Tamburlaine the Great — Part 1
TRANSCRIBER'S COMMENTS ON THE PREPARATION OF THE E-TEXT: SQUARE BRACKETS:
For this E-Text version of the book, the footnotes have been consolidated at the end of the play.
Character names were expanded. For Example, TAMBURLAINE was TAMB., ZENOCRATE was ZENO., etc.
Tamburlaine the Great. Who, from a Scythian Shephearde by his rare and woonderfull Conquests, became a most puissant and mightye Monarque. And (for his tyranny, and terrour in Warre) was tearmed, The Scourge of God. Deuided into two Tragicall Discourses, as they were sundrie times shewed vpon Stages in the Citie of London. By the right honorable the Lord Admyrall, his seruauntes. Now first, and newlie published. London. Printed by Richard Ihones: at the signe of the Rose and Crowne neere Holborne Bridge. 1590. 4to.
The above title-page is pasted into a copy of the FIRST PART OF TAMBURLAINE in the Library at Bridge-water House; which copy, excepting that title-page and the Address to the Readers, is the impression of 1605. I once supposed that the title-pages which bear the dates 1605 and 1606 (see below) had been added to the 4tos of the TWO PARTS of the play originally printed in 1590; but I am now convinced that both PARTS were really reprinted, THE FIRST PART in 1605, and THE SECOND PART in 1606, and that nothing remains of the earlier 4tos, except the title-page and the Address to the Readers, which are preserved in the Bridge- water collection.
In the Bodleian Library, Oxford, is an 8vo edition of both PARTS OF TAMBURLAINE, dated 1590: the title-page of THE FIRST PART agrees verbatim with that given above; the half-title-page of THE SECOND PART is as follows;
The Second Part of The bloody Conquests of mighty Tamburlaine. With his impassionate fury, for the death of his Lady and loue faire Zenocrate; his fourme of exhortacion and discipline to his three sons, and the maner of his own death.
In the Garrick Collection, British Museum, is an 8vo edition of both PARTS dated 1592: the title-page of THE FIRST PART runs thus;
Christopher Marlowe
TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT,
IN TWO PARTS.
This is Part I.
Edited By The Rev. Alexander Dyce.
THE FIRST PART OF TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT.
ACT I.
SCENE I.
SCENE II.
ACT II.
SCENE I.
SCENE II.
SCENE III.
SCENE IV.
SCENE V.
SCENE VI.
SCENE VII.
ACT III.
SCENE I.
SCENE II.
SCENE III.
ACT IV.
SCENE I.
SCENE II.
SCENE III.
SCENE IV.
ACT V.
SCENE I.
FOOTNOTES: