Here on my Then I confess. knee before high heaven & you. Published by F.& C. Rivington London Ap.30.1803. *ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL.] The story of All's well that ends well, or, as I suppose it to have been sometimes called, Love's Labour Wonne, is originally indeed the property of Boccace, but it came immediately to Shakspeare from Painter's Giletta of Narbon, in the First Vol. of the Palace of Pleasure, 4to. 1566, p. 88. FARMER. Shakspeare is indebted to the novel only for a few leading cir cumstances in the graver parts of the piece. The comic business appears to be entirely of his own formation. STEEVENS. This comedy, I imagine, was written in 1598., MALONE. PERSONS REPRESENTED. King of France. Bertram, Count of Rousillon. 2 Parolles, a Follower of Bertram. Several young French Lords, that serve with Bertram in the Florentine War. Steward, } Servants to the Countess of Rousillon. Countess of Rousillon, Mother to Bertram. Helena, a Gentlewoman protected by the Countess. An old Widow of Florence. Diana, Daughter to the Widow. Violenta,+ Mariana, } Neighbours and Friends to the Widow. Lords, attending on the King; Officers, Soldiers, &c. French and Florentine. SCENE, partly in France, and partly in Tuscany. 2 The persons were first enumerated by Mr. Rowe. Lafeu,] We should read-Lefeu. STEEVENS, 3 Parolles,] I suppose we should write this name-Paroles, i. e. a creature made up of empty words. STEEVENS. 4 Violenta only enters once, and then she neither speaks, nor is spoken to. This name appears to be borrowed from an old metrical history, entitled Didaco and Violenta, 1576. STEEVENS. |