Des. Kill me to-morrow, let me live to-night. Oth. Nay, if you strive, 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. Still as the grave. Shall she come in? Were't good? Methinks it should be now a huge eclipse Of sun and moon; and that the affrighted globe Emil. [within.] I do beseech you I may speak with you, O, good my lord! Oth. I had forgot thee: O, come in, Emilia : Soft,-by and by :-Let me the curtains draw. Enter EMILIA. [Unlocks the door. Emil. O, good my lord, yonder's foul murder done. So, so.] I am of opinion that some theatrical direction has been omitted, and that Othello here stabs her, repeating the two last words as he repeats the blow. Thus Virgil, “Sic, sic juvat ire sub umbras."-STEEVENS. But now, my lord! Oth. What? now? Emil. Oth. It is the very error of the moon ; She comes more near the earth than she was wont; Emil. Cassio, my lord, has kill'd a young Venetian, 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 :- Emil. This deed? Des. O, who hath done [Dies. Nobody; I myself; farewell: Commend me to my kind lord; O, farewell. Oth. Why, how should she be murder'd? Emil. Alas, who knows? Oth. You heard her say herself, it was not I. Emil. O, the more angel she, And you the blacker devil! Oth. She turn'd to folly," and she was a whore. 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. -folly,] i. e. Depravity of mind. -false as water.] As water that will support no weight, nor keep any impression.-JOHNSON. O, I were damn'd beneath all depth in hell, Oth. Thy husband. Emil. That she was false to wedlock? Nay, had she been true, Ay, with Cassio. If heaven would make me such another world 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!"— My husband say, that she was false? Oth. Emil. If he say so, may his pernicious soul This deed of thine is no more worthy heaven, 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, Р villainy hath made mocks with love!] Villainy hath taken advantage to play upon the weakness of a violent passion.-JOHNSON. 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.-JOHNSON. Though I lost twenty lives :-Help! help! ho! help! Enter MONTANO, GRATIANO, and IAGO. Mon. What is the matter!-How now, general? Emil. Disprove this villain, if thou be'st a man: 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? Emil. You told a lie; an odious, damned lie; She false with Cassio! Did you say with Cassio? All. O heavens forefend! Emil. And your reports have set the murder on. 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. O villainy, villainy! Iago. What, are you mad? I charge you get you home. 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. r [Hanging over his Wife. charm your tongue.] i. e. “Apply some power strong as a charm would be, to your tongue; for nothing less can stop its volubility."-STEEVENS. 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.-STEEVENS. Emil. Nay, lay thee down and roar: For thou hast kill'd the sweetest innocent, That e'er did lift up eye. O, she was foul! [Rising. Oth. 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: Oth. "Tis pitiful: but yet Iago knows, With that recognizance and pledge of love 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. Emil. I will not. [IAGO offers to stab his Wife. Fye! Your sword upon a woman ? Gra. Emil. O thou dull Moor! that handkerchief thou speak'st of, I found by fortune, and did give my husband; For often with a solemn earnestness, (More than, indeed, belong'd to such a trifle,) He begg'd of me to steal it. Iago. Villainous whore ! liberal-] i. e. Free, under no control. |