Tamburlaine the Great — Part 2
Chapter 18
Enter THERIDAMAS, TECHELLES, and USUMCASANE.
THERIDAMAS. Weep, heavens, and vanish into liquid tears! Fall, stars that govern his nativity, And summon all the shining lamps of heaven To cast their bootless fires to the earth, And shed their feeble influence in the air; Muffle your beauties with eternal clouds; For Hell and Darkness pitch their pitchy tents, And Death, with armies of Cimmerian spirits, Gives battle 'gainst the heart of Tamburlaine! Now, in defiance of that wonted love Your sacred virtues pour'd upon his throne, And made his state an honour to the heavens, These cowards invisibly [299] assail his soul, And threaten conquest on our sovereign; But, if he die, your glories are disgrac'd, Earth droops, and says that hell in heaven is plac'd!
TECHELLES. O, then, ye powers that sway eternal seats, And guide this massy substance of the earth, If you retain desert of holiness, As your supreme estates instruct our thoughts, Be not inconstant, careless of your fame, Bear not the burden of your enemies' joys, Triumphing in his fall whom you advanc'd; But, as his birth, life, health, and majesty Were strangely blest and governed by heaven, So honour, heaven, (till heaven dissolved be,) His birth, his life, his health, and majesty!
USUMCASANE. Blush, heaven, to lose the honour of thy name, To see thy footstool set upon thy head; And let no baseness in thy haughty breast Sustain a shame of such inexcellence, [300] To see the devils mount in angels' thrones, And angels dive into the pools of hell! And, though they think their painful date is out, And that their power is puissant as Jove's, Which makes them manage arms against thy state, Yet make them feel the strength of Tamburlaine (Thy instrument and note of majesty) Is greater far than they can thus subdue; For, if he die, thy glory is disgrac'd, Earth droops, and says that hell in heaven is plac'd!
Enter TAMBURLAINE, [301] drawn in his chariot (as before) by ORCANES king of Natolia, and the KING OF JERUSALEM, AMYRAS, CELEBINUS, and Physicians.
TAMBURLAINE. What daring god torments my body thus, And seeks to conquer mighty Tamburlaine? Shall sickness prove me now to be a man, That have been term'd the terror of the world? Techelles and the rest, come, take your swords, And threaten him whose hand afflicts my soul: Come, let us march against the powers of heaven, And set black streamers in the firmament, To signify the slaughter of the gods. Ah, friends, what shall I do? I cannot stand. Come, carry me to war against the gods, That thus envy the health of Tamburlaine.
THERIDAMAS. Ah, good my lord, leave these impatient words, Which add much danger to your malady!
TAMBURLAINE. Why, shall I sit and languish in this pain? No, strike the drums, and, in revenge of this, Come, let us charge our spears, and pierce his breast Whose shoulders bear the axis of the world, That, if I perish, heaven and earth may fade. Theridamas, haste to the court of Jove; Will him to send Apollo hither straight, To cure me, or I'll fetch him down myself.
TECHELLES. Sit still, my gracious lord; this grief will cease, [302] And cannot last, it is so violent.
TAMBURLAINE. Not last, Techelles! no, for I shall die. See, where my slave, the ugly monster Death, Shaking and quivering, pale and wan for fear, Stands aiming at me with his murdering dart, Who flies away at every glance I give, And, when I look away, comes stealing on!-- Villain, away, and hie thee to the field! I and mine army come to load thy back With souls of thousand mangled carcasses.-- Look, where he goes! but, see, he comes again, Because I stay! Techelles, let us march, And weary Death with bearing souls to hell.
FIRST PHYSICIAN. Pleaseth your majesty to drink this potion, Which will abate the fury of your fit, And cause some milder spirits govern you.
TAMBURLAINE. Tell me what think you of my sickness now?
FIRST PHYSICIAN. I view'd your urine, and the hypostasis, [303] Thick and obscure, doth make your danger great: Your veins are full of accidental heat, Whereby the moisture of your blood is dried: The humidum and calor, which some hold Is not a parcel of the elements, But of a substance more divine and pure, Is almost clean extinguished and spent; Which, being the cause of life, imports your death: Besides, my lord, this day is critical, Dangerous to those whose crisis is as yours: Your artiers, [304] which alongst the veins convey The lively spirits which the heart engenders, Are parch'd and void of spirit, that the soul, Wanting those organons by which it moves, Cannot endure, by argument of art. Yet, if your majesty may escape this day, No doubt but you shall soon recover all.
TAMBURLAINE. Then will I comfort all my vital parts, And live, in spite of death, above a day. [Alarms within.]
Enter a Messenger.
MESSENGER. My lord, young Callapine, that lately fled from your majesty, hath now gathered a fresh army, and, hearing your absence in the field, offers to set upon [305] us presently.
TAMBURLAINE. See, my physicians, now, how Jove hath sent A present medicine to recure my pain! My looks shall make them fly; and, might I follow, There should not one of all the villain's power Live to give offer of another fight.
USUMCASANE. I joy, my lord, your highness is so strong, That can endure so well your royal presence, Which only will dismay the enemy.
TAMBURLAINE. I know it will, Casane.--Draw, you slaves! In spite of death, I will go shew my face. [Alarms. Exit TAMBURLAINE with all the rest (except the PHYSICIANS), and re-enter presently.]
TAMBURLAINE. Thus are the villain cowards [306] fled for fear, Like summer's vapours vanish'd by the sun; And, could I but a while pursue the field, That Callapine should be my slave again. But I perceive my martial strength is spent: In vain I strive and rail against those powers That mean t' invest me in a higher throne, As much too high for this disdainful earth. Give me a map; then let me see how much Is left for me to conquer all the world, That these, my boys, may finish all my wants. [One brings a map.] Here I began to march towards Persia, Along Armenia and the Caspian Sea, And thence unto [307] Bithynia, where I took The Turk and his great empress prisoners. Then march'd I into Egypt and Arabia; And here, not far from Alexandria, Whereas [308] the Terrene [309] and the Red Sea meet, Being distant less than full a hundred leagues, I meant to cut a channel to them both, That men might quickly sail to India. ]From thence to Nubia near Borno-lake, And so along the Aethiopian sea, Cutting the tropic line of Capricorn, I conquer'd all as far as Zanzibar. Then, by the northern part of Africa, I came at last to Graecia, and from thence To Asia, where I stay against my will; Which is from Scythia, where I first began, [310] Backward[s] and forwards near five thousand leagues. Look here, my boys; see, what a world of ground Lies westward from the midst of Cancer's line Unto the rising of this [311] earthly globe, Whereas the sun, declining from our sight, Begins the day with our Antipodes! And shall I die, and this unconquered? Lo, here, my sons, are all the golden mines, Inestimable drugs and precious stones, More worth than Asia and the world beside; And from th' Antarctic Pole eastward behold As much more land, which never was descried, Wherein are rocks of pearl that shine as bright As all the lamps that beautify the sky! And shall I die, and this unconquered? Here, lovely boys; what death forbids my life, That let your lives command in spite of death.
AMYRAS. Alas, my lord, how should our bleeding hearts, Wounded and broken with your highness' grief, Retain a thought of joy or spark of life? Your soul gives essence to our wretched subjects, [312] Whose matter is incorporate in your flesh.
CELEBINUS. Your pains do pierce our souls; no hope survives, For by your life we entertain our lives.
TAMBURLAINE. But, sons, this subject, not of force enough To hold the fiery spirit it contains, Must part, imparting his impressions By equal portions into [313] both your breasts; My flesh, divided in your precious shapes, Shall still retain my spirit, though I die, And live in all your seeds [314] immortally.-- Then now remove me, that I may resign My place and proper title to my son.-- First, take my scourge and my imperial crown, And mount my royal chariot of estate, That I may see thee crown'd before I die.-- Help me, my lords, to make my last remove. [They assist TAMBURLAINE to descend from the chariot.]
THERIDAMAS. A woful change, my lord, that daunts our thoughts More than the ruin of our proper souls!
TAMBURLAINE. Sit up, my son, [and] let me see how well Thou wilt become thy father's majesty.
AMYRAS. With what a flinty bosom should I joy The breath of life and burden of my soul, If not resolv'd into resolved pains, My body's mortified lineaments [315] Should exercise the motions of my heart, Pierc'd with the joy of any dignity! O father, if the unrelenting ears Of Death and Hell be shut against my prayers, And that the spiteful influence of Heaven Deny my soul fruition of her joy, How should I step, or stir my hateful feet Against the inward powers of my heart, Leading a life that only strives to die, And plead in vain unpleasing sovereignty!
TAMBURLAINE. Let not thy love exceed thine honour, son, Nor bar thy mind that magnanimity That nobly must admit necessity. Sit up, my boy, and with these [316] silken reins Bridle the steeled stomachs of these [317] jades.
THERIDAMAS. My lord, you must obey his majesty, Since fate commands and proud necessity.
AMYRAS. Heavens witness me with what a broken heart [Mounting the chariot.] And damned [318] spirit I ascend this seat, And send my soul, before my father die, His anguish and his burning agony! [They crown AMYRAS.]
TAMBURLAINE. Now fetch the hearse of fair Zenocrate; Let it be plac'd by this my fatal chair, And serve as parcel of my funeral.
USUMCASANE. Then feels your majesty no sovereign ease, Nor may our hearts, all drown'd in tears of blood, Joy any hope of your recovery?
TAMBURLAINE. Casane, no; the monarch of the earth, And eyeless monster that torments my soul, Cannot behold the tears ye shed for me, And therefore still augments his cruelty.
TECHELLES. Then let some god oppose his holy power Against the wrath and tyranny of Death, That his tear-thirsty and unquenched hate May be upon himself reverberate! [They bring in the hearse of ZENOCRATE.]
TAMBURLAINE. Now, eyes, enjoy your latest benefit, And, when my soul hath virtue of your sight, Pierce through the coffin and the sheet of gold, And glut your longings with a heaven of joy. So, reign, my son; scourge and control those slaves, Guiding thy chariot with thy father's hand. As precious is the charge thou undertak'st As that which Clymene's [319] brain-sick son did guide, When wandering Phoebe's [320] ivory cheeks were scorch'd, And all the earth, like Aetna, breathing fire: Be warn'd by him, then; learn with awful eye To sway a throne as dangerous as his; For, if thy body thrive not full of thoughts As pure and fiery as Phyteus' [321] beams, The nature of these proud rebelling jades Will take occasion by the slenderest hair, And draw thee [322] piecemeal, like Hippolytus, Through rocks more steep and sharp than Caspian cliffs: [323] The nature of thy chariot will not bear A guide of baser temper than myself, More than heaven's coach the pride of Phaeton. Farewell, my boys! my dearest friends, farewell! My body feels, my soul doth weep to see Your sweet desires depriv'd my company, For Tamburlaine, the scourge of God, must die. [Dies.]
AMYRAS. Meet heaven and earth, and here let all things end, For earth hath spent the pride of all her fruit, And heaven consum'd his choicest living fire! Let earth and heaven his timeless death deplore, For both their worths will equal him no more! [Exeunt.]
NOTES:
[a] [From THE FIRST PART OF TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT]
Tamburlaine the Great. Who, from a Scythian Shephearde by his rare and woonderfull Conquests, became a most puissant and mightye Monarque. And (for his tyranny, and terrour in Warre) was tearmed, The Scourge of God. Deuided into two Tragicall Discourses, as they were sundrie times shewed vpon Stages in the Citie of London. By the right honorable the Lord Admyrall, his seruauntes. Now first, and newlie published. London. Printed by Richard Ihones: at the signe of the Rose and Crowne neere Holborne Bridge. 1590. 4to.
The above title-page is pasted into a copy of the FIRST PART OF TAMBURLAINE in the Library at Bridge-water House; which copy, excepting that title-page and the Address to the Readers, is the impression of 1605. I once supposed that the title-pages which bear the dates 1605 and 1606 (see below) had been added to the 4tos of the TWO PARTS of the play originally printed in 1590; but I am now convinced that both PARTS were really reprinted, THE FIRST PART in 1605, and THE SECOND PART in 1606, and that nothing remains of the earlier 4tos, except the title-page and the Address to the Readers, which are preserved in the Bridgewater collection.
In the Bodleian Library, Oxford, is an 8vo edition of both PARTS OF TAMBURLAINE, dated 1590: the title-page of THE FIRST PART agrees verbatim with that given above; the half-title-page of THE SECOND PART is as follows;
The Second Part of The bloody Conquests of mighty Tamburlaine. With his impassionate fury, for the death of his Lady and loue faire Zenocrate; his fourme of exhortacion and discipline to his three sons, and the maner of his own death.
In the Garrick Collection, British Museum, is an 8vo edition of both PARTS dated 1592: the title-page of THE FIRST PART runs thus;
Tamburlaine the Great. Who, from a Scythian Shepheard, by his rare and wonderfull Conquestes, became a most puissant and mightie Mornarch [sic]: And (for his tyrannie, and terrour in warre) was tearmed, The Scourge of God. The first part of the two Tragicall discourses, as they were sundrie times most stately shewed vpon Stages in the Citie of London. By the right honorable the Lord Admirall, his seruauntes. Now newly published. Printed by Richard Iones, dwelling at the signe of the Rose and Crowne neere Holborne Bridge.
The half-title-page of THE SECOND PART agrees exactly with that already given. Perhaps the 8vo at Oxford and that in the British Museum (for I have not had an opportunity of comparing them) are the same impression, differing only in the title-pages.
Langbaine (ACCOUNT OF ENGL. DRAM. POETS, p. 344) mentions an 8vo dated 1593.
The title-pages of the latest impressions of THE TWO PARTS are as follows;
Tamburlaine the Greate. Who, from the state of a Shepheard in Scythia, by his rare and wonderfull Conquests, became a most puissant and mighty Monarque. London Printed for Edward White, and are to be solde at the little North doore of Saint Paules-Church, at the signe of the Gunne, 1605. 4to.
Tamburlaine the Greate. With his impassionate furie, for the death of his Lady and Loue fair Zenocrate: his forme of exhortation and discipline to his three Sonnes, and the manner of his owne death. The second part. London Printed by E. A. for Ed. White, and are to be solde at his Shop neere the little North doore of Saint Paules Church at the Signe of the Gun. 1606. 4to.
The text of the present edition is given from the 8vo of 1592, collated with the 4tos of 1605-6.]
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1: the] So the 4to.--The 8vo "our."]
[Footnote 2: triumphs] So the 8vo.--The 4to "triumph."]
[Footnote 3: sad] Old eds. "said."]
[Footnote 4: Uribassa] In this scene, but only here, the old eds. have "Upibassa."]
[Footnote 5: Almains, Rutters] RUTTERS are properly--German troopers, (REITER, REUTER). In the third speech after the present one this line is repeated VERBATIM: but in the first scene of our author's FAUSTUS we have,--
"Like ALMAIN RUTTERS with their horsemen's staves."]
[Footnote 6: ORCANES.] Omitted in the old eds.]
[Footnote 7: hugy] i.e. huge.]
[Footnote 8: cut the] So the 8vo.--The 4to "out of."]
[Footnote 9: champion] i.e. champaign.]
[Footnote 10: Terrene] i.e. Mediterranean (but the Danube falls into the Black Sea.)]
[Footnote 11: Cairo] Old eds. "Cairon:" but they are not consistent in the spelling of this name; afterwards (p. 45, sec. col.) [See note 29.] they have "Cario."]
[Footnote 12: Fear] i.e. frighten.]
[Footnote 13: Sorians] So the 4to.--Here the 8vo has "Syrians"; but elsewhere in this SEC. PART of the play it agrees with the 4to in having "Sorians," and "Soria" (which occurs repeatedly,--the King of SORIA being one of the characters).--Compare Jonson's FOX, act iv. sc. 1;
"whether a ship, Newly arriv'd from SORIA, or from Any suspected part of all the Levant, Be guilty of the plague," &c.
On which passage Whalley remarks; "The city Tyre, from whence the whole country had its name, was anciently called ZUR or ZOR; since the Arabs erected their empire in the East, it has been again called SOR, and is at this day known by no other name in those parts. Hence the Italians formed their SORIA."]
[Footnote 14: black] So the 8vo.--The 4to "AND black."]
[Footnote 15: Egyptians, Illyrians, Thracians, and Bithynians] So the 8vo (except that by a misprint it gives "Illicians").-- The 4to has,--
"Egyptians,
FREDERICK. And we from Europe to the same intent Illirians, Thracians, and Bithynians";
a line which belongs to a later part of the scene (see next col.) being unaccountably inserted here. (See note 21.)]
[Footnote 16: plage] i.e. region. So the 8vo.--The 4to "Place."]
[Footnote 17: viceroy] So the 8vo.--The 4to "Vice-royes."]
[Footnote 18: Boheme] i.e. Bohemia.]
[Footnote 19: Bagdet's] So the 8vo in act v. sc. 1. Here it has "Badgeths": the 4to "Baieths."]
[Footnote 20: parle] So the 8vo.--Here the 4to "parley," but before, repeatedly, "parle."]
[Footnote 21: FREDERICK. And we from Europe, to the same intent] So the 8vo.--The 4to, which gives this line in an earlier part of the scene (see note §, preceding col.), [i.e. note 15] omits it here.]
[Footnote 22: stand] So the 8vo.--The 4to "are."]
[Footnote 23: prest] i.e. ready.]
[Footnote 24: or] So the 8vo.--The 4to "and."]
[Footnote 25: conditions] So the 4to.--The 8vo "condition."]
[Footnote 26: Confirm'd] So the 4to.--The 8vo "Confirme."]
[Footnote 27: by] So the 8vo.--The 4to "with."]
[Footnote 28: renowmed] See note ||, p. 11. (Here the old eds. agree.)
[Note ||, from p. 11. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the Great):
"renowmed] i.e. renowned.--So the 8vo.--The 4to "renowned."--The form "RENOWMED" (Fr. renomme) occurs repeatedly afterwards in this play, according to the 8vo. It is occasionally found in writers posterior to Marlowe's time. e.g.
"Of Constantines great towne RENOUM'D in vaine." Verses to King James, prefixed to Lord Stirling's MONARCHICKE TRAGEDIES, ed. 1607.]
[Footnote 29: Cairo] Old eds. "Cario." See note ¶, p. 43. (i.e. note 11.)]
[Footnote 30: stream] Old eds. "streames."]
[Footnote 31: at] So the 4to.--The 8vo "an."]
[Footnote 32: Terrene] i.e. Mediterranean.]
[Footnote 33: Where] Altered by the modern editors to "Whence,"--an alteration made by one of them also in a speech at p. 48, sec. col., [see note 57: which may be compared with the present one,--
"Therefore I took my course to Manico, WHERE, unresisted, I remov'd my camp; And, by the coast," &c.]
[Footnote 34: from] So the 4to.--The 8vo "to."]
[Footnote 35: need] i.e. must.]
[Footnote 36: let] i.e. hinder.]
[Footnote 37: tainted] i.e. touched, struck lightly; see Richardson's DICT. in v.]
[Footnote 38: shall] So the 8vo.--The 4to "should."]
[Footnote 39: of] So the 8vo.--The 4to "to."]
[Footnote 40: to] So the 8vo.--The 4to "of."]
[Footnote 41: sprung] So the 8vo.--The 4to "sprong".--See note ?, d. [p.] 14.
[Note ?, from p. 14. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the Great):
"Sprung] Here, and in the next speech, both the old eds. "SPRONG": but in p. 18, l. 3, first col., the 4to has "SPRUNG", and in the SEC. PART of the play, act iv. sc. 4, they both give "SPRUNG from a tyrants loynes."
[Page 18, First Column, Line 3, The First Part of Tamburlaine the Great, "For he was never sprung of human race,"]
[Footnote 42: superficies] Old eds. "superfluities."--(In act iii. sc. 4, we have,
"the concave SUPERFICIES Of Jove's vast palace.")]
[Footnote 43: through] So the 4to.--The 8vo "thorow."]
[Footnote 44: carcasses] So the 8vo.--The 4to "carkasse."]
[Footnote 45: we] So the 8vo.--The 4to "yon (you)."]
[Footnote 46: channel] i.e. collar, neck,--collar-bone.]
[Footnote 47: Morocco] The old eds. here, and in the next speech, "Morocus"; but see note ?, p. 22.
[note ?, from p. 22. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the Great):
"Morocco] Here the old eds. "Moroccus,"--a barbarism which I have not retained, because previously, in the stage- direction at the commencement of this act, p. 19, they agree in reading "Morocco."]
[Footnote 48: war] So the 8vo.--The 4to "warres."]
[Footnote 49: if infernal] So the 8vo.--The 4to "if THE infernall."]
[Footnote 50: thee] Old eds. "them."]
[Footnote 51: these] So the 4to.--The 8vo "this."]
[Footnote 52: strong] A mistake,--occasioned by the word "strong" in the next line.]
[Footnote 53: Bootes'] So the 4to.--The 8vo "Boetes."]
[Footnote 54: leaguer] i.e. camp.]
[Footnote 55: Jubalter] Here the old eds. have "Gibralter"; but in the First Part of this play they have "JUBALTER": see p. 25, first col.
[p. 25, first col. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the Great):
"And thence unto the Straits of Jubalter;"]
[Footnote 56: The mighty Christian Priest,
Call'd John the Great] Concerning the fabulous personage,
PRESTER JOHN, see Nares's GLOSS. in v.]
[Footnote 57: Where] See note ¶, p. 45. (i.e. note 33.)]
[Footnote 58: Byather] The editor of 1826 printed "Biafar": but it is very doubtful if Marlowe wrote the names of places correctly.]
[Footnote 59: Damascus] Here the old eds. "Damasco." See note *, p. 31.
note *, from p. 31. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the Great):
"Damascus] Both the old eds. here "Damasco:" but in many other places they agree in reading "Damascus."]
[Footnote 60: And made, &c.] A word dropt out from this line.]
[Footnote 61: him] i.e. the king of Natolia.]
[Footnote 62: orient] Old eds. "orientall" and "oriental."--Both in our author's FAUSTUS and in his JEW OF MALTA we have "ORIENT pearl."]
[Footnote 63: Soria] See note ?, p. 44. [i.e. note 13.]]
[Footnote 64: thereof] So the 8vo.--The 4to "heereof."]
[Footnote 65: that we vow] i.e. that which we vow. So the 8vo.--The 4to "WHAT we vow." Neither of the modern editors understanding the passage, they printed "WE THAT vow."]
[Footnote 66: faiths] So the 8vo.--The 4to "fame."]
[Footnote 67: and religion] Old eds. "and THEIR religion."]
[Footnote 68: consummate] Old eds. "consinuate." The modern editors print "continuate," a word which occurs in Shakespeare's TIMON OF ATHENS, act i. sc. 1., but which the metre determines to be inadmissible in the present passage.--The Revd. J. Mitford proposes "continent," in the sense of--restraining from violence.]
[Footnote 69: this] So the 8vo.--The 4to "the."]
[Footnote 70: martial] So the 4to.--The 8vo "materiall."]
[Footnote 71: our] So the 4to.--The 8vo "your."]
[Footnote 72: With] So the 4to.--The 8vo "Which."]
[Footnote 73: thy servant's] He means Sigismund. So a few lines after, "this traitor's perjury."]
[Footnote 74: discomfit] Old eds. "discomfort." (Compare the first line of the next scene.)]
[Footnote 75: lords] So the 8vo.--The 4to "lord."]
[Footnote 76: Christian] So the 8vo.--The 4to "Christians."]
[Footnote 77: Zoacum] "Or ZAKKUM.--The description of this tree is taken from a fable in the Koran, chap. 37." Ed. 1826.]
[Footnote 78: an] So the 8vo.--The 4to "any."]
[Footnote 79: We will both watch and ward shall keep his trunk] i.e. We will that both watch, &c. So the 4to.--The 8vo has "AND keepe."]
[Footnote 80: Uribassa, give] So the 8vo.--The 4to "Vribassa, AND giue."]
[Footnote 81: Soria] See note ?, p. 44. [i.e. note 13.]]
[Footnote 82: their] So the 4to.--Not in the 8vo.]
[Footnote 83: brows] Old eds. "bowers."]
[Footnote 84: this] So the 8vo.--The 4to "the."]
[Footnote 85: no] So the 4to.--The 8vo "not."]
[Footnote 86: and] So the 4to.--The 8vo "a."]
[Footnote 87: makes] So the 4to.--The 8vo "make."]
[Footnote 88: author] So the 4to.--The 8vo "anchor."]
[Footnote 89: yes] Old eds. "yet."]
[Footnote 90: excellence] So the 4to.--The 8vo "excellency."]
[Footnote 91: cavalieros] i.e. mounds, or elevations of earth, to lodge cannon.]
[Footnote 92: prevails] i.e. avails.]
[Footnote 93: Mausolus'] Wrong quantity.]
[Footnote 94: one] So the 8vo ("on").--The 4to "our."]
[Footnote 95: stature] See note |||, p. 27.--So the 8vo.--The 4to "statue." Here the metre would be assisted by reading "statua," which is frequently found in our early writers: see my REMARKS ON MR. COLLIER'S AND MR. KNIGHT'S EDITIONS OF SHAKESPEARE, p. 186.
[note |||, from p. 27. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the Great):
"stature] So the 8vo.--The 4to "statue:" but again, in the SECOND PART of this play, act ii. sc. 4, we have, according to the 8vo--
"And here will I set up her STATURE."
and, among many passages that might be cited from our early authors, compare the following;
"The STATURES huge, of Porphyrie and costlier matters made." Warner's ALBIONS ENGLAND, p. 303. ed. 1596.
"By them shal Isis STATURE gently stand." Chapman's BLIND BEGGER OF ALEXANDRIA, 1598, sig. A 3.
"Was not Anubis with his long nose of gold preferred before Neptune, whose STATURE was but brasse?" Lyly's MIDAS, sig. A 2. ed. 1592."]
[Footnote 96: Soria] See note ?, p. 44. [i.e. note 13.]]
[Footnote 97: fate] So the 8vo.--The 4to "fates."]
[Footnote 98: his] Old eds. "our."]
[Footnote 99: all] So the 8vo.--Omitted in the 4to.]
[Footnote 100: honours] So the 8vo.--The 4to "honour."]
[Footnote 101: in conquest] So the 4to.--The 8vo "in THE conquest."]
[Footnote 102: Judaea] So the 8vo.--The 4to "Juda."]
[Footnote 103: Sclavonia's] Old eds. "Scalonians" and "Sclauonians."]
[Footnote 104: Soria] See note ?, p. 44. (i.e. note 13.]
[Footnote 105: Damascus] Here the old eds. "Damasco." See note *, p. 31.
note *, from p. 31. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the Great):
"Damascus] Both the old eds. here "Damasco:" but in many other places they agree in reading "Damascus.""]
[Footnote 106: That's no matter, &c.] So previously (p. 46, first col.) Almeda speaks in prose, "I like that well," &c.
[p. 46, first col. (This play):
"ALMEDA. I like that well: but, tell me, my lord, if I should let you go, would you be as good as your word? shall I be made a king for my labour?"]
[Footnote 107: dearth] Old eds. "death."]
[Footnote 108: th'] So the 8vo.--Omitted in the 4to.]
[Footnote 109: Those] Old eds. "Whose."]
[Footnote 110: sorrows] So the 8vo.--The 4to "sorrow."]
[Footnote 111: thirst] So the 4to.--The 8vo "colde."]
[Footnote 112: champion] i.e. champaign.]
[Footnote 113: which] Old eds. "with."]
[Footnote 114: Whereas] i.e. Where.]
[Footnote 115: the] So the 8vo.--The 4to "and."]
[Footnote 116: cavalieros] See note ?, p. 52. [i.e. note 91.]]
[Footnote 117: argins] "Argine, Ital. An embankment, a rampart.["] Ed., 1826.]
[Footnote 118: great] So the 8vo.--The 4to "greatst."]
[Footnote 119: the] Old eds. "their."]
[Footnote 120: by nature] So the 8vo.--The 4to "by THE nature."]
[Footnote 121: a] So the 4to.--The 8vo "the."]
[Footnote 122: A ring of pikes, mingled with shot and horse] Qy. "foot" instead of "shot"? (but the "ring of pikes" is "foot").--The Revd. J. Mitford proposes to read, "A ring of pikes AND HORSE, MANGLED with shot."]
[Footnote 123: his] So the 8vo--The 4to "this."]
[Footnote 124: march'd] So the 4to.--The 8vo "martch."]
[Footnote 125: drop] So the 8vo.--The 4to "dram."]
[Footnote 126: lance] So the 4to.--Here the 8vo "lanch": but afterwards more than once it has "lance."]
[Footnote 127: I know not, &c.] This and the next four speeches are evidently prose, as are several other portions of the play.]
[Footnote 128: 'Tis] So the 4to.--The 8vo "This."]
[Footnote 129: accursed] So the 4to.--The 8vo "cursed."]
[Footnote 130: his] So the 4to.--The 8vo "the."]
[Footnote 131: point] So the 8vo.--The 4to "port."]
[Footnote 132: Soria] See note ?, p. 44. [i.e. note 13.]]
[Footnote 133: Minions, falc'nets, and sakers] "All small pieces of ordnance." Ed. 1826.]
[Footnote 134: hold] Old eds. "gold" and "golde."]
[Footnote 135: quietly] So the 8vo.--The 4to "quickely."]
[Footnote 136: friends] So the 4to.--The 8vo "friend."]
[Footnote 137: you] So the 4to.--The 8vo "thou."]
[Footnote 138: pioners] See note ||, p. 20.
[note ||, from p. 20. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the Great):
"pioners] The usual spelling of the word in our early writers (in Shakespeare, for instance)."]
[Footnote 139: in] So the 8vo.--The 4to "to."]
[Footnote 140: argins] See note ?[sic], p. 55. [note ?? p. 55, i.e. note 117.]]
[Footnote 141: quietly] So the 8vo.--The 4to "quickely."]
[Footnote 142: Were you, that are the friends of Tamburlaine] So the 8vo. --The 4to "Were ALL you that are friends of Tamburlaine."]
[Footnote 143: of] So the 8vo.--The 4to "to."]
[Footnote 144: all convoys that can] i.e. (I believe) all convoys (conveyances) that can be cut off. The modern editors alter "can" to "come."]
[Footnote 145: I am] So the 8vo.--The 4to "am I."]
[Footnote 146: into] So the 8vo.--The 4to "vnto."]
[Footnote 147: hold] So the 4to.--The 8vo "holdS."]
[Footnote 148: straineth] So the 4to.--The 8vo "staineth."]
[Footnote 149: home] So the 8vo.--The 4to "haue."]
[Footnote 150: wert] So the 8vo.--The 4to "art."]
[Footnote 151: join'd] So the 4to.--The 8vo "inioin'd."]
[Footnote 152: of] So the 8vo.--The 4to "in."]
[Footnote 153: the] Added perhaps by a mistake of the transcriber or printer.]
[Footnote 154: and] So the 8vo.--The 4to "the."]
[Footnote 155: Renowmed] See note ||, p. 11. So the 8vo.--The 4to "Renowned."
[Note ||, from p. 11. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the Great).
"renowmed] i.e. renowned.--So the 8vo.--The 4to "renowned." --The form "RENOWMED" (Fr. renomme) occurs repeatedly afterwards in this play, according to the 8vo. It is occasionally found in writers posterior to Marlowe's time. e.g.
"Of Constantines great towne RENOUM'D in vaine." Verses to King James, prefixed to Lord Stirling's MONARCHICKE TRAGEDIES, ed. 1607."]
[Footnote 156: emperor, mighty] So the 8vo.--The 4to "emperour, AND mightie."]
[Footnote 157: the] So the 4to.--The 8vo "this."]
[Footnote 158: your] So the 8vo.--The 4to "our."]
[Footnote 159: term'd] Old eds. "terme."]
[Footnote 160: the] So the 4to.--Omitted in the 8vo.]
[Footnote 161: your] So the 8vo.--The 4to "our."]
[Footnote 162: brandishing their] So the 4to.--The 8vo "brandishing IN their."]
[Footnote 163: with] So the 4to.--Omitted in the 8vo.]
[Footnote 164: shew'd your] So the 8vo.--The 4to "shewed TO your."]
[Footnote 165: Sorians] See note ?, p. 44. [i.e. note 13.]
[Footnote 166: repair'd] So the 8vo.--The 4to "prepar'd."]
[Footnote 167: And neighbour cities of your highness' land] So the 8vo.-- Omitted in the 4to.]
[Footnote 168: he] i.e. Death. So the 8vo.--The 4to "it."]
[Footnote 169: is] So the 8vo.--The 4to "the."]
[Footnote 170: harness'd] So the 8vo.--The 4to "harnesse."]
[Footnote 171: on] So the 4to.--The 8vo "with" (the compositor having caught the word from the preceding line).]
[Footnote 172: thou shalt] So the 8vo.--The 4to "shalt thou."]
[Footnote 173: the] So the 8vo.--The 4to "our."]
[Footnote 174: and rent] So the 8vo.--The 4to "or rend."]
[Footnote 175: Go to, sirrah] So the 8vo.--The 4to "Goe sirrha."]
[Footnote 176: give arms] An heraldic expression, meaning--shew armorial bearings (used, of course, with a quibble).]
[Footnote 177: No] So the 4to.--The 8vo "Go."]
[Footnote 178: bugs] i.e. bugbears, objects to strike you with terror.]
[Footnote 179: rout] i.e. crew, rabble.]
[Footnote 180: as the foolish king of Persia did] See p. 16, first col.
p. 15, first col. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the Great, ACT II, Scene IV):
" SCENE IV.
Enter MYCETES with his crown in his hand.
MYCETES. Accurs'd be he that first invented war! They knew not, ah, they knew not, simple men, How those were hit by pelting cannon-shot Stand staggering like a quivering aspen-leaf Fearing the force of Boreas' boisterous blasts!
(page 16)
In what a lamentable case were I, If nature had not given me wisdom's lore! For kings are clouts that every man shoots at, Our crown the pin that thousands seek to cleave: Therefore in policy I think it good To hide it close; a goodly stratagem, And far from any man that is a fool: So shall not I be known; or if I be, They cannot take away my crown from me. Here will I hide it in this simple hole.
Enter TAMBURLAINE.
TAMBURLAINE. What, fearful coward, straggling from the camp, When kings themselves are present in the field?"]
[Footnote 181: aspect] So the 8vo.--The 4to "aspects."]
[Footnote 182: sits asleep] At the back of the stage, which was supposed to represent the interior of the tent.]
[Footnote 183: You cannot] So the 8vo.--The 4to "Can you not."]
[Footnote 184: scare] So the 8vo.--The 4to "scarce."]
[Footnote 185: tall] i.e. bold, brave.]
[Footnote 186: both you] So the 8vo.--The 4to "you both."]
[Footnote 187: should I] So the 8vo.--The 4to "I should."]
[Footnote 188: ye] So the 8vo.--The 4to "my."]
[Footnote 189: stoop your pride] i.e. make your pride to stoop.]
[Footnote 190: bodies] So the 8vo.--The 4to "glories."]
[Footnote 191: mine] So the 4to.--The 8vo "my."]
[Footnote 192: may] So the 4to.--The 8vo "nay."]
[Footnote 193: up] The modern editors alter this word to "by," not understanding the passage. Tamburlaine means--Do not KNEEL to me for his pardon.]
[Footnote 194: once] So the 4to.--The 8vo "one."]
[Footnote 195: martial] So the 8vo.--The 4to "materiall." (In this line "fire" is a dissyllable")]
[Footnote 196: thine] So the 8vo.--The 4to "thy."]
[Footnote 197: which] Old eds. "with."]
[Footnote 198: Jaertis'] So the 8vo.--The 4to "Laertis." By "Jaertis'" must be meant--Jaxartes'.]
[Footnote 199: incorporeal] So the 8vo.--The 4to "incorporall."]
[Footnote 200: for being seen] i.e. "that thou mayest not be seen." Ed. 1826. See Richardson's DICT. in v. FOR.]
[Footnote 201: you shall] So the 8vo.--The 4to "shall ye."]
[Footnote 202: Approve] i.e. prove, experience.]
[Footnote 203: bloods] So the 4to.--The 8vo "blood."]
[Footnote 204: peasants] So the 8vo.--The 4to "parsants."]
[Footnote 205: resist in] Old eds "resisting."]
[Footnote 206: Casane] So the 4to.--The 8vo "VSUM Casane."]
[Footnote 207: it] So the 8vo.--Omitted in the 4to.]
[Footnote 208: Excel] Old eds. "Expell" and "Expel."]
[Footnote 209: artier] See note *, p. 18.
Note *, from p. 18. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the Great):
"Artier] i.e. artery. This form occurs again in the SEC. PART of the present play: so too in a copy of verses by Day;
"Hid in the vaines and ARTIERS of the earthe." SHAKESPEARE SOC. PAPERS, vol. i. 19.
The word indeed was variously written of old:
"The ARTER strynge is the conduyt of the lyfe spiryte." Hormanni VULGARIA, sig. G iii. ed. 1530.
"Riche treasures serue for th'ARTERS of the war." Lord Stirling's DARIUS, act ii. Sig. C 2. ed. 1604.
"Onelye the extrauagant ARTIRE of my arme is brused." EVERIE WOMAN IN HER HUMOR, 1609, sig. D 4.
"And from the veines some bloud each ARTIRE draines." Davies's MICROCOSMOS, 1611, p. 56."]
[Footnote 210: remorseful] i.e. compassionate.]
[Footnote 211: miss] i.e. loss, want. The construction is--Run round about, mourning the miss of the females.]
[Footnote 212: behold] Qy "beheld"?]
[Footnote 213: a] So the 4to.--The 8vo "the."]
[Footnote 214: Have] Old eds. "Hath."]
[Footnote 215: to] So the 8vo.--The 4to "and."]
[Footnote 216: in] So the 8vo.--The 4to "to."]
[Footnote 217: now, my lord; and, will you] So the 8vo.--The 4to "GOOD my Lord, IF YOU WILL."]
[Footnote 218: mouths] So the 4to.--The 8vo "mother."]
[Footnote 219: rebated] i.e. blunted.]
[Footnote 220: thereof] So the 8vo.--The 4to "heereof."]
[Footnote 221: and will] So the 4to.--The 8vo "and I wil."]
[Footnote 222: She anoints her throat] This incident, as Mr. Collier observes (HIST. OF ENG. DRAM. POET., iii. 119) is borrowed from Ariosto's ORLANDO FURIOSO, B. xxix, "where Isabella, to save herself from the lawless passion of Rodomont, anoints her neck with a decoction of herbs, which she pretends will render it invulnerable: she then presents her throat to the Pagan, who, believing her assertion, aims a blow and strikes off her head."]
[Footnote 223: my] Altered by the modern editors to "thy,"--unnecessarily.]
[Footnote 224: Elysium] Old eds. "Elisian" and "Elizian."]
[Footnote 225: do borrow] So the 4to.--The 8vo "borow doo."]
[Footnote 226: my] So the 4to (Theridamas is King of Argier).--The 8vo "thy."]
[Footnote 227: Soria] See note ?, p. 44. [i.e. note 13.]]
[Footnote 228: his] So the 4to.--The 8vo "their."]
[Footnote 229: led by five] So the 4to.--The 8vo "led by WITH fiue."]
[Footnote 230: Holla, ye pamper'd jades of Asia, &c.] The ridicule showered on this passage by a long series of poets, will be found noticed in the ACCOUNT OF MARLOWE AND HIS WRITINGS.
The "Account of Marlowe and His Writings," is the introduction to this book of "The Works of Christopher Marlowe." That is, the book from which this play has been transcribed. The following is a footnote from page xvii of that introduction.
"Tamb. Holla, ye pamper'd jades of Asia!" &c. p. 64, sec. col.
This has been quoted or alluded to, generally with ridicule, by a whole host of writers. Pistol's "hollow pamper'd jades of Asia" in Shakespeare's HENRY IV. P. II. Act ii. sc. 4, is known to most readers: see also Beaumont and Fletcher's COXCOMB, act ii. sc. 2; Fletcher's WOMEN PLEASED, act iv. sc. 1; Chapman's, Jonson's, and Marston's EASTWARD HO,