Thrown fuch defpight and heavy terms upon her, Def. Am I that name, Iago? Def. Such, as fhe fays, my lord did fay I was. Emil. He call'd her whore: a beggar in his drink, Could not have laid fuch terms 5 upon his callet. Iago. Why did he fo? Def. I do not know; I am fure I am none fuch. Iago. Do not weep, do not weep; alas the day! Emil. Hath fhe forfook fo many noble matches, Her father, and her country, and her friends, To be call'd-whore? Would it not make one weep ? Def. It is my wretched fortune. Iago. Befhrew him for it! How comes this trick upon him? Def. Nay, heaven doth know. Emil. I will be hang'd, if fome eternal villain, Some cogging, cozening flave, to get fome office, bones! -upon his callet.] Callet is a lewd woman; fo called (fays Dr. Grey) from the French calote, which was a fort of head-drefs worn by country girls. This derivation, however, is extremely difputable. The appellation of callet, or, as it is fometimes fpelt, callot, might have been adopted from a real name. In the 20th year of Henry VIII. Giles Hather, and Kit Callot his mistress, were very famous, calling themfelves the king and queen of the gypfies, who then made their first appearance. I derive my knowledge of this couple from Greene's Art of Legerdemain, 1612. Heywood, the epigrammatift, makes one woman call another Kit Callot, by way of reproach for the vileness of her character; and Ben Jonfon, in his Mafque of Gypfies, fays, "To fet Kit Callot forth in profe or rhime, Why should he call her, whore? Who keeps her company? What place? what time? what form? what likelihood? The Moor's abus'd by fome most villainous knave, 6 Some bafe notorious knave, fome fcurvy fellow :- To lafh the rafcal naked through the world, Iago. 7 Speak within door. Emil. Oh, fie upon him! Some fuch 'fquire he was, That turn'd your wit the feamy fide without; Def. Alas, Iago, What fhall I do to win my lord again? Good friend, go to him; for by this light of heaven, 6 -notorious- For grofs, not in its proper meaning for known. JOHNSON. 7 Speak within door.] Do not clamour fo as to be heard beyond the house. JOHNSON. 8 the feamy fide without ;] That is, infide out. JOHNSON. The The bufinefs of the ftate does him offence, And he does chide with you. Def. If 'twere no other Iago. It is but fo, I warrant. [Trumpets. Hark how these inftruments fummon to fupper! 9 And the great meffengers of Venice stay; [Exeunt Defdemona and Emilia. Enter Roderigo. How now, Roderigo? Rod. I do not find that thou deal'ft juftly with me. Iago. What in the contrary? Rod. Every day thou doft'ft me with fome device, Iago; and rather (as it seems to be now) keep'st from me all conveniency, than fupplieft me with the least advantage of hope. I will, indeed, no longer endure it. Nor am I yet perfuaded to put up in peace what already I have foolishly fuffered. Iago. Will you hear me, Roderigo? Rod. Faith, I have heard too much; for your words and performances are no kin together. Iago. You charge me moft unjustly. Rod. With nought but truth. I have wafted myself out of my means. The jewels you have had from me, to deliver to Defdemona, would half have corrupted a votarist. You have told me the hath received them, and returned me expectations and comforts of fudden refpect 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: nay, I think, it is fcurvy; and begin to find myself fob'd in it. 8 -chide with you.] This line is from the quarto, 1622. STEEVENS. And the great messengers of Venice ftay ;] Thus the quarto. The folio reads, The meffengers of Venice fay the meat. STEEVENS. 1 and acquaintance; Thus the folio. The quarto reads-and acquittance. STEEVENS. Hh 4 Iago. Iago. Very well. Rod. I tell you, 'tis not very well. I will make myself known to Defdemona: if she will return me my jewels, I will give over my fuit, and repent my unlawful folicitation; if not, affure yourfelf I will feek fatisfaction of you. Iago. You have faid now Rod. Ay, and faid nothing, but what I proteft intendment of doing. Iago. Why, now, I fee, there's mettle in thee; and even from this inftant do I build on thee a better opinion than ever before. Give me thy hand, Roderigo. Thou haft taken against me a moft juft exception; but yet, I proteft, I have dealt moft directly in thy affair. Rod. It hath not appear'd. Iago. I grant, indeed, it hath not appear'd; and your fufpicion is not without wit and judgment. But Roderigo, if thou haft that in thee indeed, which I have greater reafon to believe now than ever-I mean purpofe, courage, and valour-this night fhew it. If thou the next night following enjoy not Desdemona, take me from this world with treachery, and devife engines for my life. Rod. Well, what is it? Is it within reafon and compafs? Tago. Sir, there is efpecial commiffion come from Venice to depute Caffio in Othello's place. Rod. Is that true? Why, then Othello and Defdemona return again to Venice, Iago. Oh, no, he goes into Mauritania, and taketh away with him the fair Defdemona, unless his abode be linger'd here by fome accident: wherein none can be fo determinate, as the removing of Caffio. Rod. How do you mean removing him? Iago. Why, by making him incapable of Othella'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 a right. He fups to-night with a harlot; and thither will I go to him. He knows not yet of his honourable fortune if you will watch his going thence, which I will fafhion to fall out between twelve and one, you may take him at your pleasure. I will be near to fecond your attempt, and he fhall fall between Come, ftand not amaz'd at it, but go along with me; I will fhew you fuch a neceffity in his death, that you shall think yourself bound to put it on him. It is now high fupper-time, and the night grows to wafte. About it. us. [Rod. I will hear further reason for this. Iago. And you shall be satisfied.] SCENE III. A room in the caftle. [Exeunt. Enter Othello, Lodovico, Defdemona, Emilia, and Attendants. Lod. I do befeech you, Sir, trouble yourself no further. Oth. Oh, pardon me; 'twill do me good to walk. Lod. Madam, good night; I humbly thank your ladyship. Def. Your honour is most welcome. Oth. Will you walk, Sir?-Oh Desdemona!- Oth. Get you to bed on the inftant. I will be re. turn'd forthwith. Difmifs your attendant there. Look, it be done. Def. I will, my lord. [Exit. Emil. How goes it now? He looks gentler than he did. Def. He fays, he will return incontinent; And hath commanded me to go to bed, And bid me to difinifs you. |