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HISTORICAL NOTICE

OF

AS YOU LIKE IT.

The plot of this beautiful and romantic comedy has been attributed by Dr. Grey and Mr. Upton to the Coke's Tale of Gamelyn, erroneously called Chaucer's ; but no printed edition of that work made its appearance till near a century after the death of our author, who contented himself with borrowing his story from a novel, or rather pastoral romance, intitled Euphues' Golden Legacy, written in a very fantastical style by Dr. Thomas Lodge, and by him first published in 1590. In addition to the fable, which is pretty exactly followed, the outlines of the principal characters may be traced in the novel, with the exception of Jaques, Touchstone, and Audrey, who are generally admitted to be the creation of the poet.

The first publication of As You Like It appears to have been the folio of 1623. It is supposed by Malone to have been written after 1596, and before 1600. We learn by tradition that Shakspeare himself performed the part of Adam.

'Of this play,' says Dr. Johnson, the fable is wild and pleasing. I know not how the ladies will approve the facility with which both Rosalind and Celia give away their hearts. To Celia much may be forgiven for the heroism of her friendship. The character of

Jaques is natural and well preserved. The comic dialogue is very sprightly, with less mixture of low buffoonery than in some other plays; and the graver part is elegant and harmonious. By hastening to the end of his work, Shakspeare suppressed the dialogue between the usurper and the hermit, and lost an opportunity of exhibiting a moral lesson, in which he might have found matter worthy of his highest powers.'

ARGUMENT.

A Duke of France, being dispossessed of his dominions by Frederick, his younger brother, retires to the forest of Arden with a few faithful adherents, leaving behind him his daughter Rosalind, who is detained at the court of the usurper to be a companion to her cousin Celia. While here, Rosalind becomes enamored of young Orlando, who signalises himself in wrestling before the court. The accomplishments and popularity of Rosalind soon, however, excite the apprehensions of her uncle, who banishes her from his territories: the affection of Celia prompts her to accompany her kinswoman, and she makes her escape in the disguise of a shepherdess, while Rosalind assumes the habit of a man. Arrived at the forest of Arden, the two friends purchase a house and grounds, where they reside for some time as brother and sister: here they are agreeably surprised at the presence of Orlando, who, in order to guard his life from the machinations of Oliver, his elder brother, is compelled to join the company of the banished Duke. Rosalind, after satisfying herself of the attachment of her lover, and the willingness of her father to consent to their union, reassumes her female apparel, and bestows her hand on Orlando, while Celia becomes the wife of the repentant Oliver, whose life is preserved from the fury of a lion by the bravery of his injured brother. In the mean time, Duke Frederick, jealous of the increasing numbers of his opponents, arrives with a large army for the purpose of exterminating them: on the skirts of the forest he is encountered by an old hermit, who dissuades him from the prosecution of his cruel enterprise. Struck with remorse, he voluntarily resigns his dukedom, and retires from the world, while the exiles are reinstated in their former dignities.

236

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.

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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.

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