PREFACE

Eugène Scribe was born at Paris on the 24th of December, 1791, and died on the 20th of February, 1861, at the âge of seventy. After studying law for a time, he yielded to his literary propensities, and in the course of a few years became famous amongst the French play-writers of this âge. His fertility was wonderful, and is amply proved by the fact that he wrote over 400 pièces — comédies, dramas, and opéras — some of which were composed conjointly with other authors, as Delavigne, Delestre, Mélesville, etc.

The chief merits of Scribe' s plays consi st in facility of invention, skilful arrangement of scenes and unexpected events, vivacity of dialogue, and thorougli knowledge of the society he wishes to depict. The numerous adaptations or translations of most of his plays show the crédit he enjoyed abroad as well as in his own country.

PRÉFACÉ.

Valérie was written conjointly with Mélesville, and represented at the “ Théâtre Français,^ on December 21st, 1822. It is the story of a poor orphan girl, blind from her earliest years, whom a generous lover, after mastering the art of an oculist at the cost of great sacrifices, restores to sight, and subsequently marries. O ut of these simple éléments Scribe and Mélesville made up a little drama, full of pathos and interest.

Besides, it is a production totally free from anything which might shock the feelings of the most scrupulous moralist, and quite fit to be placed into the hands of students of both sexes.