_DRAMATIS PERSONÆ_ CAVENDISH, │_King of Little │CAVENDISH │ Britain, a │BOYLE. │ Crusader, a Hero │ │ and a Lover._, │ OSMAN, │_An Ex-Slave, a │CHARLES │ Rebel, and a │BOYLE. │ Usurper,_ │ THEODORE, │_The Brother-in-Arms│MARY BOYLE. │ and Confidant of │ │ the King_, │ SELIM │_Confidant of │MARY BOYLE. │ Osman_, │ HIGH PRIEST, │ │CHARLES │ │BOYLE. IRENE, │_A Converted Slave, │MARY BOYLE. │ betrothed to the │ │ King_, │ ZAYDAH, │_Her Countrywoman │CHARLES │ and Confidante_ │BOYLE. LOCALITY.—_The Capital of Little Britain._ PERIOD.—_Any time during the Crusades and in the very Dark Ages._ The name of Little Britain was given out of compliment to the tender years of its monarch, and had no special geographical significance. The curtain drew up on a scene in the palace, where Zaydah announces to her mistress that Osman, the would-be usurper of the throne, desires an audience in the absence of the King, he being deeply smitten with the charms of his lovely fellow-countrywoman. The idea is revolting to the mind of the beautiful Irene. She will not listen for one moment to one word from the lips of this monster of ingratitude, who, not content with endeavouring to supplant his master on the throne, would now attempt to do so in the affections of his beloved. But the rebel is not to be so easily dismissed, and with what a burst of virtuous indignation is he received by the Prima Donna, in whose lofty breast love for one man and hatred for another are now waging war! The words forbidding Osman to lift her hand to his lips—lest it should not be “worth her King’s acceptance” when soiled by his barbarous touch—were given in manner worthy of Mrs Siddons, and fairly brought down the house; while the swift transitions of dress and character would have done honour to Mr Irving’s _Lyons Mail_, had that eminent actor lived at the time. You had scarcely lost sight of the turban, trousers, and scimitar of the rebel, when your eyes were riveted by the charming _confidante_, Zaydah, like her lovely mistress, a convert to the Christian faith—for the play it may be seen had a decidedly religious as well as moral tendency. [Sidenote: I APPEAR AS A SOLDIER]