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！
bullets； like Jove's dreadful thunderbolts； Enroll'd in flames and fiery
smouldering 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。
THERIDAMAS。 You see； my lord； what working words he hath； But；
when you see his actions top 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 renowmed friends； my lord；
Would make one thirst and strive to be retain'd In such a great degree
of amity。
TECHELLES。 With duty and with amity we yield Our utmost
service to the fair Cosroe。
COSROE。 Which I esteem as portion of my crown。 Usumcasane and
Techelles both； When she that rules in Rhamnus' golden gates；
And makes a passage for all prosperous arms； Shall make me solely
emperor of Asia； Then shall your meeds and valours be advanc'd To
rooms of honour and nobility。
TAMBURLAINE。 Then haste； Cosroe； to be king alone； That I with
these my friends and all my men May triumph in our long…expected fate。
22
… Page 23…
TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
The king； your brother； is now hard at hand： Meet with the fool； and rid
your royal shoulders Of such a burden as outweighs the sands And all the
craggy rocks of Caspia。
Enter a MESSENGER。
MESSENGER。 My lord； We have discovered the enemy Ready to
charge you with a mighty army。
COSROE。 Come； Tamburlaine； now whet thy winged sword； And lift
thy lofty arm into the clouds； That it may reach the king of Persia's
crown； And set it safe on my victorious head。
TAMBURLAINE。 See where it is； the keenest curtle…axe That e'er
made passage thorough Persian arms！ These are the wings shall make it
fly as swift As doth the lightning or the breath of heaven； And kill as
sure as it swiftly flies。
COSROE。 Thy words assure me of kind success： Go； valiant soldier；
go before； and charge The fainting army of that foolish king。
TAMBURLAINE。 Usumcasane and Techelles； come： We are enow to
scare the enemy； And more than needs to make an emperor。 ＇Exeunt to the
battle。＇
23
… Page 24…
TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
SCENE IV。
Enter MYCETES with his crown in his hand。
MYCETES。 Accurs'd be he that first invented war！ They knew not； ah；
they knew not； simple men； How those were hit by pelting cannon…
shot Stand staggering like a quivering aspen…leaf Fearing the force of
Boreas' boisterous blasts！ In what a lamentable case were I； If nature had
not given me wisdom's lore！ For kings are clouts that every man shoots at；
Our crown the pin that thousands seek to cleave： Therefore in
policy I think it good To hide it close； a goodly stratagem； And far from
any man that is a fool： So shall not I be known； or if I be； They cannot
take away my crown from me。 Here will I hide it in this simple hole。
Enter TAMBURLAINE。
TAMBURLAINE。 What； fearful coward； straggling from the camp；
When kings themselves are present in the field？
MYCETES。 Thou liest。
TAMBURLAINE。 Base villain； darest thou give me the lie？
MYCETES。 Away！ I am the king； go； touch me not。 Thou break'st the
law of arms； unless thou kneel； And cry me 〃mercy； noble king！〃
TAMBURLAINE。 Are you the witty king of Persia？
MYCETES。 Ay； marry； am I： have you any suit to me？
TAMBURLAINE。 I would entreat you to speak but three wise words。
MYCETES。 So I can when I see my time。
TAMBURLAINE。 Is this your crown？
MYCETES。 Ay： didst thou ever see a fairer？
TAMBURLAINE。 You will not sell it； will you？
MYCETES。 Such another word； and I will have thee executed。 Come；
give it me。
TAMBURLAINE。 No； I took it prisoner。
MYCETES。 You lie； I gave it you。
TAMBURLAINE。 Then 'tis mine。
MYCETES。 No； I mean I let you keep it。
TAMBURLAINE。 Well； I mean you shall have it again。 Here； take it
for a while： I lend it thee； Till I may see thee hemm'd with armed men；
24
… Page 25…
TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
Then shalt thou see me pull it from thy head： Thou art no match for
mighty Tamburlaine。 ＇Exit。＇
MYCETES。 O gods； is this Tamburlaine the thief？ I marvel much he
stole it not away。 ＇Trumpets within sound to the battle： he runs out。＇
25
… Page 26…
TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
SCENE V。
Enter COSROE； TAMBURLAINE； MENAPHON； MEANDER；
ORTYGIUS； THERIDAMAS； TECHELLES； USUMCASANE； with
others。
TAMBURLAINE。 Hold thee； Cosroe； wear two imperial crowns；
Think thee invested now as royally； Even by the mighty hand of
Tamburlaine； As if as many kings as could encompass thee With greatest
pomp had crown'd thee emperor。
COSROE。 So do I； thrice…renowmed man…at…arms； And none
shall keep the crown but Tamburlaine： Thee do I make my regent of Persia；
And general…lieutenant of my armies。 Meander； you； that were our
brother's guide； And chiefest counsellor in all his acts； Since he is
yielded to the stroke of war； On your submission we with thanks excuse；
And give you equal place in our affairs。
MEANDER。 Most happy emperor； in humblest terms I vow my
service to your majesty； With utmost virtue of my faith and duty。
COSROE。 Thanks； good Meander。Then； Cosroe； reign； And govern
Persia in her former pomp。 Now send embassage to thy neighbour kings；
And let them know the Persian king is chang'd； From one that knew not
what a king should do； To one that can command what 'longs thereto。 And
now we will to fair Persepolis With twenty thousand expert soldiers。 The
lords and captains of my brother's camp With little slaughter take
Meander's course； And gladly yield them to my gracious rule。 Ortygius
and Menaphon； my trusty friends； Now will I gratify your former good；
And grace your calling with a greater sway。
ORTYGIUS。 And as we ever aim'd at your behoof； And sought
your state all honour it deserv'd； So will we with our powers and
our lives Endeavour to prese