That even his stubbornnefs, his checks, and frowns,-Prythee, unpin me,--have grace and favour in [the bed. Emil. I have laid thofe fheets you bade me on Def. All's one :---Good father! how foolish are our minds! If I do die before thee, pr'ythee shroud me Emil. Come, come, you talk. ; Def. My mother had a maid, call'd-Barbara This Lodovico is a proper man. Amil. I know a lady in Venice, would have walk'd barefoot to Paleftine, for a touch of his mether lip. Def. 2 The poor foul fat finging by a fycamore tree, Her band on her bofom, ber head on her knee, The fresh reams van by ber, and murmur'd her moans; Sing willow, &c. I Amil. There be fome fuch, no question. Def. Would thou do fuch a deed for all the world? Emil. Why, would not you? Def. No, by this heavenly light! mil. Nor I neither, by this heavenly light; might do't as well ' the dark. Def. Wouldst thou do fuch a deed for all the world? [price Emil. The world is a huge thing: 'Tis a great For a fmall vice. Def. In troth, I think thou wouldst not. Emil. In troth, I think I fhould; and undo't, when I had done. Marry, I would not do fuch a thing for a joint ring; nor for measures of lawn ; nor for gowns, petticoats, nor caps, nor any petty exhibition: but, for all the whole world,-Way, who would not make her husband a cuckold, to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for't. Def. Befhrew me, if I would do fuch a wrong For the whole world. Emil. Why, the wrong is but a wrong i' the world; and, having the world for your labo. 'tis a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly make it right. DJ. I do not think, there is any fuch woman. Emil. Yes, a dozen; and as many to the vantage 3, as Would store the world they play'd for. [us, Her falt tears fell from ber, and foften'd the ftones; Why, we have galls; and, though we have some Lay by thefe : Sing willow, .. Willow, willow, Sr. Pr'ythee, hye thee; he'll come anon.- Sing all a green uillow must be my garland. 2. Let no body blame him, his fcorn I approve,— Nay, that's not next. -Hark! who is it that knocks? Emil. It is the wind. grace, Yet have we fome revenge. Let hufbands know, Their wives have fenfe like them; they fee, and imell, And have their palates both for fweet and four, Def. I call'd my love, falfe love; but what faid Defires for fport? and frailty, as men have? 1i. e. wild, frantick, uncertain. We ftill call the first volume of Percy's Reliques of ancient English Poetry. 3 i. c. to boot, over and above. 4 i, e. our former allowance of expence. Ufage is an old word for cuflum. 222 ACT Jago. HE SCENE I A Street. Enter Iago, and Roderigo. ERE, ftand behind this bulk; straight will he come : Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home; Quick, quick; fear nothing; I'll be at thy elbow: It makes us, or it mars us; think on that, Red. Be near at hand; I may miscarry in't. Rod. I have no great devotion to the deed; And yet he hath given me fatisfying reasons :— "Tis but a man gone :-forth, my fword; he dies. [Stands apart. Jago. I have rubb'd this young quat almoft to the fenfe, I Forth of my heart thofe charms, thine eyes, are blotted; Thy bed, luft-ftain'd, fhall with luft's blood be spotted. [Exit Otbria Enter Lodovics, and Gratiano, at a difiance. Caf. What, ho! no watch? no pailage? mur der! murder! {ful. Gra. 'Tis fome mifchance; the cry is very dire Caf. O help! Lod. Hark! Rod. O wretched villain! Lod. Two or three groans; it is a heavy night: Thefe may be counterfeits; let's think 't unfafe To come in to the cry, without more help. Rod. No body come? then fhall I bleed to death. Enter Lage, with a light. Lod. Hark! Gra. Here's one comes in his fhirt, with light and weapons. [Caffio, Iago. Who's there? whofe noife is this, that cries And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Of gold, and jewels, that I bobb'd from him, It must not be if Caffio do remain, That makes me ugly; and, befides, the Moor der! murder! Enter Othello, above. out murder? Lod. We do not know. Iago. Did not you hear a cry? Caf. Here, here; for heaven's fake, help me. lago. What's the matter? Gra. This is Othello's ancient, as I take it. Lod. The fame, indeed; a very valiant fellow. Iago. What are you here, that cry fo grievoußy? Caf. Iago? O, I am fpoil'd, undone by villains! Give me fome help. [this? Iago. O me, lieutenant! what villains have done Caf. I think, that one of them is hereabout, And cannot make away. Iago. O treacherous villains! What are you there? come in, and give some help. [To Lod. and Gra. Rod. O, help me here! [logo fiabs bim. Rod. O damn'd Iago! O inhuman dog!-0! O, O! Iago. Kill men i'the dark bloody thieves?— Where be these How filent is this town!-Ho! murder ! murder! Otb. The voice of Caffio:-Iago keeps his word. What may you be? are you of good or evil? Rod. O, villain that I am! Otb, Hark! 'tis even fo. Caf. O, help, ho! light! a furgeon ! Otb. 'Tis he;-O brave Iago, honeft and juft, That haft fuch noble fenfe of thy friend's wrong! Thou teacheft me,-Minion, your dear lies dead, And your fate lies apace: Strumpet, I come: This is a paffage much controverted among the editors, who variously propofe to read quab, (1 gudgeon) quail, gret, and knot. Dr. Johnlon, however, adopts quat, which he fays in the midland counties is a pimple, that by rubbing is made to finart, or is rubbed to fenfe. Roderigo, he adds, called a quat by the fame mode of fpeech, as a low fellow is now termed in low language a fcab, To rub to the fenje, is to rub to the quick, 2 i. c. no pallengers ? nobody going by ? 1 A . Iago. Who is't that cry'd ? Bian. O my dear Caffio! my sweet Caffio! [fufpect Lian Alas, he faints :-O Caffio! Caffio! Caffio!) Patience a while, good Caffio.-Come, come; lago. Even he, fir; did you know him? Iago. Signior Gratiano? I cry you gentle pardon; Gra. I am glad to fee you. Enter Emilia. Emil. 'Las, what's the matter? what's the matter, husband? Iago. Caffio hath here been fet on in the dark, Emil. Alas, good gentleman! alas, good Caffio ! Go know of Caflio where he fupp'd to-night: Bian. He fupp'd at my houfe; but I therefore lago. O, did he fo? I charge you, go with me. Amil. Fie, fie upon thee, ftrumpet ! Bian. I am no ftrumpet; but of life as honeft, Emil. As I foh! fie upon thee! Come, miftrefs, you must tell us another tale.- And tell my lord and lady what hath hap'd.— [Exeunt. Jago. How do you, Caffio ?-O, a chair, a chair! A Bed-chamber : Defdemona in bed, asleep. Alight burning. Enter Othello. Ob. 2 It is the caufe, it is the cause, my foul,- [Takes off his fword. I cannot give it vital growth again, It needs must wither :--I'll smell it on the tree.— To fordo, as has been before obferved, is to undo, to ruin, to deftroy. 2 Dr. Johnson affigns the following meaning to this foliloquy: I am here (ays Othell in his mind) overwhelmed with horror. What is the reafon of this perturbation ? Is it want of refolution to do justice? Is it the dread' of fheading lood? No, it is not the action that thocks me, but it is the caufe, it is the caufe, my foul; let me not name it to you, ye chufte flars! it is the caufe.” Mr. Steevens adds, that Othello, full of horror at the cruel action which he is about to perpetrate, feems at this inftant to be fecking his juflification, from reprefenting to himfelt the caufe. i. e. the greatnefs of the provoca tion he had received. 3. This is the fecond atter of Othello (continues Mr. Steevens) to juftify what he has undertaken. Firlt he lays, It is the caufe, i. e. his own caufe; now he is willing to fuppofe him if the preventer of fucceeding mischief to others." 4 Dr. Farmer obferves, that this has been considered as a very difhcult line. Fielding makes Betterton and Booth dispute about it with the author himself in the other world. The punctuation recommended by Dr. Warburton, (and which we have adopted) gives a fpirit to it which I fear (adds he) was not intended. It fcems to have been only a play upon words. To put the light out was a phrafe for to kill. Juftice Oth. Think on thy fins. Def. They are loves I bear to you. Def. That death's unnatural, that kills for loving. Alas, why gnaw you fo your nether lip? Some bloody passion shakes your very frame : Oth. Peace, and be ftill! Def. I will fo: What's the matter? Oth. That handkerchief, which I fo lov'd, and gave thee, Thou gav'ft to Caffio. Def. No, by my life and foul; Send for the man, and ask him. Oth. Sweet foul, take heed, Oh. By heaven, I faw, my handkerchief in his hand. O perjur'd woman! thou doft ftone my heart, Def. He found it then; I never gave it him :-Send for him hither, Oth. He hath confess'd. Oth. That he hath-us'd thee. Def. He will not fay fo. Oth. No, his mouth is flopp'd; Honeft Iago hath ta'en order for 't 2. Def. O, my fear interprets then,—What, is he dead? [revenge Oth. Had all his hairs been lives, my great Had ftomach for them all. Def. Alas, he is betray'd, and I undone. Def. O, banith me, my lord, but kill me not. Def. Kill me to morrow, let me live to-night. Def. But half an hour. There is no pause. Def. But while I say one prayer. Emilia within. [He fmothers ber. My lord, my lord! what ho! my lord, my lord! Oth. What noife is this? Not dead? not yet quite dead? 1, that am cruel, am yet merciful; ~ Emil, What ho! my lord, my lord! Emil. O, good my lord, I would speak a word with you. Ob. Yes; 'tis Emilia :-by and by.-She's 'Tis like, fhe comes to ípeak of Caffio's death; Take heed of perjury; thou art on thy death-bed. The noife was high-Ha no more moving ? Def. Ay, but not yet to die. Oth. Yes, prefently: Therefore confefs thee freely of thy fin; For to deny each article with oath, Cannot remove, nor choak, the strong conception Def. O, heaven, have mercy on me! Def. And have you mercy too!I never did Still as the grave.---Shall the come in? Were't good? Emil. I do beseech you I may speak with you. O, good my lord! Oth. I had forgot thee: O, come in, Emilia Soft, by and by-Let me the curtains draw. when I thought to The meaning is, (fays Dr. Johnfon, who adds, that this dreadful fcene is not to be endured) "Thou hast harden'd my heart, and make me kill thee with the rage of a murderer, have facrificed thee to justice with the calmness of a priest striking a victim." measures. 2 i. c. has taken Def. No body; I myfelf; farewel: Oth. You heard her fay herfelf, it was not I. Emil. O, the more angel fhe, Oth. She turn'd to folly, and fhe was a whore. Emil. Thou art rafh as fire, to fay That the was falfe; 0, the was heavenly true! 0:6. Thy husband. Emil. That she was falfe to wedlock? Oth. Ay, with Caffio. Nay, had the been true, Otb. Peace, you were beft. Emil. Thou haft not half that power to do me harm, As I have to be hurt 4. O gull! O dolt! Enter Montano, Gratian, Iago, and others. well, That men muft lay their murders on your neck. Emil. Difprove this, villain, if thou be'st a man: Jago. I told him what I thought: and told no more Emil. But did you ever tell him, she was falfe? Amil. You told a lie: an odious, damned lie; She falfe with Caflio!-Did you fay, with Caffio? Jago. With Caffio, mistress; Go to, charm your tongue 5. Emil. I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to speak ; My mistress here lies murder'd in her bed. Mr. Steevens is of opinion," that fome theatrical direction has been omitted; and that when Othello fays, Not dead ? not yet quite dead? I, that am cruel, am yet merciful; I would not have thee linger in thy pain: So, fe-he then tabs her, repeating the two lait words, as he repeats the blow. After a repetition of wounds, Defdemona might fpeak again, with propriety, and yet very foon expire. The first refolution of Othello was to poison her; but from this measure he is diffuaded by the policy of lago. He is next determined to use the poniard; but, his tenderne's awaking, he cannot bear to deform those beauties which he had fo often approached with other fenfations and for different purposes. Therefore, fays he,-I'll not fhed her biod, nor icar that whiter skin of hers than fnow, and fmooth as monumental alabaiter: And this refolution we are to imagine ne would have kept, but that he was averfe to employing thofe means again, which had already appeared to be uncertain in their effect." 2 As water that will fupport no weight, nor keep any impreflion. 3 Villainy has taken advantage to play upon the weakness of a violent passion. 4 She means to lay, I have in this caufe power to endure more than thou haft power to inflict. si. e. Apply fome power, frong as a charm would be, to your tongue; for nothing lefs can top its volubility. All. |