Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A31023
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Mirza a tragedie, really acted in Persia, in the last age : illustrated with historicall annotations / the author, R.B., Esq.
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Baron, Robert, b. 1630.
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1647
(1647)
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Wing B891; ESTC R17210
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172,168
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287
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the face you know the man so by these as by Titles you know the contents of that division It was composed by Mahomet their Prophet with the help of Abdalla a Jew Sergius a Nestorian Monk who for embracing the Heresies of Arrius Cedron Sabellinâ—s and others was banished from Constantinople and comming into Arabia fell acquainted with Mahomet whom though formerly circumcised he baptized and taught to misinterpret many places of the Scriptures out of which false glosses of theirs they coined a new Religion neither wholly Jewish or wholly Christian but rejecting in both what they disliked and this newest Religion from him was called Mahumetisme So Pomponius Laetus Joan. Baptista Egnatius c. But the Glossers of the Alcoran and their Book Azar which is a History of Mahomet authentique among the Moores as the Gospel among us Christians say that those that helped Mahomet in compiling his Alcoran were two Sword-Cutlers Christian slaves unto one of Mecca who knew much confusedly of the new Testament and out of their imperfect informations he gleaned what served his turn not looking for antecedents subsequents or coherence any where So observes Joannes Andreas Maurus who was once an Alfaqui or Bishop among the Moores of the City of Sciatinia in the Kingdom of Valentia and afterwards Circ An. 1487. a Christian Priest and probable it is that the composers of that rapsody of errours were illiterate persons because they contradict all philosophy sciences History and Reason the Alcoran being a Fardel of Blasphemies Rabinical Fables Ridiculous Discourses Impostures Bestialities Inconveniences Impossibilities and Contradictions To speak a word of the chief Author Mahomet his peâ—son he was born about the year 600 not to mention any paâ—ticular yeare I find Authors so differ about it and I want room heâ—e to reconcile them or shew reason for adâ—ering to any one some say in Itrarip a Village of Arabia others in the City of Mecca others in Medina Alnabi of obscure parentage some that name his Father call him Abdalla a Pagan pâ—rhaps mistaken him for one of his Tutors such make his Mother a Jewess and of ill repute whom they call Emina So uncertain was the beginning of this Impostor Baudier saith that his Father dying and his Mother being left very poor she not able to keep him committed him to an Uncle but he casting him off young Mahomet was a prey to Theeves who put him in chaines among other slaves and in that quality being set to sale a rich Merchant named Abdemonople bought him he dying Mahomet by marriage of his mistresse the Merchants wife not effected as was thought without Witch-craft attained to much riches whereupon leaving the exercise of Merchandize he became a Captain of certain voluntary Arabians that followed the Emperour Heraclius in his Persian Wars who falling into a mutiny for that they were denyed the military Garment and incensing the rest of their Nation with the reproachful answer given them by the Treasurer which was that they ought not to give that to Dogs which was ordained for the Roman Souldiers a paâ—t of them chose Mahomet for their Ring-leader but being disdained by the better sort for the basenesse of his birth to avoid ensuing contempt he gave it out that he attained not to that honour by military favour but by divine appointment That he was sent by God to give a new Law unto man and by force of armes to reduce the world to his obedience then wrested he every thing to a divine honour even his naturall defects calling those fits of the falling sicknesse wherewith he was troubled holy trances and that Pigeon which he had taught to feed out of his Ear on pease the holy Ghost So went he on to feign his messages from heaven by the Angel Gabriel and to composse his Alcoran A man of a most infamous life he was Bonsinus writes that he permitted adultery and Sodomy and lay himselfe with beasts and Mr. Smith in his Confutation of Mahumetism arraigns him of Blasphemy Pridâ— lyes Sodomy Blood Fraud Robbery for he was a common Thief usually robbing the Caravans of Merchants as they travelled as entitles him Heir apparent unto Lucifer no lesse then 12000. falshoods being contained in his fabulous Alcoran To particularize a little what higher blasphemy could he be guilty of then to prefer himselfe as far before Christ as he was above Moses He also denyes the divinity of our Saviour and affirms that the Holy Ghost is not distinct in peâ—son but onely an operative virtue of the God-head that inspires good motions Many other absurdities he is guilty of concerning the Trinity as not comprehending that glorious mysterie The Alcoran impugnes both the divine Law and naturall Reason at once in that assertion lib. 4. Cap. 2. viz. That at the end of the world a Trumpet shall blow and the Angels in Heaven and men on Earth shall fall downe dead and at the second sounding rise again So it makes the Angels mortal when who knows not that the Angels are Spirâ—ts having no bodies so cannot die for death is nothing but the separation of the soul from the body Adams sinne was the cause of his death and his posterity whence it followes had he not sinn'd neither he nor we had dyed And surely the good Angels being not guilty of the cause of death sin must be exempt from the effect Lucifer and the evill Angels that sinn'd with him by their Pride were deprived of the glory of heaven and cast into the bottomlesse pit for ever but not condemned to die because they were spirits And if the Devils that sinned dyed not how is it that the Alcoran saith that the Angels that sinned not shall die Another fable concerning Angels is in the first Chaper lib. 1. Sc. That God sent two Angels called Harod and Marod as Judges to do justice in the City of Babylon where in a Cave for soliciting a Ladies chastity they hang by the eye-lids and must so hang till the day of judgement and the woman was transformed into the morning star O divine Metamorphosis It 's like Mahomet might have heard somewhat of the story of Susanna and the Elders and so ignorantly shuffled it into this But to follow his Text I would ask a Moorish Astrologer whether the morning star be not more ancient then the City of Babylon how then could an inhabitant of that City be turned into that star And I would know of their Divines why if the Angels have bodies the Alcoran in many places contradicting it selfe calls them Roch Spirits if they be spirits and uncorporeal how were they capable of knowing women or hanging by the eye-lids If they be Corporeal where abouts in Babylon may one see them hanging and why doth the Alcoran confesse them to be Spirits Another ridiculous assertion of the Alcoran concerning Angels is s. 1. cap. 1. and l. 2. c. 1. c. viz. That God made man of all sorts and colours of earth and being formed for some
till they 're hatcht Mah. Kings fears are proof enough they that wil give Them cause to fear give cause enough to strike A Treason is a kind of Hectique feaver In the beginning it is most easily cur'd But hardly known But in the course of time Not having been in the beginning known To know it becomes easy hard to cure Bel. But he is modest Flo. So are Whores at first Coynesse is the best Lure Beâ— Blaming his friends For doubling of his merit and chides himself For suffering of his acts so to be guilded Lest they might any way eclipse your splendour Abb. Hee 's Politick Seen nets are easily 'voided And dangers threatned once are half prevented The curst dog bites before he barks and Thunder Strikes ere it speaks Treason still shuns the Sun Thaâ— female Vertue Modesty can't harbour In such a masculine spirit even that He makes a bait to catch the vulgar with It gets him a respect He 's not to learn That honour like a shadow and love too Shuns the pursuer follows him that flies it Mah. Why if he means no Rape upon the State Doth he so fortifie himself in 's Party Binding all men of action unto him With all th' obligements of a Polititian Abb. He that will make a Faction means to use it Mah. He studies every particular Genâ—us And taketh every one in his own height Th' ambitious he makes his with honours Titles And high commands saying worth loses lustre Like Gems in Quarries if it be not set To publique view like Diamonds well mounted The covetous he ties with chains of Gold To his own purposes extolling bounty As th' most conspicuous vertue of a Prince And gainfullest saying Vertue else will freeze If it be not kept active with Reward Valours best Nurse Those that are discontented And such are sure ones he gains by favour And silken promises The multitude He stroaks with Popularity and they Like true dogs fawn and crouch as much to him Though upon service he 's austere enough Exacting each mans duty out of Action He courts the common souldiers by their names Lies with them on the Guard fares as they fare And calls them all his fellows sees them serv'd In time of want ere he himself will take The least refreshment Abb. What soules will not these Strong arts allure if he meant war with IOVE To storm even Heaven and mak 't a Colony Flo. What Heaven a Province Mah. Noble Forts he builds And Cittadells as if he meant to compasse The Kingdom with a trench and into these He put 's his Confidents Huge hoords of wheat Munition Provision stuffe his Garrisons When no Foe threats the Confines If these charms Of Affability these knots of strength And preparations signifie but care And Arts of wisdom which need ' wake no thought Of Jealousie and require no prevention Let 's cast no Ramparts 'gainst the swelling Sea But tamely think the peaceful NEPTUNE meanes Us no invasion but will sit content I' th' old Boundaries of his watry Empire Cherish the speckled snake and let him twine About your leg alas poor loving worm It onely comes to kisse your foot and means To dart no poisonous sting into your flesh Bel. Has he no filiall love no noble nature Can 't be that to him to whom every Vertue Seems in this dearth of Pietie to run For Patronage Paternall duty should Be or a stranger or a slighted Exile Mah He is ambitious and Ambition knowes No Kindred 't was a maxim practised By IOVE himself upon his Father SATURN Abb. No no my Lords that somthing must be done Is not the question but what and how Bel. Weaken him in his friends call them from places Of trust and put in others or make them yours Abb. No they are preingag'd and will not come But to great baits So to reclaim them would Cost much to ruine them add more to us ' For all Rebellions throughly suppress'd Make Kings more Kings and Subjects still more Subject Bel. Then call him from his strength lure him to Court And drown him here in pleasures and delights 'T will soften and enervate his great mind There 's little fear of Carpet Kinghts rough beards And hairy men have still the working heads Mah. And such is he Abb. That were to crosse his Genius And force his Nature backward he is made For hardned steel and not a masquing sute No Musick please him but the bellowing Drum No exercise but tossing of a Pike So stout a nature never will recoil Bel. Confine him to some Iland with a set Of beardlesse Eunuchs and soft Punks about him Prohibiting all martiall company Flo. Pictures and Beauties are alike to him His soul 's so full of 's NYMPHADORA'S love As throw him into ' an Ocean of Beauties The vessel 's full and can take no more in Bel. A brave truth from an Enemy aside Abb. Confine him That were to spur a fiery headstrong steed And have no reines to hold him or to ' wake A sleeping Lion Persons of his rank If once disgrac'd must not be left a tongue To tell it with or hand to act Revenge No nor a heart to think it He that strikes At mighty Enemies must do it throughly Say my beloved MAHOMET must not Kings That fear great subjects growth and gathering strength Or wink at all and conquer them with kindnesse Or if they wil take notice leave no need Of second blowes but at the first cut off At once the fear they have and cause of future Who finds a Serpent couch'd and at one blow Parts not his heart shall never fetch another Mah. The Oracles are reviv'd and speak in Abbas But how much more then pitty is it that So high a valour Affabilitie Vertues of brightest lustre with the Persian And all the endowments of a Princely mind Should like good seed in ground too fat grow rank And make him fit to feel the sickle which Gladly I would disswade were not the tree More worthy then a wanton branch or th' head Then any corrupted limb though ne'r so handsom Abb. Ah my good Lords the bowells of a Father Have yearn'd in me and no small strift I had To gain a Conquest of my fond affection And bend my will to part with him as with A gangreen'd member to secure the whole But I have won the field of foolish pitty And swom 17 by the eight refulgent Orbs his death Flo. The young wolfes death can never come too soon For he that spares the wolves destroyes the sheep Bel. But think my honour'd Lord will not the soul Of every subject bleed in his each wound The pledge of their succeeding happinesse The crown of their best hopes hope of their Crown And who will spare to damn for Tyranny Pardon the speech I act the Princes friend A deed so without Justice proof or conscience Mah. Not all the steel forg'd into swords and spears Nor all the Iron form'd to battering Rammes Have ruin'd