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Emil. Why, would not you?
Def. No, by this heavenly light.

Emil. Nor I neither, by this heavenly light:
I might 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 fhould; and undo't, when I had done. Marry, I would not do fuch a thing for a joint-ring, nor for measures of lawn, nor for gowns, petticoats, nor caps; nor any petty exhibition. But for all the whole world; why, who would not make her hufband a cuckold, to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for't.

Def. Befhrew 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. (49)

Def. I do not think there is any fuch woman. Emil. Yes, a dozen; and as many to th' vantage, Would ftore the world they played for.

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

[as

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

(49) And, having the world for your labour, 'tis a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly make it right.] I am mif taken, if by this fentiment the Author did not intend to ridicule the opinion of thofe philofophers, who hold, that right and wrong are of so arbitrary natures, that God, confiftently with his attributes, may authorize injuftice. For, because it becomes injuftice only by his will, it ceases to be fo when that will is altered. Mr Warburton...

Or elfe break out in peevish jealoufies,

Throwing reftraint on us; or fay, they ftrike us,
Or fcant our former having in defpight; [grace,
Why, we have galls, and though we have fome
Yet have we fome revenge.
Let hufbands know,
Their wives have fenfe like them; they fee and
fmell,

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 it doth: is't frailty that thus errs?
It is fo too. And have we not affections?
Defires for fport? and frailty, as men have?
Then let them ufe us well; elfe let them know,
The ills we do, their ills inftru us to.

Def. Good-night, good-night; Heaven me fuch ufes fend,

Not to pick bad from bad; but by bad, mend!

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[Exeunt.

SCENE, a Street before the Palace.

Enter AGO and RODO RIGO.

I AGO.

HERE, ftand 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 moft firm thy refolution.

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

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

fword.

Rod. I have no great devotion to the deed, Yet he hath given me fatisfying reafons; 'Tis but a man gone. Forth, my fword; he dies. [Stands apart.

Iago. I've rubbed this young knot almost to the fenfe, (50)

And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Caffio,
Or Caffio him, or each do kill the other,

Every way makes my gain. Live Rodorigo,
He calls me to a reftitution large

Of gold and jewels, that I bob'd from him,
As gifts to Defdemona.

It must not. be.--------If Caffio do remain,
He hath a daily beauty in his life,

That makes me ugly; and, befides, the Moor
May unfold me to him; there ftand I in peril;
No, he must die. Be it fo; I hear him coming.

(50) I've rubbed this young gnat almost to the fenfe,

And he grows angry.] The rubbing a gnat to fenfe, is, I believe, an experiment that never was communicated even to the Royal Society. The leaft frication, on the contrary, would not only rub him out of all fenfe, but out of life into the bargain. The old Quartos have it quat: a word, which, I confefs, I am abfolutely a ftranger to. I have ventured to conjecture,

I've rubbed this young knot, &c.

The kaat, or knot, is a finall bird, plentiful with us in Lincolnshire and Lancashire; which took its name, as Camden fays, from its being a delicious morfel with King Canute, who was likewife called Knout. This bird, being once taken, as Gefner tells us, is above all others tame and tractable. In this refpect it forts with Rodorigo's character, an eafy, manageable cully. And, again, as he is amorous in his purtuit, fo this bird is of the fpecies of thofe que clunes agitant. It is called by fome of the Latin writers, inclus.

Enter CASSIO.

Rod. I know his gait; 'tis he: villain, thou diest. [He runs at Caffio, and wounds him. Caf. That thruft had been mine enemy indeed, But that my coat is better than thou knoweft. I will make proof of thine.

[Fight. Iago cuts Caffio behind in the Leg, and exit. Then Rodorigo and Callio fall.

Rod. Oh, I am flain.

Caf. I'm maimed for ever; help, hoa! murder, murder! (51)

Enter OTHELLO above at a Window.

Oth. The voice of Caffio,-----Lago keeps his word. Rod. Oh, villain that I am!

Oth. It is even fo.

Caf. Oh, help, ho! light! a furgeon !---------
Oth. 'Tis he! oh brave Iago, honeft and just,

(51) Caf. I'm maimed for ever] None of the editions hitherto have by any marginal direction accounted for what Caffio here fays, and likewife for what he afterwards fays, my leg is cut in two. We are not to fuppofe he received this violent hurt in fencing with his oppofite; but as Rodorigo and he are engaged, Iago with a broad fword hacks at him behind. In this incident our Author precifely copies his Italian novelift. Ufcendo una fera il Capo di Squadra di cafa d'una meretrice colla quale egli fi folazzava, effendo la notte buià, gli fi accoflè P Alfiero con la fado in mano, et gli dirizzò un colpo alle gambe, per farlo cadare: et auvenne, ch' egli gli tagliò la defra fria à traverfo, onde il mifero cadač. "The captain (Caffio) coming one night from the houfe of a harlot, (with whom "he entertained himielf) it being very dark, the Ancient, "with his fword ready drawn, attacked him, and let drive a blow at his legs with defign to cut him down and he happened to cut him across the right thigh in fuch a manner, that with the wound the miferable gentleman fell to "carth."

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That haft fuch noble fenfe of thy friend's wrong; Thou teacheft me---Minion, your dear lyes dead; And your fate hies apace.------Strumpet, I come: From off my heart, thofe charms, thine eycs, are blotted:

Thy bed, luft-ftained, fhall with luft's blood be [Exit Othello.

fpotted.

Enter LODOVICO and GRATIANO, at a distance. Caf. What, ho! no watch? no paffage? murder, murder!

Gra. 'Tis fome mifchance; the voice is very direful. Caf. Oh help!

Lod. Hark!

Rod. O wretched villain !

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

Rod. No body come? then fhall I bleed to death.

Enter 1AGO, in his fhirt, with a Light and Sword. Led. Hark-------

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

Iago. Who's there? whofe noife is this, that cries out murder?

Lod. We do not know.

Jago. Do not you hear a cry?

Caf. Here, here: for Heaven's fake, help me.

Iago. What's the matter?

Gra. This is Othello's Ancient, as I take it. Lod. The fame, indeed, a very valiant fellow. Iago. What are you here, that cry fo grievously? Caf. Iago? oh I'm spoiled, undone by villains! Give me fome help.

Jago. Oh me, Lieutenant! what villains have. done this?

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