The Folio’s text of LLL appears to be a reprint (with some few modifications) of a Quarto published in 1598 by Cuthbert Burby (who would publish Q2 ROMEO & JULIET). According to the Oxford editors, the print-house copy for this Quarto might either be Shakespeare’s holograph or another Quarto (now lost) itself based on his foul-papers.
Both Q and F provide two of the clearest instances of Shakespearean “first thoughts” (passages that are almost immediately reprised and developed by the playwright):
• 4.3.292–314 (TLN 1646–68), reprised 4.3.315–362 (TLN 1669–1716)
• 5.2.817–22 (TLN 2770–82), reprised 5.2.837–54 (TLN 2798–2815)
FOLIO gives ACTS only. SCENE divisions (as a whole) are Steevens, 1773.
ACT I line 1
1.1: line 2
1.2: line 311
ACT II line 489
2.1: line 490
ACT III line 769
3.1: line 770
ACT IV line 972
4.1: line 973
4.2: line 1150
4.3: line 1333
ACT V line 1738
5.1: line 1739
5.2: line 1887
_______________
Y AXIS: ENTRANCES & EXITS
Entrances & exits of Characters
According to their order of appearance.
• (2,305) reads “enters at line 2, exits at line 305″.
• (1353 [retires 1376,1467] 1737)
reads “character (in this case Ferdinand) enters at line 1353, retires (or “hides”) from line 1376 to line 1467 (at which point he “reveals himself”), and exits at line 1737”.
• The entry (as Russion 2052,2182)
indicates that characters (in this case the Ferdinand, Berowne, Longaville & Dumaine) are costumed “as Russians (or Moscovites)” for the Masque of 5.2.
• [masked 2050,2233]
indicates that characters (in this case the Princess, Maria, Rosaline & Katherine) are masked for the Masque of 5.2.
• (“young Hercules” 2540,2547)
indicates that character (in this case Moth) plays the part of young Hercules in the play / pageant of the Nine Worthies.
• PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS are capitalized.
FERDINAND (King of Navarre)
(2,305) (583,676) (1353 [retires 1376,1467] 1737) (as Russian 2052,2182) (2234,2900)
BEROWNE (lord attending the king)
(2,305) (583,690) (707,714) (909,971) (1333 [retires 1353,1488] 1737) (as Russian 2052,2182) (2234,2900)
LONGAVILLE (lord attending the king)
(2,305) (583,706) (1376 [retires 1411,1463] 1737) (as Russian 2052,2182) (2234,2900)
DUMAINE (lord attending the king)
(3,305) (583,676) (691,694) (1410,1737) (as Russian 2052,2182) (2234,2900)
Constable DULL
(192,310) (430,448) (1150,1332) (1739,1886) (2854,2900)
COSTARD (clown)
(192,310) (430,469) (840,938) (1016,1148) (1245,1311) (1527,1561) (2420,2450) (“Pompey” 2490,2683) (2854,2900)
Don ARMADO (a braggart)
(311,487) (770,900) (1769,1886) (2466,2476) (“Hector” 2587,2683) (2841,2900)
MOTH (page to Armado)
(311,469) (770,835) (840,900) (1769,1886) (2051,2070) (“young Hercules” 2540,2547) (2656,2683) (2854,2900)
Jaquenetta (a wench)
(430,448) (1245,1311) (1527,1561)
PRINCESS of FRANCE
(490,768) (973,1092) (1887 [masked 2050,2233]) (2262,2900)
MARIA (lady attending the princess)
(490,768) (973,1137) (1887 [masked 2050,2233]) (2262,2900)
KATHERINE (lady attending the princess)
(490,768) (973,1092) (1887 [masked 2050,2233]) (2262,2900)
ROSALINE (lady attending the princess)
(490,768) (973,1117) (1887 [masked 2050,2233]) (2262,2900)
BOYET (lord attending the princess)
(491,526) (573,768) (974,1137) (1969,2239) (2262,2900)
Forester
(973,1092)
HOLOFERNES (a schoolmaster)
(1150,1332) (1739,1886) (“Judas Machabeus” 2540,2683) (2854,2900)
NATHANIEL (a curate)
(1150,1332) (1739,1886) (“Alexander” 2511,2538) (2854,2900)
Blackmoors
(2051,2182)
Marcade (lord attending the princess)
(2671,2900)
FERDINAND as Muscovite (2052,2182), Conscious
BEROWNE as Muscovite (2052,2182), Conscious
LONGAVILLE as Muscovite (2052,2182), Conscious
DUMAINE as Muscovite (2052,2182), Conscious
PRINCESS as Rosaline (2050,2182), Conscious
MARIA as Katherine (2050,2182), Conscious
KATHERINE as Maria (2050,2182), Conscious
ROSALINE as Princess (2050,2182), Conscious
COSTARD as Pompey (2490,2683), Conscious
Don ARMADO as Hector (2587,2683), Conscious
MOTH as Young Hercules (2540,2547), Conscious
HOLOFERNES as Judas Machabeus (2540,2683), Conscious
NATHANIEL as Alexander (2511,2538), Conscious
•(2051,2182)
Type: Maske (Red)
Title: Maske of the Muscovites.
• (2490,2683)
Type: Inset-play (yellow)
Title: Pageant of the Nine Worthies: