TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
A monologue from the
play by Christopher
Marlowe
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NOTE: This monologue is reprinted
from Masterpieces of the English Drama. Ed. William Lyon
Phelps. New York: American Book Company, 1912. |
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- FIRST VIRGIN: Most happy king and emperor of the earth,
- Image of honour and nobility,
- For whom the powers divine have made the world,
- And on whose throne the holy Graces sit;
- In whose sweet person is compris'd the sum
- Of Nature's skill and heavenly majesty;
- Pity our plights! O, pity poor Damascus!
- Pity old age, within whose silver hairs
- Honour and reverence evermore have reign'd!
- Pity the marriage-bed, where many a lord,
- In prime and glory of his loving joy,
- Embraceth now with tears of ruth and blood
- The jealous body of his fearful wife,
- Whose cheeks and hearts, so punish'd with conceit,
- To think thy puissant never-stayed arm
- Will part their bodies, and prevent their souls
- From heavens of comfort yet their age might bear,
- Now wax all pale and wither'd to the death,
- As well for grief our ruthless governor
- Hath thus refus'd the mercy of thy hand,
- (Whose sceptre angels kiss and Furies dread,)
- As for their liberties, their loves, or lives!
- O, then, for these, and such as we ourselves,
- For us, for infants, and for all our bloods,
- That never nourish'd thought against thy rule,
- Pity, O pity, sacred emperor,
- The prostrate service of this wretched town:
- And take in sign thereof this gilded wreath,
- Whereto each man of ruth hath given his hand,
- And wish'd, as worthy subjects, happy means
- To be investors of thy royal brows
- Even with the true Egyptian diadem!
MORE MONOLOGUES BY CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE |
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