The Mayor of Zalamea by Pedro Calderón de la Barca. Short summary

5 seconds

Soldiers, led by a captain who has heard about the beauty of the peasant Pedro Crespo’s daughter, Isabel, stop in the village of Salamey. By hook or by crook, the captain tries to win the girl.

1 minute

A regiment of soldiers has stopped at the village of Salamey. The captain lodges with the wealthiest peasant Pedro Crespo, whose daughter Isabel is the first beauty in the area. Pedro hides his daughter from the soldiers, but the captain sneaks into Isabel´s room. Juan intercedes for his sister. But Don Lope de Figueroa, the commander, appears, and the soldiers are expecting him to come. He stops the skirmish that has begun, drives the captain away and stays at Pedro´s house himself.

But when Don Lope leaves the village, the captain kidnaps Isabel. The father gives chase, but is unable to catch up with the kidnapper. Isabel, abused and abandoned by the captain, finds her father. Juan intervenes to defend his sister’s honour, injuring the captain, who is carried to the village on a stretcher.

Pedro is appointed alcalde of Salamea and arrests the captain. Then Don Lope appears in the village, and later King Philip II himself. After listening to the story, he declares the captain guilty, but Pedro manages to kill his daughter’s rapist himself. Isabel goes to a monastery.