SCENE I.

[_Enter_] _the_ GOVERNOR _of_ DAMASCUS, _with three or four_ Citizens, _and four_ Virgins, _with branches of laurel in their hands_.

_Gov._ Still doth this man, or rather god of war, Batter our walls and beat our turrets down; And to resist with longer stubbornness Or hope of rescue from the Soldan’s power, Were but to bring our wilful overthrow, 5 And make us desperate of our threat’ned lives. We see his tents have now been altered With terrors to the last and cruellest hue. His coal-black colours everywhere advanc’d Threaten our city with a general spoil; 10 And if we should with common rites of arms Offer our safeties to his clemency, I fear the custom, proper to his sword, Which he observes as parcel of his fame, Intending so to terrify the world, 15 By any innovation or remorse Will never be dispens’d with till our deaths. Therefore, for these our harmless virgins’ sakes, Whose honours and whose lives rely on him, Let us have hope that their unspotted prayers, 20 Their blubbered cheeks, and hearty, humble moans, Will melt his fury into some remorse,[340] And use us like a loving conqueror.

_1 Virg._ If humble suits or imprecations,[341] (Uttered with tears of wretchedness and blood 25 Shed from the heads and hearts of all our sex, Some made your wives and some your children) Might have entreated your obdurate breasts To entertain some care of our securities Whiles only danger beat upon our walls, 30 These more than dangerous warrants of our death Had never been erected as they be, Nor you depend on such weak helps as we.

_Gov._ Well, lovely virgins, think our country’s care, Our love of honour, loath to be inthrall’d 35 To foreign powers and rough imperious yokes, Would not with too much cowardice or fear, (Before all hope of rescue were denied) Submit yourselves and us to servitude. Therefore in that your safeties and our own, 40 Your honours, liberties, and lives were weigh’d In equal care and balance with our own, Endure as we the malice of our stars, The wrath of Tamburlaine, and power of wars; Or be the means the overweighing heavens 45 Have kept to qualify[342] these hot extremes, And bring us pardon in your cheerful looks.

_2 Virg._ Then here before the majesty of Heaven And holy patrons of Egyptia, With knees and hearts submissive we entreat 50 Grace to our words and pity to our looks That this device may prove propitious, And through the eyes and ears of Tamburlaine Convey events of mercy to his heart; Grant that these signs of victory we yield 55 May bind the temples of his conquering head, To hide the folded furrows of his brows, And shadow his displeased countenance With happy looks of ruth and lenity. Leave us, my lord, and loving countrymen; 60 What simple virgins may persuade, we will.

_Gov._ Farewell, sweet virgins, on whose safe return Depends our city, liberty, and lives. _Exeunt._