Tamburlaine the Great — Part 1

TO THE GENTLEMEN-READERS 1 AND OTHERS THAT TAKE PLEASURE

IN READING HISTORIES. 2

Gentlemen and courteous readers whosoever:  I have here published
in print, for your sakes, the two tragical discourses of the
Scythian shepherd Tamburlaine, that became so great a conqueror
and so mighty a monarch.  My hope is, that they will be now no
less acceptable unto you to read after your serious affairs and
studies than they have been lately delightful for many of you to
see when the same were shewed in London upon stages.  I have
purposely omitted and left out some fond  and frivolous
gestures,
digressing, and, in my poor opinion, far unmeet for the matter,
which I thought might seem more tedious unto the wise than any
way else to be regarded, though haply they have been of some
vain-conceited fondlings greatly gaped at, what time they were
shewed upon the stage in their graced deformities:  nevertheless
now to be mixtured in print with such matter of worth, it would
prove a great disgrace to so honourable and stately a history.
Great folly were it in me to commend unto your wisdoms either the
eloquence of the author that writ them or the worthiness of the
matter itself.  I therefore leave unto your learned censures 
both the one and the other, and myself the poor printer of them
unto your most courteous and favourable protection; which if you
vouchsafe to accept, you shall evermore bind me to employ what
travail and service I can to the advancing and pleasuring of your
excellent degree.
     Yours, most humble at commandment,
          R[ichard] J[ones], printer.

THE FIRST PART OF TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT.

THE PROLOGUE.

      From jigging veins of rhyming mother-wits,
      And such conceits as clownage keeps in pay,
      We'll lead you to the stately tent of war,
      Where you shall hear the Scythian Tamburlaine
      Threatening the world with high astounding terms,
      And scourging kingdoms with his conquering sword.
      View but his picture in this tragic glass,
      And then applaud his fortunes as you please.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

     MYCETES, king of Persia.
     COSROE, his brother.
     MEANDER,     ]
     THERIDAMAS,  ]
     ORTYGIUS,    ] Persian lords.
     CENEUS,      ]
     MENAPHON,    ]
     TAMBURLAINE, a Scythian shepherd.
     TECHELLES,   ]
     USUMCASANE,  ] his followers.
     BAJAZETH, emperor of the Turks.
     KING OF FEZ.
     KING OF MOROCCO.
     KING OF ARGIER.
     KING OF ARABIA.
     SOLDAN OF EGYPT.
     GOVERNOR OF DAMASCUS.
     AGYDAS,      ]
     MAGNETES,    ] Median lords.
     CAPOLIN, an Egyptian.
     PHILEMUS, Bassoes, Lords, Citizens, Moors, Soldiers, and
     Attendants.

     ZENOCRATE, daughter to the Soldan of Egypt.
     ANIPPE, her maid.
     ZABINA, wife to BAJAZETH.
     EBEA, her maid.
     Virgins of Damascus.