DUMAS (Alexandre, 1824-1895, fils, French Novelist, Playwright and Writer on Morals and Society)

Substantial autograph Manuscript Fragment, unsigned, in French, with translation and transcription, of an unused portion of his comedy 'L'Ami des Femmes', first produced in 1860, a dialogue between J[ane de Simerose] and de M[ontègre], with many corrections in the text, between the lines, or in the margin, made at the time of writing, Dumas explores as many as four versions of a sentence before continuing, Jane passionately asks Montègre whether, if her husband has broken his word, that is a reason to break hers, "So long as I am to keep his name, I must respect it", if a wife gave herself to another, "each of the two would have this right to despise her, for you would despise me in spite of yourself if I were to believe you ... Who do you take me for ? To put me in a web of lies, terrors, insults, adulteries ... to lower myself in the esteem of others and my own - Never", 2 sides folio on blue paper, old identification of the handwriting in French, no place, no date but watermark 'Towgood's Extra Super' dated very light mending of short side tears

This passage may have been a trial for part of Act IV.
In the published play, Act I introduces de Royes, the 'friend' of the title, who claims to be an expert on women, and de Montègre, who has briefly met Jane two or three times before. She loved but is separated from her husband, who was unfaithful after a month of marriage. Meeting Montègre again, she wistfully thinks he might be someone she could trust and writes a note asking him to meet her 'tomorrow - I love you'. However, her husband turns up near the end of Act III, with adoption papers for a young orphan, whom he hopes Jane will bring up with his support, and Jane is given pause. In Act IV she is trailed by Montègre to Paris, where she gives him the slip. On returning home she upbraids him for following her in secret rather than declaring himself openly, and refuses to trust him. At the end of Act V Montègre arranges for Jane's note of assignation to be put in the hands of the husband as if from Jane herself, Royes' 'expert' knowledge is counfounded, and Jane and her husband are reconciled. (See Dumas' Théâtre Complet, vol. 4).
The present fragment suggests an alternative which Dumas could not use, possibly because it seemed too final at this stage of the play.
(Translation of final version)
[J.] I, for one, will no longer believe those words.
de M. This man was a wretch - that's all there is to it.
J. Is it a good reason, that he has broken his word, for me to break mine ? So long as I am to keep his name, I must respect it. Would she still be a wife who at my age had said to two men that she loved them, who belonging legally to one, should calmly give herself to the other, and whom each of the two would have this right to despise, for you would despise me in spite of yourself if I were to believe you, and already, to expect that I can believe you is to despise me - I am married, as you are - and you talk to me of love. Who do you take me for ? To put me in a web of lies, terrors, insults, adulteries, to make me blush before another, before you, before myself, to lower myself in the esteem of others and my own - Never. Die if you have not the courage of duty - I do have - and [Side 2] I am alive.
de M. Then why did you give me hope
J. When was that ?
de M. Six months ago, the last time I saw you, at my sister's.
J. Yes - I was unhappy - I was suffering. I needed a friend – you were there. I believed it was possible to be friends - for the heart indeed has enough defects. But I reflected that night and left the next day.
de M. And for three months I did not know where you were. So you must have greatly loved this man.
J. Greatly - as much as one can love.
de M. And now –
J. I no longer think of him. de M.

(Transcription with alternative versions and deletions in < >)
[Side 1]
[J., continued] ]tait. Ce n'est plus moi qui croirai aux mêmes paroles.
de M. cet homme était un miserable - voilà tout.
J. [1st version] <Et questce que je serais donc moi, si je vous croyais - <vous> Pensez vous qu'une femme comme moi puisse dire a deux hommes vivans>
[2nd version] <Et questce que je serais donc moi, si je retrompais. Lhonneur n'a pas de ces revanches là. Tant que je porte son nom - je dois le respecter comme s'il m'aimait.>
[Final version] Estce une raison parce qu'il a manque a sa parole pour que je manque à la mienne. Tant qu'il me faut garder son nom, il me faut le respecter.
<Est> serait elle encore une femme celle qui à mon âge aurait dit à deux hommes qu'elle les aime <et pour qui me prenez vous. a quelle honte, voulez vous donc me mener> qui appartenant légalement à l'un se donnerait tranquillement à l'autre et que chacun des deux aurait ce droit de mépriser car vous me mépriseriez vous même <si> malgré vous, si je vous croyais, et <il>
[1st version] <vous me méprisez déja puisque vous pourrez espérer>
[2nd version] <vous me méprisez en esperant>
[Final version] cest me mépriser dejà que d'esperer
que je <vais> peux vous croire - Je suis mariée, vous letes - <nous avons tous les deux fait un serment solennel à>
[1st version] <et vous voulez que je vous aime>
[2nd version] <et vous voulez quoi?>
[3rd version] <et vous voulez que je sois votre>
[4th version] <et vous voulez que je vous aime>
[Final version] et vous me parlez d'amour.
Pour qui me prenez vous ? <et que voulez vous donc faire de moi.> moi, me tramer dans les mensonges, les <hypocrisies, les craintes> <cr> terreurs, les affronts, les adultères, moi rougir devant quelqu'un, devant vous devant moi, <Jamais> descendre de l'estime des autres et de la mienne - Jamais. Mourez si vous n'avez pas le courage du devoir - moi - je l'ai - et [Side 2] je vis.
de M. alors pourquoi m'avoir donné une espérance.
J. quand cela ?
de M. Il y a six mois, la dernière fois que je vous ai vue, chez ma soeur.
J. Oui - J'étais malheureuse - Je souffrais. Javais besoin d'un ami - vous étiez là. <un instant j'ai visé un sentiment.> J'ai cru à la possibilité d'une amitié - car le coeur a ses défauts assez. mais j'ai refléchi la nuit et je suis partie le lendemain.
de M. Et pendant trois mois, je n'ai pas su où vous étiez. Vous avez donc beaucoup aimé cet homme.
J. Beaucoup - autant qu'on peut aimer.
de M. Et maintenant -
J. Je <le hais> ne pense plus à lui.
de M Si vous étiez veuve, vous remarierez vous.>
J. <Jamais.>


Item Date:  1857

Stock No:  51542      £575

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