part of the area north of the Black

29. Or . . . Gri^cia] This line

Lest he incur the fury of my wrath. 30

Tell him I am content to take a truce,

Because I hear he bears a valiant mind ;

But if, presuming on his silly power.

He be so mad to manage arms with me.

Then stay thou with him, say I bid thee so.

And if, before the sun have measured heaven

With triple circuit, thou regreet us not.

We mean to take his morning's next arise

For messenger he will not be reclaim'd.

And mean to fetch thee in despite of him. 40

Bass. Most great and puissant monarch of the earth.

Arg. They say he is the king of Persia ;

But, if he dare attempt to stir your siege,

Baj. True, Argier, and tremble at my looks.

Mor. The spring is hindered by your smothering host ; 50

Baj. All this is true as holy Mahomet ;

And all the trees are blasted with our breaths.

Fez. What thinks your greatness best to be achieved

36. heaven] the heaven O3 O4.

after 'in'. Cunningham suggested 50-5. The spying . . . breaths]

reading ' colours forth ', Elze ' into ' For the hyperboles indulged in by

for ' in 'and Wagner ' over 'for ' in ', Bajazet and his followers we may

33, silly] inexpert, untrained, as compare the fabulous accounts of

in I. ii. 47. the armies of Xerxes with which

49. tremble] the reading of O1-4. Marlowe has already shown himself

Dyce and many editors after him familiar. Cf. II. iii. 15 and 16

read, more grammatically, ' trem- and notes,

Baj. I will the captive pioners of Argier

Two thousand horse shall forage up and down,

Agydas, Zenocrate, Anippe, with others.

Agyd. Madam Zenocrate, may I presume

Scene ii.

58-67. / will . . . conquered] cites S. Finche (1596-7), ' The inner

Timur, in his operations against trenches which doth countermaunde

walled cities, is generally described those other.'

(by those historians capable of 65. Orcus'] one of several names

60. Carnon] Miss Seaton (R.E.S.) Agydas] has no prototype in

points out that the Mountain Car- any of the sources which Marlowe

non, which does not appear to be used, and is an addition, though

in any map, may be ' a confusion the only one that reproduces a

of the famous aqueduct of [Con- stock or conventional type, as

stantinople] with its equally fa- Mr. L. Spense points out. (See

mous Golden Horn, seeing that The Influence of Marlowe's Sources

Carnon represents adequately the on Tamburlaine. I., Mod. Phil,

Turkish for horn ' (p. 393). XXIV.)

63. countermand] control. N.E.D.

When your offensive rape by Tamburlaine

Zen. Although it be digested long ago,

As his exceeding favours have deserv'd, lo

And might content the Queen of Heaven, as well

.^ Which dyes my looks so lifeless as they are,

Agyd. Eternal heaven sooner be dissolv'd.

Zen. Ah, life and soul still hover in his breast.

14. ceaseless] carelesse O4. 19. Phoebe's'] Phcebus O4. 21. his] the O4.

6. rape] snatching away, seizure. i^-i^j. Yetsince . . . ofdeath]Zeno-

mingled with other parts of the 19. P/^^fce's] Dyce and some sub-

II. the Queen of Heaven] Juno, of 23. you] Zenocrate is invoking her

Roman mythology. own soul, begging it to remain

That I may live and die with Tamburlaine !

Agyd. With Tamburlaine ! Ah, fair Zenocrate,

Zen. Leave to wound me with these words.

Agyd. How can you fancy one that looks so fierce, 40

Zen. As looks the sun through Nilus' flowing stream,

centred in Tamburlaine, even the context which connotation

though by doing so it leaves her Marlowe has in mind,

lifeless in its absence. Better still, 40. fancy] in its earlier meaning

she adds, and a solution of the con- often had a stronger sense than the

flict, would be a complete union modern somewhat debased phrase,

with his life and soul. The N.E.D. compares Shakespeare

35. Dyce and most subsequent {Twelfth Night, 11. v. 29), ' Should

editors supply the name ' Agydas ' shee fancie, it should bee one of

which in the octavos has probably my complection ' where, as in

dropped out at the beginning of the Marlowe's line, the phrase has the

line. force of ' fall in love with '.

38. villany'] has here either the 45. facts] here in the original

sense of discourtesy or the more sense of deeds, feats. Compare

emphatic sense of dishonour, in- Macbeth, iii. vi. 10. ' Damned

jury. It is not easy to judge from fact I '

Or when the Morning holds him in her arms,

So looks my lordly love, fair Tamburlaine ;

His talk much sweeter than the Muses' song 50

They sung for honour 'gainst Pierides,

Or when Minerva did with Neptune strive ;

And higher would I rear my estimate

Than Juno, sister to the highest god.

If I were matched with mighty Tamburlaine.

Agyd. Yet be not so inconstant in your love,

Now, in his majesty, he leaves those looks.

Zen. Thence rise the tears that so distain my cheeks.

Tamburlaine goes to her, and takes her away lovingly

Agyd. Betrayed by fortune and suspicious love,

50. much] more O4. 58. enjoy'] eioy O^ inioy O^O^^. 65. S.T>. Exeunt

50-1. the Muses' song . . . Pier- 65. Fearing his love] Fearing for

ides] The nine daughters of Pierus, his love ; fearing lest it should fail,

king of Emathia, contested with through my unworthiness.

the Muses and were transformed 70-87. To see his choler . . . her

into birds after their defeat. This overthrow] This picture of the

story, like that referred to in the wrath of Tamburlaine and of the

following lines, the contest of terror it struck into its victim is

Athena and Poseidon for the generally reminiscent of the episode

government of Athens, probably described, by Mexia, Perondinus

reached Marlowe through Ovid's and three or four other historians,

account [Metam., v. 302 seq.)^ qi the merchant of Genoa who

And wrapt in silence of his angry soul.

Upon his brows was pour t rayed ugly death,

And in his eyes the fury of his heart.

That shine as comets, menacing revenge.

And casts a pale complexion on his cheeks.

As when the seaman sees the Hyades

Gather an army of Cimmerian clouds,

(Auster and Aquilon with winged steeds.

All sweating, tilt about the watery heavens,

With shivering spears enforcing thunderclaps, 80

And from their shields strike flames of lightning)

All fearful folds his sails and sounds the main,

Lifting his prayers to the heavens for aid

Against the terror of the winds and waves ;

So fares Agydas for the late felt frowns.

That sent a tempest to my daunted thoughts.

And makes my soul divine her overthrow.

Enter Techelles with a naked dagger, and Usumcasane.

Tech. See you, Agydas, how the king salutes you.

73. fury] furies O^. 87. S.D. and Usumcasane] Add. Dyce. 89. S.D.]

opposed Tamburlaine and provoked Aquilo (' victoque aquilonibus aus-

76. the Hyades] a group of seven scientific description of thunder as

77. Cimmerian] black, as gener- he was familiar.

ally with Marlowe. 88. Enter . . . Usumcasane] There

78. Auster and Aquilon] The is some discrepancy in the original

Agyd. I prophesied before and now I prove 90

The kilHng frowns of jealousy and love.

Tech. Usumcasane, see how right the man

Hath hit the meaning of my lord the king !

Usum. Faith, and, Techelles, it was manly done ;

And, since he was so wise and honourable, no

Let us afford him now the bearing hence.

Tech. Agreed, Casane ; we will honour him.

[Exeunt, hearing out the body.

106. S.D.] om. Oi_3. 113. S.D.] Add. Dyce.

that Usumcasane and Techelles sentiment comes in abruptly and

presumably withdraw to the back slightly confuses the direction of the

of the stage while Agydas makes emotion. In its present form it

his final speech and stabs himself. recalls Seneca : * Prima huius

99. stay] as often, await, stay for. notae sunt hostium manibus eripi

102. Go . . . rage] This somewhat et tyrannicae irae et proscription!

misplaced echo of a common stoic et aliis periculis ' [De Ben,, i, ii, 2).

TAMBURLAINE, TeCHELLES, UsUMCASANE, ThERIDAMAS,

Basso, Zenocrate, with others.

Tamh. Basso, by this thy lord and master knows

I mean to meet him in Bithynia :

See how he comes ! tush, Turks are full of brags

And menace more than they can well perform.

He meet me in the field and fetch thee hence !

Alas, poor Turk ! his fortune is too weak

T' encounter with the strength of Tamburlaine.

View well my camp, and speak indifferently ;

Do not my captains and my soldiers look

As if they meant to conquer Africa ? lo

Bas, Your men are valiant, but their number few,

And cannot terrify his mighty host ;

My lord, the great commander of the world,

Besides fifteen contributory kings.

Hath now in arms ten thousand janizaries.

Scene in.

Scene Hi. leaves the actual site of so well

1. Basso] Upon the position and known an historical event vague,

2. Bithynia] The battle between 3-4- Turks . . . perform] Marlowe

Mounted on lusty Mauritanian steeds.

If he think good, can from his garrisons

k This hand shall set them on your conquering heads

; ^' That made me emperor of Asia.

Usum. Let him bring millions infinite of men.

■■^'*^^ More mighty than the Turkish emperor, v"^

■; "^ Shall rouse him out of Europe, and pursue 'v^ .

V' -^ His scattered army till they yield or die. " ^V J^

M Z^' Tamb. Well said, Theridamas ! speak in that mood; 40

V^ _^ Whose smiling stars gives him assured hope

I that am term'd the Scourge and Wrath of God, ^

25. seat] set Og. 42. gives] give O2. ^\. '^

16. Mauritania] A district of before the siege of Constantinople,

North-west Africa, sometimes re- from which he was turned aside by

garded as including Numidia, Tamburlaine's attack. The two

famous for its horses and horse- provinces referred to by the Basso

men. Tripoly is further east, on are coupled in Usumcasane's words

the coast of Barbary. (1. 34) ' unpeopling Western Africa

19. Grcscia] The invasion of and Greece '.

Will first subdue the Turk, and then enlarge fr'^---^^^-^--

Those Christian captives which you keep as slaves,

Burdening their bodies with your heavy chains.

And feeding them with thin and slender fare,

That naked row about the Terrene sea, 50

And, when they chance to breathe and rest a space,

Are punished with bast ones so grievously

That they lie panting on the galley's side,

And strive for life at every stroke they give. . ,-^V-'!^''

These are the cruel pirates of Argier, "^^

That damned train, the scum of Africa,

Inhabited with straggling runagates.

That make quick havoc of the Christian blood.

But, as I live, that town shall curse the time

That Tamburlaine set foot in Africa. 60

52. bastones] (scanned as dis-

55. pirates of Argier] On the pir-

57. runagates] vagabonds, deser-

Enter Bajazeth with his Bassoes and contributory Kings.

Zabina and Ebea.

Baj. Bassoes and janizaries of my guard,

Tamb. Techelles and the rest, prepare your swords ;

Baj. Kings of Fesse, Moroccus, and Argier,

He calls me Bajazeth, whom you call lord !

Note the presumption of this Scythian slave !

I tell thee, villain, those that lead my horse

Have to their names titles of dignity ; 70

And dar'st thou bluntly call me Bajazeth ?

Tamb. And know thou, Turk, that those which lead my horse

Baj. By Mahomet my kinsman's sepulchre.

Whom I have brought to see their overthrow.

Tamb. By this my sword that conquer'd Persia,

Thy fall shall make me famous through the world !

60. S.D. contributory] his contributory O3 O4. 65. t' encounter] t' incoun-

66. Fesse, Moroccus] These forms house or in the preparing of the

are regular in EHzabethan EngUsh printed text. (See R. J. ' To the

and interchangeable with Fez, Gentleman Readers . . .' and the

Morocco. The three kingdoms be- notes.)

tween them comprise the whole 76. yl/carow] appears to be a form

stretch of the north African coast preferred by Marlowe (or by the

under the suzerainty of Bajazet. printer) and by some of his con-

74. call me Tamburlaine] It may temporaries. It occurs also in

be remarked that Bajazet has not Part II, i. ii. 61 and V. i. 172,

yet spoken to Tamburlaine by 192.

name so that the retort is point- 78. sarell] (more familiar to

less. Possibly this indicates some modem readers through the Italian

contracting or expanding of the form ' seraglio '), the women's

original text either in the play- quarters in a Mahometan house.

I will not tell thee how Til handle thee.

Fez. What means the mighty Turkish emperor,

Morocco. Ye Moors and valiant men of Barbary,

How can ye suffer these indignities ? 90

Arg. Leave words, and let them feel your lances' points,

Baj. Well said, my stout contributory kings !

Tech. Puissant, renowmed, and mighty Tamburlaine,

Ther. I long to see those crowns won by our swords,

Usum. What coward would not fight for such a prize ? 100

Tamb. Fight all courageously, and be you kings :

Baj. Zabina, mother of three braver boys

84. 77/] / wil{l) O3O4. 87. the] this O4. 90. ye\ you O4. 97 all] of

84. I will . . . thee] Tamburlaine's 104. Hercules] The life and ex-

ing the battle is unknown to his- 105. pash] A common onomato-

tory. poeic word : to dash to pieces, to

94. hugy] huge. smash.

Their limbs more large and of a bigger size

Than all the brats y-sprung from Typhon's loins ;

Who, when they come unto their father's age, no

Will batter turrets with their manly fists —

Sit here upon this royal chair of state.

And on thy head wear my imperial crown,

Until I bring this sturdy Tamburlaine

And all his captains bound in captive chains.

Zah. Such good success happen to Bajazeth !

Fairer than rocks of pearl and precious stone,

The only paragon of Tamburlaine ;

Whose eyes are brighter than the lamps of heaven, 120

And speech more pleasant than sweet harmony ;

That with thy looks canst clear the darkened sky.

And calm the rage of thundering Jupiter ;

Sit down by her, adorned with my crown.

As if thou wert the empress of the world.

Stir not, Zenocrate, until thou see

Me march victoriously with all my men.

Triumphing over him and these his kings.

Which I will bring as vassals to thy feet ;

Till then, take thou my crown, vaunt of my worth, 130

And manage words with her, as we will arms.

Zeno. And may my love, the king of Persia,

Baj. Now shalt thou feel the force of Turkish arms,

109. Typhon's] Tryphons O4.

109. ^-s^^Mw^] Archaic forms such Cerberus, the Lernaean hydra,

as this are rare in Marlowe's writing. Chimaera and the Sphynx, though

The reference is to Hesiod's account it is perhaps unhkely that Mar-

{Theog. 306 ff.) of Typhaon (often lowe derived it from Hesiod him-

confused later with Typhoeus, the self.

father of the winds), whose chil- 131. manage.] See II. v. iii. 36

dren were the monsters Orthus, and note.

Let thousands die : their slaughtered carcasses

Subdued, shall stand as mighty as before.

Resting herself upon my milk-white tent.

[Exit with his followers.

142. they] they they O3. yield] ycelde Og- 158. lure] lute Og.

140. Hydra.] See note to 1. 109. burlaine and contemporaneous with

148. Our . . . way] Compare histranslationof the Elegies of Ovid,

Shakespeare's almost identical use 158. /wye] This passage appears to

of the metaphor : Macbeth, 11. i. ^2 : be hopelessly corrupt. The rela-

' Thou marshall'st me the way that tively less unsatisfactory reading of

I was going.' O^ O3 O4 has been retained here,

154. Pharsalia] It may be re- though it is difficult to believe that

called that Marlowe's blank verse it represents the original. Dyce's

translation of part of the first conjecture ' air ' is substituted in

book of Lucan's Pharsalia belongs most modern reprints, and is rather

to the early period of his career, more probable than ' light ' (Rob.)

probably slightly earlier than Tam- ' wind ' (Cunn.) or ' winds ' (Wag.).

Baj. Come, kings and bassoes, let us glut our swords

[Exit with his followers.

Zah. Base concubine, must thou be plac'd by me

Zeno. Disdainful Turkess, and unreverend boss,

Zah. To Tamburlaine, the great Tartarian thief !

Zeno. Thou wilt repent these lavish words of thine

Zah. And sue to thee ! I tell thee, shameless girl,

Ehea. Madam, she thinks perhaps she is too fine ;

But I shall turn her into other weeds, 180

And make her dainty fingers fall to work.

Zeno. Hearst thou, Anippe, how thy drudge doth talk.

Anip. Yet sometimes let your highness send for them

173. basso master] Bassoe, maister O-^. Bassoe-maister O^-^. 175. advo-

165. feeble Persians' blood] Tarn- 175. advocates] As Wagner points

burlaine and his generals have be- out, this may be regarded as a

come identified in Bajazet's mind feminine, ' advocatess ', though

with the Persians, of whom they only one other doubtful instance

are now the rulers and governors. is given in the N.E.D.

168. boss] Mitford would have 185. To dress . . . drink] This

emended to ' Bassa ', but there is was, in fact, the fate assigned to

something to be said for retaining Bajazet's empress by Perondinus

' Bosse '. See N.E.D. (s.v.) which and others. See Appendix D3 and

cites Sherwood, s.v. : ' A fatt notes.

To do the work my chambermaid disdains.

[They sound to the battle within and stay.

Zeno. Ye gods and powers that govern Persia,

And made my lordly love her worthy king, 190

Now strengthen him against the Turkish Bajazeth,

Zah. Now, Mahomet, solicit God himself,

And make him rain down murdering shot from heaven.

\To the battle again.

Zeno. By this the Turks lie weltring in their blood,

Zab. Thou art deceiv'd. I heard the trumpets sound

Zeno. If Mahomet should come from heaven and swear

But that he lives and will be conqueror.

Bajazeth flies and he pursues him. The battle short and

Tamb. Now, king of bassoes, who is conqueror ?

196. murdering] murthering O^ Og. 202. And] as O4. 204. As] and O4.

199. thy sacred shrine] Most of the Tamburlaine, himself a devout

historians agree in describing Ba- Mahometan, long refrained from

jazet as the zealous champion of crushing him on account of this

Islam against Christendom. Ac- virtue,

Baj. Thou, by the fortune of this damned foil.

Enter Techelles, Theridamas, and Usumcasane.

Tech. We have their crowns ; their bodies strow the field.

Deliver them into my treasury.

His royal crown again so highly won.

And crown me emperor of Africa.

Thou shalt not yet be lord of Africa.

[He takes it from her, and gives it Zenocrate.

How dare you thus abuse my majesty ?

The pillars that have bolstered up those terms

Are fain in clusters at my conquering feet. 230

Zab. Though he be prisoner, he may be ransom'd.

And never had the Turkish emperor

So great a foil by any foreign foe.

Now will the Christian miscreants be glad,

213. foir\ Conj. Dyce etc. soile O^ Og. soyle O3 O4. 220. Zenocrate]

213. /oi/] (conj. Dyce) is an almost difficult to believe that they are

irresistible emendation for soile not a survival of the ' fond and

(soyle) of the four early texts. frivolous gestures ' which Jones

The error of substituting a long did his best to omit. They bear

' s ' for an ' f ' is repeated more a similar aesthetic relation to the

than once in this play, though this context as do the frivolities written

is the only case in which it occurs into Faustus.

215-27. We have . . . is none] The above,

Ringing with joy their superstitious bells,

246. furthest] farthest O4. 259. British] Brittish O3 O4 brightest Og.

242. Afric and Greece] Bajazet's coast of Achaia, so named by the

constant references to the provinces ancients and by Ortehus : Thea-

of Africa and Greece and his de- trum Orbis Terrarum (Graecia).

pendence upon them for his re- 252. Persian fleet] Tamburlaine's

covery are explained when we Persian fleet is to follow approxi-

remember that it was in Natolia, mately the route of the Portuguese

at the heart of the Turkish empire, and Italian traders from Ormuz

that this battle had been fought. to southern China. He then sees

248. galleys . . . brigandines] For them strike across the Pacific to

descriptions of the Turkish pirates the western coast of Mexico and

of the Mediterranean, Marlowe appears to anticipate the Panama

may, as has been noted, be in- canal, bringing them straight

debted to Nicholas Nicholay. (See through the isthmus to Gibraltar,

I. III. iii. 55 and note.) where they are to be joined by the

251. Asant] generally interpreted Mediterranean fleet and control the

as Zante, a large island off the shipping in Biscay and the Channel.

Baj. Yet set a ransom on me, Tamburlaine.

^ Offer their mines, to sue for peace, to me.

And dig for treasure to appease my wrath.

* [They hind them.

J' Baj. Ah, villains, dare ye touch my sacred arms ?

f O Mahomet ! O sleepy Mahomet !

! Zah. O cursed Mahomet, that makest us thus 270

The slaves to Scythians rude and barbarous !

Finis Actus Tertii.

268. ye] you O^. 270. makest] makst O3 makes O4. 273. martial]

materiall O4.

263. kings of India] Timur historians and by Schiltberger, does

actually invaded and subdued a not appear in any of the European

great part of Northern India about biographers Marlowe appears to

the year 1395, but this, though have studied,

SCENE I
SoLDAN OF Egypt with three or four Lords, Capolin.

Sold. Awake, ye men of Memphis ! hear the clang

While thundering cannons rattle on their skins.

Mess. Nay, mighty Soldan, did your greatness see

dued this hitherto impregnable

2. basilisks] pieces of ordnance, 4. Volga] Marlowe's references

3. Damascus] The siege of Dam- tion which makes him a native of

137
138 THE FIRST PART OF [activ

It might amaze your royal majesty.

As monstrous as Gorgon prince of hell,

The Soldan would not start a foot from him.

But speak, what power hath he ? 20

Mess. Mighty lord,

Three hundred thousand men in armour clad.

Upon their prancing steeds, disdainfully

With wanton paces trampling on the ground ;

Five hundred thousand footmen threatening shot.

Shaking their swords, their spears and iron bills.

Environing their standard round, that stood

As bristle-pointed as a thorny wood ;

Their warlike engines and munition

Exceed the forces of their martial men. 30

Sold. Nay, could their numbers countervail the stars.

Or ever drizzling drops of April showers,

Or withered leaves that autumn shaketh down,

That not a man should live to rue their fall.

Your fighting men, and raise your royal host.

But Tamburlaine by expedition

Advantage takes of your unreadiness. 4®

Sold. Let him take all th' advantages he can.

Were all the world conspir'd to fight for him,

Act IV. Scene i.

32. ever drizzling'] drisling O^. 36. should] shal O^- 41. th' advantages]

18. monstrous] abnormal, un- is perhaps worth remark that one

natural. Cf. Chapman, Odyss., ix. of the few early references to this

268, ' A man in shape, immane and mysterious deity occurs in Lucan's

monsterous.' Gorgon] an abbrevi- Pharsalia (vi. 744-9), a work of

ated form of Demogorgon, a poten- which Marlowe had already made

tate of hell of obscure and possibly a partial translation.

his name with that of Belzibub in number. The N.E.D. cites no

his invocation {Faustus,2^2),2,nd. it instance exactly parallel to this.

His spear, his shield, his horse, his armour, plumes.

50 etc. The first day . . . tents] The

56. furniture] Tamburlaine's tent,

Tamburlaine, Techelles, Theridamas, Usumcasane,

Tamb. Bring out my footstool.

[They take him out of the cage.

y^. disparagement] dispardgemenf O ■^02- S.D.] Add. Dyce.

Scene ii.

2 seq. Ye holy priests . . . blood]

Staining his altars with your purple blood,

Tamb. The chief est God, first mover of that sphere

Baj. First shalt thou rip my bowels with thy sword

Tamb. Base villain, vassal, slave to Tamburlaine,

Unworthy to embrace or touch the ground 20

That bears the honour of my royal weight.

Scene ii.

4, your] you O3. 7. if] om. Og. 8. sphere] speare O4. 11. than] then

mographie Universelle (1575), in 9. Enchas'd with] set with, as

which he speaks of the Turkish gold with jewels. N.E.D. cites

dervishes who ' se font des incisions Sandys, Rel. Journ., i. 75, '. . . of

avec leurs rasoirs le long des beaten gold, and inchaced with

cuisses, des fesses, des bras, et de gems.' Cf. I, i. ii. 96 and note.

I'estomach, et autres parties du thousands] The reading of O1-4 has

corps ' (11. 597). been retained. The use of the

7. glorious] boastful. Derived numeral as an inflected adjective

8. The chiefest . . . sphere] This is of course, an analogy in the French

as the ' primus motor ' (The ' First 22. stoop ! Stoop,] There is no need

Unmoved Mover ' of Metaphysics, to repeat ' stoop ' a fourth time as

XII. 6ff.), the power which turned Dyce suggested. The hiatus in the

the ' primum mobile ', that in its verse is natural in imperative speech

motion gave movement to the other and can be paralleled in many

spheres of the Ptolemaic system. contemporary plays.

Baj. Then as I look down to the damned fiends,

Fiends, look on me ! and thou, dread god of hell.

[He gets up upon him to his chair.

Tamb. Now clear the triple region of the air, 30

And let the majesty of heaven behold

My sword struck fire from his coat of steel.

29. He gets up . . . chair] This

30. triple region of the air] The

34. their] Dyce and other editors

38. meridian line] The N.E.D.

And casts a flash of lightning to the earth.

So shall our swords, our lances and our shot

Then, when the sky shall wax as red as blood,

Keeping his kingly body in a cage.

Tech. You must devise some torment worse, my lord.

Tamb. Zenocrate, look better to your slave.

Zeno. She is my handmaid's slave, and she shall look

Chide her, Anippe.

46. to] on O4. 49. Clymene' s] Clymeus O^ O3 O4. 50. brent] burnt

49. Clymene's brain sick son] dering from its sphere and dashing

version of the tale which would be 50. brent] the older form (the

readily accessible to Marlowe. Mar- reading of O^ O2), relatively com-

lowe seems to picture the sun wan- mon in Spenser, has been retained.

Anip. Let these be warnings for you then, my slave.

Baj. Great Tamburlaine, great in my overthrow.

Tamb. Thy names and titles and thy dignities

Are fled from Bajazeth and remain with me, 80

That will maintain it against a world of kings. —

Baj. Is this a place for mighty Bajazeth ?

Confusion light on him that helps thee thus.

Tamb. There, whiles he lives, shall Bajazeth be kept ;

72. for you then] then for you O3 O4. 79. dignities'] dignitis O3 dignitie

75 seq. Great Tamburlaine ... It is to Marlowe's credit that he

kings] Marlowe has deliberately does not incorporate the wholly

stripped Bajazet of dignity in unfounded details which Peron-

adversity no less than in pros- dinus (followed verbally by Loni-

perity, yet he has preserved a cerus, Bizarus and Primaudaye)

certain consistency in the charac- develops from Chalcondylas's ac-

ter ; the futile defiance of this count of Tamburlaine 's treatment

scene is the counterpart of his of the Turkish empress,

earlier insolence. 96. Plato's wondrous year] A

86. in triumph drawn] For this commonplace of the schools ; the

detail, comparison should be made idea and the term occurring fre-

with the accounts of Mexia, quently in medieval thought. Plato

Perondinus and their followers. {Timaeus, 39D.) refers to the per-

These Moors, that drew him from Bithynia

To fair Damascus, where we now remain,

Shall lead him with us wheresoe'er we go. loo

Techelles, and my loving followers,

Now may we see Damascus' lofty towers.

Like to the shadows of Pyramides

That with their beauties graced the Memphian fields.

The golden stature of their feathered bird.

That spreads her wings upon the city walls,

Shall not defend it from our battering shot.

The townsmen mask in silk and cloth of gold.

And every house is as a treasury ;

The men, the treasure and the town is ours. no

Ther. Your tents of white now pitch'd before the gates.

Tamh. So shall he have his life, and all the rest.

feet year (rAeos eviavTvs), the

104. graced^ Dyce and many

105. stature . . . bird] The refer-

Be once advanc'd on my vermilion tent,

He dies, and those that kept us out so long ;

And when they see me march in black array,

With mournful streamers hanging down their heads, 120

Were in that city all the world contained.

Not one should scape, but perish by our swords.

Zeno. Yet would you have some pity for my sake.

Tamb. Not for the world, Zenocrate, if I have sworn.

SoLDAN, Arabia, Capolin, with streaming colours, and

Soldiers.

Sold. Methinks we march as Meleager did.

Scene Hi.

Heading. S.D. streaming] steaming O^ Og. 3. Calydonian'] Caldonian

124. country's] Robinson and seems to have been a favourite

some later editors would read with Marlowe at this time. The

' country ' here. There seems no legend, ultimately derived from

reason for rejecting the reading of Homer, probably reached Marlowe

the octavos. The city Damascus, through Ovid {Metam. viii. 270 ff.).

of which Zenocrate is speaking, 4-6. Cephalus . . . Aonian fields]

belongs to her country and to her This again is Ovid's version of the

father. story of Cephalus rather than that

Scene Hi. of the Greek poets. (See Metam.

1-3. as Meleager . . . Calydonian vii. 762 ff .)

boar] The story of Meleager and the 10. annoyeth] has a somewhat

hunting of the Calydonian boar stronger force in Elizabethan Eng-

My lord, it is the bloody Tamburlaine,

A sturdy felon and a base bred thief,

Bv murder raised to the Persian crown,

.... f,

That dares control us m our territories. 4

To tame the pride of this presumptuous beast, jj

Join your Arabians with the Soldan's power ;

Let us unite our royal bands m one, 4

And hasten to remove Damascus' siege. _'ii

It is a blemish to the majesty ,1

And high estate of mighty emperors, 20 *

That such a base usurping vagabond |

Should brave a king, or wear a princely crown. '^

Arab. Renowmed Soldan, have ye lately heard '^

The overthrow of mighty Bajazeth

About the confines of Bithynia ?

I
The slavery wherewith he persecutes

The noble Turk and his great emperess ?

Sold. I have, and sorrow for his bad success ; oi

But, noble lord of great Arabia, fi

Be so persuaded that the Soldan is 30

No more dismayed with tidings of his fall, "<

Than in the haven when the pilot stands, '^

And views a stranger's ship rent in the winds, |

And shivered against a craggy rock.

Yet in compassion of his wretched state,

A sacred vow to heaven and him I make,

Confirming it with Ibis' holy name,

12. and] om. O^- 14- dares] dare O2-4. 17. bands] handes O4.

lish than in modern, and often 32—3. in the haven. . . winds] The

bears, as here, the specifically image immediately recalls that of

military sense of molest. Compare Lucretius {De Rer. Nat. 11. 1—2), a

Milton's use (P.L. vi. 369) : ' Nor writer with whom it is hard

stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy to believe Marlowe unacquainted,

The Atheist crew.' though actual parallels are not

28. bad success] ill fortune. Cf. readily found.

hard successe which all these and ii. 105.

That Tamburlaine shall rue the day, the hour,

Or kept the fair Zenocrate so long,

Arab. Let grief and fury hasten on revenge ;

Sold. Capolin, hast thou surveyed our powers ? 50

Capol. Great emperors of Egypt and Arabia,

Arab. My mind presageth fortunate success ;

Sold. Then rear your standards ; let your sounding drums

38. the hour] and houre O4. 55. and] om. O4. 65. thy baseness and]

SCENE IV

The banquet, and to it cometh Tamburlaine all in scarlet,

Tamb. Now hang our bloody colours by Damascus,

Baj. Ay, such a stomach, cruel Tamburlaine, as I could

Tamb. Nay, thine own is easier to come by ; pluck out that

Baj. Fall to, and never may your meat digest !

Scene iv.

Scene iv. possible to confirm this suspicion

And in your hands bring helKsh poison up,

And squeeze it in the cup of Tamburlaine ! 20

Or, winged snakes of Lerna, cast your stings.

And leave 3/our venoms in this tyrant's dish.

Zah. And may this banquet prove as ominous

Zeno. My lord, how can you suffer these

Outrageous curses by these slaves of yours ?

Tamh. To let them see, divine Zenocrate,

To turn them all upon their proper heads.

Tech. I pray you, give them leave, madam ; this speech is

Ther. But if his highness would let them be fed, it would do

Tamh. Sirrah, why fall you not to ? are you so daintily

not eat] cannot not eat O3.

Throughout Greek mythology the

24. Progne's . . . king] For the

26. My lord . . . these] The line

30. imperial] represents more

Baj. First, legions of devils shall tear thee in pieces.

sword's point, or I'll thrust it to thy heart. 41

[He takes it, and stamps upon it.

slice the brawns of thy arms into carbonadoes and eat

them.
Usum. Nay, 'twere better he killed his wife, and then she

shall be sure not to be starv'd, and he be provided for

a month's victual beforehand.

for if she live but a while longer, she will fall into a

consumption with fretting, and then she will not be

worth the eating. 52

Ther. Dost thou think that Mahomet will suffer this ?

n
Tech. 'Tis like he will, when he cannot let it. «i

Tamh. Go to ; fall to your meat. What, not a bit ? ^^

Belike he hath not been watered to-day ; give him some

drink. 1

[They give him water to drink, and he

40. Here] there O3 O4. JYorn] up from O4. 44. slice'] fiice O3 fleece

which word is meant or whether a similar context {Coy. iv. v. 198

distinction in spelHng was observed seq.) : ' Before Corioh he scotched

by the printers. him and notched him hke a car-

44. slice] The relations between bonado.'

the four texts are clearly indicated 53-4- IS't] hinder.

by the variants in this line. O^ O2 5O. watevecC] used transitively,

read 'slice'; O3, by a common with an animate creature for object,

error, substitutes ' f ' for long ' s ' was confined in Elizabethan Eng-

and reads ' flice ' ; O4, endeavour- lish, as in modern, to the giving

ing to make sense of this, reads of drink to horses and cattle, or to

' fleece ', a form not likely to have an army on the march.

been arrived at had the printer of 58. while] until. Compare Mac-

O4 worked directly from O^ O^- beth, iii. i. 44 : ' While then, God

carbonadoes], steaks, thin strips be with you ! ' and the modem

of meat. Shakespeare uses it in a Scots and Irish usage.

How now, Zenocrate, doth not the Turk and his wife

Zeno. Yes, my lord.

Ther. Methinks 'tis a great deal better than a consort of

Tamb. Yet music would do well to cheer up Zenocrate.

Zeno. My lord, to see my father's town besieg'd.

Or if my love unto your majesty

Tamb. Zenocrate, were Egypt Jove's own land,

Yet would I with my sword make Jove to stoop.

I will confute those blind geographers

That make a triple region in the world.

Excluding regions which I mean to trace.

And with this pen reduce them to a map, 80

Calling the provinces, cities and towns

After my name and thine, Zenocrate.

62. than] then O3 O4. y^. friendly] frindly O^.

61. Yes, my lord] Zenocrate's occur until the late seventeenth

scene. She has not spoken, except 78. triple region] Marlowe is

for the half-protesting words of thinking of the three great groups

11. 26-27, until now when Tambur- of land, America, Europe with

laine directly addresses her. The Asia, and Africa. The continent

brevity of her reply brings his of Australasia was as yet only a

attention at once to her sadness, rumour. Tamburlaine intends to

for which he can see no reason. re-map the world, discovering fresh

Marlowe has well revealed the con- territories and naming them. Da-

trast between the two characters. mascus shall be the centre of this

62. a consort of music] as usually new world, through it shall travel

entertainment does not seem to

Here at Damascus will I make the point

That shall begin the perpendicular ;

And wouldst thou have me buy thy father's love

With such a loss ? tell me, Zenocrate.

Yet give me leave to plead for him, my lord.

And all the friends of fair Zenocrate, 90

If with their lives they will be pleas'd to yield,

Or may be forc'd to make me emperor ;

For Egypt and Arabia must be mine.

Feed, you slave ; thou mayst think thyself happy to

be fed from my trencher.

Draws bloody humours from my feeble parts.

Preserving life by hasting cruel death.

My veins are pale, my sinews hard and dry.

My joints benumb'd ; unless I eat, I die. 100

Zah. Eat, Bajazeth. Let us live in spite of them, looking

some happy power will pity and enlarge us.

make you surfeit.

85. thy] my O^. 98. hasting] hastening O^O^. 100. benumb'd] benumbd

84. the perpendicular] The imag- physiology seems never, as has

inary line dropped from any given been noticed above, to have been

point on the earth's surface to the so extensive as his knowledge of

celestial grand circle, so determin- more abstract sciences. In his

ing the zenith of that place and later work there are very few

establishing a meridian. Tambur- physiological descriptions or ex-

laine means that he will make planations, and even in this play,

Damascus the zero of the new map which contains more than any

of the world that he is going to create, other, we find only academic

as Greenwich is now the zero of knowledge derived ultimately from

British maps, by making its meridian Aristotle and showing no recogni-

the first meridian, or longitude 0°. tion of the more advanced of

96-100. my empty stomach . . . contemporary discoveries.

Ther. So it would, my lord, specially having so small a walk

Enter a second course of crowns.

Tamb. Theridamas, Techelles and Casane, here are the cates

Ther. Ay, my lord ; but none save kings must feed with these.

Tech. 'Tis enough for us to see them, and for Tamburlaine

Tamb. Well ; here is now to the Soldan of Egypt, the King

Baj. Nor shall they long be thine, I warrant them. 122

Tamb. Kings of Argier, Moroccus, and of Fesse,

You that have marched with happy Tamburlaine

107. specially] especially O3 O4. 126. bower] hower O^ Og. 129. valour]

115-121. Now, take . . . kings] of history than with the routes

This passage, generally printed as described in the play, which are

prose (as in the octavos), has here mainly South and West from

been divided according to the Tamburlaine's starting-point,

suggestion of Bullen, so that it 125. place] For ' place ' of

reads as rough blank verse. O1-4 many editors read ' plage ',

125-7. ^^ f^'^ • • • torrid zone] a reading which is supported by

Tartary and Scythia were pictured that of II. i. i. 68, and by Miss

by the Elizabethans as lands of Seaton's reference {R.E.S., p. 397)

ice and snow lying to the far north. to Clauserus' and Bibliander's

Tamburlaine's marches have led use of the word in the sense of

him from North to East and shore or region : ' Versus Orien-

from there to the tropical south. talem plagam ' and ' in orientali

This squares better with the records plaga '.

Ther. And, since your highness hath so well vouchsafed.

Tamb. Well said, Theridamas. When holy Fates

Until with greater honours I be grac'd. '\ {

Finis Actus qiiarti.

131. whence] where O4. 136. again] om. O3 O4. 139. th' antarctic] th'

131. virtue] power and ability.

137. holy Fates] Marlowe blends

ACT V ^#

The Governor of Damasco with three or four Citizens,

Gov. Still doth this man, or rather god of war,

And if we should with common rites of arms

Act V. Scene i.

ness ... is parcel of the wor-

Act V. Scene i. shipping of God.'

14. parcel of] an essential part 20 seq. Let us . . . conqueror]

of. N.E.D. cites Norton's tr. of In the sending out of the Damascan

Norvell's Catechism (1570) : ' To virgins Marlowe has combined the

praise and magnify God's good- records given by Mexia, Peron-

156
SCI] TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT 157

Their blubbered cheeks and hearty humble moans

Vtrg. If humble suits or imprecations

(Uttered with tears of wretchedness and blood

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.

Your honours, liberties, and lives were weigh'd

29. care] cares O^. 31 • than] then O3 O4. 33. helps] help O4. 37. too]

dinus and others of the taking of treatment of Bajazet and the legend

Or be the means the overweighing heavens

2. Virg. Then here, before the majesty of heaven

With knees and hearts submissive we entreat 50

Grace to our words and pity to our looks.

What simple virgins may persuade, we will.

Gov. Farewell, sweet virgins, on whose safe return

[Exeunt all except the Virgins.

SCENE II

Tamburlaine, Techelles, Theridamas, Usumcasane,

Tamb. What, are the turtles frayed out of their nests ?

63. S.D. all . . . Virgins] Add. Dyce.

45. overweighing] preponderating, laurel boughs, here symbolical of

overruling. victory to be resigned to Tambur-

54. events] as in iii. ii. 16, results, laine, are substituted by Marlowe

effects. The idea here seems to be for the olive branches which in the

that a merciful result or outcome versions of Mexia and Perondinus

may be suggested to Tamburlaine. conveyed the desire for peace.

55-6. these signs of victory] The i. turtles] turtle-doves.

The}^ know my custom ; could they not as well

For whom the powers divine have made the world.

In prime and glory of his loving joy

(Whose sceptre angels kiss and furies dread,)

Scene ii.

4. know] knew Og. 8. As] and O4. 9. tents] tent O3 O4. 10. comes]

5. flags] perhaps a reminiscence Wagner and others have done,

7. yowr] It seems hardly necessary virgins as they approach him.

For us, for infants, and for all our bloods.

Tamb. Virgins, in vain ye labour to prevent

That which mine honour swears shall be perform'd.

Vir. Nothing but fear and fatal steel, my lord.

Tamb. Your fearful minds are thick and misty, then.

Omnes. O, pity us !

Tamb. Away with them, I say, and shew them Death.

[They take them away.

35. nourished] nourish O3 O4. 37. prostrate] prostarte O3. 40. wished]

34. bloods] metonymy for lives with that reached by Tamburlaine's

or spirits. sword. Tamburlaine's personifica-

48-9. Death . . . edge] the im- tion of Death is interesting, the

perious judge, holds his court on the image is almost invariably that of

edge of Tamburlaine's sword, the a destroyer as in this speech. (Cf.

image being that of a judge's circuit. Part II, 11. iv. 83-4 ; v. iii. 67-71.)

Or, more simply, the domain of 59. observations] observances.

Death, the area through which he rites,

ranges (his circuit), is co-terminous 60. Gihon] the second river of

Or for the love of Venus, would she leave

Enter Techelles.

What, have your horsemen shown the virgins Death ?

Tech. They have, my lord, and on Damascus' walls

Tamh. A sight as baneful to their souls, I think,

As are Thessalian drugs or mithridate. 70

But go, my lords, put the rest to the sword.

[Exeunt.

Where Beauty, mother to the Muses, sits,

76. dishevelled] discheweld O^ Og dischevaeld O3 O4. 78. tresses]

Eden, ' that encompasseth. the Marlowe's knowledge. See Horace,

In silence of thy solemn evening's walk.

A doubtful battle with my tempted thoughts

S8. fight] fights O^O^. 94. Persia's] Rob. etc. Perseans [Persians) 0-^_^.

95. conceit] conception, idea.

97-110. What is beauty . . . can di-

If all the pens that ever poets held

If all the heavenly quintessence they still ,„^2(\^^ , 'p f

From their immortal flowers of poesy, t/ ■ Q-,^ [, i

Wherein as in a mirror we perceive .qC .\jy _J Ij;

The highest reaches of a human wit — y .,^ s, ,

If these had made one poem's period.

And all combin'd in beauty's worthiness, i

Yet should there hover in their restless heads ;' ;

One thought, one grace, one wonder, at the least, m

Which into words no virtue can digest. \ no u

;But how unseemly is it for my sex, ''' "'^'^'^ j^^^Qf^Q^'tO^

My nature, and the terror of my name.

114. harbour] habour O3. effeminate] effemiate O3 O4.

115 seq. Save only . . . nobility] by an interpolated sentence, 'And

What follows is in complete con- every . . . conceits ') which can-

trast to the rhetoric of the pre- not without violence be yoked to

ceding lines, a penetrating analysis 1. 120. A further, similar, diffi-

(unfortunately confused by an culty occurs in 1. 126, in which

obviously corrupt text) of the ' that ' may be a conjunction and

power of beauty over the soul of ' virtue ' bear the general meaning

man. of ' power ', * capacity ', or ' that '

115-27. This passage presents be a demonstrative adjective re-

And every warrior that is rapt with love

Of fame, of valour, and of victory.

Must needs have beauty beat on his conceits,

I thus conceiving, and subduing both.

That which hath stopt the tempest of the gods.

Even from the fiery spangled veil of heaven.

To feel the lovely warmth of shepherds' flames.

And march in cottages of strowed weeds.

The alternative interpretation of

A third suggestion has been

The separate group of problems

121. stopt] stoopt Dyce ^ etc.

122. fiery spangled] Oi_2- span-

123. lovely] lowly conj. Collier,

124. martch] mask, conj. Brough-

The mistakes implied in some of

Shall give the world to note, for all my birth.

Enter two or three.

Hath Bajazeth been fed to-day ?

Tamh. Bring him forth ; and let us know if the town be

ransacked.

Enter Techelles, Theridamas, Usumcasane, and others.

Tech. The town is ours, my lord, and fresh supply

Tamh. That's well, Techelles. What's the news ?

Tech. The Soldan and the Arabian king together

Tamh. No more there is not, I warrant thee, Techelles.

They hring in the Turk.

Ther. We know the victory is ours, my lord, 140

But let us save the reverend Soldan's life

Tamh. That will we chiefly see unto, Theridamas,

130. Prefix Attend.l Dyce. An. Oi_^. 132. S.D. and] with O3 O4.

from the very height of heaven, this can make the already con-

And now, my footstool, if I lose the field,

[Exeunt.

Baj, Go, never to return with victory !

Millions of men encompass thee about,

And gore thy body with as many wounds !

Sharp, forked arrows light upon thy horse !

Furies from the black Cocytus' lake.

Break up the earth, and with their firebrands

Enforce thee run upon the baneful pikes !

Vollies of shot pierce through thy charmed skin.

And every bullet dipt in poisoned drugs !

Or roaring cannons sever all thy joints, 160

Making thee mount as high as eagles soar !

Zah. Let all the swords and lances in the field

Baj. Ah, fair Zabina, we may curse his power.

The heavens may frown, the earth for anger quake ;

But such a star hath influence in his sword

As rules the skies and countermands the gods 170

More than Cimmerian Styx or Destiny :

And then shall we in this detested guise,

158. Vollies] Valleyes O4. 164. pore] dove O4. 171. than] then O3 O4.

155. Furies . . . lake] The line 171. Styx] The chief river of the

With shame, with hunger and with horror ay

Griping our bowels with retorqued thoughts,

And have no hope to end our ecstasies. jh

Zah. Then is there left no Mahomet, no God, , 'I

No fiend, no fortune, nor no hope of end "Ijl

To our infamous, monstrous slaveries. 1 1|!

Gape, earth, and let the fiends infernal view ^ p

A hell as hopeless and as full of fear i8o ' \

As are the blasted banks of Erebus, it

Where shaking ghosts with ever howling groans '> i

Hover about the ugly ferryman, ; |

To get a passage to Elysian. ^ I

Why live we, Bajazeth, and build up nests \

So high within the region of the air, ^^

That all the world will see and laugh to scorn v\

The former triumphs of our mightiness 190 ,,|

In this obscure infernal servitude ? j

Baj. O life, more loathsome to my vexed thoughts f '

Than noisome parbreak of the Stygian snakes, jf

173- ^y] (^y^ O4 ^^"^ Oi O2. 180. A'\ Rob. etc. As Oi_4. 192. thoughts]

173- <^y] The reading aye (aie) 178. infamous] Marlowe per-

of the octavos presupposes a verb sistently stresses thus. Cf. below

such as ' remain ', ' live ', un- 11. 329, 342.

expressed. This seems preferable 184. Elysian] the reading of the

to the emendations ' live ' and octavo is retained here.

' stay ' suggested by Robinson and 193-5- Than noisome . . . cureless

by Dyce and adopted by many griefs] The graphic quality of these

later editors. lines suggests that they are a

174. re/or^-Me^] An unusual word, deliberate reproduction, but from

175. ecstasies] as often, any twined about them or in their hair,

Infecting all the ghosts with cureless griefs !

O dreary engines of my loathed sight,

That sees my crown, my honour and my name

Thrust under yoke and thraldom of a thief,

Why feed ye still on day's accursed beams.

And sink not quite into my tortur'd soul ? 200

You see my wife, my queen, and emperess.

Brought up and propped by the hand of Fame,

Queen of fifteen contributory queens.

Now thrown to rooms of black abjection,

Smear'd with blots of basest drudgery.

And villeiness to shame, disdain, and misery.

Accursed Bajazeth, whose words of ruth.

That would with pity cheer Zabina's heart.

And make our souls resolve in ceaseless tears.

Sharp hunger bites upon and gripes the root 210

From whence the issues of my thoughts do break.

0 poor Zabina ! O my queen, my queen !

1 may pour forth my soul into thine arms

Zah. Sweet Bajazeth, I will prolong thy life 220

199. ye]you O4. 204. abjection] objection O^ O4. 207. ruth] truth O4.

196, engines] as often, instru- N.E.D. quotes this passage under

ments, means. ' villainess ' without distinguishing

204. abjection] here used in the it from the later and modern

206. villeiness] The reading of 219. expressless] passive, as often

Oi_4 stands, I think, for villei- in Elizabethan English : inex-

ness, the feminine of villein, in pressible. banned] repressed, bound

the sense of servant, still cur- down,

As long as any blood or spark of breath

[She goes out.

And beat thy brains out of thy conquer'd head,

Since other means are all forbidden me.

That may be ministers of my decay.

O highest lamp of ever-living Jove,

Accursed day, infected with my griefs,

Hide now thy stained face in endless night,

And shut the windows of the lightsome heavens. 230

Let ugly darkness with her rusty coach.

Engirt with tempests wrapt in pitchy clouds.

Smother the earth with never-fading mists.

And let her horses from their nostrils breathe

Rebellious winds and dreadful thunder claps,

That in this terror Tamburlaine may live,

And my pin'd soul, resolv'd in liquid air.

May still excruciate his tormented thoughts.

Then let the stony dart of senseless cold

Pierce through the centre of my withered heart, 240

And make a passage for my loathed life.

[He brains himself against the cage.

224. thy] the O3 O4. 227. ever-living] everlasting O ^. 237. air]ayOi02-

231. ugly Darkness . . . coach] 'bits' (i. v, 20) ; ' charet fild with

The coach or chariot of night rusty blood ' (i. v. 32).

(to which Marlowe again refers in 2^7-8. my pin'd soul . . . thoughts]

Hero and Leander, 11. 332-4) is Bajazet here conceives of the

a commonplace and is described Spirit as a subtle essence allied to

by Euripides, Theocritus, Tibullus the air and dwelling in it, a theory

and Virgil {Aen., v. 721), the last which seems to carry us back rather

of which writers was certainly to the doctrines of Anaximenes of

read by Marlowe. But the attri- Miletus and Diogenes of Apollonia

butes of ugliness (' rusty ' in this (sixth and fifth centuries b.c.) than

passage, ' loathsome ' in H. and L.) to Aristotle or to the common

seem to be Marlowe's own addition. Christian view. I cannot trace

I can find no parallel in the classical the means by which this idea

references, though they frequently reached Marlowe,

call the coach black. A little later, 241. He brains himself] The sui-

however, in the Faery Queene, cide of Bajazet is described only

Spenser has several similar refer- by Perondinus and Primaudaye,

ences : ' yron charet ' and ' rusty who obviously follows him.

Enter Zabina.

Zah. What do mine eyes behold ? my husband dead !

Give him his liquor ? not I. Bring milk and fire, and

Zenocrate with Anippe.

Zeno. Wretched Zenocrate, that livest to see

248. give] and give O^- 254-5. Let . . . Tamburlaine] om. O3O4. 256.

247-56. Give him ... 7 come, I uses prose mixed with snatches of

Of heavenly virgins and unspotted maids,

Whose looks might make the angry god of arms

To break his sword and mildly treat of love,

On horsemen's lances to be hoisted up,

And guiltlessly endure a cruel death.

For every fell and stout Tartarian steed,

That stamped on others with their thundring hoofs,

When all their riders charg'd their quivering spears, 270

Began to check the ground and rein themselves.

Gazing upon the beauty of their looks.

Ah, Tamburlaine, wert thou the cause of this.

That term'st Zenocrate thy dearest love ?

Whose lives were dearer to Zenocrate

Than her own life, or aught save thine own love.

But see another bloody spectacle.

Ah, wretched eyes, the enemies of my heart,

How are ye glutted with these grievous objects.

And tell my soul more tales of bleeding ruth ! 280

See, see, Anippe, if they breathe or no.

Anip, No breath, nor sense, nor motion, in them both.

Zeno. Earth, cast up fountains from thy entrails.

269. hoofs] hooves OjOg. 2^6. ThanjThen O3O4. 285. thy] thine O3O4.

271. check the ground] used again. in misery] In this speech alone is

of horses stamping on the ground in reproduced the gist of the reflexions

Hero and Leander, 11. 143-4. with which Mexia accompanies

279. glutted] is an unfortunate the narrative of Bajazet. ' Sic

favourite with Marlowe, most un- transit gloria mundi ' is no part of

suitably used, perhaps, in Faustus, Marlowe's main theme in Tamhur-

but ill-placed here also. Miss laine, but it is skilfully suggested

Seaton points out that it also in the intervals, through Zeno-

occurs in Belleforest's Cosmographie crate's reflexions, and serves to

universelle. (See R.E.S., Oct., emphasize the high colour and

1929, p. 397.) strong movement of the main

285. entrails] here trisyllabic. action. The strophic movement of

288 seq. Blush heaven . . . so long this speech, with its refrain, may

And let them die a death so barbarous.

And place their chiefest good in earthly pomp,

Ah, mighty Jove and holy Mahomet,

Your love hath Fortune so at his command,

Enter a Messenger.

Zeno. What other heavy news now brings Philemus ?

Phil. Madam, your father and th' Arabian king,

294- fightst] fights Oi Og. 298. war] warres O3 O4.

be compared with Part II, 11. iv. 318. as Turnus . . .] The wars of

i~33 > V. hi. 1-41 and 145-158. Turnus and Aeneas, occasioned by

290. empery] empire or imperial Aeneas's marriage with Lavinia,

power, formerly betrothed to Turnus, are

Armed with lance into the ^Egyptian fields,

Zeno. Now shame and duty, love and fear presents

A thousand sorrows to my martyred soul. , \

Whom should I wish the fatal victory, ,

When my poor pleasures are divided thus, ' \

And racked by duty from my cursed heart ? • \

My father and my first betrothed love ^ \

Must fight against my life and present love ;

Wherein the change I use condemns my faith, \ \

And makes my deeds infamous through the world. ' '

But as the gods, to end the Trojan's toil, 330 \ 1

Prevented Turnus of Lavinia, 1

And fatally enriched iEneas' love.

So, for a final issue to my griefs, '

To pacify my country and my love, \'\

\ Must Tamburlaine by their resistless powers,

"^ With virtue of a gentle victory, \'\

% Conclude a league of honour to my hope ; ,, j

^^; Then, as the powers divine have pre-ordained,

\)^ With happy safety of my father's life i''

Y< r.r! Send like defence of fair Arabia. 340 f I

\They sound to the battle. And Tamburlaine enjoys

Arab. What cursed power guides the murdering hands

333. final] small Og.

described in the seventh book of Virgil, though not, I think, at this

Even so for her thou diest in these arms,

Zeno. Too dear a witness for such love, my lord. 350

Arab. Then shall I die with full contented heart,

Would lend an hour's licence to my tongue.

Enter Tamburlaine leading the Soldan, Techelles,

Tamb. Come, happy father of Zenocrate,

349. thy blood] my bloodO^- 358. bringeth] bringth O3. 373. have] hath

353. conceit] here equivalent to pare ' That in conceit bear empires-

As vast and deep as Euphrates or Nile.

Zeno. O sight thrice welcome to my joyful soul,

Sold. Well met, my only dear Zenocrate,

Though with the loss of Egypt and my crown.

Tamh. 'Twas I, my lord, that gat the victory.

391. should] shall O3 O4. 392. sweat] sweare O3 O4.

377. Euphrates] With this ac- and almost unconscious blending

centing of the name, Wagner com- of pagan and Christian phraseology

pares Ant. and Cleop., i. ii. 106 : in the phrases about Styx, Charon

* Extended Asia from Euphrates.' and Elysium, followed by the

401-5. Millions of souls . . . up ' up to heaven ' of 1. 405.

Emperors and kings lie breathless at my feet ;

Sold. Mighty hath God and Mahomet made thy hand,

If, as beseems a person of thy state,

Tamh. Her state and person wants no pomp, you see ;

Then let me find no further time to grace ^

Her princely temples with the Persian crown ; ^*

But here these kings that on my fortunes wait.

Sold. I yield with thanks and protestations

Tamh. Then doubt I not but fair Zenocrate

Zeno. Else should I much forget myself, my lord.

Ther. Then let us set the crown upon her head.

That long hath lingered for so high a seat. 440

Tech. My hand is ready to perform the deed,

432. my] the O^. 436. I not] not I O3 O4. 438, Else] Then Og.

For now her marriage time shall work us rest.

Usum. And here's the crown, my lord ; help set it on.

Tamh. Then sit thou down, divine Zenocrate ;

Triumphs and trophies for my victories ;

That purchas'd kingdoms by your martial deeds.

443. on] om. O2. 461. your] you O3. martial] matiall O^.

448. As Juno . . .] This appears 466. Alcides' post] The emenda-

to be Marlowe's own image. Hera tion ' posts ' substituted (perhaps

is not specifically mentioned in by confusion with the Pillars of

classical accounts of the battles Hercules ?) by Dyce and others

between Zeus and the Titans. for the reading of the octavos is

452. Latona's daughter] The arms invalidated by Horace's lines :

of Artemis (daughter of Leto) are .

not, strictly, those of war, but of , ,, ,. Veianms, armis

the chase Herculis ad postem fixis, latet

456. From Barbary . . . Indie] abditus agro.'

That is, from the northern coast of \^P-' ^- ^- 4""5-) _

Africa in the west to the Ganges ' Post ' is an obvious Latinism,

in the east, the extent, eastward and ' postis ' being the door-post of the

westward, of Tamburlaine's empire, temple.

For Tamburlaine takes truce with all the world.

11 Then, after all these solemn exequies,

II We will our rites of marriage solemnise.

[1 Finis Actus quinti and ultimi huius primae partis.

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