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OTHELLO

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ACT II. SCENE I.

CYPRUS; A PLATFORM NEAR THE SEA.

DESDEMONA, OTHELLO, IAGO, CASSIO, RODERIGO, EMILIA, &C.

Othello. MY fair warrior !
Des. My dear Othello!
Oth. It gives me wonder great as my content,
To see you here before me. O my soul's joy!
If after every tempest come such calms,
May the winds blow till they have waken'd death!
And let the labouring bark climb hills of seas,
Olympus-high; and duck again as low
As hell's from heaven! If it were now to die,
'T were now to be most happy; for, I fear
My soul hath her content so absolute,
That not another comfort like to this
Succeeds in unknown fate.

Painted by Thomas Stothard, R.A. Engraved by Thomas Ryder.


ACT V. SCENE II.

A BEDCHAMBER.

OTHELLO, DESDEMONA IN BED, ASLEEP.

 

Othello. IT is the cause, it is the cause, my soul,— Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars!— It is the cause.——Yet I'll not shed her blood;
Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow,
And smooth as monumental alabaster. [Takes off his sword.
Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men.
Put out the light, and then—— Put out the light?
If I quench thee, thou naming minister!
I can again thy former light restore,
Should I repent me:—but once put out thy light,
Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature,
I know not where is that Promethean heat
That can thy light relume. When I have pluck'd thy rose,
I cannot give it vital growth again,
It needs must wither: I'll smell thee on the tree.— [Kissing her.
O balmy breath, that doth almost persuade
Justice to break her sword!—One more, one more.—
Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee,
And love thee after: One more, and that's the last:
So sweet was ne'er so fatal.—

Painted by James Graham. Engraved by William Leney.

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