Emil. I befeech you, That I may speak with you Oh, good my Lord! Soft, by and by, let me the curtains draw. Where art thou what's the matter with thee now? Enter Emilia. Emil. Oh, my good Lord, yonder's foul murder done. Emil. But now, my Lord. Oth. It is the very error of the moon ; She comes more near the earth than fhe was wont, Emil. Caffio, my Lord, hath kill'd A young Venetian, call'd Rodorigo. Oth. Rodorigo kill'd? and Caffio kill'd? Oth. Not Caffio kill'd? then murder's out of tune, Def. Oh, falfely, falfely murder'd! Emil. Alas, what cry is that? " and amufe. It would be uncivil to afk Flamstead, if the fun and "moon can both together be fo hugely eclipfed, in any heavy bour "whatsoever. Nor muft the fpectators confult Gresham-colledge, "whether a body is naturally frighted till he yawn again."--Such are the ludicrous criticisms of your wits! But is the word eclipfe abfolutely restrain'd to that natural phænomenon which we understand by it? If Othello thought his deed so horrid, that the fun and moon ought to fart from their spheres at it, and ceafe to enlighten this under-globe, might not such a defection be call'd an eclipfe, with a vengeance? Well, but, then, can a body be frighted till it yarn? Here again, yawn is reftrained to the ofcitation of a man ready to fall afleep; and, for the joke fake, muft mean no other kind of gaping. This gentleman muft have known, fure, that yawn (as well as xavov, from which it is deriv'd) was oftner apply'd to the gaping of the earth, than employ'd to fignify the ua xexnos, the yawning, for instance, of a critick gaping after a feeble jeft. But, I am afraid, Mr. Rymer was not too diligent a reader of the Scriptures. Let the Poet account for the prophanation, if he has committed any: but it is very obvious to me, his allufion is grounded on a certain folemn circumstance, when darkness is said to have cover'd the whole face of the land; when rocks were rent, and graves oper'd. VOL. VIII. Oth Oth. That? what? Emil. Out, and alas! that was my lady's voice. Emil. Oh, who hath done this deed? Commend me to my kind Lord; oh, farewel. [Dies. Emil. Alas! who knows? Oth. You heard her fay, herself, it was not I. Emil. She faid fo, I muft needs report the truth. Oth. She's like a liar gone to burning hell; 'Twas I, that kill'd her. [devil. Emil. Oh, the more angel fhe, and you the blacker Oth. She turn'd to folly, and fhe was a whore. Emil. Thou doft belie her, and thou art a devil. Oth. She was falfe as water. Emil. Thou art rash as fire, to say That she was falfe. Oh, fhe was heav'nly true. Oth. Thy husband. Emil. That he was falfe to wedlock? I'd not have fold her for it. Emil. My husband! Oth. Ay, 'twas he that told me first ; An honeft man he is, and hates the flime That sticks on filthy deeds. Emil. My husband! Oth. What needs this iteration, woman? I fay, thy husband. Emil, Ohmiftrefs! villany has made mocks with love. My husband say, she was falfe! Oth. Oth. He, woman; Emil. Do thy worst: This deed of thine is no more worthy heav'n, Oth. Peace, you were best. Emil. Thou haft not half that power to do me harm, As I have to be hurt: oh gull! oh dolt! As ignorant as dirt! thou'st done a deed = I care not for thy fword, I'll make thee known, Though I loft twenty lives-Help! help! hoa! help! The Moor hath kill'd my mistress. Murder, murder! Enter Montano, Gratiano, Iago, and others. Mon. What is the matter? how now, General ? Emil. Oh, are you come, Iago? you have done well, That men muft lay their murders on your neck. Gra. What's the matter? Emil. Difprove this villain, if thou be'st a man; He fays, thou toldft him that his wife was false : I know, thou didst not; thou'rt not fuch 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? Emil. You told a lye; an odious, damned lye : She falfe with Caffio? did you fay with Caffio? Iago. With Caffio, miftrefs; go to, charm your tongue. Emil. I will not charm my tongue; I'm bound to My mistress lies here murder'd in her bed. [Speak; All. Oh heavens forefend! Emil. And your reports have fet the murder on. Q 2 Gra. Gra. 'Tis a ftrange truth. Mon. Oh monstrous act! Emil. Villany! villany! villany! I think upon't-I think-I fmell't-Oh villany! 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. Othello falls on the bed. Oth. Oh fhe was foul! [Rifing. I fcarce did know you, uncle; there lies your niece, Whofe breath, indeed, thefe hands have newly ftopp'd; I know, this act shews horrible and grim. Gra. Poor Desdemona! I'm glad thy father's dead: This fight would make him do a defp'rate turn; Oth. 'Tis pitiful; but yet Iago knows, Emil. Oh heav'n! oh heav'nly powers! Emil. Twill out, 'twill out-I peace! No, I will speak as liberal as the air; Let heav'n, and men, and devils, let them all, [lago offers to ftab his wife. Gra. Gra Fy, your fword upon a woman? [fpeak'st of, Emil. Oh, thou dull Moor! that handkerchief thou I found by fortune, and did give my hufband; For often, with a folemn earneftnefs, (More than indeed, belong'd to fuch a trifle) He begg'd of me to fteal it. Iago Villanous whore! Emil. She gave it Caffio? alas, I found it, And I did giv't my husband. Jago. Filth, thou lieft. Emil. By heav'n, I do not; I do not, gentlemen; Oh murd'rous coxcomb! what fhould fuch a fool Do with fo good a wife? [lago breaks through and wounds his wife, then runs out, Oth. Are there no ftones in heav'n, But what ferve for the thunder? precious villain! Mon. 'Tis a notorious villain; take this weapon, But every puny whipfter gets my fword. Emil. What did thy fong bode, lady? Hark, can't thou hear me? I will play the fwan, So fpeaking as I think, alas, I die. Æmilia dies. Oth. I have another weapon in this chamber, It was a fword of Spain, the Ebro's temper; Oh, here it is: Uncle, I must come forth. Gra within.] If thou attempt it,it will coft thee dear; Thou haft no weapon, and perforce mult fuffer. Oth Look in upon me then, and fpeak with me, Or, naked as I am, I will affault thee. |