Ralph Adams Cram - Excalibur - Introduction and Dramatis Personæ lyrics

Excalibur is the introductory drama of a contemplated trilogy founded on the Arthurian legends as the perfect embodiment of the spirit and impulse of that great Christian epoch we call Mediævalism. The attempt is again made - however inadequately - to do for the epic of our own race, and in a form adapted to dramatic presentation, a small measure of that which Richard Wagner achieved in an allied art for the Teutonic legends. Excalibur was completed, and in its present form, in the year 1893. Since then no other than verbal changes have been made. This is said for the reason that during the last fifteen years several new dramatic versions of the Arthurian epic have appeared, and the correspondences between them and the present attempt must of necessity be somewhat marked. In every case, however, these are due to the nature of the subject and the compulsion of established and indestructible ideas. -- THE AUTHOR DRAMATIS PERSONAE Arthur Pendragon: afterwards King of England. Va**als of England: Uriens, King of Gore, Nentres, King of Garlot, Leodegrance, King of Cameliard, Duke Lucas of the Southfolk, Duke Brastias of Ests**, Rience, King of North Wales, English Knights.: Sir Launcelot du Lake, Sir Tor, Sir Pelleas, Sir Ector, Sir Breuse saunce Pité, The Archbishop of Canterbury. Sir Kay, the Seneschal. Merlin. Morgan le Fay, Queen of Gore. Guenever, Daughter of King Leodegrance. Dame Columbe, Wife to Sir Kay. Ettard. Ysed. Nimue. Roman Amba**adors, Barons, Knights, Esquires, Citizens, Priests, Monks, Heralds, Pages, and Lake Girls. Scene, England and Wales.