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Rod. What say you?

Iago. No more of drowning, do you hear.
Rod. I am changed. I'll sell all my land.

purse.

Iago. Go to; farewell: put money enough in your
[Exit RODERIGO.
Thus do I ever make my fool my purse:
For I mine own gain'd knowledge should profane,
If I would time expend with such a snipe,
But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor;
And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets
He has done my office: I know not if't be true;
But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
Will do, as if for surety. He holds me well;"
The better shall my purpose work on him.
Cassio's a proper man: Let me see now;
To get his place, and to plume up my will;
A double knavery,-How? how?-Let me see :-
After some time, to abuse Othello's ear,
That he is too familiar with his wife :-
He hath a person, and a smooth dispose,

To be suspected; fram'd to make women false.
The Moor is of a free and open nature,

That thinks men honest, that but seem to be so;
And will as tenderly be led by the nose,

As asses are.

I have't;—it is engender'd :-Hell and night

Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light.

ACT II.

[Exit.

SCENE I-A Sea-port Town in Cyprus. A Platform. Enter MONTANO and Two Gentlemen.

Mon. What from the cape can you discern at sea? 1 Gent. Nothing at all: it is a high-wrought flood; I cannot, 'twixt the heaven and the main,

Descry a sail.

a—as if for surety.] That is, "I will act as if I were certain of the fact.” -M. MASON.

b

He holds me well;] i. e. Esteems me.- REED.

Mon. Methinks, the wind hath spoke aloud at land; A fuller blast ne'er shook our battlements;

If it hath ruffian'd so upon the sea,

What ribs of oak, when mountains melt on them,
Can hold the mortise? what shall we hear of this?

2 Gent. A segregation of the Turkish fleet :
For do but stand upon the banning shore,
The chiding billow seems to pelt the clouds;
The wind-shak'd surge, with high and monstrous main,
Seems to cast water on the burning bear,

And quench the guards of the ever-fixed pole :d
I never did like molestation view

On th' enchafed flood.

Mon.

If that the Turkish fleet

Be not inshelter'd and embay'd, they are drown'd;
It is impossible they bear it out.

Enter a third Gentleman..

3 Gent. News, lords! our wars are done;
The desperate tempest hath so bang'd the Turks,
That their designment halts: A noble ship of Venice
Hath seen a grievous wreck and sufferance

On most part of their fleet.

Mon.

How is this true?

3 Gent. The ship is here put in,

The Veronessa; Michael Cassio,

Lieutenant to the warlike Moor, Othello,

Is come on shore: the Moor himself's at sea,
And is in full commission here for Cyprus.

Mon. I am glad on't; 'tis a worthy governor.

3 Gent. But this same Cassio,-though he speak of comfort,

Touching the Turkish loss,-yet he looks sadly,

banning-] i. e. That execrates the ravages of the waves; the reading of the elder quarto. In the folio, fouming.

d

guards of the ever-fixed pole:] Alluding to the star Arctophylax. It is some argument in favour of Shakspeare's knowledge of Greek, that Arctophylax literally signifies, the guard of the bear.

The Veronessa ;] The reading of the old copies is, A Veronessa; by which a ship of Verona is denoted; but Verona is an inland city. Every inconsistency may, however, be avoided, if we read-The Veronessa, i. e. the name of the ship is the Veronessa.-STEEVENS.

And prays the Moor be safe; for they were parted
With foul and violent tempest.

Mon.
'Pray heaven he be;
For I have serv'd him, and the man commands
Like a full soldier. Let's to the sea-side, 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 aërial blue,
An indistinct regard.

3 Gent.

Come, let's do so;

For every minute is expectancy

Of more arrivance.

Enter CASSIO.

Cas. Thanks to the valiant of this warlike isle,

That so approve the Moor; O, let the heavens
Give him defence 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

Of very expert and approv'd allowance ;

Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death,

Stand in bold cure."

[Within.]

A sail, a sail, a sail!

Enter another Gentleman.

Cas. What noise?

4 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. 2 Gent. They do discharge their shot of courtesy: [Guns heard.

Our friends, at least.

a 1 full soldier.] i. e. A complete soldier.

Of very expert and approv'd allowance;] Expert and approv'd allowance is put for allow'd and approv'd expertness. This mode of expression is not unfrequent in Shakspeare.-STEEVENS.

Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death,

Stand in bold cure.] Presumptuous hopes, which have no foundation in probability, may poetically be said to surfeit themselves to death, or forward their own dissolution. To stand in bold cure, is to erect themselves in confidence of being fulfilled.-STEEVENS.

Cas.

I pray you, sir, go forth,

And give us truth who 'tis that is arriv'd.

2 Gent. I shall.

[Exit.

Mon. But, good lieutenant, is your general wiv'd?
Cas. Most fortunately: he hath achiev'd a maid
That paragons description, and wild fame;

One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens,
And in the essential' vesture of creation,

Does bear all excellency. How now? who has put in?
Re-enter second Gentleman.

2 Gent. 'Tis one lago, ancient to the general. Cas. He has had most favourable and happy speed: Tempests themselves, high seas, and howling winds, The gutter'd rocks, and congregated sands,— Traitors ensteep'd to clog the guiltless keel,

As having sense of beauty, do omit

Their mortal natures, letting go safely by

The divine Desdemona.

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,

A se'nnight's speed.-Great Jove, Othello guard,
And swell his sail with thine own powerful breath;
That he may bless this bay with his tall ship,
Make love's quick pants in Desdemona's arms,
Give renew'd fire to our extincted spirits,
And bring all Cyprus comfort!-O, behold,

Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA, IAGO, RODERIGO, and
Attendants.

The riches of the ship is come on shore!

Ye men of Cyprus, let her have your knees:-
Hail to thee, lady! and the grace of heaven,

Before, behind thee, and on every hand,
Enwheel thee round!

i essential-] i. e. Existent, real.

* Their mortal natures,] i. e. Their deadly, destructive natures.

Des.

I thank you, valiant Cassio. What tidings can you tell me of my lord?

Cas. He is not yet arriv'd; nor know I aught But that he's well, and will be shortly here.

Des. O, but I fear;-How lost you company? Cas. The great contention of the sea and skies Parted our fellowship: But, hark! a sail.

[Cry within, A sail, a sail! Then Guns heard. 2 Gent. They give their greeting to the citadel; This likewise is a friend.

Cas.

See for the news.

[Exit Gentleman.

[TO EMILIA.

Good ancient, you are welcome;-Welcome, mistress :

Let it not gall your patience, good Iago,
That I extend my manners; 'tis my breeding
That gives me this bold show of courtesy.

[Kissing her.
Iago. Sir, would she give you so much of her lips,
As of her tongue she oft bestows on me,
You'd have enough.

Des.

Alas, she has no speech.

Iago. In faith, too much;

I find it still, when I have list to sleep:
Marry, before your ladyship, I grant,
She puts her tongue a little in her heart,
And chides with thinking.

Emil.

You have little cause to say so.

Iago. Come on, come on; you are pictures out of

doors,

Bells in your parlours, wild cats in your kitchens,

Saints in your injuries,' devils being offended,

Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds.

Des. O, fye upon thee, slanderer!

Iago. Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk; You rise to play, and go to bed to work. Emil. You shall not write my praise.

■ Saints in your injuries, &c.] When you have a mind to do injuries, you put on an air of sanctity.-JOHNSON.

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