that between you and the women, the Play may please. If I were a woman, I would kiss as many of you as had beards that pleas'd me, complexions that lik'd me, and breaths that I defy'd not: and, I am fure, as many as have good beards, or good faces, or fweet breaths, will for my kind offer, when I make curt'sy, bid me farewel. [Exeunt omnes. 1 If I were a woman,] Note that in this author's time the parts of women were always performed by men or boys. HANMER. Of this play the fable is wild and pleasing. I know not how the ladies will approve the facility with which both Rosalind and Celia give away their hearts. To Celia much may be forgiven for the heroism of her friend ship. The character of Jaques is natural and well preferved. The comick dialogue is very sprightly, with lefs mixture of low buffoonery than in fome other plays; and the graver part is elegant and harmonious. B hastening to the end of his work Shakespeare suppressed the dialogue between the ufurper and the hermit, and lost an opportunity of exhibiting a moral lesson in which he might have found matter worthy of his highest powers. LOVE'S Officers, and others, Attendants upon the King and SCENE, the King of Navarre's Palace, and the Country near it. This enumeration of the persons was made by Mr. Rowe. Of this Play there is an edi. tion in 4to 1598, by W. W. for Cuthbert Burby, which I have not seen. LOVE's i LOVE'S LABOUR's LOST. ACT I. SCENE I. The PALACE. Enter the King, Biron, Longaville, and Dumain. L KING, ET Fame, that all hunt after in their lives, When, spight of cormorant devouring time, Your oaths are past, and now subscribe your names: That That his own hand may strike his honour down, Dum. My loving lord, Dumain is mortify'd: Biron. I cari but say their protestation over. King. Your Oath is pass'd to pass away from these. And stay here in your Court for three years' space. With all these living in philofopby.] The stile of the rhyming scenes in this play is often entangled and obfcure. I know not certainly to what all these is Long. |