22
TAMERLANE.
And scorns to take acquaintance with ill Fortune.
Tam.Almost beneath my Pity art thou fallen;Since, while th' avenging Hand of Heav'n is on thee,And presses to the Dust thy swelling Sou!,Fool-hardy, with the stronger thou contendest;To what vast heights had thy tumultuous TemperBeen hurry'd, if Success had crown'd thy Wishes?Say, What had I to expect, if thou had'st conquer'd?
Baj.Oh, Glorious Thought! By Heav'n! I will enjoy it,Tho' but in Fancy; Imagination shallMake room to entertain the vast Idea.Oh! had I been the Master but of Yesterday,The World, the World had felt me; and for thee,I had us'd thee, as thou art to me,———a Dog,The Object of my Scorn, and mortal Hatred:I would have taught thy Neck to know my weight,And mounted from that Footstool to my Saddle:Then, when thy daily servile Task was done,I would have caged thee, for the Scorn of Slaves,Till thou hadst begg'd to die; and ev'n that MercyI had deny'd Thee: Now thou know'st my Mind,And question me no farther.
Tam.Well dost thou teach meWhat Justice should exact from thee: MankindWith one consent cry out for Vengeance on thee;Loudly they call, to cut off this League-breaker,This wild Destroyer, from the Face of Earth.
Baj.Do it, and rid thy shaking Soul at onceOf its worst Fear.
Tam.Why slept the Thunder,That should have arm'd thy Idol Deity,And given thee Power, e're yester Sun was set,To shake the Soul of Tamerlane: Hadst thou an ArmTo make thee fear'd, thou should'st have prov'd it on me,Amidst the Sweat and Blood of yonder Field,When, thro' the Tumult of the War, I sought thee,Fenc'd in with Nations.
Baj.
