LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST.] I have not hitherto discovered any novel on which this comedy appears to have been founded; and yet the story of it has most of the features of an ancient romance. STEEVENS. I suspect that there is an error in the title of this play, which I believe, should be-" Love's Labours Lost." M. MASON. Love's Labour's Lost, I conjecture to have been written in 1594. MALONE. PERSONS REPRESENTED.* Ferdinand, King of Navarre. Biron, Longaville, Lords, attending on the King. Lords, attending on the Princess of Boyet, } Lords, Mercade, Don Adriano de Armado, a fantastical Spaniard. Sir Nathaniel, a Curate. Holofernes, a Schoolmaster. Dull, a Constable. Costard, a Clown. Moth, Page to Armado. * This enumeration of the persons was made by Mr. Rowe. JOHNSON. LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST. ACT I. SCENE I. Navarre. A Park, with a Palace in it. Enter the King, BIRON, LONGAVILLE, and King. Let fame, that all hunt after in their lives, Live register'd upon our brazen tombs, And then grace us in the disgrace of death; When, spite of cormorant devouring time, The endeavour of this present breath may buy That honour, which shall bate his scythe's keen edge, Therefore, brave conquerors!-for so you are, And the huge army of the world's desires,- You three, Birón, Dumain, and Longaville, Your oaths are past, and now subscribe your names; |