OSMAN, Sultan of Jerusalem.
LUSIGNAN, A Prince of the Blood of the ancient Kings of Jerusalem.
ZAÏRE, }Slaves of the Sultan.
FATIMA,}
NERESTAN, }French Gentlemen.
CHATILLON,}
ORASMIN, }Officers of the Sultan.
MELIDOR,}
A SLAVE.
ATTENDANTS.
SCENE, the Seraglio at Jerusalem.
“Zaïre” was written and produced in 1732. During its composition Voltaire wrote to a friend: “Everyone here reproaches me that I do not put more love into my pieces. There shall be love enough this time, I swear, and not mere gallantry. My desire is that there may be nothing so Turkish, so Christian, so amorous, so tender, so infuriate, as that which I am now putting into verse for the pleasure of the public. . . . The names of Montmorenci, Saladire, Jesus, Mahomet, will be in it. There will be mention of the Seine and Jordan, of Paris and Jerusalem. We shall love, we shall baptize, we shall kill, and I will send you the outline as soon as it is done.” The piece was a great success, despite J. B. Rousseau’s adverse criticism. It was played at Berlin, and Geneva; and at Rome on the hundredth anniversary of Voltaire’s death.