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meteors； light； There angels in their crystal armours fight A doubtful
battle with my tempted thoughts For Egypt's freedom and the Soldan's life；
His life that so consumes Zenocrate； Whose sorrows lay more siege unto
my soul Than all my army to Damascus' walls； And neither Persia's
sovereign nor the Turk Troubled my senses with conceit of foil So much
by much as doth Zenocrate。 What is beauty； saith my sufferings； then？ If
all the pens that ever poets held Had fed the feeling of their masters'
thoughts； And every sweetness that inspir'd their hearts； Their minds； and
muses on admired themes； If all the heavenly quintessence they still
From their immortal flowers of poesy； Wherein； as in a mirror； we
perceive The highest reaches of a human wit； If these had made one
poem's period； And all combin'd in beauty's worthiness； Yet should there
hover in their restless heads One thought； one grace； one wonder； at the
least； Which into words no virtue can digest。 But how unseemly is it for
my sex； My discipline of arms and chivalry； My nature； and the terror of
my name； To harbour thoughts effeminate and faint！ Save only that in
beauty's just applause； With whose instinct the soul of man is touch'd； And
every warrior that is rapt with love Of fame； of valour； and of victory；
Must needs have beauty beat on his conceits： I thus conceiving； and
subduing both； That which hath stoop'd the chiefest of the gods； Even
from the fiery…spangled veil of heaven； To feel the lovely warmth of
shepherds' flames； And mask in cottages of strowed reeds； Shall give the
world to note； for all my birth； That virtue solely is the sum of glory； And
fashions men with true nobility。 Who's within there？ Enter
ATTENDANTS。 Hath Bajazeth been fed to…day？
ATTEND。 Ay； my lord。
TAMBURLAINE。 Bring him forth； and let us know if the town be
ransacked。 ＇Exeunt ATTENDANTS。＇
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Enter TECHELLES； THERIDAMAS； USUMCASANE； and others。
TECHELLES。 The town is ours； my lord； and fresh supply Of
conquest and of spoil is offer'd us。
TAMBURLAINE。 That's well； Techelles。 What's the news？
TECHELLES。 The Soldan and the Arabian king together March on us
with such eager violence As if there were no way but one with
us。
TAMBURLAINE。 No more there is not； I warrant thee； Techelles。
ATTENDANTS bring in BAJAZETH in his cage； followed by
ZABINA。 Exeunt ATTENDANTS。
THERIDAMAS。 We know the victory is ours； my lord； But let us save
the reverend Soldan's life For fair Zenocrate that so laments his state。
TAMBURLAINE。 That will we chiefly see unto； Theridamas； For
sweet Zenocrate； whose worthiness Deserves a conquest over every heart。…
… And now； my footstool； if I lose the field； You hope of liberty and
restitution？ Here let him stay； my masters； from the tents； Till we have
made us ready for the field。 Pray for us； Bajazeth； we are going。 ＇Exeunt
all except BAJAZETH and ZABINA。＇
BAJAZETH。 Go； never to return with victory！ Millions of men
encompass thee about； And gore thy body with as many wounds！ Sharp
forked arrows light upon thy horse！ Furies from the black Cocytus' lake；
Break up the earth； and with their fire…brands Enforce thee run upon the
baneful pikes！ Vollies of shot pierce through thy charmed skin； And every
bullet dipt in poison'd drugs！ Or roaring cannons sever all thy joints；
Making thee mount as high as eagles soar！
ZABINA。 Let all the swords and lances in the field Stick in his breast
as in their proper rooms！ At every pore let blood come dropping
forth； That lingering pains may massacre his heart； And madness send his
damned soul to hell！
BAJAZETH。 Ah； fair Zabina！ we may curse his power； The heavens
may frown； the earth for anger quake； But such a star hath influence
in his sword As rules the skies and countermands the gods More
than Cimmerian Styx or Destiny： And then shall we in this detested guise；
With shame； with hunger； and with horror stay； Griping our bowels
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with retorqued thoughts； And have no hope to end our ecstasies。
ZABINA。 Then is there left no Mahomet； no God； No fiend； no
fortune； nor no hope of end To our infamous； monstrous slaveries。 Gape；
earth； and let the fiends infernal view A hell as hopeless and as full
of fear As are the blasted banks of Erebus； Where shaking ghosts with
ever…howling groans Hover about the ugly ferryman； To get a passage to
Elysium！ Why should we live？O； wretches； beggars； slaves！
Why live we； Bajazeth； and build up nests So high within the region of the
air； By living long in this oppression； That all the world will see and laugh
to scorn The former triumphs of our mightiness In this obscure infernal
servitude？
BAJAZETH。 O life； more loathsome to my vexed thoughts
Than noisome parbreak of the Stygian snakes； Which fills the nooks
of hell with standing air； Infecting all the ghosts with cureless griefs！ O
dreary engines of my loathed sight； That see my crown； my honour； and
my name Thrust under yoke and thraldom of a thief； Why feed ye still on
day's accursed beams； And sink not quite into my tortur'd soul？ You see
my wife； my queen； and emperess； Brought up and propped by the hand of
Fame； Queen of fifteen contributory queens； Now thrown to rooms of
black abjection； Smeared with blots of basest drudgery； And
villainess to shame； disdain； and misery。 Accursed Bajazeth； whose
words of ruth； That would with pity cheer Zabina's heart； And make
our souls resolve in ceaseless tears； Sharp hunger bites upon and
gripes the root From whence the issues of my thoughts do break！ O poor
Zabina！ O my queen； my queen！ Fetch me some water for my burning
breast； To cool and comfort me with longer date； That； in the shorten'd
sequel of my life； I may pour forth my soul into thine arms With words of
love； whose moaning intercourse Hath hitherto been stay'd with wrath and
ha