The chiding billow seems to pelt the clouds ;

The wind-shak'd surge, with high and monstrous main, Seems to cast water on the burning bear,

And quench the guards of the ever-fixed pole."

I never did like molestation view

On th' enchafed flood.

Mon. If that the Turkish fleet

Be not inshelter'd and embay'd, they are drown'd;
It is impossible they bear it out.

Enter a third Gentleman.

3 Gent. News, lords! our wars are done;
The desperate tempest hath so bang'd the Turks,
That their designment halts: A noble ship of Venice
Hath seen a grievous wreck and sufferance

On most part of their fleet.

Mon. How is this true?

3 Gent. The ship is here put in,

A Veronesé; Michael Cassio,

Lieutenant to the warlike Moor, Othello,

Is come on shore: the Moor himself's at sea,
And is in full commission here for Cyprus.

Mon. I am glad on't; 'tis a worthy governor.

3 Gent. But this same Cassio,-though he speak of comfort,

Touching the Turkish loss,-yet he looks sadly,
And prays the Moor be safe; for they were parted
With foul and violent tempest.

Mon. 'Pray heaven he be;

For I have serv'd him, and the man commands

Like a full soldier. Let's to the sea-side, ho!

As well to see the vessel that's come in,
As throw out our eyes for brave Othello;
Even till we make the main, and the aerial blue,
An indistinct regard.

3 Gent. Come, let's do so;

For every minute is expectancy

Of more arrivance.

Enter CASSIO.

Cas. Thanks to the valiant of this warlike isle That so approve the Moor; O, let the heavens

Give him defence against the elements,

For I have lost him on a dangerous sea!

Mon. Is he well shipp'd?

[5] Alluding to the star Arctophylax, which literally signifies the guard of the Dear. STEEVENS.

Cas. His bark is stoutly timber'd, and his pilot Of very expert and approv'd allowance; Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death, Stand in bold cure.

[Within.] A sail, a sail, a sail!

Enter another Gentleman.

Cas. What noise ?

4 Gent. The town is empty; on the brow o'the sea Stand ranks of people, and they cry—a sail.

Cas. My hopes do shape him for the governor.

2 Gent. They do discharge their shot of courtesy ; Our friends, at least.

Cas. I pray you, sir, go forth,

And give us truth who 'tis that is arriv'd.

2 Gent. I shall.

[Guns heard.

[Exit.

Mon. But, good lieutenant, is your general wiv'd?
Cas. Most fortunately: he hath achiev'd a maid
That paragons description, and wild fame ;

One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens,
And in the essential vesture of creation,

Does bear all excellency.-How now ? who has put in?
Re-enter second Gentleman.

2 Gent. 'Tis one lago, ancient to the general. Cas. He has had most favourable and happy speed: Tempests themselves, high seas, and howling winds, The gutter'd rocks, and congregated sands,

Traitors ensteep'd to clog the guiltless keel,

As having sense of beauty, do omit

Their mortal natures, letting go safely by
The divine Desdemona.

Mon. What is she?

Cas. She that I spake of, our great captain's captain, Left in the conduct of the bold lago;

Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts,

A se'nnight's speed.-Great Jove, Othello guard,
And swell his sail with thine own powerful breath;
That he may bless this bay with his tall ship,

Make love's quick pants in Desdemona's arms,

Give renew'd fire to our extincted spirits,

And bring all Cyprus comfort!-O, behold,

Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA, IAGO, RODERIGO, and Attendants.

The riches of the ship is come on shore !

Ye men of Cyprus, let her have your knees :

Hail to thee, lady! and the grace of heaven,

Before, behind thee, and on every hand,
Enwheel thee round!

Des. I thank you, valiant Cassio.

What tidings can you tell me of my lord?
Cas. He is not yet arriv'd; nor know I aught
But that he's well, and will be shortly here.
Des. O, but I fear ;-How lost you company?
Cas. The great contention of the sea and skies
Parted our fellowship: But, hark! a sail.

[Cry within, A sail, a sail! Then guns heard. 2 Gent. They give their greeting to the citadel; This likewise is a friend.

Cas. See for the news.

Good ancient, you are welcome ;-Welcome, mistress :

Let it not gall your patience, good Iago,

[Exit Gentleman.

[TO EMILIA.

[Kissing her.

That I extend my manners; 'tis my breeding
That gives me this bold show of courtesy.

lago. Sir, would she give you so much of her lips,

As of her tongue she oft bestows on me,

You'd have enough.

Des. Alas, she has no speech.
Iago. In faith, too much;

I find it still, when I have list to sleep :
Marry, before your ladyship, I grant,
She puts her tongue a little in her heart,
And chides with thinking.

Emil. You have little cause to say so.

Iago. Come on, come on; you are pictures out of doors, ells in your parlours, wild cats in your kitchens,

Saints in your injuries, devils being offended,

Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds. Des. O, fye upon thee, slanderer!

Iago. Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk;

You rise to play, and go to bed to work.
Emil. You shall not write my praise.

Iago. No, let me not.

Des. What would'st thou write of me, if thou should'st praise me?

Iago. O gentle lady, do not put me to't;

For I am nothing, if not critical.'

Des. Come on, assay:-There's one gone to the harbour?

When you have a mind to do injuries, you put on an air of sanctity. JOHNS.
Critical, that is, censorious.

JOHNSON.

Iago. Ay, madam.

Des. I am not merry; but I do beguile The thing I am, by seeming otherwise.Come, how would'st thou praise me?

lago. I am about it; but, indeed, my invention Comes from my pate, as bird-lime does from frize, It plucks out brains and all: But my muse labours, And thus she is delivered.

If she be fair and wise,-fairness, and wit,

The one's for use, the other useth it.

Des. Well prais'd! How if she be black and witty?
Iago. If she be black, and thereto have a wit,

She'll find a white that shall her blackness fit.

Des. Worse and worse.

Emil. How, if fair and foolish?

lago. She never yet was foolish that was fair;

For even her folly help'd her to an heir.

Des. These are old fond paradoxes, to make fools laugh i'the alehouse. What miserable praise hast thou for her that's foul and foolish?

Iago. There's none so foul, and foolish thereunto, But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do.

Des. O heavy ignorance !—thou praisest the worst best. But what praise could'st thou bestow on a deserving woman indeed? one, that, in the authority of her merit, did justly put on the vouch of very malice itself?

lago. She that was ever fair, and never proud;
Had tongue at will, and yet was never loud;
Never lack'd gold, and yet went never gay;
Fled from her wish, and yet said,-
-now I may;
She that, being anger'd, her revenge being nigh,
Bade her wrong stay, and her displeasure fly;
She that in wisdom never was so frail,

To change the cod's head for the salmon's tail ;9
She that could think, and ne'er disclose her mind,
See suitors following, and not look behind;
She was a wight,-if ever such wight were,-
Des. To do what?

Iago. To suckle fools, and chronicle small beer.'

[8] To put on the vouch of malice---is, to assume a character vouched by the testimony of malice itself. JOHNSON.

[9] To exchange a delicacy for a coarser fare. See Q. Elizabeth's Household Book, &c. "Item, the master cookes have to fee all the salmon's tailes," &c. STEEV. [1] After enumerating the perfections of a woman, Iago adds, that if ever there was such a one as he had been describing she was at the best of no other use, than to suckle children, and keep the accounts of a household. The expressions, to suckle fools and chronicle small beer, are only instances of the want of natural

Des. O most lame and impotent conclusion!-Do not learn of him, Emilia, though he be thy husband.-How say you, Cassio? is he not a most profane and liberal counsellor ?

Cas. He speaks home, madam; you may relish him more in the soldier, than in the scholar.

Iago. [Aside.] He takes her by the palm: Ay, well said, whisper: with as little a web as this, will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do; I will gyve thee3 in thine own courtship. You say true; 'tis so, indeed if such tricks as these strip you out of your lieutenantry, it had been better you had not kissed your three fingers so oft, which now again you are most apt to play the sir in. Very good; well kissed! an excellent courtesy 'tis so, indeed. Yet again your fingers to your lips? would, they were clyster-pipes for your sake!--[Trumpet.] The Moor, I know his trumpet.

Cas. 'Tis truly so.

Des. Let's meet him, and receive him.

Cas. Lo, where he comes!

Enter OTHELLO, and Attendants.

Oth. O 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,
'Twere 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.

· Des. The heavens forbid,

But that our loves and comforts should increase,
Even as our days do grow!

Oth. Amen to that, sweet powers!—

I cannot speak enough of this content,

It stops me here; it is too much of joy :

affection, and the predominance of a critical censoriousness in lago, of which he allows himself to be possessed. STEEVENS.

[2] Profane---gross of language. Liberal, for licentious. Gyve--i. e. catch, shackle. POPE.

JOHNSON.

JOHNSON.

G

[4] Spoken when Cassio kisses his hand, and Desdemona courtsies.

10

VOL. X.