Take it, and do't, and leave me for this time. Caf. I do attend here on the General, Bran. Why, I pray you? Caf. Not that I love you not. Bian. But that you do not love me; Bian. 'Tis very good; I must be circumitanc'd. [Exe A CT IV. SCENE, a Court before the Palace. ILL you IAGO. think fo? WILL Iago. What, to kifs in private ? Oth. An unauthoriz'd kifs ? Iago. Or to be naked with her friend in bed, An hour or more, not meaning any harm? Oth. Naked in bed, Iago, and not mean harm-? It is hypocrify against the Devil: They that mean virtuoufly, and yet do fo, The Devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt heav'n. Iago. If they do nothing, 'tis a venial flip: But if I give my wife a handkerchief Oth. What then? Iago. Why then, 'tis hers, my Lord; and, being hers, may, I think, beftow't on any man. She Oth. Oth. She is protectrefs of her honour too; May the give that ? Lago. Her honour is an effence that's not feen, They have it very oft, that have it not But for the handkerchief Oth. By heav'n, I would most gladly have forgot it; Boding to ill,he had my handkerchief." Oib. That's not fo good now. Lago. What if I faid, I'd feen him do you wrong? Convinc'd or fuppled them, they cannot chufe Oth. Hath he faid any thing? Iago. He hath, My Lord; but be you well affur'd, No more than he'll unfwear. Oth. What hath he faid? Iago. Why, that he did-I know not what he did Oth. What? what? Jago. Lie Oth. With her? Iago. With her; on her (25) -as Knaves be fuch abroad, Who having by their own importunate Suit, But they muft blab.] I cannot understand the vulgar Reading, which poflefles the Copies. My Emendation makes the Senfe of the Paffage eafy and intelligible that there are fome fuch long-tongu'd Knaves in the world, who, if they thro' the Force of Importunity exfort a Favour from their Miftrefs, or if thro' ber own Fondress they make her pliant to their Defires, cannot help boasting of their Succefs. To convince, here, is not, as in the common Acceptation, to make fenfible of the Truth of any thing by Reasons and Arguments; but to overcome, get the better of, &c. Oth. : Oth. Lie with her! lie on her! lie with her that's` fulfome handkerchief-confeffions-handkerchiefhandkerchief-to confefs, and be hang'd for his labourFirst, to be hang'd, and then-to confefs! I tremble at it-Nature would not inveft herself in fuch fhadowing without fome inftruction. It is not words, that fhake me thus pifb-nofes, ears, and lips-is't poffible! confefs!-handkerchief! oh devil [Falls in a trance. Iago. Work on, My medicine, work! thus credulous fools are caught; And many worthy and chafte dames ev'n thus, All guiltless, meet reproach. What hoa! my Lord! My Lord, I fay, Othello, T Enter Caffio. How now, Cafio? Caf. What's the matter? Jago. My Lord is fell into an Epilepfy, This is the fecond fit; he had one yesterday. Caf. Rub him about the temples. Iago. No, forbear, The lethargy must have his quiet courfe; He will recover ftraight; when he is gone, I would on great occafion fpeak with you. [Exit Caffio. How is it, General? have you not hurt your head? Oth. Doft thou mock me? Iago. I mock you not, by heav'n; Would you would bear your fortunes like a man. Oth. Did he confefs it? lago. Good, Sir, be a man: Think, every bearded fellow, that's but yok'd, May draw with you. Millions are now alive, That nightly lie in thofe unproper beds, Which they dare fwear peculiar. Your cafe is better, And to fuppofe her chafte. No, let me know, Iago. Stand you awhile apart, Whilft you were here, o'er-whelmed with your grief, Bade him anon return, and herc fpeak with me; Oth. Doft thou hear, Iago? I will be found most cunning in my But, doft thou hear, moft bloody? Iago. That's not amifs ; patience; But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw? [Othello withdraws. Now will I queftion Cafio of Bianca, A housewife, that, by felling her defires, Buys herself bread and cloth. It is a creature, As he shall fmile, Othello fhall go mad; Poor Caffio's fmiles, geftures, and light behaviour, Quite in the wrong. How do you now, Lieutenant? Caf. The worfer, that you give me the addition, Whofe want even kills me. Iago. Ply Defdemona well, and you are fure on't: How quickly fhould you speed? Oth. Look, how he laughs already. [Speaking lover. [Afide. Iago. I never knew a woman love man fo." Caf. Alas, poor rogue, I think, indeed, she loves me. Oth. Now he denies it faintly, and laughs out. [Afide. Iago. Do you hear, Caffio? Oth. Now he importunes him To tell it o'er: go to, well faid, well faid. [Afide. Iego. She gives it out, that you fhall marry her. Do you intend it? Caf. Ha, ha, ha! Oth. Do you triumph, Roman? do you triumph? [Afides Caf. I marry her!What? a cuftomer? pry'thee, bear fome charity to my wit, do not think it lo unwholfome. Ha, ha, ha! Oth. So, fo: they laugh that win. [Afide. Iago. Why, the cry goes that you fhall marry her. Caf. Pry'thee, fay true. Iago. I am a very villain elfe. Oth. Have you fcor'd me? well. [Afide. Caf. This is the monkey's own giving out: he is perfuaded, I will marry her, out of her own love and flattery, not out of my promife. Oth. Iago beckons me: now he begins the ftory. [Afide. Caf. She was here even now: fhe haunts me in every place. I was the other day talking on the fea-bank with certain Venetians, and thither comes the bauble, and falls me thus about my neck. Oth. Crying, "Oh dear Caffio, as it were:" his gefture imports it. [Afide. Caf. So hangs, and lolls, and weeps upon me, fo hakes, and pulls me. Ha, ha, ha! Oth |