The sturdy governor of Babylon, That made us all the labour for the town, And us'd such slender reckoning of<270> your majesty.
TAMBURLAINE. Go, bind the villain; he shall hang in chains Upon the ruins of this conquer'd town.-- Sirrah, the view of our vermilion tents (Which threaten'd more than if the region Next underneath the element of fire Were full of comets and of blazing stars, Whose flaming trains should reach down to the earth) Could not affright you; no, nor I myself, The wrathful messenger of mighty Jove, That with his sword hath quail'd all earthly kings, Could not persuade you to submission, But still the ports<271> were shut: villain, I say, Should I but touch the rusty gates of hell, The triple-headed Cerberus would howl, And make<272> black Jove to crouch and kneel to me; But I have sent volleys of shot to you, Yet could not enter till the breach was made.
GOVERNOR. Nor, if my body could have stopt the breach, Shouldst thou have enter'd, cruel Tamburlaine. 'Tis not thy bloody tents can make me yield, Nor yet thyself, the anger of the Highest; For, though thy cannon shook the city-walls,<273> My heart did never quake, or courage faint.
TAMBURLAINE. Well, now I'll make it quake.--Go draw him<274> up, Hang him in<275> chains upon the city-walls, And let my soldiers shoot the slave to death.
GOVERNOR. Vile monster, born of some infernal hag, And sent from hell to tyrannize on earth, Do all thy worst; nor death, nor Tamburlaine, Torture, or pain, can daunt my dreadless mind.
TAMBURLAINE. Up with him, then! his body shall be scar'd.<276>
GOVERNOR. But, Tamburlaine, in Limnasphaltis' lake There lies more gold than Babylon is worth, Which, when the city was besieg'd, I hid: Save but my life, and I will give it thee.
TAMBURLAINE. Then, for all your valour, you would save your life? Whereabout lies it?
GOVERNOR. Under a hollow bank, right opposite Against the western gate of Babylon.
TAMBURLAINE. Go thither, some of you, and take his gold:-- [Exeunt some ATTENDANTS.] The rest forward with execution. Away with him hence, let him speak no more.-- I think I make your courage something quail.-- [Exeunt ATTENDANTS with the GOVERNOR or BABYLON.] When this is done, we'll march from Babylon, And make our greatest haste to Persia. These jades are broken-winded and half-tir'd; Unharness them, and let me have fresh horse. [ATTENDANTS unharness the KINGS or TREBIZON and SORIA] So; now their best is done to honour me, Take them and hang them both up presently.
KING OF TREBIZON. Vile<277> tyrant! barbarous bloody Tamburlaine!
TAMBURLAINE. Take them away, Theridamas; see them despatch'd.
THERIDAMAS. I will, my lord. [Exit with the KINGS or TREBIZON and SORIA.]
TAMBURLAINE. Come, Asian viceroys; to your tasks a while, And take such fortune as your fellows felt.
ORCANES. First let thy Scythian horse tear both our limbs, Rather than we should draw thy chariot, And, like base slaves, abject our princely minds To vile and ignominious servitude.
KING OF JERUSALEM. Rather lend me thy weapon, Tamburlaine, That I may sheathe it in this breast of mine. A thousand deaths could not torment our hearts More than the thought of this doth vex our souls.
AMYRAS. They will talk still, my lord, if you do not bridle them.
TAMBURLAINE. Bridle them, and let me to my coach.
[ATTENDANTS bridle ORCANES king of Natolia, and the KING OF JERUSALEM, and harness them to the chariot.-- The GOVERNOR OF BABYLON appears hanging in chains on the walls.--Re-enter THERIDAMAS.]
AMYRAS. See, now, my lord, how brave the captain hangs!
TAMBURLAINE. 'Tis brave indeed, my boy:--well done!-- Shoot first, my lord, and then the rest shall follow.
THERIDAMAS. Then have at him, to begin withal. [THERIDAMAS shoots at the GOVERNOR.]
GOVERNOR. Yet save my life, and let this wound appease The mortal fury of great Tamburlaine!
TAMBURLAINE. No, though Asphaltis' lake were liquid gold, And offer'd me as ransom for thy life, Yet shouldst thou die.--Shoot at him all at once. [They shoot.] So, now he hangs like Bagdet's<278> governor, Having as many bullets in his flesh As there be breaches in her batter'd wall. Go now, and bind the burghers hand and foot, And cast them headlong in the city's lake. Tartars and Persians shall inhabit there; And, to command the city, I will build A citadel,<279> that all Africa, Which hath been subject to the Persian king, Shall pay me tribute for in Babylon.