Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

Delighted them on any other form;
Or that I do not yet, and ever did,

And ever will, though he do fhake me off
To beggarly divorcement, love him dearly,
Comfort forfwear me! Unkindness may do much;
And his unkindness may defeat my life,

But never taint my love. I can't fay, whore;
It does abhor me, now I fpeak the word;
To do the act, that might th' addition earn,
Not the world's mafs of vanity could make me.
Iago. I pray you, be content; 'tis but his humour;
The bufinefs of the State does him offence,

And he does chide with you.

Def. If 'twere no other,

Iago. It is but fo, I warrant.

[Trumpets.

Hark, how these inftruments fummon to fupper!

The meffenger of Venice stays the meat;

Go in, and weep not; all things fhall be well.

[Exeunt Defdemona and Æmilia.

Enter Rodorigo, to Iago.

How now, Rodorigo?

Rod. I do not find, that thou deal'ft juftly with me. Iago. What in the contrary?

Rod. Every day thou doft'ft me with fome device, Iago; and rather, as it feems to me now, keep'ft from me all conveniency, than fupplieft me with the leaft advantage of hope. I will, indeed, no longer endure it. Nor am I yet perfuaded to put up in peace what already I have foolishly fuffer'd.

Iago. Will you hear me, Rodorigo?

Rod. 'Faith, I have heard too much; and your words and performances are no kin together.

Jago, You charge me most unjustly.

Rod. With nought but truth: I have wafted myfelf out of my means. The jewels you have had from me, to deliver to Desdemona, would half have corrupted a Votarift. 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.

Iago. Well, go to; very well.

Rod. Very well, go to; I cannot go to, man, nor 'tis not very well; nay, I think, it is fcurvy, and begin to find myself fob'd in it.

Iago. Very well.

Rod. I tell you, 'tis not very well. I will make myfelf known to Defdemona: If he will return me my jewels, I will give over my fuit, and repent my unlawful follicitation: if not, affure yourself, I will feek fatisfaction of you.

Jago. You have faid now.

Rod. Ay, and faid nothing, but what, I protest intendment of doing.

Iago. Why, now, I fee, there's mettle in thee; and even from this inftant do I build on thee a better opinion than ever before. Give me thy hand, Rodorigo, thou haft taken against me a moft juft exception; but, I proteft, I have dealt moft directly in thy affair.

Rod. It hath not appear'd.

Iago. I grant, indeed, it hath not appear'd; and your fufpicion is not without wit and judgment. But Rodorigo, if thou haft that in thee indeed, which I have greater reafon to believe now than ever, (I mean, purpose, courage, and valour) this night fhew it. If thou the next night following enjoy not Desdemona, take me from this world with treachery, and devife engines for my life. Rod. Well; what is it? is it within reafon and compafs? Iago. Sir, there is efpecial commiffion come from Venice to depute Cafio in Othello's Place.

Rod. Is that true? why, then Othello and Desdemona return again to Venice.

Iago. Oh, no; he goes into Mauritania, and taketh away with him the fair Desdemona, unless his abode be linger'd here by fome accident: Wherein none can be fo determinate, as the removing of Caffio.

Rod. How do you mean removing him?

Iago. Why, by making him uncapable of Othello's Place; knocking out his brains.

Rod. And that you would have me to do

Jago. Ay, if you dare do yourself a profit and a right.

He fups to-night with a harlot; and thither will I go to him. He knows not yet of his honourable fortune; if you will watch his going thence, (which I will fafhion to fall out between twelve and one) you may take him at your pleasure. I will be near to fecond your attempt, and he shall fall between us. Come, ftand not amaz'd at it, but go along with me; I will fhew you fuch a neceffity in his death, that you fhall think yourself bound to put it on him. It is now high fupper-time, and the night grows to wafte. About it.

Rod. I will hear further reafon for this. lago. And you fhall be fatisfied.

[Exeunt.

Enter Othello, Lodovico, Defdemona, Emilia,
and Attendants. ›

Lod. I do befeech you, Sir, trouble yourfelf no further.
Oth. Oh, pardon me; 'twill do me good to walk.
Lod. Madam, good-night; I humbly thank your
ladyfhip.

Def. Your honour is moft welcome.

Oth. Will you walk, Sir? oh Desdemona!
Def. My Lord.

Oth. Get you to bed on th' inftant, I will be return'd forthwith; difmifs your attendant there; look, it be done.

Def. I will, my Lord.

[Exit.

Emil. How goes it now he looks gentler than he did.

Def. He fays, he will return incontinent;

And hath commanded me to go to bed,

And bid me to dismiss you.

Emil. Difmifs me?

Def. It was his bidding; therefore, good Emilia, Give me my nightly wearing, and adieu.

We must not now displease him.

Emil. I would, you had never feen him!

Def. So would not I; my love doth fo approve him, That ev'n his ftubbornness, his checks, and frowns, (Pr'ythee, unpin me) have grace and favour in them. Emil. I have laid thofe fheets, you bade me,on the bed. Def.All's one: good father! how foolish are our minds?

If I do die before thee, pr'ythee, shroud me
In one of these fame fheets.

Emil. Come, come; you talk.

Def. My Mother had a maid call'd Barbara,
She was in love; and he, the lov'd, prov'd mad,
And did forfake her. She had a fong of willow,
An old thing, 'twas, but it exprefs'd her fortune,
And the dy'd finging it. That fong to-night,.
Will not go from my mind; I've much ado,
But to go hang my head all at one fide,
And fing it like poor Barbara.

Pr'ythee, dispatch. Emil. Shall I go fetch your night-gown?

Def. No, unpin me here;

This Lodovico is a proper man.

Emil. A very handsom man.

Def. He fpeaks well.

Emil. I know a lady in Venice would have walk'd barefoot to Palestine for a touch of his nether lip. Def. The poor foul fat finging by a fycamore-tree,

Sing all a green willow:

Her hand on her bofom, her head on her knee,

Sing willow, willow, willow:

[Singing.

The fresh ftreams ran by her, and murmur'd her moans;
Sing willow, &c.

Her falt tears fell from her, and foftned the ftones ;
Sing willow, &c.

Willow, willow, &c.

(Pr'ythee, hye thee, he'll come anon,) Sing all a green willow must be my garland. Let no body blame him, his fcern I approve.

Nay that's not next

Emil. It's the wind.

-Hark, who is it that knocks ?

Def. I call'd my love falfe love; but what faid he then? Sing willow, &c.

If I court more women, you'll couch with more men. So, get thee gone, good-night; mine eyes do itch, Doth that bode weeping?

Emil. "Tis neither here nor there.

Def. I have heard it faid fo; oh these men, these men! Doft thou in confcience think, tell me, Emilia,

[ocr errors][merged small]

That there be women do abuse their husbands

In fuch grofs kind?

Emil. There be fome fuch, no question.

Def. Wouldst thou do fuch a deed for all the world? Emil. Why, would not you?

Def. No, by this heav'nly light.

Emil. Nor I neither, by this heav'nly light: Imight do't as well i'th' dark.

Def. Wouldst thou do fuch a deed for all the world? Emil. The world is a huge thing,

It is a great price, for a fmall vice.

Def. In troth, I think, thou wouldst not.

Emil. In troth, I think, I should; and undo't, when I had done. Marry, I would not do fuch a thing for a joint-ring, nor for meafures of lawn, nor for gowns, petticoats, nor caps; nor any petty exhibition. But for all the whole world; why, who would not inake her husband a cuckold, to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for't.

Def. Behrew me, if I would do fuch a wrong

For the whole world.

Emil. Why, the wrong is but a wrong i'th' world; and having the world for your labour, 'tis a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly make it right. Def. I do not think, there is any fuch woman.

Emil. Yes, a dozen; and as many to th' vantage, as Would ftore the world they play'd for.

But, I do think, it is their hufbands' faults,

If wives do fall: fay, that they flack their duties,
And pour our treafures into foreign laps;

Or else break out in peevish jealoufies,

Throwing reftraint on us; or fay, they ftrike us,
Or fcant our former having in defpight;

Why, we have galls, and though we have fome grace,
Yet have we fome revenge. Let hufbands know,
Their wives have fenfe like them; they fee and smell,
And have their palates both for fweet and four,
As hufbands have. What is it that they do,
When they change us for others? is it fport?
I think, it is; and doth affection breed it?

I think

« AnteriorContinua »