"May she give that?" It cannot reasonably be supposed that Shakspeare, while he was framing his dialogue to metre, would leave these frequent hemistics, without any cause from the eruptions of passion or impatience: conjecture, to supply the defect, must be fallacious; but it were to be wished the editors had offered something. Will this incorporate? "She is protectress of her honour too, By that self argument; may she give that?" But, for the handkerchief.". If all the imperfect lines occurring in this play had the same justification as is obviously attached to this, the reader would be spared any regret at the deficiency, and the critic, the invidious and toilsome endeavour to supply it. 432. "Boding to all." The universal omen of calamity. 433. Ay, what of that?” A little, yet something, is wanted here : "Ay, sir, but what of that?" Oth. " That's not so good." 434. "What? what?" By omitting the useless repetition of "what?" we may help the metre. I would point as follows: Oth. " Iag. lie Lie with her! on her!-We say, "On her, when they belie her: Lie with her! "That's fulsome.-Handkerchief,-confes sions,-han'dkerchief. "That to confess, and be háng'd for his labour. "First to be hang'd-confess :-I tremble 66 at it. "Nature would not invest herself in such Shadowing passion, without some instruction. "It is not words alone that shake me thus: "Pish!-noses, ears, and lips :-is't possible? Confess!-O devil!-handkerchief!" My medicine, work!" &c. 437. "My lord." We might form the metre thus : 66 Cas. " 'My lord! Othello!-how now? [Enter Cassio.] What's the matter ?" "(This is) his second fit.". "This is" useless, and should be ejected: "His second fit; he had one yesterday." 438. "Which they dare swear peculiar; your case is better.” The reduction of this line to its due quantity will reform those that follow: "Which they dare swear peculíár; your case "Is better. O, it is the spite of hell, "The fiend's arch-mock, to lip a wanton in "A secure couch, and to suppose her chaste! No, let me know; and, knowing what I am, "I know what I shall be." Oth. " Iag. O, thou art wise; ""Tis certain." Stand, my lord, awhile apart." "A sécure couch." Upon my sécure hour thy uncle stole." All in all in spleen." I am persuaded that Dr. Johnson has pointed out the true reading, which seems to be confirmed by the context As this expression occurs in the very next sentence, I am persuaded it has slipped in improperly here. We might read, "And nothing of a man.' Oth. " -I tell thee, lago, "I will be found most cunning in my patience; "But yet most bloody." Iag. Well, that's not amiss." "Whose want even kills me." Something has been lost-perhaps, like this: "How shall I regain it.” 441. Look, how he laughs already!" Here a foot and a half is wanting. I would "How quickly should you speed." read, Cas. " Oth. "" Alas! poor caitiff! "I think I should." (Laugh.) Look, how he laughs already." “I marry her !" &c.' This is out of measure. We might read, "I marry her?-ha! ha! a customer! "I pr'ythee, bear some charity to my wit; "Don't think it so unwholesome. Ha! ha! ha!" "So, so," &c. We might read, with due quantity, So, so, so, so! 'tis well! they laugh that win." 66 66 A very villain else." Very" has unnecessarily intruded into this hemistic. "Have you scored me ?". The metre might thus be repaired : What, have you scor'd me? say you so! 'tis well." Of the prose that follows, until the entrance of Lodovico, little, perhaps, if any of it, can reasonably be ascribed to Shakspeare. [Enter Lodovico, Desdemona, &c.] 447. "Save you," &c. The first quarto will assist in repairing the metre here: "God save you, general." Oth." With all my heart." "I kiss the instrument of their pleasures." We might read, "I kiss the instrument of their good pleasures." "I am very glad," &c. The metre here is sadly deranged. I would propose, "I am glad to see you, sir-welcome to Cyprus." Lod. "Thanks, sir; how does lieutenant Cassio?" Lives." Iag. 448. "Are you sure of that?" Perhaps, we should read, Ay, madam! are you sure of that?" "Fire and brimstone !” Fire should be spelled as it is here pronounced, and was written, a dissyllable, "fiér." "By my troth, I am glad on't." I would read, Now, by my troth, I am right glad of it." |