Part 1, Act 1, Scene 2 Summary

Tamburlaine encourages Zenocrate, a recently captured princess of Egypt, to not fear him, saying she needs him to guarantee safe passage through his lands. When he asks whether she is betrothed to anyone, she tells him she is. He then tells her that he intends to have her for his wife, to conquer Africa and Asia, and to make her an empress. To illustrate his seriousness, he takes off the clothing of a shepherd that he wears and puts on battle armor as his generals speak flatteringly to him; Zenocrate tells him the gods will not allow him to fulfill his ambitions. Tamburlaine responds by saying Zenocrate is more beautiful and more valuable to him than all the treasure she travels with. One of Tamburlaine's generals, Techelles, comments with surprise that Tamburlaine seems to be in love. Tamburlaine says...