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Lewis Theobald [1733], The works of Shakespeare: in seven volumes. Collated with the Oldest Copies, and Corrected; With notes, Explanatory and Critical; By Mr. Theobald (Printed for A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch [and] J. Tonson [etc.], London) [word count] [S11201].
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Scene 1 SCENE, a Street before the Palace. Enter Iago and Rodorigo.

Iago.
Here, stand behind this bulk. Straight will he come:
Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home;
Quick, quick, fear nothing; I'll be at thy elbow.
It makes us, or it mars us: think on That,
And fix most firm thy resolution.

Rod.
Be neat at hand, I may miscarry in't.

Iago.
Here, at thy hand; be bold and take thy sword.

Rod.
I have no great devotion to the deed,
Yet he hath giv'n me satisfying reasons;

-- 476 --


'Tis but a man gone. Forth, my sword; he dies. [Stands apart.

Iago.
I've rubb'd this young Knot almost to the sense,(50) note



And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio,
Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,
Every way makes my gain. Live Rodorigo,
He calls me to a restitution large
Of gold and jewels, that I bob'd from him,
As gifts to Desdemona.
It must not be.—If Cassio do remain,
He hath a daily beauty in his life,
That makes me ugly; and, besides, the Moor
May unfold me to him; there stand I in peril;
No, he must die. Be it so; I hear him coming. Enter Cassio.

Rod.
I know his gate; 'tis he: villain, thou dyest.
[He runs at Cassio, and wounds him.

Cas.
That Thrust had been mine enemy indeed,
But that my coat is better than thou know'st:
I will make proof of thine.
[Fight. Iago cuts Cassio behind in the Leg, and exit. Then Rod. and Cassio fall.

Rod.
Oh, I am slain.

-- 477 --

Cas.
I'm maim'd for ever; help, hoa! murther, murther!(51) note
Enter Othello above, at a Window.

Oth.
The voice of Cassio,—Iago keeps his word.

Rod.
Oh, villain that I am!

Oth.
It is even so.

Cas.
Oh, help, ho! light! a surgeon!—

Oth.
'Tis he! oh brave Iago, honest and just,
That hast such noble sense of thy friend's wrong;
Thou teachest me—Minion, your Dear lies dead;
And your fate hyes apace.—Strumpet, I come:
From off my heart, those charms, thine eyes, are blotted:
Thy bed, lust-stain'd, shall with lust's blood be spotted.
[Exit Othello. Enter Lodovico and Gratiano, at a distance.

Cas.
What, ho! no watch? no passage? murther, murther!

Gra.
'Tis some mischance; the voice is very direful.

Cas.
Oh help!

Lod.
Hark!

Rod.
Oh wretched villain!

-- 478 --

Lod.
Two or three groans. It is a heavy night;
These may be counterfeits: let's think't unsafe
To come into the cry, without more help.

Rod.
No body come? then shall I bleed to death.
Enter Iago, in his shirt, with a Light and Sword.

Lod.
Hark—

Gra.
Here's one comes in his shirt with light and weapons.

Iago.
Who's there? whose noise is this, that cries out murther?

Lod.
We do not know.

Iago.
Do not you hear a cry?

Cas.
Here, here: for heav'n sake, help me.

Iago.
What's the matter?

Gra.
This is Othello's Antient, as I take it.

Lod.
The same, indeed, a very valiant fellow.

Iago.
What are you here, that cry so grievously?

Cas.
Iago? oh I'm spoil'd, undone by villains!
Give me some help.

Iago.
Oh me, lieutenant! what villians have done this?

Cas.
I think, that one of them is hereabout;
And cannot make away.

Iago.
Oh treacherous villains!
What are you there? come in and give some help.
[To Lod. and Gra.

Rod.
Oh, help me there.

Cas.
That's one of them.

Iago.
Oh murd'rous slave! oh villain!
[Iago stabs him.

Rod.
Oh damn'd Iago! oh inhuman dog!

Iago.
Kill men i'th' dark? where be these bloody thieves!
How silent is this town? ho, murther! murther!
What may you be? are you of good or evil?

Lod.
As you shall prove us, praise us.

Iago.
Signior Lodovico?—

Lod.
He, Sir.

Iago.
I cry you mercy! here's Cassio, hurt by villains.

Gra.
Cassio?

-- 479 --

Iago.
How is't, brother?

Cas.
My leg is cut in two.

Iago.
Marry, heav'n forbid!
Light, gentlemen, I'll bind it with my shirt.
Enter Bianca.

Bian.
What is the matter, hoa, who is't that cry'd?

Iago.
Who is't that cry'd?

Bian.
Oh my dear Cassio,
My sweet Cassio, oh Cassio, Cassio, Cassio.

Iago.
Oh notable strumpet! Cassio, may you suspect
Who they should be, that have thus mangled you?

Cas.
No.

Gra.
I'm sorry to find you thus:
I have been to seek you.

Iago.
Lend me a garter. So—Oh for a chair,
To bear him easily hence.

Bian.
Alas, he faints. Oh Cassio, Cassio, Cassio!

Iago.
Gentlemen all, I do suspect this Trash
To be a party in this Injury.
Patience a while, good Cassio; come, come:
Lend me a Light: know we this face, or no?
Alas, my friend, and my dear countryman
Rodorigo? no: Yes, sure: yea, 'tis Rodorigo.

Gra.
What, of Venice?

Iago.
Even he, Sir: did you know him?

Gra.
Know him? ah!

Iago.
Signior Gratiano? I cry your gentle pardon:
These bloody accidents must excuse my manners,
That so neglected you.

Gra.
I am glad to see you.

Iago.
How do you, Cassio? oh a chair, a chair.

Gra.
Rodorigo?

Iago.
He, he, 'tis he: oh that's well said, the chair.
Some good man bear him carefully from hence;
I'll fetch the General's surgeon. For you, mistress,
Save you your labour. He that lies slain here, Cassio,
Was my dear friend. What malice was between you?

Cas.
None in the world; nor do I know the man.

-- 480 --

Iago.
What, look you pale?—oh, bear him out o'th' air.
Stay you, good gentlemen. Look you pale, mistress?
Do you perceive the gastness of her eye? [To Bianca.
Nay, if you stare, we shall hear more anon.
Behold her well; I pray you, look upon her;
Do you see, gentlemen? nay, guiltiness
Will speak, though tongues were out of use.
Enter Æmilia.

Æmil.
Alas, what is the matter?
What is the matter, husband?

Iago.
Cassio hath there been set on in the dark
By Rodorigo, and fellows that are 'scap'd:
He's almost slain, and Rodorigo dead.

Æmil.
Alas, good gentleman! alas, good Cassio!

Iago.
This is the fruit of whoring—Pray, Æmilia,
Go know of Cassio where he supt to night.
What, do you shake at that?

Bian.
He supt at my house, but I therefore shake not.

Iago.
Oh, did he so? I charge you go with me.

Æmil.
Oh fie upon thee, strumpet!

Bian.
I am no strumpet, but of life as honest
As you that thus abuse me.

Æmil.
As I? fie upon thee!

Iago.
Kind gentlemen, let's see poor Cassio drest.
Come, mistress, you must tell's another tale.
Æmilia, run to the citadel,
And tell my lord and lady what hath hap'd:
Will you go on afore?—This is the night,
That either makes me, or foredoes me quite.
[Exeunt, Iago following.

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Lewis Theobald [1733], The works of Shakespeare: in seven volumes. Collated with the Oldest Copies, and Corrected; With notes, Explanatory and Critical; By Mr. Theobald (Printed for A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch [and] J. Tonson [etc.], London) [word count] [S11201].
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