But her
words rouse Othello to such furious indignation ('Out, strumpet! Weep'st
thou for him to my face?') that 'it is too late.'
(2) V. ii. 286 f.
_Oth._ I look down towards his feet; but that's a fable.
If that thou be'st a devil, I cannot kill thee.
[_Wounds Iago._
_Lod._ Wrench his sword from him.
_Iago._ I bleed, sir, but not killed.
Are Iago's strange words meant to show his absorption of interest in
himself amidst so much anguish? I think rather he is meant to be
alluding to Othello's words, and saying, with a cold contemptuous smile,
'You see he is right; I _am_ a devil.'
NOTE O.
OTHELLO ON DESDEMONA'S LAST WORDS.
I have said that the last scene of _Othello_, though terribly painful,
contains almost nothing to diminish the admiration and love which
heighten our pity for the hero (p. 198). I said 'almost' in view of the
following passage (V. ii. 123 ff.):
_Emil._ O, who hath done this deed?
_Des._ Nobody; I myself. Farewell:
Commend me to my kind lord: O, farewell! [_Dies._
_Oth._ Why, how should she be murdered?[267]
_Emil._ Alas, who knows?
_Oth.
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