And he grows angry. Now whether he kill Cassio,
Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,
Every way makes my gain : Live Roderigo,
He calls me to a restitution large
Of gold, and jewels, that I bobb’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 much peril:
No, he must die :-But so, I hear him coming.

Enter Cassio.
Rod. I know his gait, 'tis he;— Villain, thou diest.
(Rushes from his post, and makes a pass at Cassio.

Cas. That thrust had been mine enemy indeed,
But that my coat is better than thou think'st;
I will make proof of thine.

[Draws, and wounds RODERIGO. Rod.

O, I am slain!
[Iago rushes from his post, cuts Cassio behind

in the Leg,and exit.
Cas. I am maim'd for ever:-Help, ho! murder!
murder!

[Falls.

3

i I have rutb'd this young quat almost to the sense,

And he grows angry.] This is a passage much controverted among the editors. A quat in the midland courties is a pimple, which by rubbing is made to smart, or is rubbed to sense. Roderigo is called a quat by the same mode of speech, as a low fellow is now termed in low language a scab. - Törub to the sense, is to rub to the quick. JOHNSON.

that I bobb’d from him,] That I fool'd him out of. A bob formerly signified a mock, or jeer.

in the

leg,] Iago maims Cassio in the leg, in consequence of what he had just heard him say, from which he supposed that his body was defended by some secret armour.

2

3

Enter OTHELLO, at à distance. Oth. The voice of Cassio :-Iago keeps his word. Rod. O, villain that I am ! Oth.

Hark! 'tis even so. Cas. O, help! ho! light! a surgeon!

Oth. "Tis he ;- 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 hies apace :-Strumpet, I come: Forth of my heart those charms, thine eyes, are

blotted; Thy bed, lust-stain'd, shall with lust's blood be spotted.

[Exit Othello.

C

Enter LODOVICO and GRATIANO, at a distance. Cas. What, ho! no watch? no passage?' mur

der! murder! Gra. 'Tis some mischance; the cry is very

direful. Cas. O, help! Lod.

Hark!
Rod.

O wretched villain! Lod. Two or three groans ;-it is a heavy night:* These

may

be counterfeits ; let's think't unsafe To come in to the cry, without more help.

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

Enter Lago, with a Light.
Lod. Hark!
Gra. Here's one comes in his shirt, with light

and weapons.

+ Forth of my heart, &c.] Forth signifies both out and

from. no passage?] No passengers ? nobody going by? 6 - a heavy night :) A thick cloudy night, in which an ambush may be commodiously laid.

12

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

cries on murder 7 Lod. We do not know. Iago.

Did you not hear a cry? Cas. Here, here; for heaven's sake, help me. Iago.

What's the matter?
Gra. This is Othello's ancient, as I take it.
Lod. The same, indeed ; a very valiant fellow.
Iago. What are you here that cry so grievously?
Cas. Iago ? O, I am spoil'd, undone by villains !
Give me some help.
Iago. O me, lieutenant ! what villains have done

this?
Cas. I think, that one of them is hereabout,
And cannot make away.
Iago.

O treacherous villains ! What are you there? come in, and give some help.

[To Lodovico, and GRATIANO.
Rod. O, help me here !
Cas. That's one of them.
Iago.

O murderous slave! O villain!

[Iago stabs RODERIGO. Rod. O damn'd lago! O inhuman dog ! 0! 0! 0! Iago. Kill men i'the dark !-Where be these

bloody thieves How silent is this town! Ho! murder! murder! 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 ?

7

whose noise is this, that cries on murder?] Such was the phraseology of Shakspeare's age.

Iago.

How is it, brother?
Cas. My leg is cut in two.
Iago.

Marry, heaven forbid ! Light, gentlemen ; I'll bind it with

my

shirt. Enter BIANCA. Bian. What is the matter, ho? who is't that

cry'd ? Iago. Who is't that cry'd ?

Bian. O my dear Cassio! my sweet Cassio! O Cassio ! Cassio! Cassio ! Iago. O notable strumpet !-Cassio, may you sus

pect Who they should be, that have thus mangled you?

Cas. No. Gra. I am sorry, to find you thus: I have been to seek

you. Iago. Lend me a garter : So.--0, for a chair, To bear him easily hence!

Bian. Alas, he faints :-O 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,
!

, Roderigo ? no:-Yes, sure ; O heaven! Roderigo.

Gra. What, of Venice?
Iago. Even he, sir ; did you know him ?
Gra.

Know him ? ay.
Iago. Signior Gratiano? I cry you 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 1-0, a chair, a chair! Gra. Roderigo ! Iago. He, he, 'tis he:-0, that's well said ;the chair :

[A Chair brought in. GG

VOL. IX,

Some good man bear him carefully from hence;
I'll fetch the general's surgeon.For you, mistress,

[To BIANCA. Saveyou 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. Iago. [TO BIAN.] What, look you pale :-0, bear him out o'the air.

[Cassio and Rod. are borne off. Stay you, good gentlemen :-Look you pale, mis

tress ?
Do you perceive the gastness of her eye?
Nay, if you stare, we shall hear more anon :-
Behold her well; I pray you, look upon her ;

I
Do you see, gentlemen ? nay, guiltiness will speak,
Though tongues were out of use.

Enter EMILIA. Emil. 'Las, what's the matter ; what's the matter,

husband Iago. Cassio hath here been set on in the dark, By Roderigo, and fellows that are scap'd ; He's almost slain, and Roderigo dead.

Emil. Alas, good gentleman! alas, good Cassio! Iago. This is the fruit of whoring.–Pr’ythee,

Emilia, Go know of Cassio where he supp'd to-night :What, do you shake at that? Bian. He supp'd at my house; but I therefore

shake not. Iago. O, did he so? I charge you, go with me. Emil. Fye, fye upon thee, strumpet!

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

As I? foh ! fye upon thee! Iago. Kind gentlemen, let's go see poor Cassio

dress :