existing work. Its incidents, however, are so simple, and in such entire conformity with the chivalric and romantic feeling of the sixteenth century, that they would readily present themselves to any mind imbued with the fashionable literature of the day.” Stevens, and one or two others, are not so ready to relinquish the idea of some possible original. Mr. Collier has stated the substance of their conjectures, on the probability of which the reader will judge for himself. After stating Coleridge's conviction that “the internal evidence was indisputable that this was one of Shakespeare's earliest dramas," and that the characters were such as he might have impersonated from his own mind and schoolboy observation, Mr. Collier adds:

" The only objection to this theory is, that at the time Love's Labour's Lost was composed, the author seems to have been acquainted in some degree with the nature of the Italian comic performances; but this acquaintance he might have acquired comparatively early in life. The character of Armado is that of a Spanish braggart, very much such a personage as was common on the Italian stage, and figures in ‘Gl’ Ingannati,' (which, as the Rev. Joseph Hunter was the first to point out, Shakespeare saw before he wrote his Twelfth Night,) under the name of Giglio. In the same comedy we have M. Piero Pedante, a not unusual character in pieces of that description. Holofernes is repeatedly called the ‘Pedant' in the old copies of Love's Labour's Lost, while Armado is more frequently introduced as the 'Braggart' than by his name. Stevens, after stating that he had not been able to discover any novel from which this comedy had been derived, adds that the story has most of the features of an ancient romance ;' but it is not at all impossible that Shakespeare found some corresponding incidents in an Italian play. However, after a long search, I have not met with any such production ; although, if used by Shakespeare, it most likely came into England in a printed form.”

PERSONS REPRESENTED

FERDINAND, KING of NAVARRE.
BIRON
LONGAVILLE, Lords, attending on the King
DUMAINE,
BOYET,

Lords, attending on the PRINCESS of FRANCE
MERCADE,
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO, a fantastical Spaniard.
SIR NATHANIEL, a Curate.
EOLOFERNES, a Schoolmaster.
DULL, & Constable.
COSTARD, a Clown.
MOTE, Page to ARMADO.
A Forester.

PRINCESS of FRANCE.
ROSALINE,
MARIA,

Ladies, attending on the PRINCESS.
KATHARINE,
JAQUENETTA, a country Wench.

Officers and others, Attendants on the KING and PRINCESS

SCENE- Navarre.

Imagesam

with you:

And but one meal on every day beside,

Biron. Well, say I am: why should proud sumThe which, I hope, is not enrolled there :

mer boast, And then, to sleep but three hours in the night,

Before the birds have any cause to sing ? And not to be seen to wink of all the day,

Why should I joy in any abortive birth? When I was wont to think no harm all night,

At Christmas I no more desire a rose,
And make a dark night, too, of half the day, Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled shows;
Which, I hope well, is not enrolled there.

But like of each thing that in season grows.
O! these are barren tasks, too hard to keep, So you, to study now it is too late,
Not to see ladies, study, fast, not sleep.

Climb o'er the house to unlock the little gate. King. Your oath is pass’d to pass away from these. King. Well, sit you out: go home, Birop: Biron. Let me say no, my liege, an if you please.

adieu! I only swore to study with your grace,

Biron. No, my good lord; I have sworn to stay Ind stay here in your court for three years' space.

Long. You swore to that, Biron, and to the rest. And, though I have for barbarism spoke more, Biron. By yea, and nay, sir, then I swore in jest.

Than for that angel knowledge you can say, What is the end of study, let me know?

Yet confident I'll keep what I have swore, King. Why, that to know which else we should And bide the penance of each three years' day. not know.

Give me the paper: let me read the same; Biron. Things hid and barr’d, you mean, from

And to the strictst decrees I'll write my name. common sense?

King: How well this yielding rescues thee from King. Ay, that is study's god-like recompense.

shame! Biron. Come on, then: I will swear to study Biron. [Reads.] Item, “That no woman shall

come within a mile of my court."—Hath this been To know the thing I am forbid to know;

proclaim'd ? As thus,-to study where I well may dine,

Long. Four days ago. When I to feast expressly am forbid;

Biron. Let's see the penalty. [Reads.] "On Or study where to meet some mistress fine,

pain of losing her tongue."—Who devis'd this When mistresses from common sense are hid; penalty ? Or, having sworn too hard-a-keeping oath,

Long. Marry, that did I. Study to break it, and not break my troth.

Biron.

Sweet lord, and why? If study's gain be thus, and this be so,

Long. To fright them hence with that dread Study knows that which yet it doth not know.

penalty. Swear me to this, and I will ne'er say no.

Biron. A dangerous law against gentility! King. These be the stops that hinder study quite, [Reads.] Item, “If any man be seen to talk with And train our intellects to vain delight.

a woman within the term of three years, he shall Biron. Why, all delights are vain; but that most endure such public shame as the rest of the court vain,

can possibly devise.”Which, with pain purchas’d, doth inherit pain: This article, my liege, yourself must break; As painfully to pore upon a book,

For, well you know, here comes in embassy
To seek the light of truth; while truth the while The French king's daughter with yourself to
Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look:

speak,
Light, seeking light, doth light of light beguile. A maid of grace, and complete majesty,–
So, ere you find where light in darkness lies, About surrender up of Aquitain
Your light grows dark by losing of your eyes. To her decrepit, sick, and bed-rid father:
Study me how to please the eye indeed,

Therefore, this article is made in vain,
By fixing it upon a fairer eye;

Or vainly comes th' admired princess hither. Who dazzling so, that eye shall be his beed,

King. What say you, lords ? why, this was quite And give him light that it was blinded by.

forgot. Study is like the heaven's glorious sun,

Biron. So study evermore is overshot: That will not be deep-search'd with saucy looks: While it doth study to have what it would, Small have continual plodders ever won,

It doth forget to do the thing it should; Save base authority from others' books.

And when it hath the thing it hunteth most, These earthly godfathers of heaven's lights,

'Tis won, as towns with fire; so won, so lost. That give a name to every fixed star,

King. We must of force dispense with this Have no more profit of their shining nights,

decree : Than those that walk, and wot not what they are. She must lie here on mere necessity. Too much to know is to know nought but fame; Biron. Necessity will make us all forsworn And every godfather can give a name.

Three thousand times within this three years' King. How well he's read, to reason against

space; reading!

For every man with his affects is born; Dum. Proceeded well, to stop all good proceeding!

Not by might master'd, but by special grace. Long. He weeds the corn, and still lets grow the

If I break faith, this word shall speak for me, weeding.

I am forsworn on mere necessity.-Biron. The spring is near, when green geese are

So to the laws at large I write my name; a breeding.

[Subscribes. Dum. How follows that?

And he, that breaks them in the least degree, Biron.

Fit in his place and time. Stands in attainder of eternal shame. Dum. In reason nothing.

Suggestions are to others, as to me; Biron.

Something, then, in rhyme. But, I believe, although I seem so loth, King. Biron is like an envious sneaping frost, I am the last that will last keep his oath.

That bites the first-born infants of the spring. But is there no quick recreation granted ?