native city Samarcanda,
And crystal waves of fresh Jaertis' [248] stream,
The pride and beauty of her princely seat,
Be famous through the furthest [249] continents;
For there my palace royal shall be plac'd,
Whose shining turrets shall dismay the heavens,
And cast the fame of Ilion's tower to hell:
Thorough [250] the streets, with troops of conquer'd kings,
I'll ride in golden armour like the sun;
And in my helm a triple plume shall spring,
Spangled with diamonds, dancing in the air,
To note me emperor of the three-fold world;
Like to an almond-tree [251] y-mounted [252] high
Upon the lofty and celestial mount
Of ever-green Selinus, [253] quaintly deck'd
With blooms more white than Erycina's [254] brows, [255]
Whose tender blossoms tremble every one
At every little breath that thorough heaven [256] is blown.
Then in my coach, like Saturn's royal son
Mounted his shining chariot [257] gilt with fire,
And drawn with princely eagles through the path
Pav'd with bright crystal and enchas'd with stars,
When all the gods stand gazing at his pomp,
So will I ride through Samarcanda-streets,
Until my soul, dissever'd from this flesh,
Shall mount the milk-white way, and meet him there.
To Babylon, my lords, to Babylon!
[Exeunt.]

ACT V.

SCENE I.

Enter the GOVERNOR OF BABYLON, MAXIMUS, and others, upon
the walls.

GOVERNOR. What saith Maximus?

MAXIMUS. My lord, the breach the enemy hath made
Gives such assurance of our overthrow,
That little hope is left to save our lives,
Or hold our city from the conqueror's hands.
Then hang out [258] flags, my lord, of humble truce,
And satisfy the people's general prayers,
That Tamburlaine's intolerable wrath
May be suppress'd by our submission.

GOVERNOR. Villain, respect'st thou [259] more thy slavish life
Than honour of thy country or thy name?
Is not my life and state as dear to me,
The city and my native country's weal,
As any thing of [260] price with thy conceit?
Have we not hope, for all our batter'd walls,
To live secure and keep his forces out,
When this our famous lake of Limnasphaltis
Makes walls a-fresh with every thing that falls
Into the liquid substance of his stream,
More strong than a