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your state all honour it deserv'd； So will we with our powers and
our lives Endeavour to preserve and prosper it。
COSROE。 I will not thank thee； sweet Ortygius； Better replies shall
prove my purposes。 And now； Lord Tamburlaine； my brother's camp I
leave to thee and to Theridamas； To follow me to fair Persepolis； Then will
we march to all those Indian mines My witless brother to the
Christians lost； And ransom them with fame and usury： And； till thou
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
overtake me； Tamburlaine； （Staying to order all the scatter'd troops；）
Farewell； lord regent and his happy friends。 I long to sit upon my brother's
throne。
MEANDER。 Your majesty shall shortly have your wish； And ride in
triumph through Persepolis。 ＇Exeunt all except TAMBURLAINE；
THERIDAMAS； TECHELLES； and USUMCASANE。＇
TAMBURLAINE。 And ride in triumph through Persepolis！ Is it not
brave to be a king； Techelles？ Usumcasane and Theridamas； Is it not
passing brave to be a king； And ride in triumph through Persepolis？
TECHELLES。 O； my lord； it is sweet and full of pomp！
USUMCASANE。 To be a king is half to be a god。
THERIDAMAS。 A god is not so glorious as a king： I think the
pleasure they enjoy in heaven； Cannot compare with kingly joys in
earth； To wear a crown enchas'd with pearl and gold； Whose virtues
carry with it life and death； To ask and have； command and be obey'd；
When looks breed love； with looks to gain the prize； Such power
attractive shines in princes' eyes。
TAMBURLAINE。 Why； say； Theridamas； wilt thou be a king？
THERIDAMAS。 Nay； though I praise it； I can live without it。
TAMBURLAINE。 What say my other friends？ will you be kings？
TECHELLES。 I； if I could； with all my heart； my lord。
TAMBURLAINE。 Why； that's well said； Techelles： so would I； And
so would you； my masters； would you not？
USUMCASANE。 What； then； my lord？
TAMBURLAINE。 Why； then； Casane； shall we wish for aught
The world affords in greatest novelty； And rest attemptless； faint； and
destitute？ Methinks we should not。 I am strongly mov'd； That if I should
desire the Persian crown； I could attain it with a wondrous ease： And
would not all our soldiers soon consent； If we should aim at such a
dignity？
THERIDAMAS。 I know they would with our persuasions。
TAMBURLAINE。 Why； then； Theridamas； I'll first assay To get the
Persian kingdom to myself； Then thou for Parthia； they for Scythia and
Media； And； if I prosper； all shall be as sure As if the Turk； the Pope； Afric；
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
and Greece； Came creeping to us with their crowns a…piece。
TECHELLES。 Then shall we send to this triumphing king； And bid
him battle for his novel crown？
USUMCASANE。 Nay； quickly； then； before his room be hot。
TAMBURLAINE。 'Twill prove a pretty jest； in faith； my friends。
THERIDAMAS。 A jest to charge on twenty thousand men！ I judge the
purchase more important far。
TAMBURLAINE。 Judge by thyself； Theridamas； not me； For
presently Techelles here shall haste To bid him battle ere he pass too far；
And lose more labour than the gain will quite： Then shalt thou see
this Scythian Tamburlaine Make but a jest to win the Persian
crown。 Techelles； take a thousand horse with thee； And bid him turn
him back to war with us； That only made him king to make us sport：
We will not steal upon him cowardly； But give him warning and
more warriors： Haste thee； Techelles； we will follow thee。 ＇Exit
TECHELLES。＇ What saith Theridamas？
THERIDAMAS。 Go on； for me。 ＇Exeunt。＇
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
SCENE VI。
Enter COSROE； MEANDER； ORTYGIUS； and MENAPHON； with
SOLDIERS。
COSROE。 What means this devilish shepherd； to aspire With such a
giantly presumption； To cast up hills against the face of heaven； And dare
the force of angry Jupiter？ But； as he thrust them underneath the hills； And
press'd out fire from their burning jaws； So will I send this monstrous
slave to hell； Where flames shall ever feed upon his soul。
MEANDER。 Some powers divine； or else infernal； mix'd Their angry
seeds at his conception； For he was never sprung of human race；
Since with the spirit of his fearful pride； He dares so doubtlessly
resolve of rule； And by profession be ambitious。
ORTYGIUS。 What god； or fiend； or spirit of the earth； Or monster
turned to a manly shape； Or of what mould or mettle he be made； What
star or fate soever govern him； Let us put on our meet encountering
minds； And； in detesting such a devilish thief； In love of honour and
defence of right； Be arm'd against the hate of such a foe； Whether from
earth； or hell； or heaven he grow。
COSROE。 Nobly resolv'd； my good Ortygius； And； since we all have
suck'd one wholesome air； And with the same proportion of elements
Resolve； I hope we are resembled； Vowing our loves to equal death
and life。 Let's cheer our soldiers to encounter him； That grievous image of
ingratitude； That fiery thirster after sovereignty； And burn him in the fury
of that flame That none can quench but blood and empery。 Resolve； my
lords and loving soldiers； now To save your king and country from decay。
Then strike up； drum； and all the stars that make The loathsome circle of
my dated life； Direct my weapon to his barbarous heart； That thus
opposeth him against the gods； And scorns the powers that govern Persia！
＇Exeunt； drums sounding。＇
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
SCENE VII。
Alarms of battle within。 Then enter COSROE wounded；
TAMBURLAINE； THERIDAMAS； TECHELLES； USUMCASANE； with
others。
COSROE。 Barbarous and bloody Tamburlaine； Thus to deprive
me of my crown and life