ACT SECOND SCENE I A sea-port in Cyprus. An open place near Enter Montano and two Gentlemen. Mon. What from the cape can you discern at sea? First Gent. Nothing at all: it is a high-wrought flood; I cannot, 'twixt the heaven and the main, Mon. Methinks the wind hath spoke aloud at hand; What ribs of oak, when mountains melt on Can hold the mortise? What shall we hear of this? Sec. Gent. A segregation of the Turkish fleet: 10 For do but stand upon the foaming shore, The chidden billow seems to pelt the clouds; 1. A sea-port in Cyprus; the principal seaport town of Cyprus is Famagusta; where there was formerly a strong fort and commodious haven, "neare which," says Knolles, "standeth an old castle, with four towers after the ancient manner of building." To this castle we find that Othello presently repairs.-H. N. H. The wind-shaked surge, with high and mon strous mane, Seems to cast water on the burning bear, And quench the guards of the ever-fixed pole: On the enchafed flood. Mon. If that the Turkish fleet Enter a third Gentleman. Third Gent. News, lads! our wars are done. 20 That their designment halts: a noble ship of Hath seen a grievous wreck and sufferance On most part of their fleet. Mon. How! is this true? Third Gent. The ship is here put in, A Veronesa; Michael Cassio, Lieutenant to the warlike Moor Othello, 26. "Veronesa"; so this name is spelled in the quartos; in the folio, Verennessa. Modern editors, generally, change it to Veronese, as referring, not to the ship, but to Cassio. It is true, the same speaker has just called the ship "a noble ship of Venice"; but Verona was tributary to the Venetian State; so that there is no reason why she might not belong to Venice, and still take her name from Verona. The explanation sometimes given is, that the speaker makes a mistake, and calls Cassio a Veronese, who has before been spoken of as a Florentine.-H. N. H. Third Gent. But this same Cassio, though he speak of comfort Touching the Turkish loss, yet he looks sadly And prays the Moor be safe; for they were parted With foul and violent tempest. Mon. Pray heavens he be; For I have served him, and the man commands Like a full soldier. Let's to the seaside, ho! As well to see the vessel that 's come in As to throw out our eyes for brave Othello, Even till we make the main and the aerial blue Third Gent. Come, let's do so; 40 For every minute is expectancy Of more arrivance. Enter Cassio. Cas. Thanks, you the valiant of this warlike isle, That so approve the Moor! O, let the heavens Give him defense against the elements, For I have lost him on a dangerous sea. Mon. Is he well shipp'd? Cas. His bark is stoutly timber'd, and his pilot 38. "for brave Othello"; observe in how many ways Othello is made, first our acquaintance, then our friend, then the object of our anxiety, before the deeper interest is to be approached (Coleridge).— H. N. H. 39-40; 158; 260 ("didst not mark that?"); omitted in Q. 1.—I. G. 49. "approved allowance"; that is, of allowed and approved expertness.-H. N. H. 50. "hopes, not surfeited to death," is certainly obscure. Dr. John Stand in bold cure. [A cry within: 'A sail, a sail, a sail!' Enter a fourth Gentleman. Cas. What noise? Fourth Gent. The town is empty; on the brow o' the sea Stand ranks of people, and they cry 'A sail!' Cas. My hopes do shape him for the governor. [Guns heard. Sec. Gent. They do discharge their shot of court Cas. esy: Our friends at least. I pray you, sir, go forth, That paragons description and wild fame; Re-enter second Gentleman. How now! who has put in? son thought there must be some error in the text, not being able to understand how hope could be increased till it were destroyed. Knight explains it thus: "As 'hope deferred maketh the heart sick,' so hope upon hope, without realization, is a surfeit of hope, and extinguishes hope. Cassio had some reasonable facts to prevent his hope being surfeited to death."-H. N .H. 65. "tire the ingener"; Knight, Steevens conj.; F. 1, "tyre the Ingeniuer"; Ff. 2, 3, 4, "tire the Ingeniver"; Q. 1, "beare all Excellency-"; Qq. 2, 3, "beare an excelency":-Johnson conj. "tire the ingenious verse"; Pope, "beare all excellency—”—I. G. Sec. Gent. 'Tis one Iago, ancient to the general. The gutter'd rocks, and congregated sands, Their mortal natures, letting go safely by Mon. What is she? Cas. She that I spake of, our great captain's captain, Left in the conduct of the bold Iago; Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts And swell his sail with thine own powerful That he may bless this bay with his tall ship, 81 Enter Desdemona, Emilia, Iago, Roderigo, and Attendants. O, behold, The riches of the ship is come on shore! Ye men of Cyprus, let her have your knees. 69. "gutter'd"; indented. [Perhaps "embedded in mud or ooze," according to the Scotch and Irish sense of "gutter."-L.]-C. H. H. Cyprus"; omitted in Ff.-I. G. 82. "And |