And let us now close this brief summary of the famous play by the description given by Imbert de Saint-Amand in “La fin de l’ancien Régime.”
“Beaumarchais, that marvelous wit, was scarcely aware perhaps of the weight of his attacks and of the gravity of the piece. He did not desire the fall of the throne any more than the overturning of the altar, at heart he was monarchic.... The first representation was given April 27, 1784, by the Comédie Française.... The success went to the stars. Beaumarchais himself could not help crying out, ‘There is something more astounding than my piece, it is its success.’ ... Actors and actresses surpassed themselves. Every word told. Each bit of satire was welcomed by acclamations and bravos without end. The public recognized itself in the portrait of Figaro. ‘Never angry, always gay, giving over the present to joy and not worrying about the future any more than the past,—lively, generous, generous!’
“‘Like a robber,’ says Bartolo.
“‘Like a lord,’ replies Marceline.
“What joy for all that assembly, his definition of a courtier:
“Figaro—‘I was born to be a courtier.’
“Suzanne—‘hey say it is a very difficult business.’
“Figaro—‘Receive, take, ask, that is the secret in three words.’
“What joyous laughter at the reflection, very true, by the way:
“Le Comte—‘The domestics here take longer to dress than their masters.’