A virtude laureada Drama Recitado no Theatro do Salitre

A strikingly lyrical drama opens on the banks of the Tagus, where abstract forces—Science, Hospitality, Indigence, the Police, Libertinage and the Lusitanian Genius—convene for a single, vivid tableau. The opening monologue launches a sweeping meditation on the power of knowledge, the weight of poverty, and the restless yearning for virtue, all delivered in richly ornamented 18th‑century Portuguese verse. The atmosphere mixes lofty philosophizing with a palpable sense of theatrical spectacle, inviting listeners to hear the clash of ideals as both characters and ideas speak directly to the audience.

Within the first act, the dialogue unfolds as a contest of perspectives: Science boasts of mastering the heavens while Indigence laments its bitter fate, and Hospitality attempts to bridge the gulf between them. Their exchanges weave poetry, satire, and moral reflection, creating a vivid portrait of an era wrestling with enlightenment and social disparity. Listeners will be drawn into a world where abstract concepts stride across a historic stage, each voice echoing timeless questions about human ambition and the pursuit of true virtue.