1611200 1623 Shakespeare
As You Like It. Single Leaf from First Folio. 1623.
First Printing. Bought With leaves from 2nd, 3rd and 4th Folios.
The "As you Like it" Leaf was the very last acquisition made in the creation of "A Poor Man's First Folio".
"As You Like It" was not published in a quarto edition during Shakespeare's lifetime. The first appearance of the play was in the First Folio (F1) of 1623, a collected edition of Shakespeare's plays published by his colleagues John Heminges and Henry Condell1. This edition is considered the authoritative text and is the basis for most modern editions of the play
Textual Notes
The sources for "As You Like It" are diverse and reflect Shakespeare's wide-ranging interests and influences. One of the primary sources is Thomas Lodge's pastoral romance "Rosalynde: Euphues' Golden Legacy," published in 15902. This work provided the basic plot structure and characters, although Shakespeare's version introduced significant changes and complexities2. Another important source is the anonymous play "Syr Clyomon and Clamydes," which influenced some of the play's themes and motifs2. Additionally, elements of the play were inspired by contemporary English literature and the pastoral tradition2.
"As You Like It" also draws on classical sources, such as Ovid's "Metamorphoses," which provided the basis for the themes of transformation and change in the play2. The character of Rosalind, who disguises herself as a man, embodies these themes and reflects the play's exploration of gender and identity2.
Synopsis of This Leaf With references to the entire play
This leaf perfectly summarizes the main body of the play. Rosalind disguised as ganymede assures all the eligible principles of the play that they will indeed be married tomorrow to the spouses of their choice.
The leaf begins with Ganymede assuring Orlando (whom she loves as Rosalind) that he (Ganymede) will produce Rosalind tomorrow;
…to set her before your eyes tomorrow, human as she is and without any danger.
Not only will Orlanda marry the elusive Rosalind, but his brother, Oliver, will marry Celia (no longer disguised as Aliena). Meanwhile, Phoebe, who until now has spurned the advances of Sylvius and panted after Ganymede is told that she will reject Ganymede and instead choose the ever faithful Sylvius Jut to top things off, Touchstone will marry Audrey.
All this is solidified with a brilliant exchange:
Phoebe (to Silvius): Good Shepherd tell this youth what is to love.
Silvius: It is to be all made of sighs and tears and so am I for Phoebe.
Phoebe: And I for Ganymede.
Orlando: And I for Rosalind.
Rosalind (as Ganymede): And I for no woman.
Thus, the scene is now set for a quadruple matrimonial event unique even in Shakespeare. Even the usurping Duke Frederick gets into the spirit of things restores his entire lands and estate to his brother the good Duke and claims he will live out the rest of his life as a shepherd in this forest of Arden. On the next day the entire group is joined by the God Hymen who will officiate at the day's festivities and in effect the play has reached its conclusion save for a wonderful epilogue (not on this leaf) that Rosalind delivers.
Sir Rowland de Bois has recently died, and, according to the custom of primogeniture, the vast majority of his estate has passed into the possession of his eldest son, Oliver. Although Sir Rowland has instructed Oliver to take good care of his brother, Orlando, Oliver refuses to do so. Out of pure spite, he denies Orlando the education, training, and property befitting a gentleman. Charles, a wrestler from the court of Duke Frederick, arrives to warn Oliver of a rumor that Orlando will challenge Charles to a fight on the following day. Fearing censure if he should beat a nobleman, Charles begs Oliver to intervene, but Oliver convinces the wrestler that Orlando is a dishonorable sportsman who will take whatever dastardly means necessary to win. Charles vows to pummel Orlando, which delights Oliver.
Duke Senior has been usurped of his throne by his brother, Duke Frederick, and has fled to the Forest of Ardenne, where he lives like Robin Hood with a band of loyal followers. Duke Frederick allows Senior’s daughter, Rosalind, to remain at court because of her inseparable friendship with his own daughter, Celia. The day arrives when Orlando is scheduled to fight Charles, and the women witness Orlando’s defeat of the court wrestler. Orlando and Rosalind instantly fall in love with one another, though Rosalind keeps this fact a secret from everyone but Celia. Orlando returns home from the wrestling match, only to have his faithful servant Adam warn him about Oliver’s plot against Orlando’s life. Orlando decides to leave for the safety of Ardenne. Without warning, Duke Frederick has a change of heart regarding Rosalind and banishes her from court. She, too, decides to flee to the Forest of Ardenne and leaves with Celia, who cannot bear to be without Rosalind, and Touchstone, the court jester. To ensure the safety of their journey, Rosalind assumes the dress of a young man and takes the name Ganymede, while Celia dresses as a common shepherdess and calls herself Aliena.
Duke Frederick is furious at his daughter’s disappearance. When he learns that the flight of his daughter and niece coincides with the disappearance of Orlando, the duke orders Oliver to lead the manhunt, threatening to confiscate Oliver’s lands and property should he fail. Frederick also decides it is time to destroy his brother once and for all and begins to raise an army.
Duke Senior lives in the Forest of Ardenne with a band of lords who have gone into voluntary exile. He praises the simple life among the trees, happy to be absent from the machinations of court life. Orlando, exhausted by travel and desperate to find food for his starving companion, Adam, barges in on the duke’s camp and rudely demands that they not eat until he is given food. Duke Senior calms Orlando and, when he learns that the young man is the son of his dear former friend, accepts him into his company. Meanwhile, Rosalind and Celia, disguised as Ganymede and Aliena, arrive in the forest and meet a lovesick young shepherd named Silvius who pines away for the disdainful Phoebe. The two women purchase a modest cottage, and soon enough Rosalind runs into the equally lovesick Orlando. Taking her to be a young man, Orlando confides in Rosalind that his affections are overpowering him. Rosalind, as Ganymede, claims to be an expert in exorcising such emotions and promises to cure Orlando of lovesickness if he agrees to pretend that Ganymede is Rosalind and promises to come woo her every day. Orlando agrees, and the love lessons begin.
Meanwhile, Phoebe becomes increasingly cruel in her rejection of Silvius. When Rosalind intervenes, disguised as Ganymede, Phoebe falls hopelessly in love with Ganymede. One day, Orlando fails to show up for his tutorial with Ganymede. Rosalind, reacting to her infatuation with Orlando, is distraught until Oliver appears. Oliver describes how Orlando stumbled upon him in the forest and saved him from being devoured by a hungry lioness. Oliver and Celia, still disguised as the shepherdess Aliena, fall instantly in love and agree to marry. As time passes, Phoebe becomes increasingly insistent in her pursuit of Ganymede, and Orlando grows tired of pretending that a boy is his dear Rosalind. Rosalind decides to end the charade. She promises that Ganymede will wed Phoebe, if Ganymede will ever marry a woman, and she makes everyone pledge to meet the next day at the wedding. They all agree.
The day of the wedding arrives, and Rosalind gathers the various couples: Phoebe and Silvius; Celia and Oliver; Touchstone and Audrey, a goatherd he intends to marry; and Orlando. The group congregates before Duke Senior and his men. Rosalind, still disguised as Ganymede, reminds the lovers of their various vows, then secures a promise from Phoebe that if for some reason she refuses to marry Ganymede she will marry Silvius, and a promise from the duke that he would allow his daughter to marry Orlando if she were available. Rosalind leaves with the disguised Celia, and the two soon return as themselves, accompanied by Hymen, the god of marriage. Hymen officiates at the ceremony and marries Rosalind and Orlando, Celia and Oliver, Phoebe and Silvius, and Audrey and Touchstone. The festive wedding celebration is interrupted by even more festive news: while marching with his army to attack Duke Senior, Duke Frederick came upon a holy man who convinced him to put aside his worldly concerns and assume a monastic li
Character list of Shakespeare's As You Like It along with brief descriptions of their roles in the play:
Rosalind: The daughter of Duke Senior, who is banished from the court. She disguises herself as a young man named Ganymede and flees to the Forest of Arden.
Orlando: The youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys. He falls in love with Rosalind and follows her to the Forest of Arden.
Celia: The daughter of Duke Frederick and Rosalind's cousin. She accompanies Rosalind to the Forest of Arden and disguises herself as Aliena.
Duke Senior: Rosalind's father, who has been usurped by his brother Duke Frederick and lives in exile in the Forest of Arden.
Duke Frederick: The younger brother of Duke Senior who usurps the throne and banishes Rosalind.
Touchstone: A court jester who accompanies Rosalind and Celia to the Forest of Arden.
Jaques: A melancholic lord who is part of Duke Senior's company in the Forest of Arden. He is known for his philosophical musings.
Oliver: The elder brother of Orlando who initially mistreats him but later reforms and falls in love with Celia.
Silvius: A young shepherd who is in love with Phebe.
Phebe: A shepherdess who falls in love with Ganymede (Rosalind in disguise).
Audrey: A country girl who is courted by Touchstone.
William: A country youth who is also in love with Audrey.
Adam: An old servant of Sir Rowland de Boys who is loyal to Orlando.
Charles: A wrestler at Duke Frederick's court who is defeated by Orlando.
This leaf from As You Like it was part of a group of four one from each of the four folios as follows:
The four leaves comprise: 1. First Folio (1623): As You Like It, pp. 205-6, comprising the end of Act 5 Scene 2 through most of Scene 4. As the play draws to its close, the forest-dwelling characters and the courtiers come together, and multiple couples find love and get married. The First Folio marked the first publication of As You Like It. 2. Second Folio (1632): Henry the Fourth Part II, pp. 83-4, comprising most of Act 2 Scene 4. t Mistress Quickly's inn in Eastcheap, the disguised Prince Hal and Poins hear Falstaff's demeaning comments about them. 3. Third Folio (1663-4): Hamlet, pp. 751-2, comprising the end of Act 4, scene 3 through to the end of scene 5. Hamlet reveals he has killed Polonious, and is sent to leave for England, but he turns around with a renewed dedication to revenge. Ophelia further descends into madness and sings love songs. 4. Fourth Folio (1685): The Tragedy of King Lear, pp. 109-110, comprising most of Act 5 scene 3. The scene, the final in the play, includes one of Shakespeare's best-known passages, Lear's speech over the body of Cordelia, and his death from grief. Folio. Four folio leaves, tipped-in to volume of red quarter morocco, spine lettered in gilt, patterned paper sides. Each folio text leaf preceded by a facsimile title page from each folio. Folio leaves a little browned, neat repair to short closed tear at foot of that of First Folio leaf; in very good condition
A relic of the greatest playwright in world literature: a leaf from each of the four folios, that is, the first four collected editions of Shakespeare's plays. The leaves were gathered for issue by the Grabhorn Press and specially bound with an introductory essay by Edwin Eliott Willoughby of the Folger library. This is number 54 of 73 copies produced. The four folios were the only collected editions of Shakespeare's plays published in the 17th century. The First Folio of 1623 is of inestimable importance for English literature, being the sole source for 18 of Shakespeare's plays which would have otherwise been lost. The Second Folio of 1632 included an additional encomium by the young John Milton, his first published poem in English, and modernized some of the spelling and punctuation. "The Second Folio was issued when England under Charles I was drifting into civil war. It helped to keep alive the poetry of Shakespeare during the days of the Commonwealth when play-acting was proscribed as a work of the devil" (Willoughby's introduction). The Third Folio of 1664 a dded the play Pericles, and six spurious S. It is the rarest of the folios, due no doubt to a large part of the edition being destroyed in the Great Fire of Londhakespeare playson in 1666. The Fourth Folio completed the great quartet in 1685. It maintained the text of the Third Folio, and was in turn used as the basis for the edited texts of the 18th century.