SCENE changes to an Apartment in the Palace. Enter Othello and Emilia. Oth. OU have feen nothing then? Y Emil. Nor ever heard, nor ever did fufpect. Oth. Yes, you have feen Caffio and her together. Emil. But then I faw no harm; and then I heard Each fyllable, that breath made up between them. Oth. What did they never whisper ? Emil. Never, my Lord. Oth. Nor fend you out o' th' way ? Emil. Never. Oth. To fetch her fan,her gloves,her mafk, nor nothing? Emil. Never, my Lord Oth. That's ftrange! Emil. I durft, my Lord, to wager fhe is honeft, There's no man happy; the pureft of their wives Oth. Bid her come hither, go. [Exit Emilia. She fays enough; yet fhe's a fimple bawd, That cannot fay as much. This is a fubtle whore, And yet he'll kneel, and pray: I've seen her do't. Def. My Lord, what is your will? Oth. Pray you, chuck, come hither. Def. What is your pleasure ? Oth. Let me fee your eyes; look in my face. Oth. Some of your function, mistress; Leave procreants alone, and fhut the door, VOL. VIII. come. Your Your myftery, your myftery ;-nay, difpatch. [Exit Em. Def. Upon my knee, what doth your speech import? I understand a fury in your words, But not your words. Oth. Why? what art thou? Def. Your wife, my Lord; your true and loyal wife. Oth. Come, fwear it; damn thyfelf; left, being like one Of heav'n, the devils themselves should fear to seize thee. Therefore be double-damn'd; fwear, thou art honeft. Def. Heav'n, doth truly know it. Oth. Heav'n truly knows, That thou art falfe as hell. Def. To whom, my Lord ? With whom? how am I false? Oth. Ah, Desdemona! away, away, away. If, haply, you my father do fufpect 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 Giv❜n to captivity me and my hopes; I should have found in fome place of my foul Or keep it as a ciftern, for foul toads To knot and gender in: Turn thy complexion there, (27) Patience, thou young and rofe-lip'd Cherubin; Patience, I here look grim as Hell] The Poet makes an Apoftrophe to Patience Patience, thou young and rofe-lip'd cherubin; Def. I hope, my noble Lord efteems me honeft. 'Would, thou hadft ne'er been born! Def. Alas, what ignorant fin have I committed? Did I but speak thy deeds. What, what committed? Is hush'd within the hollow mine of earth, And will not hear't, What committed?--Impudent Def. By heav'n, you do me wrong. Def. No, as I am a christian. If to preferve this veffel for my Lord Be not to be a ftrumpet, I am none. Def. No, as I fhall be faved. Def. Oh, heav'n forgive us! Patience as a Goddefs; 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 I in the last Verse for the Pronoun of the firft Perfon: whereas, in our Author's days, it likewife ftood for the Adverb of affirming. As I have re form'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 Afpect of a Fiend. Oth. I cry you mercy, then. I took you for that cunning whore of Venice. Enter Emilia. You, miftrefs, That have the office oppofite to St. Peter, Emil. Good madam,what's the matter with my Lord? Emil. Why, with my Lord, madam? Def. Who is thy Lord ? Emil. He that is yours, fweet lady. Def. I have none; do not talk to me, Æmilia. 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 Emilia. [Exit. Tago. What is your pleasure, Madam? how is't with you? Def. I cannot tell; thofe, that do teach your babes, Do it with gentle means, and eafy tasks s; He might have chid me fo: for, in good faith, Jago. 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, lago? Iago. What name, fair lady? Def. Such, as, fhe faid, my Lord did fay I was. Def. I do not know; I'm fure, I am none fuch. Iago.Befhrew him for't! how comes this trick upon him? Emil. I will be hang'd, if fome eternal villain, Some cogging, cozening flave, to get fome office, Emil. A halter pardon him, and hell gnaw his bones! To lafh the rafcal naked through the world, Iago. Speak within door. Emil. Oh, fie upon them! Some fuch 'fquire he was, That turn'd your wit the feamy fide without; And made you to fufpe&t me with the Moor. Iago. You are a fool; go to. Def. Alas, Iago, What shall 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. 0 3 Delighted |