Imatges de pàgina
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Oth.

Though tongues were out of use.
Enter Emilia.

Emil. 'Las, what's the matter; what's the matter, husband?

Iago. Cassio hath here been set on in the dark, By Roderigo, and fellows that are 'scap'd; He's almost slain, and Roderigo dead."

Emil. Alas, good gentleman! alas, good Cassio! lago. This is the fruit of whoring.-Pr'ythee, Emilia,

Go know of Cassio where he supp'd to-night:--
What, do you shake at that?

Bian. He supp'd at my house; but I therefore shake not.

Iago. O, did he so? I charge you, go with me. Emil. Fie, fie upon thee, strumpet!

Bian. I am no strumpet; but of life as honest, As you that thus abuse me.

Émil.

As I? foh! fie upon thee! Iago. Kind gentlemen, let's go see poor Cassio dress'd:

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Come, mistress, you must tell us another tale.-
Emilia, run you to the citadel,

And tell my lord and lady what has happ'd.-
Will you go on, I pray ?-This is the night, [Aside.
That either makes me, or fordoes' me quite. [Exe.
SCENE II-A bed-chamber: Desdemona in bed

asleep. A light burning. Enter Othello.
Oth. It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul,-
Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars!-
It is the cause.-Yet I'll not shed her blood
Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow,
And smooth as monumental alabaster.

[Takes off his sword. Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men. Put out the light, and then put out the light:2 If I quench thee, thou flaming minister, I can again thy former light restore, Should I repent me:-but once put out thine, Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature, I know not where is that Promethean heat,

Amen, with all my heart! Des. If you say so, I hope you will not kill me. Oth. Humph!

Des. And yet I fear you for you are fatal then, When your eyes roll so': Why I should fear, I know not,

Since guiltiness I know not; but yet, I feel, I fear. Oth. Think on thy sins.

Des.

They are loves I bear to you. Oth. Ay, and for that thou diest. Des. That death's unnatural, that kills for loving. Alas, why gnaw you so your nether lip? Some bloody passion shakes your very frame: These are portents; but yet, I hope, I hope, They do not point on me.

Oth.

Peace, and be still. Des. I will so: What's the matter? Oth. That handkerchief, which I so lov'd, and

gave thee,

Thou gav'st to Cassio. Des.

No, by my life and soul;

Send for the man, and ask him.
Oth.

Sweet soul, take heed,
Take heed of perjury; thou'rt on thy death-bed.
Des. Ay, but not yet to die.
Oth.
Yes, presently:
Thererefore confess thee freely of thy sin;
Cannot remove, nor choke, the strong conception,
For to deny each article with oath,
That I do groan withal. Thou art to die.
Des. Then, Lord have mercy on me!
Oth.
I say, amen.
Des. And have you mercy too!-I never did
Offend you in my life; never lov'd Cassio,
But with such general warranty of heaven
As I might love: I never gave him token.

Oth. By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in his hand.

O perjur'd woman! thou dost stone my heart,
And mak'st me call, what I intend to do,-
A murder, which I thought a sacrifice :4
I saw the handkerchief.
Des.

He found it then;

That can thy light relume. When I have pluck'd thy I never gave it him :-Send for him hither,

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[Kissing her.

O balmy breath, that dost almost persuade
Justice to break her sword!-One more, one more.-
Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee,
And love thee after:-One more, and this the last:
So sweet was ne'er so fatal. I must weep,
But they are cruel tears: This sorrow's heavenly;
It strikes, where it doth love.-She wakes-
Des. Who's there? Othello?
Oth.

Ay, Desdemona.
Des. Will you come to bed, my lord?
Oth. Have you pray'd to-night, Desdemona?
Des.
Ay, my lord.

Oth. If you bethink yourself of any crime, Unreconcil'd as yet to heaven and grace, Solicit for it straight.

Des. Alas, my lord, what may you mean by that?
Oth. Well, do it, and be brief; I will walk by:

I would not kill thy unprepared spirit;
No.-Heaven forfend !-I would not kill thy soul.
Des. Talk you of killing?

Oth.

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Ay, I do.

Then heaven

(2) i. e. The light of life.

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No, his mouth is stopp'd; Honest Iago hath ta'en order for't." Des. My fear interprets then,-What, is he dead? Oth. Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge Had stomach for them all.

Des. Alas! he is betray'd, and I undone.
Oth. Out, strumpet! Weep'st thou for him to my
face?

Des. O, banish me, my lord, but kill me not.
Oth. Down, strumpet!

Des. Kill me to-morrow, let me live to-night.
Oth. Nay, if you strive,

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Oth. What noise is this?-Not dead? not yet quite dead?

I, that am cruel, am yet merciful;

I would not have thee linger in thy pain.-
So, so.1

Emil. [Within.] What ho! my lord, my lord!
Oth.
Who's there?
Emil. [Within.] O, good my lord, I would speak

a word with you.

Oth. Yes;-'tis Emilia :-by and by.-She's
dead.

'Tis like she comes to speak of Cassio's death:
The noise was high.-Ha! no more moving?
Still as the grave. Shall she come in? Were't good?
I think, she stirs again :-No.-What's the best?
If she come in, she'll sure speak to my wife:
My wife! my wife! what wife?-I have no wife:
O, insupportable! O heavy hour!
Methinks it should be now a huge eclipse

Of sun and moon; and that the affrighted globe
Should yawn at alteration.

Emil. [Within.] I do beseech you I may speak
with you,

O, good my lord!

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Oth. I had forgot thee: 0, come in, Emilia:Soft,-by and by:-Let me the curtains draw.Where art thou? What's the matter with thee now ? [Unlocks the docr. Enter Emilia. Emil. O, good my lord, yonder's foul murder done.

Oth. What? now?

Emil.

But now, my lord!

Oth. It is the very error of the moon;
She comes more near the earth than she was wont,
And makes men mad.

Emil. Cassio, my lord, has killed a young Ve-
netian,

Call'd-Roderigo.

Oth.

And Cassio kill'd?

Emil.

Roderigo kill'd!

No, Cassio is not kill'd.

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Emil.

My husband?

Oth. What needs this iterance,' woman? I say, thy husband.

Emil. O mistress, villany hath made mocks with
love!-

My husband say, that she was false?
Oth.

He, woman;
I say, thy husband: dost understand the word?
My friend, thy husband, honest, honest lago.
Emil. If he say so, may his pernicious soul
Rot half a grain a day! he lies to the heart;
She was too fond of her most filthy bargain.
Oth. Ha!
Emil.
Do thy worst:
This deed of thine is no more worthy heaven,
Than thou wast worthy her.

Oth.
Peace, you were best.
Emil. Thou hast not half the power to do me
harm,

As I have to be hurt. O gull! O dolt!

As ignorant as dirt! Thou hast done a deed,

I care not for thy sword; I'll make thee known, Though I lost twenty lives :-Help! help, ho! help!

Oth. Not Cassio kill'd? Then murder's out of The Moor has kill'd my mistress; Murder! murder!

tune,

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Gra. 'Tis a strange truth.
Mon. O monstrous act!
Emil.

Villany, villany, villany!-
I think upon't, I think,-I smell't;-O villany!
I thought so then?-I'll kill nyself for gricf.-
O villany, villany!

Iago. What, are you mad? I charge you,
you home.

get

Emil. Good gentlemen, let me have leave to
speak;

'Tis proper I obey him, but not now :-
Perchance, Iago, I will ne'er go home.
Oth. O! O! Ó! [Hanging over his wife.
Emil.
Nay, lay thee down, and roar;
For thou hast kill'd the sweetest innocent,
That e'er did lift up eye.
Oth.

O, she was foul!-[Rising.|
I scarce did know you, uncle: There lies your niece,
Whose breath, indeed, these hands have newly
stopp'd:

I know, this act shows horrible and grim.

Gra. Poor Desdemona! I am glad thy father's

dead;

Thy match was mortal to him, and pure grief
Shore his old thread in twain: did he live now,
This sight would make him do a desperate turn,
Yea, curse his better angel from his side,

And fall to reprobation.

Oth. 'Tis pitiful: but yet Iago knows,

That she with Cassio hath the act of shame

Oth.

Come, guard the door without; let him not pass,
But kill him rather; I'll after that same villain,
For 'tis a damned slave. [Exe. Mon. and Gra.
I am not valiant neither
But every puny whipster gets my sword.-
But why should honour outlive honesty?
Let it go all.

Emil. What did thy song bode, lady?
Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the swan
And die in music;-Willow, willow, willow.-
Moor, she was chaste; she lov'd thee, cruel Moor,
So come my soul to bliss, as I speak true;
So speaking as I think, I die,-I die.

[Dies.
Oth. I have another weapon in this chamber,
It is a sword of Spain, the ice brook's temper;"
O, here it is:-Uncle, I must come forth.
Gra. [Within.] If thou attempt it, it will cost
thee dear;

Thou hast no weapon, and perforce must suffer.
Oth. Look in upon me then, and speak with me,
Or, naked as I am, I will assault thee.
Re-enter Gratiano.

Gra. What is the mater?
Oth

Behold! I have a weapon;

A better never did itself sustain
Upon a soldier's thigh: I have seen the day,
That, with this little arm, and this good sword,
I have made my way through more impediments
Than twenty times your stop:-But, O vain boast!

A thousand times committed; Cassio confess'd it: Who can control his fate? 'tis not so now.

And she did gratify his amorous works
With that recognizance and pledge of love
Which I first gave her: I saw it in his hand;
It was a handkerchief, an antique token
My father gave my mother.

Emil. O heaven! O heavenly powers!
Iago.
Come, hold your peace.
Emil. 'Twill out, 'twill out:-I hold my peace,

sir? no;

No, I will speak as liberal' as the air;

Let heaven, and men, and devils, let them all,
All, all, cry shame against me, yet I'll speak.
Iago. Be wise, and get you home.
Emil.

Gra.

I will not.

Be not afraid, though you do see me weapon'd;
Here is my journey's end, here is my butt,
And very sea-mark of my utmost sail.
Do you go back dismay'd? 'tis a lost fear;
Man but a rush against Othello's breast,
And he retires;-Where should Othello go ?-
Pale as thy smock! when we shall meet at compt,
Now, how dost thou look now? O ill-starr'd wench!
This look of thine will hurl my soul from heaven,
And fiends will snatch at it. Cold, cold, my girl?
Even like thy chastity.-

O cursed, cursed slave!-Whip me, ye devils,
From the possession of this heavenly sight!
Blow me about in winds! roast me in sulphur!

[lago offers to stab his wife. Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire!—
O Desdemona! Desdemona! dead?
Dead? O! O! O!

Your sword upon a woman?

Fie!!

Emil. O thou dull Moor! that handkerchief thou Enter Lodovico, Montano, Cassio, carried in a

speak'st of,

I found by fortune, and did give my husband;

But often, with a solemn earnestness

(More than, indeed, belong'd to such a trifle,) He begg'd of me to steal it.

lago.

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Villanous whore!

no, alas; I found it,

Filth, thou liest.

Emil. She gave it Cassio!
And I did give't my husband.
Iago.
Emil. By heaven, I do not; I do not, gentlemen:
O murd'rous coxcomb! what should such a fool
Do with so good a wife?

Oth.

[lago stabs Emilia, then runs out. Are there no stones in heaven, But what serve for the thunder ?-Precious villain! Gra. The woman falls; sure he has kill'd his wife.

Emil. Ay, ay; O lay me by my mistress' side!
Gra. He's gone, but his wife's kill'd.

Mon. 'Tis a notorious villain. Take you this
weapon,

Which I have here recover'd from the Moor: (1) Free.

Steel is hardened by being put red-hot into

very cold water.

chair, and Officers, with Iago, prisoner.

Lod. Where is this rash and most unfortunate

man?

Oth. That's he, that was Othello; here I am.
Lod. Where is that viper? bring the villain forth.
Oth. I look down toward his feet;-but that's
a fable:

If that thou be'st a devil, I cannot kill thee.

[Othello wounds lago.
Lod. Wrench his sword from him.
Iago.
I bleed, sir; but not kill'd.
Oth. I am not sorry neither; I'd have thee live;
For, in my sense, 'tis happiness to die.

Lod. O thou Othello, that was once so good,
Fall'n in the practices of a cursed slave,
What shall be said to thee?

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Oth. Ay.

Cas. Dear general, I never gave you cause.
Oth. I do believe it, and I ask your pardon.
Will you, I pray you, demand that demi-devil,
Why he hath thus ensnar'd my soul and body?
lago. Demand me nothing: What you know,
you know:

From this time forth I never will speak word.
Lod. What? not to pray?
Gra.

Torments will ope your lips.
Oth. Well, thou dost best.
Lod. Sir, you shall understand what hath be-
fall'n,

Which, as I think, you know not: Here is a letter,
Found in the pocket of the slain Roderigo;
And here, another: the one of them imports
The death of Cassio to be undertook

By Roderigo.

Oth. O villain!
Cas.

Most heathenish, and most gross!
Lod. Now here's another discontented paper,
Found in his pocket too; and this, it seems,
Roderigo meant to have sent this damned villain;
But that, belike, Iago in the interim
Came in and satisfied him.

Oth.

Oth. I kiss'd thee, ere I kill'd thee;-No way but this, [Falling upon Desdemona. Killing myself, to die upon a kiss. Cas. This did I fear, but thought he had no

weapon;

For he was great of heart.

[Dies.

Lod.
O Spartan dog,
More fell than anguish, hunger, or the sea!
Look on the tragic loading of this bed; [To lago.
This is thy work: the object poisons sight;-
Let it be hid.-Gratiano, keep the house,
And seize upon the fortunes of the Moor,
For they succeed to you.-To you, lord governor,
Remains the censure of this hellish villain;
The time, the place, the torture,-O enforce it!
Myself will straight aboard; and, to the state,
This heavy act with heavy heart relate.

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The beauties of this play impress themselves so strongly upon the attention of the reader, that they can draw no aid from critical illustration. The fiery openness of Othello, magnanimous, artless, and credulous, boundless in his confidence, ardent O the pernicious caitiff!-in his affection, inflexible in his resolution, and How came you, Cassio, by that handkerchief obdurate in his revenge; the cool malignity of lago, That was iny wife's? silent in his resentment, subtle in his designs, and Cas. I found it in my chamber: studious at once of his interest and his vengeance; And he himself confess'd, but even now, the soft simplicity of Desdemona, confident of mer That there he dropp'd it, for a special purpose, it, and conscious of innocence, her artless perseveWhich wrought to his desire. rance in her suit, and her slowness to suspect that she can be suspected, are such proofs of Shakepeare's skill in human nature, as, I suppose, it is vain to seek in any modern writer. The gradual progress which Iago makes in the Moor's conviction, and the circumstances which he employs to inflame him, are so artfully natural, that, though it will, perhaps, not be said of him as he says of himself, that he is a man not easily jealous, yet we cannot but pity him, when at last we find him perplexed in the extreme.

Oth.
O fool! fool! fool!
Cas. There is, besides, in Roderigo's letter,-
How he upbraids Iago, that he made him
Brave me on the watch; whereon it came
That I was cast: And even but now he spake,
After long seeming dead,-lago hurt him,
lago set him on.

Lod. You must forsake this room, and go with us;
Your power and your command is taken off,
And Cassio rules in Cyprus. For this slave,-
If there be any cunning cruelty,

That can torment him much, and hold him long,
It shall be his. You shall close prisoner rest,
Till that the nature of your fault be known
To the Venetian state:-Come, bring him away.

Oth. Soft you; a word or two, before you go.
I have done the state some service, and they know it;
No more of that:-I pray you, in your letters,
When you shall these unlucky deeds relate,
Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate,
Nor set down aught in malice: then must you speak
Of one, that lov'd not wisely, but too well;
Of one, not easily jealous, but, being wrought,
Perplex'd in the extreme; of one, whose hand,
Like the base Júdean, threw a pearl away,
Richer than all his tribe; of one, whose subdu'd
eyes,

Albeit unused to the melting mood,
Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees
Their medicínal gum: Set you down this:
And say, besides,-that in Aleppo once,
Where a malignant and a turban'd Turk
Beat a Venetian, and traduc'd the state,
I took by the throat the circumcised dog,
And smote him-thus.

Lod. O bloody period!
Gra.

[Stabs himself.

All, that's spoke, is marr'd.

(1) Judgment.

There is always danger, lest wickedness, conjoined with abilities, should steal upon esteem, though it misses of approbation; but the character of lago is so conducted, that he is from the first scene to to the last hated and despised.

Even the inferior characters of this play would be very conspicuous in any other piece, not only for their justness, but their strength. Cassio is brave, benevolent, and honest, ruined only by his want of stubbornness to resist an insidious invita tion. Roderigo's suspicious credulity, and impatient submission to the cheats which he sees praetised upon him, and which, by persuasion, he suf fers to be repeated, exhibit a strong picture of a weak mind, betrayed by unlawful desires, to a false friend; and the virtue of Emilia is such as we often find, worn loosely, but not cast off, easy to commit small crimes, but quickened and alarmed at atrocious villanies.

The scenes from the beginning to the end are busy, varied by happy interchanges, and regularly promoting the progression of the story; and the narrative in the end, though it tells but what is known already, yet is necessary to produce the death of Othello.

Had the scene opened in Cyprus, and the prece ding incidents been occasionally related, there had been little wanting to a drama of the most exact and scrupulous regularity. JOHNSON.

FINIS.

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GLOSSARY

OF OBSOLETE WORDS, AND OF WORDS VARYING FROM THEIR ORDINARY SIGNIFICATION.

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