OBSERVATIONS ON THE FABLE AND COMPOSITION OF AS YOU LIKE IT. As You Like It was certainly borrowed, if we believe Dr Grey, and Mr Upton, from the Coke's Tale of Gamelyn ; which by the way was not printed 'till a century afterward: when in truth the old bard, who was no hunter of MSS. contented himself folely with Lodge's Rofalynd, or, Euphues' Golden Legacye, 4to. 1590. FARMER, Shakespeare has followed Lodge's novel more exactly than is his general cuftom when he is indebted to fuch worthlefs originals; and has fketched fome of his principal characters, and borrowed a few expreffions from it. His imitations, &c. however, are in general too infignificant to merit transcription. It fhould be observed that the characters of Jacques, the Clown and Audrey, are entirely of the poet's own formation. Although I have never met with any edition of this comedy before the year 1623, it is evident, that fuch a publication was at last designed. At the beginning of the fecond volume of the entries at Stationers' Hall, are placed two leaves of irregular prohibitions, notes, &c. Among these are the following: The dates fcattered over these pages are from 1596 to 1615. STEEVENS. Of this play the fable is wild and pleafing. I know not how the ladies will approve the facility with which both both Rofalind and Celia give away their hearts. To Celia much may be forgiven for the heroifm of her friendship. The character of Jaques is natural and well preferved. The comick dialogue is very fprightly, with lefs mixture of low buffoonery than in fome other plays; and the graver part is elegant and harmonious. By haftening to the end of his work, Shakespeare fuppreffed the dialogue between the ufurper and the hermit, and loft an opportunity of exhibiting a moral lesson in which he might have found matter worthy of his higheft powers. JoHNSON. MEN. Duke. FREDERICK, Brother to the Duke, and Ufurper. AMIENS, Lords attending upon the Duke in his i AMIENS, } Lords atten LE BEAU, a Courtier attending upon Frederick. } ORLANDO, Younger Brothers to Oliver, ADAM, an old Servant of Sir Rowland de Boys. CORIN, SYLVIUS, } Shepherds. WILLIAM, in love with Audrey. Sir OLIVER MAR-TEXT, a Vicar. CHARLES, Wrestler to the ufurping Duke Frederick, DENNIS, Servant to Oliver. WOMEN. ROSALIND, Daughter to the Duke. CELIA, Daughter to Frederick. PHOEBE, a Shepherdefs. AUDREY, a Country Wench. A Perfon reprefenting Hymen. Lords belonging to the two Dukes; with Pages, Forefters, and other Attendants. The SCENE lies, firft, near Oliver's houfe; and, afterwards, partly in the Duke's court, and partly in the foreft of Arden. ACT I SCENE I OLIVER'S Orchard. Enter ORLANDO, and ADAM. SI remember, Adam, it was upon this fashion fand crowns; and, as thou fay'st, charged my brother, on his bleffing, to breed me well: and there begins my fadnefs. My brother Jaques he keeps at school, and report speaks goldenly of his profit: for my part, he keeps me ruftically at home, or, to speak more properly, ftays me here at home, unkept; For call you that keeping for a gentleman of my birth, that differs not from the stalling of an ox? His horfes are bred better; for, befides that they are fair with their feeding, they are taught their manage, and to that end riders dearly hired: but I, his brother, gain nothing under him but growth: for the which his animals on his dunghills are as much bound to him as I. Befides. this nothing that he so plentifully gives me, the fomething that nature gave me, his countenance feems to take from me: he lets me feed with his hinds, bars me the place of a brother, and as much as in him lies, mines my gentility with my education. This is it, Adam, that grieves me; and the A 2 fpirit |