1 the] So the 4to.—The 8vo “our.”
2 triumphs] So the 8vo.—The 4to “triumph.”
3 sad] Old eds. “said.”
4 Uribassa] In this scene, but only here, the old eds. have “Upibassa.”
5 Almains, Rutters] RUTTERS are properly—German troopers, (REITER, REUTER). In the third speech after the present one this line is repeated VERBATIM: but in the first scene of our author’s FAUSTUS we have,—
“Like ALMAIN RUTTERS with their horsemen’s staves.”
6 ORCANES.] Omitted in the old eds.
7 hugy] i.e. huge.
8 cut the] So the 8vo.—The 4to “out of.”
9 champion] i.e. champaign.
10 Terrene] i.e. Mediterranean (but the Danube falls into the Black Sea.)
11 Cairo] Old eds. “Cairon:” but they are not consistent in the spelling of this name; afterwards (p. 45, sec. col.) {See note 29.} they have “Cario.”
12 Fear] i.e. frighten.
13 Sorians] So the 4to.—Here the 8vo has “Syrians”; but elsewhere in this SEC. PART of the play it agrees with the 4to in having “Sorians,” and “Soria” (which occurs repeatedly,—the King of SORIA being one of the characters).—Compare Jonson’s FOX, act iv. sc. 1;
“whether a ship,
Newly arriv’d from SORIA, or from
Any suspected part of all the Levant,
Be guilty of the plague,” &c.
On which passage Whalley remarks; “The city Tyre, from whence the whole country had its name, was anciently called ZUR or ZOR; since the Arabs erected their empire in the East, it has been again called SOR, and is at this day known by no other name in those parts. Hence the Italians formed their SORIA.”
14 black] So the 8vo.—The 4to “AND black.”
15 Egyptians, Illyrians, Thracians, and Bithynians] So the 8vo (except that by a misprint it gives “Illicians”).— The 4to has,—
“Egyptians,
FREDERICK. And we from Europe to the same intent
Illirians, Thracians, and Bithynians”;
a line which belongs to a later part of the scene (see next col.) being unaccountably inserted here. {See note 21.}
16 plage] i.e. region. So the 8vo.—The 4to “Place.”
17 viceroy] So the 8vo.—The 4to “Vice-royes.”
18 Boheme] i.e. Bohemia.
19 Bagdet’s] So the 8vo in act v. sc. 1. Here it has “Badgeths”: the 4to “Baieths.”
20 parle] So the 8vo.—Here the 4to “parley,” but before, repeatedly, “parle.”
21 FREDERICK. And we from Europe, to the same intent] So the 8vo.—The 4to, which gives this line in an earlier part of the scene (see note §, preceding col.), {i.e. note 15} omits it here.
22 stand] So the 8vo.—The 4to “are.”
23 prest] i.e. ready.
24 or] So the 8vo.—The 4to “and.”
25 conditions] So the 4to.—The 8vo “condition.”
26 Confirm’d] So the 4to.—The 8vo “Confirme.”
27 by] So the 8vo.—The 4to “with.”
28 renowmed] See note ||, p. 11. (Here the old eds. agree.)
{Note ||, from p. 11. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the
Great):
“renowmed] i.e. renowned.—So the 8vo.—The 4to
“renowned.”—The form “RENOWMED” (Fr. renomme) occurs
repeatedly afterwards in this play, according to the 8vo.
It is occasionally found in writers posterior to Marlowe’s
time. e.g.
“Of Constantines great towne RENOUM’D in vaine.”
Verses to King James, prefixed to Lord Stirling’s
MONARCHICKE TRAGEDIES, ed. 1607.}
29 Cairo] Old eds. “Cario.” See note ¶, p. 43. {i.e. note 11.}
30 stream] Old eds. “streames.”
31 at] So the 4to.—The 8vo “an.”
32 Terrene] i.e. Mediterranean.
33 Where] Altered by the modern editors to “Whence,”—an alteration made by one of them also in a speech at p. 48, sec. col., {see note 57} which may be compared with the present one,—
“Therefore I took my course to Manico,
WHERE, unresisted, I remov’d my camp;
And, by the coast,” &c.
34 from] So the 4to.—The 8vo “to.”
35 need] i.e. must.
36 let] i.e. hinder.
37 tainted] i.e. touched, struck lightly; see Richardson’s DICT. in v.
38 shall] So the 8vo.—The 4to “should.”
39 of] So the 8vo.—The 4to “to.”
40 to] So the 8vo.—The 4to “of.”
41 sprung] So the 8vo.—The 4to “sprong”.—See note ?, d. {p.} 14.
{Note ?, from p. 14. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the
Great):
“Sprung] Here, and in the next speech, both the old eds.
“SPRONG”: but in p. 18, l. 3, first col., the 4to has
“SPRUNG”, and in the SEC. PART of the play, act iv. sc. 4,
they both give “SPRUNG from a tyrants loynes.”}
{Page 18, First Column, Line 3, The First Part of
Tamburlaine the Great,
“For he was never sprung of human race,”}
42 superficies] Old eds. “superfluities.”—(In act iii. sc. 4, we have,
“the concave SUPERFICIES
Of Jove’s vast palace.”)
43 through] So the 4to.—The 8vo “thorow.”
44 carcasses] So the 8vo.—The 4to “carkasse.”
45 we] So the 8vo.—The 4to “yon (you).”
46 channel] i.e. collar, neck,—collar-bone.
47 Morocco] The old eds. here, and in the next speech, “Morocus”; but see note ?, p. 22.
{note ?, from p. 22. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the
Great):
“Morocco] Here the old eds. “Moroccus,”—a barbarism which
I have not retained, because previously, in the stage-
direction at the commencement of this act, p. 19, they
agree in reading “Morocco.”}
48 war] So the 8vo.—The 4to “warres.”
49 if infernal] So the 8vo.—The 4to “if THE infernall.”
50 thee] Old eds. “them.”
51 these] So the 4to.—The 8vo “this.”
52 strong] A mistake,—occasioned by the word “strong” in the next line.
53 Bootes’] So the 4to.—The 8vo “Boetes.”
54 leaguer] i.e. camp.
55 Jubalter] Here the old eds. have “Gibralter”; but in the First Part of this play they have “JUBALTER”: see p. 25, first col.
{p. 25, first col. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the
Great):
“And thence unto the Straits of Jubalter;”}
56 The mighty Christian Priest,
Call’d John the Great] Concerning the fabulous personage,
PRESTER JOHN, see Nares’s GLOSS. in v.
57 Where] See note ¶, p. 45. {i.e. note 33.}
58 Byather] The editor of 1826 printed “Biafar”: but it is very doubtful if Marlowe wrote the names of places correctly.
59 Damascus] Here the old eds. “Damasco.” See note *, p. 31.
{note *, from p. 31. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the
Great):
“Damascus] Both the old eds. here “Damasco:” but in many
other places they agree in reading “Damascus.”}
60 And made, &c.] A word dropt out from this line.
61 him] i.e. the king of Natolia.
62 orient] Old eds. “orientall” and “oriental.”—Both in our author’s FAUSTUS and in his JEW OF MALTA we have “ORIENT pearl.”
63 Soria] See note ?, p. 44. {i.e. note 13.}
64 thereof] So the 8vo.—The 4to “heereof.”
65 that we vow] i.e. that which we vow. So the 8vo.—The 4to “WHAT we vow.” Neither of the modern editors understanding the passage, they printed “WE THAT vow.”
66 faiths] So the 8vo.—The 4to “fame.”
67 and religion] Old eds. “and THEIR religion.”
68 consummate] Old eds. “consinuate.” The modern editors print “continuate,” a word which occurs in Shakespeare’s TIMON OF ATHENS, act i. sc. 1., but which the metre determines to be inadmissible in the present passage.—The Revd. J. Mitford proposes “continent,” in the sense of—restraining from violence.
69 this] So the 8vo.—The 4to “the.”
70 martial] So the 4to.—The 8vo “materiall.”
71 our] So the 4to.—The 8vo “your.”
72 With] So the 4to.—The 8vo “Which.”
73 thy servant’s] He means Sigismund. So a few lines after, “this traitor’s perjury.”
74 discomfit] Old eds. “discomfort.” (Compare the first line of the next scene.)
75 lords] So the 8vo.—The 4to “lord.”
76 Christian] So the 8vo.—The 4to “Christians.”
77 Zoacum] “Or ZAKKUM.—The description of this tree is taken from a fable in the Koran, chap. 37.” Ed. 1826.
78 an] So the 8vo.—The 4to “any.”
79 We will both watch and ward shall keep his trunk] i.e. We will that both watch, &c. So the 4to.—The 8vo has “AND keepe.”
80 Uribassa, give] So the 8vo.—The 4to “Vribassa, AND giue.”
81 Soria] See note ?, p. 44. {i.e. note 13.}
82 their] So the 4to.—Not in the 8vo.
83 brows] Old eds. “bowers.”
84 this] So the 8vo.—The 4to “the.”
85 no] So the 4to.—The 8vo “not.”
86 and] So the 4to.—The 8vo “a.”
87 makes] So the 4to.—The 8vo “make.”
88 author] So the 4to.—The 8vo “anchor.”
89 yes] Old eds. “yet.”
90 excellence] So the 4to.—The 8vo “excellency.”
91 cavalieros] i.e. mounds, or elevations of earth, to lodge cannon.
92 prevails] i.e. avails.
93 Mausolus’] Wrong quantity.
94 one] So the 8vo (“on”).—The 4to “our.”
95 stature] See note §, p. 27.—So the 8vo.—The 4to “statue.” Here the metre would be assisted by reading “statua,” which is frequently found in our early writers: see my REMARKS ON MR. COLLIER’S AND MR. KNIGHT’S EDITIONS OF SHAKESPEARE, p. 186.
{note §, from p. 27. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the
Great):
“stature] So the 8vo.—The 4to “statue:” but again, in the
SECOND PART of this play, act ii. sc. 4, we have, according
to the 8vo—
“And here will I set up her STATURE.”
and, among many passages that might be cited from our
early authors, compare the following;
“The STATURES huge, of Porphyrie and costlier matters
made.”
Warner’s ALBIONS ENGLAND, p. 303. ed. 1596.
“By them shal Isis STATURE gently stand.”
Chapman’s BLIND BEGGER OF ALEXANDRIA, 1598, sig. A 3.
“Was not Anubis with his long nose of gold preferred
before Neptune, whose STATURE was but brasse?”
Lyly’s MIDAS, sig. A 2. ed. 1592.”}
96 Soria] See note ?, p. 44. {i.e. note 13.}
97 fate] So the 8vo.—The 4to “fates.”
98 his] Old eds. “our.”
99 all] So the 8vo.—Omitted in the 4to.
100 honours] So the 8vo.—The 4to “honour.”
101 in conquest] So the 4to.—The 8vo “in THE conquest.”
102 Judaea] So the 8vo.—The 4to “Juda.”
103 Sclavonia’s] Old eds. “Scalonians” and “Sclauonians.”
104 Soria] See note ?, p. 44. {i.e. note 13.}
105 Damascus] Here the old eds. “Damasco.” See note *, p. 31.
{note *, from p. 31. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the
Great):
“Damascus] Both the old eds. here “Damasco:” but in many
other places they agree in reading “Damascus.””}
106 That’s no matter, &c.] So previously (p. 46, first col.) Almeda speaks in prose, “I like that well,” &c.
{p. 46, first col. (This play):
“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?”}
107 dearth] Old eds. “death.”
108 th’] So the 8vo.—Omitted in the 4to.
109 Those] Old eds. “Whose.”
110 sorrows] So the 8vo.—The 4to “sorrow.”
111 thirst] So the 4to.—The 8vo “colde.”
112 champion] i.e. champaign.
113 which] Old eds. “with.”
114 Whereas] i.e. Where.
115 the] So the 8vo.—The 4to “and.”
116 cavalieros] See note ?, p. 52. {i.e. note 91.}
117 argins] “Argine, Ital. An embankment, a rampart.{”} Ed., 1826.
118 great] So the 8vo.—The 4to “greatst.”
119 the] Old eds. “their.”
120 by nature] So the 8vo.—The 4to “by THE nature.”
121 a] So the 4to.—The 8vo “the.”
122 A ring of pikes, mingled with shot and horse] Qy. “foot” instead of “shot”? (but the “ring of pikes” is “foot”).—The Revd. J. Mitford proposes to read, “A ring of pikes AND HORSE, MANGLED with shot.”
123 his] So the 8vo—The 4to “this.”
124 march’d] So the 4to.—The 8vo “martch.”
125 drop] So the 8vo.—The 4to “dram.”
126 lance] So the 4to.—Here the 8vo “lanch”: but afterwards more than once it has “lance.”
127 I know not, &c.] This and the next four speeches are evidently prose, as are several other portions of the play.
128 ’Tis] So the 4to.—The 8vo “This.”
129 accursed] So the 4to.—The 8vo “cursed.”
130 his] So the 4to.—The 8vo “the.”
131 point] So the 8vo.—The 4to “port.”
132 Soria] See note ?, p. 44. {i.e. note 13.}
133 Minions, falc’nets, and sakers] “All small pieces of ordnance.” Ed. 1826.
134 hold] Old eds. “gold” and “golde.”
135 quietly] So the 8vo.—The 4to “quickely.”
136 friends] So the 4to.—The 8vo “friend.”
137 you] So the 4to.—The 8vo “thou.”
138 pioners] See note ||, p. 20.
{note ||, from p. 20. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the
Great):
“pioners] The usual spelling of the word in our early
writers (in Shakespeare, for instance).”}
139 in] So the 8vo.—The 4to “to.”
140 argins] See note ?{sic}, p. 55. {note ?? p. 55, i.e. note 117.}
141 quietly] So the 8vo.—The 4to “quickely.”
142 Were you, that are the friends of Tamburlaine] So the 8vo. —The 4to “Were ALL you that are friends of Tamburlaine.”
143 of] So the 8vo.—The 4to “to.”
144 all convoys that can] i.e. (I believe) all convoys (conveyances) that can be cut off. The modern editors alter “can” to “come.”
145 I am] So the 8vo.—The 4to “am I.”
146 into] So the 8vo.—The 4to “vnto.”
147 hold] So the 4to.—The 8vo “holdS.”
148 straineth] So the 4to.—The 8vo “staineth.”
149 home] So the 8vo.—The 4to “haue.”
150 wert] So the 8vo.—The 4to “art.”
151 join’d] So the 4to.—The 8vo “inioin’d.”
152 of] So the 8vo.—The 4to “in.”
153 the] Added perhaps by a mistake of the transcriber or printer.
154 and] So the 8vo.—The 4to “the.”
155 Renowmed] See note ||, p. 11. So the 8vo.—The 4to “Renowned.”
{Note ||, from p. 11. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the
Great).
“renowmed] i.e. renowned.—So the 8vo.—The 4to “renowned.”
—The form “RENOWMED” (Fr. renomme) occurs repeatedly
afterwards in this play, according to the 8vo. It is
occasionally found in writers posterior to Marlowe’s time.
e.g.
“Of Constantines great towne RENOUM’D in vaine.”
Verses to King James, prefixed to Lord Stirling’s
MONARCHICKE TRAGEDIES, ed. 1607.”}
156 emperor, mighty] So the 8vo.—The 4to “emperour, AND mightie.”
157 the] So the 4to.—The 8vo “this.”
158 your] So the 8vo.—The 4to “our.”
159 term’d] Old eds. “terme.”
160 the] So the 4to.—Omitted in the 8vo.
161 your] So the 8vo.—The 4to “our.”
162 brandishing their] So the 4to.—The 8vo “brandishing IN their.”
163 with] So the 4to.—Omitted in the 8vo.
164 shew’d your] So the 8vo.—The 4to “shewed TO your.”
165 Sorians] See note ?, p. 44. {i.e. note 13.}
166 repair’d] So the 8vo.—The 4to “prepar’d.”
167 And neighbour cities of your highness’ land] So the 8vo.— Omitted in the 4to.
168 he] i.e. Death. So the 8vo.—The 4to “it.”
169 is] So the 8vo.—The 4to “the.”
170 harness’d] So the 8vo.—The 4to “harnesse.”
171 on] So the 4to.—The 8vo “with” (the compositor having caught the word from the preceding line).
172 thou shalt] So the 8vo.—The 4to “shalt thou.”
173 the] So the 8vo.—The 4to “our.”
174 and rent] So the 8vo.—The 4to “or rend.”
175 Go to, sirrah] So the 8vo.—The 4to “Goe sirrha.”
176 give arms] An heraldic expression, meaning—shew armorial bearings (used, of course, with a quibble).
177 No] So the 4to.—The 8vo “Go.”
178 bugs] i.e. bugbears, objects to strike you with terror.
179 rout] i.e. crew, rabble.
180 as the foolish king of Persia did] See p. 16, first col.
{p. 15, first col. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the
Great, ACT II, Scene IV):
“ SCENE IV.
Enter MYCETES with his crown in his hand.
MYCETES. Accurs’d be he that first invented war!
They knew not, ah, they knew not, simple men,
How those were hit by pelting cannon-shot
Stand staggering like a quivering aspen-leaf
Fearing the force of Boreas’ boisterous blasts!
{page 16}
In what a lamentable case were I,
If nature had not given me wisdom’s lore!
For kings are clouts that every man shoots at,
Our crown the pin that thousands seek to cleave:
Therefore in policy I think it good
To hide it close; a goodly stratagem,
And far from any man that is a fool:
So shall not I be known; or if I be,
They cannot take away my crown from me.
Here will I hide it in this simple hole.
Enter TAMBURLAINE.
TAMBURLAINE.
What, fearful coward, straggling from the camp,
When kings themselves are present in the field?”}
181 aspect] So the 8vo.—The 4to “aspects.”
182 sits asleep] At the back of the stage, which was supposed to represent the interior of the tent.
183 You cannot] So the 8vo.—The 4to “Can you not.”
184 scare] So the 8vo.—The 4to “scarce.”
185 tall] i.e. bold, brave.
186 both you] So the 8vo.—The 4to “you both.”
187 should I] So the 8vo.—The 4to “I should.”
188 ye] So the 8vo.—The 4to “my.”
189 stoop your pride] i.e. make your pride to stoop.
190 bodies] So the 8vo.—The 4to “glories.”
191 mine] So the 4to.—The 8vo “my.”
192 may] So the 4to.—The 8vo “nay.”
193 up] The modern editors alter this word to “by,” not understanding the passage. Tamburlaine means—Do not KNEEL to me for his pardon.
194 once] So the 4to.—The 8vo “one.”
195 martial] So the 8vo.—The 4to “materiall.” (In this line “fire” is a dissyllable”)
196 thine] So the 8vo.—The 4to “thy.”
197 which] Old eds. “with.”
198 Jaertis’] So the 8vo.—The 4to “Laertis.” By “Jaertis’” must be meant—Jaxartes’.
199 incorporeal] So the 8vo.—The 4to “incorporall.”
200 for being seen] i.e. “that thou mayest not be seen.” Ed. 1826. See Richardson’s DICT. in v. FOR.
201 you shall] So the 8vo.—The 4to “shall ye.”
202 Approve] i.e. prove, experience.
203 bloods] So the 4to.—The 8vo “blood.”
204 peasants] So the 8vo.—The 4to “parsants.”
205 resist in] Old eds “resisting.”
206 Casane] So the 4to.—The 8vo “VSUM Casane.”
207 it] So the 8vo.—Omitted in the 4to.
208 Excel] Old eds. “Expell” and “Expel.”
209 artier] See note *, p. 18.
{Note *, from p. 18. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the
Great):
“Artier] i.e. artery. This form occurs again in the SEC.
PART of the present play: so too in a copy of verses by
Day;
“Hid in the vaines and ARTIERS of the earthe.”
SHAKESPEARE SOC. PAPERS, vol. i. 19.
The word indeed was variously written of old:
“The ARTER strynge is the conduyt of the lyfe spiryte.”
Hormanni VULGARIA, sig. G iii. ed. 1530.
“Riche treasures serue for th’ARTERS of the war.”
Lord Stirling’s DARIUS, act ii. Sig. C 2. ed. 1604.
“Onelye the extrauagant ARTIRE of my arme is brused.”
EVERIE WOMAN IN HER HUMOR, 1609, sig. D 4.
“And from the veines some bloud each ARTIRE draines.”
Davies’s MICROCOSMOS, 1611, p. 56.”}
210 remorseful] i.e. compassionate.
211 miss] i.e. loss, want. The construction is—Run round about, mourning the miss of the females.
212 behold] Qy “beheld”?
213 a] So the 4to.—The 8vo “the.”
214 Have] Old eds. “Hath.”
215 to] So the 8vo.—The 4to “and.”
216 in] So the 8vo.—The 4to “to.”
217 now, my lord; and, will you] So the 8vo.—The 4to “GOOD my Lord, IF YOU WILL.”
218 mouths] So the 4to.—The 8vo “mother.”
219 rebated] i.e. blunted.
220 thereof] So the 8vo.—The 4to “heereof.”
221 and will] So the 4to.—The 8vo “and I wil.”
222 She anoints her throat] This incident, as Mr. Collier observes (HIST. OF ENG. DRAM. POET., iii. 119) is borrowed from Ariosto’s ORLANDO FURIOSO, B. xxix, “where Isabella, to save herself from the lawless passion of Rodomont, anoints her neck with a decoction of herbs, which she pretends will render it invulnerable: she then presents her throat to the Pagan, who, believing her assertion, aims a blow and strikes off her head.”
223 my] Altered by the modern editors to “thy,”—unnecessarily.
224 Elysium] Old eds. “Elisian” and “Elizian.”
225 do borrow] So the 4to.—The 8vo “borow doo.”
226 my] So the 4to (Theridamas is King of Argier).—The 8vo “thy.”
227 Soria] See note ?, p. 44. {i.e. note 13.}
228 his] So the 4to.—The 8vo “their.”
229 led by five] So the 4to.—The 8vo “led by WITH fiue.”
230 Holla, ye pamper’d jades of Asia, &c.] The ridicule showered on this passage by a long series of poets, will be found noticed in the ACCOUNT OF MARLOWE AND HIS WRITINGS.
{The “Account of Marlowe and His Writings,” is the
introduction to this book of “The Works of Christopher
Marlowe.” That is, the book from which this play has been
transcribed. The following is a footnote from page xvii
of that introduction.}
{“Tamb. Holla, ye pamper’d jades of Asia!” &c.
p. 64, sec. col.
This has been quoted or alluded to, generally with ridicule,
by a whole host of writers. Pistol’s “hollow pamper’d jades
of Asia” in Shakespeare’s HENRY IV. P. II. Act ii. sc. 4,
is known to most readers: see also Beaumont and Fletcher’s
COXCOMB, act ii. sc. 2; Fletcher’s WOMEN PLEASED, act iv.
sc. 1; Chapman’s, Jonson’s, and Marston’s EASTWARD HO,
act ii. sig. B 3, ed. 1605; Brathwait’s STRAPPADO FOR THE
DIUELL, 1615, p. 159; Taylor the water-poet’s THIEFE and
his WORLD RUNNES ON WHEELES,—WORKES, pp. 111 [121], 239,
ed. 1630; A BROWN DOZEN OF DRUNKARDS, &c. 1648, sig. A 3;
the Duke of Newcastle’s VARIETIE, A COMEDY, 1649, p. 72;
—but I cannot afford room for more references.—In 1566
a similar spectacle had been exhibited at Gray’s Inn:
there the Dumb Show before the first act of Gascoigne and
Kinwelmersh’s JOCASTA introduced “a king with an imperiall
crowne vpon hys head,” &c. “sitting in a chariote very
richly furnished, drawen in by iiii kings in their dublets
and hosen, with crownes also vpon theyr heads, representing
vnto vs ambition by the historie of Sesostres,” &c.
231 And blow the morning from their nostrils] Here “nostrils” is to be read as a trisyllable,—and indeed is spelt in the 4to “nosterils.”—Mr. Collier (HIST. OF ENG. DRAM. POET., iii. 124) remarks that this has been borrowed from Marlowe by the anonymous author of the tragedy of CAESAR AND POMPEY, 1607 (and he might have compared also Chapman’s HYMNUS IN CYNTHIAM,—THE SHADOW OF NIGHT, &c. 1594, sig. D 3): but, after all, it is only a translation;
“cum primum alto se gurgite tollunt
Solis equi, LUCEMQUE ELATIS NARIBUS EFFLANT.”
AEN. xii. 114
(Virgil being indebted to Ennius and Lucilius).
232 in] So the 8vo.—The 4to “as.”
233 racking] i.e. moving like smoke or vapour: see Richardson’s DICT. in v.
234 have coach] So the 8vo.—The 4to “haue A coach.”
235 by] So the 4to.—The 8vo “with.”
236 garden-plot] So the 4to.—The 8vo “GARDED plot.”
237 colts] i.e. (with a quibble) colts’-teeth.
238 same] So the 8vo.—Omitted in the 4to.
239 match] So the 8vo.—The 4to “march.”
240 Above] So the 8vo.—The 4to “About.”
241 tall] i.e. bold, brave.
242 their] So the 4to.—Omitted in the 8vo.
243 continent] Old eds. “content.”
244 jest] A quibble—which will be understood by those readers who recollect the double sense of JAPE (jest) in our earliest writers.
245 prest] i.e. ready.
246 Terrene] i.e. Mediterranean.
247 all] So the 8vo.—Omitted in the 4to.
248 Jaertis’] See note **, p. 62. {i.e. note 198.} So the 8vo.—The 4to “Laertes.”
249 furthest] So the 4to.—The 8vo “furthiest.”
250 Thorough] So the 8vo.—The 4to “Through.”
251 Like to an almond-tree, &c.] This simile in borrowed from Spenser’s FAERIE QUEENE, B. i. C. vii. st. 32;
“Upon the top of all his loftie crest,
A bounch of heares discolourd diversly,
With sprincled pearle and gold full richly drest,
Did shake, and seemd to daunce for iollity;
Like to an almond tree ymounted hye
On top of greene Selinis all alone,
With blossoms brave bedecked daintily;
Whose tender locks do tremble every one
At everie little breath that under heaven is blowne.”
The first three books of THE FAERIE QUEENE were originally printed in 1590, the year in which the present play was first given to the press: but Spenser’s poem, according to the fashion of the times, had doubtless been circulated in manuscript, and had obtained many readers, before its publication. In Abraham Fraunce’s ARCADIAN RHETORIKE, 1588, some lines of the Second Book of THE FAERIE QUEENE are accurately cited. And see my Acc. of Peele and his Writings, p. xxxiv, WORKS, ed. 1829.
252 y-mounted] So both the old eds.—The modern editors print “mounted”; and the Editor of 1826 even remarks in a note, that the dramatist, “finding in the fifth line of Spenser’s stanza the word ‘y-mounted,’ and, probably considering it to be too obsolete for the stage, dropped the initial letter, leaving only nine syllables and an unrythmical line”! ! ! In the FIRST PART of this play (p. 23, first col.) we have,—
“Their limbs more large and of a bigger size
Than all the brats Y-SPRUNG from Typhon’s loins:”
but we need not wonder that the Editor just cited did not recollect the passage, for he had printed, like his predecessor, “ERE sprung.”
253 ever-green Selinus] Old eds. “EUERY greene Selinus” and “EUERIE greene,” &c.—I may notice that one of the modern editors silently alters “Selinus” to (Spenser’s) “Selinis;” but, in fact, the former is the correct spelling.
254 Erycina’s] Old eds. “Hericinas.”
255 brows] So the 4to.—The 8vo “bowes.”
256 breath that thorough heaven] So the 8vo.—The 4to “breath FROM heauen.”
257 chariot] Old eds. “chariots.”
258 out] Old eds. “our.”
259 respect’st thou] Old eds. “RESPECTS thou:” but afterwards, in this scene, the 8vo has, “Why SEND’ST thou not,” and “thou SIT’ST.”
260 of] So the 8vo.—The 4to “in.”
261 he] So the 4to.—The 8vo “was.”
262 How, &c.] A mutilated line.
263 eterniz’d] So the 4to.—The 8vo “enternisde.”
264 and] So the 4to.—Omitted in the 8vo.
265 prest] i.e. ready.
266 parle] Here the old eds. “parlie”: but repeatedly before they have “parle” (which is used more than once by Shakespeare).
267 Orcanes, king of Natolia, and the King of Jerusalem, led by soldiers] Old eds. (which have here a very imperfect stage-direction) “the two spare kings”,—“spare” meaning— not then wanted to draw the chariot of Tamburlaine.
268 burst] i.e. broken, bruised.
269 the measures] i.e. the dance (properly,—solemn, stately dances, with slow and measured steps).
270 of] So the 8vo.—The 4to “for.”
271 ports] i.e. gates.
272 make] So the 4to.—The 8vo “wake.”
273 the city-walls) So the 8vo.—The 4to “the walles.”
274 him] So the 4to.—The 8vo “it.”
275 in] Old eds. “VP in,{”}—the “vp” having been repeated by mistake from the preceding line.
276 scar’d] So the 8vo; and, it would seem, rightly; Tamburlaine making an attempt at a bitter jest, in reply to what the Governor has just said.—The 4to “sear’d.”
277 Vile] The 8vo “Vild”; the 4to “Wild” (Both eds., a little before, have “VILE monster, born of some infernal hag”, and, a few lines after, “To VILE and ignominious servitude”:— the fact is, our early writers (or rather, transcribers), with their usual inconsistency of spelling, give now the one form, and now the other: compare the folio SHAKESPEARE, 1623, where we sometimes find “vild” and sometimes “VILE.”)
278 Bagdet’s] So the 8vo.—The 4to “Badgets.”
279 A citadel, &c.] Something has dropt out from this line.
280 Well said] Equivalent to—Well done! as appears from innumerable passages of our early writers: see, for instances, my ed. of Beaumont and Fletcher’s WORKS, vol. i. 328, vol. ii. 445, vol. viii. 254.
281 will I] So the 8vo.—The 4to “I will.”
282 suffer’st] Old eds. “suffers”: but see the two following notes.
283 send’st] So the 8vo.—The 4to “sends.”
284 sit’st] So the 8vo.—The 4to “sits.”
285 head] So the 8vo.—The 4to “blood.”
286 fed] Old eds. “feede.”
287 upon] So the 8vo.—Omitted in the 4to.
288 fleet] i.e. float.
289 gape] So the 8vo.—The 4to “gaspe.”
290 in] So the 8vo.—Omitted in the 4to.
291 forth, ye vassals] Spoken, of course, to the two kings who draw his chariot.
292 whatsoe’er] So the 8vo.—The 4to “whatsoeuer.”
293 Euphrates] See note §, p. 36.
{note §, from p. 36. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the
Great):
“Euphrates] So our old poets invariably, I believe,
accentuate this word.”}
{Note: ‘Euphrates’ was printed with no accented characters
at all.}
294 may we] So the 8vo.—The 4to “we may.”
295 this] So the 8vo.—The 4to “that” (but in the next speech of the same person it has “THIS Tamburlaine”).
296 record] i.e. call to mind.
297 Aid] So the 8vo.—The 4to “And.”
298 Renowmed] See note ||, p. 11. So the 8vo.—The 4to “Renowned.”—The prefix to this speech is wanting in the old eds.
{note ||, from p. 11. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the
Great):
“renowmed] i.e. renowned.—So the 8vo.—The 4to “renowned.”
—The form “RENOWMED” (Fr. renomme) occurs repeatedly
afterwards in this play, according to the 8vo. It is
occasionally found in writers posterior to Marlowe’s time.
e.g.
“Of Constantines great towne RENOUM’D in vaine.”
Verses to King James, prefixed to Lord Stirling’s
MONARCHICKE TRAGEDIES, ed. 1607.”}
299 invisibly] So the 4to.—The 8vo “inuincible.”
300 inexcellence] So the 4to.—The 8vo “inexcellencie.”
301 Enter Tamburlaine, &c.] Here the old eds. have no stage- direction; and perhaps the poet intended that Tamburlaine should enter at the commencement of this scene. That he is drawn in his chariot by the two captive kings, appears from his exclamation at p. 72, first col. “Draw, you slaves!”
302 cease] So the 8vo.—The 4to “case.”
303 hypostasis] Old eds. “Hipostates.”
304 artiers] See note *, p. 18.
{Note *, from p. 18. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the
Great):
“Artier] i.e. artery. This form occurs again in the SEC.
PART of the present play: so too in a copy of verses by
Day;
“Hid in the vaines and ARTIERS of the earthe.”
SHAKESPEARE SOC. PAPERS, vol. i. 19.
The word indeed was variously written of old:
“The ARTER strynge is the conduyt of the lyfe spiryte.”
Hormanni VULGARIA, sig. G iii. ed. 1530.
“Riche treasures serue for th’ARTERS of the war.”
Lord Stirling’s DARIUS, act ii. Sig. C 2. ed. 1604.
“Onelye the extrauagant ARTIRE of my arme is brused.”
EVERIE WOMAN IN HER HUMOR, 1609, sig. D 4.
“And from the veines some bloud each ARTIRE draines.”
Davies’s MICROCOSMOS, 1611, p. 56.”}
305 upon] So the 4to.—The 8vo “on.”
306 villain cowards] Old eds. “VILLAINES, cowards” (which is not to be defended by “VILLAINS, COWARDS, traitors to our state”, p. 67, sec. col.). Compare “But where’s this COWARD VILLAIN,” &c., p. 61 sec. col.
307 unto] So the 8vo.—The 4to “to.”
308 Whereas] i.e. Where.
309 Terrene] i.e. Mediterranean.
310 began] So the 8vo.—The 4to “begun.”
311 this] So the 8vo.—The 4to “the.”
312 subjects] Mr. Collier (Preface to COLERIDGE’S SEVEN LECTURES ON SHAKESPEARE AND MILTON, p. cxviii) says that here “subjects” is a printer’s blunder for “substance”: YET HE TAKES NO NOTICE OF TAMBURLAINE’S NEXT WORDS, “But, sons, this SUBJECT not of force enough,” &c.—The old eds. are quite right in both passages: compare, in p. 62, first col.;
“A form not meet to give that SUBJECT essence
Whose matter is the flesh of Tamburlaine,” &c.
313 into] So the 8vo.—The 4to “vnto.”
314 your seeds] So the 8vo.—The 4to “OUR seedes.” (In p. 18, first col., {The First Part of Tamburlaine the Great} we have had “Their angry SEEDS”; but in p. 47, first col., {this play} “thy seed”:—and Marlowe probably wrote “seed” both here and in p. 18.)
315 lineaments] So the 8vo.—The 4to “laments.”—The Editor of 1826 remarks, that this passage “is too obscure for ordinary comprehension.”
316 these] So the 4to.—The 8vo “those.”
317 these] So the 4to.—The 8vo “those.”
318 damned] i.e. doomed,—sorrowful.
319 Clymene’s] So the 8vo.—The 4to “Clymeus.”
320 Phoebe’s] So the 8vo.—The 4to “Phoebus.”
321 Phyteus’] Meant perhaps for “Pythius’”, according to the usage of much earlier poets:
“And of PHYTON [i.e. Python] that Phebus made thus fine
Came Phetonysses,” &c.
Lydgate’s WARRES OF TROY, B. ii. SIG. K vi. ed.
1555.
Here the modern editors print “Phoebus’”.
322 thee] So the 8vo.—The 4to “me.”
323 cliffs] Here the old eds. “clifts” and “cliftes”: but see p. 12, line 5, first col.
{p. 12, first col. (The First Part of Tamburlaine the
Great):
“Both we will walk upon the lofty cliffs;*
* cliffs] So the 8vo.—The 4to “cliftes.”}