Chapter I: Front Matter

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

Original stage directions were usually in italic and
placed in parentheses ( ). A few inconsistencies--no
closing parenthesis, use of [ instead of (, no
italic--have been left unchanged.

Stage directions were usually right-aligned with varying
indentation on the left, sometimes beginning on the same
line as the dialog, sometimes on a new line. This etext
generally puts them on a new right-aligned line(s) with
an indentation on the left of 12 spaces. They have been
kept in-line with the dialog when it made sense to do so.

As noted under the list of Dramatis Personæ ‘The
Passages put between inverted Commas are omitted in the
Representation’--meaning that this marked dialog was
omitted by the actors in the Theatre-Royal production
of the play. The start and end of these passages are
marked with {{ and }} in this etext. The inverted commas
are shown as opening and closing double quotes: “ and ”.
Redundant inverted commas at the beginning of lines have
been removed.

The original text used the longform ſ, replaced here by
the modern s.

Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

Some minor corrections to the text are noted at the end
of the book.

THE

FOLLIES OF A DAY;

OR, THE

MARRIAGE OF FIGARO.

A COMEDY,

AS IT IS NOW PERFORMING AT THE

THEATRE-ROYAL,

COVENT-GARDEN.

FROM THE

FRENCH OF M. DE BEAUMARCHAIS.

BY THOMAS HOLCROFT.

AUTHOR OF DUPLICITY, A COMEDY, THE NOBLE
PEASANT, AN OPERA, &C.

LONDON:
Printed for G. G. J. and J. ROBINSON,
PATER-NOSTER ROW.

M DCC LXXXV.

ADVERTISEMENT.

Though to thank the Public is to thank nobody, since no particular Person takes this Sort of Compliments to himself, yet were I not to feel that Gratitude, which individually I know not where to pay, I were unworthy of past, of present, or of future Favours.

An Author’s Thanks to the World at large may be seen under two very different Aspects: For, to thank the Public is to tell the Public he is successful; which, supposing it true, it would be strange if they did not already know; it appears therefore only to be taking an Opportunity of indulging his Vanity: And yet to thank them seems his Duty, since his Silence might not only be construed a want of Respect, but an arrogant Self-confidence that, when they applauded or approved his Work, they only did him justice. The Reader must determine which of these Faces he will please to view.

I am so well convinced that the best Writer stands in need of Indulgence, and that he only does well by Comparison, and might do much better, that I shall find little Mortification in subscribing to the Opinions of those who shall tell me I am in this latter Predicament.

Readers are divided into two Classes; the one will allow an Author much more than he merits, and the other much less; but the principal Excellencies of _The Follies of a Day_ are so known to be another’s Right, that for me to claim them would be ridiculous. Some, however, have affirmed that it is a mere Translation, who have never seen, read, or heard the Original; if they had, indeed, they would have been still more culpable. Few will trouble themselves to examine the precise Extent of my Claims; nor, if they did, would they have an Opportunity ’till M. _de Beaumarchais_ shall think proper to publish LA FOLLE JOURNÉE. The Public in general are so willing to overlook Defects, and applaud wherever they can, that to complain of, or be angry at the Few who seek for, and wish to find, Errors only, can proceed alone from that Self-love which is so inherent and irritable in all bosoms, and so difficult to subdue.

To enumerate all the Obstacles encountered and overcome in bringing this Comedy on the English Stage, would be to indulge this Vanity; which it is every wise Man’s Pride, and every prudent Man’s Interest to resist. It may, however, afford some Pleasure to be informed, that, finding it impossible to procure a Copy of the original French, though a Journey to Paris was undertaken expressly for that Purpose, the Copy made use of in the composing _The Follies of a Day_, was taken by Memory, only, during eight or nine Representations; that I furnished the Plot, Incidents, Entrances, and Exits, and gave some other occasional Hints; that the remainder was the Work of a young Frenchman, whose Talents and whose Heart are an Ornament and an Honour to his Country; and that, after it was brought to _England_ and received by Mr. _Harris_, it was translated, cast, copied, recopied, studied, and, in one of its longest Parts, re-studied, and played in little more than a Month. The Attention and Care of Mr. _Harris_, and the Merits of the respective Performers in playing, as they did, under such Circumstances, need not my Encomiums. Had the Town known the peculiar Exertions, of those especially who performed the longest and most essential Parts, the applause would have been endless. From me they are justly entitled to my warmest and sincerest Thanks.

UPPER MARY-LE-BONE STREET,
FEB. 21, 1785.