true advantage never prefent itfelf. A devilish knave! befides, the knave is handfome, young, and hath all thofe requifites in him that folly and green minds look after. A peftilent compleat knave! and the woman hath found him already.

Rod. I cannot believe that of her, fhe's full of most blefs'd condition.

Iago. Blefs'd figs' end! the wine fhe drinks is made of grapes. If the had been blefs'd, the would never have lov'd the Moor. Blefs'd pudding! didft thou not fee her paddle with the palm of his hand? didst not mark that?

Rod. Yes, that I did; but that was but courtesy.

Iago. Lechery, by this hand; an index, and obfcure prologue to the hiftory of luft, and foul thoughts. They met fo near with their lips, that their breaths embrace'd together. Villanous thoughts, Rodorigo! when thefe mutualities fo marthal the way, hard at hand comes the mafter and main exercife, the incorporate conclufion: pith But, Sir, be you rul'd by me. I have brought you from Venice. Watch you to-night; for the command I'll lay't upon me. Caffio knows you not: I'll not be far from you. Do you find fome occafion to anger Caffio, either by fpeaking too loud, or tainting his difcipline, or from what other courfe you pleafe, which the time fhall more favourably minider. Rod. Well..

Jago. Sir, he's rafh, and very fudden in choler; and happily may trike at you. Provoke him, that he may; for even out of that will I caufe thofe of Cyprus to mutiny: whofe qualification fhall come into no true taste again, but by tranfplanting of Caflio. So fhall you have a fhorter journey to your defires, by the means I fhall then have to prefer them; and the impediments moft profitably removed, without which there was no expectation of our profperity.

Rod. I will do this, if you can bring it to any opportunity.

lago. I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the citadel. I must fetch his neceffaries afhore. Farewel. Rod. Adieu.

[Exit.

SCENE

VIII. Manet Iago.

Iago. That Caffio loves her, I do well believe:
That the loves him, 'tis apt, and of great credit.
The Moor, howbeit that I endure him not,
Is of a conftant, loving, noble nature;

And I dare think he'll prove to Desdemona
A moft dear husband. Now I love her too,
Not out of abfolute luft, (though peradventure
I ftand accountant for as great a sin),
But partly led to diet my revenge,

For that I do fufpect the lufty Moor

Hath leapt into my feat. The thought whereof
Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards;
And nothing can or fhall content my foul,
Till I am even'd with him, wife for wife;
Or failing fo, yet that I put the Moor
At least into a jealoufy fo ftrong,

That judgment can cure. Which thing to do,
If this poor brach of Venice, whom I cherish
For his quick hunting, ftand the putting on,
I'll have our Michael Caffio on the hip,
Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb;
(For I fear Caffio with my night-cap too);

Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me,
For making him egregioufly an afs;

And practiling upon his peace and quiet,

Even to madness. 'Tis here-but yet confus'd;
Knavery's plain face is never feen till us'd.

[Exit.

Her. It is Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant General, that, upon certain tidings now arrived, importing the mere * perdition of the Turkish fleet, every man put himself into triumph; fome to dance, fome to make bonfires, each man to what sport and revels his mind leads him. For, befides this beneficial news, it is the celebration of his nuptials. So much was his pleafure fhould be proclaimed. All offices are open, and

mere, for total.

there

there is full liberty of feafting, from this prefent hour of five, till the bell have told eleven. Blefs the ifle of Cyprus, and our noble General Othello! [Exit.

Enter Othello, Defdemona, Caffio, and Attendants. Oth. Good Michael, look you to the guard to-night; Let's teach ourselves that honourable top, Not to outfport difcretion.

Caf. lago hath direction what to do:

But, notwithstanding, with my perfonal eye

Will I look to't.

Oth. Iago is most honest.

Michael, good-night. To-morrow, with your earliest,
Let me have fpeech with you. Come, my dear love,
The purchafe made, the fruits are to enfue;

That profit's yet to come 'tween me and you.
Good-night.

[Exeunt Othello and Defdemona.
Enter lago.

Caf. Welcome, Iago; we must to the watch.

lago. Not this hour, Lieutenant; 'tis not yet ten o' th' clock. Our general caft us thus early for the love of his Defdemona: whom let us not therefore blame; he hath not yet made wanton the night with her; and fhe is fport for Jove.

Caf. She's a moft exquifite lady.

Tago. And, I'll warrant her, full of game.

Caf. Indeed fhe's a moft fresh and delicate creature. Iago. What an eye fhe has? methinks it founds a parley to provocation.

Caf. An inviting eye; and yet methinks right modest. lago. And when the fpeaks, is it not an alarum to love? Caf. She is indeed perfection.

lago. Well, happiness to their fheets: come, Lieutenant, I have a ftoop of wine, and here without are a brace of Cyprus gallants, that would fain have a meafure to the health of the black Othello.

Caf. Not to-night, good lago; I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking, I could well with cour tefy would invent fome other cuftom of entertainment. lago. Oh, they are our friends $; but one cup: I'll drink for you.

T 3

Caf

Caf. I have drunk but one cup to-night, and that was erafily qualified too; and behold what innovation it makes here. I am unfortunate in the infirmity, and dare not talk my weaknefs with any more.

Iago. What, man? 'tis a night of revels, the gallants defire it.

Caf. Where are they?

Iago. Here at the door; I pray you, call them in. Caf. I'll do't, but it dislikes me.

[Exit Caffio. Iago. If I can faften but one cup upon him, With that which he hath drunk to-night already, "He'll be as full of quarrel and offence, "As my young mistrefs' dog.Now, my fick fool, Rodorigo,

fide out,

"Whom love hath turn'd almost the wrong
To Defdemona hath to-night carous'd
Potations pottle-deep; and he's to watch.
Three lads of Cyprus, noble fwelling fpirits,
That hold their honours in a wary distance,
The very elements of this warlike isle),
Have I to-night flufter'd with flowing cups,
And they watch too. Now, 'mongst this flock of drun-
Am I to put our Caffio in fome action,

[kards,
That may offend the ifle. But here they come.
If confequence do but approve my deem,
My boat fails freely, both with wind and stream.

SCENE X. Enter Caffio, Montano, and Gentlemen.

Caf. 'Fore heav'n, they have given me a rouse already. Mont. Good faith, a little one: not past a pint, as I am a foldier.

Iago. Some wine, ho!

And let me the canakin clink, clink,

And let me the canakin clink.

[Lago fings.

A foldier's a.man; oh, man's life's but a span;
Why, then let a foldier drink.

Some wine, boys.

Caf. 'Fore heav'n, an excellent fong.

Iago. I learn'd it in England: where indeed they are moft potent in potting. Your Dane, your German, and

your

your fwag belly'd Hollander, Drink, ho! nothing to your English.

are

Caf. Is your Englithman fo exquifite in his drinking? lago. Why, he drinks you with facility your Dane dead drunk. He sweats not to overthrow your Almain. He gives your Hollander a vomit ere the next pottle can be fill'd.

Caf. To the health of our General.

Mon. I am for it, Lieutenant, and I'll do you justice.
Iage. Oh fweet England.

King Stephen was an a worthy peer,
His breeches coft him but a crown ;
He held them fixpence all too dear,
With that he call'd the tailor lown.

He was a wight of high renown,
And thou art but of low degree:
'Tis pride that pulls the country down,
Then take thine auld cloak about thee.

Some wine, ho!

Caf. Why, this is a more exquifite fong than the other. Iago. Will you hear't again?

Caf "No; for I hold him to be unworthy of his place that does thofe things. Well-Heaven's "above all; and there be fouls that must be saved, " and there be fouls muft not be faved.

Iago. 'Tis true, good Lieutenant.

Caf. "For mine own part (no offence to the Gene"ral, nor any man of quality) I hope to be faved. Iago. And fo do I too, Lieutenant.

The

Let's

Caf." Ay, but, by your leave, not before me. "Lieutenant is to be faved before the Ancient. "have no more of this; let's to our affairs. Forgive our finsGentlemen, let's look to our business. "Do not think, Gentlemen, I am drunk: this is my Ancient; this is my right hand, and this is my left. "I am not drunk now; I can stand well enough, and "fpeak well enough.

66

· Gent. Excellent well.

Caf. Why, very well then you must not think "then that I am drunk.

[Exit. SCENE