The Online Library of Liberty A Project Of Liberty Fund, Inc. Voltaire, The Works of Voltaire, Vol. VIII The Dramatic Works Part 1 (Mérope, Olympia, The Orphan of China, Brutus) and Part II (Mahomet, Amelia, Oedipus, Mariamne, Socrates). [1901] The Online Library Of Liberty This E-Book (PDF format) is published by Liberty Fund, Inc., a private, non-profit, educational foundation established in 1960 to encourage study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals. 2010 was the 50th anniversary year of the founding of Liberty Fund. It is part of the Online Library of Liberty web site http://oll.libertyfund.org, which was established in 2004 in order to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. To find out more about the author or title, to use the site's powerful search engine, to see other titles in other formats (HTML, facsimile PDF), or to make use of the hundreds of essays, educational aids, and study guides, please visit the OLL web site. 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LIBERTY FUND, INC. 8335 Allison Pointe Trail, Suite 300 Indianapolis, Indiana 46250-1684 PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 2 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/2187 Online Library of Liberty: The Works of Voltaire, Vol. VIII The Dramatic Works Part 1 (Mérope, Olympia, The Orphan of China, Brutus) and Part II (Mahomet, Amelia, Oedipus, Mariamne, Socrates). Edition Used: The Works of Voltaire. A Contemporary Version. A Critique and Biography by John Morley, notes by Tobias Smollett, trans. William F. Fleming (New York: E.R. DuMont, 1901). In 21 vols. Vol. VIII The Dramatic Works Part 1 (Mérope, Olympia, The Orphan of China, Brutus) and Part II (Mahomet, Amelia, Oedipus, Mariamne, Socrates). Author: Voltaire Translator: William F. Fleming About This Title: Volume 8 of the 21 volume 1901 edition of the Complete Works. It contains 9 plays: Mérope, Olympia, The Orphan of China, Brutus, Mahomet, Amelia, Oedipus, Mariamne, Socrates. PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 3 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/2187 Online Library of Liberty: The Works of Voltaire, Vol. VIII The Dramatic Works Part 1 (Mérope, Olympia, The Orphan of China, Brutus) and Part II (Mahomet, Amelia, Oedipus, Mariamne, Socrates). About Liberty Fund: Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals. Copyright Information: The text is in the public domain. Fair Use Statement: This material is put online to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. Unless otherwise stated in the Copyright Information section above, this material may be used freely for educational and academic purposes. It may not be used in any way for profit. PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 4 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/2187 Online Library of Liberty: The Works of Voltaire, Vol. VIII The Dramatic Works Part 1 (Mérope, Olympia, The Orphan of China, Brutus) and Part II (Mahomet, Amelia, Oedipus, Mariamne, Socrates). Table Of Contents The Works of Voltaire: the Dramatic Works of Voltaire Vol. Viii— Part I MÉrope Dramatis PersonÆ. A Letter to the Marquis Scipio Maffei, Author of the Italian Mérope, and Many Other Celebrated Performances. A Letter From M. De La Lindelle to M. De Voltaire. The Answer of M. De Voltaire to M. De La Lindelle. Act I. Act II. Act III. Act IV. Act V. Olympia Act I. Act II. Act III. Act IV. Act V. The Orphan of China Dramatis PersonÆ. To the Most Noble Duke of Richelieu, Marshal and Peer of France, First Gentleman of the Chamber to His Majesty, Governor of Languedoc, and Member of the Academy of Sciences. Act I. Act II. Act III. Act IV. Act V. Brutus Dramatis PersonÆ. Act I. Act II. Act III. Act IV. Act V. The Dramatic Works of Voltaire Vol. Viii— Part Ii Mahomet. To His Majesty the King of Prussia. A Letter From M. De Voltaire to Pope Benedict XIV. The Answer of Pope Benedict XIV. To M. De Voltaire. Benedictus P. P. Dilecto Filio Salutem & Apostolicam Benedictionem. A Letter of Thanks From M. De Voltaire to the Pope. Dramatis PersonÆ. Act I. PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 5 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/2187 Online Library of Liberty: The Works of Voltaire, Vol. VIII The Dramatic Works Part 1 (Mérope, Olympia, The Orphan of China, Brutus) and Part II (Mahomet, Amelia, Oedipus, Mariamne, Socrates). Act Ii Act III. Act IV. Act V. Amelia Dramatis PersonÆ. Act I. Act II. Act III. Act IV. Act V. Œdipus Dramatis PersonÆ. Act I. Act II. Act III. Act IV. Act V. Mariamne Dramatis PersonÆ. Act I. Act II. Act III. Act IV. Act V. Socrates Dramatis PersonÆ. Act I. Act II. Act III. PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 6 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/2187 Online Library of Liberty: The Works of Voltaire, Vol. VIII The Dramatic Works Part 1 (Mérope, Olympia, The Orphan of China, Brutus) and Part II (Mahomet, Amelia, Oedipus, Mariamne, Socrates). [Back to Table of Contents] The WORKS Of VOLTAIRE “Between two servants of Humanity, who appeared eighteen hundred years apart, there is a mysterious relation. * * * * Let us say it with a sentiment of profound respect: JESUS WEPT: VOLTAIRE SMILED. Of that divine tear and of that human smile is composed the sweetness of the present civilization.” VICTOR HUGO. THE DRAMATIC WORKS OF VOLTAIRE Vol. VIII—Part I MÉROPE DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. Mérope, Widow of Cresphontes, King of Messene. Ægisthus, Son of Mérope. Poliphontes, Tyrant of Messene. Narbas, an old Man. Euricles, Favorite of Mérope. Erox, Favorite of Poliphontes. Ismenia, Confidante of Mérope. Scene at Messene, in the Palace of Mérope. “Mérope,” produced in 1743, is the greatest of Voltaire’s tragedies and a perfect literary performance. Frederick the Great amused himself by turning it into the libretto of an opera. Its success was great and the author was called before the curtain, an honor until then unknown in France. The interest of the following correspondence justifies its length. PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 7 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/2187 Online Library of Liberty: The Works of Voltaire, Vol. VIII The Dramatic Works Part 1 (Mérope, Olympia, The Orphan of China, Brutus) and Part II (Mahomet, Amelia, Oedipus, Mariamne, Socrates). [Back to Table of Contents] A Letter To The Marquis Scipio Maffei, Author Of The Italian Mérope, And Many Other Celebrated Performances. Sir: The Greeks and Romans, to whom modern Italy, as well as all other nations, are indebted for almost everything, dedicated their works, without the ridiculous form of compliments, to their friends, who were masters of the art: by this claim I take the liberty of addressing to you the French “Mérope.” The Italians, who have been the restorers of almost all the fine arts, and the inventors of many, were the first, who, under the auspices of Leo X., revived tragedy; and you, sir, are the first who, in this age, when the Sophoclean art became enervated by love- intrigues, often foreign to the subject, and so often debased by idle buffooneries, that reflected dishonor on the taste of your ingenious countrymen, you, sir, were the first who had courage and genius enough to hazard a tragedy without gallantry, a tragedy worthy of Athens in its glory; wherein the maternal affection constitutes the whole intrigue, and the most tender interest arises from the purest virtue. France prides herself in her “Athalie”; it is indeed the masterpiece of our stage, perhaps of poetry itself: of all the pieces that are exhibited among us, it is the only one where love is not introduced: but at the same time we must allow, that it is supported by the pomp of religion, and that majesty of eloquence which appears in the prophets. You had not that resource, and yet you have so contrived, as to furnish out five acts, which it is so extremely difficult to fill up without episodes. I must own, your subject appeared to me much more interesting and tragical than that of “Athalie”; and even if our admirable Racine had worked up his masterpiece with more art, more poetry, and more sublimity than he has, yours, I am satisfied, would have drawn more tears from the audience. The preceptor of Alexander—kings ought always to have such preceptors—the great Aristotle, that extensive genius, so just, and so deeply versed in all the learning of those times, Aristotle, in his art of poetry, has declared that the meeting of Mérope and her son was the most interesting circumstance of the whole Grecian theatre. This stroke was, in his opinion, infinitely superior to all the rest. Plutarch tells us, that the Greeks, who, of all the people in the world, had the quickest feeling, trembled with fear, lest the old man who was to stop the arm of Mérope, should not come in time enough.