Imatges de pàgina
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On most part of the fleet.

Mont. How! is this true?

3

Gent. The fhip is here put in, (22)

A Veronella; Michael Caffio,

Lieutenant of the warlike Moor Othello,
Is come on fhore; the Moor himself's at fea,
And is in full commiffion here for Cyprus.
Mont. I'm glad on't; 'tis a worthy governor.
3 Gent. But this fame Caffio, though he speak

of comfort

Touching the Turkifh lofs, yet he looks fadly,
And prays the Moor be fafe; for they were parted
With foul and violent tempeft.

Mont. Pray Heavens he be:

For I have ferved him, and the man commands
Like a full foldier. Let's to the fea-fide,

As well to fee the veffel that's come in,

As to throw out our eyes for brave Othello,
Even till we make the main and the ærial blue
An indiftinct regard.

Gent. Come, let's do fo;

For every minute is expectancy
Of more arrivance.

but the eldest Quarto has called it fo; and, if there be a various reading, Mr Pope is pretty good at taking the wrong one. The two elder Folios, and the Quarto in 1630, read, as I have restored to the text;

(22)

A noble hip of Venice.

-The fhip is here put in;

A Veroneffo, Michael Caffio, &c] But Michael Caffio was no Veronefe; we find, from other paffages in the play, he was of Rome. I read with the best copies, only altering the pointing;

The hip is here put in,

A Veronea;

i. e. A veffel properly belonging to the state of Verona, but in the fervice of Venice: and Verona, I believe, does, by the Adige, fend down fhips to the Adriatic.

Enter CASSIO.

Caf. Thanks to the valiant of this warlike ifle, That fo approve the Moor: Oh, let the heavens Give him defence against the elements,

For I have loft him on a dangerous sea.
Mont. Is he well-fhipped?

Caf. His bark is ftoutly timbered, and his pilot
Of very expert and approved allowance;
Therefore my hopes, not furfeited to death,
Stand in bold cure.

Within.] A fail, a fail, a fail!
Caf. What noife?

Gent. The town is empty; on the brow of the fea Stand ranks of people, and they cry, a fail!

Caf. My hopes do fhape him for the governor. Gent. They do discharge their fhot of courtesy: Our friends at least.

Caf. I pray you, Sir, go forth,

And give us truth who 'tis that is arrived.

Gent. I fhall.

[Exit. Mont. But, good Lieutenant, is your general

wived?

Caf. Moft fortunately, he hath atchieved a maid That paragons defcription and wild fame? One that excels the quirks of blaz'ning pens, And in the effential vefture of creation Does bear all excellency

Enter Gentleman.

How now? who has put in?

Gent. 'Tis one lago, Ancient to the General. Caf. H'as had most favourable and happy fpeed: Tempefts themselves, high feas, and howling winds, The guttered rocks, and congregated fands, (Traitors enfteeped to clog the guiltless keel)

As having fenfe of beauty, do omit
Their mortal natures, letting fafe go by
The divine Desdemona.

Mont. What is the?

Caf. She that I fpake of, our great Captain's Left in the conduct of the bold Iago, [Captain, Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts, A fe'nnight's fpeed. Great Jove, Othello guard! And fwell his fail with thine own powerful breath, That he may bless this bay with his tall fhip, Make Love's quick pants in Defdemona's arms, Give renewed fire to our extinguished fpirits, And bring all Cyprus comfort

Enter DESDEMONA, IAGO, RODORIGO,

O behold!

and EMILIA.

The riches of the ship is come on fhore:
You 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.

Def. I thank you, valiant Caffio:

What tidings can you tell me of my Lord?
Caf. He is not yet arrived, nor know I aught
But that he's well, and will be shortly here.
Def. O, but I fear---how loft you company?
Caf. The great contention of the fea and skies
Parted our fellowship. But hark, a fail!
Within.] A fail, a fail!

Gent. They give this greeting to the citadel:
This likewife is a friend.

Caf. See for the news:

Good Ancient, you are welcome. Welcome, mi

ftrefs.

[To Æmilia.

Let it not gall your patience, good lago,
That I extend my manners. Tis my breeding,

That gives me this bold fhew of courtesy.

Iago. Sir, would she give you so much of her lips, As of her tongue fhe oft bestows on me, You'd have enough.

Def. Alas, fhe has no speech.

Iago. In faith, too much;

I find it ftill, when I have lift to fleep;
Marry, before your Ladyfhip, I grant,
She puts her tongue a little in her heart,
And chides with thinking.

Emil. You have little caufe to fay fo.

Iago. Come on, come on; you're pictures out of doors,

Bells in your parlours, wild cats in your kitchens, Saints in your injuries, devils being offended, Players in your houfewifery, and housewives in your beds!

Def. O, fy upon thee, flanderer !

Iago. Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk; You rife to play, and go to bed to work. Emil. You fhall not write my praise.

lago. No, let me not.

Def. What wouldft thou write of me, if thou fhouldt praise me?

Iago. Oh, gentle Lady, do not put me to't, For I am nothing, if not critical.

Def. Come, one aflay. There's one gone to the harbour----.......

Iago. Ay, Madam.

Def. I am not merry; but do beguile The thing I am, by feeming other wife ;----Come, how wouldst thou praise me?

Iago. I am about it; but indeed my invention comes from my pate, as birdlime does from frieze, it plucks out brains and all. But my mufe labours, and thus fhe is delivered.

If fhe be fair and wife, fairness and wit, "The one's for ufe, the other ufeth it."

Def. Well praised; how if she be black and witty?

Iago.

"If fhe be black, and thereto have a wit, "She'll find a white that fhall her black"nefs fit."

Def. Worfe and worse.

Emil. How, if fair and foolish?

Iago. "She never yet was foolish, that was fair; "For even her folly helped her to an heir."

Def. These are old fond paradoxes, to make fools laugh i' th' alehoufe. What miferable praife haft thou for her that's foul and foolish?

Iago. "There's none fo foul and foolish thereunto, "But does foul pranks, which fair and

"wife ones do."

Def. Oh, heavy ignorance! thou praisest the worst beft. But what praise couldst thou beftow on a deferving woman indeed? (23) one that, in

(23) One that, in the authority of her merit, did juffly put on the vouch of very malice itself.] Though a the printed copies agree in this reading, I cannot help fufpecting it. If the text should be genuine, I confefs it is above my underftanding. In what fenfe can merit be faid to put on the vouch of malice? I should rather think, merit was fo fafe in itself, as to repel and put off all that malice and envy could advance and affirm to its prejudice; was upon its guard against every attack of calumny, and defied it. I have ventured to reform the text to this conftruction, by a very flight change that makes it intelligible. To the fame purpose the Duke fays in Meafure for Meajure;

-Lord Angelo is precife,
Stands at a guard with envy.

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