DUKE.

Frederick, brother to the Duke, and ufurper.

Amiens, } Lords attending upon the Duke in his ba

Jaques,

nishment.

Le Beu, a courtier attending upon Frederick.
Oliver, eldest Son to Sir Rowland de Boys.

Jaques,

Orlando, Younger brothers to Oliver.

Adam, an old fervant of Sir Rowland de Boys.
Touchstone, a clown.

Corin,

} Shepherds.

Sylvius,

William, in love with Audrey.

Rofalind, daughter to the Duke.
Celia, daughter to Frederick.
Phebe, a fhepherdess.
Audrey, a country wench.

Sir Oliver Mar-text, a country curate.
Charles, wrestler to the ufurping Duke Frederick.
Dennis, fervant to Oliver.

Lords belonging to the two Dukes; with pages, foresters, and other attendants.

0

The SCENE lies, firft, near Oliver's houfe; and, afterwards, partly in the Duke's Court; and partly in the Foreft of Arden.

The firft Edition of this play is in the Folio of 1623.

The lift of the perfons, being omitted in the old Editions, was added by Mr. Rowe.

Col

AS YOU LIKE IT.

ACT I. SCENE I

OLIVER's Orchard.

Enter Orlando and Adam.

ORLANDO.

A

SI remember, Adam, it was upon this fafhion bequeath'd me. By Will, but a poor thoufand crowns'; and, as thou fay'st, charged my brother on his Bleffing to breed me well. And there begins my sadness. My brother Jaques he keeps at fchool, and report fpeaks goldenly of his profit.

For

I

As I remember, Adam, it was upon this FASHION bequeathed me by Will, but a poor thousand crowns, &c.] The Grammar, as well as fenfe, fuffers cruelly by this reading. There are two nominatives to the verb bequeathed, and not fo much as one to the verb charged: and yet, to the nominative there wanted, [his bleffing] refers. So that the whole fentence is confufed and obfcure. A very fmall alteration in the reading and pointing fets all right.

14

As I remember, Adam, it was upon this MY FATHER bequeathed me, &c. The Grammar is now rectified, and the sense alfo ; which is this, Orlando.and Adam were difcourfing together on the caufe why the younger brother had but a thousand crowns left him. They agree upon it; and Orlando opens the fcene in this manner, As I remember, it was upon this, i. e. for the reason we have been talking of, that my father left me but a thousand crowns; however, to make amends

B 2

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 fo plentifully gives me, the Something 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 Spirit of my father, which, I think, is within me, begins to mutiny against this fervitude. I will no longer endure it, tho' yet I know no wife remedy how to avoid it.

(

mends for this fcanty provision, he charged my brother on his bleffing to breed me well. WARBURTON. There is, in my opinion, nothing but a point mifplaced, and an omiffion of a word which every hearer can fupply, and which therefore an abrupt and eager dialogue naturally excludes.

I read thus: As I remember, Adam, it was on this fashion bequeathed me. By will but a poor thoufand crowns; and, as thou fayft, charged my brother on his bleffing to breed me well. What is there in this difficult or obfcure? the nominative my father is certainly left out, but fo left out that the. auditor inferts it, in fpite of himself.