The Inquisition Appraises "El Si de las Ninas," 1815-1819

On January 24, 1806, the Teatro de la Cruz in Madrid housed the cream of Spanish society. Manuel Godoy, the Prince of Peace and favorite of his sovereigns, and all of the royal establishment who could be spared from the Escorial were there. Many people had come specially from the provinces and others had delayed their departure from Madrid to attend the premiere of El si de las ninias, the new comedy by Leandro Fernandez de Moratin. The performance, supervised by the author himself, was a triumph; and the play's run was interrupted only by Lent. But envy and enmity conspired to spoil Moratin's success. In the fourteen years since he had produced La comedia nueva, he had never placated the facile dramatists he criticized. His role in the ill-conceived attempts at theatrical reform had won him further enemies. As protege of Godoy, he shared in the increasing animosity felt for the court favorite. Even before the first

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