When I shall turn the business of my soul jealous, To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company, Iago. I am glad of this, for now I shall have reason It ap 24 No instance of this word has elsewhere occurred. pears to me to be intended to convey the meaning of whispered, or made out of breath. Suflation is interpreted by Phillips, 'a puffing up, a making to swell with blowing.' In Plautus we have, Sufflavit nescio quid uxore;' which Cooper renders, 'He hath whispered somewhat in his wives eare whatsoever it be.' He also translates Rumoris nescio quid afflaverat, a certain brute or rumor come to my hearing.' Though I do not agree with the following explanation, I think it right to lay it before the reader :-' It seems to me (says Mr. Todd), that all the critics have overlooked the meaning of the passage. Exsufflicate may be traced to the low Latin exsufflare, to spit down upon, an ancient form of exorcising; and, figuratively, to spit out in abhorrence or contempt. See Du Cange, in v. exsufflare. Exsufficate may thus signify contemptible: and Othello may be supposed to mean, that he would not change the noble designs, that then employed his thoughts, for contemptible and despicable surmises.'-Johnson's Dict. in v. Exsuffolate. 25 i. e. such as you have mentioned in describing the torments of jealousy. 26 A passage in All's Well that Ends Well is perhaps the best comment on the sentiments of Othello:- I have those good hopes of her education promises: his disposition she inherits; which makes fair gifts fairer.' Gratior e pulchro veniens et corpore virtus. Receive it from me:-I speak not yet of proof. In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks They dare not show their husbands; their best conscience Is-not to leave undone, but keep unknown 28. Tago. She did deceive her father, marrying you; And, when she seem'd to shake, and fear your looks, She lov'd them most. Oth. And so she did. Why, go to, then; She that, so young, could give out such a seeming, To seel her father's eyes up, close as oak 29, He thought, 'twas witchcraft:-But I am much to blame; I humbly do beseech you of your pardon, 27 Self bounty for inherent generosity. 28 This and the following argument of Iago ought to be deeply impressed on every reader. Deceit and falsehood, whatever conveniences they may for a time promise or produce, are in the sum of life obstacles to happiness. Those who profit by the cheat, distrust the deceiver, and the act by which kindness is sought puts an end to confidence. The same objection may be made with a lower degree of strength against the imprudent generosity of disproportionate marriages. When the first heat of passion is over, it is easily succeeded by suspicion, that the same violence of inclination, which caused one irregularity, may stimulate to another; and those who have shown that their passions are too powerful for their prudence will, with very slight appearances against them, be censured, as not very likely to restrain them by their virtue.-Johnson. 29 An expression from falconry: to seel a hawk is to sew up his eyelids. Close as oak means as close as the grain of oak. Oth. I am bound to thee for ever. Iago. I see, this hath a little dash'd your spirits. Oth. Not a jot, not a jot. Iago. Trust me, I fear it has. I hope, you will consider, what is spoke Comes from my love; -But, I do see you are mov'd: I am to pray you, not to strain my speech Than to suspicion. Oth. I will not. Iago. Should you do so, my lord, 31 My speech should fall into such vile success As my thoughts aim not at. Cassio's my worthy friend:: My lord, I see you are mov'd. Oth. No, not much mov'd:— I do not think but Desdemona's honest. Iago. Long live she so! and long live you to think so! Oth. And yet, how nature erring from itself,— Iago. Ay, there's the point:-As,-to be bold with you, Not to affect many proposed matches, Of her own clime, complexion, and degree; But pardon me; I do not, in position, 30 Issues for conclusions. 31 Success here means consequence or event; as successo, in Italian. So in Sidney's Arcadia, p. 39, ed. 1613:-- Straight my heart misgave me some evil success!' And in The Palace of Pleasure: Fearing lest their case would sort to some pitifull successe.' 32 Will for inclination or desire. A rank will is a lustful inclination. Distinctly speak of her: though I may fear, Oth. Farewell, farewell: If more thou dost perceive, let me know more; [Going. Oth. Why did I marry?—This honest creature, doubtless, Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds. Iago. My lord, I would, I might entreat your honour To scan this thing no further; leave it to time: 33 [Exit. Oth. This fellow's of exceeding honesty, And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit 36, Of human dealings: If I do prove her haggard 37, 33 You shall discover whether he thinks his best means, his most powerful interest, is by the solicitation of your lady.' 34 i. e. press hard his readmission to his pay and office. Entertainment was the military term for the admission of soldiers. 35 Do not distrust my ability to contain my passion. 36 Learned for experienced. The construction is, 'He knows with an experienced spirit all qualities of human dealings.' 37 Haggard is wild, and therefore libertine. A haggard falcon VOL. X. ૨૨ Though that her jesses 38 were my dear heart-strings, -- was a wild hawk that had preyed for herself long before she was taken; sometimes also called a ramage falcon. From a passage in The White Devil, or Vittoria Corombona, 1612, it appears that haggard was a term of reproach, sometimes applied to a wanton: Is this your perch, you haggard? fly to the stews.' So in Shakerley Marmion's Holland's Leaguer, 1633: 'Before these courtiers lick their lips at her, I'll trust a wanton haggard in the wind.' Again : For she is ticklish as any haggard, 38 Jesses are short straps of leather tied about the foot of a hawk, by which she is held on the fist. The falconers always let fly the hawk against the wind; if she flies with the wind behind her, she seldom returns. If therefore a hawk was for any reason to be dismissed, she was let down the wind, and from that time shifted for herself and preyed at fortune.' This was told to Dr. Johnson by Mr. Clark. So in the Spanish Gipsie, 1653: That young lannerd (i. e. hawk) Whom you have such a mind to; if you can whistle her To come to fist, make trial, play the young falconer.' Again in Bonduca, by Beaumont and Fletcher : he that basely Whistled his honour off to the wind,' &c. :- And in Dryden's Annus Mirabilis : 'Have you not seen, when whistled from the fist, And with her eagerness the quarry miss'd, Straight flies at cheek, and clips it down the wind.' 39 Men of intrigue. Chambering and wantonness are mentioned together in the Scriptures. με ΚΟΙΤΑΙΣ is rendered not in chambering in the common version. |