Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me For making him egregiously an ass, And practifing upon his peace and quiet, Even to madness. 'Tis here, but yet confus'd; 7 Knavery's plain face is never feen till us'd. [Exit. Her. IT Enter Herald with a Proclamation. Tis Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant. General, that upon certain tidings now arriv'd, importing the meer perdition of the Turkish fleet, every man put himfelf into triumph, fome to dance, fome to make bonfires, each man to what sport and revels his mind leads him; for, befides this beneficial news, it is the celebration of his nuptials. So much was his pleasure, fhould be proclaimed. All offices are open, and there is full liberty of feafting, from this prefent hour of five, till the bell have told eleven. Blefs the ifle of Cyprus, and our noble Geneneral Othello! SCENE X. The CASTLE. Enter Othello, Defdemona, Caffio, and Attendants. Oth. WOOD Michael, look you to the guard tonight. GOOD Let's teach ourselves that honourable stop, 7 Knavery's plain face is never JeenAn honeft man acts upon a plan, and forecasts his defigns; but a knave deVOL. VIII. pends upon temporary and local opportunities, and never knows his own purpose, but at the time of execution. Bb Not . Not to out-fport difcretion. Caf. Iago hath direction what to do: Oth. Iago is most honest. Michael, good-night. To-morrow, with your earliest, Let me have speech with you. Come, my dear love, The purchase made, the fruits are to enfue; [To Defd. That profit's yet to come 'tween me and you. -Good-night. [Exeunt Othello and Defdemona. Enter lago. Caf. Welcome, Iago. We muft to the Watch. Iago. Not this hour, lieutenant: 'tis not yet ten o' th' clock. Our General caft us thus early for the love of his Desdemona, whom let us not therefore blame; he hath not yet made wanton the night with her, and fhe is fport for Jove. Caf. She's a moft exquifite lady. Iago. And, I'll warrant her, full of game. Caf. Indeed, she's a moft fresh and delicate creature. Iago. What an eye fhe has? methinks, it founds a parley to provocation. Caf. An inviting eye; and yet, methinks, right modeft. Iago. And when she speaks, is it not an alarum to love? Caf. She is, indeed, perfection. Jago. Well, happiness to their fheets. Come, lieutenant, I have a stoop of wine, and here without are a brace of Cyprus gallants, that would fain have a measure to the health of the black Othello. 8 Our General caft us.] That is, appointed us to our flations. To caft the play, is, in the file of the theatres, to affign to every actor his proper part. 9 an alarum.] The voice may found an alarm more properly than the eye can found a parlev. Caf. Caf. Not to-night, good lago. I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking; I could well with courtesy would invent fome other cuftom of entertain ment. Iago. Oh, they are our friends. But one cup; I'll drink for you. I Caf. I have drunk but one cup to-night, and that was craftily qualified; and behold. what innovation it makes here. I am unfortunate in the infirmity, and dare not task my weaknefs with any more. Iago. What, man? 'tis a night of revels, the gallants defirè it. Caf Where are they? Iago. Here at the door. I pray you, call them in. Caf. I'll do't, but it dislikes me. [Exit Caffio. Iago. If I can faften but one cup upon him, With that which he hath drunk to-night already, He'll be as full of quarrel and offence, As my young miftrefs' dog. Now, my fick fool, Rodorigo, Whom love hath turn'd almoft the wrong fide out, Potations pottle deep; and he's to watch. Am I to put our Caffio in fome action That may offend the ille. But here they come. SCENE XI. Enter Caffio, Montano, and Gentlemen. Caf. 'Fore heav'n, they have given me rouse already. Mont. Good faith, a little one. Not past à pint, as I am a foldier. Iago. Some wine, ho! [Lago fings. And let me the canakin clink, clink, clink, And let me the canakin clink. A foldier's a man; oh, man's life's but a span; Some wine, boys. Caf. 'Fore heav'n, an excellent fong. Iago. I learn'd it in England: where, indeed, they are most potent in potting. Your Dane, your German and your fwag-belly'd Hollander, Drink, ho! are nothing to your English. Caf. Is your Englishman fo exquifite in his drinking? Iago. Why, he drinks you with facility your Dane dead drunk; he fweats not to overthrow your Almain; he gives your Hollander a vomit, ere the next pottle can be fill'd. Caf. To the health of our General. copies concur in this reading, If confequence do but approve my wicked Deem is this? THEOBALD. This reading is followed by the fucceeding editions, I rather read, If confequence do but approce my scheme. i. e. my opinion, the judgment I have form'd of what muft hap. But why should dream be reject pen. So, in Troilus and Cref- ed? Every fcheme fubfitting only fida; in the imagination may be termCref. I true? how now? what ed a dream. Mon. Mon. I am for it, lieutenant, and I'll do you justice. * King Stephen was an a worthy peer, His breeches coft him but a crown ; He was a wight of high renown, Some wine, ho! Caf. Why, this is a more exquifite fong than the other. Iago. Will you hear't again? Caf. No, for I hold him to be unworthy of his place, that does thofe things. Well-Heaven's above all; and there be fouls that must be faved, and there be fouls must not be faved. Iago. It's true, good lieutenant. Caf. For mine own part, no offence to the General, nor any man of quality; I hope to be saved. Iago. And fo I do too, lieutenant. Caf. Ay, but, by your leave, not before me. The Lieutenant is to be faved before the Ancient. Let's have no more of this. Let's to our affairs. Forgive our fins. Gentlemen, let's look to our business. Do not think, gentlemen, I am drunk. This is my Ancient. This is my right hand, and this is my left. I am not drunk now; I can ftand well enough, and I speak well enough. |