The play premiered at the Comédie-Française on Thursday 29 August 1748. It was performed 68 times by Lekain between 1756 and 1778.

This manuscript gives the names of the actors and their roles as follows:

• Sémiramis – Marie Dumesnil
• Arzace – Henri Louis Lekain
• Azéma – Sophie Hus
• Assur – Jean Claude Gilles Colson, a.k.a. Bellecour
• Oroès – Charles-François Racot de Gradval
• Otane – Dubois
• Mitrane – Mr Deborneval
• Cédar – Mr Dubreuil

The copy contains several variants that align with the fourth print edition of the work. An additional variant in verse 261 appears to be a scribal error. The definitive has been adopted in verses 94 and 155.

There are several errors throughout the poem. For example, in verse 28, ‘et mourir’ is given instead of ‘et de mourir’ and in verse 148 ‘champs’ is given instead of ‘chant’. Variants are proposed for verses 103-104 which are incomplete or badly transcribed.

The text contains substantial variants, many of which do not appear in the print editions. A leaf between f.199 and f.200 appears to be missing.

The text contains substantial variants, many of which do not appear in the print edition.