And will return to Venice;-Hence, avaunt!- senate Call-all-in-all sufficient? This the noble nature lago. He is much chang'd. Lod. Are his wits safe? is he not light of brain? What he might be,-if, what he might, he is not,- Lod. What, strike his wife! [knew, Let heaven requite it with the serpent's curse! Oth. Bid her come hither;-go-[Exit Æmilia. Look in my face. Des. What horrible fancy's this? [mistress; Oth. [To Emilia.] Some of your function, Leave procreants alone, and shut the door; Cough, or cry-hem, if any body come: lago. 'Faith, that was not so well; yet 'would I 20 Your mystery, your mystery;-nay, dispatch. That stroke would prove the worst. Lod. Is it his use? [Exit Emilia. Des. Upon my knees, what doth your speech import? I understand a fury in your words, · 25 But not the words. Oth. Why, what art thou? Des. Your wife, my lord; Your true and loyal wife. Oth. Come, swear it, damn thyself 30 Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils them[damn'd, 35 selves Should fear to seize thee: therefore be double- Oth. O Desdemona!-away! away! away! [nothing: 45 Oth. To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor Oth. That's strange. Emil. I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest, Lay down my soul-at stake: if you think other, Remove your thought; it doth abuse your bosom. If any wretch hath put this in your head, 2 An instrument of this your calling back, Oth. Had it pleas'd Heaven All kind of sores, and shames, on my bare head: Mr. Malone remarks, that "in this exclamation Shakspeare has shewn great art. Iago, in the first scene in which he endeavours to awaken his suspicion, being urged to give some evident proof of the guilt of Cassio and Desdemona, tells him it were impossible to have ocular demonstration of it, though they should be " as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys."-These words, we may suppose, still ring in the ears of Othello, who, being now fully convinced of his wife's infidelity, rushes out with this emphatic exclamation:-Iago's words were but too true;-now indeed I am convinced that they are as hot as "goats and monkeys." i. e. my opinion. Mr. Rowe reads "hand of scorn;" and succeeding editors have followed him.-Mr. Steevens, however, would (though in opposition to so many great authorities in favour of the change) continue to read, with the old copy; "the time of scorn;" and adds, "We call the hour in which we are to die, the hour of death;—the time when we are to be judged, the day of judgement;-the instant when we suffer calamity, the moment of evil: and why may we not distinguish the time which brings contempt along with it, by the title of the time of scorn? Το To point his slow unmoving finger at,0!0! Des. I have none: Do not talk to me, Æmilia; Yet could I bear that too; well, very well: Des. I hope my noble lord esteems me honest. 15 20 Des. Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed? pudent strumpet! Des. By heaven, you do me wrong! If to preserve this vessel for my lord, Des. O, heaven forgive us! I took you for that cunning whore of Venice, That have the office opposite to Saint Peter, I pray you, turn the key, and keep our counsel. 30 [ber; [Exit. Emil. Here is a change indeed. Jago. What is your pleasure, madam? How is Iago. What is the matter, lady? Des. Am I that name, Iago? Iago. What name, fair lady? Des. Such as, she says, my lord did say I was. drink, Could not have laid such terms upon his callet”. Des. I do not know; I am sure, I am none such. Des. It is my wretched fortune. 35 Iago. Beshrew him for it! Des. Nay, heaven.doth know. Amil. I will be hang'd, if some eternal villain, 40 Some cogging, cozening slave, to get some office, 45 [Exit. Emil. Alas, what does this gentleman conceive?-50 How do you, madam? how do you, my good Des. 'Faith, half asleep. lady? Emil. Good madam, what's the matter with my lord? Des. With who? Emil. With my lord, madam. Des. Who is thy lord? Emil. He that is yours, sweet lady. 1i. e. treasured up my heart. lihood? The Moor's abus'd by some most villainous knave, 55 Iago. Speak within door". [was, Amil. O, fie upon him! some such squire he That turn'd your wit the seamy side without', And made you to suspect me with the Moor. This word in Shakspeare's time, besides its general signification, seems to have been applied particularly to unlawful acts of love. Hence perhaps it is so often repeated by Othello. 3 Callet is a lewd woman. * Notorious, for gross, not in its proper meaning for known. Companions, i. e. fellows. ⚫ i. e. do not clamour so as to be heard beyond the house. That is, inside out. Iago. You are a fool; go to. What shall I do to win my lord again? and even from this instant do build on thee a better opinion than ever before. Give me thy hand, Roderigo: Thou hast taken against me a most just exception; but yet, I protest, I have dealt most 5 directly in thy affair. Rod. It hath not appear'd. Jago. I grant, indeed, it hath not appear'd; and your suspicion is not without wit and judgement. But, Roderigo, if then hast that within thee in10deed, which I have greater reason to believe now than ever, I mean, purpose, courage, and valour, this night shew it: If thou the next night following enjoyest not Desdemona, take me from this world with treachery, and devise engines for 15 my life. 20 Hark, how these instruments summon to supper! 25 How now, Roderigo? Eme. 30 Rod. I do not find, that thou deal'st justly with a Rod. Well, what is it? is it within reason and compass? Iago. Sir, there is especial commission come from Venice, to depute Cassio in Othello's place. Rod. Is that true? why, then Othello a I Desdemona return again to Venice. Iago. O, no; he goes into Mauritania, and taketh away with him the fair Desdemona, unless his abode be linger'd here by some accident; wherein none can be so determinate, as the removing of Cassio. Rod. How do you mean-removing of him? Iago. Why, by making him uncapable of Othello's place; knocking out his brains. Rod. And that you would have me to do? Iago. Ay; if you dare do yourself a profit, and right. He sups to-night with a harlot, and thi ther will I go to him; he knows not yet of his honourable fortune: if you will watch his going thence, (which I will fashion to fall out between twelve and one) you may take him at your plea sure; I will be near to second your attempt, and he shall fall between us. Come, stand not amaz'd at it, but go along with me; I will shew you 40 such a necessity in his death, that you shall think yourself bound to put it on him. It is now high supper-time, and the night grows to waste: about Rod. Every day thou doff'st me with some device, Iago; and rather (as it seems to me now) keep'st from me all conveniency, than suppliest 35 me with the least advantage of hope. I will, indeed, no longer endure it: Nor am I yet persuaded, to put up in peace what already I have foolishly suffered. Iago. Will you hear me, Roderigo? Rod. Faith, I have heard too much; for your words and performances are no kin together. lago. You charge me most unjustly. Rod. With nought but truth. I have wasted myself out of my means. The jewels you have 45 - had from me, to deliver to Desdemona, would half have corrupted a votarist: You have told me -she hath receiv'd them, and return'd me expectations and comforts of sudden respect and acquaintance; but I find none. Iago. Well; go to; very well. Rod. Very well! go to! I cannot go to, man; nor 'tis not very well: By this hand, I say, it is very scurvy; and begin to find myself fobb'd in it. fago. Very well. Rod. I tell you, 'tis not very well. I will make myself known to Desdemona: if she will return me my jewels, I will give over my suit, and repent my unlawful solicitation; if not, assure yourself, I will seek satisfaction of you. Iago. You have said now. 50 55 it. Oth. O, pardon me; 'twill de me good to walk. Des. Your honour is most welcome. Oth. Get you to bed on the instant; I will be return'd forthwith: dismiss your attendant there; look it be done. 60 Rod. Ay, and I have said nothing but what protest intendment of doing. [Brit. I Des. I will, my lord. [he did. Iago. Why, now I see there's mettle in thee; Emil. How goes it now? he looks gentler than Give me my nightly wearing, and adieu: 5 We must not now displease him. Emil. I would, you had never seen him! That even his stubbornness, his checks, and frowns,-[10] If I do die before thee, pr'ythee shroud me Emil. Come, come, you talk. Des. My mother had a maid, call'd-Barbara; This Lodovico is a proper man. Des. He speaks well. Emil. I know a lady in Venice, would havef Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee, The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur'd her [stones; Her salt tears fell from her, and soften'd the Lay by these: Sing willow, &c. Willow, willow, &c. Pr'ythee, hye thee; he'll come anon. Sing all a green willow must be my garland. 2. Let nobody blame him, his scorn I approve, 15 Dost thou in conscience think,-el me, Emilia, Emil. There be some such, no question. Des. Would'st thou do such a deed for all the world? Emil. Why, would not you? Des. No, by this heavenly light! Emil. Nor I neither, by this heavenly light; might do 't as well i' the dark. Des. Would'st thou do such a deed for all the world? [price Emil. The world is a huge thing: 'Tis a great For a small vice. Des. In troth, I think thou would'st not. Emil. In troth, I think I should; and undo 't, when I had done. Marry, I would not do such a 20thing 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,-Why, who would not make her husband a cuckold, to make him a monarch? I should venture purga25 tory for 't. Des. Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong for the whole world. Emil. Why, the wrong is but a wrong i' the world; and, having the world for your labour, 30'tis a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly make it right. 35 Des. I do not think, there is any such woman. Would store the world they play'd for. [us, grace, Yet have we some revenge. Let husbands know, 45 Their wives have sense like them; they see, and smell, And have their palates both for sweet and sour, Nay, that's not next.- -Hark! who is it that 50l think it is; And doth affection breed it? I think it doth; Is 't frailty, that thus errs? It is so too: And have not we affections? Des. Good night, good night: Heaven me such Not to pick bad from bad; but, by bad, mend! [Exeunt. 1i. e. wild, frantick, uncertain.—We still call a wild girl a mad-cap. * This song is printed in the first volume of Percy's Reliques of Ancient English Poetry. 5 'i. e. to boot, over and above. i. e. our former allowance of expence. Usage is an old word for custom. Rod. I have no great devotion to the deed; And yet he hath given me satisfying reasons:'Tis but a man gone:-forth, my sword; he dies. [Stands apart. Iago. I have rubb'd this young quat almost to the sense, 10 15 [Cassio, 20 And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Of gold, and jewels, that I bobb'd from him, As gifts to Desdemona; It must not be: if Cassio do remain, He hath a daily beauty in his life, 25 That makes me ugly; and, besides, the Moor May unfold me to him; there stand I in much 30 peril. No, he must die :-But so, I hear him coming. Enter Cassio. Rod. I know his gait, 'tis he;-Villain, thou dy'st. [He runs at Cassio, and wounds him. Cas. That thrust had been mine enemy indeed, But that my coat is better than thou think'st; I will make proof of thine. Forth of my heart those charms, thine eyes, are blotted; Thy bed, lust-stain'd, shall with lust's blood be Gra. 'Tis some mischance; the cry is very dire Lod. Hark! Rod. O wretched villain! Lod. Two or three groans; it is a heavy night: Lod. Hark! Gra. Here's one comes in his shirt, with light and weapons. Iago. Who's there? whose noise is this, that cries out murder? Lod. We do not know. Iago. Did not you hear a cry? Cas. Here, here; for heaven's sake, help me! Iago. What's the matter? Gra. This is Othello's ancient, as I take it. Lod. The same, indeed; a very valiant fellow. Jago. What are you here, that cry so grievously? Cas. Iago? O, I'am spoil'd, undone by villains! Give me some help. [this? Iago. O me, lieutenant! what villains have done Cas. I think, that one of them is hereabout, And cannot make away. Iago. O treacherous villains! 35 What are you there? come in, and give some help. [To Lod. and Gra. [Fight. Cassio wounds Roderigo: Iago 40 cuts Cassio behind in the leg, and exit. Rod. O, I am slain! Cas. I am maim'd for ever;-Help, ho! murder! murder! Enter Othello, above. Oth. The voice of Cassio:-Iago keeps his word. Rod. O, villain that I am! Oth. Hark! 'tis even so. Cas. O, help, ho! light! a surgeon! Rod. O, help me here! [lago stabs him. Rod. O damn'd Iago! O inhuman dog!—O! 0,0! Iago. Kill men i' the dark!-Where be these 45 How silent is this town!-Ho! murder! murder' Oth. 'Tis he;-O brave lago, honest and just, 50 That hast such noble sense of thy friend's 's wrong! Thou teachest me,—Minion, your dear lies dead, And your fate hies apace: Strumpet, I come: Lod. He, sir. [villains. lago. I cry you mercy; Here's Cassio hurt by Gra. Cassio! Iago. How is it, brother? This is a passage much controverted among the editors, who variously propose to read quab (a gudgeon), quail, gnat, and knot.-Dr. Johnson, however, adopts quat, which, he says, in the midland counties is a pimple, that, by rubbing, is made to smart, or is rubbed to sense.e.-Roderigo, he adds, is called a quat by the same mode of speech, as a low fellow is now termed, in low language, a scab.To rub to the sense, is to rub to the quick. 2i. e. No passengers? nobody going by? Iago. |