Autograph fragment of Act IV Scene V of Mahomet, c.1736

Identifiers

CMV:

CMV36672

Repository:

The Morgan Library & Museum, New York, US

Shelfmark:

MA 986.29, ‘Autograph draft of a letter : place not specified, to Frederick the Great, [1740 July 10].’

Title:

Autograph fragment of Act IV Scene V of Mahomet, c.1736

Collection(s):

Link to Archive Catalogue:

Visit Archive Catalogue

Link to Digital Resource:

OCLC Number:

Reproductions:

Content

People:

Voltaire: Author

Incipit Diplomatic:

SAÏDE

L’amour de mon devoir et de ma nation

Incipit Modernised:

Language(s):

French

In Own Hand:

Yes

Brief Summary:

Autograph fragment of Act IV Scene V of Mahomet, dating to 1736.

Detailed Summary:

The fragment is inscribed ‘Au Roi de Prusse… 174…’ and is numbered ’13’. It represents a truncated version of the text, with the fragment beginning at l.243 of Act IV. This copy also contains several variants:

Séide’s discovery that he is Zopire’s son at ll.229-231 is phrased differently
‘les mortels’ is used instead of ‘les humains’ at l.245
The end of Scene V is missing
Phanor makes his entrance immediately after Séide’s attempt to kill himself (ll.247-249), meaning that he appears after Séide discovers his identity. This suggests that another character reveals this information in this version of the play

On the verso side of the fragment, Voltaire has drafted a letter to Frederick II of Prussia dating to 10 July 1740 [D2265 / CMV35110].

Keyword(s):

Genre(s):

Theatre, Tragedy

Status:

Fragment, Variants

Physical Description

Material(s):

Ink on paper

Extent:

1 f.

Format:

Dimensions:

Height: 201 mm

Hands:

Watermark:

Countermark:

Binding:

Additional Comments:

Materiality Keywords:

Decorations:

Additions:

Two notes have been added to the MS by Voltaire. The first reads ‘Au Roi de Prusse’. The second reads ‘174’.

Marginalia Keywords:

Marginal Note

Inclusions:

History

Date:

c.1736

Ownership:

Origin (transcript):

Origin:

Provenance:

Bibliography

Bibliography:

OCV Reference:

vol.20B

OCV Manuscript Reference:

vol.20B, p.51