Iago. 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 far sfaction of

you. Iago. You have said now

Rod. Ay, and said nothing, but what I protest intendment of doing.

Iago. Why, now, I fee, there's mettle in thee; and even from this instant do I 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 directly in thy affair.

Röd. It hath not appear’d.

Iago. I grant, indeed, it hath not appear'd; and your luspicion is not without wit and judgment. But Roderigo, if thou hast that in thee indeed, 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 enjoy not Desdemona, take me from this world with treachery, and devise engines for my life.

Rod. Well, what is it? Is it within reason and compass?

lago. Sir, there is especial commission' come from Venice to depute Callio 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 Desdemona, unless his abode be lingerd here by some accident: wherein none can be so determinate, as the removing of Cassio.

Rod. How do you mean removing him?

Iago. Why, by making him incapable 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 a right. He sups 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 fashion to fall out between twelve and one, you may take him at your pleasure. 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 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 it.

(Rod. I will hear further reason for this.
Iago. And you shall be satisfied.] [Exeunt.

A room in the castle. Enter Othello, Lodovico, Desdemona, Æmilia, and

Attendants. Lod. I do beseech 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.
Otb. Will you walk, Sir ?-Oh Desdemona!-
Def. My lord?

Oth. Get you to bed on the instant. I will be re. turn'd forthwith. Dismiss your attendant there. Look, it be done.

[Exit. Def. I will, my lord. Æmil. How goes it now? He looks gentler than

he did. Des. He says, he will return incontinent ; And hath commanded me to go to bed, And bid me to disiniss you.

Æmil.

Æmil. Dismiss me!

Def. It was his bidding; therefore, good Æmilia,
Give me my nightly wearing, and adieu :
We must not now displease him.

Æmil. I would you had never seen him!

Des. So would not I; my love doth so approve him, That'even his stubbornness, his checks, and frowns(Pr’ythee unpin me)-have grace and favour in them. #mil. I have laid those sheets you bade me on

the bed. Def. All's one.

Good father ! how foolish are our
minds ?
If I do die before thee, prythee shroud me
In one of those same sheets.

Æmil. Come, come, you talk.

Des. My mother had a maid called Barbara ;
She was in love; 2 and he, she lov’d, prov'd mad,
And did forsake her. She had a song of willow,
An old thing 'twas, but it express'd her fortune,
And she dy'd singing it. That song to-night
Will not go from my mind; [3 I have much to do,
But to go hang my head all o' one side,
And sing it like poor Barbara. Prythee dispatch.
Æmil. Shall I fetch your night gown?

Des:

and he, the lov'd, prov'd mad, And did for

fake her. -] We should read,
--and be, she lov'd, forfook ber,

And she provid mad. WARBURTON.
I believe that mad only signifies wild, frantick, uncertain.

JOHNSON.
-I've much' ado,
But to go hang my head-] I have much ado to do any
thing but hang my head. We might read,

Not to go hang my head.
This is perhaps the only infertion made in the latter edi-
tions which has improved the play. The rest seem to have
been added for the fake of amplification, or of ornament.
When the imagination had subsided, and the mind was no
longer agitated by the horror of the action, it became at
leisure to look round for specious additions. This addition is

natural.

1

Def. No, unpin me here.-
This Lodovico is a proper man.

Æmil. A very handsome man.
Des. He speaks well.

Æmil. I know a lady in Venice would have walk'd barefoot to Palestine for a touch of his nether lip.] Def. 4“ The poor soul sat singing by a lycamore

tree, “ Sing all a green willow; [Singing “ Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee,

Sing willow, willow, willow: “ The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur'd her

56 moans ;

“ Sing willow, &c. " Her falt tears fell from her, and soft'ned the

« ftones ;"
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 no body blame him, his scorn I approve.' Nay that's not next-Hark, who is it that knocks ?

Æmil. It is the wind.
Def. 5“ I call'd my love false love; but what said

" he then ?

“ Sing willow, &c. “ If I court more women, you'll couch with more

6 men.” natural. Desdemona can at first hardly forbear to fing the song; she endeavours to change her train of thoughts, but her imagination at last prevails, and the fings it. JOHNSON.

* This song, in two parts, is printed in a late collection of old ballads ; the lines preserved here differ somewhat from the copy discovered by the ingenious collector. Johnson.

5 I call'd my love false love ;-— ] This couplet is not in the ballad, which is the complaint, not of a woman forsaken, but of a man rejected. These lines were probably added when it was accommodated to a woman. JOHNSON.

So

So get thee gone. Good night. Mine eyes do itch,
Doth that bode weeping ?

Æmil. 'Tis neither here nor there.
Def. [I have heard it said so.-Oh these men, these

men!

Dost thou in conscience think, tell me, Æmilia,
That there be women do abuse their husbands
In such gross kind ?

Æmil. There be some such, no question.)
Des. Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?
Æmil. Why, would not you ?
Def. No, by this heavenly light.

Æmil. Nor I neither, by this heavenly light:
I might do't it as well i' the dark.

Der. Would thou do such a deed for all the world?

Æmil. The world is a huge thing, It is a great price for a small vice.

Def. In troth, I think, thou wouldīt not.

Æmil. In troth, I think, I should ; and undo't when I had done. Marry, I would not do such 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; why, who would not make her husband a cuckold, to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for’t.

Def. Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong For the whole world.

Æmil. Why, the wrong is but a wrong i’the world; and having the world for your labour, 'tis a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly make it right. Des. I do not think there is any such woman.

Æmil. Yes, a dozen; and as many to the vantage, as would store the world they play'd for. But, I do think, it is their husbands' faults, If wives do fall. Say, that they Nack their duties, And pour our treasures into foreign laps; Or elle break out in peevith jealousies,

Throwing