SCENE II. A Bedchamber: DESDEMONA in bed, asleep. A Light burning. Enter OTHEllo. Oth. It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul,- [Takes off his Sword. Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men. That can thy light relume. When I have pluck'd thy It needs must wither :-I'll smell it on the tree. [rose, [Kissing her. O balmy breath, that dost almost persuade But they are cruel tears: This sorrow's heavenly; It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul,— Let me not name it-] The abruptness of this soliloquy makes it obscure. The meaning, I think, is this:-I am here (says Othello in his mind) overwhelmed with horror. What is the reason of this perturbation? Is it want of resolution to do justice? Is it the dread of shedding blood? No; it is not the action that shocks me, but it is the cause, it is the cause, my soul; let me not name it to you, ye chaste stars! it is the cause.-JOHNSON. Put out the light, and then—put out the light!] I have adopted the punctuation recommended by Warburton; it makes the passage intelligible without any alteration of the text. If we print the line as it stands in the more recent editions, Put out the light, and then put out the light, we ought to read, in the latter clause of the line, "and then put out thy light," as suggested by Malone. This sorrow's heavenly; It strikes, where it doth love.] Alluding to "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth."-M. MASON. Des. Who's there? Othello? Oth. Ay, Desdemona. Oth. If you bethink yourself of any crime Ay, my lord. Des. Alas, my lord, what may you mean by that? I would not kill thy unprepared spirit; No,-Heaven forefend.-I would not kill thy soul. Oth. Ay, I do. Des. Then, heaven Have mercy on me! Oth. Amen, with all my heart! Des. If you say so, I hope you will not kill me. Oth. Humph! Des. And yet I fear you; for you are fatal then, When your eyes roll so: Why I should fear, I know not, Since guiltiness I know not; but yet, I feel, I fear. Oth. Think on thy sins. Des. They are loves I bear to you. Oth. Ay, and for that thou diest. Des. That death's unnatural, that kills for loving. Alas, why gnaw you so your nether lip? Some bloody passion shakes your very frame : They do not point on me. Oth. Peace, and be still! Des. I will so: What's the matter? Oth. That handkerchief, which I so lov'd, and gave Take heed of perjury; thou'rt on thy death-bed. Des. Ay, but not yet to die. Oth. Yes, presently: Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin; For to deny each article with oath, Cannot remove, nor choke, the strong conception, Des. Then, Lord have mercy on me! Oth. I say, amen. Oth. By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in his hand. A murder, which I thought a sacrifice :* I saw the handkerchief. Des. He found it then; I never gave it him :-Send for him hither, And let him confess a truth. Honest Iago hath ta'en order for't. Des. My fear interprets then,-What, is he dead? Oth. Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge Had stomach for them all. Des. Alas! he is betray'd, and I undone. Oth. Out, strumpet! Weep'st thou for him to my face? Des. O, banish me, my lord, but kill me not. Oth. Down, strumpet! A murder, which I thought a sacrifice:] This line is difficult. Thou hast hardened my heart, and makest me kill thee with the rage of a murderer, when I thought to have sacrificed thee to justice with the calmness of a priest striking a victim. I am glad that I have ended my revisal of this dreadful scene. It is not to be endured.-JOHNSON. ta'en order—] i. e. Taken measures. |