* 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. Mercade, Lords, attending on the Princess of France. Don Adriano de Armado, a fantastical Spaniard. Sir Nathaniel, a Curate. Holofernes, a Schoolmaster. Dull, a Constable. Costard, a Clown. Moth, Page to Armado. A Forester. Princess of France. Rosaline, Maria, Katharine, Ladies, attending on the Princess. Jaquenetta, a country Wench. Officers and others, Attendants on the King and Princess. SCENE, Navarre. * 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; 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; If you are arm'd to do, as sworn to do, Long. I am resolv'd: 'tis but a three years' fast; Biron. I can but say their protestation over, King. Your oath is pass'd to pass away from Biron. Let me say no, my liege, an if you please; I only swore, to study with your grace, And stay here in your court for three years' space. Long. You swore to that, Biron, and to the rest. Biron. By yea and nay, sir, then I swore in jest.— With all these —] i, e. the King, Biron, &c. |