The Emperor of the Moon
A Royalty-Free Play Script from La Commedia
Doctor Baliardo, a Neapolitan philosopher, has so applied himself to the study of the Moon, and is enraptured to such an extent with the mysteries of that orb, that he has come steadfastly to believe in a lunar world, peopled, ruled and regulated like the earth. This wholly fills and absorbs his every waking thought, and, in consequence, he denies his daughter Elaria and his niece Bellemante to their respective lovers, the Viceroy's two nephews, Don Cinthio and Don Charmante, as being men of men of mere terrestial mould. The girls are, however, secretly assisted in their amours by Scaramouch, the doctor's man, who is himself a rival of Harlequin, Cinthio's valet, for the hand of Mopsophil, duenna to the young ladies.
By Aphra Behn
Dramatis Personæ:
Doctor Baliardo
Scaramouch, his Man
Pedro, his Boy
Don Cinthio, Don Charmante, both Nephews to the Vice-Roy, and Lovers of Elaria and Bellemante
Harlequin, Cinthio's Man,
Officer and Clerk.
Page.
Elaria, Daughter to the Doctor
Bellemante, Niece to the Doctor
Florinda, Cousin to Elaria and Bellemante
Mopsophil, Governante to the young Ladies
The Persons in the Moon, are Don Cinthio, Emperor; Don Charmante, Prince of Thunderland. Their Attendants, Persons that represent the Court Cards. Keplair and Galileus, two Philosophers, Twelve Persons, representing the Figures of the twelve Signs of the Zodiack, Negroes, and Persons that dance. Musick, Kettle-Drums, and Trumpets.
The SCENE, NAPLES.