The chiding billow seems to pelt the clouds ; Seems to cast water on the burning bear, And quench the guards of the ever-fixed pole.5 I never did like molestation view 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, Mon. I am glad on't; 'tis a worthy governor. comfort, Touching the Turkish loss,-yet he looks sadly, Mon. 'Pray heaven he be; For I have serv'd him, and the man commands As well to see the vessel that's come in, As throw out our eyes for brave Othello ; Even till we make the main, and the aerial blue, 3 Gent. Come, let's do so; For every minute is expectancy Enter CASSIO. Cas. Thanks to the valiant of this warlike isle That so approve the Moor; O, let the heavens Give him defence against the elements, For I have lost him on a dangerous sea ! Mon. Is he well shipp'd ? [5] Alluding to the star Arctophylax, which literally signifies the guard of the bear. STEEVENS. 29* VOL. VIII. 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 governor. 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. [Guns heard. [Exit. 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.-How now? who has put in? Re-enter second Gentleman. 2 Gent. 'Tis one lago, ancient to the general. 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 lago; Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts, And bring all Cyprus comfort!-O, behold, Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA, IAGO, RODERIGO, and Attend ants. The riches of the ship is come on shore ! Before, behind thee, and on every hand, Des. I thank you, valiant Cassio. [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. Good ancient, you are welcome;-Welcome, mistress:[TO EMILIA. Let it not gall your patience, good Iago, As of her tongue she oft bestows on me, Des. Alas, she has no speech. I find it still, when I have list to sleep : Emil. You have little cause to say so. Iago. Come on, come on; you are pictures out of doors, Bells in your parlours, wild cats in your kitchens, Saints in your injuries, devils being offended, Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds. Des. O, fye upon thee, slanderer ! Iago. Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk; You rise to play, and go to bed to work. Emil. You shall not write my praise. Iago. No, let me not. Des. What would'st thou write of me, if thou should'st praise me? Iago. O gentle lady, do not put me to't; For I am nothing, if not critical.7 Des. Come on, assay :---There's one gone to the harIago. Ay, madam. bour? [6] When you have a mind to do injuries, you put on an air of sanctity. JOHNSON. [x] Critical, that is, censorious. JOHNSON, Des. I am not merry; but I do beguile The thing I am, by seeming otherwise.Come, how would'st thou praise me ? Iago. I am about it; but, indeed, my invention Comes from my pate, as bird-lime does from frize, It plucks out brains and all: But my muse labours, And thus she is delivered. If she be fair and wise,-fairness, and wit, The one's for use, the other useth it. Des. Well prais'd! How if she be black and witty? She'll find a white that shall her blackness fit. Emil. How, if fair and foolish ? Iago. She never yet was foolish that was fair; For even her folly help'd her to an heir. Des. These are old fond paradoxes, to make fools laugh i'the alehouse. What miserable praise hast thou for her that's foul and foolish ? Iago. There's none so foul, and foolish thereunto, But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do. Des. O heavy ignorance!-thou praisest the worst best. But what praise could'st thou bestow on a deserving woman indeed? one, that, in the authority of her merit, did justly put on the vouch of very malice itself? 8 Iago. She that was ever fair, and never proud; To change the cod's head for the salmon's tail ;9 Iago. To suckle fools, and chronicle small beer. [8] To put on the vouch of malice-is, to assume a character vouched by the testimony of malice itself. JOHNSON. [9] To exchange a delicacy for a coarser fare. See 2. Elizabeth's Household Book, &c. "Item, the master cookes have to fee all the salmon's tailes," &c. STEEVENS. [After enumerating the perfections of a woman, Iago adds, that if ever there was such a one as he had been describing she was at the best of no other use, than to suckle children, and keep the accounts of a household. The expressions, to suckle fools and chronicle small beer, are only instances of : ! Des. O most lame and impotent conclusion !-Do not learn of him, Emilia, though he be thy husband.How say you, Cassio? is he not a most profane and liberal counsellor?2 Cas. He speaks home, madam; you may relish him more in the soldier, than in the scholar. Iago. [Aside.] He takes her by the palm: Ay, well said, whisper: with as little a web as this, will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do; I will gyve thee in thine own courtship. You say true; 'tis so, indeed: if such tricks as these strip you out of your lieutenantry, it had been better you had not kissed your three fingers so oft, which now again you are most apt to play the sir in. Very good; well kissed! an excellent courtesy !4 'tis so, indeed. Yet again your fingers to your lips? would, they were clyster-pipes for your sake![Trumpet.] The Moor, I know his trumpet, Cas. 'Tis truly so. Des. Let's meet him, and receive him. Enter OTHELLO, and Attendants. Oth. O my fair warrior! Des. My dear Othello ? Oth. It gives me wonder great as my content, As hell's from heaven! If it were now to die, Succeeds in unknown fate. Des. The heavens forbid, But that our loves and comforts should increase, Even as our days do grow! : Oth. Amen to that, sweet powers !- It stops me here; it is too much of joy : ness in lago, of which he allows himself to be possessed. the want of natural affection, and the predominance of a critical censorious STEEVENS. [2] Profane-gross of language. Liberal, for licentious. JOHNSON. [3] Gyve-i.e. catch, shackle. POPE. [4] Spoken when Cassio kisses his hand, and Desdemona courtsies. JOHNSON |