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And will return to Venice;-Hence, avaunt!-
[Exit Desdemona.
Cassio shall have my place. And,sir, to-night,
I do entreat that we may sup together.
You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus.-Goats and 5
monkeys1!
[Exit.
Lod. Is this the noble Moor, whom our full

senate

Call-all-in-all sufficient? This the noble nature
Whom passion could not shake? whose solid virtue 10
The shot of accident, nor dart of chance,
Could neither graze, nor pierce?

lago. He is much chang'd.

Lod. Are his wits safe? is he not light of brain?
lago. He is that he is; I may not breathe my 15
censure❜.

What he might be,-if, what he might, he is not,-
I would to heaven, he were.

Lod. What, strike his wife!

[knew,

Let heaven requite it with the serpent's curse!
For, if she be not honest, chaste, and true,
There's no man happy; the purest of their wives
Is foul as slander.

Oth. Bid her come hither;-go-[Exit Æmilia.
She says enough;-yet, she's a simple bawd,
That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore,
A closet lock and key of villainous secrets: [do't.
And yet she 'll kneel, and pray; I have seen her
Re-enter Emilia, with Desdemona.
Des. My lord, what is your will?
Oth. Pray, chuck, come hither.
Des. What is your pleasure?
Oth. Let me see your eyes;

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?

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[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-
Swear-thou art honest.

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Oth. O Desdemona!-away! away! away!
Des. Alas, the heavy day!-Why do you weep?
40 Am I the occasion of these tears, my lord?
If, haply, you my father do suspect

[nothing: 45

Oth. To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor
Emil. Never, my lord.

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,
Lay not your blame on me; if you have lost him,
Why, I have lost him too.

Oth. Had it pleas'd Heaven
To try me with affliction; had he rain'd

All kind of sores, and shames, on my bare head:
Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips;
Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes;
50 I should have found in some place of my soul
A drop of patience: but (alas!) to make me
A fixed figure for the time of scorn

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;
I cannot weep; nor answer have I none,
But what should go by water. Pr'ythee, to-night
Lay on my bed my wedding sheets,remein-
5 And call thy husband hither.

Yet could I bear that too; well, very well:
But there, where I have garner'd' up my heart;
Where either I must live, or bear no life;
The fountain from the which my current runs,
Or else dries up; to be discarded thence!
Or keep it as a cistern, for foul toads [there!
To knot and gender in!-turn thy complexion
Patience, thou young and rose-lipp'd cherubim; 10
Ay, there, look grim as hell!

Des. I hope my noble lord esteems me honest.
Oth. O, ay; as summer flies are in the shambles,
That quicken even with blowing. O thou weed,
Who art so lovely fair, and smel'st so sweet,
That the sense aches at thee,Would, thou hadst
ne'er been born!

15

20

Des. Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed?
Oth. Was this fair paper, this most goodly book,
Made to write whore upon? What committed!
Committed 2-0 thou public commoner!
I should make very forges of my cheeks,
That would to cinders burn up modesty,
Did I but speak thy deed.-What committed!
Heaven stops the nose at it, and the moon winks; 25
The bawdy wind, that kisses all it meets,
Is hush'd within the hollow mine of earth,
And will not hear it: What committed!-Im-

pudent strumpet!

Des. By heaven, you do me wrong!
Oth. Are not you a strumpet?
Des. No, as I am a Christian:

If to preserve this vessel for my lord,
From any other foul unlawful touch,
Be-not to be a strumpet, I am none.
Oth. What, not a whore?
Des. No, as I shall be saved.
Oth. Is it possible?

Des. O, heaven forgive us!
Oth. I cry you mercy then;

I took you for that cunning whore of Venice,
That married with Othello.-You, mistress,
Enter Emilia.

That have the office opposite to Saint Peter,
And keep the gate of hell; You! you! ay, you!
We have done our course; there's money for
your pains;

I pray you, turn the key, and keep our counsel.

30

[ber;

[Exit.

Emil. Here is a change indeed.
Des. 'Tis meet I should be used so, very meet.
How have I been behav'd, that he might stick
The small'st opinion on my great'st abuse?
Enter Iago, with Æmilia.

Jago. What is your pleasure, madam? How is
it with you?
[babes,
Des. I cannot tell. Those, that do teach young
Do it with gentle means, and easy tasks:
He might have chid me so; for, in good faith,
I am a child to chiding.

Iago. What is the matter, lady?
[her,
Amil. Alas, lago, my lord hath so bewhor'd
Thrown such despight and heavy terms upon her,
As true hearts cannot bear.

Des. Am I that name, Iago?

Iago. What name, fair lady?

Des. Such as, she says, my lord did say I was.
Emil. He call'd her, whore; a beggar, in his

drink,

Could not have laid such terms upon his callet”.
lugo. Why did he so ?

Des. I do not know; I am sure, I am none such.
Iago. Do not weep, do not weep; alas, the day!
Emil. Hath she forsook so many noble matches,
Her father, and her country, and her friends,
To be call'd-whore? would it not make one
weep?

Des. It is my wretched fortune.

35 Iago. Beshrew him for it!
How comes this trick upon him?

Des. Nay, heaven.doth know.

Amil. I will be hang'd, if some eternal villain,
Some busy and insinuating rogue,

40 Some cogging, cozening slave, to get some office,
Has not devis'd this slander; I'll be hang'd else.
lago. Fie, there is no such man; it is impossible.
Des. If any such there be, heaven pardon him!
Emil. A halter pardon him! and hell gnaw his
bones!
[company?
What should he call her, whore? who keeps hes
What place? what time? what form? what like-

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?

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The Moor's abus'd by some most villainous knave,
Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow :-
O, heaven, that such companions thou 'dst un-
And put in every honest hand a whip, [fold;
To lash the rascal naked through the world,"
Even from the east to the west!

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.

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Iago. You are a fool; go to.
Des. O good lago,

What shall I do to win my lord again?
Good friend, go to him; for, by this light of heaven,
I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel :—
If e'er my will did trespass 'gainst his love,
Either in discourse, or thought, or actual deed;
Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense,
Delighted them in any other form;
Or that I do not yet, and ever did,
And ever will, though he do shake me off
To beggarly divorcement,-love him dearly,
Comfort forswear me ! Unkindness may do much;
And his unkindness may defeat my life,
But never taint my love. I cannot say, whore;
It does abhor me, now I speak the word;
To do the act that might the addition earn,
Not the world's mass of vanity could make me.
lago. I pray you, be content; 'tis but his hu-

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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
And the great messengers of Venice stay:
Go in, and weep not; all things shall be well.
[Exeunt Desdemona, and Emilia.
Enter Roderigo..

How now, Roderigo?

Eme.

30

Rod. I do not find, that thou deal'st justly with
Jago. What in the contrary?

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.

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Oth. O, pardon me; 'twill de me good to walk.
Lod. Madam, good night; I humbly thank your
ladyship.

Des. Your honour is most welcome.
Oth. Will you walk, sir?-O, Desdemona!
Des. My lord?

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;

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Emil. How goes it now? he looks gentler than

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Give me my nightly wearing, and adieu:

5

We must not now displease him.

Emil. I would, you had never seen him!
Des. So would not I; my love doth so approve
himi,

That even his stubbornness, his checks, and frowns,-[10]
Pr'ythee, unpin me,-have grace and favour in
them.
[the bed.
Emil. I have laid those sheets you bade me on
Des. All's one:-Good father! how foolish are
our minds!-

If I do die before thee, pr'ythee shroud me
In one of those same sheets.

Emil. Come, come, you talk.

Des. My mother had a maid, call'd-Barbara;
She was in love: 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; I have much to do,
But to go hang my head all o' one side,
And sing it like poor Barbara. Pr'ythee, dispatch.
Emil. Shall I go fetch your night-gown?
Des. No, unpin me here.-

This Lodovico is a proper man.
Emil. A very handsome man.

Des. He speaks well.

Emil. I know a lady in Venice, would havef
walk'd barefoot to Palestine, for a touch of his
nether lip.
[tree,
Des. The poor soul sat singing by a sycamore
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

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[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

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

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.
Emil. Yes, a dozen; and as many to the van-
tage', 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 slack their duties,
And pour our treasures into foreign laps;
Or else break out in peevish jealousies,

[us,
40 Throwing restraint upon us; or, say, they strike
Or scant our former having in despight!
Why, we have galls; and, though we have some

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,
As husbands have. What is it that they do,
When they change us for others? Is it sport?

Nay, that's not next.- -Hark! who is it that 50l think it is; And doth affection breed it?

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I think it doth; Is 't frailty, that thus errs?

It is so too: And have not we affections?
Desires for sport? and frailty, as men have?
Then, let them use us well: else, let them know,
The ills we do, their ills instruct us to.

Des. Good night, good night: Heaven me such
usage send,

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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.

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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
Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,
Every way makes my gain: Live Roderigo,
He calls me to a restitution large

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
spotted.
[Exit Othello.
Enter Lodovico, and Gratiano, al a distance.
Cas. What, ho! no watch? no passage? mur-
der! murder!
sful.

Gra. 'Tis some mischance; the cry is very dire
Cas. O help!

Lod. Hark!

Rod. O wretched villain!

Lod. Two or three groans; it is a heavy night:
These may be counterfeits; let's think 't unsafe
To come in to the cry, without more help.
Rod. Nobody come? then shall I bleed to death.
Enter Iago, with a light.

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!
Cas. That's one of them.
lago. O murderous slave! O villain!

[lago stabs him. Rod. O damn'd Iago! O inhuman dog!—O!

0,0!

Iago. Kill men i' the dark!-Where be these
bloody thieves?-

45 How silent is this town!-Ho! murder! murder'
What may you be? are you of good or evil?
Lod. As you shall prove us, praise us.
Iago. Signior Lodovico?

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?
Cas. My leg is cut in two.

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.

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