Tamburlaine the Great — Part 2

Come down thyself and work a miracle:
Thou art not worthy to be worshipped
That suffer'st 282 (#x7_x_7_i387) flames of fire to burn the writ
Wherein the sum of thy religion rests:
Why send'st 283 (#x7_x_7_i390) thou not a furious whirlwind down,
To blow thy Alcoran up to thy throne,
Where men report thou sitt'st 284 (#x7_x_7_i393) by God himself?
Or vengeance on the head 285 (#x7_x_7_i396) of Tamburlaine
That shakes his sword against thy majesty,
And spurns the abstracts of thy foolish laws?—
Well, soldiers, Mahomet remains in hell;
He cannot hear the voice of Tamburlaine:
Seek out another godhead to adore;
The God that sits in heaven, if any god,
For he is God alone, and none but he.

Re-enter TECHELLES.

TECHELLES.  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 286 (#x7_x_7_i399) by human carcasses,
Amaz'd, swim up and down upon 287 (#x7_x_7_i402) the waves,
As when they swallow assafoetida,
Which makes them fleet 288 (#x7_x_7_i405) aloft and gape 289 (#x7_x_7_i408) for air.

TAMBURLAINE.  Well, then, my friendly lords, what now remains,
But that we leave sufficient garrison,
And presently depart to Persia,
To triumph after all our victories?

THERIDAMAS.  Ay, good my lord, let us in 290 (#x7_x_7_i411) haste to Persia;
And let this captain be remov'd the walls
To some high hill about the city here.

TAMBURLAINE.  Let it be so;—about it, soldiers;—
But stay; I feel myself distemper'd suddenly.

TECHELLES.  What is it dares distemper Tamburlaine?

TAMBURLAINE.  Something, Techelles; but I know not what.—
But, forth, ye vassals! 291 (#x7_x_7_i414) whatsoe'er 292 (#x7_x_7_i417) it be,
Sickness or death can never conquer me.

[Exeunt.]

SCENE II

Enter CALLAPINE, KING OF AMASIA, a CAPTAIN, and train, with drums and trumpets.

CALLAPINE.  King of Amasia, now our mighty host
Marcheth in Asia Major, where the streams
Of Euphrates 293 (#x7_x_7_i420) and Tigris swiftly run;
And here may we 294 (#x8_x_8_i7) behold great Babylon,
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,
If God or Mahomet send any aid.
KING OF AMASIA.  Doubt not, my lord, but we shall conquer him:
The monster that hath drunk a sea of blood,
And yet gapes still for more to quench his thirst,
Our Turkish swords shall headlong send to hell;
And that vile carcass, drawn by warlike kings,
The fowls shall eat; for never sepulchre
Shall grace this 295 (#x8_x_8_i10) base-born tyrant Tamburlaine.
CALLAPINE.  When I record 296 (#x8_x_8_i13) my parents' slavish life,
Their cruel death, mine own captivity,
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 sack'd and burnt,
And but one host is left to honour thee,
Aid 297 (#x8_x_8_i16) thy obedient servant Callapine,
And make him, after all these overthrows,
To triumph over cursed Tamburlaine!
KING OF AMASIA.  Fear not, my lord:  I see great Mahomet,
Clothed in purple clouds, and on his head
A chaplet brighter than Apollo's crown,
Marching about the air with armed men,
To join with you against this Tamburlaine.
CAPTAIN.  Renowmed 298 (#x8_x_8_i19) general, mighty Callapine,
Though God himself and holy Mahomet
Should come in person to resist your power,
Yet might your mighty host encounter all,
And pull proud Tamburlaine upon his knees
To sue for mercy at your highness' feet.
CALLAPINE.  Captain, the force of Tamburlaine is great,
His fortune greater, and the victories
Wherewith he hath so sore dismay'd the world
Are greatest to discourage all our drifts;
Yet, when the pride of Cynthia is at full,
She wanes again; and so shall his, I hope;
For we have here the chief selected men
Of twenty several kingdoms at the least;
Nor ploughman, priest, nor merchant, stays at home;