Utter my thoughts!-Why, fay, they're vile and falfe; Keep leets and law-days, and in feffions fit Oth. Thou doft confpire against thy friend, lago, Iago. I do befeech you, Though, I perchance, am vicious in my guess,- Your wisdom would not build yourself a trouble Oth. What doft thou mean? Iago. Good name in man and woman, dear my Lord, Is the immediate jewel of their fouls. Who fteals my purfe, fteals trafh; 'tis fomething, nothing; (34) (34) Who freals my purfe, fteals trafb; 'tis fomething, nothing; 'Twas mine, 'tis bis; and has been flave to thousands.] Of riches, and other temporal poffeffions, being uncertain, and often changing their masters, we meet with feveral paffages in the Claffics, which might have given our Author a hint for this fentiment. Nunc ager Umbreni fub nomine, nuper Ofelli Dictus, erit nulli proprius; jed cedet in ufum Horat, Serm. lib. ii. 2. This Lucian feems to have imitated in an epigram, Καὶ πάλιν ἐξ ἑτέρα βήσομαι εἰς ἕπερον. Καὶ γὰρ ἐκεινΘ. ἔχειν με πολ ̓ ᾧελο, καὶ πάλιν ὗτος Ουκ διδ ̓ ὅτῳ πέποιθας ἀργυρίω, πάτερ. Publ. Syrus. Apollodorus. Solon. 'Twas "Twas mine, 'tis his; and has been flave to thousands; But he, that filches from me my good name, Robs me of that, which not enriches him, Oth. I'll know thy thoughts I go. You cannot, if my heart were Nor fhall not, whilft 'tis in my custody. in your hand; Oth. Ha!. lago. Oh, beware, my Lord, of jealoufy; It is a green-ey'd monster, which doth mock The meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss,、 Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger; But, oh, what damned minutes tells he o'er, Who doats, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves! Oth. Oh mifery! lago. Poor, and content, is rich, and rich enough; But riches endlefs, is as poor as winter, To him that ever fears he shall be poor. Good heav'n! the fouls of all my tribe defend Oth. Why? why is this? Think't thou, I'd make a life of jealousy? With fresh fufpicions? No; to be once in doubt, Matching thy inference. "Tis not to make me jealous, Tago. I'm glad of this; for now I fhall have reafon. To fhew the love and duty that I bear you With franker fpirit. Therefore, as I'm bound, 9 Receive Receive it from me. I fpeak not yet of proof. In Venice they do let heav'n fee the pranks, They dare not fhew their husbands; their best confcience Is not to leave't undone, but keep't unknown. Oth. Doft thou say fo? Iago. She did deceive her father, marrying you; And when the feem'd to shake, and fear your looks, She lov'd them most. Oth. And fo fhe did. Iago. Go to then; She, that, fo young, could give out fuch a feeming He thought, 'twas witchcraft-but I'm much to blame: For too much loving you. Oth. I'm bound to you for ever. lago. I fee, this hath a little dash'd your spirits. Oth. Not a jot, not a jot. Iago. Truft me, I fear, it has : I hope, you will confider, what is spoke Comes from my love. But, I do fee, you're mov'd→→ I am to pray you, not to strain my speech To groffer iffues, nor to larger reach, Than to fufpicion. Oth. I will not. Iago. Should you do fo, my Lord, (35) (35) Should you do fo, my Lord, My Speech would fall into fuch vile excefs, Which my thoughts aim not at.] This is Mr. Pope's reading, and, I am afraid, as erroneous as it is unauthoriz'd. For, fuppofe, Othello were to believe all that Iago told him on fufpicion, how would Jago's fpeech fall into the worfe excess thereupon? All the old copies, that I have seen, read, fuccefs: and this is certainly the Author's meaning." If you should believe all I have faid, my speech would "fucceed worfe, have more vile confequences in your refentment against your wife, than I had any aim, or purpose, to excite." VOL. VIII. My My speech would fall into fuch vile fuccefs, Oth. No, not much mov'd I do not think, but Defdemana's honeft. Iago. Long live the fo! and long live you to think fo! Iago. Ay, there's the point ;-as (to be bold with you) Not to affect many propofed matches Of her own clime, complexion and degree, Oth. Farewel, farewel; If more thou doft perceive, let me know more; Oth. Why did I marry? This honeft creature, doubtless, [Going. Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds. Iago. My Lord, I would, I might entreat your Honour To fcan this thing no farther; leave it to time: Altho' 'tis fit that Caffio have his place, For, fure, he fills it up with great ability; [Exit, Manet Manet Othello. Oth. This fellow's of exceeding honefty, And knows all qualities, with a learned fpirit, Of human dealings. If I prove her haggard, Tho' that her jefes were my dear heart-strings, I'd whistle her off, and let her down the wind To prey at fortune. Haply, for I'm black, And have not thofe foft parts of converfation That chamberers have; or, for I am declin'd Into the vale of years, yet that's not muchShe's gone, I am abus'd, and my relief Muft be to loath her. Oh the curfe of marriage! That we can call these delicate creatures ours, And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad, And live upon the vapour of a dungeon, Than keep a corner in the thing I love, For others' ufe. Yet 'tis the plague of Great ones; Frerogativ'd are they lefs than the bafe; 'Tis deftiny unfhunnable, like death. Ev'n then, this forked plague is fated to us, When we do quicken. Dejdemona comes! Enter Defdemona and Emilia. If he be falfe, oh, then heav'n mocks itself: Def. How now, my dear Othello? Your dinner, and the generous islanders, Def. Why do you fpeak fo faintly? Are you not well? Oth. I have a pain upon my forehead here. Def. Why, that's with watching, 'twill away again; Let me but bind it hard, within this hour It will be well. 1 [She drops her handke clief. Let it alone: come, I'll go in with you. Def. I am very forry, that you are not well. [Exeunt. O 2 Manet |