fore blame: he hath not yet made wanton the night with her; and she is sport for Jove. Cas. She's a most exquisite lady. Iago. And, I'll warrant her, full of game. Cas. Indeed, she is a most fresh and delicate 5 creature. Iago. What an eye she has! methinks, it sounds a parley of provocation. Cas. An inviting eye; and yet, methinks, right modest. lago. And, when she speaks, is it not an alarum to love? Cus. She is, indeed, perfection. Iago. I learn'd it in England, where (indeed) they are most potent in potting: your Dane, your 10 German, and your swag-bellied Hollander,Drink, ho!-are nothing to your English. Iago. Well, happiness to their sheets! Come, lieutenant, I have a stoop of wine; and here 15 without are a brace of Cyprus gallants, that would fain have a measure to the health of the black Othello. Cas. Not to-night, good lago; I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking: I could well 20 wish courtesy would invent some other custom of entertainment. Iago. O, they are our friends; but one cup: I'll drink for you. Cas. I have drunk but one cup to-night, and 25 that was craftily qualified too', and, behold, what innovation it makes here: I am unfortunate in the infirmity, and dare not task my weakness with any more. Iago. What, man! 'tis a night of revels; the 30 gallants desire it. Cas. Where are they? Iago. Here at the door; I pray you, call them in. 35 Whom love hath turn'd almost the wrong side 40 To Desdemona hath to-night carouz'd Am I to put our Cassio in some action Cas. Is your Englishman so exquisite in his drinking? Iago. 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. Cas. To the health of our general. Mont. I am for it, lieutenant; and I'll do you justice. lago. O sweet England! King Stephen was a worthy peer', His breeches cost him but a crown; And thou art but of low degree: Cas. Why, this is a more exquisite song than the other. Jago. Will you hear it again? Cas. No; for I hold him to be unworthy of his place, that does those things.-Well,-Heaven's above all; and there be souls that must be saved, and there be souls must not be saved. Iago. It's true, good lieutenant. Cas. For mine own part,-no offence to the general, nor any man of quality,-I hope to be saved. Iago. And so I do too, lieutenant. Cas. Ay, but, by your leave, not before me; the lieutenant is to be saved before the ancient, 45 Let's have no more of this: let's to our affairs.Forgive us our sins!-Gentlemen, 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 hand:-I am not drunk 50 now; I can stand well enough, and I speak well Jenough. That may offend the isle.—But here they come : Mont. Good faith, a little one; not past a pint, Iago. Some wine, ho! 1i. e. slily mixed with water. [Tago sings. All. Excellent well. Cas. Why, very well then: you must not think Iago. You see this fellow, that is gone before;→ i. e. As quarrelsome as the discordia semina rerum; as quick in opposition as fire and water. A rouse appears to be a quantity of liquor rather too large. * Thes: stanzas are taken from an old song, which the reader will find in Percy's Relicks of Ancient Poetry. 2. e. a worthy fellow. i. e. sorry fellow, paltry wretch. The general were put in mind of it. And looks not on his evils; Is not this true? Iago. How now, Roderigo? I pray you, after the lieutenant; go. [Exit Rod. It were an honest action to say so lago. Not I, for this fair island: Have you forgot all sense of place and duty? Hold, hold! the general speaks to you; hold, for shame! [this? Oth. Why, how now, ho! from whence ariseth 5 Are we turn'd Turks; and to ourselves do that, Which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites? For Christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl: He that stirs next to carve forth his own rage, Holds his soul light; he dies upon his motion.10 Silence that dreadful bell, it frights the isle From her propriety ». -What is the matter, In quarter and in terms like bride and groom 20 Swords out, and tilting one at other's breast, I do love Cassio well; and would do much Re-enter Cassio, driving in Roderigo. Cas. You rogue! you rascal! I'll beat the knave into a twiggen' bottle. Cas. Dost thou prate, rogue? Mont. Nay, good lieutenant; [Staying him. I pray you, sir, hold your hand. Cas. Let me go, sir, Or I'll knock you o'er the mazzard. [They fight. Cas. I pray you, pardon me, I cannot speak. 30 The world hath noted, and your name is great 35 Iago. Away, I say! go out, and cry-a mutiny. 40 [Aside to Rod. [Exit Roderigo. Nay, good lieutenant,-alas, gentlemen,Help,ho!-Lieutenant,-sir,-Montano,-sir;Help, masters! Here's a goodly watch, indeed!-45 Who's that that rings the bell?-Diablo, ho! [Bell rings. The town will rise: Fie, fie, lieutenant! hold; You will be sham'd for ever. Enter Othello, and Attendants. Oth. What is the matter here? Mont. I bleed still, I am hurt to the death;he dies 1. Oth. Hold, for your lives. Mont. Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger: Of all that I do know: nor know I aught, Oth. Now, by heaven, My blood begins my safer guides to rule; lago. Hold, hold, lieutenant,-sir,-Montano, 55 To manage private and domestic quarrel, -gentlemen, In night, and on the court and guard of safety !. 1i. e. If he have no drink, he'll keep awake while the clock strikes two rounds, or four-and-twenty hours. i. e. an infirmity rooted, settled in his constitution. 'A twiggen bottle is a bottle covered with wicker. 4i. e. he shall die. He may be supposed to say this as he renews the fight. i. e. 8 6 from her regular and proper state. i. e. in their quarters; at their lodging. i. e. you have thus forgot yourself. i. e. slacken, or loosen, put in danger of dropping; or perhaps strip of its ornaments. i. e. throw away and squander a reputation so valuable as yours. 10 Care of one's self. "Othello means, that passion has discoloured his judgement. To colly anciently signified to besmut, to blacken as with coal. The word is still used in the midland counties 12 i. c. he that is convicted, by proof, of having been engaged in this offence. Tis 'Tis monsterous.-Iago, who began 't? Jago. Touch me not so near: pause; I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth, More of this matter can I not report:→ Oth. I know, Iago, Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter, Enter Desdemona, attended. Look, if my gentle love be not rais'd up;- Des. What is the matter, dear? Oth. All's well now, sweeting: Come away to bed. Sir, for your hurts, myselfwill be your surgeon:Lead him off.→ [To Montano, who is led off. lago, look with care about the town; [pute yourself such a loser. What, man! there are ways to recover the general again: You are but now cast in his mood, a punishment more in policy than in malice; even so as one would beat 5 his offenceless dog, to affright an imperious lion: sue to him again, and he 's yours. Cas. I will rather sue to be despis'd, than to deceive so good a commander, with so slight, so drunken, and so indiscreet an officer. Drunk? 10 and speak parrot'? and squabble? swagger? swear? and discourse fustian with one's own shadow?-O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call theedevil! 15 Iago. What was he that you followed with your sword? What had he done to you? Cas. I know not. Iugo. Is it possible? Cas. I remember a mass of things, but nothing 20 distinctly; a quarrel, but nothing wherefore.-O, that men should put an enemy in their mouths, to steal away their brains! that we should, with joy, revel, pleasure, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts! 25 Iago. Why, but you are now well enough; How came you thus recover'd? Cas. It hath pleas'd the devil, drunkenness, to give place to the devil, wrath: one unperfectness shews me another, to make me frankly despise 30 myself. Iago. Come, you are too severe a moraler: As the time, the place, and the condition of this country stands, I could heartily wish this had not befallen; but, since it is as it is, mend it for your 35 own good. 40 And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted.--45 Cas. Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part, sir, of myself, and what remains is bestial.My reputation, Iago, my reputation. Cas. I will ask him for my place again; he shall tell me, I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by-and-by a fool, and presently a beast! O strange!-Every inordinate cap is unbless'd,and the ingredient is a devil. Iago. Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well used; exclaim no more against it. And, good lieutenant, I think, you think I love you. Cas. I have well approv'd it, sir.-I drunk! Iago. You, or any man living, may be drunk at some time, man. I tell you what you shall do. Our general's wife is now the general;-I may 50 say so in this respect, for that he hath devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, and denotement, of her parts and graces:--confess yourself freely to her; importune her; she 'll help to put you in your place again: she is of so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed a disposition, that she holds it a vice in her goodness, not to do more than she is requested: This broken joint, between you and her husband, intreat her to splinter; and, my fortunes against any lay worth naming, this crack of your love shall grow stronger than it was before. 55 Iago. As I am an honest man, I had thought you had receiv'd some bodily wound; there is more offence in that, than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving: 60 You have lost no reputation at all, unless you re Affin'd, is bound by proximity of relationship; but here it means related by nearness of office. i. e. ejected in his anger. A phrase signifying to act foolishly and childishly. Cas. You advise me well. lago. I protest, in the sincerity of love, and honest kindness. Cas. I think it freely; and, betimes in the morning, I will beseech the virtuous Desdemona 5 to undertake for me: I am desperate of my fortunes, if they check me here. Iago. You are in the right. Good night, lieutenant; I must to the watch. Cas. Good night, honest Iago. [Exit Cassio. 10 villain? When this advice is free' I give, and honest, She shall undo her credit with the Moor. Rod. I do follow here in the chace, not like a hound that hunts, but one that fills up the cry.My money is almost spent; I have been to-night exceedingly well cudgell'd; and, I think, the issue will be--I shall have so much experience for my pains and so, with no money at all, and a little more wit, return to Venice. [tience! : Jago. How poor are they, that have not pa What wound did ever heal, but by degrees? 15 Thou know'st, we work by wit, and not by witchcraft; And wit depends on dilatory time. Does 't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee, And thou,by that small hurt,hast cashier'd Cassio: 20 Though other things grow fair against the sun, Yet fruits, that blossom first, will first be ripe: Content thyself a while.-By the mass, 'tis morn ing: Pleasure, and action, make the hours seem short.-25 Retire thee; go where thou art billeted: Away, I say; thou shalt know more hereafter: Nay, get thee gone.— ' [Exit Roderigo Two things are to be done,→ My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress; 30 I'll set her on; Myself, the while, will draw the Moor apart, III. that I know. But, masters, here's money for you: and the general so likes your music, that he 45 desires you, of all loves, to make no more noise with it. your pains, Something that's brief; and bid-good-morrow, [Musick plays, and enter Clown.[50 Clown. Why, masters, have your instruments been at Naples, that they speak i' the nose thus'? Mus. How, sir, how? Clown. Are these, I pray you, call'd wind in Mus. Well, sir, we will not. Clown. If you have any music that may not be heard, to 't again: but, as they say, to hear music, the general does not greatly care. Mus. We have none such, sir. Clown. Then put up your pipes in your bag, før I'll away: Go; vanish into air; away. [Exeunt Mus Cas. Dost thou hear, my honest friend? Clown. No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear you. Cas. Pr'ythee, keep up thy quillets. There's a poor piece of gold for thee: if the gentlewoman 1 that attends the general's wife, be stirring, tell her, there's one Cassio entreats her a little favour of speech: Wilt thou do this? Clown. She is stirring, sir; if she will stir hither, I shall seem to notify unto her. [Exit Clown. Enter Iago. Cas. Do, good my friend.-In happy time, Iago. Jago. I'll send her to you presently:" [Exit. Cas. I hun bly thank you for 't. I never knew Emil. Good morrow, good lieutenant: I am sorry Cas. Ay, but, lady, That policy may either last so long, Des. Do not doubt that; before Æmilia here, For your displeasure; but all will soon be well. And needs no other suitor, but his likings, Cas. Yet, I beseech you, If f you think fit, or that it may be done,- Emil. Pray you, come in; I will bestow you where you shall have time Cas. I am much bound to you. SCENE 30 my His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift; With Cassio's suit: Therefore be merry, Cassio; Enter Othello, and Iago, at a distance. Des. Why, stay, and hear me speak. Cas. Madam, not now; I am very ill at ease, 35 Unfit for mine own purposes. [Exeunt. 40 II. A Room in the Castle. Enter Othello, Iugo, and Gentlemen. Oth. These letters give, lago, to the pilot; And, by him, do my duties to the state: That done, I will be walking on the works, Repair there to me. 1451 [see 't? 50 Lago. Well, my good lord, I'll do 't. SCENE III. Another Room in the Castle. [Exeunt. That he would steal away so guilty-like, Oth. I do believe, 'twas-he. Des. How now, my lord? I have been talking with a suitor here, A man that languishes in your displeasure. Des. Why, your lieutenant Cassio. Good my If I have any grace, or power to move you, For, if he be not one that truly loves you, 55 That errs in ignorance, and not in cunning, I have no judgement in an honest face: mil. Good madam, do; I know it grieves my 60 As if the case were his. I pr'ythee, call him back. Oth. Went he hence now? Des. Ay, sooth; so humbled, That he hath left part of his grief with me, It is said, that the ferocity of beasts, insuperable and irreclaimable by any other means, is subdued by keeping them from sleep. |