particular being wide enough at

71. cavalieros] See 11. iv. 103, and

73-4. These two lines are almost

75. argins . . . covered^ways] Cun-

To keep the bulwark fronts from battery,

And parapets to hide the musketeers,

Casemates to place the great artillery,

And store of ordnance, that from every flank

May scour the outward curtains of the fort, 80

Dismount the cannon of the adverse part,

Murder the foe and save the walls from breach.

When this is learn'd for service on the land.

By plain and easy demonstration

I'll teach you how to make the water mount.

That you may dry-foot march through lakes and pools,

Deep rivers, havens, creeks, and little seas.

And make a fortress in the raging waves,

Fenc'd with the concave of a monstrous rock,

Invincible by nature of the place. 90

When this is done, then are ye soldiers,

And worthy sons of Tamburlaine the Great.

Caly. My lord, but this is dangerous to be done ;

Tamb. Villain, art thou the son of Tamburlaine,

yS. great] greatst O^. go . by] by the O ^^ gi. ye] you O^O^. g6.a]the02-

78. Casemates] The N.E.D. de- line presents some difficulty. As it

80. curtains of the fort] the walls pikes, of mingled foot and horse ',

joining two bastions or towers while Mitford conjectures ' A ring

together, of pikes and horse, mangled with

99. A ring . . . and horse] This shot '.

And canst thou, coward, stand in fear of death ?

[He cuts his arm.

Enchas'd with diamonds, sapphires, rubies, 120

And fairest pearl of wealthy India,

Caly. I know not what I should think of it ; methinks 'tis

Cel. 'Tis nothing Give me a wound, father.

III. hisi this O3 O4. marched] martch Oj Og. 113. dram] drop O^-

124-5. ^^^ Afric potentate] Baja- ing Tamburlaine's siege of Dam-

Amy. And me another, my lord.

Tamh. Come, sirrah, give me your arm.

Cel. Here, father, cut it bravely, as you did your own.

Tamh. It shall suffice thou darst abide a wound ;

Till fire and sword have found them at a bay.

Usum. I long to pierce his bowels with my sword.

Tamh. Then let us see if coward Callapine

SCENE III

Techelles, Theridamas, and their train.

147. the towns] Townes O3. 150. accursed] cursed Og. 152. his] the Og.

Act III. Scene in.

Scene Hi. Balsera] ' Northward ', says Cun-

1-3. Thus have we marched . . . ningham, ' should no doubt be

Unto the frontier point of Soria ;

Minions, falc'nets, and sakers, to the trench.

Ther. But stay a while ; summon a parle, drum.

{Summon the battle. Captain with his wife and son.

Capt. What require you, my masters ?

2. point] port O3 O4. 9. soldiers] souldious O3. 12. quietly] quickely

southward. It would not be easy as will be shown, Marlowe often

to march northward to Bassorah.' makes just such a choice. More-

But Marlowe's accuracy is again over, this particular episode is a

vindicated by Miss Seaton : ' We patchwork of borrowed scraps, and

have seen once already that Mar- it seems to be his practice to

lowe can be trusted in his points of situate his invented episodes in

the compass ; if, before emending places unimpeachable by their

to southward, we take him on very obscurity.' {Marlowe's Map,

trust here, we must assume that the p. 24.)

unknown town is on the northern 6. Minions, falc'nets, and sakers]

or Natolian frontier of Soria, for All ' small pieces of ordinance ',

the column has started from Larissa as Robinson remarks. The dis-

on the southern frontier. Ortelius tinctions between them are hardly

can help us out with a suggestion. relevant here, but the terms serve

In the map of Natolia, especially to show Marlowe's temporary pre-

noticeable in the coloured copies occupation with military tech-

as a frontier point, is the town nicalities.

Passera, with the first ' s ' long. 8. gold] The reading of the

This may well be Marlowe's Bal- octavos, followed by Robinson,

sera. The objection occurs that Cunningham, and Bullen. There

the arbitrary choice of an insigni- seems little need to emend to ' hold '

ficant town is not probable, but, with Dyce and Wagner.

Ther. These pioners of Argier in Africa, 20

Even in the cannon's face, shall raise a hill

Tech. Captain, these Moors shall cut the leaden pipes

And lie in trench before thy castle walls,

Capt. Were you, that are the friends of Tamburlaine,

Ther. Pioners, away ! and where I stuck the stake.

Pioners, We will, my lord. [Exeunt.

Tech. A hundred horse shall scout about the plains,

21. iYi] to O4. 33. any] Add. Rob. om. 0],_4. 34. quietly] quick ely 0 1^.

20-6. These pioners . . . all the 25. ordinance] The original spell -

trench] The siege methods here ing has been retained instead of the

To spy what force comes to relieve the hold.

Both v;^e, Theridamas, will intrench our men,

And with the Jacob's staff measure the height 50

And distance of the castle from the trench,

That we may know if our artillery

Will carry full point blank unto their walls.

Ther. Then see the bringing of our ordinance

Make deaf the air and dim the crystal sky.

Tech. Trumpets and drums, alarum presently !

And, soldiers, play the men ; the hold is yours !

[Exeunt,

Enter the Captain, with his Wife and Son

Olym. Come, good my lord, and let us haste from hence.

55. into] unto O4. 56. gabions] Broughton etc. Galions O^ galions Og

Scene iv.

50. the Jacob's staff] An instru- or cannon-baskets, are great bas-

ment, then recently invented, by kets, which, being filled with earth,

which heights and distances could are placed upon the batteries,' the

be measured. rough equivalent of sand-bags.

56. gabions] The conjecture

offered by Broughton, Colher, Cun- Scene iv.

ningham, etc. seems unavoidable On the relation between this

here ; the consistent ' galions ' of episode and Ariosto's story of

the octavos appears meaningless. Isabella {Orlando Furioso, xxviii,

Cunningham explains : ' Gabions, xxix) see Introduction, pp. 44-5.

Lies heavy on my heart ; I cannot live.

I feel my liver pierc'd and all my veins,

That there begin and nourish every part,

Mangled and torn, and all my entrails bath'd

In blood that straineth from their orifex.

Farewell, sweet wife ! sweet son, farewell ! I die. lo

Olym. Death, whither art thou gone, that both we live ?

Will hew us piecemeal, put us to the wheel,

Son. Mother, despatch me, or I'll kill myself ;

[She stabs him.

Olym. Ah, sacred Mahomet, if this be sin.

Enter Theridamas, Techelles, and all their train.

Ther. How now. Madam ! what are you doing ?

9 straineth] staineth Og.

6-9. For Marlowe's idea of 9. orifex] an erroneous form of

human physiology, compare I, ' orifice ', occurring also in Shake-

Olym. Killing myself, as I have done my son,

Tech. Twas bravely done, and like a soldier's wife.

Will match thee with a viceroy or a king.

Olym. My lord deceased was dearer unto me

Ther. But, lady, go with us to Tamburlaine,

And thou shalt see a man greater than Mahomet,

In whose high looks is much more majesty.

Than from the concave superficies

Of Jove's vast palace, the imperial orb.

Unto the shining bower where Cynthia sits, 50

Like lovely Thetis, in a crystal robe ;

That treadeth fortune underneath his feet.

And makes the mighty god of arms his slave ;

On whom death and the fatal sisters wait

With naked swords and scarlet liveries ;

Before whom, mounted on a lion's back,

Rhamnusia bears a helmet full of blood.

And strows the way with brains of slaughtered men ;

By whose proud side the ugly furies run,

Hearkening when he shall bid them plague the world ; 60

Over whose zenith, cloth'd in windy air.

And eagle's wings join'd to her feathered breast,

40. wertl art O4. 62. join'd] inioin'd Og.

47-51. In whose high looks . . . 49. imperial] see I, iv. iv. 30, and

robe] In Tamburlaine's looks there note.

dwells more majesty than is to be 57. Rhamnusia] Nemesis, called

Fame hovereth, sounding of her golden trump,

Olym. Take pity of a lady's ruthful tears,

That humbly craves upon her knees to stay, 70

And cast her body in the burning flame

Tech. Madam, sooner shall fire consume us both

Ther. Madam, I am so far in love with you.

Olym. Then carry me, I care not, where you will, 80

And let the end of this my fatal journey

Tech. No, madam, but the beginning of your joy :

Ther. Soldiers, now let us meet the general.

Out of the coffers of our treasury. [Exeunt.

63. Fame] Fume O3 O4. of] in O4. 86. time] times O3. 88. the silver]

64-5. the adverse poles . . . frame

Callapine, Orcanes, Jerusalem, Trebizon, Soria,

Mess. Renowmed emperor, mighty Callapine,

Call. My royal army is as great as his,

On the site of the battle between

' Yet there is a clue left. Twice,

3. Aleppo] ' Again the scenes are

" from the bounds of Phrygia to

That, from the bounds of Phrygia to the sea

Which washeth Cyprus with his brinish waves,

Covers the hills, the valleys and the plains.

Viceroys and peers of Turkey, play the men ;

Whet all your swords to mangle Tamburlaine,

His sons, his captains, and his followers :

By Mahomet, not one of them shall live !

The field wherein this battle shall be fought

For ever term the Persians' sepulchre.

In memory of this our victory. 20

Ore. Now he that calls himself the scourge of Jove,

Call. Tell me, viceroys, the number of your men, 30

And what our army royal is esteem'd.

Jer. From Palestina and Jerusalem,

Of Hebrews three score thousand fighting men

Ore. So from Arabia Desert, and the bounds

Treb. From Trebizon in Asia the Less, 40

15. your'] our O^. 21. the] om.O 2- 26. your] our O^. 27. their] in their

19. the Persians' sepulchre] See 36-7. that sweet land . . . Semir-

note above on the scene generally. amis] Babylon, the centre of the

28. paws] the reading of the Babylonian empire, was commonly

octavos ; Cunningham conjectured believed to have been rebuilt by

' jaws ', but the alteration seems Semiramis, wife of Ninus. (See

unnecessary. II, v. i. 73, and note.)

Naturalized Turks and stout Bithynians

Sor. Of Sorians from Halla is repaired.

And neighbour cities of your highness' land.

Ten thousand horse, and thirty thousand foot,

Since last we numbered to your majesty ;

So that the army royal is esteem'd 50

Six hundred thousand valiant fighting men.

Call. Then welcome, Tamburlaine, unto thy death !

Tamburlaine with his three sons, Usumcasane, with other.

Tamh. How now, Casane ! see, a knot of kings.

Sitting as if they were a-telling riddles.

Poor souls, they look as if their deaths were near.

But yet I'll save their lives and make them slaves.

Ye petty kings of Turkey, I am come,

As Hector did into the Grecian camp,

46. repair' d] prepar'd O4. 47. om. O4. 57. Heading Actus 2, Scaena i

46. Halla] Miss Seaton remarks, 54-5- sacrifice . . . to Mahomet]

' might well be thought to be one Again, the mingling of the Ma-

of the many variants of Aleppo hometan and classical universe.

(Alepo, Halep, Aleb), but it ap- 65-8. As Hector . . . of his fame]

pears in the map of the world For this episode, we look in vain

[Ortelius] as a separate town to in the Iliad. It belongs to the

the south-east of Aleppo.' {Mar- post-Homeric Troy tale. It might

lowe's Map, p. 30.) well be familiar to Marlowe from

54. The Persians' sepulchre] See any one of several repetitions of

note on 1. i, above. the Trojan story, such as Lyd-

To overdare the pride of Graecia,

And set his warlike person to the view

Of fierce Achilles, rival of his fame.

I do you honour in the simile ;

For if I should, as Hector did Achilles, 70

(The worthiest knight that ever brandished sword,)

Challenge in combat any of you all,

I see how fearfully ye would refuse.

And fly my glove as from a scorpion.

Ore. Now, thou art fearful of thy army's strength.

Tamh. Villain, the shepherd's issue, at whose birth

Heaven did afford a gracious aspect, 80

And join'd those stars that shall be opposite

Even till the dissolution of the world.

And never meant to make a conqueror

So famous as is mighty Tamburlaine,

Shall so torment thee and that Callapine,

That, like a roguish runaway, suborn'd

That villain there, that slave, that Turkish dog,

To false his service to his sovereign,

As ye shall curse the birth of Tamburlaine.

Call. Rail not, proud Scythian : I shall now revenge 90

Jer. By Mahomet, he shall be tied in chains,

77. shepherd's] Sepheard O3. 84. is] the O4.

gate's Troy Book, in which (Bk. (the positions of the stars) was more

III, 11. 3755 seq.) it is treated at favourable at Tamburlaine's birth

length. than it would ever be again, stars

80—2. Heaven did afford . . . the coming into conjunction then that

world] According to medieval as- would, for the rest of time, be in

trological theory, the temperament opposition,

of a man was determined by the 88. false] betray,

relations of the stars at the moment 93. brigandine] See II, i. v. 11,

of his birth. The aspect of heaven and note.

And turn him to his ancient trade again ;

Call. Nay, when the battle ends, all we will meet.

Tamb. Sirrah Callapine, I'll hang a clog about your neck for

But as for you, viceroy, you shall have bits.

Ore. But, Tamburlaine, first thou shalt kneel to us.

Treh. The common soldiers of our mighty host no

Shall bring thee bound unto the general's tent.

Sor. And all have jointly sworn thy cruel death.

Tamb. Well, sirs, diet yourselves ; you know I shall have

Cel. See, father, how Almeda the jailor looks upon us !

Tamb. Villain, traitor, damned fugitive,

I'll make thee wish the earth had swallowed thee !

Or rip thy bowels, and rend out thy heart,

104. harnessed^} harnesse O3 O4. 106. on] with O2. 108. thou shalt]

100-2. Sirrah ... fetch you] The other abbreviation of Tambur-

For, if thou livest, not any element

Shall shroud thee from the wrath of Tamburlaine.

Call. Well in despite of thee, he shall be king.

Bordering on Mare Roso, near to Mecca.

Ore. What ! take it, man.

Aim. Good my lord, let me take it.

Call. Dost thou ask him leave ? here ; take it.

Tamb. Go to, sirrah ! take your crown, and make up the

Ore. So he shall, and wear thy head in his scutcheon.

Tamb. No ; let him hang a bunch of keys on his standard,

Treb. Away ! let us to the field, that the villain may be

Tamb. Sirrah, prepare whips, and bring my chariot to my

Enter Theridamas, Techelles, and their train.

How now, ye petty kings ? lo, here are bugs

Will make the hair stand upright on your heads, 150

135. Go to sirrah] Go too sirha O^ Og Goe to sirrha O3 Goe sirrha O4.

1 30-1. Ariadan . . . Mecca] ' This Tamburlaine and many editors

exactly describes the position in indicate it by a stage direction,

the map of Africa of this unim- 136-7. you must give arms] The

portant town that Marlowe ar- pun, in this dubious prose passage,

bitrarily selected ; it appears again is not uncommon. It is best known

in Turcicum Imperium, but rrmch in the words of the gravedigger

less conspicuous, and the sea there {Hamlet, v. i. 37 seq.) : ' Is he a

is not called Mar Rosso ' (Seaton, gentleman ? A' was the first that

p. 28). ever bore arms.'

133. Good my lord, let me take it] 149. bugs] bugbears.

And cast your crowns in slavery at their feet.

Ther. Ay, my lord ; he was Callapine's keeper.

Tamh. Well now you see he is a king. Look to him, Theri-

Sor. No, Tamburlaine ; he shall not be put to that exigent,

Tamh. You know not, sir. i6o

But now, my followers and my loving friends,

Tech. I smile to think how, when this field is fought

Tamh. You shall be princes all, immediately. 170

Come, fight, ye Turks, or yield us victory.

Ore. No ; we will meet thee, slavish Tamburlaine.

[Exeunt.

1^^. know ye] know you 0:^0^. 155. you] ye 02- i6/^. aspect] aspects O^.

156-7. lest he hide . . . Persia with its prose form, throws sus-

did] This reference to I, 11. iv. reads picion on this speech and, no less,

like actor's gag — a happy refer- on parts of the episode alluded

ence to a popular episode in the to. See notes to I, 11. iv.

SCENE I

Alarm. Amyras and Celebinus issues from the tent where

Calyphas sits asleep.

Amy. Now in their glories shine the golden crowns

Cel. Call forth our lazy brother from the tent,

Amy. Brother, ho ! what, given so much to sleep.

Caly. Away, ye fools ! my father needs not me.

Nor you, in faith, but that you will be thought

Act IV. Scene i.

Act iv. Scene i. some fierce bird of unknown

242
SCI] TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT 243

More childish valour ous than manly wise.

If half our camp should sit and sleep with me.

My father were enough to scare the foe ;

You do dishonour to his majesty, 20

To think our helps will do him any good.

Amy. What, dar'st thou, then, be absent from the fight

Caly^l know, sir, what it is to kill a man ;

. . I It works remorse of conscience in me.

/ Nor care for blood when wine will quench my thirst. 30

Cef. O cowardly boy ! fie, for shame, come forth !

Caly. Go, go, tall stripling, fight you for us both ;

Amy, You will not go then ? 40

Caly. You say true.

Amy. Were all the lofty mounts of Zona Mundi

24. warn'd] wnrn'd O3. 36. both you] you both O4.

33. ^a//] here has its usual mean- blade, a very tall man."' {Rom.

ing, ' valiant ' or ' bold ', with per- and Jul., 11. iv.)

phas's choice of the popular and 42-3. Zona Mundi . . . Tartary]

almost vulgarized word. Bullen ' In Europe and Russia, the range

draws attention to Mercutio's com- of Zona mundi montes, or Orbis

ment, which perhaps throws light Zona montes, runs southwards

upon Marlowe's use : ' The pox of through northernmost Tartary from

such antic, lisping, affecting fan- the coast near Waygatz and

tasticoes, these new tuners of Petsora, in the coloured maps

accents ! " By Jesu a very good most obviously " farthest Tar-

Turn'd into pearl and proffered for my stay,

My wisdom shall excuse my cowardice. 50

I go into the field before I need !

[Alarm, and Amy r as and Celehinus run in.

Enter Perdicas.

Perd. Here, my lord. 60

Caly. Come, thou and I will go to cards to drive away the

Perd. Content, my lord : but what shall we play for ?

Caly. Who shall kiss the fairest of the Turks' concubines

Perd. Agreed, i'faith. [They play.

Caly. They say I am a coward, Perdicas, and I fear as little

Perd. Such a fear, my lord, would never make ye retire.

Caly. I would my father would let me be put in the front of

53. should r\ I should O4. 56. nor harm] no harme Og O4.

68. taratantaras] bugle-calls ; the tates the sound of a trumpet or

a coil they keep ! I believe there will be some hurt

Enter Tamburlaine, Theridamas, Techelles, Usumca-

Tamh. See now, ye slaves, my children stoops your pride,

Still to be train'd in arms and chivalry ?

Amy. Shall we let go these kings again, my lord.

Tamh. No, no, Amyras ; tempt not Fortune so.

\He goes in and brings him out.

Ther. Yet pardon him, I pray your majesty.

Tech. and Ustim. Let all of us entreat your highness' pardon.

Tamh. Stand up, ye base, unworthy soldiers !

Know ye not yet the argument of arms ? 100

Amy. Good, my lord, let him be forgiven for once,

76. ye] my O4. 77. glories] bodies O^. 83. 'gainst] against O4.

76. stoops] transitive, ' bends ' or 100. argument of arms] seems

' bows '. here to mean ' course or nature of

79. illustrate] become, adorn, military life ', The usage has no

beautify. exact parallel in the N.E.D., but

And we will force him to the field hereafter.

Here, Jove, receive his fainting soul again ;

[Stabs Calyphas.

103. ye] you O3 O4. 106. martial] materiall O3 O4. 107. thine] thy

it would appear that Tambur- 111-1.^. Here Jove ... thyself con-

laine's metaphor is borrowed from sists] ' Here Jove receive again the

the argument in which is set down soul of Calyphas, a spirit (i.e.

the lines along which a play or " form " almost in the sense of

story is destined to proceed. " idea ") not worthy to be the

104. jealousy] zeal. immortal part (essence) of that

tis' stream] Much less is made of is derived from the flesh of Tam-

Samarcand in this play than in burlaine — in whom moves an im-

most of the biographies of Tambur- mortal spirit of the same mould

laine, in whose life the city of his as thine own,' etc. The terms

birth played an important part. ' form ', ' subject ', ' essence ',

Jaertis here is undoubtedly the ' matter ' are used in strict accord-

Jaxartes which appears in Ortelius's ance with the tradition of six-

Persicum Regnum as ' Chesel fl. teenth-century Aristotelian logic,

olim laxartes ' and runs from and the whole passage (111-117)

Tartary due west into the Cas- throws an interesting light on

pian Sea. But Samarchand in Marlowe's conception of the divinity

this map is marked to the south of of man.

By Mahomet, thy mighty friend, I swear,

In sending to my issue such a soul,

Created of the massy dregs of earth,

The scum and tartar of the elements,

Wherein was neither courage, strength or wit.

But folly, sloth, and damned idleness.

Thou hast procur'd a greater enemy

Than he that darted mountains at thy head,

Shaking the burden mighty Atlas bears,

Whereat thou trembling hidd'st thee in the air, 130

Cloth'd with a pitchy cloud for being seen.

And now, ye cankered curs of Asia,

That will not see the strength of Tamburlaine,

Although it shine as brightly as the sun,

Now you shall feel the strength of Tamburlaine,

And, by the state of his supremacy.

Approve the difference 'twixt himself and you.

Ore. Thou showest the difference 'twixt ourselves and thee.

Jer. Thy victories are grown so violent, 140

That shortly heaven, filled with the meteors

128. Than] Then O3 O4. 135. you shall] shall ye O3 O4. 145. bloods

12^. tartar] (bitartrate of potash) seen, to avoid being seen. This

is generally used in the sixteenth gradual crescendo of rage is not

century to describe the dregs of without value. From the death of

wine or the deposit upon the cask. Zenocrate onwards the ever-in-

Hence Tamburlaine's contemptuous creasing madness of Tamburlaine

figurative use of the word. Cf. reveals itself more and more

Donne, Serm., 11. xix. : ' Impa- clearly. The first indications are

tience in affliction ... a leaven so given in the speeches at Zeno-

kneaded into the nature of man, crate's death-bed, the frenzy rises

so innate a tartar.' with Tamburlaine's hatred of Caly-

128-131. that darted mountains phas, passing on to his murder and

. . . for being seen] For the wars of this challenge to Zeus, to culminate

Zeus with the Titans, seel, v.ii. 448. in the final challenge at the ap-

for being seen] for fear of being proach of Tamburlaine's own death.

Tamb. Villains, these terrors and these tyrannies

Crown'd and invested by the hand of Jove,

Of these proud Turks and take their concubines.

Soldiers. We will, my lord.

[Exeunt with the body of Calyphas.

Jer. O damned monster, nay, a fiend of hell.

Whose cruelties are not so harsh as thine, 170

Nor yet imposed with such a bitter hate !

Ore. Revenge it, Rhadamanth and iEacus,

And let your hates, extended in his pains,

146. Villains] Villain O4. 157. peasants'] parsants O4. resist in]

157. resist in] the emendation 172. Rhadamanth and ZEacus]

offered by Broughton and followed with Minos, the judges in Hades,

by most subsequent editors for Here, they are more strictly, the

' resisting ' of the octavos. distributors of rewards and pun-

160. the tents and the pavilions] ishments after death,

Expel the hate wherewith he pains our souls !

Treb. May never day give virtue to his eyes,

Sor. May never spirit, vein or artier feed

Dry up with anger, and consume with heat !

Tamb. Well, bark, ye dogs ; I'll bridle all your tongues,

Fill all the air with troublous bellowing.

183. close] clese O3. 186. ye\ you O3 O4.

177. affections] See I, i. ii. 163, of the females, a somewhat

178. artier] one, though not a ner parallels ' miss ' with Shake -

188. Cimbrian bulls] I am unable curs in the next line ; ' their

189. the females' miss] the los§ them '.

Are seen to march upon the towers of heaven,

Run tilting round about the firmament,

And break their burning lances in the air,

For honour of my wondrous victories.

Come, bring them in to our pavilion. [Exeunt.

Olympia alone.

Olym. Distressed Olympia, whose weeping eyes.

Contagious smells and vapours to infect thee.

Enter Theridamas.

Ther. Well met, Olympia ; I sought thee in my tent,

Tell me, Olympia, wilt thou grant my suit ?

Olym. My lord and husband's death, with my sweet son's,

207. in td\ into O3 O4.

Scene ii.

Heading Scene ii.] Scena 3 Oi_4. 2. beheld] beholde O^ O4. 3. a] the O^.

With whom I buried all affections

Ther. Olympia, pity him in whom thy looks

For with thy view my joys are at the full,

Olym. Ah, pity me, my lord, and draw your sword.

Ther. Nothing but still thy husband and thy son ?

Upon the marble turrets of my court

Olym. No such discourse is pleasant in mine ears.

Ther. Nay lady, then, if nothing will prevail, 50

I'll use some other means to make you yield.

44. and?^ to O2. 46. in] to O4.

Scene ii acquainted with the nautical world

than the average modern towns-

30-3. Cynthia's . . . departst man. The full moon causes the

from me] The influence of the high tides or springs (' my joys are

moon upon the tides was a familiar at the full '), which sink to the

fact to the Elizabethan poets, neaps (' And ebb again ') as she

perhaps on the whole better wanes.

I must and will be pleased, and you shall yield.

Olym. Stay, good my lord and, will you save my honour,

Ther. What is it ?

Olym. An ointment which a cunning alchemist

Distilled from the purest balsamum 60

And simplest extracts of all minerals,

In which the essential form of marble stone,

Tempered by science metaphysical.

And spells of magic from the mouths of spirits,

With which if you but 'noint your tender skin,

Nor pistol, sword, nor lance can pierce your flesh.

Ther. Why, madam, think ye to mock me thus palpably ?

Olym. To prove it, I will 'noint my naked throat.

Which when you stab, look on your weapon's point.

Ther. Why gave you not your husband some of it,

Olym. My purpose was, my lord, to spend it so,

Ther. I will, Olympia, and will keep it for

55. good] now Og. and will you] if you will O4. 64. mouths] mother

59. An ointment . . . alchemist] quality, almost the ' spirit ', of the

In Ariosto's version of the story, marble. For this use of ' form '

Isabella herself makes the oint- compare above, iv. i. 112, and

ment and goes out to gather the note.

herbs, jealously guarded by Rodo- 63. science metaphysical] black

monte. The narrative- is long and magic, the science that went

undramatic and Marlowe has con- beyond mere physical knowledge,

densed it aptly by this device. We may compare Lady Macbeth's

61-2. simplest extracts] What words, ' Which fate and meta-

alchemy terms the elements, or physical aid doth seem to have thee

elemental parts, of the minerals. crouned withal ' (i. v. 27-8),

The richest present of this eastern world.

[She 'noints her throat.

Olym. Now stab, my lord, and mark your weapon's point,

Ther. Here, then, Olympia. [Stabs her.

What, have I slain her ? Villain, stab thyself !

And now the damned souls are free from pain.

[Exit taking her away.

81. S.D.] Add. Dyce. 87. than Elisian] then Elizian O3 O4. 88. than]

84-6. learned Rabbis . . . theoria what obscure ; the N.E.D. queries

of the world] The title Rabbi, now ' contemplation, survey ', which is

used only for a Jewish doctor of probably the meaning. Cf. Sir

the law, was during the sixteenth Thomas Browne's use of ' theory '

and seventeenth centuries some- in 1643 : ' Nor can I think I have

times applied to any man of great the true theory of death when I

and comparable learning. The contemplate a skull.' {Rel. Med.,

reference to ' the theoria ' is some- i. § 45.)

Tamburlaine, drawn in his chariot by Trebizon and Soria,

Tamb. Holla, ye pampered jades of Asia !

What, can ye draw but twenty miles a day,

Scene in.

5-6. from Asphaltis . . . to Byron]

8. And blow . . . nostrils'] Dyce

'. . . Cum primum alto se

{Aeneid, xii. 114!)

Are not so honoured in their governor lo

As you, ye slaves, in mighty Tamburlaine.

The headstrong jades of Thrace Alcides tam'd,

That King .^geus fed with human flesh.

And made so wanton that they knew their strengths,

Were not subdu'd with valour more divine

Than you by this unconquered arm of mine.

To make you fierce, and fit my appetite.

You shall be fed with flesh as raw as blood.

And drink in pails the strongest muscadel ;

If you can live with it, then live and draw 20

My chariot swifter than the racking clouds ;

If not, then die like beasts, and fit for naught

But perches for the black and fatal ravens.

Thus am I right the scourge of highest Jove ;

And see the figure of my dignity,

By which I hold my name and majesty.

Amy. Let me have coach, my lord, that I may ride.

Tamb. Thy youth forbids such ease, my kingly boy ;

They shall to-morrow draw my chariot, 30

While these their fellow kings may be refreshed.

Ore. O thou that swayest the region under earth.

10. iri] as O4. 21, than] then O3 O4. 27. coach'] a coch O3 a coach O4.

12. Alcides tam'd] For Marlowe's of Zeus, had absolute power in the

references to Hercules, see I, iii. lower regions and was thus some-

iii. 104, note. times referred to as Jove of the

21. racking] moving before the underworld, ' Juppiter Stygius '

wind. {A en., iv. 638). For the story of

25. figure of my dignity] the very the rape of Persephone and the

image of my dignity. N.E.D. cites wanderings of Ceres, see Metam.,

Elyot, Gov., I. xxvi. : ' There is v. 385 ff., a passage which, like

not a more playne figure of idlenesse the other numerous classical refer-

than playinge at dise.' ences to the tale, seems to be

32-8. Thou that swayest . . . derived from Homeric Hymn 2

queen] Hades (Pluto), the brother (to Demeter).

And as thou took'st the fair Proserpina,

Joying the fruit of Ceres' garden plot,

For love, for honour, and to make her queen,

So, for just hate, for shame, and to subdue

This proud contemner of thy dreadful power, 40

Come once in fury, and survey his pride,

Haling him headlong to the lowest hell !

Ther. Your majesty must get some bits for these,

Tech. Nay, we will break the hedges of their mouths.

Usum. Your majesty already hath devised 50

A mean, as fit as may be, to restrain

Cel. How like you that, sir king ? why speak you not ?

Jer. Ah, cruel brat, sprung from a tyrant's loins !

Tamh. Ay, Turk, I tell thee, this same boy is he

37. garden] garded Og. 53. speak you] speak ye O^- 57- same] om.

48-49. hedges of their mouths evidences of youth," so erlaube

Raise me to match the fair Aldeboran,

Above the threefold astracism of heaven,

Before I conquer all the triple world.

Now fetch me out the Turkish concubines ;

I will prefer them for the funeral

They have bestowed on my abortive son.

\The Concubines are brought in.

Where are my common soldiers now, that fought

So lion-like upon Asphaltis' plains ?

I mean such queens as were kings' concubines ;

Take them ; divide them, and their jewels too.

And let them equally serve all your turns.

For every man that so offends shall die.

The hateful fortunes of thy victory.

To exercise upon such guiltless dames

The violence of thy common soldiers' lust ? 80

Tamb. Live continent, then, ye slaves, and meet not me

With troops of harlots at your slothful heels.

[They run away with the ladies.

Lost long before you knew what honour meant.

61. match] march O3 O4. 62. Above] About O4. astracism]

Astrachisme O2. 72. their] om. Og- 81. continent] Rob. etc. content O^.^.

61-3. Aldeboran] The star in the outermost sphere but one (the

eye of the constellation Taurus. outermost was the /)nmww wo&z/e).

An astracism (more properly Why Marlowe applies to this the

' asterism ') is a constellation, that epithet ' threefold ' I have not been

is, from Marlowe's point of view, able to discover,

one of the twelve groups of fixed 70. tall] see II, iv. i. 33, and

stars of the zodiac which formed the note.

Ther. It seems they meant to conquer us, my lord,

Tamb. And now themselves shall make our pageant, 90

Tech. Let us not be idle, then, my lord.

Tamb. We will, Techelles. Forward, then, ye jades !

For there my palace royal shall be plac'd.

105. all] om. O4. 114. Thorough'] through O3 & through O4.

96. prest] see II, i. ii. 45, and note. owe little to anything but Mar-

And in my helm a triple plume shall spring,

Spangled with diamonds, dancing in the air.

To note me emperor of the three-fold world ;

Like to an almond tree ymounted high

Upon the lofty and celestial mount I20

Of ever green Selinus, quaintly decked

With blooms more white than Herycina's brows.

Whose tender blossoms tremble every one

At every little breath that thorough heaven is blown.

Then in my coach, like Saturn's royal son

Mounted his shining chariot gilt with fire,

And drawn with princely eagles through the path

Pav'd with bright crystal and enchas'd with stars,

When all the gods stand gazing at his pomp,

So will I ride through Samarcanda streets, 130

Until my soul, dissevered from this flesh.

Shall mount the milk-white way, and meet him there.

To Babylon, my lords, to Babylon ! [Exeunt.

Finis Actus Quarti.

121. ever] Rob. etc. every {everie) Oi_4. 122. brows] bowes O2. 124.

119-24. Like to an almond-tree go under this name. Broughton

. . . is blown] These hnes occur, draws attention to Virgil's reference

with very shght modification, in {Aen., ill. 705).

VII. v. 32. As the first three Venus may have been suggested

books of the Faerie Queene were to Marlowe by Horace {Odes, i.

not published until 1590, there has 2-33) or by Ovid, Metam., v. 363,

been some speculation as to whether Her. xv. 57, Am., 11. 10, 11, The

or not Marlowe can have read the epithet is common, and is derived

manuscript of the poem before from the temple of Venus on

publication. Mt. Eryx in the west of Sicily.

121. 5e/wws] Presumably a refer- Cf. Volpone iii. vi : 'Then I like

ence to the Sicilian town and not Mars and thou like Erycine.'

SCENE I

Enter the Governor of Babylon upon the walls with others.

Gov. What saith Maximus ?

Max. My lord, the breach the enemy hath made

Gov. Villain, respects thou more thy slavish life lo

Than honour of thy country or thy name ?

Act V. Scene i.

260
SCI] TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT 261

More strong than are the gates of death or hell ? 20

Enter another, kneeling to the Governor.

Cit. My lord, if ever you did deed of ruth,

Yet are there Christians of Georgia here.

Gov. How is my soul environed !

Another. My lord, if ever you will win our hearts.

Or die some death of quickest violence.

Gov. Villains, cowards, traitors to our state !

Fall to the earth, and pierce the pit of hell,

24. Prefix Cit.'] Add. Dyce. 32. he] was Og. 38. you] ye O^,- 39- save]

31-2. Christians . . . he ever pitied set down here because it happened

and reliev'd] The historical Tambur- to come back to the memory,

laine was, of course, pecuHarly 34. How . . . environed] Various

merciless to Christians ; it was the emendations have been suggested

faithful followers of Islam who to complete this metrically defec-

sometimes obtained mercy from tive line. Wagner suggested pre-

him. It is difficult to say what fixing ' Alas ! ' or ' Ay me ! ' and

allusion gave Marlowe this idea, but Broughton, Bullen and Dyce sug-

it bears the marks of a piece of gested adding ' with cares ' or

more or less irrelevant information ' with grief '.

That legions of tormenting spirits may vex

Enter Theridamas and Techelles, with other Soldiers.

Ther. Thou desperate governor of Babylon,

To save thy life, and us a little labour, 50

Yield speedily the city to our hands,

Gov. Tyrant, I turn the traitor in thy throat.

Tech. Yield, foolish governor ; we offer more

And that shall bide no more regard of parlie.

Gov. Assault and spare not ; we will never yield.

[^Alarms : and they scale the walls.

Enter Tamburlaine, with Usumcasane, Amyras and

Tamh. The stately buildings of fair Babylon,

49. Prefix Ther.'] Add. Rob. 58. Than] Then O3 O4. 64. than] then

69-70. Where Belus . . . triumphs legendary founder, himself the son

Tamburlaine] The three successive of Poseidon ; Ninus, the hardly

masters of Babylon here come less legendary founder of the

before Tamburlaine : Belus, the empire of Nineveh, whose queen.

Have rode in triumph, triumphs Tamburlaine, 70

Whose chariot wheels have burst th' Assyrians' bones,

Drawn with these kings on heaps of carcasses.

Now in the place where fair Semiramis,

Courted by kings and peers of Asia,

Hath trod the measures, do my soldiers march ;

And in the streets, where brave Assyrian dames

Have rid in pomp like rich Saturnia,

With furious words and frowning visages

My horsemen brandish their unruly blades.

Enter Theridamas and Techelles, bringing the Governor

OF Babylon.

Who have ye there, my lords ? 80

Ther. The sturdy governor of Babylon,

That made us all the labour for the town,

And used such slender reckoning of your majesty.

Tamh. Go, bind the villain ; he shall hang in chains

The wrathful messenger of mighty Jove,

83. of] for O4. your] you O^. 87. than] then O3 O4.

Semiramis, built the famous walls 77. Saturnia] a relatively fre-

of Babylon, and Alexander of quent epithet for Juno, occurs in

Macedon, who overcame the then the writings of both Ovid and

effete Babylonian empire in 331 B.C. Virgil. See, especially, Aen., i. 23

71. burst] broken. Broughton and Metam., iv. 464.

aptly cites, ' You will not pay for 95. ports] gates. Cf. I, 11. i.

glasses you have burst.' Tarn. 42.

Should I but touch the rusty gates of hell,

The triple headed Cerberus would howl,

And wake black Jove to crouch and kneel to me ;

But I have sent volleys of shot to you.

Yet could not enter till the breach was made. loo

Gov. Nor, if my body could have stopt the breach,

Tamh. Well, now I'll make it quake. Go draw him up,

Gov. Vile monster, born of some infernal hag, no

And sent from hell to tryrannise on earth.

Tamh. Up with him, then ! his body shall be scarred.

Gov. But, Tamburlaine, in Limnasphaltis' lake

Tamh. Then, for all your valour, you would save your life ?

Gov. Under a hollow bank, right opposite

98. wake] make O4. 105. city] om. O4. 107. him] itO^. 114. scarred]

98. black Jove] again Pluto, the 115-22. in Limnasphaltis' lake

Jove of the black, infernal regions. . . . gate of Babylon] None of the

114. scarred] The reading of sources which Marlowe is generally

Oi O2 is * scard ' which could believed to have used mention

stand equally for the modern this episode, but there is a curious

' scarred ' or ' scared ', of which, parallel in Schiltberger's account

' scarred ' seems preferable here. of the taking of Babylon ; the King

The reading of O3 O4, ' seard ', was of Babylon kept his treasure in a

adopted by Robinson (from O4 ; O3 fortress apart (possibly Alindsha

was, of course, unknown to pre- on the Araxes) and Timur diverted

vious editors). the river in order to reach it.

Tamb. Go thither, some of you, and take his gold : —

The rest forward with execution.

Away with him hence, let him speak no more.

I think I make your courage something quail.

When this is done, we'll march from Babylon,

And make our greatest haste to Persia.

These jades are broken winded and half tir'd ;

Unharness them, and let me have fresh horse. 130

So ; now their best is done to honour me.

Take them and hang them both up presently.

[Exit with the Kings of Trehizon and Soria.

And take such fortune as your fellows felt.

Rather than we should draw thy chariot.

And, like base slaves, abject our princely minds 140

To vile and ignominious servitude.

That I may sheathe it in this breast of mine.

A thousand deaths could not torment our hearts

More than the thought of this doth vex our souls.

They bridle them. — [The Governor of Babylon appears

Amy. See now, my lord, how brave the captain hangs.

Shoot first, my lord, and then the rest shall follow. 150

133. Vild] wild O4. 135. S.D.] Add. Dyce. 145. thafi] then O3 O4.

133- Vild] a common form of 140. abject] abase. Cf. abjection

' vile ' which appears to be used of I, v. ii. 204.

Ther. Then have at him, to begin withal.

Theridamas shoots.

The mortal fury of great Tamburlaine !

And offer'd me as ransom for thy life.

Yet shouldst thou die. — Shoot at him all at once.

They shoot.

So, now he hangs like Bagdet's governor.

Having as many bullets in his flesh

As there be breaches in her battered wall.

Go now, and bind the burghers hand and foot, i6o

And cast them headlong in the city's lake.

Tartars and Persians shall inhabit there ;

And, to command the city, I will build

A citadel, that all Africa,

Which hath been subject to the Persian king,

Shall pay me tribute for, in Babylon.

lord?
Tamh. Techelles, drown them all, man, woman and child ;

Leave not a Babylonian in the town. 170

Tech. I will about it straight. Come, soldiers.

[Exit.
Tamh. Now, Casane, where's the Turkish Alcaron,

157. Bagdet's] Budgets O3 O4.

164. A citadel . . . Africa] This be applied. For the significance

hne appears metrically defective, of the reference, see Introduction.

but perhaps the missing syllable There is no precedent that I know

may be accounted for by a dramatic for this conversion and attack upon

pause after' citadel '. BuUen conjee- Mahomet in the biographies. A

tured ' lofty citadel ' and Broughton few of the European historians,

'Arabia'. among them Perondinus, expressly

172, seq. Where's the Turkish Al- describe Tamburlaine's respect for

And all the heaps of superstitious books

Found in the temples of that Mahomet

Whom I have thought a god ? they shall be burnt.

Usum. Here they are, my lord.

Tamb. Well said. Let there be a fire presently.

[They light a fire.

[They burn the books. £^,

Why send'st thou not a furious whirlwind down.

For he is God alone, and none but he.

[Re-enter Techelles

177. S.D.] Add. Dyce. 184. will /] I wil{l) O3 O4. 185. S.D.] Add.

delubris pepercit, quae adhuc ma visuntur ' {Perondinus, Cap.

Tech. I have fulfill'd your highness' will, my lord ;

Thousands of men, drown'd in Asphaltis' lake,

Have made the water swell above the banks,

And fishes, fed by human carcasses.

Amazed, swim up and down upon the waves.

As when they swallow assafitida.

Which makes them fleet aloft and gasp for air.

But that we leave sufficient garrison, 210

And presently depart to Persia,

To triumph after all our victories ?

And let this captain be remov'd the walls

To some high hill about the city here.

But stay ; I feel myself distempered suddenly.

But, forth, ye vassals ! whatsoe'er it be, 220

Sickness or death can never conquer me.

Exeunt.

SCENE II

Enter Callapine, AMx\sia, with drums and trumpets.

Call. King of Amasia, now our mighty host

205. fed] Rob. etc. feed Oi_4. 206. upon] om. O3 O4. 208. gasp] gape O^-

Scene ii.

205.^5/5^5] Marlowe's imagination 208. 7?^^/] float,

misled him slightly when he intro-

Circled about with Limnasphaltis' lake,

Where Tamburlaine with all his army lies,

Which being faint and weary with the siege,

We may lie ready to encounter him

Before his host be full from Babylon,

And so revenge our latest grievous loss, lo

If God or Mahomet send any aid.

Ama. Doubt not, my lord, but we shall conquer him ;

Call. When I record my parents' slavish life.

Their cruel death, mine own captivity, 20

My viceroys' bondage under Tamburlaine,

Methinks I could sustain a thousand deaths.

To be reveng'd of all his villany.

Ah, sacred Mahomet, thou that hast seen

Millions of Turks perish by Tamburlaine,

Kingdoms made waste, brave cities sacked and burnt,

And but one host is left to honour thee,

Aid thy obedient servant Callapine,

And make him, after all these overthrows,

To triumph over cursed Tamburlaine ! 30

Ama. Fear not, my lord : I see great Mahomet,

18. thaf] this Og. 19. parents'] Parens O3. 33. than] then O3 O4.

^^^^^ "• ' When I recorde the gentyll

19. record] Frequent in EHza- wordes he hath had unto me, it

Capt. Renowmed general, mighty Callapine,

To sue for mercy at your highness' feet.

Call. Captain, the force of Tamburlaine is great.

Theridamas, Techelles, Usumcasane.

Ther. Weep, heavens, and vanish into liquid tears !

Scene in.

earlier part of this scene may be

The almost strophic form of the II, 11. iv.

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 lo

Your sacred virtues pour'd upon his throne,

And made his state an honour to the heavens,

These cowards invisibly 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.

Tech. O, then, ye powers that sway eternal seats.

As your supreme estates instruct our thoughts, 20

Usum. Blush, heaven, to lose the honour of thy name,

Sustain a shame of such inexcellence,

13. invisibly] invincible O 2- 31. inexcellence] inexcellencie O^.

4. bootless] unavailing. 29. To see . . . thy head] Aremin-

8. Cimmerian] black, infernal. iscence of Psalm ex. i.

20. estates] states, positions. 35. puissant] here trisyllabic, an

unusual accent.

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, 40

Earth droops and says that hell in heaven is plac'd.

[Enter Tamburlaine, drawn by the captive kings, Amyras,

Tamb. What daring god torments my body thus,

Ah, friends, what shall I do ? I cannot stand.

Ther. Ah, good my lord, leave these impatient words,

Tamb. Why, shall I sit and languish in this pain ?

37. Tamburlaine] Tarburlain Og- 41. S.D.] Add. Wagner. 43. Tam-

36. manage] a more technical Marlowe has no precedent for the

term in Elizabethan than in modern death-scene of Tamburlaine. Most

English applied to the expert of the historians pass it over

control of arms, horses or anything with a brief statement of the

else which can be handled. fact.

38. note] here with the force of 59. Whose shoulders . . . world]

42 seq. What daring god, etc.] heavens and all the stars.

Theridamas, haste to the court of Jove ;

Tech. Sit still, my gracious lord ; this grief will cease,

Tamb. Not last, Techelles ! no, for I shall die.

And, when I look away, comes stealing on !

Phy. Pleaseth your majesty to drink this potion.

Tamb. Tell me, what think you of my sickness now ?

First Phy. I view'd your urine, and the hypostasis,

Thick and obscure, both make your danger great ;

64. cease] case O3. 73. bark] back{e) O3 O4. 82. hypostasis] Rob.

67-71. See where . . . stealing on] the part played by the comet,

laine. Marlowe has naturally re- 84. accidental] in excess of the

jected the description of the ghost necessary and normal degree,

of Bajazet which terrified the 86. humidum and calor] mois-

Scythian to death and has reduced ture and warmth, presumably here

Is not a parcel of the elements,

Dangerous to those whose crisis is as yours :

And live, in spite of death, above a day.

Alarm within.

[Enter a Messenger.

Mes. My lord, young Callapine, that lately fled from your

Tamb. See, my physicians, now, how Jove hath sent

101. S.D. Enter a Messenger] Add. Dyce. 104. upon] on Og.

in combination and therefore the planation is : ' Your arteries which

sanguine humour. The physician convey to the veins the sanguine

goes on to suggest that this humour spirit (i.e. blood) which the heart

is by some regarded as a divine produces, are dried and empty, so

essence and not a combination of that your soul is deprived of the

physical elements. spirit by which it moves and there-

91. critical] The physician is, fore, by all the rules of the physi-

presumably, something of an as- cian's art, cannot continue.' It

trologer and alchemist, and knows may be noted that, in Marlowe's

by the stars what days are favour- system of physiology, the blood is

able for certain diseases and for half a physical, half a spiritual

the attempting of cures. Cf. 11. thing, as the physician himself

98-9 below. suggests in 11. 86-8 above.

96. organons] are, properly, ' in- 106. recure] cure,

Live to give offer of another fight.

That can endure so well your royal presence,

Which only will dismay the enemy.

In spite of death, I will go show my face.

[Alarm. Tamburlaine goes in and comes out again

Tamb. Thus are the villains, cowards fled for fear,

[One brings a map.

And here, not far from Alexandria,

122. too] to O3 O4. 128. unto'] to O4.

115. villains, cowards] the uni- already anticipated the Suez Canal,

form reading of the octavos ; by cutting a passage through from

Robinson and most subsequent the Mediterranean to the Red Sea.

editors would read ' villain ', thus His work was ultimately finished

making the first word an adjective. by Ptolemy Philadelphus II about

126 seq. Here I began to march 277 B.C. It silted up for a time, and

seq.] For comments upon the names was restored by Amron, the Arab

mentioned here, see the previous conqueror of Egypt, but was

references in the text, and notes. finally filled up by Ali Mansour in

1 3 1-5. not far from Alexandria 775. Nearer still to Marlowe's own

. . . sail to India] Ellis, in com- time came the project of Niccolo da

menting upon this passage, draws Conti, which the Mameluke Sultans

attention to Sesostris, who had of Egypt prevented the Vene-

Whereas the Terrene 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 Ethiopian sea.

Cutting the tropic line of Capricorn,

I conquered all as far as Zanzibar.

Then, by the northern part of Africa, 140

I came at last to Grsecia, and from thence

To Asia, where I stay against my will ;

Which is from Scythia, where I first began.

Backward 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 earthly globe.

Whereas the sun, declining from our sight,

Begins the day with our Antipodes !

And shall I die, and this unconquered ? 150

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,

133. than] then O3 O4. 140. northern] Northren O3 O4. 143. began]

tian Republic from, carrying out. of Spanish gold and the riches of

This latest attempt had probably the fabulous El Dorado),

come to Marlowe's ears and was 154-5. from th' Antarctic Pole

added to the list of Tamburlaine's eastward . . . descried] This is the

schemes and achievements. continent of Australasia never yet

149, our Antipodes'] here, the ' descried ' but already the subject

dwellers in the Western Hemi- of vague rumour,

sphere, and the southern half of it 159-60. what death forbids . . .

(that is, South America, the source in spite of death] Tamburlaine

That let your lives command in spite of death. i6o

Wounded and broken with your highness' grief.

Retain a thought of joy or spark of life ?

Your soul gives essence to our wretched subjects.

Whose matter is incorporate in your flesh.

For by your life we entertain our lives.

To hold the fiery spirit it contains.

Must part, imparting his impressions 170

By equal portions into both your breasts ;

My flesh, divided in your precious shapes.

Shall still retain my spirit, though I die,

And live in all your seeds 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,

165. incorporate] incorporoatOi. lyi. into] unto O^. ly^. your'] our O^.

almost regains for a moment in relations of spirit and body is

these lines and those that precede derived from Aristotle's doctrine

them, the splendour of his early that the form of the parent is

years led by wonder and the desire repeated in the offspring. Collier's

of discovery rather than of aggres- suggested emendation of ' sub-

sion and destruction. stance ' for ' subject ' in 1. i68

164-5, 168-74. Your soul . . . seems not to take account of this

your flesh, this subject . . . immor- phraseology, with which Marlowe

tally] With these lines may be com- was obviously familiar,

IV. i. 112-15 (see notes ad loc). The words of Celebinus are a suf&-

The soul of Tamburlaine has im- cient promise of his future failure

parted to his sons the spirit that as ruler of his father's empire ;

animates them, their bodies being indeed, the speeches of the two

similarly part of his flesh. Tambur- sons throughout this scene suggest

laine replies that he himself, how- only imitative docility and give no

ever (' this subject '), is not strong hint of originality. Marlowe must

enough to hold any longer the have recalled here the accounts of

fiery spirit it contains and must the historians who, whether they

divide the power of that spirit commend or disparage the sons of

(' his impressions ') between his Tamburlaine, agree that they were

two sons, who are thus the in- incapable of carrying on their

heritors alike of his body and of father's work.

That I may see thee crown'd before I die.

Help me, my lords, to make my last remove. i8o

Ther. A woeful change, my lord, that daunts our thoughts

Tamh. Sit up, my son, let me see how well

[They crown him.

Amy. With what a flinty bosom should I joy

O father, if the unrelenting ears

Tamh. Let not thy love exceed thine honour, son.

Nor bar thy mind that magnanimity 200

That nobly must admit necessity.

182. than] then O3 O4. 183-4. {Pi'i'f^ied as prose in O3 O4.) 188. linea-

185-90. With what a flinty bosom that was touched to joy by such

Ther. My lord, you must obey his majesty,

Amy. Heavens witness me with what a broken heart

Tamh. Now fetch the hearse of fair Zenocrate ; 210

Let it be plac'd by this my fatal chair.

Usum. Then feels your majesty no sovereign ease.

Nor may our hearts, all drown'd in tears of blood,

Tamh. Casane, no ; the monarch of the earth.

Tech. Then let some god oppose his holy power 220

Against the wrath and tyranny of death.

[They bring in the hearse.

Tamh. 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 230

As that which Clymene's brain-sick son did guide

230. undertak'st] undetakest O^ undertakest O^. 231. Clymene's'] Clymeus

225. when my soul hath virtue of power of vision now vested only

your sight] The implication in this in the eyes of his body, he will see

line is the familiar stoic belief that the spirit of Zenocrate.

the body and its senses clog the 231. Clymene's brain-sick son]

spirit, which will exercise finer See I, iv. ii. 49, and note. Here

spiritual senses when it is freed again the octavos read Clymeus,

from the body. When Tambur- with the exception of Og.

When wandering Phoebe's ivory cheeks were scorched,

Through rocks more steep and sharp than Caspian clifts :

FINIS

232. Phoebe's] Phoebus O4. 239. slenderesf] slenderst O3. 240. thee]
me O4. 243. than] then O3 O4.

236. Here there is, for a moment, 240. For the story of Hippolytus,

a complete recovery of the Tambur- the account of Virgil {Aen., vii.

laine of the earlier play, ' Like his 761) and Seneca's play are likelier

desire, lift upward and divine.' sources than Euripides.

Phyteus] Pythius, an unusual form, 249-53. Meet heaven and earth

but the spelling ' Phyton ' for . . . him no more] An epitaph worthy

' Python ' occurs in Lydgate's of a nobler object than the Tam-

Warres of Troy (II. sig. K.vi.) as burlaine of the later play. The

Dyce pointed out : ' And of Phy- general effect of these lines is very

ton that Phoebus made thus fine.' close to the choric epitaph of

Lydgate's reference is to Python, Faustus.

the fabulous serpent slain by 252. timeless] untimely, occurring

Apollo, Marlowe's to Apollo him- out of its due time. N.E.D. cites

self, Pythius, named thus from the Trag. Richard, 11. (1560) : ' lie

slaying of the serpent, revenge thy^tymlesse tragedye.'

APPENDIX A

IN discussing the relations of the three then known texts of

A consideration of the collations, indeed, makes the position

^ Marlowes Werke. i. Tamburlaine. Introduction, pp. xxiii-xxxi.

2 A few of the versions which Wagner classifies as errors have been

281
282 TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT

with the 1590 or the 1605/6. This suggests clearly that it is

Statistics such as these are liable to mislead unless we can

In conclusion, then, the relations may be summarized thus :

^ See also the reading cottges (1597) in the important and much-dis-

^ The numbering here runs continuously from the beginning of Part II.

APPENDIX B

(a) Collected

1. 1826. The Works of Christopher Marlowe. 3 vols. London.

1826. W. Pickering. 8vo.

No editor's name appears in this edition, but it has always

2. 1850. The Works of Christopher Marlowe, with notes and

some account of his life and writings. 3 vols. 8vo, by the

The introduction and notes to this edition contain much

^ The Works of Christopher Marlowe, etc. (1850). Preface.

* Reputation, p. 405,

^ See Introduction and Appendix A.

• The Works of Christopher Marlowe (1858), p. 3.

portion enclosed in brackets drew from Collier the laconic pencil

3. 1870. The Works of Christopher Marlowe . . . with notes

and introduction by Lt.-Col. Francis Cunningham. 1870.

This edition has some interesting notes upon the military

4. 1885. The Works of Christopher Marlowe, edited by A. H.

BuUen, B.A. London, 1885. 3 vols.

The assumption that the 1590 and 1593 texts could be, for

5. 1885. The Dramatic Works of Christopher Marlowe [selected)

with a prefatory notice, Biographical and Critical. By

Tamburlaine is here represented by selections only. The

6. 1887. Christopher Marlowe (The Best Plays of the Old Drama-

tists : Mermaid Series), ed. Havelock Ellis. 1887.

This edition again adds little to the elucidation of the text.

1 See the copy B.M. 11 771. 666. 6, which contains J. P. Collier's pencil

2 On the condition of the text in this edition, Wagner speaks with some

^The Works of Christopher Marlowe, p. 309.

Its strength lies in the fine critical appreciations of Ellis and of

7-9. 1 905-1 909. Three serviceable reprints of Tamburlaine

10. 1 910. The Works of Christopher Marlowe, edited by C. F.

This is the standard edition of Marlowe's collected works

11. 1912. Christopher Marlowe (Masterpieces of English Drama),

ed. F. E. Schelling. With an introduction by W. L. Phelps.

(b) Separate Editions

I. 1818. An edition was apparently prepared by J. Broughton,

1 The Reputation of Christopher Marlowe, p. 389.

2 See Vol. I, p. xxi. B.M. 11771. d. 4.

2. 1885. Marlowes Werke : i. Tamhurlaine. her. v. Albrecht

This is the first attempt to estabHsh accurately a text that

APPENDIX C

\The Foreste or Collection of Histories no lesse profitable than pleasant

emperor's fate. So that the story, by the time it reached English readers,

FoRTEScuE Chap. 14

There hath been amonge the Grekes, Romaines, the people

16. The sory of Tamburlaine's feat, and Marlowe alone, treating

low birth is popular with the it as high poetry and not as his-

European historians and appears tory or romance, has induced us to

in the accounts of Chalcondylas, give to it that willing suspension

Fregoso, Cambinus, Cuspinian, of disbelief for the moment which

Perondinus, Curio, Granucci, etc. can accept it.

It is unhistorical and does not 24. Fortescue has mistranslated,

appear in the majority of the Mexia reads : ' Gente que tan

eastern sources. Although it serves temida fue en tiempo de los

at first glance, to heighten the Romanos, y que estava ya olvi-

miraculous impression of the saga, dada ' ; Mambrino, ' gente cosi

it is manifestly an impossible temuta nel campo di Romani et

also, of ripe, and mature deliberation, and iudgement,

imaginyng, and deuising, haute and greate enterprises, euen

in that his most, and extreame penurie, as though he some

times shoulde be a maister of many thinges. He was of a

valiant and inuincible corage, so that from his Cradle, and

infancie, it seemed he was vowed to Mars and merciall

affaires onely. Where vnto he gaue hym selfe, with suche

paineful indeuour, that hardlye a man might iudge, whether

he were more happie in deede, in advised counsel [cousel],

or princely dexteritie. By meane of which his vertues, and lo

others, that we shall here after remember, he in shorte tyme

acquired such honour, and reputation, as is to be supposed

man neuer shall do againe. His first beginning was, as

writeth Baptista Fulgotius, that beyng the soonne of a poore

manne, kepying cattle in the filde, liuyng there with other

boyes of his age, and condition, was chosen in sport by the

others for their kyng, and althought they had made in deede,

this their election in plaie, he whose spirites were rauished,

with greate, and high matters, forst theim to swere to him

loialtie in al thinges, obeying hym as king, wher, or when, 20

it should please hym, in any matter to commaunde theim.

After this othe then, in solemne sorte ministred, he charged

cache of theim forthwith, to sell their troope and cattell,

leaning this seruile and base trade of life, seeking to serue in

warre acceptyng hym for capitaine : whiche indeede they did,

beyng quickly assembled of other worke men, and past ours,

to the full number, at leaste, of fine hundred : with whom the

firste attempte, that euer he tooke in hande, was that they

robde all suche marchauntes as anie where paste nigh theim,

and after he imparted the spoyle so iustlie, that all his com- 30

panions serued hym, with no lesse faithe then loue, and

loyaltie, whiche occasioned sundrie others, a newe to seeke,

and followe hym. Of whiche newes in the ende, the Kinge

hoggi cosi poco ricordata ' ; Gruget, 14. See Baptiste Fulgosi [=Fre-

' peuple tant redoute du temps des goso] de dictis factisque memorabili-

Romains, et neanmoins peu re- bus (1518), Book III. Section

nommez ' (which shows incidentally ' De iis qui humili fortuna orti

that Gruget occasionally trans- clarum sibi nomen vendicarunt.'

lated or mistranslated directly from The episode which follows is not

the Spanish). mentioned by Marlowe, though it

1. seq. The description of Tam- appears also in Perondinus. The

burlaine's character here is a cento germ of the story is to be found in

of comments from European his- the Timur-N ameh of Arabshah.

torians which tally in many respects 29. Compare Taw&wy/aiwe, Part I,

with those of the more favourable Act i. Sc. ii.

of Persia aduertised, sent forth vnder the conducte of one,

2. seq. The following episode, ize with his character as the eternal

;o 1. 21, appears in Fregoso, Mexia, conqueror. Perondinus and Cam-

Perondinus and Primaudaye only, binus (= Shute) both mention

md is followed closely by Mar- Tamburlaine 's freeing of his own

owe. country specifically.

24. Marlowe omits this epi- 34. seq. These battles are in

iode and altogether reduces Tarn- fact chronicled at considerable

Durlaine's affection for his own length by his oriental biographers,

country, which would not harmon- who were not available to Mexia.

as all those that remember of hym anie thyng, commende to

4. The orderliness of his camp compared with Clavijo's descrip-

5. Here, again, all but a few Hi's ambassador, but it is a little

14-17. This passage may be his list of authorities.

or Xerxes, for soche as write of hym, reporte that he had fower

I. seq. The historians almost place it at or near Ancora. Thus,

24. The position of the battle nus ; Perondinus). Arabshah and

is variously named, but by far Kwand Amir also refer to ' Ancre '

the larger number of historians and ' Angurieh '.