tamburlaine the great (first part)(帖木耳大帝1)-第2章
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MYCETES。 Then hear thy charge； valiant Theridamas； The
chiefest captain of Mycetes' host； The hope of Persia； and the very
legs Whereon our state doth lean as on a staff； That holds us up and foils
our neighbour foes： Thou shalt be leader of this thousand horse； Whose
foaming gall with rage and high disdain Have sworn the death of wicked
Tamburlaine。 Go frowning forth； but come thou smiling home； As did Sir
Paris with the Grecian dame： Return with speed； time passeth swift away；
Our life is frail； and we may die to…day。
THERIDAMAS。 Before the moon renew her borrow'd light； Doubt not；
my lord and gracious sovereign； But Tamburlaine and that Tartarian
rout Shall either perish by our warlike hands； Or plead for mercy at
your highness' feet。
MYCETES。 Go； stout Theridamas； thy words are swords； And with
thy looks thou conquerest all thy foes。 I long to see thee back return from
thence； That I may view these milk…white steeds of mine All loaden with
the heads of killed men； And； from their knees even to their hoofs below；
Besmear'd with blood that makes a dainty show。
THERIDAMAS。 Then now； my lord； I humbly take my leave。
MYCETES。 Theridamas； farewell ten thousand times。 ＇Exit
THERIDAMAS。＇ Ah； Menaphon； why stay'st thou thus behind； When
other men press forward for renown？ Go； Menaphon； go into Scythia；
And foot by foot follow Theridamas。
COSROE。 Nay； pray you； let him stay； a greater ＇task＇ Fits
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Menaphon than warring with a thief： Create him pro…rex of all Africa；
That he may win the Babylonians' hearts； Which will revolt from Persian
government； Unless they have a wiser king than you。
MYCETES。 Unless they have a wiser king than you！ These are his
words； Meander； set them down。
COSROE。 And add this to them；that all Asia Lament to see the folly
of their king。
MYCETES。 Well； here I swear by this my royal seat
COSROE。 You may do well to kiss it； then。
MYCETES。 Emboss'd with silk as best beseems my state； To be
reveng'd for these contemptuous words！ O； where is duty and allegiance
now？ Fled to the Caspian or the Ocean main？ What shall I call thee？
brother？ no； a foe； Monster of nature； shame unto thy stock； That dar'st
presume thy sovereign for to mock！ Meander； come： I am abus'd；
Meander。 ＇Exeunt all except COSROE and MENAPHON。＇
MENAPHON。 How now； my lord！ what； mated and amaz'd To
hear the king thus threaten like himself！
COSROE。 Ah； Menaphon； I pass not for his threats！ The plot is
laid by Persian noblemen And captains of the Median garrisons To crown
me emperor of Asia： But this it is that doth excruciate The very substance
of my vexed soul； To see our neighbours； that were wont to quake And
tremble at the Persian monarch's name； Now sit and laugh our
regiment to scorn； And that which might resolve me into tears；
Men from the farthest equinoctial line Have swarm'd in troops into the
Eastern India； Lading their ships with gold and precious stones； And
made their spoils from all our provinces。
MENAPHON。 This should entreat your highness to rejoice； Since
Fortune gives you opportunity To gain the title of a conqueror By curing
of this maimed empery。 Afric and Europe bordering on your land； And
continent to your dominions； How easily may you； with a mighty host；
Pass into Graecia； as did Cyrus once； And cause them to withdraw
their forces home； Lest you subdue the pride of Christendom！
＇Trumpet within。＇
COSROE。 But； Menaphon； what means this trumpet's sound？
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
MENAPHON。 Behold； my lord； Ortygius and the rest Bringing the
crown to make you emperor！
Re…enter ORTYGIUS and CENEUS； with others； bearing a
crown。
ORTYGIUS。 Magnificent and mighty prince Cosroe； We； in the name
of other Persian states And commons of this mighty monarchy；
Present thee with th' imperial diadem。
CENEUS。 The warlike soldiers and the gentlemen； That heretofore
have fill'd Persepolis With Afric captains taken in the field； Whose ransom
made them march in coats of gold； With costly jewels hanging at their ears；
And shining stones upon their lofty crests； Now living idle in the walled
towns； Wanting both pay and martial discipline； Begin in troops to
threaten civil war； And openly exclaim against their king： Therefore；
to stay all sudden mutinies； We will invest your highness emperor；
Whereat the soldiers will conceive more joy Than did the Macedonians at
the spoil Of great Darius and his wealthy host。
COSROE。 Well； since I see the state of Persia droop And languish in
my brother's government； I willingly receive th' imperial crown； And vow
to wear it for my country's good； In spite of them shall malice my estate。
ORTYGIUS。 And； in assurance of desir'd success； We here do crown
thee monarch of the East Emperor of Asia and Persia； Great lord
of Media and Armenia； Duke of Africa and Albania； Mesopotamia and of
Parthia； East India and the late…discover'd isles； Chief lord of all the wide
vast Euxine Sea； And of the ever…raging Caspian Lake。
ALL。 Long live Cosroe； mighty emperor！
COSROE。 And Jove may never let me longer live Than I may
seek to gratify your love； And cause the soldiers that thus honour me To
triumph over many provinces！ By whose desires of discipline in arms I
doubt not shortly but to reign sole king； And with the army of Theridamas
（Whither we presently will fly； my lords；） To rest secure against my
brother's force。
ORTYGIUS。 We knew； my lord； before we brought the crown；
Intending your investion so near The residence of your despised brother；
The lords would not be too exasperate To injury or suppress
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
your worthy title； Or； if they would； there are in readiness Ten thousand
horse to carry you from hence； In spite of all suspected enemies。
COSROE。 I know it well； my lord； and thank you all。
ORTYGIUS。 Sound up the trumpets； then。 ＇Trumpets sounded。＇
ALL。 God save the king！ ＇Exeunt。＇
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
SCENE II。
Enter TAMBURLAINE leading ZENOCRATE； TECHELLES；
USUMCASANE； AGYDAS； MAGNETES； LORDS； and SOLDIERS
loaden with treasure。
TAMBURLAINE。 Come； lady； let not this appal your thoughts； The
jewels and the treasure we have ta'en Shall be reserv'd； and you in better
state Than if you were arriv'd in Syria； Even in the circle of your father's
arms； The mighty Soldan of Aegyptia。
ZENOCRATE。 Ah； shepherd； pity my distressed plight！ （If； as thou
seem'st； thou art so mean a man；） And seek not to enrich thy followers By
lawless rapine from a silly maid； Who； travelling with these Median
lords To Memphis； from my uncle's country of Media； Where； all my
youth； I have been governed； Have pass'd the army of the mighty Turk；
Bearing his privy…signet and his hand To safe…conduct us thorough
Africa。
MAGNETES。 And； since we have arriv'd in Scythia； Besides rich
presents from the puissant Cham； We have his highness' letters to
command Aid and assistance； if we stand in need。
TAMBURLAINE。 But now you see these letters and commands Are
countermanded by a greater man； And through my provinces you must
expect Letters of conduct from my mightiness； If you intend to keep your
treasure safe。 But； since I love to live at liberty； As easily may you get the
Soldan's crown As any prizes out of my precinct； For they are friends that
help to wean my state Till men and kingdoms help to strengthen it； And
must maintain my life exempt from servitude。 But； tell me； madam； is
your grace betroth'd？
ZENOCRATE。 I am； my lord；for so you do import。
TAMBURLAINE。 I am a lord； for so my deeds shall prove； And yet a
shepherd by my parentage。 But； lady； this fair face and heavenly hue Must
grace his bed that conquers Asia； And means to be a terror to the world；
Measuring the limits of his empery By east and west； as Phoebus doth his
course。 Lie here； ye weeds； that I disdain to wear！ This complete armour
and this curtle…axe Are adjuncts more beseeming Tamburlaine。 And；
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
madam； whatsoever you esteem Of this success； and loss unvalued；
Both may invest you empress of the East； And these that seem but silly
country swains May have the leading of so great an host As with their
weight shall make the mountains quake； Even as when windy exhalations；
Fighting for passage； tilt within the earth。
TECHELLES。 As princely lions； when they rouse themselves；
Stretching their paws； and threatening herds of beasts； So in his armour
looketh Tamburlaine。 Methinks I see kings kneeling at his feet； And he
with frowning brows and fiery looks Spurning their crowns from off their
captive heads。
USUMCASANE。 And making thee and me； Techelles； kings； That
even to death will follow Tamburlaine。
TAMBURLAINE。 Nobly resolv'd； sweet friends and followers！ These
lords perhaps do scorn our estimates； And think we prattle with
distemper'd spirits： But； since they measure our deserts so mean； That in
conceit bear empires on our spears； Affecting thoughts coequal with
the clouds； They
