Warring within our breasts for regiment, 124 Doth teach us all to have aspiring minds: Our souls, whose faculties can comprehend The wondrous architecture of the world, And measure every wandering planet's course, Still climbing after knowledge infinite, And always moving as the restless spheres, Will us to wear ourselves, and never rest, Until we reach the ripest fruit 125 of all, That perfect bliss and sole felicity, The sweet fruition of an earthly crown. THERIDAMAS. And that made me to join with Tamburlaine; For he is gross and like the massy earth That moves not upwards, nor by princely deeds Doth mean to soar above the highest sort. TECHELLES. And that made us, the friends of Tamburlaine, To lift our swords against the Persian king. USUMCASANE. For as, when Jove did thrust old Saturn down, Neptune and Dis gain'd each of them a crown, So do we hope to reign in Asia, If Tamburlaine be plac'd in Persia. COSROE. The strangest men that ever nature made! I know not how to take their tyrannies. My bloodless body waxeth chill and cold, And with my blood my life slides through my wound; My soul begins to take her flight to hell, And summons all my senses to depart: The heat and moisture, which did feed each other, For want of nourishment to feed them both, Are 126 dry and cold; and now doth ghastly Death With greedy talents 127 gripe my bleeding heart, And like a harpy 128 tires on my life.— Theridamas and Tamburlaine, I die: And fearful vengeance light upon you both! [Dies.—TAMBURLAINE takes COSROE'S crown, and puts it on his own head.] TAMBURLAINE. Not all the curses which the 129 Furies breathe Shall make me leave so rich a prize as this. Theridamas, Techelles, and the rest, Who think you now is king of Persia? ALL. Tamburlaine! Tamburlaine! TAMBURLAINE. Though Mars himself, the angry god of arms, And all the earthly potentates conspire To dispossess me of this diadem, Yet will I wear it in despite of them, As great commander of this eastern world, If you but say that Tamburlaine shall reign. ALL. Long live Tamburlaine, and reign in Asia! TAMBURLAINE. So; now it is more surer on my head Than if the gods had held a parliament, And all pronounc'd me king of Persia. [Exeunt.]
ACT III.
SCENE I.
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