AS YOU LIKE IT, COMEDY, BY WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE. ACCURATELY PRINTED FROM THE TEXT OF Mr. STEEVENS's LAST EDITION. Denamented with Plates. London: PUBLISHED BY E. HARDING, NO. 98, PALL-MALL; J. WRIGHT, PICCADILLY; G. SAEL, STRAND; 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 MS. contented himself folely with Lodge's Rofalynd, or Euphues' Golden Legacye, 4to. 1590. FARMER. Shakspeare has followed Lodge's novel more exactly than is his general custom when he is indebted to fuch worthlefs originals; and has sketched some of his principal characters, and borrowed a few expreffions from it. His imitations, &c. however, are in general too infignificant 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 leaft defigned. At the beginning of the second volume of the entries at Stationers' Hall, are placed two leaves of irregular prohibitions, notes, &c. Among thefe are the following: Aug. 4. "As you Like it, a book. "Henry the Fift, a book. "Comedy of Much Ado, a book. } to be to be ftaid." The dates scattered over these pages are from 1596 to 1615. This comedy, I believe, was written in 1600. STEEVENS. MALONE. PERSONS REPRESENTED. DUKE, living in exile. FREDERICK, brother to the Duke, and ufurper of his dominions. Lords attending upon the Duke in his banish AMIENS, } JAQUES, ment. LE BEAU, a courtier attending upon Frederick : CHARLES, his wrestler. WILLIAM, a country fellow, in love with Audrey. A perfon reprefenting Hymen. ROSALIND, daughter to the banished Duke. CELIA, daughter to Frederick. PHEBE, a fhepherdess. AUDREY, a country wench. Lords belonging to the tavo Dukes; Pages, Forefiers, and other Attendants. The SCENE lies, firft, near Oliver's house; afterwards, partly in the Ufurper's court, and partly in the Forest of Arden. |