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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
Nay, if you strive,-

Des.

But half an hour.

Oth

There is no pause.

Des.

Oth. It is too late."

Being done,

He smothers her.

But while I say one prayer.

Emil. [Within.] My lord, my lord! what ho! my lord! my lord!

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.

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?

It is too late.] After this speech of Othello, the elder quarto adds an invocation from Desdemona, consisting only of the sacred name thrice repeated. As this must be supposed to have been uttered while she is yet struggling with death, an editor may be excused from inserting such a circumstance of supererogatory horror, especially as it is found in but one of the ancient copies. This alteration was probably made in consequence of the statute of the 3d of James I. c. 21, which lays a penalty for the profane use of the name of God, &c. in stage-plays, interludes, Maygames, &c. Such a statute was necessary; for not only the ancient moralities, but the plays (those of Chapman in particular) abound with the most wanton and shocking repetitions of a name which never ought to be mentioned in such an irreverend manner on the stage.

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
with you,

O, good my lord!

may speak

Oth. I had forgot thee: O, come in, Emilia:— Soft,-by and by:-Let me the curtains draw.Where art thou? What's the matter with thee

now?

[Unlocks the door.

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 kill'd a young Venetian,

Call'd-Roderigo.

Oth.

And Cassio kill'd?

Emil.

Roderigo kill'd!

No, Cassio is not kill'd.

Oth. Not Cassio kill'd? Then murder's out of

tune,

And sweet revenge grows harsh.

Des. O, falsely, falsely murder'd!

Emil.

Oth. That! what?

Alas! what cry is that?

Emil. Out, and alas! that was my lady's voice:Help! help, ho! help!-O lady, speak again! Sweet Desdemona! O, sweet mistress, speak! Des. A guiltless death I die.

Emil.

This deed?

O, who hath done

Des. Nobody; I myself; farewell: Commend me to my kind lord; O, farewell.

[Dies.

Oth. Why, how should she be murder'd? Emil. Alas, who knows? Oth. You heard her say herself, it was not I. Emil. She said so; I must needs report the truth. Oth. She's, like a liar, gone to burning hell; 'Twas I that kill'd her.

Emil.

O, the more angel she,

And you the blacker devil!

Oth. She turn'd to folly, and she was a whore." Emil. Thou dost belie her, and thou art a devil. Oth. She was false as water."

Emil. Thou art rash as fire, to say That she was false; O, she was heavenly true!

Oth. Cassio did tup her; ask thy husband else. O, I were damn'd beneath all depth in hell, But that I did proceed upon just grounds To this extremity; Thy husband knew it all. Emil. My husband?

Oth. Thy husband.

Emil. That she was false to wedlock?

Oth.

Nay, had she been true,

Ay, with Cassio.

If heaven would make me such another world

6 She turn'd to folly, and she was a whore.] Folly, signifies here, depravity of mind.

7

false as water.] As water that will support no weight,. nor keep any impression.

Of one entire and perfect chrysolite,
I'd not have sold her for it.

Emil. My husband?

Oth.

Ay, 'twas he that told me first;

An honest man he is, and hates the slime

That sticks on filthy deeds.

Emil.

My husband?

Oth. What needs this iterance, woman? I say,

thy husband.

Emil. O mistress, villainy hath made mocks with

love!8

My husband say, that she was false?

Oth. He, woman; I say, thy husband; Dost understand the word? My friend, thy husband, honest, honest Iago. 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,

9

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! The Moor has kill'd my mistress; Murder! mur

8

der!

villainy hath made mocks with love!] Villainy has taken advantage to play upon the weakness of a violent passion.

9 Thou hast not half the power to do me harm,

As I have to be hurt.] She means to say,-I have in this cause power to endure more than thou hast power to inflict.

Enter MONTANO, GRATIANO, and IAGO.
Mon. What is the matter!-How now, general?
Emil. O, are you come, Iago? you have done
well,

That men must lay their murders on your neck.
Gra. What is the matter?

Emil. Disprove this villain, if thou be'st a man:
He says, thou told'st him that his wife was false:
I know, thou didst not, thou'rt not such a villain;
Speak, for my heart is full.

Iago. I told him what I thought; and told no

more

Than what he found himself was apt and true. Emil. But did you ever tell him, she was false? Iago. I did.

Emil. You told a lie; an odious, damned lie; Upon my soul, a lie; a wicked lie:—

She false with Cassio!-Did you say with Cassio? Iago. With Cassio, mistress; Go to, charm your tongue.

Emil. I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to speak;

My mistress here lies murder'd in her bed.

All. O heavens forefend!

Emil. And your reports have set the murder on. Oth. Nay, stare not, masters; it is true, indeed. Gra. 'Tis a strange truth.

Mon. O monstrous act!

Emil. Villainy, villainy, villainy!I think upon't, I think,—I smell't;-O villainy! I thought so then;'-I'll kill myself for grief.

I thought so then;] i. e. at the instant when she gave Desdemona's handkerchief to Iago: for even then Emilia appears to have suspected it was sought after for no honest purpose, and therefore asks her husband

"What will you do with it?" &c.

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