That he is too familiar with his wife- That thinks men honeft that but seem to be fo; As affes are. I hav't-it is engender'd-Hell and Night Muft bring this monftrous birth to the world's light. [Exit. ACT II. SCENE I. The capital City of Cyprus. Enter Montano, Governor of Cyprus, and Gentlemen. W ΜοΝΤΑΝΟ, HAT from the cape, can you difcern at fea? 1 Gent. Nothing at all, it is a high wrought flood; I cannot 'twixt the heaven and the main Defcry a fail. Mont. Methinks the wind hath spoke aloud at land; A fuller blast ne'er fhook our battlements; If it hath ruffian'd fo upon the fea, What ribs of oak, when mountains melt on them, Can hold the mortife? What fhall we hear of this? 2 Gent. A fegregation of the Turkish fleet; For do but fland upon the foaming fhore, The The chiding billows feem to pelt the clouds; main, Seems to caft water on the burning Bear, 7 And quench the guards of th' ever-fixed pole. I never did like moleftation view On the enchafed flood. Mont. If that the Turkish fleet Be not infhelter'd and embay'd, they're drown'd; SCENE II Enter a third Gentleman. 3 Gent. News, Lads, our wars are done : Of most part of the fleet. Mont. How is this true? 3 Gent. The ship is here put in, A Veronefe; Michael Caffio, Lieutenant of the warlike Moor Othello, Mont. I'm glad on't; 'tis a worthy Governor. comfort Touching the Turkish lofs, yet he looks fadly, 7 And quench the guard of th ever fixed fole.] Alluling to the Rat Aratophylax. A a 2 Mont, Mont. Pray heav'ns, he be: For I have ferv'd him, and the man commands As well to fee the veffel that's come in, As to throw out our eyes for brave Othello, Gent. Come, let's do fo; For every minute is expectancy SCENE IIL Enter Caffio. Caf. Thanks to the valiant of this warlike ifle, That fo approve the Moor: oh, let the heav'ns Give him defence against the elements, For I have loft him on a dangerous fea. 9 Mont. Is he well-fhipp'd? 8 Caf. His bark is ftoutly timber'd; and his pilot Of very expert and approv'd allowance; Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death, Caf. What noife? Gent. The town is empty; on the brow o' th' fea Stand ranks of people, and they cry, a fail. Caf. My hopes do fhape him for the Governor. Caf. I pray you, Sir, go forth, Gent. I fhall. [Exit. Mont. But, good lieutenant, is your General wiv'd? Caf. Moft fortunately: He hath atchiev'd a maid That paragons description and wild fame ; One that excels the quirks of blaz'ning pens, And in th' effential veture of creation 2 Does bear all excellency And in th' ESSENTIAL vef ture of creation. Does bear all excellency] It is plain that fomething very hy perbolical was here intended. But what is there as it ftands? Why this, that in the effence of creation he bore all excellency. The expreffion is intolerable, and could never come from one who fo well understood the force of words as our Poet. The effential vefture is the fame as effential form. So that the expreffion is nonfenfe. For the veflure of creation fignifies the forms in which created beings are caft, And ef fence relates not to the form, but to the matter. Shakespear certainly wrote, And in TERRESTRIAL vefure of creation. And in this lay the wonder, SCENE Enter Gentleman. How now? who has put in? IV. Gent. 'Tis one laga, Ancient to the General, Caf. H'as had moft favourable and happy speed; Tempests themselves, high feas, and howling winds; The gutter'd rocks, and congregated fands, Traitors enfteep'd to clog the guiltless keel; As having fenfe of beauty, do omit Their mortal natures, letting fafe go by The divine Desdemona. Mont. What is she? Caf. She that I fpake of, our great Captain's Captain, Left in the conduct of the bold Iago: Whofe footing here anticipates our thoughts, SCENE V. Enter Desdemona, lago, Rodorigo, and Æmilia. behold! The riches of the fhip is come on thore. Ye men of Cyprus, let her have your knees. Def |