Beaumarchais and the war of American independence . prise and dismay, came a polite requestthat an exact account of the part due him as the authorbe made out and given to him. The play then had beengiven thirty-two times. Not wishing to stir up trouble between themselves andtheir excellent friend, while at the same time unable andunwilling to grant the request, the comedians met the dif-ficulty by a profound silence. At last, says Beaumar-chais in his CoTwpte rendu, written several years later, oneof them asked me if it was my intention to give the piece tothe ComSdie or to require the right o
Beaumarchais and the war of American independence . prise and dismay, came a polite requestthat an exact account of the part due him as the authorbe made out and given to him. The play then had beengiven thirty-two times. Not wishing to stir up trouble between themselves andtheir excellent friend, while at the same time unable andunwilling to grant the request, the comedians met the dif-ficulty by a profound silence. At last, says Beaumar-chais in his CoTwpte rendu, written several years later, oneof them asked me if it was my intention to give the piece tothe ComSdie or to require the right of authorship? I re-plied laughing like Sagnarelle: I will give it, if I wish togive it, and I will not give it, if I do not wish to give it;which does not in the least interfere with my receiving theaccount; a present has no merit, excepting as he who givesknows its value. One of the actors insisted and said, If you will not giveit, Monsieur, tell us at least how many times you desirethat we play it for your profit, after that it will belongto <^////////Wi/nii CHARLES PHILIPPE — COMTE daBTOIS Defends Rights of Dramatic Authors 293 What necessity, messieurs, that it should belong to you?A great many authors make similar arrangements with us. Those authors are not to be imitated. They are very well satisfied, monsieur, because if theydo not enjoy the profits of their piece, at least they havethe advantage of seeing it played more often. Do youwish that we play it for your profit six, eight, or even tentimes. Speak. The proposition seemed to me so amusing that I repliedin the same gay tone, Since you permit me, I ask you toplay it a thousand and one times. Monsieur, you are very modest. Modest, Messieurs, as you are just. What mania isit that you have, to wish to inherit from people who arenot dead. My piece not belonging to you until it fa,lls toa very low receipt, you ought to desire that it never belongto you. Are not eight-ninths of a hundred louis, more thannine-nin
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