Imatges de pàgina
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Def. Indeed! is't true?

Oth. Moft veritable, therefore look to't well,

Df. Then would to heav'n, that I had never seen't f Oth. Ha? wherefore?

Def. Why do you speak fo startingly, and rash?

Oth. Is't loft is't gone? fpeak, is it out o'th' way ?? Def. Blefs us!

Oth. Say you

?

Def. It is not loft; but what, an if it were P
Oth. Ha!

Def. I fay, it is not loft.

Oth. Fetch't, let me fee't.

Def. Why, fo I can, Sir; but I will not now: This is a trick to put me from my fuit,

Pray you, let Caio be receiv'd again.

Óth. Fetch me the handkerchief-my mind mifgivesDef. Come, you'll ne'er meet a more fufficient man. Oth. The handkerchief

Def. A man, that, all his time,

Hath founded his good fortunes on your love;

Shar'd dangers with you.

Oth. The handkerchief

Def. Infooth, you are to blame.

Oth. Away!

[Exit Othello

Manent Defdemona and Emilia.

Emil. Is not this man jealous?

Def. I ne'er faw this before.

Sure, there's fome wonder in this handkerchief:
I'm most unhappy in the lofs of it.

Emil. "Tis not a year, or two, fhews us a man:
They are all but ftomachs, and we all but food;
They eat us hungerly, and, when they're full,
They belch us. Look you: Caffio, and my husband,
Enter Jago and Caffio.

lago. There is no other way, 'tis fhe muft'do't ; And lo, the happiness! go and importune her. [you ? Def. How now, good Caffe, what's the news with: Cal. Madam, my former fuit. I do befeech you,

That.

That by your virtuous means I may again
Exift, and be a member of his love:
Whom I, with all the office of my heart, ti
Intirely honour. I would not be delay'd;
If my offence be of fuch mortal kind,
That not my fervice paft, nor prefent forrows,-
Nor purpos'd merit in futurity,

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Can ranfom me into his love again;
But to know fo, must be my benefit.
So fhall 1 clothe me in a forc'd content,
And shut myself up in fome other courfe, (42).
To fortune's alms.

Def. Alas! thrice-gentle Caffio,.

My advocation is not now in tune;

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My Lord is not my Lord; nor fhould I know him,
Were he in favour, as in humour, alter'd,

So help me every spirit fanctified,

As I have fpoken for you all my best;
And flood within the blank of his displeasure,

For my free speech! You must a-while be patient;
What I can do, I will: and more I will

Than for myself I dare. Let that fuffice you..
lage. Is my Lord'angry?

Emil. He went hence but now;

And, certainly, in ftrange unquietness.

Iago. Can he be angry? I have feen the cannon, When it hath blown his ranks into the air,

(42) And fout myself up in some other course,

To Fortune's arms.] i. e. to be embraced by Fortune: which was a greater happiness than Caffio yet dreamt of. I don't know whether we are to difpute here with Mr. Pope's eyes, or his understanding, for departing from all the old copies, which read as they fhould doz And but myself up in fome other course,

To Fortune's alms.

i. e. To chance, and cafualty. So before, in this play} I'd while her off, and let her down the wind. To prey at Fortune.

i. e. at random. And fo, in King Lear ;,

-Let your ftudy

Be to content your Lord, who hath receiv'd you
At Fortune's alms.

e. a beggar fript of the indulgence of fortune,

And,

And, like the Devil, from his very arm
Puft his own brother; and can he be angry?
Something of moment then; I will go meet him:
There's matter in't indeed, if he be angry.

Manent Desdemona, Æmilia, and Caffio.

[Exit.

Def. I pr'ythee, do fo.-Something, fure, of State, Either from Venice, or fome unhatch'd practice, Made here demonftrable in Cyprus to him,

Hath puddled his clear fpirit; and, in fuch cases,,
Mens' natures wrangle with inferior things,
Tho' great ones are their object. 'Tis ev'n fo,
For let our finger ake, and it endues

Our other healthful members with a sense

Of pain. Nay, we muft think, Men are not Gods ;;
Nor of them look for fuch obfervance always,

As fits the bridal. Befhrew me much, Emilia,
I was (unhandsome warrior, as I am,)
Arraigning his unkindness with my foul;
But now I find, I had fuborn'd the witness,
And he's indited falfely.

Emil. Pray heav'n, it be

State-matter, as you think; and no conception,
Nor jealous toy concerning you.

Def. Alas-the-day, I never gave him cause.
Emil. But jealous fouls will not be anfwer'd fo;:
They are not ever jealous for a caufe;

But jealous, for they're jealous. It's a monster
Begot upon itself, born on itself.

Def. Heav'n keep that monster from Othello's mind!
Emil. Lady, amen.

Def. I will go feek him. Caffic, walk hereabout; If I do find him fit, I'll move your fuit,

And feek t' effect it to my uttermoft.

Cof. I humbly thank your Ladyship.

[Exeunt Defdem. and Amil. at one door Caffio, at the other.

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SCENE changes to the Street before the Palace,

Re-enter Caffio, meeting Bianca.

Bian. AVE you, friend Caffio.

from home?

How is it with you, my most fair Bianca?
Indeed, fweet Love, I was coming to your houfe.
Bian. And I was going to your lodging, Caff.
What? keep a week away? feven days and nights?
Eightscore eight hours? and lovers' abfent hours,
More tedious than the dial, eightscore times?
Oh weary reck'ning!

Cof. Pardon me, Bianca:

I have this while with leaden thoughts been preft;
But I fhall in a more convenient time

Strike off this fcore of abfence.

Sweet Bianca,

[Giving ber Desdemona's Handkerchief.

Take me this work out.

Bian. Oh Caffio, whence came this?
This is fome token from a newer friend:

Of thy felt abfence now I feel a cause:
Is't come to this? well, well.

Caf. Go to, woman:

Throw your

vile gueffes in the Devil's teeth,

From whence you have them.

You are jealous now,

That this is from fome mistress, fome remembrance ? No, in good troth, Bianca.

Bian. Why, whose is it?

Caf. I know not neither; I found it in my

chamber;

I like the work well: ere it be demanded,
As like enough it will, I'd have it copied :
Take it, and do't, and leave me for this time.
Bian. Leave you? wherefore ?

Caf. I do attend here on the General,

And think it no addition, nor my wish,
To have him fee me woman'd.

Bian. Why, I pray you?

Caf. Not that I love you not.

Bian.

I

Eian. But that you do not love me;

pray you, bring me on the way a little; And fay, if I fhall fee you foon at night?

Cof. 'Tis but a little way that I can bring you, For 1 attend here. But I'll fee you foon.

13

Bian. 'Tis very good; I must be circumftanc'd. [Exe

A CT IV.

SCENE, a Court before the Palace.

Enter Othello, and Iago.

IAGO.

ILL you think fo!

WILL

Oth. Think fo, Iago?

Jago. What, to kifs in private ?

Oth. An unauthoriz'd kifs ?

lago. Or to be naked with her friend in bed,

An hour or more, not meaning any harm?

Oth. Naked in hed, lago, and not mean harm? (43) It is hypocrify against the Devil:

They that mean virtuously, and yet do fo,

The Devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt heav'n.

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(43) Naked in bed, Iago, and mean no barm?

It is hypocrify against the devil.] This passage puts me in mind of a fingular fet of devotees in the primitive church of both fexes, (whom S. Cyprian condemns in one of his epiftles) and which had continued a confiderable time, as we may fee from Dodwell's Cyprianic Differtations, where we have a full account of them. There were feveral of both fexes, who had made their vows and profeffions of chastity; and, as the extreameft trial of their virtue, fcrupled not to lie naked together in bed. Some had been excommunicated for it of the female fex, who yet ftuck to their innocence, and offer'd to undergo any trials of their virginity. Whether our Author had thefe diffembling devotees in his mind or no, I dare not pretend to fay: but some of the feet, if I remember right, were detected and brought to punishment in his time.. Mr. Warburton.

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