The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-14
THE Sources Of the Plot.


In this play Shakespeare dramatized
a popular novel (unless. as some think,
! he made use of an earlier play, now
lost, which was based upon the novel;,
published in 1890 under the title of
"Rosalynde, Euphues Golden Legacie,
by Thomas Lodge. The book was re-
printed in 1892 and at least eight edi-
lions appeared before 1643.
Shakespeare followed the novel so
closely in it's main incidents that an
outline of Lodges story may serve very
we'll as a sketch of the plot of the
drama. Lodge took the preliminary
part of the story from THE Coke's
Cooks Tale of Gamelyn,'' which is
found in few of the LATER manuscripts
,, of the Canterbury Tales" but it is not
regarded by the best critics as the work
of Chaucer.
Gamelyn (Rosader in LODGE has an
elder brother. who, to get rid of him.
induces him to enter a contest with
noted wrestler. Gamelyn is the victor
in the match, and to revenge himself
upon his brother attacks his house with
an armed band. After a struggle he *
taken prisoner, but is released by an
old servant, Adam Spenser with whom
he takes flight to the forest. This much
of the fourteenth century tale Lodge
adopts with trifling changes Rosader
(Gamelyn) and his bad brother, Sa-
ladyn correspond, of course, to Or
lando and Oliver in the play. Shakes
peare's exiled duke is represented by
banished King Gerismond, whose throne
has been usurped by Torismond. Ro-
sader contends with the kings wrest-
Ter, kills him and gains the love of
Rosalynde daughter of the dePosed
monarchy. whom Torismond soon BAN
ishes from court. His daughter. Alinda
(Celia), takes her part whereupon her
angry father banishes her also. The
two fly (Rosalynde in male disguise)
and betake themselves to the forest of
Arden, whittier Rosader has gone. Like
Shakespeare's girls. they adopt the
names of Ganimede and Aliena. In the
forest they light upon an old shepherd,
Gordon (Corin) and a young swain,
Montanus (Silvius). who is in love with
the disdainful Phebe. The fugitives
buy a sheep farm of the landlord of
Gordon. who is employed by them to
take care of it.
Rosader and Adam, after wandering
in the forest become desperate with
hunger. and the former leaves his aged
servant while he goes in search of
food. He comes upon Gerismond and
his company at their woodland feast. is
welcomed and goes back to fetch Adam.
who is received with the same cordi-
ality.
Later ROSaCeF IdliS III Will ddIli-
mede and Ahena- tells them the story
of his love. and is led TO play at tho
game of wooing with the supposed
youth, the Orlando in the play. Aliena
proposes the Testing match that after
proved To be a marriage in earnest"
Meanwhile Saladyn, who has been
banished by Torismond, comes to the
forest, and is on the point of being
killed while asleep by lion. but is res
- ho1 If .t.lf-
attempt to carry off Aliena, and Ro-
sader. who comes to her aid, is nearly
overpowered. when Saladyn- appears
and the robbers are put to flight. This
incident. which Shakespeare omits,
makes the sudden love of Saladyn and
Aliena seem more natural.
Phebe sails in love with Ganimede
and sends him a letter by Montanus.
Ganimede finally promises that he will
marry no woman but her, on condition
that if she refuses him she will we'd
Montanus The novel ends by Rosa
lynde'S throwing off her Disguise, and
the three pairs of lovers are duly made
happy, their marriage being Solemn
ly solemnized.
Shakespeare adds the characters of
Tombstone. Jaques. William and Aud
rey. He also makes the banished duke
the brother of the emperor. but in the
novel there is no hint of relationship
between Garismond and Torismond-
(This brief outline gives no idea of
Shakespeare's Indebtedness to Lodge
for many minor details OF the action
and the dialogue. The reader who
wishes TO trace out these will find the
novel in "Shakespeare's Library" (Haz-
lifts edition, part l.. vol. ill., and some
what condensed in Furness' New Var
forum edition of the play, and in the
introduction TO the notes of Rolfes edi-
tion.)
The Stage History Of the Play.
Strange as it may seem. the play
seems not to have been a favorite with
the theatre going folk of Shakespeares
day. There is not record whatever OF
any performance during the seven
teenth century. The play vas written
for the stage, and. Of course. was put
upon the stage. but the only evidence