PART I
DRAMATIS PERSONiE
Mycetes, King of Persia.
CosROE, his brother.
Meander,
Theridamas,
Ortygius, )■ Persian lords.
Ceneus,
Menaphon,
Tamburlaine, a Scythian shepherd.
TeCHELLES, ) 1 ■ r 7j
Usumcasane,} ^^^ Mowers.
Bajazeth, Emperor of the Turks.
King of Fez.
King of Morocco.
King of Argier.
King of Arabia.
SoLDAN OF Egypt.
Governor of Damascus.
mIgnetes,}^^^^"^^ ^''^'-
Capolin, an Egyptian.
Philemus, Bassoes, Lords, Citizens, Moors, Soldiers, and
Attendants.
Zenocrate, daughter to the Soldan of Egypt.
Anippe, her maid.
Zabina, wife to Bajazeth.
Ebea, her maid.
Virgins of Damascus.
64
Dramatis Personcs.
This list is added by Dyce. It
does not appear in the octavos.
Mycetes. History does not record
this king of Persia. In the index
to Petrus Bizarus's Persicarum
Rerum Historia the name Me-
sithes occurs in a different con-
nection. I have found no other
trace of the name.
CosROE. This name is again un-
known among Persians contem-
porary with Tamburlaine, though
Chosroe or Cosroe is well known
as a later Persian king.
Tamburlaine. For the biogra-
phies of Tamburlaine, see the
Introduction. The most familiar
forms of the name are Tamer-
lanes, Tamerlan, Tamberlan,
etc.
Techelles. This name is also
mentioned by Bizarus and others,
though not in connection with
Tamburlaine ; it is that of a
later warrior and is apparently
used by Marlowe without refer-
ence to its historical context.
UsuMCASANE. This is the name of
a later Persian king, which occurs
not only in Bizarus (Usumcas-
sanus) but in the later part of
Mexia's (and consequently For-
tescue's) biography, where he is
said to be the founder of the
Sophis.
Bajazeth. For the biographies of
Bajazet, see the Introduction.
Marlowe has here adopted the
most common European form of
the name. Others are Baiazith,
Baiazed, Paiazetes (the Byzan-
tine form).
King of Fez, etc. The African
conquests of Tamburlaine and of
Bajazeth are seldom mentioned
by the European historians, who,
in any event, do not bring him
west of Cairo. The names of the
African potentates may easily
have been the result of Mar-
lowe's study of Ortelius's Thea-
trum Orbis Terrarum (see Intro-
duction).
King of Arabia, Soldan of
Egypt, Both these are men-
tioned by most of Tamburlaine's
biographers, but in the European
histories they are generally name-
less, as in Marlowe's play.
Zenocrate. The name of Tam-
burlaine's wife does not appear
in any of the European accounts
of which only one (that of Chal-
condylas) mentions her existence.
Zabina. Bajazet's wife was the
daughter of Eleazar, the Despot
of Servia, referred to by Chal-
condylas as the Prince of the
Bulgars. Her title ' Despina '
may have been modified into
' Zabina '. Miss Seaton (R.E.S.)
suggests that ' Zabina ' may
possibly be an attempt to repro-
duce the Turkish form of the
Greek ' Despina '.
65
To THE Gentlemen Readers and Others that
Take Pleasure in Reading Histories :
Gentlemen and courteous readers whosoever, I have
here published in print for your sakes the twa. tragical^
jiscourses of the Scythian shepherd .Tajubiiriaine. that^
became so great a conqueror and so mighty a monarchy
My hop^is that they will be now no less acceptable unto
you to read after your serious affairs and studies than they
have been (lately) delightful for many of you to see when
the same were showed in London upon stages. I have
(purposely) omitted and left out some fond and frivolous
gestures, digressing (and in my poor opinion) far unmeet lo
for the matter, which I thought might seem more tedious
unto the wise than any way else to be regarded, though
(haply) they have been of some vain, conceited fondlings
greatly gaped at, what times they were showed upon the
stage in their graced deformities. Nevertheless now
to be mixtured in print with such matter of worth, it
would prove a great disgrace to so honourable and stately
a history. Great folly were it in me to commend unto
your wisdoms either the eloquence of the author that
writ them or the worthiness of the matter itself ; I there- 20
fore leave unto your learned censures both the one and
the other and myself the poor printer of them unto your
most courteous and favourable protection, which if you
vouchsafe to accept, you shall evermore bind me to
employ what travail and service I can to the advancing
and pleasuring of your excellent degree.
Yours, most humble at commandment,
R. J., Printer.
66
2. the two] this O4. 3. discourses] discourse O4. 5. they] it O4. 6, 7,
they have] it hath O4. 8. were] was O4. 14. times] time Og. 16. mi;v-
tured] mingled O3, O4. 20. them] it O4. 21, /^aye] leave it O4. 60/A . . ,
other] om. O4. 22. of them] thereof O^. 23. protection] protections O3, O4.
24. accept] doe O3, O4. 27. humble] om. O4.
To iAe Gentleman Readers etc.
8-18. / Aayg omitted] What
these ' fond and frivolous gestures '
were is now unknown, for no fuller
reference or description of them
has survived. Jones's remark may-
mean that some actors' gag had
crept into the acting version of the
play between 1587 and 1590, or,
less probably, that Marlowe had
himself attempted to introduce
comic matter other than that
which still disfigures the play, that
his printer judged unworthy of
him. If we accept the former in-
terpretation it opens the possibility
of some of the surviving comic
scenes and prose passages (see
notes ad. hoc.) being, equally with
those that Jones rejected, the
results of play-house additions.
28. Richard Jones was a printer
and bookseller who was at work
from about 1564 to 1602 ; he
was admitted to the Stationers'
Company on Aug. 7, 1564. He
dealt largely in ballads and popular
literature and seems on the whole
to have been a reputable man.
The title-pages of Oi O2 O3 bear his
name, but that of O4, although his
prefatory letter is retained, shows
that a transfer had been made to
Edward White, the bookseller, for
whom Edward AUde printed it.
In Arber's reprint of the Stationers'
Register (iii. 702) it is stated that
Richard Jones, then in partnership
with William Hill, sold the business
to William White in 1598. (Occa-
sional entries in Jones's name occur
after this date, but none after
1602.) I cannot find a record of
any transfer from William White
(printer, working from 1 597-1 61 5)
to Edward White, Senior or Junior.
(For Richard Jones, see Arber,
Stationers' Register ; R. B, McKer-
row. Dictionary of Printers and
Booksellers (1910).)
67
0
..KP
The two Tragicall Discourses of mighty Tamburlaine, the Scythian
Shepheard, etc.
^
M ^'
(f
0-'
«\
'^
Vw^'^
THE PROLOGUE
From jigging veins of riming mother wits,
And such conceits as clownage keeps in pay,
We'll lead you to the stately tent of war,
Where you shall hear the Scythian Tamburlaine
Threatening the world with high astounding terms
And scourging kingdoms with his c®nquering sword.
View but his picture in this tragic glass.
And then applaud his fortunes as you please.
Heading. — The two . . . Shepheard, etc."] The first part of the two
. . . Shepheard etc, Og. The Tragicall Conquests of Tamburlaine, the
Scythian Shepherd, etc, O3 O4.
The Prologue.
1-3. From . . . war] These
lines contain Marlowe's manifesto
to the stage tradition of his time.
They do not actually prove, in the
absence of other evidence, that the
play is the first of its kind to use
blank verse for the popular drama
and determine nothing as to the
relative dates of this play and of
the Spanish Tragedy. They merely
declare with what kind of popular
drama Marlowe does not wish to
be identified, Broughton refers his
readers to the play of Cambises
and to Hall's Virgidemiarum for
corroboration of Marlowe's descrip-
tion.
.fO^'
0^-^
'?
ACT I
SCENE I
Mycetes, Cosroe, Meander, Theridamas, Ortygius,
Ceneus, Menaphon, with others.
Myc, Brother Cosroe, J find myself agriev'd ;
Yet insufficient to express the same,
For it requires a great and thundering speech :
Good brother, tell the cause unto my lords ;
I know you have a better wit than I.
Cos. Unhappy Persia, that in former age
Hast been the seat of mighty conquerors,
That, in their prowess and their policies.
Have triumphed over Afric, and the bounds
Of Europe where the sun dares scarce appear lo
For freezing meteors and congealed cold, .f) a i a4^«
Now to be ruled and governed by a man X'" ^ '^
At whose birthday Cynthia with Saturn joined, ' \o-'H '
And Jove, the Sun, and Mercury denied --""—
Act I. Scene i. O'-- ^••■'- '^^U^'AM^kt
S=D. Menaphon] Add. Dyce, om. O1..4. , 9. Afric] Affrica O3 O4. '} j. A/l/OO /
Act I. Scene i. standard history of Persia, to which ^
Mycetes . . . with others'] None both poets may have turned,
of the characters who enter here 9— 11. the bounds of Europe . . .
have historical prototypes, though cold] Darius, King of Persia
for an abstract of the events set in 521-485 B.C., invaded what was
train in this scene Marlowe might then Scythia (the district between
have been indebted to Fregoso, the Carpathians and the Danube)
Mexia, Perondinus or Primau- and Russia, where the frozen
daye. See Introduction, Section steppes worked havoc on his army.
IV. His empire extended into Africa
6. Cosroe] The possible origin so far as to include Egypt and
of this name has already been Cyrenaica.
noticed. Broughton remarks that 13—15- Cynthia . . . brain] Mar-
it is also used by Fletcher for the lowe's knowledge of astronomy
Persian King in his Prophetess. seems to have been considerable and
The work of Petrus Bizarus was the his knowledge of astrology not
69
70 THE FIRST PART OF [acti
To shed their influence in his fickle brain !
Now Turks and Tartars shake their swords at thee,
Meaning to mangle all thy provinces.
Myc. Brother, I see your meaning well enough,
And through your planets I perceive you think
_ I am not wise enough to be a king : 20
But I refer me to my noblemen,
That know my wit, and can be witnesses.
I might command you to be slain for this.
Meander, might I not ? //
Mean. Not for so small a fault, my sovereign lord.
Myc. I mean it not, but yet I know I might.
Yet live ; yea, live ; Mycetes wills it so.
Meander, thou, my faithful counsellor.
Declare the cause of my conceived grief.
Which is (God knows) about that Tamburlaine, 30
.That, like a fox in midst of harvest-time,
. Doth prey upon my flocks of passengers.
And, as I hear, doth mean to pull my plumes ;
Therefore 'tis good and meet for to be wise.
Mean. Oft have I heard your majesty complain
Of Tamburlaine, that sturdy Scythian thief.
That robs your merchants of Persepolis
Trading by land unto the Western Isles,
15. their] Dyce etc., hisOi_^. 19. through] thorough O^ Og. s^. Trading]
Treading Oj O3 O4.
severely separated in the sixteenth 32. flocks of passengers] the
century from the orthodox science, travellers by the trade routes
to have been little less. Here his through Persia. Several of the
references are general rather than European biographers of Tambur-
technical. I imagine the moon's laine insist that he began his career
share in the make-up of Mycetes to as a robber attacking bands of
have been giddy variableness and pilgrims and traders.
Saturn's dull heaviness of mind, 37-8. merchants . . . Isles] Is this
while the beneficence of Jupiter, a reference to the British traders
the geniality or richness of Sol and or their Persian allies who crossed
the keen-mindedness of Mercury Persia from the Caspian sea to the
were denied. These are all, of Portuguese ports of Ormuz and
course, the references of a sixteenth- Goa, the ports of entry for the
century Elizabethan rather than India and China merchant fleets ?
of a fourteenth-centur)' Persian, Persepolis] The ancient capital of
SCI] TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT 71
And in your confines with his lawless train
Daily commits incivil outrages, 40
Hoping (misled by dreaming prophecies)
To reign in Asia, and with barbarous arms
To make himself the monarch of the East :
But, ere he march in Asia, or display
His vagrant ensign in the Persian fields,
^ Your grace hath taken order by Theridamas,
Charged with a thousand horse, to apprehend
And bring him captive to your highness' throne. ^^
Myc. Full true thou speakst, and like thyself, my lord.
Whom I may term a Damon for thy love : 50
Therefore 'tis best, if so it like you all.
To send my thousand horse incontinent
To apprehend that paltry Scythian.
How like you this, my honourable lords ?
Is it not a kingly resolution ?
Cos, It cannot choose, because it comes from you.
Myc. Then hear thy charge, valiant Theridamas,
The chief est captain of Mycetes' host.
The hope of Persia, and the very legs
Whereon our state doth lean as on a staff, 60
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
40. incivil] uncivill O3 O4. 54. How like]How you like O3. 58. chiefesf]
chief O4.
Persia. The classical cartographers laine, see C. F. Tucker Brooke,
placed it on the Araxis ; the ruins Marlowe's Versification and Style
still survive some 40 miles north- {Stud. Phil. XIX. 1922), p. 191.
east of Shiraz. 50. Damon] The beloved friend
42-3. Asia . . . East] With Mar- of Pythias (more correctly Phintias),
lowe and his contemporaries Asia was a Pythagorean living in the
frequently means the modern Asia time of Dionysius I of Syracuse
Minor. According to modern and the history of the friendship
terminology, Tamburlaine is already was a favourite with the Eliza-
in Asia — indeed, hardly leaves it bethans who may have been
during the play. familiar with it from the ac-
46. On the occasional Alexan- count in Cicero, De off., Ill, 10,
drine lines which occur in Tambur^ 45.
72 THE FIRST PART OF [acti
'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 Hfe is frail, and we may die to-day.
Ther. Before the moon renew her borrowed light.
Doubt not, my lord and gracious sovereign, 70
But Tamburlaine and that Tartarian rout
Shall either perish by our warlike hands,
Or plead for mercy at your highness' feet.
Myc. 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
Besmeared with blood that makes a dainty show. 80
Ther. Then now, my lord, I humbly take my leave. [Exit.
Myc. Theridamas, farewell ten thousand times.
Ah, Menaphon, why stayest thou thus behind.
When other men press forward for renown ?
Go, Menaphon, go into Scythia,
And foot by foot follow Theridamas.
82. Theridamas] Therid. Oi_3.
66. Sir] a characteristic medieval interchangeably by Marlowe. The
and Elizabethan title, ' applied Scythians were actually at this
retrospectively', as the N.E.D. time a branch of the Tartar race.
says, ' to notable personages of Scythia for Ortelius is the district
ancient, especially sacred or classi- along the north shores of the Eux-
cal, history'; cf. Sir Hercules, Sir ine (Black) Sea, just west of the
Pilate, Sir Aeneas. Chersonese (Crimea), but was also
67-8. Return . . . to-day] It is by frequently used, as in classical
lines such as these that Marlowe cartography, of the whole of
occasionally surprises us. We per- Central and North-Eastern Asia,
ceive in him a wider range of sym- Tartary in Ortelius's maps covers a
pathy and imagination than is wide area of northern and central
permitted free utterance by the Asia, but the medieval Tartar or
severity with which he subordinates Mongul empire had extended west
the minor tones of the play to its as far as to include a large part of
main theme. Russia in Europe.
71. Tartarian] The terms Tar- 77-80. That . . . show] The
tar and Scythian seem to be used character of Mycetes is carefully
SCI] TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT 73
Cos. Nay, pray you, let him stay ; a greater [task]
Fits Menaphon than warring with a thief :
Create him pro-rex of all Africa,
That he may win the Babylonians* hearts, 90
Which will revolt from Persian government,
Unless they have a wiser king than you.
Myc, Unless they have a wiser king than you ?
These are his words, Meander, set them down,
Cos. And add this to them, that all Asia^
Lciment to see the folly of their king. ., , .V
Myc: Well, here I swear by this my royal seat — i^y^
Cos./You may do well to kiss it, then.
Myc— Embossed with silk as best beseems my state.
To be reveng'd for these contemptuous words ! 100
0 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 darst presume thy sovereign for to mock !
Meander, come, I am abus'd. Meander. Exit.
Manent Cosroe and Menaphon.
Men. How now, my lord, what, mated and amaz'd f^, CccJCi^sJ^'V^
To hear the king thus threaten like himself ?
87, you] om. O3 O4. task'] om. Ojl_4. Add. Rob. etc. 89. of all] ofO^_^.
studied. He combines the morbid up to the late seventeenth century.
deUght of the non-fighting man in 90. Babylonians'] Babylonia had
the evidences of battle with a been brought under the Persian
delicate and fanciful but perverse rule by Cyrus in 538 b.c. (See
love of fantastic effects. Petrus Bizarus, Hist. Rer. Pers.
87, (task)] The early editions Lib. Prim., p. 16.)
have all dropped the final word 107. mated and amaz'd] The
here, Robinson and subsequent phrase occurs in Macbeth, v. i. 86,
editors supply the word ' task '. ' My mind she hath mated and
Tucker Brooke notes a MS. con- amazed my sight.' The word
jecture ' feat '. Both metre and mated is derived ultimately from
sense obviously demand some such the Persian ' mat ', ' helpless ',
monosyllable. which comes into English through
89. pyo-rex] here equivalent to Latin and Old French, being repre-
Viceroy. Instances have been re- sented to-day in the phrase ' check-
marked of similar usage in Nashe and mate' (Pers. shah mat).
74 THE FIRST PART OF [acti
Cos. Ah Menaphon, I pass not for his threats.
The plot is laid by Persian noblemen no
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 sits and laughs 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, 120
Lading their ships with gold and precious stones,
And made their spoils from all our provinces.
Men. 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, 130
118. resolve] dissolve O3 O4. 121. ships] shippe Og. 130. Pass] Hast{e)
O3 O4.
109. pass not for] care not for. long the wealthiest province of
117. regiment] government, rule. any Oriental nation that held
Wagner compares Antony and Cleo- supremacy over it.
patra, iii. vi. 95, 'And gives his 12 j-g. Afric ... you] A construc-
potent regiment to a trull.' tion represented in Latin by the
118. resolve] dissolve, melt. Cf. ablative absolute and in modern
Timon of Athens, iv. iii. 442 seq. English by a form such as ' Since
' Whose liquid surge resolves The .... are continent '.
moon into salt tears ; ' cf. also A 128. continent to] touching, bor-
Lover's Complaint, 1. 295-6. Mar- dering, bounding. Cf. Faustus,
lowe uses the word thus repeatedly 343-4- ' He joyne the hils that
in this play ; cf. i. ii. loi ; v. ii. 79, binde the Aff ricke shore | And make
209, 398. that country continent to Spaine.'
119. equinoctial line] either the 130. Cyrus] the founder of the
celestial or the terrestrial equator. Persian Empire subdued the Greek
The reference here is to the in- cities of Asia Minor, but it is
habitants of the southern districts Darius who is associated with the
lying about the equator who have invasion of Greece and the defeat at
advanced north into Eastern India, Marathon in 490 b.c. The con-
SCI] TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT 75
And cause them to withdraw their forces home,
Lest you subdue the pride of Christendom !
Cos. But Menaphon, what means this trumpet's sound ?
Men. Behold, my lord, Ortygius and the rest
Bringing the crown to make you emperor !
Enter Ortygius and Ceneus, bearing a crown, with others.
Orty. 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.
Cene. The warlike soldiers and the gentlemen, 140
That heretofore have filled 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 the king.
Therefore, to stay all sudden mutinies, 150
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.
Cos. 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,
132. you] they O4. 133. Menaphon] Menaph. Oi_4. 135. S.D. Ceneus]
Dyce etc. Conerus 0^_,^. 140. Prefix Cene] Cone O3 O4.
fusion here may be due to Marlowe's 11. i. 395, ' How like you this wild
incomplete memory of an account counsel, mighty states ? '
such as Bizarus (Lib. i. p. 15). 153-4. Macedonians . . . Darius]
137. sto/es] persons of high estate The reference is to the victory of
The same use occurs in King John, Alexander over Darius king of
76
THE FIRST PART OF
[act I
In spite of them shall malice my estate.
Orty. And, in assurance of desir'd success, i6o
We here do crown thee monarch of the East,
Emperor of Asia and of Persia,
Great lord of Media and Armenia,
Duke of Africa and Albania,
Mesopotamia and of Parthia,
East India and the late discovered isles,
Chief lord of all the wide vasi: Euxine Sea,
And of the ever raging Caspian Lake.
Long live Cosroe, mighty emperor !
Cos. And Jove may never let me longer live 170
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.
162. Emperor] Empeour O4 and of] and O^.
169. Long] Prefix All, add O3 O4.
168. ever] river O^
Persia at the battle of Issus in 333
B.C.
159. malice] Broughton and
Wagner cite instances of this verb
from Spenser, Daniel, Surrey, Ben
Jonson, Wither and Marston. Com-
pare Spenser, Faerie Queene, vi.
9. 39-40 •
' Who, on the other side, did seeme
so farre
' From malicing, or grudging his
good home . . .'
162 seq. Emperor . . . Caspian
Sea] For the boundaries which
Marlowe would assign to these
territories reference should be made
to Ortelius : Theatrum Orbis Ter-
rarum ; Persici sive sophorum Regni
Typus. The colouring there indi-
cates the boundaries of Persia as
extending from the western ex-
tremity of the Caspian Sea, due
south to the Persian Gulf and east-
ward to include a large portion of
the modern Afghanistan. Media
(which appears more clearly in the
map Europa) is the district between
the northern reaches of the Tigris
and the Caspian Sea. The extreme
northern part of this district is
(in the map Asia) called Armenia.
The Parthia of the ancients was the
district south-east of the Caspian,
while Albania lay between the Black
Sea and the Caspian.
170. Jove may never] The con-
struction here is paralleled by
Dyce from the prologue to Flet-
cher's Woman's Prize : ' Which
this may prove.' Modern English
would write ' May Jove never
etc.'.
sen] TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT 77
Orty. We knew, my lord, before we brought the crown,
Intending your investion so near i8o
The residence of your despised brother,
The lords would not be too exasperate
To injure or suppress 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.
Cos. I know it well, my lord, and thank you all.
Orty. Sound up the trumpets, then. God save the king !
[Exeunt.
SCENE II
Tamburlaine leading Zenocrate : Techelles, Usumca-
<^ SANE, other Lords and Soldiers loaden with treasure.
Tamh. 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 Egyptia.
183. injure] injurie 02-i- 187. Prefix Cosy] GosyO 3. 188. Go^] Prefix^//,
add O3 O4.
Scene ii.
S.D. other] and other O4.
180. investion] The modern form Scene ii.
is investiture or investment. For 4. Syria] appears as ' Soria ' in
the form used by Marlowe the the second part of the play, and is
N.E.D. offers only one parallel : shown by Ortelius {Turcicum Im-
Lithgow, Trav., viii. 359 : ' The perium) to be the coastal district
Turkes investion of it [Tremizen].' north of Judea. In the map Terra
182. exasperate] the older form Sancta the Mediterranean at this
of the past pai-ticiple (cf. Lat. point is called Mare Syriacum.
exasperatus) where Mod. E. has the 6. Soldan of Egyptia] It is a
weak form in ' ed '. piece of dramatic economy on
183. injure] O2-4 read ' injurie ', Marlowe's part to make the wife
also a common Elizabethan form of Tamburlaine the daughter of
of the verb. The reading of O^ the Soldan of Egypt. The chief
is retained here. wife of Timur seems to have been
78
THE FIRST PART OF
[act I
Zeno. Ah shepherd, pity my distressed pHght !
(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, lo,
Who, travelling with these Median lords
To Memphis, from my uncle's country of Media,
Where all my youth I have been governed.
Have passed the army of the mighty Turk,
Bearing his privy signet and his hand
To safe conduct us thorough Africa.
Mag. And since we have arrived in Scythia,
Besides rich presents from the puissant Cham,
We have his highness* letters to command
Aid and assistance, if we stand in need. 20
Tamb. 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.
12. Media] Medea Oj Og.
throw O3 through O4.
Meda O3 O4. 16. thorough] thorow Oj Og
a Tartar princess, according to
many authorities, the daughter of
the Great Khan.
10. silly] helpless and harmless.
A very common meaning from
c. 1550 to c. 1675 ; it had not yet
been confined to its modern mean-
ing, although that use of the word
also occurred.
12. To . . . Media] The irregular
metre here suggests that possibly
some corruption has occurred.
Cunningham suggested emending
' my uncles ' to ' his ' and Brennan
conjectured that the words ' of
Media ' should be dropped. The
route suggested by Zenocrate's
words seems reasonable enough as
the events of this scene are assumed
to take place in some undefined
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