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Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
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SCENE X. Enter Lodovico, Cassio led in wounded, Montano, and Iago prisoner, with Officers.

Lod.
Where is this rash and most unfortunate man?

Oth.
That's he, that was Othello. Here I am.

Lod.
Where is that viper? Bring the villain forth.

Oth.
I look down 5 notetow'rds his feet; but that's a fable.
If that thou be'st a Devil, I cannot kill thee.
[Othello wounds Iago.

Lod.
Wrench his sword from him.

Iago.
I bleed, Sir, but not kill'd.

Oth.
I am not sorry, neither. I'd have thee live.
For, in my sense, 'tis happiness to die.

Lod.
Oh thou, Othello, that wast once so good,
Fall'n 6 notein the practice of a cursed slave,
What shall be said to thee?

Oth.
Why, any thing;
An honourable murd'rer, if you will,
For nought I did in hate, but all in honour.

-- 468 --

Lod.
This wretch hath part confest his villainy.
Did you and he consent in Cassio's death?

Oth.
Ay.

Cas.
Dear General, I never gave you Cause.

Oth.
I do believe it, and I ask your pardon.
Will you, I pray, demand that demy-devil,
Why he hath thus ensnar'd my soul and body?

Iago.
Demand me nothing. What you know, you know.
From this time forth I never will speak word.

Lod.
What? not to pray?

Gra.
Torments will ope your lips.

Oth.
Well, thou dost best.

Lod.
Sir, you shall understand what hath befall'n,
Which, as I think, you know. Here is a letter,
Found in the pocket of the slain Rodorigo,
And, here, another; one of them imports
The death of Cassio to be undertook
By Rodorigo.

Oth.
Oh villain!

Cas.
Most heathenish and most gross!

Lod.
Now, here's another discontented paper,
Found in his pocket too; and this, it seems,
Rodorigo meant t' have sent this damned villain,
But that, belike, Iago 7 notein the interim
Came in and satisfy'd him.

Oth.
O thou pernicious caitiff!
How came you, Cassio, by that handkerchief
That was my wife's?

Cas.
I found it in my chamber;
And he himself confest it but ev'n now,
That there he dropt it for a special purpose,
Which wrought to his desire.

Oth.
Oh fool, fool, fool!

-- 469 --

Cas.
There is, besides, in Rodorigo's letter,
How he upbraids Iago that he made him
Brave me upon the watch; whereon it came
That I was cast. And even now he spake,
After long seeming dead, Iago hurt him,
Iago set him on.

Lod.
You must forsake this room, and go with us;
Your Pow'r and your Command is taken off,
And Cassio rules in Cyprus. For this slave,
If there be any cunning cruelty,
That can torment him much, and hold him long,
It shall be his. You shall close prisoner rest,
Till that the nature of your fault be known
To the Venetian State. Come, bring away.

Oth.
Soft you; a word or two, before you go.
I've done the State some service, and they know't;
No more of that. I pray you, in your letters,
When you shall these unlucky deeds relate,
8 noteSpeak of me, as I am; Nothing extenuate,
Nor set down aught in malice. Then must you speak
Of one that lov'd not wisely, but too well;
Of one, not easily jealous, but being wrought,
Perplex'd in the extream; 9 note




of one, whose hand,
Like the base Judean, threw a pearl away
Richer than all his tribe; of one, whose subdued eyes,

-- 470 --


Albeit unused to the melting mood,
Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees
Their medicinal gums. Set you down this.
And say besides, that in Aleppo once,
Where a malignant and a turban'd Turk
Beat a Venetian, and traduc'd the State,

-- 471 --


I took by th' throat the circumcised dog,
And smote him thus. [Stabs himself.

Lod.
Oh bloody period!

Gra.
All, that is spoke, is marr'd.

Oth.
I kist thee, ere I kill'd thee.—No way but this, [Falling upon Desdem.
Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.
[dies.

Cas.
This did I fear, but thought he had no weapon,
For he was great of heart.

Lod.
Oh Spartan dog!
More fell than anguish, hunger, or the sea!
Look on the tragick loading of this bed; [To Iago.
This is thy work; the object poisons sight,—
Let it be hid. Gratiano, keep the house,
And seize upon the fortunes of the Moor,
For they succeed to you. 1 note


To you, Lord Governor,
Remains the censure of this hellish villain,

-- 472 --


The time; the place; the torture; oh! inforce it.
Myself will straight aboard; and to the State
This heavy act, with heavy heart, relate*. [Exeunt. note

-- --

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Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
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