DUKE of Venice. Cyprus, Desdemona, Wife to Othello. Officers, Gentlemen, Messengers, Musicians, Sailors, and Attendants. SCENE; for the First Ait, in Venice ; during the rest of the Play, in Cyprus. 1. Quarto, Of this Play the Editions are, Preface by Thomas Walkely. 5. Folio, I have the folio, and the third Quarto collated with the second, and the fourth. OTHELLO, N EVER tell me. I take it much unkindly, this. Iago. But you'll not hear me. If ever I did dream of such a matter, abhor me. - Rod. Thou toldst me, thou didst hold him in thy hate. Iago. Despise me, If I do not. Three Great ones of the city, In personal suit to make me his lieutenant, Orbello, the Moor of Venice.] The story is taken from Cyrthio's Novels. Pope. Off-capp'd to him; and, by the faith of man, mediators. , “ Certes, says he, “ I have already chose my officer.” 2 La Florentine,] It ap. These are the words of Othelle, pears from many pasiages of this (which lago in this relation replav, (rightly understood) that peats), and signify, that a FlorenCasio was a Florentine, and lago iine was an unfit person for coma Venetian. HANMER. mand, as being always a slave to 3-in a fair wife;] In the a fair wife; which was the case of former editions this hath been lago. The Oxford Editor, supprinted, a fair wife; but surely poing this was said by lago of it must from the beginning have Caffio, will have Cafio to be the been a mistake, because it ap. Forentine ; which, he says, is pears from a following part of plain from many passages in the the play, that. Caffio was an un- Play, rightly understood. But bemarried man: On the other cause Caffio was no married man, hand, his beauty is often hinted (tho’ I wonder it did not appear al, which it is natural enough for he was, from some palages rough soldiers to treat with scorn rightly understood) he alters the and ridicule. I read therefore, line thus, A fellow almoji domn'd in a A fellow almoft damnd in a fair phyz. HANMER. fuir Phyz. a Florentine, A White-friers' phrafe. WARB. A follow almost damu'd in a fair This is one of the passages wife;] But it was laço, and which must for the present be renot Caffio, who was the Florentine, signed to corruption and obfcu!ias appears from net 3. Scene i. ty. I have nothing that I can, The paliage therefore should be with any approach to confidence, read thus, propose. I cannot think it very - la Florentire's plain from Act III. Scene 1, that A fellow almost damn'd in a fair Casio was or was not a Florentine. wife ;-) That That never set a squadron in the field, cient. Rod. By heav'n, I rather would have been his hang man. Iago. But there's no remedy; 'tis the curse of ser vice! Preferment goes by letter and affection, ? And not by old gradation, where each second Stood 4 Wherein the tongued Con- abrogated, since Doges have been fuls -) So the generality elected. THEOBALD. of the impressions read; but the Wherein the toged Confuls-] oldest quarto has it toged; the Se. Confuls, for couns’lors. WARB. nators, that affifted the Duke in s-must be led and calm’d] Council, in their proper Gowns. So the old Quarto. The first But let me explain, why I Folio reads beleed: but that spoils have ventured to subititute Coune the measure. I read let, hinfillors in the room of Confuls : dered. WARBURTON. The Venetian nobility constitute Beleid suits to calmed, and the the great Council of the Senate, measure is not less perfe& than and are a part of the administra- in many other places. tion; and summon'd to allift and 6 by letter--] By recounsel the Doge, who is Prince commendation from powerful of the Senate. So that they may friends. Very properly be called Counsel. 7 And not by old gradation,-) lors. Tho' the Government of What is old gradation ? He im. Venice was democratick at first, mediately explains gradation very under Consuls and Tribunes ; that properly. But the idea of old form of power has been totally does not come into it, VOL. VIII. Y where |