Oth. Well, my good lady:-[Afide.] O, hard-15 Def. Heaven blefs us!

[forrow. 20

'Twould make her amiable, and fubdue my father 50
Intirely to her love; but, if fhe loft it,
Or made a gift of it, my father's eye
Should hold her loathly, and his spirits should hunt
After new fancies: She, dying, gave it me;
And bid me, when my fate would have me wive,
To give it her. I did fo: and take heed on't,
Make it a darling like your precious eye;
To lofe 't, or give 't away, were fuch perdition,
As nothing elfe could match.

A Portugueze coin, (fo called from the crofs ftamped upon it) in value three fhillings fterling. 2 i. e. a rheum obftinately troublesome. 3 i.e. number'd the fun's courfes. 4 i. c. vebement, violent.

And shut myself up in fome other course,
To fortune's alms'.

Def. Alas! thrice-gentle Caffio,

My advocation is not now in tune;

My lord is not my lord; nor fhould I know him, 5

Were he in favour2, as in humour, alter'd.

So help me every spirit fanctified,

As I have spoken for you all my beft;

And stood within the blank of his displeasure 3,

Emil. Lady, Amen.

Def. I will go feek him.-Caffio, walk hereabout: If I do find him fit, I'll move your fuit,

And feek to effect it to my uttermoft.

Caf. I humbly thank your ladyship.

[Exeunt Desdemona and Æmilia. Enter Bianca.

Bian. Save you, friend Caffio!

Caf. What make you from home?

For my free speech! You must a while be patient: 10 How is it with you, my most fair Bianca ?
What I can do, I will; and more I will,

Than for myself I dare; let that suffice you.
Lago. Is my lord angry?

Amil. He went hence but now,
And, certainly, in ftrange unquietness.

Indeed, fweet love, I was coming to your house.

Bian. And I was going to your lodging, Caffio.
What! keep a week away? feven days and nights?
Eightscore eight hours? and lovers' absent hours,
15 More tedious than the dial eightscore times?
O weary reckoning!

Iago. Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon
When it hath blown his ranks into the air;
And, like the devil, from his very arm
Puff'd his own brother;-And can he be angry?
Something of moment, then I will go meet him; 20
There's matter in 't indeed, if he be angry. [Exit.
Def. I pr'ythee, do fo.-Something, fure, of
state,

Either from Venice; or fome unhatch'd practice +,
Made demonftrable here in Cyprus to him,-
Hath puddled his clear spirit: and, in fuch cafes,
Men's natures wrangle with inferior things,
Though great ones are their object.
"Tis even fo; for let our finger ach,

And it endues our other healthful members

Even to that sense of pain: Nay, we must think,
Men are not gods;

Nor of them look for fuch obfervancy

As fits the bridal.-Beshrew me much, Æmilia,
I was (unhandsome warrior 5 as I am)
Arraigning his unkindness with my foul;
But now I find, I had fuborn'd the witness,
And he's indited falfely.

Emil. Pray heaven, it be state matters, as you
think;

And no conception, nor no jealous toy,
Concerning you.

Def. Alas the day! I never gave him cause.
Emil. But jealous fouls will not be anfwer'd fo;
They are not ever jealous for the cause,
But jealous for they are jealous: 'tis a monster,
Begot upon itself, born on itself.

Def. Heaven keep that monster from Othello's
mind!

Caf. Pardon me, Bianca;

I have this while with leaden thoughts been prefs'd:
But I fhall, in a more continuate time,
Strike off this fcore of abfence. Sweet Bianca,
[Giving ber Desdemona's bandkerchief.

Take me this work out?.

Bian. O Caffio, whence came this?
This is fome token from a newer friend.
25 To the felt absence now I feel a caufe:
Is it come to this? Well, well.

Caf. Go to, woman!

Throw your vile guesses in the devil's teeth,
From whence you have them. You are jealous now,
30 That this is from some mistress, some remembrance:
No, in good troth, Bianca.

Bian. Why, whofe is it?

[ber.

Caf. I know not, fweet: I found it in my cham

I like the work well; ere it be demanded,
35 (As like enough it will) I'd have it copy'd :
Take it and do 't; and leave me for this time.
Bian. Leave you! wherefore?

Caf. I do attend here on the general;
And think it no addition, nor my wish,
40 To have him fee me woman'd.
Bian. Why, I pray you?

Caf. Not that I love you not.

Bian. But that you do not love me.

I pray you, bring me on the way a little;

45 And fay, if I fhall fee you foon at night.

Caf. 'Tis but a little way that I can bring you,
For I attend here: but I'll fee you foon.
Bian. 'Tis very good; I must be circumstanc'd3.

The meaning, according to Mr. Steevens, is, "I will put on a constrained appearance of being contented, and shut myfelf up in a different courfe of life, no longer to depend on my own efforts, but to wait for relief from the accidental hand of charity." We think, however, it means no more than that he would try what Fortune would do for him in fome other courfe of life. 2 In look, in countenance. 3 i. e. within the shot of his anger. 4 Some treason that has not taken effect. 5 Urbandsome warrior, is unfair afssailant. 6 i. e. a time lefs interrupted, time which I can call more my own. 7 i. c. "Copy this work in another handkerchief.” * i. e. Your civility is now grown conditional,

ACT

heaven.

No more than he'll unfwear.

Oth. What hath he faid?

Iago. Why, that he did,-I know not what he did.
Oth. What? what?

Iago. Lie

Otb. With her?

Iago. With her, on her; what you will. Otb. Lie with her! lie on her!-We fay, lie on her, when they belie her: Lie with her! that's 10 fulfome. Handkerchief,-confeffions,-handker chief.-To confefs, and be hang'd for his labour.

Firft, to be hang'd, and then-to confefs :-I tremble at it.-Nature would not invest herself in fuch shadowing paffion, without fome inftruction.

The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt 15 It is not words, that shake me thus 3 :—Pish !—
Nofes, ears, and lips+:-Is it poffible ?-Confess!
-Handkerchief!-O devil!-

Iago. So they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip :

But if I give my wife a handkerchief,

caught;

[Falls in a trance.

Iago. Why, then 'tis hers, my lord; and, being 20 My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are She may, I think, bestow 't on any man.

Otb. She is protectress of her honour too;

May the give that?

Iago. Her honour is an effence that 's not feen;
They have it very oft, that have it not :
But, for the handkerchief,-

Oth. By heaven, I would most gladly have for-
got it :-

Thou faidft,-O, it comes o'er my memory,
As doth the raven o'er the infected house,
Boding to all, he had my handkerchief.
Iago. Ay, what of that?

Orb. That's not fo good now.

lago. What if I had faid, I had feen him do

you wrong?

Or heard him fay,-As knaves be such abroad,
Who having, by their own importunate suit,
Or voluntary dotage of some mistress,
Convinced or fupplied them, cannot choose
But they muft blab,

Orb. Hath he faid any thing?

Lago. He hath, my lord; but, be you well affur'd,

25

And many worthy and chaste dames, even thus,
All guiltlefs meet reproach.-What, ho! my lord!
My lord, I fay!-Othello!—How now, Caffio?
Enter Caffio.

Caf. What's the matter?

Iago. My lord is falien into an epilepfy; This is his fecond fit; he had one yesterday. Caf. Rub him about the temples.

30 Iago. No, forbear:

35

The lethargy must have his quiet course :
If not, he foams at mouth; and, by and by,
Breaks out to favage madness. Look, he stirs:
Do you withdraw yourself a little while,
He will recover ftraight; when he is gone,

I would on great occasion speak with you.-
[Exit Caffio.

How is it, general? have you not hurt your head?
Orb. Doft thou mock me?

Iago. I mock you! no, by heaven :
'Would, you would bear your fortunes like a man.
Otb. A horned man 's a monster, and a beast.

This obfervation, Dr. Warburton fays, feems ftrangely abrupt and unoccafioned. We must fuppofe that Iago had, before they appear in this scene, been applying cases of false comfort to Othello; as that though the parties had been even found in bed together, there might be no harm done; it might be only for the trial of their virtue; as was reported of the Romish faint, Robert D'Arbriffel and his nuns. To this we muft fuppofe Othello here replies; and like a good proteftant. For fo the fentiment does but fuit the character of the speaker, Shakspeare little heeds how thefe fentiments are circumftanced. 2 Convinc'd, for conquer'd, fubdued. 3 Dr. Johnson's comment on this paffage is as follows: "There has always prevailed in the world an opinion, that when any great calamity happens at a distance, notice is given of it to the sufferer by fome dejection or perturbation of mind, of which he discovers no external caufe. This is afcribed to that general communication of one part of the universe with another, which is called sympathy and antipathy; or to the fecret monition, inAtruction, and influence of a fuperior Being, which fuperintends the order of nature and of life. Othello fays, Nature could not inveft berfelf in fuch fhadowing paffion without inftruction. It is not words that shake me thus. This paffion, which spreads its clouds over me, is the effect of fome agency more than the operation of words; it is one of thofe notices which men have of unfeen calamities." 4 Othello is imagining to himself the familiarities which he supposes to have passed between Caffio and his wife.

Iago,

1

Think, every bearded fellow, that 's but yok'd,
May draw with you: there's millions now alive,
That nightly lie in those unproper 1 beds,
Which they dare fwear peculiar; your cafe is better.
O, 'tis the spight of hell, the fiend's arch-mock,
To lip a wanton in a fecure couch,
And to fuppofe her chafte! No, let me know;
And, knowing what I am, I know what the fhall be.
Oth. O, thou art wife; 'tis certain.
Iago. Stand you a while apart :
Confine yourself but in a patient list 2.

Whilft you were here, ere while, mad with your

grief,

(A paffion moft unfuiting fuch a man)
Caffio came hither: I fhifted him away,
And laid good 'fcufe upon your ecstasy 3;
Bade him anon return, and here speak with me;
The which he promis'd. Do but encave yourself 4,
And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorns,
That dwell in every region of his face;
For I will make him tell the tale anew,-
Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when
He hath, and is again to cope your wife;
I fay, but mark his gefture. Marry, patience;
Or I fhall fay, you are all in all in fpleen,
And nothing of a man.

Oth. Doft thou hear, Iago?

I will be found most cunning in my patience;
But (doft thou hear?) most bloody.

Iago. That 's not amifs;

Now will I queftion Caffio of Bianca,
A housewife, that, by felling her defires,
Buys herself bread and cloaths: it is a creature,
That dotes on Caffio,-as 'tis the ftrumpet's plague,
To beguile many, and be beguil'd by one;
He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain
From the excess of laughter :-Here he comes :-
Enter Caffio.

As he fhall fmile, Othello fhall go mad;
And his unbookish 5 jealousy must conftrue
Poor Caffio's fmiles, gestures, and light behaviour,
Quite in the wrong.-How do you now, lieutenant?

Caf. The worfer, that you give me the addition,
Whofe want even kills me.

Iago. Ply Desdemona well, and you are fure on 't Now, if this fuit lay in Bianca's power,

How quickly fhould you speed?
Caf. Alas, poor caitiff!

[Speaking lower.

5

Oth. Look, how he laughs already! [Afide.
Lago. I never knew a woman love man fo.
Caf. Alas, poor rogue! I think, indeed, the
loves me.

Oth. Now he denies it faintly, and laughs it out.
[Afide.

Iago. Do you hear, Caffio?

Oth. Now he importunes him

To tell it o'er: Go to; well faid, well faid. [Afide.
Iago. She gives it out, that you fhall marry her:
Do you intend it?

Caf. Ha, ha, ha!

Caf. This is the monkey's own giving out: the is perfuaded I will marry her, out of her own love 25 and flattery, not out of my promise.

Oth. Iago beckons me; now he begins the story.

[Afide.

Caf. She was here even now; the haunts me in every place. I was, the other day, talking on the 30fea-bank with certain Venetians; and thither comes the bauble; by this hand, the falls thus about my neck ;

35

40

Oth. Crying, O dear Caffio! as it were: his gefture imports it. [Afide. Caf. So hangs, and lolls, and weeps upon me; fo hales, and pulls me: ha, ha, ha !—

Oth. Now he tells, how the pluck'd him to my chamber: O, I fee that nofe of yours, but not that dog I fhall throw it to.

[Afide.

Caf. Well, I must leave her company.
Lago. Before me! look, where fhe comes.

Enter Bianca.

Caf. 'Tis fuch another fitchew! marry, a perfum'd one.-What do you mean by this haunting 45 of me?

Bian. Let the devil and his dam haunt you! What did you mean by that fame handkerchief, you gave me even now? I was a fine fool to take it. I must take out the whole work.-A likely 50 piece of work, that you fhould find it in your chamber, and not know who left it there! This is fome minx's token, and I must take out the work? There, give it your hobby-horse: wherefoever you had it, I'll take out no work on 't. Caf. How now, my fweet Bianca? how now?

55

how now?

1 Unproper, for common. 2 Lift, or lifts, is barriers, bounds. Keep your temper, says Iago, within the bounds of patience. 3 i. e. trance. 4 i. e. hide yourself in a private place. 5 Unbookish, for ignorant. Othello calls him Roman ironically. Triumph, which was a Roman ceremony, brought Roman into his thoughts. 7 A common woman, one that invites cuftom. 8 To fcore, fays Mr. Steevens, originally meant no more than to cut a notch upon a tally, or to mark out a form by indenting it on any substance; but it was foon figuratively used for setting a brand or mark of disgrace on any one.

9 A polecat. A pole-cat was anciently one of the cant terms for a ftrumpet.

Oth

Iago. Yours, by this hand: and to fee how he prizes the foolish woman your wife! he gave it 20 him, and he hath given it his whore.

Orb. I would have him nine years a killing :A fine woman! a fair woman! a fweet woman! Iago. Nay, you must forget that.

Oth. Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damn'd 25 to-night; for she shall not live: No, my heart is turn'd to ftone; I ftrike it, and it hurts my hand. O, the world hath not a sweeter creature: fhe might lie by an emperor's fide, and command him tasks.

Iago. Nay, that's not your way.

30

Oth. Hang her! I do but fay what he is:-So delicate with her needle !-An admirable mufician! O, fhe will fing the favageness out of a bear!-Of fo high and plenteous wit and inven-35 tion!

Iago. She's the worfe for all this.

Otb. O, a thoufand, a thousand times :-And then, of fo gentle a condition!

Iago. Something from Venice, fure. 'Tis Lodovico,

[him.

Come from the duke: and, fee, your wife is with
Enter Lodovico, Desdemona, and Attendants.
Lod. Save you, worthy general!
Otb. With all my heart, fir.

Lod. The duke and fenators of Venice grect you..
[Gives him a letter.

Oth. I kifs the inftrument of their pleasures.
Def. And what's the news, good cousin Lodovico?
lago. I am very glad to fee you, fignior;
Welcome to Cyprus.

Lod. I thank you: How does lieutenant Caffio?
Iago. Lives, fir.

Def. Coufin, there's fallen between him and
my lord

An unkind breach: but you shall make all well.
Oth. Are you sure of that?
Def. My lord?

6

Oth. This fail you not to do, as you will—

40

Def. I have not deferv'd this.

45

[Striking ber.

Lod. My lord, this would not be believ'd in Venice, Though I should fwear I faw it: "Tis very much; Make her amends, the weeps.

Oth. O devil, devil!

If that the earth could teem with woman's tears,
Each drop the falls would prove a crocodile :—

Out of my fight!

Def. I will not ftay to offend you.

[Going.

Lod. Truly, an obedient lady :--

50I

do befeech your lordship, call her back.

Oth. Miftrefs,

Def. My lord?

Orb. What would you with her, fir?

Led. Who, I, my lord?

[turn?

Oth. Ay; you did wifn, that I would make her
Sir, fhe can turn, and turn, and yet go on,
And turn again; and the can weep, fir, weep;
And fhe's obedient, as you fay,―obedient,-
Very obedient ;-Proceed you in your tears.
Concerning this, fir,-O well-painted paffion!-
I am commanded home :-Get you away;
I'll fend for you anon.-Sir, I obey the mandate,

i. e. to reconcile them.

And