Sheridan, Richard Brinsley (1751-1816); Kotzebue (1761-1819)

Pizarro; A Tragedy

London

Printed for James Ridgway

1799

"Yes--they will give enlightened freedom to our minds, who are themselves the slaves of passion, avarice, and pride."

Rol. Yet never was the hour of peril near, when to inspire them words were so little needed. My brave associates--partners of my toil, my feelings and my fame!--can Rolla's words add vigour to the virtuous energies which inspire your hearts?--No--you have judged as I have, the foulness of the crafty plea by which these bold invaders would delude you--Your generous spirit has compared as mine has, the motives, which, in a war like this, can animate their minds, and ours.--They , by a strange frenzy driven, fight for power, for plunder, and extended rule--we , for our country, our altars, and our homes.--- They follow an Adventurer whom they fear--and obey a power which they hate--we serve a Monarch whom we love--a God whom we adore.--Whene'er they move in anger, desolation tracks their progress!--Where'er they pause in amity, affliction mourns their friendship!--They boast, they come but to improve our state, enlarge our thoughts, and free us from the yoke of error!--Yes--they will give enlightened freedom to our minds, who are themselves the slaves of passion, avarice, and pride.--They offer us their protection--Yes, such protection as vultures give to lambs--covering and devouring them!--They call on us to barter all of good we have inherited and proved, for the desperate chance of something better which they promise.--Be our plain answer this: The throne we honour is the people's choice--the laws we reverence are our brave Fathers' legacy--the faith we follow teaches us to live in bonds of charity with all mankind, and die with hope of bliss beyond the grave. Tell your invaders this, and tell them too, we seek no change; and, least of all, such change as they would bring us.
(II.ii, pp. 22-3)

Government::Slavery

Reading Charles Shattuck's "Drama as Promptbook" in The Stage and the Page: London's 'Wholeshow' in the Eighteenth-Century Theatre, ed. G.W. Stone, Jr. (Berkeley: U of California Press, 1981), 190.

First performed May 24, 1799. Sheridan freely adapts from Kotzebue. Extremely popular, with over 30,000 copies of book sold in first year in print. At least 40 entries in ESTC (1799, 1800)

Pizarro; A Tragedy, in Five Acts; As Performed at The Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane: Taken from the German Drama of Kotzebue; and adapted to the English stage by Richard Brinsley Sheridan (London: Printed for James Ridgway, 1799). <Link to 4th edition in Google Books>

05/17/2013