This play, named after the chorus, is on the same subject as Calderon’s
_El Principe Constante_, from which the little common to both plays
is directly taken. Some of the differences are historic, but the
most dramatic. _Sala ben Sala_, whose fine figure is substituted for
_Muley_, is a famous warrior; and the whole story has this claim on
English attention, that the Portuguese Regulus, _Ferdinand_, and
his brother _Henry_, ‘_the Navigator_’ of more solid renown, were
grandchildren of _John of Gaunt_, through his daughter _Philippa_, who
was married to _King Joam I_. The history is shortly given in the _King
of Fez’s_ long speech, page 103, line 120 et seq.
1886.
In the first edition the hymn _Jesu dulcis memoria_ is directed to
be sung to the music written for it by Allegri and Anerio. This was
intended to indicate the sort of polyphonic music which I imagined for
the stage effect. As the date of the play must be about 1420 its use
would be an anachronism, but it is one that would never be observed,
and it may therefore fairly be allowed.
1902.