Oth. Come, fwear it; damn thy felf; left, being like one Of heav'n, the devils themselves should fear to seize thee. Def. To whom, my lord? Oth. Ah, Desdemona! away, away, away. An inftrument of this your calling back, Lay not your blame on me; if you have loft him, Oth. Had it pleas'd heav'n To try me with affliction, had he rain'd All kind of fores and fhames on my bare head, To knot and gender in: Turn thy complexion there, (27) (27 -Turn thy Complexion there, Patience, thou young and rofe-lıp'd Cherubin; I here look grim as Hell.] The Poet makes an Apostrophe to Patience as a Goddess; and is fuppos'd to make Othello bid her turn her Complexion and Cherubin's Looks, because he looks as grim as Hell upon the Occafion. But I am perfuaded, the Text has been all along flightly corrupted, by miftaking / in Patience, thou young and rofe-lip'd cherubin ; Def. I hope, my noble lord esteems me honeft. 'Would, thou had'ft ne'er been born! Def. Alas, what ignorant fin have I committed? Did but I fpeak thy deeds. What, what committed? Is hufh'd within the hollow mine of earth, Def. By heav'n, you do me wrong. Oth. What, not a whore? Def. No, as I fhall be faved. Def. Oh, heav'n forgive us! I took you for that cunning whore of Venice, the laft Verfe for the Pronoun of the first Perfon: whereas, in our Author's days, it likewise stood for the Adverb of affirming. As I have reform'd the Text, a proper Contraft is reftor'd; and Patience is urg'd not only to turn her Complexion, to drop the rofy Looks of a Cherub, but to put on the grim Afpe& of a Fiend. Enter You, miftrefs, Enter Emilia. That have the office oppofite to St. Peter, I And keep the gate of hell; You! you! ay, you! Emil. Good madam, what's the matter with Emil. Why, with my lord, madam? Def. Who is thy lord? Emil. He that is yours, fweet lady. my Def. I have none; do not talk to me, Emilia. Emil. Here's a change indeed! Def. 'Tis meet I fhould be used fo, very meet: How have I been behav'd, that he might stick The small'ft opinion of my least misuse? Enter Iago, and Æmilia. lord? [Exit. Jago. What is your pleasure, Madam ? how is't with you? Def. I cannot tell; thofe, that do teach your babe, Do it with gentle means, and eafie tasks; He might have chid me for for, in good faith, lago. What's the matter, lady? Emil. Alas, Iago, my lord hath fo bewhor'd her, Thrown fuch defpight and heavy terms upon her, That true hearts cannot bear it. Def. Am I that name, Iago? Iago. What name, fair lady? Def. Such, as, fhe faid, my lord did fay I was. O 3 Could Could not have laid fuch terms upon his callet. Def. I do not know; I'm fure, I am none fuch. lago. Befhrew him for't! how comes this trick him? Def. Nay, heav'n doth know. Emil. I will be hang'd, if fome eternal villain, Some bufie and infinuating rogue, upon Some cogging, cozening flave, to get fome office, Has not devis'd this flander: I'll be hang'd elfe. lago. Fie, there is no fuch man; it is impoffible. Def. If any fuch there be, heav'n pardon him! Emil. A halter pardon him, and hell gnaw his bones! Why should he call her whore? who keeps her company? ག What place? what time? what form? what likely hood? The Moor's abus'd by fome most villanous knave, To lafh the rafcal naked through the world, Jago. Speak within door. Emil. Oh, fie upon ther! Some fuch 'fquire he was, That turn'd your wit the feamy fide without; And made you to fufpect me with the Moor. Jaga.. You are a fool; go to. Def. Alas, Iago, What fhall I do to win my lord again? Good friend, go to him; by this light of heav'n, I know not how I loft him. Here I kneel; [Kneeling. Delighted Delighted them on any other form; Comfort forfwear me! Unkindness may do much ; But never taint my love. I can't fay, whore; And he does chide with you, Def. If 'twere no other, Iago. It is but fo, I warrant. [Trumpets. Hark, how thefe inftruments fummon to fupper! Go in, and weep not; all things fhall be well. [Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia, Enter Rodorigo, to Iago. How now, Rodorigo? Rod. I do not find, that thou deal'ft juftly with me. Rod. Every day thou doft'ft me with fome device, lago; and rather, as it feems to me now, keep'ft from me all conveniency, than fuppliest me with the least advantage of hope. I will, indeed, no longer endure it. Nor am I yet perfwaded to put up in peace what already I have foolishly fuffer'd. Jago. Will you hear me, Rodorigo? Rod. Faith, I have heard too much; and your words and performances are no kin together. lago. You charge me moft unjustly. Rod. With nought but truth: I have wafted my felf out of my means. The jewels you have had from me, to deliver to Defdemona, would half have corrupted a Votarist. You have told me, fhe hath receiv'd them, and return'd me expectations and comforts of fudden refpect and acquittance; but I find none. 0 4 Iago. |