OBSERVATIONS. LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST.] 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. I suspect that there is an error in the title of this play, which, I believe, should be-" Love's Labours Lost." M. MASON. Love's Labour's Lost, I conjecture to have been written in 1594. See An Attempt to ascertain the Order of Shakespeare's Plays, Vol. II. MALONE. PERSONS REPRESENTED. FERDINAND, King of Navarre. BIRON, LONGAVILLE, lords, attending on the King. DUMAIN, BOYET, MERCADE, lords, attending on the Princess of France. Don ADRIANO DE ARMADO, a fantastical Spaniard. HOLOFERNES, a schoolmaster. DULL, a constable. COSTARD, a clown. MOTH, page to Armado. A Forester. Officers and others, attendants on the King and Princess. SCENE.-Navarre. LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST. ACT I. SCENE I.—Navarre. A Park, with a Palace in it. Enter the King, BIRON, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAIN. King. LET fame, that all hunt after in their lives, Therefore, brave conquerors!--for so you are, And the huge army of the world's desires,- You three, Birón, Dumain, and Longaville, Have sworn for three years' term to live with me, Your oaths are past, and now subscribe your names; If you are arm'd to do, as sworn to do, |