A History Play, by Cecil Lewis
The Music specially composed by Robert Chignell
The Wireless Orchestra, Conducted by the Composer

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, Tonight the above (and below) mentioned author presents to you his first play. It was begun five years ago. It will never be finished. The story-which I must remind you, is historically accurate-is so vast and so moving in all its beauty and tragedy, that I very much doubt if it will ever be compressible into the narrow limits of dramatic dialogue. The Aztec Empire at the height of its power had probably the most splendid barbarian civilization the world had ever seen. Certainly, its costume and ritual were unequalled for magnificence and brutality. Cortez, the Spaniard, at the age of 33, undertook this Crusade which was distinguished by his audacity, cunning, perseverance, and personal bravery. It all belongs to the heroic age, and that is why I have tried to make the language heroic. Much of it is in verse, but don't let that dismay you ! If people do not really talk as I make them, let me beg you to accept the convention as fitting the story-accept it as part of the whole convention to which you are a party when you settle down to listen to any play-making each your own scenery, your own costumes, and allowing the author, actors, and musicians to do what they can to summon up a pageant on the threshold of your minds.