STAR OF SEVILLE, The ((La Es trella de Sevilla'), known also as 'Sancho Ortiz de Roelas,' the title of a successful adaptation by Trigueros (1802), is commonly attributed to Lope de Vega (1562-1635), but is of doubtful authorship. One scene contains a reterence to de Guevara's 'El Diablo Cojuelo' first published in 1641. Menendez y Pelayo believed that the play was originally comnosed by Lope de Vega, but was rewritten by Claramonte, a contemporary actor and play wright. The oldest edition known is undated, but belongs apparently to the middle of the 17th century. The text is corrupt and often obscure, so that a critical edition is much needed. It is curious to note that a reprint was published in Boston, 1828, by George Ticknor's Spanish teacher, F. Sales, and is the first Spanish play printed in the United States.
'La Estrella de Sevilla' is a tragedy, and observes the unities of time and place, peculi arities which give the play distinction in the history of the Spanish drama. It is acknowl edged to be a work of unusual beauty, vigorous composition, clear characterization. and intense dramatic interest. The scene is laid vaguely in the stern times of the reconquest, when Spain was engaged in border warfare with the Moors.
Twe rlramatist had no h;storical foundation for the •ignoble role played by King Sancho the Brave. His object was to 'depict the stern, unbending honor of Sevillan nobles of a dim past when there was no compromise with duty and honor toward a king, however base and unworthy. But with consummate skill the author represents inflexible justice, personified in the firm and incorruptible magistrates of Seville, as victorious over the iniquitous monarch. Viewed in this light, the morality of the play, which critics have impugned, is vindicated. The resemblance to Corneille's 'Le Cid,' based upon a Spanish original, has often been noted. In striking contrast with Chimene, Estrella retires to a convent rather than accept a lover who. at the request of the king, has murdered her brother. There is probably no ground for the contention that the play contains veiled references to the tragedy that befell Juan de Escobedo at the command of Philip II. Consult 'Obras de Lope de Vega' (ed. Menendez y Pelayo, Vol., XI). Lord Holland's translation of fragments will be found in 'Some Account of the Life and Writings of Lope Felix de Vega Carpie' (Lon don, 1806).