And, in conclusion3, Nonsuits my mediators; "For certes," says he, "I have already chose my officer." And what was he? Forsooth, a great arithmetician, One Michael Cassio, a Florentine, A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife1; More than a spinster; unless the bookish theoric, 5 As masterly as he mere prattle, without practice, And I, (God bless the mark!) his Moor-ship's ancient". man. 3 And, in conclusion,] These words, which no doubt were Shakespeare's, are omitted in the folio, 1623. We regulate the lines as in the quarto, 1622: the quarto, 1630, is like the folio in this respect. 4 A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife;] It appears by a subsequent part of the play (A. iv. sc. 1) that the belief was that Cassio was about to be married to Bianca. This line has occasioned a good deal of controversy, and various conjectures have been hazarded. Tyrwhitt would read life for "wife;" and Mr. Petrie of Edinburgh suggests to me, that "wife" may have been misprinted for guise, which, I must own, is not a very probable conjecture. The text is most likely right. 5 unless the bookish THEORIC, Wherein the TOGED consuls-] "Theoric" is the same as theory, and the word was not uncommonly so used. The folio misprints " toged" of the quarto, 1622, tongued, as in "Coriolanus," Vol. vi. p. 190, it had misprinted "toga," tongue. "Toged," of course, refers to the toga, or robe, which the consuls, or councillors, of Venice wore. 6 CHRISTIAN and heathen,] So the quarto, 1622: the folio, Christen'd, in which error it is followed by the quarto, 1630. Both the latter are as evidently right in reading "be be-lee'd," instead of "be led." 7 And I, (God bless the mark !) his MOOR-SHIP's ancient.] The Master of the Revels having perhaps objected to the exclamation, "God bless the mark !" the line was left imperfect in the folio, where it stands. "And I (bless the mark) has Moorship's ancient." The quarto, 1630, interpolated "Sir," to complete the measure. The quarto, 1622, has "(God bless the mark !)" but misprints "Moor-ship's," Worship's. Iago. But there's no remedy: 'tis the curse of ser vice, Preferment goes by letter, and affection, Not by the old gradation, where each second To love the Moor. Rod. I would not follow him, then. Iago. O, sir! content you; I follow him to serve my turn upon him: Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul; For, sir, It is as sure as you are Roderigo, Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago: In following him, I follow but myself; In compliment extern, 'tis not long after Not by the old gradation,] This is the reading of the quartos, 1622 and 1630: "And not by old gradation," are the words of the folio. 9 - am AFFIN'D] The quarto, 1622, has assign'd. For "affin'd," (the reading of the folio, and of the quarto, 1630) see Vol. vi. p. 28. But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve For daws to peck at': I am not what I am. Rod. What a full fortune' does the thick-lips owe, If he can carry't thus! Iago. Call up her father; Rouse him make after him, poison his delight, Plague him with flies: though that his joy be joy, 3 As it may lose some colour. Rod. Here is her father's house: I'll call aloud. Iago. Do; with like timorous accent, and dire yell, As when, by night and negligence, the fire Is spied in populous cities. Rod. What ho! Brabantio! signior Brabantio, ho! Iago. Awake! what, ho! Brabantio! thieves! thieves! thieves! Look to your house, your daughter, and your bags! Enter BRABANTIO, above, at a Window. Bra. What is the reason of this terrible summons? What is the matter there? Rod. Signior, is all your family within? Iago. Are your doors lock'd'? Bra. Why? wherefore ask you this? Iago. 'Zounds, sir! you are robb'd; for shame, put on your gown; 1 For DAWS to peck at :] So the folio: the quarto, doves: the quarto, 1630, like the folio, has "daws.” 2 What a FULL fortune-] The folio misprints "full," fall; but both the quartos read " full," and in " Cymbeline" we have the expression "full fortune," and in " Antony and Cleopatra "❝ full fortun'd." 3 Yet throw such CHANGES] The folio has chances: the quartos, 1622 and 1630, "changes," which in all probability is the true reading. Are your doors lock'd?] The quarto, 1630, is like the folio here: the quarto, 1622, reads, "Are all doore lockts?" and not, as Steevens states, "Are all doors lock'd?" soul: Your heart is burst, you have lost half your Bra. What! have you lost your wits? Rod. Most reverend signior, do you know my voice? Bra. Not I: what are you? Rod. My name is Roderigo. Bra. The worse welcome": I have charg'd thee not to haunt about my doors. My daughter is not for thee; and now, in madness, To start my quiet. Rod. Sir, sir, sir, Bra. But thou must needs be sure, My spirit, and my place, have in them power To make this bitter to thee. Rod. Patience, good sir. Bra. What tell'st thou me of robbing? this is Venice; My house is not a grange. Most grave Brabantio, of those, that will Because we come Rod. In simple and pure soul I come to you. Iago. 'Zounds, sir! you are one not serve God, if the devil bid you. to do you service, and you think we are ruffians, you'll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse: you'll have your nephews neigh to you; you'll have coursers for cousins, and gennets for germans. Bra. What profane wretch art thou? 5 The WORSE welcome :] In the folio only, "The worser welcome." Upon malicious BRAVERY] So the quartos, 1622 and 1630: the folio has knavery. In Brabantio's next speech, the folio has spirits for "spirit." Iago. I am one, sir, that comes to tell you, your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs. Bra. Thou art a villain. Iago. You are a senator. Bra. This thou shalt answer: I know thee, Ro derigo. Rod. Sir, I will answer any thing. But I beseech you, If 't be your pleasure', and most wise consent, (As partly, I find, it is) that your fair daughter, I thus would play and trifle with your reverence: Tying her duty, beauty, wit, and fortunes, In an extravagant and wheeling stranger, Of here and every where. Straight satisfy yourself: Let loose on me the justice of the state Bra. Strike on the tinder, ho! Give me a taper!-call up all my people!— This accident is not unlike my dream; Belief of it oppresses me already.- [Exit from above. 7 If't be your pleasure,] The portion of Roderigo's speech, from these words inclusive, down to "straight satisfy yourself," is not in the quarto, 1622, but it is in the folio, and in the quarto, 1630. 8 For thus deluding you.] We follow the folio, and the quarto, 1630: the quarto, 1622, has "For this delusion." |