Notes and observations on The empress of Morocco, or, Some few errata's to be printed instead of the sculptures with the second edition of that play

The Fifth Act.

Mysterious Majesty best fitts a Throne.

THis is one of his Sentences; which are commonly sounding Nonsense. For why Misterious Majesty becomes a Throne better than plain Majesty, is to me a Misterious riddle. But this fellow has a Buz of poetry in his head; a••d never thinking clearely, can never expresse him self intelligibly.

Men have ador'd; and have made Offerings To unknown Gods why not to unknown Kings?

H••••e••is a bundle of Nonsense: for his Tyrant, who speakes it was no unknown King, though he was an Vsurper: They all saw him, knew him and were forc'd to acknowledge him: Next his Phrase of makeing offerings, is improper English. No man makes the Oxen and the Sheep he Sacrifices; I confess our Authour makes Bulls not seldom.

Expecting when the Martiall Summon calls,

That is when the Summon Summons; a Figure called Ta••tology ••ery frequent in this Authour.

The number of my Foes enhance my Crown:

Numbers of Foes most Commonly pull down Crownes; but the ••••own of Morocco has the priviledge onely to be inhanc'd by them: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 number of his Faults inhance his Play by the same reason. And ••••nhance a Crown is excellent English into the bargain.

Muley Hamet and Mariamne are the last

Wou'd any one take this for a Verse: it runs like a foundred Jade upon pebbles: and must be pronounc'd thus.

Muley Hamet and Marjamne are the last, to write not onely non-sense, but hobling non-sense too! —

But though your hand did of his Murder miss; How 'ere his Exile has restraind his pov'r:

In profe thus: But though howere your hand did miss: but though, and Howere signifies all one thing: but he would have you think he immitates Homers Expletives▪ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 he fils a Verse, as Ma∣sons do Brick-walls, with broken peeces in the middle.

Iv'e shook my late familiars from my brest

I shook is English, and I have shaken: he constantly mistakes the Aorist for the preterperfect tence; And an ill Grammarian is like to make a good Poet.

— I must To the dead King, before my Love, be just.

He meanes, before I Love, I must be just to the dead King: but he expresses it so awkardly, that he clouds his meaning, for before my Love, is in the presence of my Love, or in her sight.

In Common murders Blood for Blood may play: But when a martyr'd monarch dyes we may His murderers condemn; but that's not all; A vengance hangs or'e Nations where they fall.

He has the worst luck in Sentences of any man:

In common murders Blood may pay for Blood; but when a Martyr'd Monarch dyes then we may condem'n his Murderer: A man may be ex∣ecuted for a common Murder, but he may be condemn'd for Regicide: But that's not all; A vengance hangs or'e Nations where they fall: What does a vengance hangs or'e a Nation, where Murderers are condemn'd for killing Kings? — where they fall: pray, Mr. Morocco, to what does they relate? if to••s Martyrd Monarch they fa'l, tis false Grammar: If to his Murderers, your sense must be that a vengance hangs or'e Nations where the Murderers of Kings fall, that is a Nation is curs'd where Murderers of Kings are punished.

No prologue to her death; let it be done.

Let what be done? Let her death be done is that your English▪

I on his murderer must pronounce a Doom — As may express I can't do more; Nor can his Blood ask less: Guards I on you that Office do conferre; Obey my Oraers; Seize this murderer.

He sayes he must pronounce a Doom; and in the same breath con∣fers that Office on his Guards: then the Guards must pronounce the Doom; for he speakes not of Obeying his Orders, and seizing the Murderer till afterwards.

Thy poyson'd Husband, and thy murdred Son This injured Empress and Morocco's Throne Which thy accursed hand so oft has shook, Deserves a blow more fierce &c.

As i observed before he mistakes the Aorist for the prete••perfect tence has shoo••, for has shaken: then the word deserves is false Grammer; for deserve: Thy poyson'd Husband and thy murdered Son, &c. de∣serve: but now why do's her poyson'd Husband deserve a blow: and why does her murdered Son deserve another; because her Son was a Foole when he was alive, he must be beaten now he is Dead? What has the injured Emperour done, or Morocco's Throne, that they deserve a blow too! I shrewdly suspect who deserves a Lash.

— Stop her poison'd Breath. And check her growing outrage by her Death.

If her Breath were poyson'd, there was no need of stopping it: but he means her poisnous Breath, and her growing outrage which he would check by Death: To check a man by Death, is a very ci∣vil kind of reprehention. As if a Iudge should say to a Malefactor, sirrah you have transgressed the Laws, and therefore I will check your outrage with a halter, and stop your poyson'd Breath with a ropes end.

Bid my Physitians a strong Draught prepare; And leave her Execution to their Care.

Just now he commanded his Guards to kill her; now no Body know's why his Physitians must do it. Yet it may be he intends not her Death, for he bids his Physitians onely prepare a strong Draught, and a strong Draught may be as well strong Ale as strong Poyson.

Guilt onely thus to Guilty minds appeares; As Syrens do to drowning Mariners; Seen onely by their eyes, whose Deaths are nigh: We rarely see our Crimes before we Dye.

First here is a false Allusion: For Syrens appeare not like Procpisses before a Storme, or in it: but if you will beleive Homer in a Calme; enticeing Marriners to the rocks by their Songs, who may escape them as Vlysses did. Next observe he sayes Guilt — Seen onely by their eyes whose Deaths are nigh; this line and the two former prove that guilt appears to dying men; Yet in the very next he contradicts himself.

We rarely see our Crimes before we dye.

These four lines are two grave sentences, of our Sententious Numps: he will be wise, and see what comes on't.

But since my Daggar has so feebly done, Missing thy Brest Iv'e sent it to my own.

To send a thing is to part with the Possession of it: but she, it seems sends the Dagger to her Selfe.

If some kind Devil had but took my part. &c.

Had took (for had taken) will be false English in spite of all his Devils.

Curse on weak Nature which my rage unman'd A Mascline heart link'd with a Female hand.

How does a Womans rage become unman'd? or what reason has she to fall foul upon Nature for unmanning her, who had never made her a man? One would have thought it had been the Curse of an Im∣potent Lover, who accused Nature for unmanning his rage, rather than of a Lady whose unman'd rage, might at least Supply her with a Sigmor.

Your Courteous arme retriv'd mine from a guilt: Morenas hand Morenas blood had spilt &c.

To retrive, is to finde a thing which is lost: as to retrive a Par∣tridge is to spring her the second time. To retrive an arme from guilt, is very metaphoricall non-sense.

Is this your thanks! for all her love has done. Who stak'd her Soule, to raise thee to a throne!

Here is excellent Grammar betwixt is and thanks: but you must ••onsider the poor Woman was just dying, and could not mind true English: this may excuse her for youing him in one line, and theeing him in the next; and for stakeing her Soule: against what did she stake it, or with whom did she play her Soul? or did she stake it upon Crimalhazzes Gaunches?

Kind Taffalet does for my presence call; I am invited to his Funerall:

He was a kind man indeed to invite him to his Funerall.

The little Champion with impatience waites To beg a tomb before Morocco's Gates.

Believe it who will; for my part I can never think that Taffalet would bring an Army to the Walls of Morocco, onely to beg a Tomb before the Gates; and to invite Crimalhaz to his Buriall.

His heat of Blood, and lust of Crownes shall cease: Lash'd to a Calm; and cool'd into a Peace

Here Crimalhaz discovers himself to be a Tyran••; and a wicked man, as the Poet intends him all along: For kind ••affalet came to in∣vite him to his Funerall, and to beg a Tomb before Morocco's walls; and he very uncivilly flies out upon him, and sayes his heat of Blood and lust of Crownes shall Cease: This Threatning was very high; but he comes off very strangely in the next line: Lash••d to a Calm, and cool'd into a Peace: As if he would have said, I will not onely Murder him and give him a Tomb, but I will also lash him, and coole him into a Peace: Or to apply it to our Poet•• reputation,

Not onely thou in London hast a name But Islington has also heard the same.

A notable Climax like that of shouts of Arrow's and of raine.

Your Army's routed er'e the Wars begun.

The rout of an Army commonly presupposes fighting: but it seems this rout was so very quick, that it was not onely before any Battell: but before even the Warr was begun. This was intended for a flight: but our Poet where ever he begins his Flight is sure to end it where the Beetle does: I have heard him resembled in these extraordinary sallies of his fancy; to an Vnfortunate Dog leaping at a high stile; and per∣petually hanging by the Buttocks.

Muley Hamet ner'e was taught To back, but head those Armyes where he fought.

Here I am absolutely of the Poets opinion, that Muley Hamet was never taught to back an Army; nor any body else of whom I ever heard: I will allow Muley Hamet being a Heroe, to have a back as broad as Hercules, but I am confident he could never have been taught to back whole Armyes with it:

Draw up my Forces raise my Guard

The Usurper (you must know) had been just told that his Army was beaten, or revolted and that Muley Hamet was proclaimd King; yet he talks of drawing up his Forces, and raise afterwards his Guards.

His Blood, Deare Prince shall pay for shedding thine:

Did his Blood shed the others Blood?

He by no force with stood, Comes now this way to Sacrifice your Blood.

This Elkanah is a very Bloody Poet; but he is perpetually mis∣taken in his wrath: for to Sacrifice Blood, is as improper as the former.

Whose Fortune and whose Sword has wonders done:

Whose hand and whose pen has writ false Grammar; has for have.

He be a Monarch, to act deeds, like thee.

To act deeds is only to represent them: ti's well for him his Monarchs are Players, to save the propriety of his English.

His Blood shall pay, What to your Brothers dust I owe

Her Brother was kil'd two days before: he turn'd dust very quickly in a Country which preserves mummey 3000 years.

— Though I am fall'n so low, My Fortune lost, I may a Begger grow:

That is, Though my Fortune be lost, yet I may grow poore; and though I grow poore, yet I may grow a Begger; though our Au∣thour has no wit, yet he may grow a Foole.

Immur'd within the Walls: —

That is, walld within the Walls.

I know your vertue is so strong, that if You sweare you will protect my Throne and life: —

That if is a most excellent ending of a Verse; and it rhimes as well to life: half he writes is such: powers and adores are the very next rhymes.

—Theres not one Dart In Heaven that would not strike the murderers heart Before his hand should touch her sacred Brest.

Pray answer me one civil question; how could he be a murderer bafore his hand had touch'd her sacred Breast; that is in your sence, kil'd her: And besides, how comes all the Darts in Heaven to be so much concern'd, that they must all strike the Murderer together; then a Murderers heart is not so very large that all the Darts in Heaven can stick there: this is very poeticall non-sense; and these Darts are bolts.

— Ile try Whose the best Executioner, Heaven or I.

A man may Cry out to him with his next ensuing words, Hold, Barbrous, Cruell; hold your Murdering hands: never was poore verse so Executed: Executioner must be read Execus••ner, to bring the verse into Compass: he cuts of Syllables as the Tyrant did Legs and Feete that were too long for his Bed.

Ile to a thousand Deaths my life expose Before I will one inch of Empire loose.

A Crittick can gaine no Credit from this play; he can never make cleare riddance but must of necessity leave more non-sense behind him, than he takes away I overpassed silent Grotto as if any Grotto talked▪ and though your hand and Hers no Septers beares? false english for beare: But who ever exposed their lives to a thousand Deaths? How many lives had Mariamne to expose to those thousand Deaths? yet all this She will do rather then loose one inch of Empire: An inch of Empire is no great matter; But she is a Woman who speakes it, and an inch may be somewhat to her.

Ile travell, then, to some remoter Sphere, Till I finde out new worlds; and Crown you there.

I believe our learned Authour takes a Sphere for a Country▪ so he had the Sphere of Hell in his maske before▪ here he means the Sphere of Morocco; as if Morocco were the Globe of Earth and Water; and he not contented with this vniverse of Barbary, would travail to the vniverse of Europe or the Sphere of Asia, and Crown her there. But the jeast of it is, that the Earth and Water makeing but one Globe (which is not a Sphere neither by his leave) He will be shrewdely put to••t, to travail farther.

—You this great deeed fulfill'd.

To fulfil a deed: most admirable English. Since you at Scorn and dareing are so good, very Heroicke.

Ile sing my Funerall Obsquies in these Armes:

First he sings after he is dead. then Funeral obsquies are very finely shortned Euphonioe Gratia: buthe who perpetually curtailes Sence, may be allow'd to curtaile words: So immediately, he says, What have th' hig'r powers to do.

Sure Heaven acts wonders; wonders, no tis none!

First Heaven is an Actor; for to act a thing, and to do it, are of several Significations (as was said before:) next see how he runs out of one Number into another: sure Heaven acts Wonders! Wonders, no tis none: That is, the Wonders is no Wonders; A rare Gramarian!

So may my body rot when I am dead Till my ranck dust has such Contagion bred My grave may dart forth Plagues, as may strike death Through the infected aire where thou drawst breath.

He meanes this for an Imprecation but makes no sense of it: for he begins the sentence with so may my Body rot: Now we expect as somewhat to follow: but he leaves us in the Lurch; he has already done; his armies routed, er'e the Warrs begun. He will tell you he pursues till my ranck dust, but till has no relation to so: but supose that sense: till my ranck dust has such Contagion bred: by that time 'tis dust it will cease to be ranck, and consequently breed no Contagion, if it bred none before.

Subjects my Homage pay; but Monarcks thine.

To pay my Homage, is to pay that Homage which is my due to a∣nother person. But he meant Subjects pay me Homage, and I pay it the. Then Monarchs pay thine. How many Monarchs is Muley Hamet!

And saves her Blood to be ally'd to yours.

By this allyance he means Marriage: But to be married and to be ally'd are as different, as Cousen and Husband.

A Nobler passion, Story never writ, That turn'd a Traytor to a Proselite.

Put it into prose for non-sense sake: Story never writ a Nobler passion That turn'd a Traytor to a Proselite. How could Story write? and then a Proselite is one that changes his Religion, and he is the likest to make a Traytor.

Pilgrims, go meet their Saints.

I thought they had gone quite to them; and that the Saints had staid for them in their Shrines: But Mr. Settles Saints are civiller than any other.

I from those eyes for ever will remove: I cannot stand the sight of hopeless love To what ere place my wandering steps incline Ile fancy Empyres; for Ile think her mine.

His love is Hopele••s and yet he'l thinke her his:

See the reward of treason: Death's the thing Distinguishes th' Vsurper from the King: Kings are immortal; and from life remove; From their Low'r thrones, to weare new Crowns abov•• But Heaven for him has scarse that bliss in store: When an Usurper dyes he reignes no more.

If he would have studied for non-sense; (but God be thanked he needs not) he could scarce have crouded more together in six lines.

Deaths the thing, Distinguishes th' Vsurper from the King, this is his first Sentence; and tis non-sense, for Death makes all men equall.

Kings are immortal and from life remove:

Another Sentence: Kings are immortal and yet dye: from life remove; from their Lower thrones: that is from, from; then all Kings go to Heaven too: that is good Divinity: but if they weare new Crowns above, we shall be sure to know them from Vulgar Saints, who either weare no Crownes, or none but old.

When an Vsurper dies he raignes no more;

Sentences are fatall to this fellow: this is a very glorious one; when a man dies he reignes no more: I think I can make one as good of this Poet, when he has done this Play he writes no more: or which is all one, he will never get it acted; or which is even yet all one, It will never get an Audience.

My Iustice ended, now Ile meete a Crown;

Then it seems he intends not to doe Justice any longer, now he's a King; but either to turn Rogue like Crimalhaz, or Foole like Muley Labas — Before he was for meeting a Saint, and now he's for meet∣ing a Crown. Is it a walking or a flying Crown?

Reignings a whole life toyle; the work of years,

I observe that in the last pages, his Play thickens with non-sense? as he comes nearer the gole he mends his pace. Raigning, is neither a whole lives toyle, if the King be not Crownd in his Cradle; nor the work of years, in case he Reign but one year.

In Love, a Day, an houre a minutes bliss Is all flight, Rapture, flame and Extasyes.

A minutes bliss is all Extasyes: is and Extasyes are of several num∣bers. When our Poet talkd of flight, rapture and flame, he might have added, Salt fire and great Nature, to make it absolute Poet Ninny.

An Age in Empyre's but an houre in love.

This is the last line; and he is as true to Non-sense in it, as he was in the first: How an age in Empyre is but an houre in love, I can∣not understand; and if he can make me, I will conclude him to be as great an Apollo, as he over the Kings Boxe, which seems to be made for Mr. Settles statue, amongst the poets heads.