tamburlaine the great (first part)(帖木耳大帝1)-第4章
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will be soon resolv'd： My martial prizes； with five hundred men； Won
on the fifty…headed Volga's waves； Shall we all offer to Zenocrate；
And then myself to fair Zenocrate。
TECHELLES。 What now！ in love？
TAMBURLAINE。 Techelles； women must be flattered： But this is she
with whom I am in love。
Enter a SOLDIER。
SOLDIER。 News； news！
TAMBURLAINE。 How now！ what's the matter？
SOLDIER。 A thousand Persian horsemen are at hand； Sent from the
king to overcome us all。
TAMBURLAINE。 How now； my lords of Egypt； and Zenocrate！ Now
must your jewels be restor'd again； And I； that triumph'd so； be
overcome？ How say you； lordings？ is not this your hope？
AGYDAS。 We hope yourself will willingly restore them。
TAMBURLAINE。 Such hope； such fortune； have the thousand horse。
Soft ye； my lords； and sweet Zenocrate！ You must be forced from me ere
you go。 A thousand horsemen！ we five hundred foot！ An odds too great
for us to stand against。 But are they rich？ and is their armour good！
SOLDIER。 Their plumed helms are wrought with beaten gold； Their
swords enamell'd； and about their necks Hang massy chains of gold down
to the waist； In every part exceeding brave and rich。
TAMBURLAINE。 Then shall we fight courageously with them？ Or
look you I should play the orator？
TECHELLES。 No； cowards and faint…hearted runaways Look for
orations when the foe is near： Our swords shall play the orators for us。
USUMCASANE。 Come； let us meet them at the mountain…top；
And with a sudden and an hot alarum Drive all their horses headlong
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down the hill。
TECHELLES。 Come； let us march。
TAMBURLAINE。 Stay； Techelles； ask a parle first。
The SOLDIERS enter。
Open the mails； yet guard the treasure sure： Lay out our golden
wedges to the view； That their reflections may amaze the Persians； And
look we friendly on them when they come： But； if they offer word or
violence； We'll fight； five hundred men…at…arms to one； Before we part
with our possession； And 'gainst the general we will lift our swords； And
either lance his greedy thirsting throat； Or take him prisoner； and his
chain shall serve For manacles till he be ransom'd home。
TECHELLES。 I hear them come： shall we encounter them？
TAMBURLAINE。 Keep all your standings； and not stir a foot： Myself
will bide the danger of the brunt。
Enter THERIDAMAS with others。
THERIDAMAS。 Where is this Scythian Tamburlaine？
TAMBURLAINE。 Whom seek'st thou； Persian？ I am Tamburlaine。
THERIDAMAS。 Tamburlaine！ A Scythian shepherd so embellished
With nature's pride and richest furniture！ His looks do menace heaven and
dare the gods； His fiery eyes are fix'd upon the earth； As if he now devis'd
some stratagem； Or meant to pierce Avernus' darksome vaults To pull
the triple…headed dog from hell。
TAMBURLAINE。 Noble and mild this Persian seems to be； If outward
habit judge the inward man。
TECHELLES。 His deep affections make him passionate。
TAMBURLAINE。 With what a majesty he rears his looks！ In thee；
thou valiant man of Persia； I see the folly of thy emperor。 Art thou
but captain of a thousand horse； That by characters graven in thy brows；
And by thy martial face and stout aspect； Deserv'st to have the leading of
an host？ Forsake thy king； and do but join with me； And we will triumph
over all the world： I hold the Fates bound fast in iron chains； And with my
hand turn Fortune's wheel about； And sooner shall the sun fall from his
sphere Than Tamburlaine be slain or overcome。 Draw forth thy sword；
thou mighty man…at…arms； Intending but to raze my charmed skin； And
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
Jove himself will stretch his hand from heaven To ward the blow； and
shield me safe from harm。 See； how he rains down heaps of gold in
showers； As if he meant to give my soldiers pay！ And； as a sure and
grounded argument That I shall be the monarch of the East； He sends this
Soldan's daughter rich and brave； To be my queen and portly
emperess。 If thou wilt stay with me； renowmed man； And lead thy
thousand horse with my conduct； Besides thy share of this Egyptian prize；
Those thousand horse shall sweat with martial spoil Of conquer'd
kingdoms and of cities sack'd： Both we will walk upon the lofty
cliffs； And Christian merchants； that with Russian stems
Plough up huge furrows in the Caspian Sea； Shall vail to us as lords
of all the lake； Both we will reign as consuls of the earth； And mighty
kings shall be our senators。 Jove sometime masked in a shepherd's weed；
And by those steps that he hath scal'd the heavens May we become
immortal like the gods。 Join with me now in this my mean estate； （I call it
mean； because； being yet obscure； The nations far…remov'd admire me not；）
And when my name and honour shall be spread As far as Boreas claps his
brazen wings； Or fair Bootes sends his cheerful light； Then shalt thou
be competitor with me； And sit with Tamburlaine in all his majesty。
THERIDAMAS。 Not Hermes； prolocutor to the gods； Could use
persuasions more pathetical。
TAMBURLAINE。 Nor are Apollo's oracles more true Than thou shalt
find my vaunts substantial。
TECHELLES。 We are his friends； and； if the Persian king Should offer
present dukedoms to our state； We think it loss to make exchange for that
We are assur'd of by our friend's success。
USUMCASANE。 And kingdoms at the least we all expect； Besides the
honour in assured conquests； Where kings shall crouch unto our
conquering swords； And hosts of soldiers stand amaz'd at us； When with
their fearful tongues they shall confess； These are the men that all the
world admires。
THERIDAMAS。 What strong enchantments tice my yielding soul To
these resolved； noble Scythians！ But shall I prove a traitor to my
king？
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
TAMBURLAINE。 No； but the trusty friend of Tamburlaine。
THERIDAMAS。 Won with thy words； and conquer'd with thy looks； I
yield myself； my men； and horse to thee； To be partaker of thy good or ill；
As long as life maintains Theridamas。
TAMBURLAINE。 Theridamas； my friend； take here my hand； Which
is as much as if I swore by heaven； And call'd the gods to witness of my
vow。 Thus shall my heart be still combin'd with thine Until our bodies turn
to elements； And both our souls aspire celestial thrones。 Techelles and
Casane； welcome him。
TECHELLES。 Welcome； renowmed Persian； to us all！
USUMCASANE。 Long may Theridamas remain with us！
TAMBURLAINE。 These are my friends； in whom I more rejoice Than
doth the king of Persia in his crown； And； by the love of Pylades and
Orestes； Whose statues we adore in Scythia； Thyself and them shall
never part from me Before I crown you kings in Asia。 Make much of
the
