Did an Egyptian to my mother give;

She was a charmer, and could almoft read

The thoughts of people. She told her, while fhe kept it,

'Twould make her amiable, fubdue my father
Entirely to her love; but if fhe loft it,
Or made a gift of it, my father's eye
Should hold her loathed, and his fpirits hunt
After new fancies.. She dying, gave

it me;

And bid me, when my fate would have me wived,
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 else could match.

Def. Is't poffible?

Oth. 'Tis true; there's magic in the web of it; A Sybil, that had numbered in the world The fun to courfe two hundred compaffes, In her prophetic fury fewed the work:

the very foul and effence of poetry: fancy here exerts its great creating power, and adds a dignity that furprises, to its fubject. After this, let us hear the coarfe pleasantries of Mr Rymer. "So much ado, fo much ftrefs, fo much paf"fion, and repetition about an handkerchief! Why was "not this called The Tragedy of the Handkerchief? What can "be more abfurd, than (as Quintilian expreffes it) in par"vis litibus has tragedias movere? We have heard of Fortu"natus's purfe, and of the invifiole cloak, long ago worn "thread-bare, and ftowed up in the wardrobe of obfolete

romance one might think, that were a fitter place for "this handkerchief, than that it, at this time of day, be worn on the stage, to raise every where all this clutter "and turmoil. Had it been Desdemona's garter, the fagacious Moor might have fmelt a rat but the handker"chief is fo remote a trifle, no booby, on this fide Mauri "tania, could make any confequence from it."- Whe ther this be from the spirit of a true critic, or from the licence of a railer, I may be too much prejudiced to deter mine: fo leave it to every indifferent judgment.

The worms were hallowed that did breed the filk; And it was dyed in mummy, which the fkilful Conferved of maidens' hearts.

Def. Indeed! is't true?

Oth. Moft veritable, therefore look to't well. Def. Then would to Heaven that I had never feen't! Oth. Ha! wherefore?

Def. Why do you speak fo ftartingly and rafh? Oth. Is't loft? is't gone? fpeak, is it out o' th' way? Def. Blefs us!

Oth. Say you?

Def. It is not loft; but what an if it were?
Oth. Ha!

Def. I fay it is not loft.

Oth. Fetch't, let me fee't.

Def. Why, fo I can, Sir; but I will not now: This is a trick to put me from my fuit :

Pray you, let Caflio be received again. Oth. Fetch me the handkerchiefmifgives-----

my mind

Def. Come, you'll ne'er meet a more fufficient man.

Oth. The handkerchief-------

Def. A man that all his time,

Hath founded his good fortunes on your love;

Shared dangers with you.

Oth. The handkerchief-----

Def. Infooth you are to blame.

Oth. Away!

[Exit Othello.

Manent DESDEMONA, and EMILIA.

Emil. Is not this man jealous?

Def. I ne'er faw this before.

Sure there's fome wonder in this handkerchief:
I'm most unhappy in the lofs of it.

Emil. 'Tis not a year or two fhews us a man: They are all but ftomachs, and we all but food;

They eat us hungerly, and when they're full, They belch us. Look you, Caffio and my husband.

Enter IAGO and CASSIO.

Iago. There is no other way, 'tis fhe must do't; And lo, the happiness! go and importune her. Def. How now, good Caffio, what's the news with you?

Caf, Madam, my former fuit. I do beseech you,
That by your virtuous means I may again
Exist, and be a member of his love,

Whom I, with all the office of my heart,
Entirely honour. I would not be delayed;
If my offence be of fuch mortal kind,
That not my fervice paft, nor prefent forrows,
Nor purpofed merit in futurity,

Can ranfom me into his love again,

But to know fo must be my benefit:

So fhall I cloath me in a forced content,
And that myself up in fome other course, (42)-
To Fortune's alms.

Def. Alas, thrice gentle Caffio,

(42) And fout myself up in fome other course,

To Fortune's arms. i. e. to be embraced by Fortune : which was a greater happiness than Caffio yet dreamt of. I don't know whether we are to difpute here with Mr Pope's eyes, or his understanding, for departing from all the old copies, which read as they should do;

And fhut myself up in fome other course,

To Fortune's alms.

i. e. To chance, and cafualty. So before, in this play; I'd whiftle her off, and let her down the wind To prey at Fortune.

i. e. at random. And fo, in King Lear;

Let your study

Be to content your Lord, who hath received you

At Fortune's alms.

. e. a beggar; ftript of the indulgence of fortune.

My advocation is not now in tune;

My Lord is not my Lord; nor fhould I know him, Were he in favour, as in humour altered.

So help me every spirit fanctified,

As I have spoken for you all my beft;

And stood within the blank of his displeasure,
For my free fpeech! You must a-while be patient;
What I can do, I will: and more I will

Than for myself I dare. Let that suffice you.
lago. Is my Lord angry?

Emil. He went hence but now; And certainly in ftrange unquietnefs.

Iago. Can he be angry? I have feen the cannon When it hath blown his ranks into the air, And like the devil from his very arm

Puft his own brother; and can he be angry? Something of moment then; I will go meet him: There's matter in't indeed, if he be

angry.

[Exit. Manent DESDEMONA, EMILIA and CASSIO.

Def. I pr'ythee do fo.---Something fure, of ftate Either from Venice, or fome unhatched practice, Made here demonftrable in Cyprus to him, Hath puddled his clear spirit; and in fuch cafes, Mens natures wrangle with inferior things, Tho' great ones are their object. 'Tis even fo; For let our finger ake, and it endues

Our other healthful members with a fenfe

Of pain. Nay, we must think men are not gods;
Nor of them look for such observance always,
As fits the bridal. Befhrew me much, Emilia,
I was (unhandfome warrior as I am),
Arraigning his unkindness with my foul;
But now I find I had fuborned the witness,
And he's indited falfely.

Emil. Pray Heaven, it be

State-matter as you think; and no conception,
Nor jealous toy concerning you.

Def. Alas the day, I never gave him cause.

Emil. But jealous fouls will not be answered fo; They are not ever-jealous for a caufe;

But jealous, for they're jealous. It's a monster
Begot upon itself, born on itself.

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

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 t' effect it to my uttermoft. Caf. I humbly thank your Ladyship.

[Exeunt Defdemona and Æmilia at one door, Caffio at the other.

SCENE changes to the Street before the Palace. Re-enter CASSIO meeting BIANCA.

Bian. Save you, friend Caffio.

Caf. What makes you from home? How is it with you, my most fair Bianca ? Indeed, fweet love, I was coming to your houfe.

Bian. And I was going to your lodging, Caffio. What? keep a week away? feven days and nights? Eight fcore eight hours; and lovers abfent hours, More tedious than the dial, eightscore times? Oh weary reckoning!

Caf. Pardon me, Biança;

I have this while with leaden thoughts been preffed; But I fhall in a more convenient time

Strike off this fcore of abfence.

Sweet Bianca,

[Giving her Defdemona's handkerchief.

Take me this work out.

Bian. Oh Caffio, whence came this?