_Abdelazer; or, The Moor’s Revenge_ was first produced at the Duke’s Theatre in Dorset Garden during the late autumn of 1677. It was supported by a strong cast, and Betterton, whose Othello, Steele--writing exquisitely in the _Tatler_--seems to have considered artistically quite perfect, was no doubt n wonderful representative of the ferocious Afric. The effective rôle of Queen Isabella fell to Mrs. Mary Lee, the first tragedienne of the day, Mrs. Marshall, the leading lady of the King’s Company, having at this time just retired from the stage. [Footnote: Her last rôle was Berenice in Crowne’s heroic tragedy, _The Destruction of Jerusalem_ (1677).] It is interesting to notice that Mrs. Barry on her way to fame played the secondary part of Leonora. _Abdelazer_ seems to have met with good success, and on Easter Monday, April, 1695, the patentees, after the secession of Betterton, Mrs. Barry, Mrs. Bracegirdle and their following to Lincoln’s Inn Fields, chose the tragedy to reopen Drury Lane. The Moor was played by George Powell, a vigorous and passionate actor, who also spoke a new prologue written for the nonce by Cibber, then a mere struggler in the ranks. Colley’s verses were accepted at the eleventh hour in default of better, and he tells us how chagrined he was not to be allowed to deliver them in person. The house was very full the first day, but on the morrow it was empty, probably owing to the inexperience of many of the actors and a too hasty rehearsing of the play. On the stage _Abdelazer_ was superseded by Edward Young’s _The Revenge_, a tragedy largely borrowed in theme and design from Mrs. Behn, with reminiscences of _Othello_. Produced at Drury Lane, 18 April, 1721, with Mills, Booth, Wilks, Mrs. Porter and Mrs. Horton in the cast, it attained considerable success, and Zanga, the Moor, was long a favourite part with our greatest actors even down to the days of Kean, who excelled in it, and Macready. _The Revenge_ is not without merit, and it stands out well before the lean and arid tragedies of its time, but this, unfortunately, is not much to say. It is not for a moment to be compared with the magnificent tapestry of _Abdelazer_, woven though the latter may be in colours strong and daring. ABDELAZER; or, The Moor’s Revenge. PROLOGUE.