1

Emil. Do not you chide; I have a thing for Farewel the neighing steed, and the shrill trump,
[thing. The fpirit-ftirring drum, the ear-piercing fife,
you.
Iago. You have a thing for me ?—it is a common The royal banner; and all quality,
Emil. Ha!

Pride, pomp, and circumftance of glorious war!
Enow And O you mortal engines, whofe rude throats

what will you give me The immortal Jove's dread clamours counterfeit,
Farewel! Othello's occupation's gone! A

Lago. To have a foolish wife.
Emil. O, is that all
For that fame handkerchief?
lago. What handkerchief?
Emil. What handkerchief?

Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona;
That which fo often you did bid me steal.
lago. Haft ftolen it from her?

Emil. No; but the let it drop by negligence;
And, to the advantage, I, being here, took it up.
Look, here it is.

Iago. A good wench; give it me.

Emil. What will you do with it, that you have been fo earnest

To have me filch it?

Iago. Why, what is that to you? [Snatching it. Emil. If it be not for fome purpose of import, Give it me again: Poor lady! fhe'll run mad, When the fhall lack it.

Iago. Be not you known on't; I have ufe for it. [Exit Emil. Go, leave me.

I will in Caffio's lodging lose this napkin,
And let him find it: Trifles, light as air,
Are, to the jealous, confirmations strong

lago. Is it poflible ?—My lord,—

Oth. Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore;
Be fure of it; give me the ocular proof

[Catching held on him.

Or, by the worth of mine eternal foul,
Thou hadst been better have been born a dog,
Than anfwer my wak'd wrath.

lago. Is it come to this?

Oth. Make me to fee it; or (at the leaft) fo
prove it,

That the probation bear no hinge, nor loop,
To hang a doubt on: or, woe upon thy life!
Iago. My noble lord,→

Oth. If thou doft flander her, and torture me,
Never pray more: abandon all remorfe4;
On horror's head horrors accumulate;

Do deeds to make heaven weep, all earth amaz'd ;
For nothing canst thou to damnation add,
Greater than that.

Iago. O grace! O heaven defend me!
Are you a man? have you a foul, or fenfe ?
God be wi' you; take mine office. O wretched
fool,

As proofs of holy writ. This may do fomething.
The Moor already changes with my poifon :-
Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poifons,
Which, at the first, are scarce found to distaste;
But, with a little act upon the blood,
Burn like the mines of fulphur.-I did fay fo :-I thank you for this profit: and, from hence,

Enter Othello.

Look, where he comes! Not poppy, nor man

dragora 2,

Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world,
Shall ever med'cine thee to that sweet fleep
Which thou ow'dft 3 yesterday.

Oth. Ha! ha! falfe to me? to me?
Jago. Why, how now, general? no more of that.
Oth. Avaunt! be gone! thou haft fet me on
the rack :-

I fwear, 'tis better to be much abus'd,
Than but to know 't a little.

Iago. How now, my lord?

Oth. What fenfe had I of her stolen hours of luft?
I faw it not, thought it not, it harm'd not me :
I flept the next night well, was free, and merry;
I found not Caffio's kiffes on her lips:
He that is robb'd, not wanting what is ftolen,
Let him not know it, and he's not robb'd at all.

Iago. I am forry to hear this.

Orb. I had been happy, if the general camp,
Pioneers and all, had tafted her fweet body,
So I had nothing known: O now, for ever,
Farewel the tranquil mind! farewel content!
Farewel the plumed troop, and the big wars,
That make ambition virtue! O, farewel!

That liv'ft to make thine honefty a vice !-
O monftrous world! Take note, take note, O world,
To be direct and honeft, is not safe.--

I'll love no friend, fith love breeds fuch offence,
Oth. Nay, ftay :-Thou shouldst be honest.
Iago. I fhould be wife; for honesty's a fool,
And lofes that it works for.

Oth. By the world,

I think my wife be honest, and think she is not;
I think that thou art juft, and think thou art not;
I'll have fome proof: Her name, that was as fresh
As Dian's vifage, is now begrim'd and black
As mine own face. If there be cords, or knives,
Poifon, or fire, or fuffocating streams,

I'll not endure it.-'Would, I were fatisfied

Iago. I fee, fir, you are eaten up with paffion;
I do repent me, that I put it to you.
You would be satisfied?

Oth. Would? nay, I will.

[lord?

Iago. And may; But, how? how fatisfied, my Would you, the supervisor, grofsly gape on ? Behold her tupp'd 5 ?

Oth. Death and damnation! O!)

Iago. It were a tedious difficulty, I think,
To bring 'em to that prospect: Damn them then,
If ever mortal eyes do fee them bolster,"
More than their own! What then? how then?
What fhall I fay? Where's fatisfaction?
It is impoffible, you fhould fee this,

2 The mandragoras, or mandrake, has a foporific

I i. c. I being opportunely here, took it up. quality, and the ancients used it when they wanted an opiate of the most powerful kind. 3i..e. A ram in Staflordshire and fome other counties is called a

poffeffed, or hadf. i. c. pity. eup.

Yyy 4

Were

Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys, To the Propontic, and the Hellefpont;

Prime is prompt, from the Celtic or British prim.

2 Living for fpeaking, manifeft. 3 Conelufion, for fact. 4 Hearted throne, is the heart on which thou waft enthroned. 5 i. e. fwell, becaufe the fraught is of poifon.

i. e. ample; capacious.

7 Mr. Tollet explains this paffage thus: "Let him command any bloody buínefs, and to obey fhall be in me an act of pity and compaffion for wrong'd Othello. Remorfe frequently fignifics pity, mercy, compaflion, er tenderness of heart, unattended with the itings of a guilty confcience.

Def. Believe me, I had rather have loft my purse, A fibyl, that had number'd in the world

Pull of cruzadoes: And, but my noble Moor

Is true of mind, and made of no fuch bafeness
As jealous creatures are, it were enough
To put him to ill thinking.

Emil. Is he not jealous?

Def. Who, he? I think the fun, where he was born,

Drew all fuch humours from him.

Emil. Look, where he comes.

Def. I will not leave him now, 'till Caffio be Call'd to him.-How is it with you, my lord? Enter Othello.

Oth. Well, my good lady :-[45de.] O, hard

nefs to diffemble!

How do you, Defdemona ?
Def. Well, my good lord.

Oth. Give me your hand: This hand is moist,
my lady.

[forrow.

Def. It yet hath felt no age, nor known no
Oth. This argues fruitfulness and liberal heart;-
Hot, hot, and moist: This hand of yours requires
A fequefter from liberty, fafting and prayer,
Much caftigation, exercife devout ;
For here's a young and fweating devil here,
That commonly rebels. "Tis a good hand,
A frank one.

Def. You may, indeed, fay fo;
For 'twas that hand that gave away my heart.
Oth. A liberal hand: the hearts, of old,

hands;

gave

But our new heraldry is—hands, not heart§.
Def. I cannot fpeak of this. Come now, your

promife.

Oth. What promife, chuck?

Def. I have fent to bid Callio come fpeak with you.
Oth. I have a falt and fullen2 rheum, offends me;

Leud me thy handkerchief.

Def. Here, my lord.

Ob. That which I gave you.

Def. I have it not about me.

Oth. Not?

Def. No, indeed, my lord.

Oth. That is a fault: That handkerchief

Did an Ægyptian to my mother give:
She was a charmer, and could almost read
The thoughts of people; fhe told her, while the

kept it,

me;

*Twould make her amiable, and fubdue my father
Intirely to her love; but, if the loft it,
Or made a gift of it, my father's eye
Should hold her loathly, and his spirits should hunt
After new fancies: She, dying, gave
And bid me, when my fate would have me wive,
To give it her. I did fo: and take heed on't,
Make it a darling like your precious eye;
To lofe 't, or give 't away, were fuch perdition,
As nothing elfe could match.

Def. Is it poffible?

The fun to courfe 3 two hundred compaffes,
In her prophetic fury few'd the work:

The worms were hallow'd, that did breed the filk
And it was dy'd in mummy, which the skilful
Conferv'd of maiden's hearts.

Def. Indeed! is it true?

Orb, Moft veritable; therefore look to it well, Def. Then 'would to heaven, that I had ne ver seen it!

Oth. Ha! wherefore?

Def. Why do you speak so startingly and 4 rash? Oth. Is it loft? is it gone? fpeak, is it out of the way?

Def. Heaven blefs us!
O:b. Say you?

Def. It is not loft; But what an if it were ?
Oth. Ha!

Def. I fay, it is not loft.

Otb. Fetch it, let me fee it.

Def. Why, fo I can, fir, but I will not now
This is a trick to put me from my fuít;
I pray, let Callio be receiv'd again.

Oth. Fetch me that handkerchief: my mind.
mifgives.

Def. Come, come

You'll never meet a more fufficient man.

Oth. The handkerchief,

Def. I pray, talk me of Caffio.

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,

Dej. In footh you are to blame.
Oth. Away

Emil. Is not this man-jealous?
Def. I ne'er faw this before.

[Exit Othellan

Sure there's fome wonder in this handkerchief: 1 am most unhappy in the lofs of it.

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

lago. There is no other way; 'tis the must do 'ts And, lo, the happiness! go, and importune her. Def. How now, good Caffio? what's the news

with you ?

Caf. Madam, my former fuit: I do befeech you
That, by your virtuous means, I may again
Exift, and be a member of his love,
Whom I, with all the duty of my heart,
Intirely honour; I would not be delayed :
If my offence be of such mortal kind,
That neither fervice past, nor prefent forrows
Nor purpos'd merit in futurity,
Can ranfom me into his love again,
But to know fo must be by benefit;

Oth. 'Tis true; there's magic in the web of it: So fhall I clothe me in a forc'd content,

1 A Portugueze coin, (fo called from the cross ftamped upon it) in value three 3 i. e. number'd the fun's courses. 2 i. c. a rheum obftinately troublesome. violent.

billings Berling. 4 i. e. vchement,

And

And shut myself up in fome other course,
To fortune's alms 1.

Def. Alas! thrice-gentle Caffio,
My advocation is not now in tune;

My lord is not my lord; nor fhould I know him,
Were he in favour 2, as in humour, alter'd.
So help me every spirit fanctified,

As I have spoken for you all my best;
And stood within the blank of his displeasure 3,
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.
Iago. Is my lord angry?

Emil. He went hence but now,
And, certainly, in ftrange unquietnefs.

lago. Can he be angry? I have feen the cannon
When it hath blown his ranks into the air;
And, like the devil, from his very arm
Puff'd 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. [Exit.
Def. I pr'ythee, do fo.-Something, fure, of
ftate,

Either from Venice; or fome unhatch'd practice 4, This is fome token from a newer friend.
Made demonftrable here in Cyprus to him,—

Hath puddled his clear spirit: and, in fuch cases,
Men's natures wrangle with inferior things,
Though great ones are their object.

'Tis even fo; for let our finger ach,

And it endues our other healthful members

Even to that fenfe of pain: Nay, we must think,
Men are not gods;

Nor of them look for fuch obfervancy

As fits the bridal.-Bethrew me much, Æmilia,
I was (unhandsome warrior 5 as I am)
Arraigning his unkindness with my foul;
But now I find, 'I had fuborn'd the witness,

And he's indited falfely.

To the felt abfence now I feel a caufe:

Is it come to this? Well, well.

Caf. Go to, woman!

Throw your vile guettes in the devil's teeth,

From whence you have them. You are jealous now,
That this is from some niftrefs, fome remembrance:
No, in good troth, Bianca.

Bian. Why, whofe is it?

[bec.

Caf. I know not, fweet: I found it in my cham-
I like the work well; ere it be demanded,
(As like enough it will) I'd have it copy'd;
Take it and do 't; and leave me for this tima.
Bian. Leave you! wherefore?
Caf. I do attend here on the general;

Emil. Pray heaven, it be state matters, as you And think it no addition, nor my wish,

think;

And no conception, nor no jealous toy,

Concerning you.

Def. Alas the day! I never gave him caufe.
Emil. But jealous fouls will not be anfwer'd fo;
They are not ever jealous for the cause,
But jealous for they are jealous: 'tis a monster,
Begot upon itself, born on itself.

Def. Heaven keep that monfter from Othello's
mind!

To have him fee me woman'd.

Bian. Why, I pray you ?

Caf. Not that I love you not.
Bian. But that you do not love me.

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

Caf. 'Tis but a little way that I can bring you,
For I attend here: but I'll fee you foon.

Bian. 'Tis very good; I must be circumstanc'd.

* The meaning, according to Mr. Steevens, is, "I will put on a conftrained appearance of being contented, and fhut myfelf up in a different courfe of life, no longer to depend on my own efforts, but to wait for relief from the accidental hand of charity." We think, however, it means no more than that he would try what Fortune would do for him in fome other course of life. 2 In leek, in countenance. 3 i.e. within the hot of his anger. 4 Some treafon that has not taken effe&t. handsome warrior, is unfair affailant. i. e. a time lefs interrupted, time which I can call more my own. i. e. Your civility is now grown conditional.

7 1. c. 4 Copy this work in another handkerchief."

аст

1

5

The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt It is not words, that shake me thus 3 :-Pish !-

lago. Her honour is an effence that 's not feen; They have it very oft, that have it not :

But, for the handkerchief,——

Otb. By heaven, I would moft gladly have for-
got it:→→→→→→→

Thou faidft, O, it comes o'er my memory,
As doth the raven o'er the infected houfe,
Boding to all, he had my handkerchief.
lago. Ay, what of that?

Oth. That's not fo good now.

lago. What if I had faid, I had seen him do
you wrong?

Or heard him fay,-As knaves be fuch abroad,
Who having, by their own importunate fuit,
Or voluntary dotage of fome mistress,
Convinced 2 or fupplied them, cannot choose
But they muft blab.

Oth. Hath he faid any thing?

Iago. He hath, my lord; but, be you well affur'd,|

Nofes, ears, and lips :-Is it possible?-Confefs!
-Handkerchief!-O devil!-

Iugo. Work on,

[Falls in a trance.

My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are
caught;

And many worthy and chaste dames, even thus,
All guiltlefs meet reproach.-What, ho! my lord
My lord, I fay! Othello!--How now, Caffio ?
Enter Caffio.

Caf. What's the matter?

lago. My lord is fallen into an epilepsy ;
This is his fecond fit; he had one yesterday.
Caf. Rub him about the temples.
Iago. No, forbear:

The lethargy must have his quiet course:
If not, he foams at mouth; and, by and by,
Breaks out to favage madness. Look, he stirs
Do you withdraw yourself a little while,
He will recover straight; when he is gone,
I would on great occasion speak with you.→→→→→→→
[Exit Caffio.

How is it, general? have you not hurt your head?
Otb. Doft thou mock me ?
lago. I mock you! no, by heaven:
'Would, you would bear your fortunes like a man.
Oth. A horned man's a monster, and a beast.

1 This obfervation, Dr. Warburton fays, feems ftrangely abrupt and unoccafioned. We must fuppofe that Iago had, before they appear in this fcene, been applying cafes of false comfort to Othello; as that though the parties had been even found in bed together, there might be no harın done; it might be only for the trial of their virtue; as was reported of the Romish faint, Robert D'Arbriffel and his nuns. To this we must fuppofe Othello here replies; and like a good proteftant. For fo the fentiment does but fuit the character of the fpeaker, Shakspeare little heeds how these sentiments are circumftanced. 2 Convinc'd, for conquer'd, fubdued. 3 Dr. Johnfon's comment on this paffage is as follows; "There has always prevailed in the world an opinion, that when any great calamity happens at a distance, notice is given of it to the fufferer by fome dejection or pertur bation of mind, of which he difcovers no external caufe. This is afcribed to that general communication of one part of the univerfe with another, which is called fympathy and antipathy; or to the fecret monition, inftruction, and influence of a fuperior Being, which fuperintends the order of nature and of life. Othello fays, Nature could rot invest herself in fuch fhadowing paffion without inftruction. It is not words that fake me thas. This paffion, which Ipreads its clouds over me, is the effect of fome agency more than the operation of words; it is one of thofe notices which men have of unfeen calamities." 3 Othello is imagining to himself the familiarities which he supposes to have passed between Caffio and his wife.

Lage.