VAUTRIN A DRAMA IN 5 ACTS
BY
HONORE DE BALZAC
Presented for the 1st time on the Porte Saint Martin Theatre, Paris March 14, 1840
AUTHOR'S PREFACE
It is tough for the playwright to place himself, 5 days after the 1st presentation of his piece, within the scenario during which he felt himself at the morning after the development; however it continues to be tougher to write down a preface to Vautrin , to which each and every one has written his personal. the only utterance of the writer will infallibly end up not as good as so significant a few divergent expressions. The record of a cannon isn't so potent as a demonstrate of fireworks.
Must the writer clarify his paintings? Its in simple terms attainable commentator is M. Frederick Lemaitre.
Must he bitch of the injunction which not on time the presentation of his play? that may be to betray lack of information of his time and kingdom. Petty tyranny is the besetting sin of constitutional governments; it's therefore they're disloyal to themselves, and nevertheless, who're so merciless because the susceptible? the current executive is a spoilt baby, and does what it likes, excepting that it fails to safe the general public weal or the general public vote.
Must he continue to end up that Vautrin is as blameless a piece as a drama of Berquin's? To inquire into the morality or immorality of the degree may indicate servile submission to the silly Prudhommes who deliver the problem in question.
Shall he assault the newspapers? He may possibly do not more than claim that they have got tested by means of their behavior all he ever stated approximately them.
Yet in the course of the catastrophe which the power of presidency has triggered, yet which the slightest sagacity on the planet may have avoided, the writer has chanced on a few repayment within the testimony of public sympathy which has been given him. M. Victor Hugo, between others, has proven himself as steadfast in friendship as he's pre eminent in poetry; and the current author has the larger happiness in publishing the great will of M. Hugo, inasmuch because the enemies of that amazing guy don't have any hesitation in blackening his character.
Let me finish by means of asserting that Vautrin is 2 months outdated, and within the rush of Parisian existence a novelty of 2 months has survived a few centuries. the genuine preface to Vautrin can be present in the play, Richard Coeur d'Eponge ,[] which the management allows to be acted with a view to keep the prolific degree of Porte Saint Martin from being overrun via children.
[] A play by no means enacted or printed.
PARIS, may well 1, 1840.
PERSONS OF THE PLAY
Jacques Collin, often called Vautrin The Duc de Montsorel The Marquis Albert de Montsorel, son to Montsorel Raoul de Frascas Charles Blondet, referred to as the Chevalier de Saint Charles Francois Cadet, often called the thinker Fil de Soie Buteux Philippe Boulard, often called Lafouraille A Police Officer Joseph Bonnet, footman to the Duchesse de Montsorel The Duchesse de Montsorel (Louise de Vaudrey) Mademoiselle de Vaudrey, aunt to the Duchesse de Montsorel The Duchesse de Christoval Inez de Christoval, Princesse D'Arjos Felicite, maid to the Duchesse de Montsorel Servants, Gendarmes, Detectives, and others
SCENE: Paris
TIME: 1816, after the second one go back of the Bourbons.
VAUTRIN
ACT I.
SCENE FIRST. (A room in the home of the Duc de Montsorel.) The Duchesse de Montsorel and Mademoiselle de Vaudrey.