The Works of Samuel Johnson, Volume 05 - Miscellaneous Pieces by Samuel Johnson
page 108 of 591 (18%)
page 108 of 591 (18%)
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being not universal, but limited, as Shakespeare has taken care to
inculcate: Though his bark cannot be lost, Yet it shall be tempest-tost. The common afflictions which the malice of witches produced, were melancholy, fits, and loss of flesh, which are threatened by one of Shakespeare's witches: Weary sev'n nights, nine times nine, Shall he dwindle, peak, and pine. It was, likewise, their practice to destroy the cattle of their neighbours, and the farmers have, to this day, many ceremonies to secure their cows and other cattle from witchcraft; but they seem to have been most suspected of malice against swine. Shakespeare has, accordingly, made one of his witches declare that she has been _killing swine_; and Dr. Harsenet observes, that, about that time, "a sow could not be ill of the measles, nor a girl of the sullens, but some old woman was charged with witchcraft." Toad, that under the cold stone, Days and nights hast thirty-one, Swelter'd venom sleeping got, Boil thou first i' the charmed pot. Toads have, likewise, long lain under the reproach of being by some means accessary to witchcraft, for which reason Shakespeare, in the first scene of this play, calls one of the spirits Padocke, or Toad, and |
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