havoc of the
Christian blood： But； as I live； that town shall curse the time That
Tamburlaine set foot in Africa。
Enter BAJAZETH； BASSOES； the KINGS OF FEZ； MOROCCO；
and ARGIER； ZABINA and EBEA。
BAJAZETH。 Bassoes and janizaries of my guard； Attend upon the
person of your lord； The greatest potentate of Africa。
TAMBURLAINE。 Techelles and the rest； prepare your swords； I mean
t' encounter with that Bajazeth。
BAJAZETH。 Kings of Fez； Morocco； and Argier； He calls me
Bajazeth； whom you call lord！ Note the presumption of this Scythian
slave！ I tell thee； villain； those that lead my horse Have to their names
titles of dignity； And dar'st thou bluntly call me Bajazeth？
TAMBURLAINE。 And know； thou Turk； that those which lead my
horse Shall lead thee captive thorough Africa； And dar'st thou bluntly call
me Tamburlaine？
BAJAZETH。 By Mahomet my kinsman's sepulchre； And by the holy
Alcoran I swear； He shall be made a chaste and lustless eunuch； And in my
sarell tend my concubines； And all his captains； that thus stoutly
stand； Shall draw the chariot of my emperess； Whom I have brought to see
their overthrow！
TAMBURLAINE。 By this my sword that conquer'd Persia； Thy fall
shall make me famous through the world！ I will not tell thee how I'll
handle thee； But every common soldier of my camp Shall smile to see thy
miserable state。
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KING OF FEZ。 What means the mighty Turkish emperor； To
talk with one so base as Tamburlaine？
KING OF MOROCCO。 Ye Moors and valiant men of Barbary。 How
can ye suffer these indignities？
KING OF ARGIER。 Leave words； and let them feel your lances' points；
Which glided through the bowels of the Greeks。
BAJAZETH。 Well said； my stout contributory kings！ Your threefold
army and my hugy host Shall swallow up these base…born Persians。
TECHELLES。 Puissant； renowm'd； and mighty Tamburlaine；
Why stay we thus prolonging of their lives？
THERIDAMAS。 I long to see those crowns won by our swords； That
we may rule as kings of Africa。
USUMCASANE。 What coward would not fight for such a prize？
TAMBURLAINE。 Fight all courageously； and be you kings： I speak it；
and my words are oracles。
BAJAZETH。 Zabina； mother of three braver boys Than
Hercules； that in his infancy Did pash the jaws of serpents
venomous； Whose hands are made to gripe a warlike lance； Their
shoulders broad for complete armour fit； Their limbs more large and of a
bigger size Than all the brats y…sprung from Typhon's loins； Who；
when they come unto their father's age； Will batter turrets with their manly
fists； Sit here upon this royal chair of state； And on thy head wear my
imperial crown； Until I bring this sturdy Tamburlaine And all his captains
bound in captive chains。
ZABINA。 Such good success happen to Bajazeth！
TAMBURLAINE。 Zenocrate； the loveliest maid alive； Fairer than
rocks of pearl and precious stone； The only paragon of Tamburlaine；
Whose eyes are brighter than the lamps of heaven； And speech more
pleasant than sweet harmony； That with thy looks canst clear the darken'd
sky； And calm the rage of thundering Jupiter； Sit down by her； adorned
with my crown； As if thou wert the empress of the world。 Stir not；
Zenocrate； until thou see Me march victoriously with all my men；
Triumphing over him and these his kings； Which I will bring as vassals to
thy feet； Till then； take thou my crown； vaunt of my worth； And manage
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words with her； as we will arms。
ZENOCRATE。 And may my love； the king of Persia； Return with
victory and free from wound！
BAJAZETH。 Now shalt thou feel the force of Turkish arms； Which
lately made all Europe quake for fear。 I have of Turks； Arabians； Moors；
and Jews； Enough to cover all Bithynia： Let thousands die； their
slaughter'd carcasses Shall serve for walls and bulwarks to the rest； And as
the heads of Hydra； so my power； Subdu'd； shall stand as mighty as before：
If they should yield their necks unto the sword； Thy soldiers' arms could
not endure to strike So many blows as I have heads for them。 Thou
know'st not； foolish…hardy Tamburlaine； What 'tis to meet me in the open
field； That leave no ground for thee to march upon。
TAMBURLAINE。 Our conquering swords shall marshal us the way
We use to march upon the slaughter'd foe； Trampling their bowels with our
horses' hoofs； Brave horses bred on the white Tartarian hills My
camp is like to Julius Caesar's host； That never fought but had the victory；
Nor in Pharsalia was there such hot war As these； my followers； willingly
would have。 Legions of spirits； fleeting in the air； Direct our bullets and
our weapons' points； And make your strokes to wound the senseless
light； And when she sees our bloody colours spread； Then Victory
begins to take her flight； Resting herself upon my milk…white tent。 But
come； my lords； to weapons let us fall； The field is ours； the Turk； his wife；
and all。 ＇Exit with his followers。＇
BAJAZETH。 Come； kings and bassoes； let us glut our swords； That
thirst to drink the feeble Persians' blood。 ＇Exit with his followers。＇
ZABINA。 Base concubine； must thou be plac'd by me That am the
empress of the mighty Turk？
ZENOCRATE。 Disdainful Turkess； and unreverend boss； Call'st
thou me concubine； that am betroth'd Unto the great and mighty
Tamburlaine？
ZABINA。 To Tamburlaine； the great Tartarian thief！
ZENOCRATE。 Thou wilt repent these lavish words of thine When thy
great basso…master and thyself Must plead for mercy at his kingly feet；
And sue to me to be your advocate。
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ZABINA。 And sue to thee！ I tell thee； shameless girl； Thou shalt be
laundress to my waiting…maid。 How lik'st thou her； Ebea？ will she serve？
EBEA。 Madam； she thinks perhaps she is too fine； But I shall turn her
into other weeds； And make her dainty fingers fall to work。
ZENOCRATE。 Hear'st thou； Anippe； how thy drudge doth talk？ And
how my slave； her mistress； menaceth？ Both for their sauciness shall be
employ'd To dress the common soldiers' meat and drink； For we will scorn
they should come near ourselves。
ANIPPE。 Yet sometimes let your highness send f