་

And will return to Venice ;-Hence, avaunt!--
[Exit Desdemona.
Caffio shall have my place. And,—fir, to-night,
I do entreat that we may sup together.
You are welcome, fir, to Cyprus.-Goats and 5
monkies !!

[Exit. Lod. Is this the noble Moor, whom our full fenate

Call-all-in-all sufficient? This the noble nature
Whom paffion could not shake? whofe folid virtue ro
The shot of accident, nor dart of chance,
Could neither graze, nor pierce ?

Lage. He is much chang'd.

Lod. Are his wits fafe? is he not light of brain? Jago. He is that he is; I may not breathe my 15 cenfure 2.

What he might be,-if, what he might, he is not,—

I would to heaven, he were.

Lod. What, ftrike his wife!

[knew,

Let heaven requite it with the ferpent's curfe :
For, if the be not honeft, chafte, and true,
There's no man happy; the purest of their wives
Is foul as flander.

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

Look in my face.

Def. What horrible fancy's this?

[mistress;

Otb. [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. Def. 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?

Def. Your wife, my lord;

Your true and loyal wife.

Oth. Come, fwear it, damn thyfelf;

30 Left, being like one of heaven, the devils them[damn'd,

35

felves

Oth. O Desdemona!-away! away! away!
Def. Alas, the heavy day!-Why do you weep?
40 Am I the occafion 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 ftrange.

Emil. I durft, my lord, to wager she is honeft, Lay down my foul at stake: if you think other, Remove your thought; it doth abuse your bofom. If any wretch hath put this in your head,

An inftrument of this your calling back,

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

Oth. Had it pleas'd heaven

To try me with affliction; had he rain'd
All kind of fores, and shames, on my bare head:
Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips;
Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes;
50I fhould have found in fome place of my foul
A drop of patience: but (alas!) to make me
A fixed figure for the time of fcorn 3

1 Mr. Malone remarks, that "in this exclamation Shakspeare has fhewn great art. Iago, in the first scene in which he endeavours to awaken his fufpicion, being urged to give some evident proof of the guilt of Caffio and Desdemona, tells him it were impoffible to have ocular demonstration of it, though they fhould be " as prime as goats, as hot as monkies."-Thefe 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 monkies.” 2 i. e, my opinion. 3 Mr. Rowe reads "hand of fcorn;" and fucceeding editors have followed him. Mr. Steevens, however, would (though in oppofition to fo many great authorities in favour of the change) continue to read with the old copy" the time of scorn;" and adds, "We call the bour in which we are to die, the bour of death-the time when we are to be judgedthe day of judgment-the inftant when we fuffer calamity-the moment of evil; and why may we not dif tinguish the time which brings contempt along with it, by the title of the time of fcorn 8"

Το

To point his flow unmoving finger at,—
O! O!

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 elfe dries up; to be discarded thence!
Or keep it as a ciftern, for foul toads
To knot and gender in!-turn thy complexion
Patience, thou young and rofe-lipp'd cherubim;
Ay, there, look grim as hell!

[there!]

Def. I hope my noble lord esteems me honeft.
Otb. O, ay; as fummer flies are in the shambles,
That quicken even with blowing. O thou weed,
Who art fo lovely fair, and smell'st so sweet,
That the fenfe aches at thee,-'Would, thou hadft

Def. I have none: Do not talk to me, Æmilia;
I cannot weep; nor answer have I none,
But what fhould go by water. Pr'ythee, to-night
Lay on my bed my wedding sheets,-remember;—
5 And call thy husband hither.

ΙΟ

15

Emil. Here is a change indeed.

[Exit.

Def. 'Tis meet I should be used fo, very meet.
How have I been behav'd, that he might stick
The small'ft opinion on my great'st abuse.
Enter Iago, with Emilia.

Lago. What is your pleasure, madam? How is
it with you?
[babes,

Def. I cannot tell. Thofe, 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?

Emil. Alas, Iago, my lord hath so bewhor'd her, Thrown fuch despight and heavy terms upon her, 20 As true hearts cannot bear.

25

30

35

Def. Am I that name, Iago?

Iago. What name, fair lady?

Def. Such as, the fays, my lord did fay I was.
Emil. He call'd her, whore; a beggar, in his

drink,

Could not have laid fuch terms upon his callet 3.
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. Bethrew him for it!

How comes this trick upon him?

Def. Nay, heaven doth know.

Emil. I will be hang'd, if some eternal villain,
Some bufy and infinuating rogue,

40 Some cogging, cozening flave, to get fome office,
Has not devis'd this flander; I'll be hang'd elfe.
Iago. Fie, there is no fuch man; it is impoffible.
Def. If any fuch there be, heaven pardon him!
Emil. A halter pardon him! and hell gnaw his
bones!
[company?
What fhould he call her, whore? who keeps her
What place? what time? what form? what like-
lihood?

45

[Exit. Emil. Alas, what does this gentleman conceive?-50 How do you, madam? how do you, my good lady? Def. 'Faith, half asleep.

Emil. Good madam, what's the matter with my lord?

Def. With who?

Emil. With my lord, madam.

Def. Who is thy lord?

Emil. He that is yours, fweet lady.

1 i. e. treasured up my heart.

The Moor's abus'd by some most villainous knave,
Some bafe notorious 4 knave, fome fcurvy fellow :-
O, heaven, that such companions 5 thou'dft unfold;
And put in every honeft hand a whip,

To lafh the rafcal naked through the world,
Even from the eaft to the weft!

55 Iago. Speak within door.

[was,

Emil. O, fie upon him! fome fuch fquire he That turn'd your wit the feamy fide without 7, And made you to fufpect me with the Moor.

2 This word in Shakspeare's time, befides its general signification, seems to have been applied particularly to unlawful acts of love. Hence perhaps it is fo often repeated by Othello. 3 Callet is a lewd woman. 4 Notorious, for grefs, not in its proper meaning for 5 Companions, i. e. fellows. i. e. do not clamour fo as to be heard beyond the house. 7 That is, infide out. Lugo.

knorun.

Jago. You are a fool; go to.

Def. O good Iago,

What fhall I do to win my lord again?

Good friend, go to him; for, by this light of heaven,
I know not how I loft him. Here I kneel:—
If e'er my will did trefpafs '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 fshake me off
To beggarly divorcement,-love him dearly,
Comfort forfwear me! Unkindness may do much;
And his unkindness may defeat my life,

But never taint my love. I cannot fay, 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-
mour;

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 you.

[Trumpets.

Hark, how these inftruments fummon to fupper!
And the great meffengers of Venice stay:

Go in, and weep not; all things shall be well.
[Exeunt Defdemona, and Emilia.
Enter Roderigo.

How now, Roderigo?
[me. 30
Rod. I do not find, that thou deal'ft jufly with
Jago. What in the contrary?

Rod. Every day thou doff'ft me with fome device, Jago; and rather (as it seems to me now) keep'ft from me all conveniency, than suppliest me with 35 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. Jago. You charge me most unjustly.

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 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 fashion to fall out between twelve and one) you may take him at your pleafure; I will be near to fecond your attempt, and he fhall fall between us.. Come, stand not amaz'd at it, but go along with me; I will thew you 40 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

Red. With nought but truth. I have wafted myself out of my means. The jewels you have 45 had from me, to deliver to Defdemona, would half have corrupted a votarift: You have told me the hath receiv'd them, and return'd 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: By this hand, I fay, it is very scurvy; and begin to find myself fobb'd in it. Iago. Very well.

Rod. I tell you, 'tis not very well. I will make myself known to Defdemona: if the will return me my jewels, I will give over my fuit, and repent my unlawful folicitation; if not, affure yourself, I will feek fatisfaction of you.

Iago. You have said now.

Rod. Ay, and I have faid nothing but what I proteft intendment of doing.

Jago. Why, now I fee there's mettle in thee;

1501

55

it.

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

Oth. Get you to bed on the instant; I will be 60return'd forthwith: difmifs your attendant there; look it be done.

Def. I will, my lord.

[Exit. [he did.

Emil. How goes it now? he looks gentler than
Def. He fays, he will return incontinent :

He

[the bed. Emil. I have laid those sheets 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

In one of those same sheets.

Emil. Come, come, you talk.

Def. My mother had a maid, call'd-Barbara;|

15

Def. I have heard it faid fc.O, these men,

these men!

Doft thou in confcience think,-tell me, Æmilia,
That there be women do abuse their husbands
In fuch grofs kind?

Emil. There be fome fuch, no question.

Dif. Wouldst thou do fuch a deed for all the world?

Emil. Why, would not you?

Def. No, by this heavenly light!

Emil. Nor I neither, by this heavenly light;

I might do't as well i' the dark.

Dej. Wouldst thou do such 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

She was in love: and he, the lov'd, prov'd mad 1, 20 thing for a joint ring; nor for measures of lawn;

25

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 fhould 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 labour, 30'tis a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly make it right.

Her falt tears fall from ber, and foften'd the fiones ;| 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 bim, bis fcorn I approve,-
Nay, that's not next. -Hark! who is it that

knocks?

Emil. It is the wind.

Def. I call'd my love, false love; but what faid be then?

Sing willow, &c.

If I court more women, you'll couch with more men. So, get thee gone; good night.-Mine eyes do

itch;

Doth that bode weeping?

Emil. "Tis neither here nor there.

Def. I do not think, there is any such woman. Emil. Yes, a dozen; and as many to the vantage 3, 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 flack their duties,
And pour our treasures into foreign laps;
Or else break out in peevish jealoufies,

[us,

40 Throwing restraint upon us; or, say, they strike
Or fcant our former having 4 in defpight!
Why, we have galls; and, though we have fome

grace,

Yet have we fome revenge. Let husbands know, 45 Their wives have fenfe like them; they fee, and smell,

And have their palates both for sweet and four,
As hufbands have. What is it that they do,
When they change us for others? Is it sport?
50I think it is; And doth affection breed it?

I think it doth; Is't frailty, that thus errs?
It is fo too: And have not we affections?
Defires for fport? and frailty, as men have?
Then, let them ufe us well: elfe, let them know,
55 The ills we do, their ills inftruct us to.

1601

Def. Good night, good night: Heaven me fuch ufage fend,

Not to pick bad from bad; but, by bad, mend!

1 i. c. wild, frantick, uncertain. We still call a wild girl a mad-cap. the first volume of Percy's Reliques of ancient English Poetry.

[Exeunt

2 This fong is printed in

3 i. e. to boot, over and above.

* i. e, our former allowance of expence. 5 Ujage is an old word for cuft.m.

SCENE I.

A Street.

Enter lago, and Rederigo.

Lago. HERE,

ACT V.

ERE, ftand behind this bulk; ftraight 5
will he come :

Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home;
Quick, quick; fear nothing; I'll be at thy el-
bow:

It makes us, or it mars us; think on that,
And fix most firm thy resolution.

Rod. Be near at hand; I may miscarry in't.
Jago. Here at thy hand; be bold, and take thy
fword.

Rod. I have no great devotion to the deed; And yet he hath given me fatisfying reafons :'Tis but a man gone :-forth, my sword; he dies. [Stands apart.

15

Iago. I have rubb'd this young quat1 almost to
the fenfe,
[Caffio, 20

And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill
Or Caffio him, or each do kill the other,

He hath a daily beauty in his life,

That makes me ugly; and, befides, the Moor

Led. We do not know.

Iago. Did not you hear a cry?

Caf. Here, here; for heaven's fake, help me.
Iago. 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 grievously?
Caf. Iago? O, I am spoil'd, undone by villains!

May unfold me to him; there ftand I in much 30 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.

lago. O treacherous villains!

35 What are you there? come in, and give fome help.

[Fight. Caffio wounds Rederigo: Iago cuts 40
Coffin bebind in the leg, and exit.

Rod. O, I am flain!

Caf. That's one of them.
Iago. O murderous slave! O villain!

(Lago fiabs bim. Rod. O damn'd Iago! O inhuman dog!-0! 0, 0!

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

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

Otb. "Tis he O brave Iago, honest and juft, 50 That haft fuch noble fenfe of thy friend's wrong! Thou teacheft me,-Minion, your dear lies dead, And your fate hies apace: Strumpet, I come:

This is a paffage much controverted among the editors, who variously propose to read quab, (3 gudgeon) quail, gnat, and knot. Dr. Johnson, however, adopts quat, which he fays in the midland counties is a pimple, that by rubbing is made to fmart, or is rubbed to sense, Roderigo, he adds, is called aquat by the fame mode of speech, as a low fellow is now termed in low language a feab. To rub to the fenfe, is to rub to the quick, i. . no paffengers? nobody going by?