按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Whiles only danger beat upon our walls； These more than dangerous
warrants of our death Had never been erected as they be； Nor you depend
on such weak helps as we。 GOVERNOR。 Well； lovely virgins； think
our country's care； Our love of honour； loath to be enthrall'd To foreign
powers and rough imperious yokes； Would not with too much cowardice
or fear； Before all hope of rescue were denied； Submit yourselves
and us to servitude。 Therefore； in that your safeties and our own； Your
honours； liberties； and lives were weigh'd In equal care and balance with
our own； Endure as we the malice of our stars； The wrath of Tamburlaine
and power of wars； Or be the means the overweighing heavens
Have kept to qualify these hot extremes； And bring us pardon in your
cheerful looks。
58
… Page 59…
TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
SECOND VIRGIN。 Then here； before the Majesty of Heaven And
holy patrons of Aegyptia； With knees and hearts submissive we entreat
Grace to our words and pity to our looks； That this device may prove
propitious； And through the eyes and ears of Tamburlaine Convey events
of mercy to his heart； Grant that these signs of victory we yield May bind
the temples of his conquering head； To hide the folded furrows of his
brows； And shadow his displeased countenance With happy looks of ruth
and lenity。 Leave us； my lord； and loving countrymen： What simple
virgins may persuade； we will。
GOVERNOR。 Farewell； sweet virgins； on whose safe return Depends
our city； liberty； and lives。 ＇Exeunt all except the VIRGINS。＇
Enter TAMBURLAINE； all in black and very melancholy；
TECHELLES； THERIDAMAS； USUMCASANE； with others。
TAMBURLAINE。 What； are the turtles fray'd out of their nests？ Alas；
poor fools； must you be first shall feel The sworn destruction of Damascus？
They knew my custom； could they not as well Have sent ye out
when first my milk…white flags； Through which sweet Mercy threw her
gentle beams； Reflexed them on their disdainful eyes；
As now when fury and incensed hate Flings slaughtering terror
from my coal…black tents； And tells for truth submission
comes too late？
FIRST VIRGIN。 Most happy king and emperor of the earth； Image of
honour and nobility； For whom the powers divine have made the world；
And on whose throne the holy Graces sit； In whose sweet person is
compris'd the sum Of Nature's skill and heavenly majesty； Pity our plights！
O； pity poor Damascus！ Pity old age； within whose silver hairs Honour
and reverence evermore have reign'd！ Pity the marriage…bed； where many
a lord； In prime and glory of his loving joy； Embraceth now with tears of
ruth and blood The jealous body of his fearful wife； Whose cheeks
and hearts； so punish'd with conceit； To think thy puissant never…
stayed arm Will part their bodies； and prevent their souls From heavens of
comfort yet their age might bear； Now wax all pale and wither'd to the
death； As well for grief our ruthless governor Hath thus refus'd the
mercy of thy hand； （Whose sceptre angels kiss and Furies dread；） As for
59
… Page 60…
TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
their liberties； their loves； or lives！ O； then； for these； and such as we
ourselves； For us； for infants； and for all our bloods； That never
nourish'd thought against thy rule； Pity； O； pity； sacred emperor； The
prostrate service of this wretched town； And take in sign thereof this
gilded wreath； Whereto each man of rule hath given his hand； And
wish'd； as worthy subjects； happy means To be investers of thy
royal brows Even with the true Egyptian diadem！
TAMBURLAINE。 Virgins； in vain you labour to prevent That which
mine honour swears shall be perform'd。 Behold my sword； what see you at
the point？
FIRST VIRGIN。 Nothing but fear and fatal steel； my lord。
TAMBURLAINE。 Your fearful minds are thick and misty； then； For
there sits Death； there sits imperious Death； Keeping his circuit by
the slicing edge。 But I am pleas'd you shall not see him there； He now is
seated on my horsemen's spears； And on their points his fleshless body
feeds。 Techelles； straight go charge a few of them To charge these dames；
and shew my servant Death； Sitting in scarlet on their armed spears。
VIRGINS。 O； pity us！
TAMBURLAINE。 Away with them； I say； and shew them Death！ ＇The
VIRGINS are taken out by TECHELLES and others。＇ I will not spare
these proud Egyptians； Nor change my martial observations For all the
wealth of Gihon's golden waves； Or for the love of Venus； would she leave
The angry god of arms and lie with me。 They have refus'd the offer of their
lives； And know my customs are as peremptory As wrathful planets； death；
or destiny。 Re…enter TECHELLES。 What； have your horsemen shown the
virgins Death？
TECHELLES。 They have； my lord； and on Damascus' walls Have
hoisted up their slaughter'd carcasses。
TAMBURLAINE。 A sight as baneful to their souls； I think； As are
Thessalian drugs or mithridate： But go； my lords； put the rest to the sword。
＇Exeunt all except TAMBURLAINE。＇ Ah； fair Zenocrate！divine
Zenocrate！ Fair is too foul an epithet for thee； That in thy passion
for thy country's love； And fear to see thy kingly father's harm； With hair
dishevell'd wip'st thy watery cheeks； And； like to Flora in her morning's
60
… Page 61…
TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
pride； Shaking her silver tresses in the air； Rain'st on the earth
resolved pearl in showers； And sprinklest sapphires on thy shining
face； Where Beauty； mother to the Muses； sits； And comments volumes
with her ivory pen； Taking instructions from thy flowing eyes； Eyes； when
that Ebena steps to heaven； In silence of thy solemn evening's walk；
Making the mantle of the richest night； The moon； the planets； and the
meteors； light； There angels in their crystal armours fight A doubtful
ba