We may add that the character of Adam has a peculiar interest from the fact that, according to a tradition current in the last century, the part was performed by Shakespeare himself. Steevens gives the following extract from Oldys's manuscript collections for a life of the Poet:

"One of Shakespeare's younger brothers, who lived to a good old age, even some years, as I compute, after the restoration of K. Charles II., would in his younger days come to London to visit his brother Will, as he called him, and be a spectator of him as an actor in some of his own plays. This custom, as his brother's fame enlarged, and his dramatic entertainments grew the greatest support of our principal, if not of all our theatres, he continued it seems so long after his brother's death, as even to the latter end of his own life. The curiosity at this time of the most noted actors [exciting them] to learn something from him of his brother, &c., they justly held him in the highest veneration. And it may be well believed, as there was besides a kinsman and descendant of the family, who was then a celebrated actor* among them, this opportunity made them greedily inquisitive into every little circumstance, more especially in his dramatick character, which his brother could relate of him. But he, it seems, was so stricken in years, and possibly his memory so weakened with infirmities (which might make him the easier pass for a man of weak intellects), that he could give them but little light into their enquiries; and all that could be recollected from him of his brother Will, in that station was, the faint, general, and almost lost ideas he had of having once seen him act a part in one of his own comedies, wherein being to personate a decrepit old man, he wore a long beard, and appeared so weak and drooping and unable to walk, that he was forced to be supported and carried by another person to a table, at which he was seated among some company, who were eating, and one of them sung a song.” Capell also has the following:

"A traditional story was current some years ago about Stratford,— that a very old man of that place,―of weak intellects, but yet related to Shakespeare,-being ask'd by some of his neighbours, what he remember'd about him; answer'd,-that he saw him once brought on the stage upon another man's back; which answer was apply'd by the hearers, to his having seen him perform in this scene the part of Adam."

This story came to Capell from Mr. Thomas Jones, of Tarbick, in Worcestershire; and Malone suggests that he may have heard it from Richard Quiney (who died in 1656, at the age of 69) or from Thomas Quiney, Shakespeare's son-in-law (who lived till about 1663, and who was 27 years old when the poet died), or from one of the Hathaways.

meeting there of Rosalind with her father and mother, and the whole happy termination of the plot, are found in the prose romance. Even the names of the personages are but slightly changed; for Lodge's Rosalind. in her male attire, calls herself Ganymede, and her cousin, as a shepherdess, is named Aliena. But never was the prolixity and pedantry of a prosaic narrative transmuted by genius into such magical poetry. In the days of James I., George Heriot, the Edinburgh merchant who built a hospital still bearing his name, is said to have made his fortune by purchasing for a trifle a quantity of sand that had been brought as ballast by a ship from Africa. As it was dry, he suspected from its weight that it contained gold, and he succeeded in filtering a treasure from it. Shakes peare, like Heriot, took the dry and heavy sand of Lodge, and made gold out of it." * Charles Hart, who was perhaps a grandson of Shakespeare's sister Joan.

SCENE I.-I. As I remember, etc. We follow the folio here, with Halliwell, K., and others. Warb., who has been followed by D. and some other editors, thought it necessary to mend the grammar by reading "upon this fashion: he bequeathed," etc. W. points it thus: "fashion,-bequeathed," etc., which is plausible. Bequeathed is then in the past tense, the subject being omitted; as Abbott (Gr. 399) explains charged just below. With our pointing bequeathed is a participle, and charged may be considered the same, or as Abbott gives it.

2. Poor a. This transposition of the article is akin to that still allowed after how and so. Cf. Gr. 85, 422. In A. and C. v. 2. 236, we have "What poor an instrument." K. says that Orlando is "quoting the will, and. poor is the adjective to a thousand crowns." Caldecott puts the whole

passage thus: "It was upon this fashion bequeathed me by [my father in his] will, but poor a (the poor pittance of a) thousand crowns; and, as thou sayest, [it was, or he there] charged my brother," etc.

3. On his blessing. On is often so used in asseverations and obsecrations (Schmidt). Čf. T. of A. iii. 5. 87: “On height of our displeasure," etc. Wr. quotes Heywood, English Traveller: "This doe vpon my blessing."

To breed to bring up, educate; as in 9 and 101 below. Cf. our present use in well-bred, good breeding, etc.

5. At school. That is, at the university. Cf. Ham. i. 2. 113: "going back to school in Wittenberg." On goldenly, cf. Macb. i. 7. 33: "golden opinions." Profit = proficiency. Cf. the use of the verb in 1 Hen. IV.

iii. 1. 166:

"Exceedingly well read, and profited
In strange concealments," etc.

7. Stays. Detains. Cf. i. 3. 65 below: "we stay'd her for your sake.” Warb. substituted "sties," and Johnson approved the change.

II. Manage. The training of a horse (Fr. manège). Cf. Rich. II. iii. 3. 179; and see also Mer. p. 153. For the ellipsis in dearly hired, see Gr. 403.

13. The which. See Gr. 270.

15. Countenance. Bearing, behaviour. Cf. 1 Hen. IV. v. 1. 69: "By unkind usage, dangerous countenance. Wr. explains it as="favour, regard, patronage ;" Walker, "the style of living which he allows me ;” J. H., "the way in which he acknowledges or entertains me." Seems= seems as if it wished (Capell). Cf. Macb. p. 170.

17. Hinds. Menials, servants; as in M. W. iii. 5. 99 and R. and J. i. 7.73. Elsewhere the word=boor, peasant; as in L. L. L. i. 2. 123, etc. 18. Mines. Undermines, seeks to destroy.

20. Mutiny. Rebel. S. also uses the form mutine, both verb and noun; as in Ham. iii. 4. 83, v. 2. 6, and K. John, ii. 1. 378.

26. What make you here? What do you here? As Halliwell notes, the phrase is very common, and is quibbled upon in L. L. L. iv. 3. 190 fol. and in Rich. III. i. 3. 164 fol. Cf. iii. 2. 206 below.

29. Marry. Originally a mode of swearing by the Virgin; but its derivation had come to be forgotten in the time of S. Wr. remarks that "here it keeps up a poor pun upon mar.”

32. Be naught awhile. "This is merely a petty oath, equivalent to a mischief on you, or sometimes to get you gone immediately" (Halliwell). Steevens quotes Storie of King Darius, 1565: "Come away, and be nought awhyle;" and other commentators add many other examples of the phrase from writers of the time.

34. The allusion to the story of the prodigal (Luke, xv.) is obvious. Cf. W. T. iv. 3. 103: "a motion of the Prodigal Son" (that is, a puppetshow, illustrating the story); and 2 Hen. IV. ii. I. 157: "the story of the Prodigal, or the German hunting in water-work" (where the context shows that it was used in tapestries and hangings). See also T. G. of V. ii. 3. 4, M. of V. ii. 6. 17, etc.

40. Him. Often put, by attraction to whom understood, for he whom

(Gr. 208). Cf. A. and C. iii. 1. 15: we serve 's away," etc.

"Acquire too high a fame when him

41. In the gentle condition of blood. "On any kindly view of relationship" (M.).

46. Your coming, etc. That is, you are more closely and directly the representative of his honours, and therefore entitled to the respect due to him. Warb. suggested "his revenue," which Hanmer adopted. Halliwell quotes 2 Hen. IV. iv. 5. 41 :

"My due from thee is this imperial crown,

Which, as immediate from thy place and blood,
Derives itself to me."

Whiter thinks that Orlando uses reverence in an ironical sense, and means to say that "his brother, by coming before him, is nearer to a respectable and venerable elder of a family."

48. What, boy! Oliver attempts to strike him, and Orlando in return seizes his brother by the throat.

49. Young. Raw, inexperienced. Cf. Lodge (p. 122 above): "I am yongest to performe any martial expluytes," etc. See also Macb. iii. 4. 144: "We are yet but young in deed." As Wr. notes, "too young" is used in just the contrary sense in Much Ado, v. I. 119.

52. Villain. Oliver uses the word in the present sense; Orlando, with a play upon this and the old meaning of serf or base-born fellow. Cf. T. A. iv. 3. 73, Lear, iii. 7. 78, etc. The word was sometimes used

as a familiar form of address, and even as a term of endearment; as in C. of E. i. 2. 19, W. T. i. 2. 136, etc. In T. N. ii. 5. 16 and T. and C. iii. 2. 35 it is applied to women in this sense.

66. Such exercises, etc. Wr. quotes T. G. of V. i. 3. 30 :

67. Allotery.

"There shall he practise tilts and tournaments,

Hear sweet discourse, converse with noblemen,
And be in eye of every exercise

Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth."

Allotment, portion. S. uses the word only here. 68. Go buy. Go to buy; a very common ellipsis with go in S. Cf i. 2. 223 below. As Abbott remarks (Gr. 349), even now we retain a dislike to use the formal to after go and come, and therefore substitute and. Cf. ii. 3. 31 below: "wouldst thou have me go and beg my food?"

69. And what, etc. W. points the passage thus: "And what wilt thou do, beg, when that is spent?" Beg is then I beg, as pray often= I pray; but S. does not elsewhere use beg in that way, and the ordinary pointing gives a sufficiently clear meaning.

70. Get you in. On the use of you, see Gr. 232.

76. Lost my teeth, etc. M. quotes Tacitus, Ann. i. 34: "quidam [milites], prensa manu Germanici per speciem osculandi, inseruerunt digitos, ut vacua dentibus ora contingeret;" a mute appeal to the same effect as Adam's.

78. Spoke. See Gr. 343.

79. Grow upon me. Get the better of me, get the upper hand of me (Schmidt); or, perhaps, "increase in disobedience to my authority" (Halliwell). Cf. J. C. ii. 1. 107: “growing on the south” (that is, gaining

on it, tending that way) ; Hen. V. iii. 3. 55: “sickness growing Upon our soldiers," etc.

80. Physic your rankness. Check this rank growth of your insolence. 83. Wrestler. "Wrastler" in the folio here and elsewhere; but the other spelling was also used in the time of S. The former indicates the pronunciation, which is still a vulgar one in New England.

85. So please you. If it please you; of which our "if you please" is a corruption. Cf. Sonn. 136. 11: so it please thee," etc. See Mer. pp.

134, 136; and for the so, Gr. 133.

66

90. Some eds. print "Good monsieur Charles!—what's," etc.; making Good monsieur Charles! a response to the greeting = "you are very kind" (M.).

97. Good leave. Full permission. Cf. M. of V. iii. 2. 326 and 1 Hen. IV. i. 3. 20.

102. She. The 1st and 2d folios have "he;" the 3d and 4th, "she." For the "indefinite" use of the infinitive in to stay (very common in S.), see Gr. 356.

107. The forest of Arden. The Forest of Ardennes was in the northeast of France, "between the Meuse and the Moselle ;" but it is not necessary to suppose that the poet had this fact in mind. He took the scene from Lodge's novel, lions and all, and did not trouble himself about its geography, which has nevertheless been a sore vexation to some of his commentators. K. has well said: "We most heartily wish that the critics would allow poetry to have its own geography. We do not want to know that Bohemia has no seaboard; we do not wish to have the island of Sycorax defined on the map; we do not require that our Forest of Arden should be the Arduenna Sylva of Cæsar and Tacitus, and that its rocks should be 'clay-slate, grauwacke-slate, grauwacke, conglomerate, quartz rock, and quartzose sandstone.' We are quite sure that Ariosto was thinking nothing of French Flanders when he described how 'two fountains grew,

Like in the taste, but in effects unlike,
Plac'd in Ardenna, each in other's view:

Who tastes the one, love's dart his heart doth strike;
Contrary of the other doth ensue,

Who drinks thereof their lovers shall mislike.'

We are equally sure that Shakespeare meant to take his forest out of the region of the literal when he assigned to it a palm-tree and a lioness."

There was also a Forest of Arden in Warwickshire. Drayton, in his Matilda, 1594, speaks of "sweet Arden's nightingales ;" and again, in the Idea: "Where nightingales in Arden sit and sing, Amongst the daintie dew-impearled flowers."

108. A many. See Hen. V. p. 170, or Gr. 87.

110. Fleet. Not elsewhere used transitively by S.

The intransitive

verb occurs often; as in Sonn. 19. 5, M. of V. iii. 2. 108, iv. I. 135, K. John,

ii. 1. 285, etc.

III. The golden world. That is, the golden age.