USUMCASANE. And kingdoms at the least we all expect, Besides the honour in assured conquests, Where kings shall crouch unto our conquering swords, And hosts of soldiers stand amaz'd at us, When with their fearful tongues they shall confess, These are the men that all the world admires.
THERIDAMAS. What strong enchantments tice my yielding soul To these(59) resolved, noble Scythians! But shall I prove a traitor to my king?
TAMBURLAINE. No; but the trusty friend of Tamburlaine.
THERIDAMAS. Won with thy words, and conquer'd with thy looks, I yield myself, my men, and horse to thee, To be partaker of thy good or ill, As long as life maintains Theridamas.
TAMBURLAINE. Theridamas, my friend, take here my hand, Which is as much as if I swore by heaven, And call'd the gods to witness of my vow. Thus shall my heart be still combin'd with thine Until our bodies turn to elements, And both our souls aspire celestial thrones.-- Techelles and Casane, welcome him.
TECHELLES. Welcome, renowmed(60) Persian, to us all!
USUMCASANE. Long may Theridamas remain with us!
TAMBURLAINE. These are my friends, in whom I more rejoice Than doth the king of Persia in his crown; And, by the love of Pylades and Orestes, Whose statues(61) we adore in Scythia, Thyself and them shall never part from me Before I crown you kings(62) in Asia. Make much of them, gentle Theridamas, And they will never leave thee till the death.
THERIDAMAS. Nor thee nor them,(63) thrice-noble Tamburlaine, Shall want my heart to be with gladness pierc'd, To do you honour and security.
TAMBURLAINE. A thousand thanks, worthy Theridamas.-- And now, fair madam, and my noble lords, If you will(64) willingly remain with me, You shall have honours as your merits be; Or else you shall be forc'd with slavery.
AGYDAS. We yield unto thee, happy Tamburlaine.
TAMBURLAINE. For you, then, madam, I am out of doubt.
ZENOCRATE. I must be pleas'd perforce,--wretched Zenocrate! [Exeunt.]
ACT II.
SCENE I.
Enter COSROE, MENAPHON, ORTYGIUS, and CENEUS, with SOLDIERS.
COSROE. Thus far are we towards Theridamas, And valiant Tamburlaine, the man of fame, The man that in the forehead of his fortune Bears figures of renown and miracle. But tell me, that hast seen him, Menaphon, What stature wields he, and what personage?
MENAPHON. Of stature tall, and straightly fashioned, Like his desire, lift upwards and divine; So large of limbs, his joints so strongly knit, Such breadth of shoulders as might mainly bear Old Atlas' burden; 'twixt his manly pitch,(65) A pearl more worth than all the world is plac'd, Wherein by curious sovereignty of art Are fix'd his piercing instruments of sight, Whose fiery circles bear encompassed A heaven of heavenly bodies in their spheres, That guides his steps and actions to the throne Where honour sits invested royally; Pale of complexion, wrought in him with passion, Thirsting with sovereignty and(66) love of arms; His lofty brows in folds do figure death, And in their smoothness amity and life; About them hangs a knot of amber hair, Wrapped in curls, as fierce Achilles' was, On which the breath of heaven delights to play, Making it dance with wanton majesty; His arms and fingers long and sinewy,(67) Betokening valour and excess of strength;-- In every part proportion'd like the man Should make the world subdu'd(68) to Tamburlaine.
COSROE. Well hast thou pourtray'd in thy terms of life The face and personage of a wondrous man: Nature doth strive with Fortune(69) and his stars To make him famous in accomplish'd worth; And well his merits shew him to be made His fortune's master and the king of men, That could persuade, at such a sudden pinch, With reasons of his valour and his life, A thousand sworn and overmatching foes. Then, when our powers in points of swords are join'd, And clos'd in compass of the killing bullet, Though strait the passage and the port(70) be made That leads to palace of my brother's life, Proud is(71) his fortune if we pierce it not; And, when the princely Persian diadem Shall overweigh his weary witless head, And fall, like mellow'd fruit, with shakes of death, In fair(72) Persia noble Tamburlaine Shall be my regent, and remain as king.