2 and, haply, maynftrike at you. Provoke him, that 仔 blago. I warrant thee Meet me by and by at the Iago. That Caffio loves her, I do well believe? «Omnes Lank A moft dear husband. Now I love her too, But partly led to diet my revenge, For that I do fufpect, the lufty Moor Hath leapt into my feat. The thought whereof 1 4 Till I am even with him, wife for wife. 4 Which thing to do, For his quick hunting, ftand the putting on.] A trifling, infignificant fellow may, in fome refpects, very well be call'd traf; but the metaphor is not preferved. For what agreement is there betwixt trash, and quickbunting, and ftanding the putting on? The allufion to the chafe, Shakespear feems to be fond of applying to Rodorigo, who fays of himself towards the conclufion of this A&t; I follow her in the chase, not like a hound that hunts, but one that fills up the cry. I fuppofe therefore that the poet wrote, If this poor brach of Venice, which is a low fpecies of bounds of the chace, and a term generally s'd in contempt: and this compleats and perfects the metaphorical allufion, and makes it much more fatirical. Vitius, in his notes on Gratius, fays, Racha Saxonibus canem fignificabat, unde Scoti hodie Rache pro cane femina habent, quod Anglis eft Brache. Nos verò (he fpeaks of the Hollanders) Brach non quemvis canem So the fed fagacem vocamus. 5 1 For his quick hunting, Juft the contrary. He did not trace him, he put him on, as he fays immediately after. The old Quarto leads to the true reading. whom I do CRUSH For his quick bunting, Plainly corrupted from CHERISH. WARBURTON. -whom I do TRACE] It is a term of hunting or field-fport; to trace fometimes fignifies to follow, as Hen. VIII. A&t. iii: fcene 2. Now all joy trace the conjuné tion; and a dog or a man traces a bare; but to trace a dog, in thofe fports, is to put a trace, or pair of couples, upon him, and such a dog is faid to be traced. The fenfe, then, of whom I da trace For his quick buntingis this, Whom I do affociate to me for the purpose of ruining. Cofio the fooner. T. Row. 6 I'll have our Michael Caffio on the hip.] A phrase from the art of wrestling. Make Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me confus'd; 7 Knavery's plain face is never seen till us'd. [Exit. Enter Herald with a Proclamation. Her. General, that upon certain tidings now arIlenetet, T is Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant riv'd, importing the meer perdition of the Turkish fleet, every man put himself into triumph, fome to dance, fome to make bonfires, each man to what sport and revels his mind leads him; for, befides this beneficial news, it is the celebration of his nuptials. So much was his pleasure, fhould be proclaimed. All offices are open, and there is full liberty of feasting, from this prefent hour of five, till the bell have told eleven. Bless the isle of Cyprus, and our noble Geneneral Othello! Enter Othello, Desdemona, Caffio, and Attendants. Oth. NOOD Michael, look you to the guard tonight. Let's teach ourselves that honourable stop, * Knavery's plain face is never Jeen] An honeft man ats upon a plan, and forecafts his defigns; but a knave deVOL. VIII. pends upon temporary and local opportunities, and never knows his own purpose, but at the time of execution. Bb Not Not to out-fport discretion. Caf. Iago hath direction what to do: ", But, notwithstanding, with my perfonal eye, Will I look to't. Otk. Iago is most honeft. Michael, good-night. To-morrow, with your carlieft, Let me have fpeech with you. Come, my dear love, The purchase made, the fruits are to enfue; [To Defd That profit's yet to come 'tween me and you. u -Good-night. [Exeunt Othello and Defdemona. Enter lago. Caf. Welcome, Iago. We muft to the Watch." Iago. Not this hour, lieutenant: 'tis not yet ten o' th' clock. Our General caft us thus early for the love of his Desdemona, whom let us not therefore blame; he hath not yet made wanton the night with her, and fhe is fport for Jove. Caf. She's a moft exquifite lady. Iago. And, I'll warrant her, full of game. Caf. Indeed, fhe's a most fresh and delicate creature. Iago. What an eye fhe has? methinks, it founds a parley to provocation. Caf. An inviting eye; and yet, methinks, right modeft. Iego. And when she speaks, is it not an alarum to love? Caf. She is, indeed, perfection. Lago. Well, happiness to their fheets. Come, lieutenant, I have a ftoop of wine, and here without are a brace of Cyprus gallants, that would fain have a measure to the health of the black Othello. 8 Our General caft us.] That is, appointed us to our fiations. To cft the play, is, in the ftile of the theatres, to affign to every actor his proper part. 9 an alarum.] The voice may found an alarm more properly than the eye can found a parler. Caf. Caf. Not to-night, good lago. I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking; I could well with courtesy would invent fome other custom of entertain ment. Iago. Oh, they are our friends. But one cup; I'll drink for you? Caf. I have drunk but one cup to-night, and that was craftily qualified; and behold, what innovation it makes here. I am unfortunate in the infirmity, and dare not talk my weakness with any more. Lago. What, man? 'tis a night of revels, the gallants defire it. Caf. Where are they? tago. Here at the door. I pray you, call them in. Caf. I'll do't, but it diflikes me. [Exit Caffio. Iago. If I can faften but one cup upon him, With that which he hath drunk to-night already, He'll be as full of quarrel and offence, As my young mistress' dog. Now, my fick fool, Rodorigo, Whom love hath turn'd almoft the wrong fide out, Potations pottle deep; and he's to watch. 2 * The very elements of this warlike ifle, Have I to-night flufter'd with flowing cups, And they watch too. Now, 'mongst this flock of drunkards, Am I to put our Caffio in fome action That may offend the ifle. But here they come. I craftily qualified;] Slily mixed with water. The very elements- -] As quarrelfome as the difcordia fe Bb z mina rerum; as quick in cppofi- copies |