Episode Eighteen Yule Play As a special gift to our cherished readers, no matter the season or the reason, the CyberSybils present the story of a small miracle and a very special play concerning the 16th century alchemist, Cosimo Ruggieri, written by a long-forgotten Victorian playwright, Edward Stirling. Join us, then, as we explain how a lost manuscript was found, and how when people work together, the most wondrous spectacles unfold! One day, while surfing the Internet for information concerning the illustrious Brothers Ruggieri ~ the original founders, according to Honoré de Balzac, of The Rosicrucians ~ Miss Olivia arrived at a lovely web site and discovered a wondrous reference to her favorite family! A Victorian drama set at Catherine de Médicis’ court, starring the queen’s confidant, Cosimo the astrologer. ”Duke!” she exclaimed to her beloved companion moments later, “did you know that there’s a play about the Ruggieri, written in 1839, produced at the Adelphi Theater in London? Listen to what it says about the production on the Adelphi Project web page: Stirling’s “Knight of the Dragon,” on the other hand, was a spectacle of unprecedented scale and appeal. The production provided an opportunity to display the “armour, banners, costumes and paraphernalia recently employed in a tournament at Eglinton Castle." Real horses were also utilized, as was scenery that was described as "more than usually effective and…(is) perfectly surprising in its effects." (Times, 20 November 1839). ”The play is titled The Knight of the Dragon or The Queen of Beauty,” Olivia added. “Where might we find a copy, I wonder?” ”I don’t know, Miss O,” the Duke admitted. “No copies may remain, I fear.” ”Nonsense,” the stubborn bull replied. “I shall email Prof. Gilbert B. Cross, victorian drama expert, and together, he, you and I shall find the Ruggieri play. I’m so excited!” And thus began, gentle reader, a quest that was to prove most Sybilline, indeed! Urgent Email to Prof. Gilbert from Miss Olivia Peyton c/o: The London Stage. Dear Prof. Cross: I discovered your wonderful website while conducting research into the life and times of Catherine de Médicis' astrologer, Cosimo Ruggieri – the latter’s name being linked to a play mentioned on the Adelphi pages, “The Knight of the Dragon.” While I realize that you are a very busy person, might I beg a favor and ask if you know where a copy of this work may be found? So little information may be had concerning Catherine and her court – interesting information, that is – that the prospect of locating a jewel such as Stirling’s play is almost too grand to imagine! The very kind Professor Cross replied: Dear Miss Olivia: I’m glad you found the Adelphi calendar interesting. You ask a good question. As you know, a miniscule number of 19th c. plays were published. This particular play was reviewed, so I’m pretty sure we have the correct author. If the play was licensed, as they usually were, the only copy extant would be the Lord Chamberlain’s copy in London. Check: Ellis, James and Joseph Donohue, “English Drama in the Nineteenth Century: An Index and Finding Guide." If the play isn’t there, it’s probably lost forever. Stirling did write his autobiography which may help. “Old Drury Lane. Fifty Years of Recollections of Author, Actor and Manager.” Maybe he says something there. GBC. In the interest of brevity, let us say that thanks to Prof. Cross’ tip, Miss Olivia and her Duke prevailed after many months of sleuthing, the play was won and delivered into loving hands, carefully transcribed, and we proudly present, for your enjoyment, the long-lost production of Edward Stirling’s entertaining and enlightening, The Knight of the Dragon! On with the show!    Text Copyright © 1999 - ad infinitum cybersybils.com All rights reserved.