Emil. I have laid those sheets you bade me on

the bed. Des. All's one :-Good father ! how foolish are

our minds !
If I do die before thee, pr’ythee, shroud me
In one of those same sheets.
Emil.

Come, come, you talk.
Des. My mother had a maid call d—Barbara ;
She was in love ; and he, she lov'd, prov'd mad,
And did forsake her: she had a song of—willow,
An old thing 'twas, but it express'd her fortune,
And she died singing it: That song, to-night,
Will not go from my mind; I have much to do,
But to go hang my head* all at one side,
And sing it like poor Barbara. Pr’ythee, despatch.

Emil. Shall I go fetch your night-gown?
Des.

No, unpin me here.This Lodovico is a proper man.

Emil. A very handsome man.
Des.

And he speaks well. Emil. I know a lady in Venice, who would have walked barefoot to Palestine, for a touch of his nether lip.

I. Des. The poor souls sat sighing by a sycamore tree,

[Singing Sing all a green willow; Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee,

Sing willow, willow, willow :

3 and he, she lov'd, prov'd mad,] Mad, in the present instance, ought to mean—inconstant.

I have much to do, But to go hang my head-] I have much ado to do any thing but hang my head.

· The poor soul, &c.] This song, in two parts, is printed in Dr. Percy's collection of old ballads ; the lines preserved here differ somewhat from the copy discovered by the ingenious collector.

The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur'd her

moans;

Sing willow, &c. Her salt tears fell from her, and soften'd the stones; Lay by these:

Sing willow, willow, willow; Pr’ythee, hie thee; he'll come anon.

Sing all a green willow must be my garlánd.

II.

Let nobody blame him, his scorn I approve, Nay, that's not next.-Hark! who is it that knocks?

Emil. It is the wind.

Des. I calld my love, false love;o but what said he

then?

Sing willow, &c. If I court mo women, you'll couch with mo men. So, get thee gone; good night. Mine eyes do itch; Doth that bode weeping? Emil.

'Tis neither here nor there. Des. I have heard it said so.-0, these men,

these men ! Dost thou in conscience think,—tell me, Emilia,That there be women do abuse their husbands

kind? Emil.

There be some such, no question. Des. Would'st thou do such a deed for all the world?

In such gross

. I call d my love, false love ;] This couplet is not in the ballad, which is the complaint, not of a wonian forsaken, but of a man rejected. These lines were properly added when it was accommodated to a woman.

Emil. Why, would not you?
Des.

No, by this heavenly light!
Emil. Nor I neither by this heavenly light;
I might do't as well i’the dark.

Des. Would'st thou do such a deed for all the world?

Emil. The world is a huge thing: 'Tis a great price For a small vice.

Des. Good troth, I think thou would'st not.

Emil. By my troth, I think I should; and undu't, when I had done. Marry, I would not do such a thing for a joint-ring; nor for measures of lawn; nor for gowns, petticoats, nor caps, nor any petty exhibition: but, for the whole world, —Why, who would not make her husband a cuckold, to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for't.

Des. Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong for the whole world.

Emil. Why, the wrong is but a wrong i'the world; and, having the world for your labour, 'tis a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly make it right. Des. I do not think there is

any

such Emil. Yes, a dozen; and as many To the vantage, as would store the world they

play'd for. But, I do think, it is their husbands' faults, If wives do fall: Say, that they slack their duties, And pour out treasures into foreign laps; Or else break out in peevish jealousies, Throwing restraint upon us; or, say, they strike us, Or scant our former having in despite; Why, we have galls; and, though we have some grace, Yet we have some revenge. Let husbands know,

woman.

7

- for a joint-ring;] Anciently a common token among lovers. To the vantage,] i. e. over and above.

our former having-] Our former allowance of expence.

9

Their wives have sense like them: they see, and smell,
And have their palates both for sweet and sour,
As husbands have. What is it that they do,
When they change us for others? Is it sport?
I think it is; And doth affection breed it?
I think, it doth; Is't frailty, that thus errs?
It is so too: And have not we affections?
Desires for sport? and frailty, as men have?
Then, let thein use us well: else, let them know,
The ills we do, their ills instruct us to.

Des. Good night, good night: Heaven me such

usage send,

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

[Exeunt.

ACT V

SCENE 1. A Street.

Enter Iago and RODERIGO.
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 near at hand; I may miscarry in't.
lago. Here, at thy hand; be bold, and take thy

sword. [Retires to a little distance. Rod. I have no great devotion to the deed; And yet he has given me satisfying reasons: 'Tis but a man gone:--forth, my sword; he dies.

[Goes to his stand. Iago. I have rubb'd this young quat almost to

the sense,

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.

"I have rubb'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 counties 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. To rub to the sense, is to rub to the quick. Johnsos.

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.

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