figure Touchstone and Audrey. Finally, the lyric qualities, conceits, and word-quibbling, together with the slight plot and stock characters of older plays,-the pedant, the curate, the braggart, and the country yokels,—all reinforce this premise that it was written between 1594 and 1597. EARLY EDITIONS In 1598 the play was first printed in a Quarto bearing the following title: 'A Pleasant Conceited Comedie called, Loves labors la t. As it was presented before her Highnes this last Cristmas. Newly corrected and augmented By W. Shakespere. Imprinted at London by W. W; for Cutbei: Burby, 1598.' t next appeared, 1623, in the First Folio; later, in 16, 1, in a Second Quarto, and thereafter, in 1632, 1664, and 1685, in the Second, Third, and Fourth Folios. The First Folio edition reprints the First Quarto, with divisions into acts, with stage directions, lacking in the Quarto, and with some variations, causing difference of opinion as to which gives the better text. Most notable of these changes in the Folio is the addition of Armado's last line at the close of the play. Neither Quarto nor Folio gives scene settings or list of Dramatis Personæ. These were supplied first by Rowe. [DRAMATIS PERSONÆ FERDINAND, king of Navarre. BIRON, } LONGAVILLE, lords attending on the King. BOYET, MERCADE, lords attending on the Princess of France. } DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO, a fantastical Spaniard. HOLOFERNES, a schoolmaster. COSTARD, a clown. MOTн, page to Armado. A Forester. LOVES LABOUR'S LOST Actus primus. [Scene i. The King of Navarre's park.] Enter Ferdinand King of Navarre, Berowne, Longavill, and Dumane. Ferdinand. ET Fame, that all hunt after in their lives, LET Live registred upon our brazen Tombes, And then grace us in the disgrace of death: when spight of cormorant devouring Time, 9 1 blunt Th' endevour of this present breath may buy: You three, Berowne, Dumaine, and Longavill, 19 Have sworne for three yeeres terme, to live with me: 2. Berowne: Biron-2-4F. |