Tamburlaine the Great — Part 1
this success, and loss unvalued, 35 Both may invest you empress of the East; And these that seem but silly country swains May have the leading of so great an host As with their weight shall make the mountains quake, Even as when windy exhalations, Fighting for passage, tilt within the earth. TECHELLES. As princely lions, when they rouse themselves, Stretching their paws, and threatening herds of beasts, So in his armour looketh Tamburlaine. Methinks I see kings kneeling at his feet, And he with frowning brows and fiery looks Spurning their crowns from off their captive heads. USUMCASANE. And making thee and me, Techelles, kings, That even to death will follow Tamburlaine. TAMBURLAINE. Nobly resolv'd, sweet friends and followers! These lords perhaps do scorn our estimates, And think we prattle with distemper'd spirits:      But, since they measure our deserts so mean, That in conceit 36 bear empires on our spears, Affecting thoughts coequal with the clouds, They shall be kept our forced followers Till with their eyes they view us emperors. ZENOCRATE. The gods, defenders of the innocent. Will never prosper your intended drifts, That thus oppress poor friendless passengers. Therefore at least admit us liberty, Even as thou hop'st to be eternized      By living Asia's mighty emperor. AGYDAS. I hope our lady's treasure and our own May serve for ransom to our liberties:      Return our mules and empty camels back, That we may travel into Syria, Where her betrothed lord, Alcidamus, Expects the arrival of her highness' person. MAGNETES. And wheresoever we repose ourselves, We will report but well of Tamburlaine. TAMBURLAINE. Disdains Zenocrate to live with me? Or you, my lords, to be my followers? Think you I weigh this treasure more than you? Not all the gold in India's wealthy arms Shall buy the meanest soldier in my train. Zenocrate, lovelier than the love of Jove,      Brighter than is the silver Rhodope, 37 Fairer than whitest snow on Scythian hills, Thy person is more worth to Tamburlaine Than the possession of the Persian crown, Which gracious stars have promis'd at my birth. A hundred Tartars shall attend on thee, Mounted on steeds swifter than Pegasus; Thy garments shall be made of Median silk, Enchas'd with precious jewels of mine own, More rich and valurous 38 than Zenocrate's; With milk-white harts upon an ivory sled Thou shalt be drawn amidst the frozen pools, 39 And scale the icy mountains' lofty tops, Which with thy beauty will be soon resolv'd: 40 My martial prizes, with five 
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