Tamburlaine the Great — Part 2
of revenging wrath,      ]From whom the thunder and the lightning breaks, Whose scourge I am, and him will I 281 obey. So, Casane; fling them in the fire.—           [They burn the books.]      Now, Mahomet, if thou have any power, Come down thyself and work a miracle:      Thou art not worthy to be worshipped That suffer'st 282 flames of fire to burn the writ Wherein the sum of thy religion rests:      Why send'st 283 thou not a furious whirlwind down, To blow thy Alcoran up to thy throne, Where men report thou sitt'st 284 by God himself? Or vengeance on the head 285 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 by human carcasses, Amaz'd, swim up and down upon 287 the waves, As when they swallow assafoetida, Which makes them fleet 288 aloft and gape 289 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 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 whatsoe'er 292 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 and Tigris swiftly run; And here may we 294 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 
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