PRELIMINARY REMARKS.

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 circumstances 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 1606. See an Attempt to ascertain the Order of Shakspeare's Plays, vol. ii. Malone.

1 ^note.

PERSONS REPRESENTED King of France. Duke of Florence. Bertram, Count of Rousillon. Lafeu^{2 note}, an old Lord. Parolles^{3 note}, a Follower of Bertram. Several young French Lords, that serve with Bertram in the Florentine War [Lord 1], [Lord 2]. Steward, a Servant to the Countess of Rousillon. Clown [Lavache], a Servant to the Countess of Rousillon. A Page. Countess of Rousillon, Mother to Bertram. Helena, a Gentlewoman protected by the Countess. An old Widow of Florence. Diana, Daughter to the Widow. Violenta^{4 note}, a Neighbour and Friend to the Widow. Mariana, a Neighbour and Friend to the Widow. Lords attending on the King; Officers, Soldiers, &c. French and Florentine. [Lord 1], [Lord 2], [Lord 4], [Gentleman], [Gentleman 1], [Gentleman 2], [Soldier 1], [Soldier 2], [Soldiers], [Servant] SCENE, partly in France, and partly in Tuscany.

ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL.

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