Page:The Plays of William Shakspeare (1778).djvu/356

[ 340 ]. Shakpeare ues heraldry for junction, or union in general.—Thus, in his Rape of Lucrece, the ame term is employed to denote that union of colours which contitutes a beautiful complexion:

“This heraldry in Lucrece’ face was een, “Argued by beauty’s red, and virtue’s white.”

This paage not affording us any aitance, we are next to conider one in The Alchemit, by Ben Jonon, which, if it alluded to an incident in Othello, (as Mr. Steevens eems to think it does) would acertain this play to have appeared before 1610, in which year The Alchemit was firt acted:

“Lovewit. Didt thou hear a cry, ay’t thou? “Neighb. Yes, Sir, like unto a man that had been trangled an hour, and could not peak.”

But I doubt whether Othello was herein Jonon’s contemplation. Old Ben generally poke out; and if he had intended to neer at the manner of Dedemona’s death, I think, he would have taken care that his meaning hould not be mis’d, and would have written—“like unto a woman,” &amp;c.

This tragedy was not entered on the books of the Stationers’ company, till Oct. 6, 1621, nor printed till the following year; but it was acted at court early in the year 1613. How long before that time it had appeared, I have not been able to acertain, either from the play itelf, or from any contemporary production. I have, however, peruaded myself that it was one of Shakpeare’s latet performances: a uppoition, to which the acknowledged excellence of the piece gives ome degree of probability. It is here attributed to the year 1611 becaue Dr. Warburton’s comment on the paage above-cited, may convince others, though, I confes it does not atisfy me.

Emilia and Lodovico, two of the characters in this play, are likewie two of the perons repreented in May-day, a comedy by Chapman, firt printed in 1611.

Though