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OBSERVATIONS.

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 solely with Lodge's Rosalynd, or Euphues' Golden Legacye, 4to. 1590. FARMER.

Shakespeare has followed Lodge's novel more exactly than is his general custom when he is indebted to such worthless originals; and has sketched some of his principal characters, and borrowed a few expressions from it. His imitations, &c. however, are in general too insignificant to merit transcription.

It should be observed, that the characters of Jaques, 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 such a publication was at least designed. At the beginning of the second volume of the entries at Stationers' Hall, are placed two leaves of irregular prohibitions, notes, &c. Among these are the following:

Aug 4.

"As you like it, a book.

"Henry the Fift, a book.

"The Comedy of Much Ado, a book.

to be staid."

The dates scattered over these plays are from 1596 to 1615.

STEEVENS.

This comedy, I believe, was written in 1600. See An Attempt to ascertain the Order of Shakespeare's Plays, Vol. II,

MALONE.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

Duke, living in exile.

FREDERICK, brother to the duke, and usurper of his dominions.

AMIENS,

JAQUES,

lords attending upon the duke in his banishment.

LE BEAU, a courtier attending upon Frederick.
CHARLES, his wrestler.

OLIVER,

JAQUES,

sons of sir Rowland de Bois.

ORLANDO,

ADAM,

servants to Oliver.

DENNIS,

TOUCHSTONE, a clown.

Sir OLIVER MAR-TEXT, a vicar.

CORIN,

SILVIUS,

} shepherds.

WILLIAM, a country fellow, in love with Audrey.
A person representing Hymen.

ROSALIND, daughter to the banished duke.

CELIA, daughter to Frederick.

PHEBE, a shepherdess.

AUDREY, a country wench.

Lords belonging to the two Dukes; Pages, Foresters and other Attendants.

The SCENE lies, first, near Oliver's house; afterwards, partly in the usurper's court, and partly in the forest of Arden.

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed]

AS YOU LIKE IT.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-An Orchard near OLIVER's House. Enter ORLANDO and ADAM.

Orlando.

As I remember, Adam, it was upon this fashion bequeathed me: By will, but a poor thousand crowns; and, as thou say'st, charged my brother, on his blessing, to breed me well: and there begins my sadness. My brother Jaques he keeps at school, and report speaks goldenly of his profit: for my part, he keeps me rustically at home or, to speak more properly, stays 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 horses are bred better; for, besides 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. Besides this nothing that he so plentifully gives me, the something that nature gave me, his countenance seems 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 spirit of my father, which I think is within me, gins to mutiny against this servitude: I will no longer endure it, though yet I know no wise remedy how to avoid it. Enter OLIVER.

Adam. Yonder comes my master, your brother.

be

Orla. Go apart, Adam, and thou shalt hear how he will shake me up.

Oli. Now, sir! what make you here?

:

Orla. Nothing I am not taught to make any thing..
Oli. What mar you then, sir?

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