and the ferious fixes expectation. The probability of either one or the other ftory cannot be maintained. The union of two actions in one event is in this drama eminently happy. Dryden was much pleased with his own addrefs in connecting the two plots of his Spanish Friar, which yet, I believe, the critick will find excelled by this play. DUKE. Dramatis Perfonæ. * Frederick, brother to the Duke, and ufurper. Amiens, Lords attending upon the Duke in his ba- Le Beu, a courtier attending upon Frederick. Orlando, Younger brothers to Oliver. Adam, an old fervant of Sir Rowland de Boys. Corin, Sylvius, Shepherds. William, in love with Audrey. Sir Oliver Mar-text, a country curate. Rofalind, daughter to the Duke. Celia, daughter to Frederick. Phebe, a shepherde/s. Audrey, a country wench. Lords belonging to the two Dukes with pages, foresters, and other attendants. The SCENE lies, firft, near Oliver's boufe; and, afterwards, partly in the Duke's Court; and partly in the Forest of Arden. The first Edition of this play is in the Folio of 1623. *The lift of the perfons, being omitted in the old Editions, was added by Mr. Rowe, ACT I SCENE I.. OLIVER's Orchard. Enter Orlando and Adam. ORLANDO. A bequeathed me. SI remember, Adam, it was upon this fashiona By Will, but a poor thousand crowns (1); and, as thou say'st, charged my brother (1) As I remember, Adam, was upon this FASHION bequeathed me by Will, but a poor thoufund crowns, &c.] The Grammar, as well as fenic, fuffers cruelly by this reading. There are two nominatives to the verb bequeathed, and not fo much as one to the verb charged and yet, to the nominative there wanted, [his bleffing] refers. S that the whole fentence is confused and obfcure. A very fmall alteration in the reading and pointing fets all right.- As I remember, Adam, it was upon this MY FATHER bequeathed me, &c.. The Grammar is now rectified, and the fenfe alfo; which is this, Orlando and Adam were difcourfing together on the cause why the younger brother had but a thousand crowns left him. They agree upon it; and Orlando opens the fcene in this manner, As I remember, it was upon this, i. e. for the reason we have been talking of, that my father left me but a thousand crowns; however, to make amends for this fcanty provifion, he charged my brother on his bleffing to breed me well. WARBURTON. There is in my opinion, nothing but a point misplaced, and an omiflion of a word which every hearer can fupply, and which therefore an abrupt and eager dialogue naturally excludes. I read thus: As I remember, Adam, it was on this fashion be queathed me. By will, but a poor thousand crowns; and, as thou fayft, charged my brother on his bleffing to breed me well. What is there in this difficult or obfcure? the nominative my father is certainly left out, but fo left out that the auditor inferts it in fpite f himfelf. on his Bleffing to breed me well. And there begins my fadness. My brother Jaques he keeps at school, and report fpeaks goldenly of his profit. For my part, he keeps me ruftically at home; or, to speak more properly, ftays me here at home, unkept (2): for call you that keeping for a gentleman of my birth, that differs not from the ftalling of an ox? His horfes are bred better; for befides 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 to him as I. Befides this Nothing that he fo plentifully gives me, the Something that nature gave me (3), his countenance seems to take 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 fervitude. I will no longer endure it, tho' yet I know no wife remedy how to avoid it. from me. SCENE Enter Oliver. II. Adam. Yonder comes my mafter, your brother. Orla. Go apart, Adam, and thou fhalt hear how he will thake me up. Oli. Now, Sir, what make ye here? Orla. Nothing: I am not taught to make any thing. Oli. What mar ye then, Sir? Orla. Marry, Sir, I am helping you to mar That i. e. (2) STAYS me here at home, unkept.] We should read STYS, keeps me like a brute. The following words for call you that keeping -that differs not from the falling of an ex, confirms this. emendation. So Caliban lays, WARB And bere you STY me in this hard rock. Sties is better than stays, and more likely to be Shakespeare's. (3) His COUNTENANCE feems to take from me.] We should cer tainly read bis DISCOUNTENANCE. WARBURTON.. There is no need of change, a countenance is either good or bad. |