tamburlaine the great, pt 1-第3章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
And with a sudden and an hot alarum
Drive all their horses headlong down the hill。
TECHELLES。 Come； let us march。
TAMBURLAINE。 Stay； Techelles； ask a parle first。
The SOLDIERS enter。
Open the mails； yet guard the treasure sure：
Lay out our golden wedges to the view；
That their reflections may amaze the Persians；
And look we friendly on them when they come：
But； if they offer word or violence；
We'll fight； five hundred men…at…arms to one；
Before we part with our possession；
And 'gainst the general we will lift our swords；
And either lance his greedy thirsting throat；
Or take him prisoner； and his chain shall serve
For manacles till he be ransom'd home。
TECHELLES。 I hear them come： shall we encounter them？
TAMBURLAINE。 Keep all your standings； and not stir a foot：
Myself will bide the danger of the brunt。
Enter THERIDAMAS with others。
THERIDAMAS。 Where is this Scythian Tamburlaine？
TAMBURLAINE。 Whom seek'st thou； Persian？ I am Tamburlaine。
THERIDAMAS。 Tamburlaine！
A Scythian shepherd so embellished
With nature's pride and richest furniture！
His looks do menace heaven and dare the gods；
His fiery eyes are fix'd upon the earth；
As if he now devis'd some stratagem；
Or meant to pierce Avernus' darksome vaults
To pull the triple…headed dog from hell。
TAMBURLAINE。 Noble and mild this Persian seems to be；
If outward habit judge the inward man。
TECHELLES。 His deep affections make him passionate。
TAMBURLAINE。 With what a majesty he rears his looks！
In thee； thou valiant man of Persia；
I see the folly of thy emperor。
Art thou but captain of a thousand horse；
That by characters graven in thy brows；
And by thy martial face and stout aspect；
Deserv'st to have the leading of an host？
Forsake thy king； and do but join with me；
And we will triumph over all the world：
I hold the Fates bound fast in iron chains；
And with my hand turn Fortune's wheel about；
And sooner shall the sun fall from his sphere
Than Tamburlaine be slain or overcome。
Draw forth thy sword； thou mighty man…at…arms；
Intending but to raze my charmed skin；
And Jove himself will stretch his hand from heaven
To ward the blow； and shield me safe from harm。
See； how he rains down heaps of gold in showers；
As if he meant to give my soldiers pay！
And； as a sure and grounded argument
That I shall be the monarch of the East；
He sends this Soldan's daughter rich and brave；
To be my queen and portly emperess。
If thou wilt stay with me； renowmed man；
And lead thy thousand horse with my conduct；
Besides thy share of this Egyptian prize；
Those thousand horse shall sweat with martial spoil
Of conquer'd kingdoms and of cities sack'd：
Both we will walk upon the lofty cliffs；
And Christian merchants； that with Russian stems
Plough up huge furrows in the Caspian Sea；
Shall vail to us as lords of all the lake；
Both we will reign as consuls of the earth；
And mighty kings shall be our senators。
Jove sometime masked in a shepherd's weed；
And by those steps that he hath scal'd the heavens
May we become immortal like the gods。
Join with me now in this my mean estate；
（I call it mean； because； being yet obscure；
The nations far…remov'd admire me not；）
And when my name and honour shall be spread
As far as Boreas claps his brazen wings；
Or fair Bootes sends his cheerful light；
Then shalt thou be competitor with me；
And sit with Tamburlaine in all his majesty。
THERIDAMAS。 Not Hermes； prolocutor to the gods；
Could use persuasions more pathetical。
TAMBURLAINE。 Nor are Apollo's oracles more true
Than thou shalt find my vaunts substantial。
TECHELLES。 We are his friends； and； if the Persian king
Should offer present dukedoms to our state；
We think it loss to make exchange for that
We are assur'd of by our friend's success。
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 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 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 we adore in Scythia；
Thyself and them shall never part from me
Before I crown you kings in Asia。
Make much of them； gentle Theridamas；
And they will never leave thee till the death。
THERIDAMAS。 Nor thee nor them； 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 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；
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 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；
Betokening valour and excess of strength；
In every part proportion'd like the man
Should make the world subdu'd 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 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 be made
That leads to palace of my brother's life；
Proud is 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 Persia noble Tamburlaine
Shall be my regent； and remain as king。
ORTYGIUS。 In happy hour we have set the crown
Upon your kingly head； that seeks our honour
In joining with the man ordain'd by heaven
To further every action to the best。
CENEUS。 He that with shepherds and a little spoil
Durst； in disdain of wrong and tyranny；
Defend his freedom 'gainst a monarchy；
What will he do supported by a king；
Leading a troop of gentlemen and lords；
And stuff'd with treasure for his highest thoughts！
COSROE。 And such shall wait on worthy Tamburlaine。
Our army will be forty thousand strong；
When Tamburlaine and brave Theridamas
Have met us by the river Araris；
And all conjoin'd to meet the witless king；
That now is marching near to Parthia；
And； with unwilling soldiers faintly arm'd；
To seek revenge on me and Tamburlaine；
To whom； sweet Menaphon； direct me straight。
MENAPHON。 I will； my lord。
＇Exeunt。＇
SCENE II。
Enter MYCETES； MEANDER； with other LORDS； and SOLDIERS。
MYCETES。 Come； my Meander； let us to this gear。
I tell you true； my heart is swoln with wrath
On this same thievish villain Tamburlaine；
And of that false Cosroe； my traitorous brother。
Would it not grieve a king to be so abus'd；
And have a thousand horsemen ta'en away？
And； which is worse； to have his diadem
Sought for by such scald knaves as love him not？
I think it would： well； then； by heavens I swear；
Aurora shall not peep out of her doors；
But I will have Cosroe by the head；
And kill proud Tamburlaine with point of sword。
Tell you the rest； Meander： I have said。
MEANDER。 Then； having pass'd Armenian deserts now；
And pitch'd our tents under the Georgian hills；
Whose tops are cover'd with Tartarian thieves；
That lie in ambush； waiting for a prey；
What should we do but bid them battle straight；
And rid the world of those detested troops？
Lest； if we let them linger here a while；
They gather strength by power of fresh supplies。
This country swarms with vile outragious men
That live by rapine and by lawless spoil；
Fit soldiers for the wicked Tamburlaine；
And he that could with gifts and promises
Inveigle him that led a thousand horse；
And make him false his faith unto his king；
Will quickly win such as be like himself。
Therefore cheer up your minds； prepare to fight：
He that can take or slaughter Tamburlaine；
Shall rule the province of Albania；
Who brings that traitor's head； Theridamas；
Shall have a government in Media；
Beside the spoil of him and all his train：
But； if Cosroe （as our spials say；
And as we know）
