Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
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SCENE III.
Enter Falstaff, with a Buck's head on.
Fal.
The Windsor bell hath struck twelve, the minute
draws on; now, the hot-blooded Gods assist me!
Remember, Jove, thou wast a bull for thy Europa;
love set on thy horns. Oh powerful love! that, in
some respects, makes a beast a man; in some other,
a man a beast: You were also, Jupiter, a swan, for
the Love of Leda: Oh, omnipotent love! how near
the God drew to the complexion of a goose? A fault
done first in the form of a beast,—O Jove, a
beastly fault in the semblance of a fowl:—think
on't, Jove, a foul fault. When Gods have hot backs,
what shall poor men do? for me, I am here a Windsor
stag, and the fattest, I think, i'th' forest. Send me
a cool rut-time, Jove, or who can blame me to piss
my tallow? who comes here? my Doe?
Enter Mistress Ford and Mistress Page.
Mrs. Ford.
Sir John? art thou there, my deer? my
male deer?
Fal.
My doe with the black scut? let the sky rain
potatoes; let it thunder to the tune of Green-Sleeves;
-- 547 --
hail kissing-comfits, and snow eringoes; let there come
a tempest of provocation, I will shelter me here.
Mrs. Ford.
Mistress Page is come with me, sweet
heart.
Fal.
7 noteDivide me like a bribe-buck, each a haunch;
I will keep my sides to myself, my shoulders for the
fellow of this walk,8 note and my horns I bequeath your
husbands. Am I a woodman, ha? Speak I like Herne
the hunter? why, now is Cupid a child of conscience,
he makes restitution. As I am a true spirit, welcome!
[Noise within.
Mrs. Page.
Alas! what noise?
Mrs. Ford.
Heav'n forgive our sins!
Fal.
What should this be?
Mrs. Ford. Mrs. Page.
Away, away.
[The women run out.
Fal.
I think the devil will not have me damn'd,
lest the oil that is in me should set hell on fire; he never
would else cross me thus.
Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
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