Act V, Scene i

[Enter] the GOVERNOR OF DAMASCUS, with three or four Citizens, and four VIRGINS with branches of laurel in their hands

GOVERNOR
Still doth this man or rather god of war
Batter our walls and beat our turrets down,
And to resist with longer stubbornness
Or hope of rescue from the Soldan’s power,
Were but to bring our wilful overthrow	5
And make us desperate of our threatened lives.
We see his tents have now been altered
With terrors to the last and cruellest hue.
His coal-black colours everywhere advanced
Threaten our city with a general spoil,	10
And if we should with common rites of arms
Offer our safeties to his clemency,
I fear the custom proper to his sword,
Which he observes as parcel of his fame
Intending so to terrify the world,	15
By any innovation or remorse
Will never be dispensed with till our deaths.
Therefore for these our harmless virgins’ sakes,
Whose honours and whose lives rely on him,
Let us have hope that their unspotted prayers,	20
Their blubbered cheeks and hearty humble moans,
Will melt his fury into some remorse,
And use us like a loving conqueror.
FIRST VIRGIN
If humble suits or imprecations – Uttered with tears of wretchedness and blood	25
Shed from the heads and hearts of all our sex,
Some made your wives, and some your children –
Might have entreated your obdurate breasts
To entertain some care of our securities
Whiles only danger beat upon our walls,	30
These more than dangerous warrants of our death
Had never been erected as they be,
Nor you depend on such weak helps as we.
GOVERNOR
Well, lovely virgins, think our country’s care,
Our love of honour, loath to be enthralled	35
To foreign powers and rough imperious yokes,
Would not with too much cowardice or fear
Before all hope of rescue were denied
Submit yourselves and us to servitude.
Therefore in that your safeties and our own,	40
Your honours, liberties and lives were weighed
In equal care and balance with our own,
Endure as we the malice of our stars,
The wrath of Tamburlaine and power of wars,
Or be the means the overweighing heavens	45
Have kept to qualify these hot extremes,
And bring us pardon in your cheerful looks.
SECOND VIRGIN
Then here before the majesty of heaven
And holy patrons of Egyptia,
With knees and hearts submissive we entreat	50
Grace to our words and pity to our looks,
That this device may prove propitious,
And through the eyes and ears of Tamburlaine
Convey events of mercy to his heart.
Grant that these signs of victory we yield	55
May bind the temples of his conquering head
To hide the folded furrows of his brows
And shadow his displeasèd countenance
With happy looks of ruth and lenity.
Leave us, my lord and loving countrymen,	60
What simple virgins may persuade, we will.
GOVERNOR
Farewell, sweet virgins, on whose safe return
Depends our city, liberty, and lives.
Exeunt [all except the VIRGINS]