Enter Rodorigo. Iago. How now, Rodrigo! I pray you, after the lieutenant, go. [Exit Rod. Mont. And 'tis great pity, that the noble Moor It were an honeft action to say fo Iago. Not I, for this fair island; I do love Caffio well, and would do much [Witkin, help! help! Re-enter Caffio, pursuing Rodorigo. Cof. You rogue! you rafcal! Mont. What's the matter, lieutenant? Cof. A knave teach me my duty, I'll beat the knave into a twiggen bottle. Rod. Beat me Cof. Doft thou prate, rogue? I pray you, Sir, hold your hand. you [Staying him. [zard. o'er the maz [They filt. logo. Away, I fay, go out and cry a mutiny. [Exit Rodorigo. Nay, good lieutenant-Alas, gentlemen -Lieutenant Sir- -Montano Help, ho!- [Bell rings. The town will rife.. Fy, fy, lieutenant! hold: Enter Othello, and Attendants. Oth. What is the matter here? Mont. I bleed ftill, I am hurt, but not to th' death. Ok. Hold, for your lives. lago. Tago. Hold, ho lieutenant Gentlemen Have you forgot all place of fenfe and duty The General fpeaks to you-hold, hold, for fhame For chriftian fhame, put by this barbarous brawl; Swords out, and tilting one at other's breasts, The world hath noted; And your name is great And fpend your rich opinion, for the name Mont. Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger; Your officer, lago, can inform you, While I fpare fpeech, which fomething now offends me, By me that's faid or done amifs this night, Oth. Now, by heav'n, My blood begins my fafer guides to rule; Mont. If partially affin'd, or leagu'd in office, Iago. Touch me not so near: I'd rather have this tongue cut from my mouth, There comes a fellow crying out for help, (28) In night, and on the court and guard of fafety ?] This is fpoken by Othello; but guard of fafety, tho' coupled with a word of fyncnymous conftruction, was never a foldier's language. I have ventur'd to make the conjunction, and fign of the genitive cafe change places: and fo the phrafe in ufe is reftor'd, tho' against the authority of the printed copies. In night, and on the court of guard and safety ? . So, before; The lieutenant to-night watches on the court of guard. And, again; Good Michael, look you to the guard to-night. And fo in Antony and Cleopatra; Let's bear him to the court of guard; he is of note, The The town might fall in fright. He, fwift cf foot, More of this matter cannot I report. But men are men; the best sometimes forget; As men in rage ftrike thofe that wish them beft,, From him, that fled, fome ftrange indignity, Oth. I know, lago, Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter, Enter Defdemona attended. Look, if my gentle love be not rais'd up: Def. What's the matter? Oth. All is well, Sweeting, come away to-bed.. Sir, for your hurts, myself will be your furgeon. Lead him off: Iago, look with care about the town, And filence thofe whom this vile brawl distracted. To have their balmy flumbers wak'd with ftrife. [Exeunt.. Manent Iago and Caffio. · Iago, What, are you hurt, lieutenant ? Cof. Paft all Surgery. Iago. Marry, heav'n forbid! Caf. Reputation, reputation, reputation! oh I have loft my reputation! I have loft the immortal part of myfelf, and what remains is bestial. My reputation! Lago, my reputation lago. As I am an honeft man, I had thought, you had receiv'd fome bodily wound; there is more fenfe in that than in reputation. Reputation is an idle, and most falfe impofition; oft got without merit, and loft without deferving. You have loft no reputation at all,. unless you repute yourself fuch a lofer. What, man,there are ways to recover the General again. You are but now caft in his mood, a punishment more in policy than in malice; even fo as one would beat his offenceless dog, to affright an imperious lion. Sue to him again, and he's yours. Caf. I will rather fue to be defpis'd, than to deceive fo good a commander, with fo flight, fo drunken, and fo indifcreet an officer. Drunk, and fpeak? Parrot, and fquabble? fwagger? fwear? and difcourfe fuftianwith one's own fhadow? oh thou invincible fpirit of wine; if thou haft no name to be known by, let us call thee devil. lago. What was he that you follow'd with your sword ? what had he done to you?. Caf. I know not.. Jago. Is't poffible? Caf. I remember a mass of things, but nothing diftinctly a quarrel, but nothing wherefore. Oh, that men fhould put an enemy in their mouths, to fteal away, their brains that we fhould with joy, pleafance, revel, and applaufe, transform ourselves into beafts. Iago. Why, but you are now well enough: how came you thus recovered? Caf. It has pleas'd the devil, drunkenness, to give place to the devil, wrath; one unperfectnefs fhews me another, to make me frankly defpife myself. lago. Come, you are too fevere a moraler. As the time, the place, and the condition of this country stands, I could heartily with this had not befallen: but fince it is as it is, mend it for your own good. Caf. I will ask him for my place again; he fhall tell, me, I am a drunkard!- had I as many mouths as Hydra |