TECHELLES. What shall be done with their wives and children, my lord?
TAMBURLAINE. Techelles, drown them all, man, woman, and child; Leave not a Babylonian in the town.
TECHELLES. I will about it straight.--Come, soldiers. [Exit with SOLDIERS.]
TAMBURLAINE. Now, Casane, where's the Turkish Alcoran, And all the heaps of superstitious books Found in the temples of that Mahomet Whom I have thought a god? they shall be burnt.
USUMCASANE. Here they are, my lord.
TAMBURLAINE. Well said!<280> let there be a fire presently. [They light a fire.] In vain, I see, men worship Mahomet: My sword hath sent millions of Turks to hell, Slew all his priests, his kinsmen, and his friends, And yet I live untouch'd by Mahomet. There is a God, full of revenging wrath, >From whom the thunder and the lightning breaks, Whose scourge I am, and him will I<281> obey. So, Casane; fling them in the fire.-- [They burn the books.] Now, Mahomet, if thou have any power, Come down thyself and work a miracle: Thou art not worthy to be worshipped That suffer'st<282> flames of fire to burn the writ Wherein the sum of thy religion rests: Why send'st<283> thou not a furious whirlwind down, To blow thy Alcoran up to thy throne, Where men report thou sitt'st<284> by God himself? Or vengeance on the head<285> of Tamburlaine That shakes his sword against thy majesty, And spurns the abstracts of thy foolish laws?-- Well, soldiers, Mahomet remains in hell; He cannot hear the voice of Tamburlaine: Seek out another godhead to adore; The God that sits in heaven, if any god, For he is God alone, and none but he.
Re-enter TECHELLES.
TECHELLES. I have fulfill'd your highness' will, my lord: Thousands of men, drown'd in Asphaltis' lake, Have made the water swell above the banks, And fishes, fed<286> by human carcasses, Amaz'd, swim up and down upon<287> the waves, As when they swallow assafoetida, Which makes them fleet<288> aloft and gape<289> for air.
TAMBURLAINE. Well, then, my friendly lords, what now remains, But that we leave sufficient garrison, And presently depart to Persia, To triumph after all our victories?
THERIDAMAS. Ay, good my lord, let us in<290> haste to Persia; And let this captain be remov'd the walls To some high hill about the city here.
TAMBURLAINE. Let it be so;--about it, soldiers;-- But stay; I feel myself distemper'd suddenly.
TECHELLES. What is it dares distemper Tamburlaine?
TAMBURLAINE. Something, Techelles; but I know not what.-- But, forth, ye vassals!<291> whatsoe'er<292> it be, Sickness or death can never conquer me. [Exeunt.]
SCENE II.
Enter CALLAPINE, KING OF AMASIA, a CAPTAIN, and train, with drums and trumpets.
CALLAPINE. King of Amasia, now our mighty host Marcheth in Asia Major, where the streams Of Euphrates<293> and Tigris swiftly run; And here may we<294> behold great Babylon, Circled about with Limnasphaltis' lake, Where Tamburlaine with all his army lies, Which being faint and weary with the siege, We may lie ready to encounter him Before his host be full from Babylon, And so revenge our latest grievous loss, If God or Mahomet send any aid.
KING OF AMASIA. Doubt not, my lord, but we shall conquer him: The monster that hath drunk a sea of blood, And yet gapes still for more to quench his thirst, Our Turkish swords shall headlong send to hell; And that vile carcass, drawn by warlike kings, The fowls shall eat; for never sepulchre Shall grace this<295> base-born tyrant Tamburlaine.
CALLAPINE. When I record<296> my parents' slavish life, Their cruel death, mine own captivity, My viceroys' bondage under Tamburlaine, Methinks I could sustain a thousand deaths, To be reveng'd of all his villany.-- Ah, sacred Mahomet, thou that hast seen Millions of Turks perish by Tamburlaine, Kingdoms made waste, brave cities sack'd and burnt, And but one host is left to honour thee, Aid<297> thy obedient servant Callapine, And make him, after all these overthrows, To triumph over cursed Tamburlaine!
KING OF AMASIA.