It makes us, or it mars us; think on that, Rod. Be near at hand; I may miscarry in't. Iago. Here, at thy hand; be bold, and take thy sword. [Retires to a little distance. Rod. I have no great devotion to the deed; And yet he has given me satisfying reasons:'Tis but a man gone:-forth, my sword; he dies. [Goes to his stand. Iago. I have rubb'd this young quat almost to the sense, And he grows angry. 1 Now whether he kill Cassio, 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, 2 As gifts to Desdemona ; It must not be: if Cassio do remain, He hath a daily beauty in his life, That makes me ugly; and, besides, the Moor May unfold me to him; there stand I in much peril : Enter CASSIO. Rod. I know his gait, 'tis he;-Villain, thou diest. [Rushes from his post, and makes a pass at CASSIO. Cas. That thrust had been mine enemy indeed, I have rubb'd this young quat almost to the sense, And he grows angry.] This is a passage much controverted among the editors. A quat in the midland counties is a pimple, which by rubbing is made to smart, or is rubbed to sense. Roderigo 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. JOHNSON. 2 that I bobb'd from him,] That I fool'd him out of. A bob formerly signified a mock, or jeer. But that my coat is better than thou think'st; Rod. [Draws, and wounds RODERIGO. O, I am slain! [IAGO rushes from his post, cuts CASSIO behind in the leg3, and exit. Cas. I am maim'd for ever: murder ! Help, ho! murder! [Falls. Enter OTHELLO, at a distance. Oth. The voice of Cassio: Rod. O, villain that I am! Hark! 'tis even so. Cas. O, help! ho! light! a surgeon! Oth. 'Tis he; -O brave Iago, honest, and just, And fate hies your 4 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, at a distance. Cas. What, ho! no watch? no passage? murder ! murder! Gra. 'Tis some mischance; the cry is very direful. Cas. O, help! Lod. Rod. Hark! O wretched villain! 3 in the leg,] Iago maims Cassio in the leg, in consequence of what he had just heard him say, from which he supposed that his body was defended by some secret armour. 4 Forth of my heart, &c.] Forth signifies both out and from. 3 no passage?] No passengers? nobody going by? Lod. Two or three groans; it is a heavy night:6 These may be counterfeits: let's think't unsafe To come in to the cry, without more help. Rod. No body come? then shall I bleed to death. Lod. Hark! Enter IAGO, with a Light. Gra. Here's one comes in his shirt, with light and weapons. Iago. Who's there? whose noise is this, that cries on murder?7 Lod. We do not know. Iago. Did you not 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. Iago. What are you here, that cry so grievously? Cas. Iago? O, I am spoil'd, undone by villains! Give me some help. Iago. O me, lieutenant! what villains have done this? Cas. I think that one of them is hereabout, And cannot make away. Iago. O treacherous villains! What are you there? come in, and give some help. Rod. O, help me here! Cas. That's one of them. Iago. [To LODOVICO and GRATIANO. O murderous slave! O villain! [LAGO stabs RODERIGO. Rod. O damn'd Iago! O inhuman dog! — O! O! O! 6 - a heavy night:] A thick cloudy night, in which an ambush may be commodiously laid. 7 whose noise is this, that cries on murder?] Such was the phraseology of Shakspeare's age. Iago. Kill men i'the dark! - Where be these bloody thieves? 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. Lod. He, sir. Signior Lodovico ? Iago. Marry, heaven forbid ! Cas. My leg is cut in two. Light, gentlemen; I'll bind it with my shirt. Enter BIANCA. Bian. What is the matter, ho? who is't that cry'd? Iago. Who is't that cry'd? Bian. O my dear Cassio! my sweet Cassio! O Cassio Cassio! Cassio! Iago. O notable strumpet! - Cassio, may you sus pect Who they should be, that have thus mangled you? Gra. I am sorry to find you thus: I have been to seek you. Iago. Lend me a garter: So. O, for a chair, To bear him easily hence! Bian. Alas, he faints:-O Cassio! Cassio! Cassio! Iago. Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash To be a party in this injury. Patience a while, good Cassio. —Come, come; Iago. Even he, sir; did you know him? Know him? ay. Gra. Iago. Signior Gratiano? I cry you gentle pardon; These bloody accidents must excuse my manners, That so neglected you. Gra. I am glad to see you. Iago. How do you, Cassio?-O, a chair, a chair! Gra. Roderigo! Iago. He, he, 'tis he:-O, that's well said; - the chair: [A Chair brought in. Some good man bear him carefully from hence; [TO BIANCA. Save you your labour. He that lies slain here, Cassio, Was my dear friend: What malice was between you? Cas. None in the world; nor do I know the man. Iago. [to BIAN.] What, look you pale? - O bear him out o'the air. [CASSIO and ROD, are borne off. Stay you, good gentlemen. +- Look you pale, mistress? Do you perceive the gastness of her eye? Nay, if you stare, we shall hear more anon: Behold her well; I pray you, look upon her; Do you see, gentlemen? nay, guiltiness will speak, 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! Iago. 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? |