COPYRIGHT, 1919

BY YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS

First published, October, 1919

The facsimile opposite shows the cast which performed Johnson's adaptation of 'As You Like It' in 1723, and suggests the nature of the alterations made by Johnson. (See Appendix B for further details.) The title-page mentions neither Shakespeare's name nor that which he gave the comedy. It runs as follows: 'LOVE in a FOREST. A COMEDY. As it is ACTED at the THEATRE ROYAL in Drury-Lane, By His Majesty's Servants By Mr. Johnson 1723.' The Prologue, spoken by Wilks, closes with the following lines:

'Now,-As you like it, judge the following Play,
And when you view this Work retriev'd to Day;
Forgive our modern Author's Honest Zeal,
He hath attempted boldly, if not well:
Believe, he only does with Pain, and Care,
Pres.me to weed the beautiful Parterre.
His whole Ambition does, at most, aspire
To tune the sacred Bard's immortal Lyre;
The Sceme from Time and Error to restore,
And give the Stage, from SHAKESPEAR one Play more.'

Lords, Forefters, Gentlemen, Guards, Singers and

SCENE, Liege, and the Foreft of Arden.

[DRAMATIS PERSONA

DUKE SENIOR, living in exile

FREDERICK, brother to Duke Senior, and usurper of his dukedom

AMIENS,
JAQUES,

Lords attending upon Duke Senior in his banishment

LE BEAU, a courtier attending on Frederick

OLIVER, eldest son to Sir Rowland de Boys, who had formerly been a servant of Duke Senior

JAQUES,

ORLANDO, younger brothers to Oliver

ADAM, an old servant of Sir Rowland de Boys, now following the fortunes of Orlando

DENNIS, servant to Oliver

CHARLES, a wrestler, and servant to the usurping Duke Frederick

TOUCHSTONE, a clown attending on Celia and Rosalind

WILLIAM, a clown in love with Audrey
SIR OLIVER Mar-text, a country curate
A boy impersonating Hymen

ROSALIND, daughter to Duke Senior

CELIA, daughter to Frederick

PHEBE, a shepherdess

AUDREY, a country wench

Lords belonging to the two Dukes, with Pages, For

esters, and other Attendants

The scene lies first near Oliver's house, and afterwards partly in the Duke Frederick's court, and partly in the Forest of Arden.]

D. P. First given by Rowe, ed. 1709