The Project Gutenberg EBook of Count Alarcos, by Benjamin Disraeli

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Title: Count Alarcos
A Tragedy

Author: Benjamin Disraeli

Release Date: February, 2005 [EBook #7487]
Posting Date: July 31, 2009

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK COUNT ALARCOS ***

Produced by K. Kay Shearin

COUNT ALARCOS

A TRAGEDY

By Benjamin Disraeli

As there is no historical authority for the events of the celebrated
Ballad on which this Tragedy is founded, I have fixed upon the
thirteenth century for the period of their occurrence. At that time the
kingdom of Castille had recently obtained that supremacy in Spain which
led, in a subsequent age, to the political integrity of the country.
Burgos, its capital, was a magnificent city; and then also arose that
masterpiece of Christian architecture, its famous Cathedral.

This state of comparative refinement and civilisation permitted the
introduction of more complicated motives than the rude manners of the
Ballad would have authorised; while the picturesque features of the
Castillian middle ages still flourished in full force; the factions of
a powerful nobility, renowned for their turbulence, strong passions,
enormous crimes, profound superstition.

[Delta]

London: May, 1839

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

THE KING OF CASTILLE.
COUNT ALARCOS, a Prince of the Blood.
COUNT OF SIDONIA.
COUNT OF LEON.
PRIOR OF BURGOS.
ORAN, a Moor.
FERDINAND, a PAGE.
GUZMAN JACA, a BRAVO.
GRAUS, the Keeper of a Posada.

SOLISA, Infanta of Castille, only child of the King.
FLORIMONDE, Countess Alarcos.
FLIX, a Hostess.

Courtiers, Pages, Chamberlains, Bravos, and Priests.

Time--the 13th Century.
Scene--Burgos, the capital of Castille, and its vicinity.

ACT I

SCENE 1

A Street in Burgos; the Cathedral in the distance.

[Enter Two Courtiers.]

I:1:1 1ST COURT.
The Prince of Hungary dismissed?

I:1:2 2ND COURT.
Indeed
So runs the rumour.