4
TAMERLANE.
Flourish of Trumpets.
Enter Tamerlane, Guards, and other Attendants.
Tam.Yet, yet a little, and destructive SlaughterShall rage around, and marr this beauteous Prospect;Pass but an Hour, which stands betwixt the LivesOf Thousands and Eternity: What ChangeShall hasty Death make in yon glitt'ring Plain?Oh thou fell Monster War! that in a momentLay'st wast the noblest part of the Creation,The Boast, and Masterpiece of the Great Maker,That wears in vain th' Impression of his Image,Unpriviledg'd from thee.Health to my Friends, and to our Arms Success [To the Prince, Zama, and Mirvan.Such as the Cause for which we fight deserves.
Pr.Nor can we ask beyond what Heav'n bestows,Preventing still our Wishes. See Great Sir!The Universal Joy, your Soldier wearsOmen of prosp'rous BattleImpatient of the tedious Night in ArmsWatchful they stood expecting opening Day;And now are hardly by their Leaders heldFrom darting on the Foe; like a hot Courser,That bounding paws the mould'ring Soil, disdainingThe Rein that checks him, eager for the Race.
Tam.Yes, Prince, I mean to give a loose to War:This Morn, Axalla, with my Parthian HorseArrives to join me, He, who like a StormSwept with his flying Squadrons all the PlainBetween Angoria's Walls, and yon tall Mountains,That seem to reach the Clouds; and now he comesLoaden with Spoils, and Conquest, to my aid.
Zam.These Trumpets speak his Presence———
Flourish
