Oth. But this denoted a foregone conclufion;
'Tis a fhrewd doubt, though it be but a dream.
Iago. And this may help to thicken other proofs,
That do demonftrate thinly..

Oth. I'll tear her all to pieces.

Iago. Nay, but be wife; yet we fee nothing done;
She may be honeft yet.--Tell me but this,
Have you not fometimes feen a handkerchief,
Spotted with ftrawberries, in your wife's hand?
Oth. I gave her fuch a one; 'twas my firft gift.
Iago. I know not that; but fuch a handkerchief
(I'm fure it was your wife's) did I to-day
See Caffio wipe his beard with.

Oth. If it be that

Iago. If it be that, or any, if 'twas hers,
It fpeaks against her with the other proofs.
Oth. Oh that the flave had forty thousand lives ;
One is too poor, too weak for my revenge.
Now do I fee 'tis true.--Look here, lago,
All my fond love thus do. I blow to heaven:
'Tis gone

Arife, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell!
Yield up, oh love, thy crown and hearted throne
To tyrannous hate! fwell, bofom, with thy fraught,
For 'tis of afpics tongues.

Iago. Yet be content.

Oth. Oh, blood! blood! blood!

Iago. Patience, I fay; your mind perhaps may change.

Oth. Never, Iago. Like to the Pontic Sea,

Whofe icy current and compulfive course

Ne'er feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on
To the Propontic and the Hellefpont;

Even fo my bloody thoughts with violent pace

Shall ne'er look back, ne'er ebb to humble love,

Till that a capable and wide revenge

Swallow them up.- Now, by yon marble heaven,

In the due reverence of a facred vow
I here engage my words.
Lago. Do not rife yet.

[He knee's

Witness, ye ever-burning lights above!

[Iago kneels

Ye

Ye elements that clip us round about!

Witness that here lago doth give up

The execution of his wit, hands, heart,

To wrong'd Othello's fervice. Let him command;
And to obey shall be in me remorse,

What bloody business ever.

Oth. I greet thy love,

Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance bounteous';
And will upon the inftant put thee to❜t.

Within these three days let me hear thee fay

That Cafio's not alive.

Iago. My friend is dead;

'Tis done at your request. But let her live.

Oth. Damn her, lewd minx! oh damn her! damn her! Come, go with me apart; I will withdraw

To furnish me with fome fwift means of death

For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant?'
Iago. I am your own for ever.

[Exeunt

No. XXXVII.-O THELLO.

ACT V. SCENE II. A Bed-chamber: Defdemona is difcovered afleep in her Bed.

Enter Othello, with a light and a fword.

OTHELLO.

IT is the cause, it is the caufe, my foul;

Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars!
It is the caufe.- -Yet I'll not fhed her blood,

Nor fear that whiter fkin of hers than fnow,

And smooth as monumental alabafter. [Lays down the fword.
Yet fhe muft die; else she'll betray more men.

Put out the light and then-put out the light!
If I quench thee, thou flaming minister,
I can again thy former light reftore,
Should I repent: but once put out thy light.

Thou

Thou cunning'ft pattern of excelling nature,
I know not where is that Promethean heat
That can thy light relumine.-
When I have pluck'd thy rofe,

I cannot give it vital growth again;

[Sets down the taper.

It needs must wither-I'll fmell it on the tree;

Oh balmy breath, that doft almoft perfuade

[Kiffing her

Juftice to break her fword!one more; one more.
Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee,
And love thee after.-One more; and that's the laft.
So fweet was ne'er fo fatal! I muft weep,

But they are cruel tears. This forrow's heavenly;
It ftrikes where it doth love.She wakes

Def. Who's there? Othello?

Oth. Ay, Defdemona.

Def. Will you come to-bed, my Lord? 7.
Oth. Have you pray'd to-night, Desdemona?
Def. Ay, my Lord.

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

Def. Alack, 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 fpirit;

No, heavens forefend! I would not kill thy foul.
Def. Talk you of killing ?

Oth. Ay, I do.

Def. Then heaven have mercy on me!

Oth. Amen, with all my heart.

Def. If you fay fo, I hope you will not kill me.
Oth. Hum.

Def. And yet I fear you: for you're fatal then,

When your eyes roll fo. Why I should fear I know not, Since guilt I know not; yet I feel I fear.

Oth. Think on thy fins.

Def. They're loves I bear to you.

Oth. Ay, and for that thou diest.

Def. That death's unnatural, that kills for loving.

Alas,

Alas, why gnaw you fo your nether lip?
Some bloody paffion shake's your very frame:
These are portents; but yet I hope, I hope,
They do not point on me.

Oth. Peace, and be still.

Def. I will fo. What's the matter?
Oth. That handkerchief

Which I fo lov'd, and gave thee, thou gav'ft Caffio.
Def. No, by my life and fout! Send for the man,
And ask him.

Oth. Sweet foul, take heed, take heed of perjury;
Thou art on thy death-bed.

Def. Ay, but not yet to die.

Oth. Presently;

Therefore confefs thee freely of thy fin;
For to deny each article with oath,

Cannot remove nor choak the ftrong conception
That I do groan withal. Thou art to die..
Def. Oh heaven have mercy on me !
Oth. I fay, Amen.

Def. And have you mercy too!—I never did
Offend you in my life; never loy'd Cafio,
But with fuch general warranty of heaven,
As I might love. I never gave him token.

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

- Oh perjur'd woman! thou doft stone my heart,
And mak'ft me call what I intend to do

A murder, which I thought a facrifice.
I faw the handkerchief.

Def. He found it then;

I never gave it him. Send for him hither,
Let him confefs a truth.
Oth. He hath confefs'd.
Def. What, my Lord?

Oth. That he hath-us'd thee

Def. How? unlawfully?.

Oth. Ay.

I

Def. He will not say so,

Oth. No, his mouth is ftopp'd..

Honest Jago hath ta'en order for't,

Def.

Def. My fear interprets then. What! is he dead? Oth. Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge Had ftomach for them all.

Def. Alas! he is betray'd, and I undone.

Oth. Out, ftrumpet! weep'ft thou for him to my face:
Def. Oh banish me, my Lord, but kill me not.
Orb. Down, ftrumpet!

4

Def. Kill me to-morrow, let me live to-night.
Orb. Nay, if you strive-

Def. But half an hour.

Oth. Being done, there is no pause.

Def. But while I say one prayer.

Oth. It is too late.

{He fmothers be

Emilia, at the door.

Emil. My Lord, my Lord! What ho! my Lord, my Lord!

Oth. What noife 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, fo!

Emil. [within.] What, ho! my Lord, my Lord! Oth. Who's there?

Emil. Oh, my good Lord, I would speak a word with

you.

Oth. Yes, 'tis Emilia-by and by-she's dead.
"Tis like fhe comes to speak of Caffio's death;
The noife was high.- -Ha, no more moving?
Still as the grave. Shall fhe come in? Were't good?
I think the ftirs again. No. What's the best?
If the come in, fhe'll fure fpeak to my wife;
My wife! my wife! what wife? I have no wife.
Oh infupportable, oh heavy hour!

Methinks it should be now a huge eclipfe
Of fun and moon, and that th' affrighted globe
Should yawn at alteration.

Emil. I do befeech you I may speak with you.
Oh, good my Lord!

Oth. I had forgot thee; oh, come in, Æmilia. Soft! by and by-let me the curtains draw.

Where

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