George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].
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SCENE III.
Enter Falstaff.
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; and then another fault in the
-- 311 --
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, 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.
Divide me like a brib'd buck, each a haunch; I will keep
my sides to my self, my shoulders for the fellow of this walk, 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 would never else cross
me thus.
George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].
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