Orb. Not now, fweet Defdemona; fome other

time.

Def. But fhall 't be shortly?
Orb. The fooner, fweet, for you.
Def. Shall 't be to-night at fupper?

Otb. No, not to-night.

Def. To-morrow dinner then?

Oth. I fhall not dine at home.

I meet the captains at the citadel.

[morn;

5

Def. Why then, to-morrow night; or Tuefday 10
Or Tuesday noon, or night; or Wednesday morn;
I pray thee, name the time; but let it not
Exceed three days: in faith, he's penitent;
And yet his trefpafs, in our common reason,

(Save that, they fay, the wars must make ex-15
amples

Out of their beft) is not almost a fault

To incur a private check: When shall he come?
Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my foul,
What you could ask me, that I should deny,
Or ftand fo mammering on. What! Michael
Caffio,

[time,
That came a-wooing with you; and fo many a
When I have spoke of you difpraisingly,
Hath ta'en your part; to have so much to do
To bring him in! Trust me, I could do much,-
Orb. Pr'ythee, no more: let him come when
he will;

I will deny thee nothing.

Def. Why, this is not a boon;'

"Tis as I fhould entreat you wear your gloves,
Or feed on nourishing difhes, or keep you warm;
Or fue to you to do a peculiar profit

To your own perfon: Nay, when I have a fuit,
Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed,
It fhall be full of poize 2 and difficulty,
And fearful to be granted.

Oth. I will deny thee nothing:
Whereon, I do befeech thee, grant me this,-
To leave me but a little to myself.

Def. Shall I deny you? no: Farewel, my lord.
Otb. Farewel, my Defdemona: I will come to
thee ftraight.
[teach you

Def. Emilia, come :-)
-Be it as your fancies
Whate'er you be, I am obedient.

[Exit with Emil.
Otb. Excellent wretch 3! Perdition catch my foul,
But I do love thee! and when I love thee not,
Chaos is come again 4.

Iago. My noble lord.

Orb. What doft thou fay, Iago?

[lady,

Iago. Did Michael Caffio, when you woo'd my Know of your love? [afk?

Oth. He did, from first to last: Why doft thou

Otb. Think, my lord;-By heaven, he echoes
As if there were fome monster in his thought,
Too hideous to be shewn.-Thou doft mean fome-
thing:

20I heard thee fay but now,-Thou lik'dst not that,
When Caffio left my wife; What didst not like?
And, when I told thee-he was of my counsel
In my whole courfe of wooing, thou cry'dft,

Indeed!

25 And didft contract and purse thy brow together,
As if thou then hadft fhut up in thy brain
Some horrible conceit. If thou dost love me,
Shew me thy thought.

30

Iago. My lord, you know I love you.
Oth. I think, thou do'ft;

And, for I know thou art full of love and ho

nefty,

[breath,And weigh'ft thy words before thou giv'ft them Therefore thefe ftops of thine fright me the more: 35 For fuch things, in a falfe difloyal knave, Are tricks of cuftom; but, in a man that's juft, They are close delations 5, working from the heart, That paffion cannot rule.

Iago. For Michael Caffio,

40I dare be fworn, I think that he is honeft.
Otb. I think fo too.

45

Iago. Men fhould be what they seem;
Or, thofe that be not, 'would they might feem
none 6 !

Oth. Certain, men should be what they feem.
Iago. Why then, I think Caffio's an honeft

man.

To hefitate, to stand in fufpence. 2 i. e. of weight. 3 The word wretch, in fome parts of England, is a term of the fofteft and fondeft tenderness. It expreffes the utmost degree of amiablenefs, joined with an idea, which perhaps all tenderness includes, of feebleness, foftnefs, and want of protection. 4 i. e. When I ceafe to love thee, the world is at an end; i. e. there remains nothing valuable or important. 5 i. e. occult and fecret accufations, working involuntarily from the beart, which though refolved to conceal the fault, cannot rule its paffion of refentment. 6 i. c. would they might na longer feem, or bear the shape of men,

Utter

Utter my thoughts? Why, fay, they are vile and
falfe,--

As where's that palace, whereinto foul things
Sometimes intrude not? who has a breaft fo pure,
But fome uncleanly apprehenfions

Keep leets, and law-days, and in feffion fit
With meditations lawful 1?

Oth. Thou doft confpire against thy friend, Iago,
If thou but think'st him wrong'd, and mak'st his
A ftranger to thy thoughts.

Iago. I do befeech you,

Think'ft thou, I'd make a life of jealoufy,
To follow ftill the changes of the moon
With fresh fufpicions? No; to be once in doubt,
Is-once to be refolv'd: Exchange me for a goat,
5 When I fhall turn the business of my foul
To fuch exfuffolate and blown furmises 5,
Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me
jealous,

[ear 10

Though I-perchance, am vicious in my guefs 2,
(As, I confefs, it is my nature's plague
To spy into abuses; and, oft, my jealousy
Shapes faults that are not) that your wifdom yet,
From one that so imperfectly conceits,
Would take no notice; nor build yourself a trouble
Out of his scattering and unfure observance :-
It were not for your quiet, nor your good,
Nor for my manhood, honesty or wifdom,
To let you know my thoughts.

Oth. What doft thou mean?

Jago. Good name, in man and woman, dear my lord,

Is the immediate jewel of their fouls:

Who steals my purse, steals trash; 'tis something,

nothing;

'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been flave to thousands;
But he, that filches from me my good name,
Robs me of that, which not enriches him,
And makes me poor indeed.

Oth. By heaven, I'll know thy thought.
Lago. You cannot, if my heart were in your
hand;

Nor fhall not, whilft 'tis in my cuftody.

Otb. Ha!

Iago. O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;
It is the green-ey'd monster, which doth mock 3
The meat it feeds on: That cuckold lives in blifs,
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;
But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er, [loves!
Who dotes, yet doubts; fufpects, yet strongly
Oth. O mifery!

Lago. Poor, and content, is rich, and rich enough;
But riches, finelefs 4, is as poor as winter,
To him that ever fears he fhall be poor :-
Good heaven, the fouls of all my tribe defend
From jealousy!

Orb. Why? why is this?

To fay-my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company,
Is free of speech, fings, plays, and dances well;
Where virtue is, these are more virtuous;
Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw
The fmalleft fear, or doubt of her revolt;
For the had eyes, and chofe me: No, Iago;
15 I'll fee, before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
And, on the proof, there is no more but this,→→→
Away at once with love, or jealousy. [reafon
Iago. I am glad of this; for now I fhall have
To fhew the love and duty that I bear you
20 With franker fpirit: therefore, as I am bound,
Receive it from me :-I fpeak not yet of proof.
Look to your wife; obferve her well with Caffio;
Wear your eye-thus, not jealous, nor fecure:
I would not have your free and noble nature,
Out of felf-bounty 6, be abus'd; look to 't:
I know our country difpofition well;

25

In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks
They dare not fhew their husbands; their best
confcience

30 Is-not to leave undone, but keep unknown.
Otb. Doft thou say so?

35

40

45

Iago. She did deceive her father, marrying you; And, when the feem'd to fhake, and fear your looks, She lov'd them most 7.

I The poet's meaning is, "Who has a breaft fo little apt to form ill opinions of others, but that foul fufpicions will fometimes mix with his fairest and most candid thoughts, and erect a court in his mind, to enquire of the offences apprehended? 2 i. e. am apt to put the worst construction on every thing. i. e. loaths that which nourishes and fuftains it. This being a miferable state, Iago bids him beware of it. 4 i. e. unbounded, endlefs, unnumbered treasures. 5 The allufion is to a bubble. • Self-bounty, for inherent generofity. 7 Dr. Johnfon obferves, that "this and the following argument of Iago ought to be deeply impreffed on every reader. Deceit and falfhood, whatever conveniencies they may for a time promife or produce, are, in the fum of life, obstacles to happinefs. Those who profit by the cheat, diftruft the deceiver, and the act by which kindness was fought, puts an end to confidence. The fame objection may be made with a lower degree of strength against the imprudent generofity of disproportionate marriages. When the first heat of passion is over, it is eafily fucceeded by fufpicion, that the fame violence of inclination, which caused one irregularity, may stimulate to another; and those who have fhewn, that their paffions are too powerful for their prudence, will, with very flight appearances against them, be cenfured, as not very likely to restrain them by their virtue. Clofe as oak, means, clofe as the grain of the oak. To feel is an expreffion 3 Y 3

taken from falconry.

I am

I am to pray you not to strain my speech
To groffer iffues', nor to larger reach,
Than to fufpicion.

Oth. I will not.

Iago. Should you do fo, my lord,

My fpeech fhould fall into fuch vile fuccefs 2
As my thoughts aim not at. Caffio's my worthy
friend :

My lord, I fee you are mov'd,

Oth. No, not much mov'd :

I do not think but Desdemona's honeft.

Lago. Long live she fo! and long live you to think fo!

Oth. And yet, how nature erring from itself,

And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,
Of human dealings: If I do prove her haggard,
Though that her jeffes 9 were my dear heart-strings,
I'd whistle her off, and let her down the wind,
5 To prey at fortune 10. Haply, for I am black;
And have not those soft parts of conversation
That chamberers 11 have: Or, for I am declin'd
Into the vale of years;—yet that's not much;→→
She's gone; I am abus'd; and my relief
16 Muft be-to loath her. O curfe of marriage,
That we can call these delicate creatures ours,
And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad,
And live upon the vapour of a dungeon,
Than keep a corner in the thing I love,

Tago, Ay, there's the point: As,—to be bold 15 For others' uses. Yet, 'tis the plague of great ones;

20

Prerogativ'd are they lefs than the base:
'Tis deftiny unfhunnable, like death;
Even then this forked plague 12 is fated to us,
When we do quicken. Desdemona comes:
Enter Desdemona and Æmilia.

If the be falfe, O, then heaven mocks itself!-
I'll not believe it.

Def. How now, my dear Othello? Your dinner, and the generous islanders 13 25 By you invited, do attend your prefence.

[Going-30

To scan this thing no further; leave it to time:
And though it be fit that Caffio have his place,
(For, fure, he fills it up with great ability)
Yet, if you please to hold him off a while,
You fhall by that perceive him and his means:
Note, if your lady ftrain his entertainment 5
With any ftrong, or vehement importunity;
Much will be feen in that. In the mean time,
Let me be thought too busy in my fears,
(As worthy cause I have, to fear-I am)
And hold her free, I do befeech your honour.
Otb. Fear not my government".

Oth. I am to blame.

[well?

Def. Why is your speech so faint? are you not
Oth. I have a pain upon my forehead here.
Def, Why, that's with watching; 'twill away
again :

Let me but bind it hard, within this hour
It will be well.

Oth. Your napkin 14 is too little;

[She drops ber bandkerchief. 35 Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you. Def. I am very forry that you are not well, [Exeunt Def. and Orb.

Emil. I am glad, I have found this napkin;
This was her firft remembrance from the Moor:
40 My wayward husband hath a hundred times
Woo'd me to steal it; but she fo loves the token,
(For he conjur'd her, the should ever keep it)
That the referves it evermore about her,
To kifs and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out,
45 And give it Iago:

What he'll do with it, heaven knows, not I;
I nothing but to please his phantasy.
Enter Iago.

lago. How now? what do you here alone?

Iffues, for conclufions. 2 Iago means," Should you do fo, my lord, my words would be attended by fuch infamous degree of fuccefs, as my thoughts do not even aim at." 3 A rank will, is felf-will overgrown and exuberant. 4 i. e. You fhall difcover whether he thinks his best means, his moft powerful intereft, is by the folicitation of your lady. 5 i. e. prefs hard his re-admiffion to his pay and office. Entertainment was the military term for admiffion of foldiers.

6

i. e. do not

diftruft my ability to contain my passion. 7 Learned, for experienced. 8 A baggard hawk is a wild hawk, a bawk difficult to be reclaim'd. It appears alfo, that baggard was a term of reproach fometimes applied to a wanton. 9 Jeffes are short ftraps of leather tied about the foot of a hawk, by which the is held on the fift. 10 Dr. Johnson obferves, that the falconers always let fly the hawk against the wind, if the flies with the wind behind her, the feldom returns. If therefore a hawk was for any reafon to be difmiffed, the was let down the wind, and from that time shifted for herself, and prey'd at fortune, 11 i, e. men of intrigue. 12 In allusion, according to Dr. Johnfon, to a barbed or forked arrow, which, once infixed, cannot be extracted. Or, according to Dr. Percy, the forked plaque may mean the cuckold's borns. 13 The generous iflanders are the islanders of rank, diftinétion, your pocket handkerchief,

Farewel the neighing fleed, and the fhrill trump,
The fpirit-ftirring drum, the ear-piercing fife,
The royal banner; and all quality,

Pride, pomp, and circumftance of glorious war!
And O you mortal engines, whofe rude throats
The immortal Jove's dread clamours counterfeit,
Farewel! Othello's occupation's gone!

Iago. Is it poffible?-My lord,---

Oth. Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore; 10 Be fure of it; give me the ocular proof;

15

[Snatching it. 20

[Exit Emil. 25

30

That liv'ft to make thine honesty a vice!

O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O world,
To be direct and honest, is not safe.-

I thank you for this profit: and, from hence,
35 I'll love no friend, fith love breeds fuch offence,
Oth. Nay, ftay :-Thou shouldst be honest.
Iago. I fhould be wife; for honesty's a fool,
And lofes that it works for.

Oth. What fenfe had I of her ftolen hours of luft?
I faw it not, thought it not, it harm'd not me:
I flept the next night well, was free, and merry; 50
I found not Caffio's kiffes on her lips:

He that is robb'd, not wanting what is stolen,
Let him not know it, and he's not robb'd at all.
Iago. I am forry to hear this.

Oth. I had been happy, if the general camp,
Pioneers and all, had tasted her fweet body,
So I had nothing known: O now, for ever,
Farewel the tranquil mind! farewel content!
Farewel the plumed troop, and the big wars,
That make ambition virtue! O, farewel!

1i. e. I being opportunely here, took it up. quality, and the ancients used it when they wanted an opiate of the most powerful kind. poffeffedst, or badf. 4 i. e. pity. 5 A ram in Staffordshire and some other counties is called

3Y4

5 Swallow them up.-Now, by yon marble heaven,
In the due reverence of a facred vow [He kneels.
I here engage my words.
Iago. Do not rise yet.-
Witnefs, you ever-burning lights above!
10 You elements that clip us round about!
Witnefs, that here lago doth give up
The execution of his wit, hands, heart,

To wrong'd Othello's fervice! Let him command,
And to obey shall be in me remorse,

15 What bloody work foever 7.

Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance bounte-
And will upon the inftant put thee to't:
Within these three days let me hear thee say,
20 That Caffio's not alive.

[queft: Iago. My friend is dead; 'tis done at your reBut let her live.

Otb. Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her!
Come, go with me apart; I will withdraw,
25 To furnish me with fome swift means of death
For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant.
Iago. I am your own for ever.

Cloron. He's a foldier; and for me to fay a foldier lies, is ftabbing.

Def. Go to; Where lodges he?

Clown. To tell you where he lodges, is to tell you where I lie.

Def. Can any thing be made of this?

Clown. I know not where he lodges; and for me to devife a lodging, and say-he lies here, or 45 he lies there, were to lie in mine own throat.

1 Prime is prompt, from the Celtic or British prim. 4 Hearted throne, is the heart on which thou waft enthroned. 5 i. e. fwell, because the 7 Mr. Tollet explains this paffage thus: "Let him command any bloody bufinefs, and to obey fhall be in me an act of pity and compassion for wrong'd Othello. Remorfe frequently fignifies pity, mercy, compaffion, or a tenderness of heart, unattended with the flings of a guilty confcience.