COLLEGE COPYRIGHT, 1902, BY THE MACMILLAN COMPANY. Set up, electrotyped, and published September, 1902. Reprinted Norwood Press J. S. Cushing & Co. - Berwick & Smith Co. PREFATORY NOTE It is hard to reconcile the editorial and educational attitude which aims to stimulate a high school pupil to enter into the soul of a great drama, grasp its informing spirit, and "inhale its choral atmosphere," with the attitude which would urge the student to grub into details and learn the exact meaning, etymologically, of every word. An attempt is made in the present edition to avoid the two extremes. It would be deplorable for the pupil to miss the charm of As You Like It; and it would be unpardonable for him. to miss the significance of many Shakespearian words found in the play. In the attempt to encourage both sides of the study, reference has been freely made to the elements of dramatic charm, and suggestions have been offered for the detailed study of meanings. The editor agrees with Dr. Furnival that "while every boy can look out hard words in a lexicon for himself, not one in a score can, unhelped, catch points of and realize character." In the notes to each scene, therefore, will be found grouped together words which. should be studied from the dictionaries. The habit V thus inculcated will, it is thought, prove invaluable. On the other hand, notes and suggestions regarding points of character and plot and comments concerning the play as a drama now enjoyed on the stage have been made with somewhat lavish hand. In the Introduction the section on the stage in Shakespeare's time has also been inserted for the purpose of emphasizing this side of the study of the play as a play. With the putting of due emphasis by the teacher on both the form and the spirit of As You Like It, the classroom work on this play will doubtless be of unusual benefit to the pupil. In the Bibliography will be found mention of the books that have been of especial use in the preparation of this edition. The text has been studied with care and will be found to agree in the main with that of the Temple Shakespeare. For convenience in using this edition with others, the line numbering of the best editions has been adopted. The mark after a word in the text of the play indicates that an explanation will be found under the proper line, scene, and act in the Notes. The title, As You Like It, is in the notes abbreviated, A. Y. L. The references to Furness are to his monumental Variorum edition of the play. |