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,
Presume 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.'

MEN.

Antenas
, } two Friends to Alberto

, }

Frederick, the usurping Duke, Mr. Williams. Alberta, the banish'd Duke, Mr. Booth. Jaques,

Mr. Cibber.

Mr. Cory. Oliver,

Mr. Thurmond. Orlando, Sthree Brothers, Mr. Wilks. Roberto,

Mr. Roberts. Adam, an old Servant to Orlando, Mr. Mills. Le Bex,

Mr. Theo. Cibber.

Mr.W. Mills.
Academy,

Carles

, Master of the Duke's

}

}

Lords, Foresters, Gentlemen, Guards, Singers and

Dancers.

SCENE, Liege, and the Forest of Arden.

[DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

}

}

DUKE SENIOR, living in exile
FREDERICK, brother to Duke Senior, and usurper of

his dukedom
AMIENS, Lords attending upon Duke Senior in his
JAQUES, S 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 Rosa

lind CORIN, Silvius,

Shepherds 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 after

wards partly in the Duke Frederick's court, and partly in the Forest of Arden.]

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

As You Like It

ACT FIRST

Scene One

[An Orchard near Oliver's House]

Enter Orlando and Adam. Orl. As I remember, Adam, it was upon this fashion bequeathed me by will but poor a thousand crowns, and, as thou sayest, 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 8 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 16 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.

27

Enter Oliver.

37

Adam. Yonder comes my master, your brother.

Orl. Go apart, Adam, and thou shalt hear how he will shake me up. Oli. Now, sir! what make you here?

31 Orl. Nothing: I am not taught to make anything.

Oli. 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 awhile.

Orl. Shall I keep your hogs, and eat husks with them? What prodigal portion have I spent, that I should come to such penury? 42

Oli. Know you where you are, sir?
Orl. O! sir, very well: here in your orchard.
Oli. Know you before whom, sir?

45 Orl. Ay, better than him I am before knows

I know you are my eldest brother; and, in the gentle condition of blood, you should so 20 hinds: servants