Tamburlaine the Great, part 2 | Page 5

and by thy Christ.
SIGISMUND. By Him that made the world and sav'd my soul, The Son
of God and issue of a maid, Sweet Jesus Christ, I solemnly protest And
vow to keep this peace inviolable!
ORCANES. By sacred Mahomet, the friend of God, Whose holy
Alcoran remains with us, Whose glorious body, when he left the world,
Clos'd in a coffin mounted up the air, And hung on stately Mecca's
temple-roof, I swear to keep this truce inviolable! Of whose
conditions<25> and our solemn oaths, Sign'd with our hands, each shall
retain a scroll, As memorable witness of our league. Now, Sigismund,

if any Christian king Encroach upon the confines of thy realm, Send
word, Orcanes of Natolia Confirm'd<26> this league beyond Danubius'
stream, And they will, trembling, sound a quick retreat; So am I fear'd
among all nations.
SIGISMUND. If any heathen potentate or king Invade Natolia,
Sigismund will send A hundred thousand horse train'd to the war, And
back'd by<27> stout lanciers of Germany, The strength and sinews of
the imperial seat.
ORCANES. I thank thee, Sigismund; but, when I war, All Asia Minor,
Africa, and Greece, Follow my standard and my thundering drums.
Come, let us go and banquet in our tents: I will despatch chief of my
army hence To fair Natolia and to Trebizon, To stay my coming 'gainst
proud Tamburlaine: Friend Sigismund, and peers of Hungary, Come,
banquet and carouse with us a while, And then depart we to our
territories. [Exeunt.]
SCENE II.
Enter CALLAPINE, and ALMEDA his keeper.
CALLAPINE. Sweet Almeda, pity the ruthful plight Of Callapine, the
son of Bajazeth, Born to be monarch of the western world, Yet here
detain'd by cruel Tamburlaine.
ALMEDA. My lord, I pity it, and with my heart Wish your release; but
he whose wrath is death, My sovereign lord, renowmed<28>
Tamburlaine, Forbids you further liberty than this.
CALLAPINE. Ah, were I now but half so eloquent To paint in words
what I'll perform in deeds, I know thou wouldst depart from hence with
me!
ALMEDA. Not for all Afric: therefore move me not.
CALLAPINE. Yet hear me speak, my gentle Almeda.

ALMEDA. No speech to that end, by your favour, sir.
CALLAPINE. By Cairo<29> runs--
ALMEDA. No talk of running, I tell you, sir.
CALLAPINE. A little further, gentle Almeda.
ALMEDA. Well, sir, what of this?
CALLAPINE. By Cairo runs to Alexandria-bay Darotes' stream,<30>
wherein at<31> anchor lies A Turkish galley of my royal fleet, Waiting
my coming to the river-side, Hoping by some means I shall be releas'd;
Which, when I come aboard, will hoist up sail, And soon put forth into
the Terrene<32> sea, Where,<33> 'twixt the isles of Cyprus and of
Crete, We quickly may in Turkish seas arrive. Then shalt thou see a
hundred kings and more, Upon their knees, all bid me welcome home.
Amongst so many crowns of burnish'd gold, Choose which thou wilt,
all are at thy command: A thousand galleys, mann'd with Christian
slaves, I freely give thee, which shall cut the Straits, And bring
armadoes, from<34> the coasts of Spain, Fraughted with gold of rich
America: The Grecian virgins shall attend on thee, Skilful in music and
in amorous lays, As fair as was Pygmalion's ivory girl Or lovely Io
metamorphosed: With naked negroes shall thy coach be drawn, And, as
thou rid'st in triumph through the streets, The pavement underneath thy
chariot-wheels With Turkey-carpets shall be covered, And cloth of
arras hung about the walls, Fit objects for thy princely eye to pierce: A
hundred bassoes, cloth'd in crimson silk, Shall ride before thee on
Barbarian steeds; And, when thou goest, a golden canopy Enchas'd
with precious stones, which shine as bright As that fair veil that covers
all the world, When Phoebus, leaping from his hemisphere, Descendeth
downward to th' Antipodes:-- And more than this, for all I cannot tell.
ALMEDA. How far hence lies the galley, say you?
CALLAPINE. Sweet Almeda, scarce half a league from hence.
ALMEDA. But need<35> we not be spied going aboard?

CALLAPINE. Betwixt the hollow hanging of a hill, And crooked
bending of a craggy rock, The sails wrapt up, the mast and tacklings
down, She lies so close that none can find her out.
ALMEDA. I like that well: but, tell me, my lord, if I should let you go,
would you be as good as your word? shall I be made a king for my
labour?
CALLAPINE. As I am Callapine the emperor, And by the hand of
Mahomet I swear, Thou shalt be crown'd a king, and be my mate!
ALMEDA. Then here I swear, as I am Almeda, Your keeper under
Tamburlaine the Great, (For that's the style and title I have yet,)
Although he sent a thousand armed men To intercept this haughty