Nor did the honour and profit which "The
Empress of Morocco" brought him end here; it was published by
William Cademan, and had the distinction of being the first
English play ever illustrated, or sold for the price of two
shillings. It was scarce to be expected, in an age when men
ventilated their merest grievances by the publication of
pamphlets, Dryden could refrain from pointing out to the public
the mistake into which they had fallen by honouring this man.
Nor was he singular in his feelings of animosity. The poets
Shadwell and Crowne, believing themselves ignored and neglected,
whilst their rival was enriched and exalted, joined Dryden in
writing a merciless criticism upon Settle's tragedy. This was
entitled "The Empress of Morocco, or some few erratas to be
printed instead of the sculptures [Illustrations.], with the
second edition of the play." In this Settle was described as "an
animal of a most deplored intellect, without reading and
understanding;" whilst his play was characterized as "a tale told
by an idiot, full of noise and fury signifying nothing." To
these remarks and others of like quality, Settle replied in the
same strain, so that the quarrel diverted the town and even
disturbed the quiet of the universities. Time did ample justice
to both men; lowering Settle to play the part of a dragon in a
booth at Bartholomew Fair, and consecrating Dryden to
immortality.
Before the clamour resulting from this dispute had ended,
Rochester, fickle and eccentric, grew weary of his PROTEGE and
consequently abandoned him.
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