The Indian Emperor Author:John Dryden "The Indian Emperor" This 1665 stage play written by English Poet Laureate John Dryden, revised in 1667, has been adapted to modern play format and combined with additional materials by screenwriter/author Suzanne Alexander. "The Indian Emperor" is a dramatic heroic rhyme play structured in five acts, and while not historically accurate, it ... more »provides an interesting look into the 1519 conquest of Mexico by Hernando Cortez. Dryden chose to craft a love story between Montezuma?s daughter Cydaria and Cortez with a supporting cast of characters that includes a scheming set of siblings of the deceased Queen, a noble son of Montezuma and his less noble brother, and a host of warriors, ghosts, and Spanish soldiers. Also included are Dryden?s Epistle Dedicatory, Prologue, Epilogue, Cast List, Preface, and Defense of an Essay of Dramatic Poesy, written in response to criticism of his dramatic rhyme style.« less