before, this does not fix the farther limit of the production of As You Like It absolutely. It most probably, however, was written in 1599; and the uncertainty of a few months, one way or the other, upon the question is of little real importance: it does not affect our determination of the order in which these works were produced, or appreciably change the period of his life at which this one came from Shakespeare's pen.

The text of As You Like It exists in great purity in the original folio. Few of its corruptions are due to any other cause than the lack of proof reading; and those few it is not beyond the power of conjectural criticism to rectify.

The period of the action of this play is quite indefinite, and the costume may be chosen from that of any reign of feudal France before the time of Shakespeare. In Lodge's novel, King Torismond and his banished brother Gerismond occupy the positions of Duke Frederick and his banished brother in the comedy. But Shakespeare, although he took the action out of that remote and fabulous period when France was ruled by kings with names ending in mond, gave the vague and comprehensive title of Duke to the great ones of his comedy, and awarded them no principality which can be placed upon the map. They are French princes, but their castles are in Spain. Free of all bonds of time and place, they lived for the poet in the golden world of his imagination; and so they must for us. In truth, every thing about the play is just as you like it.

DRAMATIS PERSONE.

DUKE, living in exile.

FREDERICK, his Brother, and Usurper of his Dominions.

Servants to Oliver.

CHARLES, a Wrestler.

WILLIAM, a Country Fellow in love with Audrey.

A Person representing Hymen.

ROSALIND, Daughter to the exiled Duke.

CELIA, Daughter to Frederick.

PHEBE, a Shepherdess.

AUDREY, a Country Wench.

Lords, Pages, Foresters, and Attendants.

SCENE: First, near Oliver's House; afterward, partly in the Usurper's Court, and partly in the Forest of Arden.

AS YOU LIKE IT.

ACT I.

SCENE I.. - An Orchard near OLIVER'S House.

S

Enter ORLANDO and ADAM.

ORLANDO.

As I remember, Adam, it was upon this fashion;

- bequeathed me by will, but poor a 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, begins to mutiny against this servitude. I will no longer endure it, though yet I know no wise remedy how to avoid it. Adam. Yonder comes my master, your brother. Orl. Go apart, Adam, and thou shalt hear how he will shake me up.

Enter OLIver.

Oliver. Now, sir! what make you here?

Orl.

thing.

Oli.

Nothing: I am not taught to make any

What mar you then, sir?

Orl. Marry, sir, I am helping you to mar that which God made, a poor unworthy brother of yours, with idleness.

Oli. Marry, sir, be better employed, and be naught a while!

Orl. Shall I keep your hogs, and eat husks with them? What prodigal portion have I spent, that I should come to such penury?

Oli. Know you where you are, sir?

Orl.

Oli.

O, sir, very well: here, in your orchard.

Know you before whom, sir?

Orl. Ay, better than him I am before knows me. I know you are my eldest brother; and, in the gentle condition of blood, you should so know me. The courtesy of nations allows you my better, in that you are the first-born; but the same tradition takes not away my blood, were there twenty brothers betwixt us. I have as much of my father in me as you; albeit, I confess, your coming before me is nearer to his reverence.

Oli. What, boy!

Orl. Come, come, elder brother, you are too young in this.

Oli. Wilt thou lay hands on me, villain?

Orl. I am no villain: I am the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Bois: he was my father, and he is thrice a villain that says such a father begot villains! Wert thou not my brother, I would not take this hand from thy throat till this other had pulled out thy tongue for saying so thou hast rail'd on thyself.

Adam. Sweet masters, be patient: for your father's remembrance, be at accord.

Oli. Let me go, I say.

:

Orl. I will not, till I please: you shall hear me. My father charg'd you in his will to give me good education you have train'd me like a peasant, obscuring and hiding from me all gentleman-like qualities the spirit of my father grows strong in me, and I will no longer endure it: therefore, allow me such exercises as may become a gentleman, or give me the poor allottery my father left me by testament; with that I will go buy my fortunes.

Oli. And what wilt thou do, beg, when that is spent? Well, sir, get you in: I will not long be troubled with you: you shall have some part of your will I pray you leave me.

Orl. I will no further offend you than becomes me for my good.

Oli. Get you with him, you old dog.

Adam. Is old dog my reward? Most true, I have lost my teeth in your service. God be with my old master! he would not have spoke such a word.

[Exeunt ORLANDO and ADAM. Oli. Is it even so? begin you to grow upon me?