2 Gent. A fegregation of the Turkish fleet; For do but ftand upon the foaming shore, The chiding billows feem to pelt the clouds;

The wind-shak'd furge, with high and monftrous main,
Seems to caft water on the burning bear,

And quench the guards of th' ever-fired pole ;
I never did like moleftation view

On the enchafed flood.

Mont. If that the Turkish fleet

Be not infhelter'd and embay'd, they're drown'd;
It it impoffible to bear it out.

Enter a third G ntleman.

3 Gent. News, Lords, our wars are done : The defperate tempeft hath fo bang'd the Turks,

That their defignment halts. A noble ship of Venice (21)

The ftrong-ribb'd bark thro' liquid mountains cuts.

Hath

Troil, and Creff.

Like as we fee the wrathful sea from far,
In a great mountain heap'd, with hideous noife,
With thoufand billows beat against the ships:
And, fo, Beaumont and Fletcher in their Elder Brother;
The merchant, when he ploughs the angry fea up,
And fees the mountain billows falling on him:

Locrine.

In all which paffages our poets have but imitated their predecessors the Claffics.

Hom. Ody.. 242.

Πορφύρεον δ' ἄρα κῦμα περιςάθη ἔρεϊ ἴσον,
Κυκλωθέν,
Κύματά τε τριφόεντα, πελώρια, ἴσα ὄρεσσιν.
-ἠλιβάλοισι δ ̓ ἐοικίλα, κυμαί ̓ ὄρεσσιν

“Αλλοθεν ἄλλα φέροντο
Curvata in montis faciem circumftetit unda.

Ody. y. 290.

Qu. Calaber. 1. xiv.

Virg. Geor. iv.

Idem. Æn. I.

Ovid. Metam. 1. xv.

-infequitur cumulo præruptus aquæ mons. Cum Mare furrexit, cumulufque immanis aquarum In montis fpeciem curvari, & crefcere vifus. Me miferum, quanti montes volvuntur aquarum! 13.Trift.l.1.El.2. (21) -Another ship of Venice

Hath feen a grievous wreck, &c.] But no fhip, before this, has arriv'd, or brought any account of the Turkish fleet's diftrefs: how then can this be call'd another fhip? Oh, but the eldest quarto has

call'd

Hath feen a grievous wreck and fufferance
On moft part of the fleet.

Mont. How! is this true?

3 Gent. The fhip is here put in, (22) A Veronea; Michael Caffio,

Lieutenant of the warlike Moor Othello,
Is come on fhore; the Moor himself's at fea,
And is in full commiffion here for Cyprus.

Mont. I'm glad on't; 'tis a worthy Governor.

3 Gent. But this fame Caffic, though he fpeak of comfort,

Touching the Turkish lofs, yet he looks fadly,

And prays the Moor be fafe; for they were parted
With foul and violent tempest.

Mont. Pray heav'ns, he be:

For I have ferv'd him, and the man commands
Like a full foldier. Let's to the fea-fide,

As well to fee the veffel that's come in,

As to throw out our eyes for brave Othello,
Ev'n till we make the main and th' aerial blue
An indiftinct regard.

Gent. Come, let's do fo;

For every minute is expectancy
Of more arrivance.

Enter Caffio.

Caf. Thanks to the valiant of this warlike ifle, That fo approve the Moor: oh, let the heav'ns

call'd it fo; and, if there be a various reading, Mr. Pope is pretty good at taking the wrong one. The two elder folios and the quarte in 1630 read, as I have reftor'd to the text;

-A noble fhip of Venice.

(22) -The fhip is bere put in ;

A Veroneffo, Michael Caffio, &c.] But Michael Caffio was no Veronese; we find, from other paffages in the play, he was of Rome. I read with the beft copies, only altering the pointing;

The fhip is bere put in,

A Veroneffa ;

i. e. A veffel properly belonging to the ftate of Verona, but in the fervice of Venice and Verona, I believes, does, by the Adige, fend down fhips to the Adriatick.

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

Caf. His bark is ftoutly timber'd, and his pilot
Of very expert and approved allowance;

Therefore my hopes, not surfeited 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' sea
Stand ranks of people, and they cry, a Sail.
Caf. My hopes do fhape him for the Governor.
Gent They do discharge their shot of courtesy :
Our friends, at least.

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 blaz'ning pens,
And in the effential vefture of creation

Does bear all excellency.

Enter Gentleman.

How now? who has put in ?

Gnt. 'Tis one la o,

ncient to the General.

Caf. H'as had most favourable and happy speed; Tempefts themselves, high feas, and howling winds; The gutter'd rocks, and congregated fands.

(Traitors enfleep'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 she?

Caf. She that I fpake of, our great Captain's Captain, Left in the conduct of the bold Lago;

Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts,
A fe'nnight's fpeed Great Jove, Othello guard!
And fwell his fail with thine own powerful breath,

That

That he may blefs this bay with his tall ship,
Make love's quick pants in Desdemona's arms,
Give renew'd fire to our extinguish'd spirits,
And bring all Cyprus comfort-

Enter Desdemona, 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 aught
But that he's well, and will be fhortly here.

Def. O, but I fear-how loft you company?
Caf. The great contention of the sea 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.

[To Æmilia.

Let it not gall your patience, good lago,
That I extend my manners. Tis my breeding,
That gives me this bold fhew of courtesy.

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

You'd have enough.

Def. Alas! fhe has no speech.

Iago. In faith, too much ;

I find it ftill, when I have lift to fleep;
Marry, before your ladyship, I grant,
She puts her tongue a little in her heart,
And chides with thinking.

Emil. You have little cause to say so.

lago. Come on, come on; you're pictures out of doors, Bells in your parlours, wild-cats in your kitchens,

Saints in your injuries, devils being offended, [beds! Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your Def. O, fy upon thee, flanderer!

lago. Nay, it is true, or else 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.

[praise me?

Def. What wouldst thou write of me, if thou shou'dst Iago. Oh gentle Lady, do not put me to't,

For I am nothing, if not critical.

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

[harbour-
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 he be fair and wife, fairness and wit,

The one's for ufe, the other ufeth it.

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

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

She'll find a white that fhall ber blackness fit.

Def. Worfe and worse.

Emil. How, if fair and foolish?

Iago. She never yet was foolish, that was fair;
For ev'n her folly helpt her to an heir.

Def. These are old fond paradoxes, to make fools laugh i'th' alehouse. What miferable praise hast thou for her that's foul and foolish?

Iago. There's none fo foul and follish thereunto,

But does foul pranks, which fair and wife ones do,

Def. Oh heavy ignorance! thou praisest the worst best. But what praife couldft thou beftow on a deferving

woman