SAINT-POL-ROUX. La Dame à la faulx. Tragédie en cinq actes et dix tableaux. Paris : Société du Mercure de France, 1899. - In-18, 187 x 118: 431 pp, (1 f. de cat.), printed cover. Paperback, untrimmed, dark blue morocco spine and corners overlay folder, ornate ribbed spine, dark blue suede lining, lined slipcase (B. Bichon). Original edition of this long verse tragedy, considered unplayable in this version, in which death is the main character, appearing in the guise of a splendid girl. Exemplaire du tirage courant, enrichi d'une longue lettre autographe signée de Saint-Pol-Roux, 4 pages in-8, dated November 15, 1896. It is addressed to "Mon cher Pierre", to whom he asks for financial assistance. He begins by talking about his play: "Perhaps you know that I'm coming back with some battle works, perhaps you've read that one among others (this DAME À LA FAULX whose content you were one of the first to know) is pending at Sarah Bernhardt's doorstep." The author did indeed attempt to have his play performed by Sarah Bernhardt and Mounet-Sully. He continues: "If you really have faith in Saint-Pol-Roux, if you deign to suppose that a will predestined me to fight the 'Battle of Hernani' of Symbolism, give me a shoulder tap - which would be returned to you as soon as Gold and Laurel came to me [...] Remember that I tried everything to gain the independence necessary for my future works, and that, unable to conquer it, I had to flee to the Forest, to the life of meditation. Here I am, back in the land of misery - well, you, to whom Fortune smiles, offer me your hand, the hand that saves... Help the poet, won't you collaborate too? And imagine for a moment that we're living in 1830 and that my name is Victor. It's a proud thing to write, but this argument in extremis will undoubtedly serve me well with your heart. " Exemplaire très bien conservé.