Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

(68)

give order, that these bodies

High on a stage be placed to the view] This idea was apparently taken from Arthur Brooke's Tragicall Hystory of Romeus and Juliet, 1562:

"The prince did straight ordaine, the corses that wer

founde,

"Should be set forth upon a stage hye raysed from the STEEVENS.

grounde," &c.

(69) Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts] i. e. of sanguinary and unnatural acts, to which the perpetrator was instigated by concupiscence, or, to use our poet's own words, by "carnal stings." So Q. Mary to R. III. IV. 4. " carnal cur." The speaker alludes to the murder of old Hamlet by his brother, previous to his incestuous union with Gertrude. MALONE.

AS YOU LIKE IT.

B

PRELIMINARY REMARKS.

AS YOU LIKE IT was certainly borrowed, if you believe Dr. Grey and Mr. Upton, from the Coke's Tale of Gamelyn; which by the way was not printed till a century afterwards: when in truth the old Bard, who was no hunter of MSS. contented himself only with Lodge's Rosalynd, or Euphues' Golden Legacy. 4to. 1590. FARMER.

Shakespeare has followed Lodge's Rosalynd, or Euphues' Golden Legacye, 4to. 1590, 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:

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

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

STEEVENS.

This comedy, I believe, was written in 1599. See my Attempt to ascertain the Order of Shakespeare's Plays. MALONE.

1

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

Duke, living in Exile.

Frederick, Brother to the Duke, and Usurper of his

Amiens,

Jaques,

Dominions.

Lords attending upon the Duke in his
Banishment.

Le Beau, a Courtier attending upon Frederick.
Charles, his Wrestler.

[blocks in formation]

} 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.

The list of the persons was added by Mr. Rowe. JOHNSON.

« ZurückWeiter »