kerchief -I tremble at it-Nature would not inveft herself in fuch fhadowing without fome induction-It is not words that shake me thus--pifh-nofes ears and lips-is't poffible-confefschief-Oh devil -handker SCENE V. Othello's exceffive Fondness of his A fine woman! a fair woman! a fweet woman! Oth. Ay, let her rot and perish and be damn'd tonight, for the fhall not live. No, my heart is turn'd to ftone: I ftrike it, and it hurts my hand-Oh, the world hath not a sweeter creature- -She might lie by an emperor's fide and command him tasks. Iago. Nay, that's not your way. Oth. Hang her, I do but fay what fhe isfo delicate with her needle-an admirable mufician- -Oh, The will fing the favageness out of a bear: of fo high and plenteous wit and invention! lago. She's the worse for all this. Oth. Oh, a thousand, a thousand times: and then of fo gentle condition! Iago. Ay, too gentle. Oth. Nay, that's certain-but yet the pity of it, Iago Oh, Iago, the pity of it. SCENE VI. Othello's Speech, after having received the Mandate when confirm'd in his Sufpicions. Ay! you did wish that I would make her turn; And And will return to Venice-Hence, avant! [Ex. Def. Caffio fhall have my place, And, Sir, to-night I do entreat, that we may fup together. You are welcome, Sir, to Cyprus Goats and monkies! [Exit Othello. SCENE IX. His pathetic Upbraiding of his Wife. Def. Upon my knee, what doth your speech import? I understand a fury in your words, But not your words. Oth. Why? what art thou? Def. Your wife, my lord; your true and loyal wife. Oth. Come fwear it; damn thyfelf, left being like one Of heav'n, the devils themselves should fear to seize thee, Therefore be double-damn'd; swear thou art honest. Def. Heaven doth truly know it. Oth. Heaven truly knows, That thou art falfe as hell. Def. To whom, my lord? With whom? How am I falfe? Oth. Ah, Desdemona, away, away, awayDef. Alas the heavy day! why do you weep? Am I the motive of thefe tears, my lord? If haply you my father do fufpect, An inftrument of this your calling back, Lay not your blame on me; if you have lost him, Oth. Had it pleas'd heaven, To try me with affliction, had he rain'd All kind of fores and fhames on my bare head, Where Where either I muft live, or bear no life, Or keep it as a ciftern, for foul toads To knot and gender in; (10) Turn thy complexion there, Patience, thou young and rofe-lipp'd cherubin, Def. I hope my noble lord esteems me honest. Oth. Oh, ay, as fummer-flies are in the shambles, That quicken even with blowing. (11) O thou weed! Who art fo lovely fair, and smell'st so sweet, That the fense akes at thee; Would thou hadst ne'er been born! Def. Alas! what ignorant fin have I committed ? Oth. Was this fair paper, this moft goodly book, Made to write whore upon? what, what committed? Committed? Oh, thou public commoner, I fhould make very forges of my cheeks Did I but speak thy deeds. What, what committed? Is hush'd within the hollow mine of earth, And (10) Turn, &c.] i. e. Patience, thou young, &c. there, [upon the fight of that, a fight fo fhocking and intolerable] turn thy complexion-Ay, do more than that, not only turn thy complexion but look grim as hell, horrible as a fiend, and unlike thyfelf, a young and rofe-lipp'd cherubin." This is a natural and fine fenfe, and thus the words come nearest those found in the old editions: the Oxford editor reads, There, there look grim as hell. And Mr. Warburton, Turn thy complexion thence,- I here look grim as hell. (11) O thou, &c.] This paffage feems to need no alteration : "Oh thou weed-who art not only fo lovely fair, inviting us to smell, but also doft really smell fo fweet that, &c. VOL. III. L And will not hear't. strumpet! What committed? impudent Def. By heaven you do me wrong. Def. No, as I fhall be faved. Def. Oh, heav'n forgive us. I took you for that cunning whore of Venice, SCENE XI. Defdemona's Faithfulness. Alas, Iago! What fhall I do to win my lord again? Good friend go to him; for by this light of heav'n, I know not how I lost him. (12) Here I kneel; If e'er my will did trefpafs 'gainst his love, (12) See p. 76, preceding. -Quoties tentamina noftra pudici [Kneeling. And Ovid. Met. L. 7. Her answer was, oft as my fuit I prefs'd, Pope. And ever will, though he do shake me off Unkindness may do much, And his unkindness may defeat my life, But never taint my love. ACT V. SCENE VI. A Bed-chamber: Defdemona is difcovered afleep in her Bed. Enter Othello, with a light and a fword. Oth. It is the cause, it is the caufe, my foul: [Lays down the fword. Yet the muft die, elfe fhe'll betray more men: (13) Put out the light, and then put out the light. If I quench thee, thou flaming minister, I can again thy former light restore, Should I repent; but once put out thy light, [Sets down the taper. -I'll fmell thee on the tree. O balmy breath, that dost almost perfuade [Kiffing her. Juftice (13) Put out, &c.] The prefent paffage hath been much criticifed upon, and is fo generally known and talk'd of, there remains little to be faid concerning it: I fhall therefore only add the manner of reading it, which I have adopted, not only as most universally received, but it alfo feems to be most worthy of Shakespear. L 2 |