Enter THERIDANAS, TECHELLES, anıl SOLDIERS,

without the walls.
THER. Thou desperate governor of Babylon,
To save thy life, and us a little labour,
Yield speedily the city to our hands,
Or else be sure thou shalt be forc'd with pains,
More exquisite than ever traitor felt.

Gov. Tyrant! I turn the traitor in thy throat,
And will defend it in despite of thee.
Call up the soldiers to defend these walls.

Tech. Yield, foolish governor; we offer more
Than ever yet we did to such proud slaves
As durst ressist us till our third day's siege.
Thou seest us prest to give the last assault,
And that shall bide no more regard of parley.,
Gov. Assault and spare not; we will never yield.

[Alarms : and they scale the walls. Enter TAMBURLAINE, USUMCASANE, AMYRAS,

and CELEBINUS, NATOLIA, JERUSALEM, &c.

Tamb. The stately buildings of fair Babylon, Whose lofty pillars, higher than the clouds Were wont to guide the seaman in the.deep, Being carried thither by the cannon's force, Now fill the mouth of Limnasphaltis' lake And make a bridge unto the batter'd walls. Where Belus, Ninus, and great Alexander Have rode in triumph, triumph Tamburlaine Whose chariot wheels have burst th’ Assyrians' bones Drawn with these kings on heaps of carcases. Now in the place, where fair Semiramis,

Courted by kings and peers of Asia,

Hath trod the measures, I and my

soldiers march;

And in the streets, where brave Assyrian dames
Have rid in pomp like rich Saturnia,
With furious words and frowning visages

My horsemen brandish their unruly blades.
Enter THERIDAMAS and TECHELLES, bringing in
the GOVERNOR of Babylon.

Who have ye there, my lords?

THER. The sturdy governor of Babylon,

That made us all the labour for the town,

And us'd such slender reck'ning of your majesty." TAMB. Go, bind the traitor; he shall hang in chains

Upon the ruins of this conquer'd town.
Sirrah, the view of our vermilion tents,
(Which threaten'd more than if the region
Next underneath the element of fire

Were full of comets and of blazing stars,

Whose flaming trains should reach down to the earth, Could not affright you; no, nor I myself,

The wrathful messenger of mighty Jove,

That with his sword hath quell'd all earthly kings
Could not persuade you to submission,

But still the ports were shut; villain! I say,
Should I but touch the rusty gates of hell,

The triple-headed Cerberus would howl

And wake black Jove to crouch and kneel to me;
But I have sent vollies of shot to you,

Yet could not enter till the breach was made.

Gov. Nor, if my body could have stopp'd the

breach, Should'st thou have enter'd, cruel Tamburlaine. 'Tis not thy bloody tents can make me yield, Nor yet thyself, the anger of the highest ; For though thy cannon shook the city walls, My heart did never quake, nor courage faint.

TAMB. Well, now I'll make it quake; go draw

him up,

Hang him in chains upon the city walls,
And let my soldiers shoot the slave to death.

Gov. Vile monster! born of some infernal hag,
And sent from hell to tyrrannize on earth,
Do all thy worst; nor death, nor Tamburlaine,
Torture, nor pain, can daunt my dreadless mind.
TAMB. Up with him then; his body shall be

sear'd. Gov. But, Tamburlaine ; in Limnasphaltis' lake There lies more gold than Babylon is worth, Which, when the city was besieg’d, I hid. Save but my life and I will give it thee. TAMB. Then for all your valour

you

would save

your life?

Where about lies it?

Gov. Under a hollow bank, right opposite Against the Western gate of Babylon.

Tamb. Go thither, some of you, and take his gold; The rest forward with th' execution. Away with him hence, let him speak no more. I think I make your courage something quail.

When this is done, we'll march from Babylon,
And make our greatest haste to Persia.

[They hang up the Governor in chains.
These jades are broken-winded and half-tir'd,
Unharness them, and let me have fresh horse.
So, now their best is done to honour me,
Take them and hang them both up presently.

TREB. Wild tyrant! barb'rous bloody Tamburlaine! TAMB. Take them away, Theridamas; see them despatch'd.

THER. I will, my lord.

[Exit, with the Kings of Trebizond and Syria. TAMB. Coine, Asian viceroys; to your tasks awhile,

And take such fortune as your fellows felt.

ORC. First let thy Scythian horse tear both our limbs,

Rather than we should draw thy chariot,

And like base slaves abject our princely minds
To vile and ignominous servitude,

JER. Rather lend me thy weapon, Tamburlaine,
That I may sheathe it in this breast of mine.
A thousand deaths could not torment our hearts
More than the thought of this doth vex our souls.
AMY. They will talk still, my lord, if you don't
bridle them.

TAMB. Bridle them, and let me to my coach.

[They bridle them.

AMY. See now, my lord, how brave the captain

hangs.

TAMB. 'Tis brave indeed, my boy; well done. Shoot first, my lord, and then the rest shall follow. Ther. Then have at him to begin withal,

[Therid. shoots. Gov. Yet save my life, and let this wound appease The mortal fury of great Tamburlaine. TAMB. No, though Asphaitis' lake were liquid

gold, And offer'd me as ransom for thy life, Yet should'st thou die. Shoot at him all at once.

[They shoot. So, now he hangs like Bagdad's governor, Having as many bullets in his flesh As there be breaches in the batter'd walls. Go now, and bind the burghers hand and foot, And cast them headlong in the city's lake. Tartars and Persians shall inhabit there, And to command the city, I will build A citadel that all Africa, Which hath been subject to the Persian king, Shall pay me tribute for in Babylon. Tech. What shall be done with their wives and

children, my lord ? Tamb. Techelles, drown them all, man, woman,

and child. Leave not a Babylonian in the town, Tech. I will about it straight. Come, soldiers.

[Exit, with Soldiers. TAMB. Now, Casane, where's the Turkish Alcoran, And all the heaps of superstitious books