Give him defence against the elements!
For I have loft him on a dangerous fea.
Mont. Is he well shipp'd?

Caf. His bark is ftoutly timber'd, and his pilot
Of very expert and approv'd 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 o'th' fea
Stand ranks of people, and they cry a fail.

Caf. My hopes do fhape him for the governor. Gent. They do difcharge their fhot of courtefie: Our friends at leaft.

Caf. I pray you, Sir, go forth,

And give us truth who 'tis that is arriv'd.

Gent. I fhall.

[Exit.

Mont. But, good lieutenant, is your General wiv'd?
Caf. Moft fortunately, he hath atchiev'd a maid

That paragons defcription and wild fame:

One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens,
And in th' effential vefture of creation

Do's bear all excellency

S

CEN E IV.

Enter Gentleman.

How now; who has put in?

Gent. 'Tis one Iago, Ancient to the General.
Caf. H'as had moft favourable and happy fpeed;
Tempests themselves, high feas, and howling winds,
The gutter'd rocks, and congregated fands,

(Traitors enfteep'd 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 fhe?

Caf. She that I fpake of, our great captain's captain:

Left

Left in the conduct of the bold Iago,
Whofe 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 blefs this bay with his tall fhip,
Make love's quick pants in Defdemona's arms,
Give renew'd fire to our extinguifh'd spirits,
And bring all Cyprus comfort

Enter Defdemona, Iago, Rodorigo, and Æmilia. O behold!

The riches of the ship is come on shore:

You men of Cyprus, let her have your knees
Hail to thee, Lady! and the grace of heav'n
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 arriv'd, nor know I ought
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, mistress.

Let it not gall your patience, good Iago,

[To Æmilia.

That I extend my manners: 'tis my breeding [Saluting ber. That gives me this bold fhew of courtefie.

Iago. Sir, would fhe give you fo much of her lips, As of her tongue fhe oft bestows on me,

You'd have enough.

Def. Alas! fhe has no fpeech.

Iago.

Lugo. In faith, too much;

I find it still, 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 parlors, wild-cats in your kitchens, Saints in your injuries, devils being offended, Players in your housewifery, 'housewives in your Def. Oh fie upon thee, flanderer.

Iago. Nay, it is true, or elfe I am a Turk;

You rife to play, and go to bed to work.
Emil. You fhall not write my praise.

Iago. No, let me not.

beds.

[praise me?

Def. What wouldft thou write of me, if thou fhouldft
Iago. Oh gentle Lady, do not put me to't,

For I am nothing, if not critical.

[bour

Def. Come, one affay. There's one gone to the har-
Iago. Ay, Madam.

Def. I am not merry; but I do beguile

The thing I am, by feeming otherwife;
Come, how wouldst thou praise me?

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

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

Def. Well prais'd; how if fhe be black and witty?

lago. If he be black, and thereto have a wit,

She'll find a white, that fhall her blackness fit.

Def. Worfe and worse.

Emil. How if fair and foolish?

VOL. VI.

Gg

Iago.

and housewives.

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

Def. These are old fond paradoxes, to make fook 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 praifeft the worft beft. But what praife couldst thou beftow on a deferving woman indeed? one, that in the authority of her merit, did justly put on the vouch of very malice it felf?

Iago. She that was ever fair, and never proud,
Had tongue at will, and yet was never loud;
Never lackt gold, and yet went never gay,
Fled from her wifh, and yet faid now I may;
She that when anger'd, her revenge being nigh,
Bad her wrong ftay, and her di pleasure fly;
She that in wifdom never was fo frail
To change the cod's head for the falmon's tail;
She that could think, and ne'er difclofe her mind,
See fuitors following, and not look behind;
She was a wight, (if ever fuch wight were)-

Def. To do what?

lago. To fuckle fools, and chronicle fmall beer.

Def. Oh moft lame and impotent conclufion! do not learn of him, Emilia, tho' he be thy husband. How fay you, Caffio, is he not a moft profane and illiberal

cenfurer?

Caf. He fpeaks home, Madam, you may relish him more in the foldier, than in the scholar.

Iago. [Afide.] He takes her by the palm; ay, well faid whifper With as little a web as this, will I enfnare as great a fly as Caffio. Ay, fmile upon her, do—

2 liberal... old. edit. Warb. emend.

I

I will gyve thee in thine own courtship. You fay true,
'tis fo indeed - If fuch tricks as thefe ftrip you out of
your lieutenancy, it had been better you had not kifs'd
your three fingers fo oft, which now again you are most
apt to play the Sir in. Very good well kifs'd and
excellent curtefie'tis fo indeed - Yet again
your fingers to your lips: would they
for your fake!

The Moor, I know his trumpet..
Caf. 'Tis truly fo.

Def. Let's meet him, and receive him.

Caf. Lo, where he comes!

S CE

were clifter-pipes [Trumpet.

NE VI.

Enter Othello, and Attendants.

Oth. Oh my fair warrior!

Def. My dear Othello!

Oth. It gives me wonder, great as my content,
To fee you here before me. My foul's joy!
If after every tempeft come fuch calms,

May the winds blow 'till they have waken'd death:
And let the labouring bark climb hills of feas
Olympus high; and duck again as low

As hell's from heav'n! If I were now to die,
'Twere now to be moft happy; for I fear
My foul hath her content fo absolute,
That not another comfort like to this
Succeeds in unknown fate.

Def. The heav'ns forbid

But that our loves and comforts fhould increase,
Ev'n as our days do grow!

Oth. Amen to that, fweet powers!

I cannot speak enough of this content,
It stops me here: it is too much of joy.
And this and this the greatest difcords be
That e'er our hearts fhall make!

lago. 'You are well tun'd now;
3 Oh, you
Gg 2

[Killing ber.

But