Agathocle

[2] He wrote again to d'Argental on 25 October to say that he felt Agathocle was only suitable for performing 'at the Olympic Games of some school of Platonic philosophy.

The Carthaginian soldier Ydasan wants to secure the release of his captive daughter Ydace, but both the two sons of the tyrant Agathocle desire her.

[4] The first performance of Agathocle was a private one in the house theatre on Voltaire's estate at Ferney in September 1777, after which the author made a number of corrections to it.

[5][6] Before the performance, the actor Jean Baptiste Brisard read a speech written by Jean-Baptiste le Rond d'Alembert.

[2] La Harpe described it as ‘a most imperfect sketch’ with lifeless and colourless characters which the author might have been able to work up into a full play if he had tackled the subject earlier before his strength failed him.

The actor Fleury, who played the role of Polycrate
The actor Brizard, who played the role of Ydasan