Divesting them for bed; and then, but now,
(As if some planet had unwitted men,)
Swords out, and tilting one at other's breast,
In opposition bloody. I cannot speak
Any beginning to this peevish odds;
And 'would in action glorious I had lost
These legs, that brought me to a part of it!

Oth. How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot?1
Cas. I pray you, pardon me, I cannot speak.
Oth. Worthy Montano, you were wont be civil;
The gravity and stillness of your youth

The world hath noted, and your name is great
In mouths of wisest censure. What's the matter,
That you unlace your reputation thus,

And spend your rich opinion,2 for the name
Of a night brawler? Give me answer to it.
Mon. Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger.
Your officer, lago, can inform you-

While I spare speech, (which something now offends me)

Of all that I do know: nor know I aught
By me that's said or done amiss this night;
Unless self-charity 3 be sometime a vice;
And to defend ourselves it be a sin,

When violence assails us.

Oth.
Now, by Heaven,
My blood begins my safer guides to rule;
And passion, having my best judgment collied,*
Assays to lead the way. If I once stir,

Or do but lift this arm, the best of you
Shall sink in my rebuke. Give me to know
How this foul rout began, who set it on ;

And he that is approved 5 in this offence,
Though he had twinned with me, both at a birth,
Shall lose me.-What! in a town of war,

4 Collied is blackened, as with smut or coal; and, figuratively, means here obscured, darkened.

5 Convicted by proof.

Yet wild, the people's hearts brimful of fear,
To manage private and domestic quarrel,
In night, and on the court of guard and safety!"
'Tis monstrous.-lago, who began it?

Mon. If partially affined, or leagued in office,
Thou dost deliver more or less than truth,
Thou art no soldier.

Iago.

Touch me not so near.

I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth,
Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio;
Yet, I persuade myself, to speak the truth
Shall nothing wrong him.-Thus it is, general.
Montano and myself being in speech,
There comes a fellow, crying out for help;
And Cassio following with determined sword,3
To execute upon him. Sir, this gentleman
Steps in to Cassio, and entreats his pause;
Myself the crying fellow did pursue,
Lest, by his clamor, (as it so fell out,)

The town might fall in fright. He, swift of foot,
Outran my purpose; and I returned the rather
For that I heard the clink and fall of swords,
And Cassio high in oath; which, till to-night,
I ne'er might say before. When I came back
(For this was brief) I found them close together,
At blow, and thrust; even as again they were,
When you yourself did part them.

More of this matter can I not report ;—

But men are men; the best sometimes forget.—
Though Cassio did some little wrong to him,-
As men in rage strike those that wish them best,-
Yet, surely, Cassio, I believe, received,

From him that fled, some strange indignity,
Which patience could not pass.

"In night, and on the court and guard of safety."

Malone made the necessary transposition.

2 Affined is "bound by proximity of relationship;" but here it means "related by nearness of office."

3 The old copy reads:

"And Cassio following him with determined sword."

Oth.

I know, lago,

Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter,

Making it light to Cassio.-Cassio, I love thee;
But never more be officer of mine.-

Enter DESDEMONA, attended.

Look, if my gentle love be not raised up;—

I'll make thee an example.

Des.

What's the matter, dear?

Oth. All's well now, sweeting; come away to bed.

Sir, for your hurts,

Myself will be your surgeon;-Lead him off.'

[To MONTANO, who is led off.

Iago, look with care about the town;

And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted.

Come, Desdemona; 'tis the soldiers' life,

To have their balmy slumbers waked with strife.

[Exeunt all but IAGO and CASSIO.

Iago. What, are you hurt, lieutenant?

Cas. Ay, past all surgery.

Iago. Marry, Heaven forbid!

Cas. Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part, sir, of myself, and what remains is bestial.—My reputation, lago, my reputation.

Iago. As I am an honest man, I thought you had received some bodily wound; there is more offence in that, than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving. You have lost no reputation at all, unless you repute yourself such a loser. What, man! there are ways to recover the general again. You are but now cast in his mood, a punishment more in policy than in malice; even so as one would beat his

2

1 Malone thinks that the words "Lead him off" were originally a marginal stage direction, as it was common to express them in imperative terms:-"Play music.-Ring the bell.-Lead him off," &c.

2 Thrown off, dismissed in his anger.

offenceless dog, to affright an imperious lion. Sue to him again, and he's yours.

Cas. I will rather sue to be despised, than to deceive so good a commander, with so slight, so drunken, and so indiscreet an officer. Drunk? and speak parrot?1 and squabble? swagger? swear? and discourse fustian with one's own shadow?-O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee-devil!

Iago. What was he that you followed with your sword? What had he done to you?

Cas. I know not.
Iago. Is it possible?

Cas. I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly; a quarrel, but nothing wherefore.-O that men should put an enemy in their mouths, to steal away their brains! that we should, with joy, revel, pleasure, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts! Iago. Why, but you are now well enough. How came you thus recovered?

Cas. It hath pleased the devil, drunkenness, to give place to the devil, wrath; one unperfectness shows me another, to make me frankly despise myself.

Iago. Come, you are too severe a moraler. As the time, the place, and the condition of this country stands, I could heartily wish this had not befallen; but, since it is as it is, mend it for your own good.

Cas. I will ask him for my place again; he shall tell me I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast! O, strange!-Every inordinate cup is unblessed, and the ingredient is a devil.

Iago. Come, come, good wine is a familiar good creature, if it be well used; exclaim no more against it. And, good lieutenant, I think, you think I love you. Cas. I have well approved it, sir.—I drunk!

1 i. e. talk idly, utter all you know. From Drunk, &c. to shadow, inclusively, is wanting in the quarto 1622.

you

Iago. You, or any man living, may be drunk at some time, man. I'll tell shall do. Our genwhat you eral's wife is now the general;-I may say so in this respect, for that he hath devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, and denotement of her parts and graces :-Confess yourself freely to her; importune her; she'll help to put you in your place again; she is of so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed a disposition, that she holds it a vice in her goodness, not to do more than she is requested. This broken joint between you and her husband, entreat her to splinter; and, my fortunes against any lay 3 worth naming, this crack of your love shall grow stronger than it was before.

Cas. You advise me well.

Iago. I protest, in the sincerity of love, and honest kindness.

Cas. I think it freely; and betimes in the morning, I will beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me. I am desperate of my fortunes, if they check me here.

Iago. You are in the right. Good night, lieutenant; I must to the watch.

Cas. Good night, honest Iago.

[Exit CASSIO. Iago. And what's he, then, that says,-I play the

villain ?

4

When this advice is free, I give, and honest,
Probal to thinking, and (indeed) the course
To win the Moor again? for, 'tis most easy
The inclining Desdemona to subdue

6

In any honest suit; she's framed as fruitful
As the free elements. And then for her
To win the Moor,-were't to renounce his baptism,
All seals and symbols of redeemed sin,-

1 The old copies read devotement. Theobald made the correction.

2 Thus the folio. The quarto 1622 reads, this brawl.

3 Bet or wager.

4 i. e. liberal; such as honest openness or frank good will would give. There may be such a contraction of the word probable as that in the next line, but it has not yet been met with elsewhere.

5 Inclining here signifies compliant.

6 Bountiful as the elements, out of which all things were produced.