OBSERVATIONS ON THE Fable AND Composition of I HAVE not hitherto discovered any novel on which this comedy appears to have been founded; and yet the story of it has most of the features of an ancient romance. STEEVENS. In this play, which all the editors have concurred to censure, and some have rejected as unworthy of our poet, it must be confessed that there are many passages mean, childish, and vulgar; and some which ought not to have been exhibited, as we are told they were, to a maiden queen. But there are scattered through the whole many sparks of genius; nor is there any play that has more evident marks of the hand of Shakspere. JOHNSON. Dramatis personae. MEN. FERDINAND, King of Navarre. BIRON, LONGAVILLE, DUMAIN, ΒΟΥΕΤ, MERCADE, Lords, attending upon the Princess of France. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO, a fantastical Spaniard. DULL, a Constable. HOLOFERNES, a Schoolmaster. COSTARD, a Clown. MOTH, Page to Don Adriano de Armado. A Forester. KATHARINE, } Ladies, attending on the Princess. JAQUENETTA, a Country Wench. Officers, and others, Attendants upon the King and Princess. SCENE, the King of Navarre's Palace, and the Country near it. This enumeration of the persons was made by Mr. Rowe. JOHNSON. SH LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST. PL.de Loutherbourg dd. Hall Printed for J.Bell, British Library Strand London Aug 1785. LOVE'S LABOUR's LOST. ACT I. SCENE I. Navarre The Palace. Enter the King, BIRON, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAIN. King. LET fame, that all hunt after in their lives, Live registred upon our brazen tombs, Therefore, brave conquerors!--for so you are, A iij 10 Our |