Cassio's a proper man: Let me see now; As asses are. I have't;-it is engender'd:-Hell and night Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light. [Exit. ACT II. SCENE I. A Sea-port Town in Cyprus. A· Platform. Enter MONTANO and Two Gentlemen. Mon. What from the cape can you discern at sea? 1 Gent. Nothing at all: it is a high-wrought flood; I cannot, 'twixt the heaven and the main, Mon. Methinks, the wind hath spoke aloud at land; A fuller blast ne'er shook our battlements: What ribs of oak, when mountains melt on them, 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:" 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, Mon. I am glad on't; 'tis a worthy governor. Touching the Turkish loss,-yet he looks sadly, And prays the Moor be safe; for they were parted With foul and violent tempest. 'Pray heaven he be; Mon. As throw out our eyes for brave Othello; 9 And quench the guards of the ever-fixed pole:] Alluding to the star Arctophylax. 1 Like a full soldier.] Like a complete soldier. 9 Even till we make the main, and the aerial blue, Cas. Thanks to the valiant of this warlike isle, For I have lost him on a dangerous sea! Cas. His bark is stoutly timber'd, and his pilot [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 governour. 2 Gent. They do discharge their shot of cour[Guns heard. tesy: 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. [Exit. Of very expert and approv'd allowance;] Expert and approv'd allowance is put for allow'd and approv'd expertness. This mode of expression is not unfrequent in Shakspeare. 3 Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death, Stand in bold cure.] Presumptuous hopes, which have no foundation in probability, may poetically be said to surfeit themselves to death, or forward their own dissolution. To stand in bold cure, is to erect themselves in confidence of being fulfilled. 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, Does bear all excellency. in? How now? who has put 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, 5 Their mortal natures, letting go safely by Mon. What is she? Cas. She that I spake of, our great captain's captain, Left in the conduct of the bold Iago; Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts, 4 And in the essential vesture of creation, Does bear all excellency.] The author seems to use essential, for existent, real. She excels the praises of invention, says he, and in real qualities, with which creation has invested her, bears ull excellency. • Their mortal natures,] i. e. their deadly, destructive natures. Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA, IAGO, RODERIGO, and Attendants. The riches of the ship is come on shore! 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. [Exit Gentleman. [To EMILIA. Good ancient, you are welcome;-Welcome, mis Let it not gall your patience, good Iago, [Kissing her. Iago. 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: Emil. You have little cause to say so.. |