MON CHER AMI EUGENE LABICHE

in 1888.

PREFATORY NOTE

"Cette nouvelle édition de mes œuvres complètes," remarks Augier in the notice (avertissement) to the first volume of the 1895 édition,^ "est la seule qui en donne le texte définitif et conforme à la représentation . . . Quelques amis me conseillaient d'imprimer encore le texte primitif en donnant les changements à part sous le titre de Variantes . . . Mais je n'ai pas la vanité de croire que les passages condamnés vaillent la peine d'être conservés . . , mes changements ne sont pas des variantes, ce sont des corrections "...

The édition of 1881 ^ contains many such "corrections." Why are thèse ignored in the 1895 édition, vvhich practically restores the •' texte primitif" (less the fifth act) of the separate édition of 1859? In this case, at least, the notice published six years after the author's death is evidently at variance with the facts. Apparently Augier preferred the original pièce (1859),^ " passages condamnés " and ail, to the corrected one, for it is incredible that the choice of the early édition as a model for that of 1895 should hâve represented

* Théâtre complet de Emile Augier, Paris, Calmann Lévy, 1895 ^^^ 1897, 7 vols., 12°. Vols. I, III and VII are dated 1897, the others 1895. Vol. IV contains Un Beau Alariage.

* Théâtre complet de Emile Augier, Paris, Calmann Lévy, 1878-1881, 6 vols., 12°. Vol. III is dated 1878; VI, 1879; I and II, 1880; IV and V, 1881. Vol. IV contains our play.

•* Un Beau Mariage, comédie en cinq actes en prose par Emile Augier et Edouard Poussier, 2« édition, Paris, Michel Lévy frères, 1859, 12°. The fifth act, wisely omitted from the subséquent éditions since the play logically ends with the fourth, describes the struggleof the young couple against poverty until relief cornes from the sale of l'ierre's famous invention.

PREFATORY NOTE

tlie préférence (or a slip) of the editor. One thing, we think,

is certain: the corrections improved the play.^

In view of the notice quoted we hâve foUowed the

1S95 édition, omitting a few brief passages that seem unsuited

to the class-room.

' From the foUowing table évident errors, natural changes like 'à

revoir' to ' au revoir ' and ' guères ' to ' guère,' and unimportant changes

in punctuation, capitalization and the wording of stage directions are

excluded.

Edition of 1895