A banquet set out; and to it come TAMBURLAINE all in scarlet, ZENOCRATE,THERIDAMAS,TECHELLES,USUMCASANE,BAJAZETH drawn in his cage, ZABINA, and others.
TAMBURLAINE. Now hang our bloody colours by Damascus, Reflexing hues of blood upon their heads, While they walk quivering on their city-walls, Half-dead for fear before they feel my wrath. Then let us freely banquet, and carouse Full bowls of wine unto the god of war, That means to fill your helmets full of gold, And make Damascus' spoils as rich to you As was to Jason Colchos' golden fleece.-- And now, Bajazeth, hast thou any stomach?
BAJAZETH. Ay, such a stomach, cruel Tamburlaine, as I could willingly feed upon thy blood-raw heart.
TAMBURLAINE. Nay, thine own is easier to come by: pluck out that; and 'twill serve thee and thy wife.--Well, Zenocrate, Techelles, and the rest, fall to your victuals.
BAJAZETH. Fall to, and never may your meat digest!-- Ye Furies, that can mask invisible, Dive to the bottom of Avernus' pool, And in your hands bring hellish poison up, And squeeze it in the cup of Tamburlaine! Or, winged snakes of Lerna, cast your stings, And leave your venoms in this tyrant's dish?
ZABINA. And may this banquet prove as ominous As Progne's to th' *****erous Thracian king That fed upon the substance of his child!
ZENOCRATE. My lord, how can you suffer these Outrageous curses by these slaves of yours?
TAMBURLAINE. To let them see, divine Zenocrate, I glory in the curses of my foes, Having the power from the empyreal heaven To turn them all upon their proper heads.
TECHELLES. I pray you, give them leave, madam; this speech is a goodly refreshing for them.
THERIDAMAS. But, if his highness would let them be fed, it would do them more good.
TAMBURLAINE. Sirrah, why fall you not to? are you so daintilybrought up, you cannot eat your own flesh?
BAJAZETH. First, legions of devils shall tear thee in pieces. USUMCASANE. Villain, knowest thou to whom thou speakest?
TAMBURLAINE. O, let him alone.--Here; eat, sir; take it from my sword's point, or I'll thrust it to thy heart. [BAJAZETH takes the food, and stamps upon it.]
THERIDAMAS. He stamps it under his feet, my lord.
TAMBURLAINE. Take it up, villain, and eat it; or I will make thee slice the brawns of thy arms into carbonadoes and eat them.
USUMCASANE. Nay, 'twere better he killed his wife, and then she shall be sure not to be starved, and he be provided for a month's victual beforehand.
TAMBURLAINE. Here is my dagger: despatch her while she is fat; for, if she live but a while longer, she will fall into a consumption with fretting, and then she will not be worth the eating.
THERIDAMAS. Dost thou think that Mahomet will suffer this? TECHELLES. 'Tis like he will, when he cannot let it.
TAMBURLAINE. Go to; fall to your meat. What, not a bit!--Belike he hath not been watered to-day: give him some drink. [They give BAJAZETH water to drink, and he flings it on the ground.] Fast, and welcome, sir, while hunger make you eat.--How now, Zenocrate! doth not the Turk and his wife make a goodly show at a banquet?
ZENOCRATE. Yes, my lord.
THERIDAMAS. Methinks 'tis a great deal better than a consort of music.
TAMBURLAINE. Yet music would do well to cheer up Zenocrate. Pray thee, tell why art thou so sad? if thou wilt have a song, the Turk shall strain his voice: but why is it?
