SCENE, a Bed-chamber: Defdemona is discovered afleep in her bed. Enter Othello, with a Light and a Sword. T is the caufe, it is the caufe, my foul; Oth. Let me not name it to you, you chafte ftars! It is the cause.-Yet I'll not shed her blood, [Lays down the fword. Yet fhe muft die; elfe fhe'll betray more men. Put out the light, and, then, put out the light; (29) If I quench thee, thou flaming minifter, I can again thy former light reftore, Should I repent: but once put out thy light, [Sets down the taper. (29) Put out the light, and then put out the light] The Players have many times inconfiderately committed an Abfurdity here, in making Othello put out the Candle; which, 'tis evident, never was the Poet's Intention. Defdemona is difcover'd in her Bed, in the dark; and Othello enters the Chamber with a fingle Taper. If there were any other Lights burning in the Room, where would be the Drift of putting out his? If there were no others, and that he puts bis out, how abfurd is it for Defdemona in the Dark to talk of his Eyes rowling, and his gnawing his nether Lip ?. -This, I conceive, to have been the Poet's Meaning. Othello, ftruck in part with Remoife at the Murder he's going to do, thinks it beft to do it in the Dark; this compunction of Nature, in the hurry and perturbation of Thought, and thofe Remains of Tenderness ftill combating in his Bofom, frikes him into an inftant Reflexion, that if he puts out the Light, he can rekindle it; but if he once puts out the Light of ber Life, that will be extinguish'd for ever. While he is bufied in this Contemplation, he throws his Eyes towards her; and then, footh'd with her beauteous Appearance, fets down the Light, to go and kifs her. Upon this, Defdemona wakes; and they continue in Difcourfe together till he fifles her. I cannot I cannot give it vital growth again; It needs muft wither. I'll fmell thee on the tree; [Kiffing her. Oh balmy breath, that doft almoft perfuade But they are cruel tears: this forrow's heav'nly; Def. Who's there? Othello? Oth. Ay, Desdemona. Def. Will you come to bed, my Lord ? Oth. If you bethink yourfelf of any crime Def. Alack, my Lord, What may you mean by that? Oth. Well, do it, and be brief; I will walk by. No, (heav'ns forefend !) I would not kill thy foul. Oth. Ay, I do. Def. Then heav'n have mercy on me! Oth. Amen, with all my heart. Def. If you fay fo, I hope, you will not kill me. Def. And yet I fear you: for you're fatal then, When your eyes rowl fo. Why I fhould 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 dy't. Def. That death's unnatural, that kills for loving. Alas, why gnaw you fo your nether lip? Oth. Peace, and be ftill. 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 foul: fend 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. Prefently; Therefore confefs thee freely of thy fin: For to deny each article with oath, Cannot remove, nor choak, the strong conception Oth. I fay, amen. Def. And have you mercy too!-I never did Offend you in my life; never lov'd Caffio, But with fuch general warranty of heav'n, As I might love. I never gave him token. Oth. By heav'n, I faw my handkerchief in's hand. Oh perjur'd woman! thou doft ftone 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; fend for him hither, Oth. He hath confeft. Oth. That he hath-us'd thee Dej. How? unlawfully? Oth. Ay. Def. He will not fay fo. Oth. No, his mouth is stopp'd; Honeft Iago hath ta'en order for't. 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. Oth. Out, ftrumpet! weep'st thou for him to my face? Def. Oh, banish me, my Lord, but kill me not. Oth. Down, ftrumpet. Def. Kill me to-morrow, let me live to-night. Oth. Nay, if you ftrive Def. But half an hour. Oth. Being done, there is no pause. Oth. It is too late. -Emilia, at the door. [He fmothers her. Em. My Lord, my Lord! what hoa! 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. witbin.] What hoa! my Lord, my Lord! Oth. Who's there? Em. Oh,mygood Lord, Iwould fpeak a word with you. Qth. Yes; 'tis Emilia-by and by-fhe'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 the come in? were't good? I think, fhe ftirs again-No-what's the beft? If the come in, he'll, fure, fpeak to my wife; My wife! my wife! what wife? I have no wife. Oh infupportable! oh heavy hour! Methinks it fhould be now a huge eclipfe Of fun, and moon, and that th' affrighted globe 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. [Unlocks the door. Emil. Oh, my good Lord, yonder's foul murder done. Oth. What now? 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 Oth. Roderigo kill'd? and Caffio kill'd? Oth. Not Caffio kill'd? then murder's out of tune, And sweet revenge grows harfh. Def. Oh, falfly, falfly murder'd !--- Emil. Alas! what cry is that? Oth. That? what? Emil. Out, and alas! that was my lady's voice. Help! help, hoa! help! oh lady, fpeak again, Sweet Defdemona! oh fweet miftrefs, fpeak, Def. A guiltlefs death I die. Emil. Oh, who hath done this deed? [Dies. Oth. You heard her fay, herself, it was not I. Em. Oh, the more angel fhe, and you the blacker devil. Emil. Thou art rafh as fire, to fay That fhe was falfe. Oh, he was heav'nly true. Oth. Thy husband. Emil. That fhe was falfe to wedlock? Oth. Ay, with Caffio: had the been true, |