Cas.

I pray you, sir, go forth,

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

2 Gent. I shall.

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,

[Exit.

Does bear all excellency. How now? who has put in?

Re-enter second Gentleman.

2 Gent. 'Tis one Iago, 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!

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.

1

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.

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

Iago.

No, let me not.

Des. What would'st thou write of me, if thou should'st

praise me?

Iago. O gentle lady, do not put me to't;

For I am nothing, if not critical,"

Des. Come on, assay:-There's one gone to the harbour? Iago. Ay, madam,

Des. I am not merry; but I do beguile
The thing I am, by seeming otherwise.-
Come, how would'st thou praise me?

Iago. I am about it; but, indeed, my invention
Comes from my pate, as birdlime does from frize,
It plucks out brains and all: But my muse labours,
And thus she is deliver'd.

If she be fair and wise,-fairness, and wit,

The one's for use, the other useth it.

Des. Well prais'd! How, if she be black and witty? Lago. If she be black, and thereto have a wit,

She'll find a white that shall her blackness fit.

Des. Worse and worse.

Emil. How, if fair and foolish?

Iago. She never yet was foolish that was fair;

For even her folly help'd her to an heir.

Des. These are old fond paradoxes, to make fools laugh i'the alehouse. What miserable praise hast thou for her that's foul and foolish?

Iago. There's none so foul, and foolish thereunto, But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do.

Des. O heavy ignorance!-thou praisest the worst best. But what praise could'st thou bestow on a deserving woman indeed? one, that, in the authority of her merit, did justly put on the vouch" of very malice itself?

Iago. She that was ever fair, and never proud;
Had tongue at will, and yet was never loud;
Never lack'd gold, and yet went never gay;
Fled from her wish, and yet said,-now I may;
She that, being anger'd, her revenge being nigh,
Bade her wrong stay, and her displeasure fly :

n

critical,] That is, censorious.

- put on the vouch-] i. e. Excite the testimony.

She that in wisdom never was so frail,

To change the cod's head for the salmon's tail;"⠀

She that could think, and ne'er disclose her mind,
See suitors following, and not look behind;

She was a wight,—if ever such wight were,—
Des. To do what?.

Iago. To suckle fools, and chronicle small beer."

Des. O most lame and impotent conclusion!-Do not learn of him, Emilia, though he be thy husband.-How say you, Cassio? is he not a most profane and liberal' counsellor?

Cas. He speaks home, madam; you may relish him more in the soldier, than in the scholar.

Iago. [aside.] He takes her by the palm: Ay, well said, whisper: with as little a web as this, will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do; I will gyve" thee in thine own courtship. You say true; 'tis so, indeed: if such tricks as these strip you out of your lieutenantry, it had been better you had not kissed your three fingers so oft, which now again you are most apt to play the sir in. Very good; well kissed! an excellent courtesy!" 'tis so, indeed. Yet again your fingers to your lips? would, they were clyster-pipes for your sake![Trumpet.] The Moor, I know his trumpet.

Cas. 'Tis truly so.

Des. Let's meet him, and receive him.

Cas. Lo, where he comes!

Enter OTHELLO, and Attendants.

Oth. O my fair warrior!

cod's head for the salmon's tail ;] i. e. Exchange a delicacy for coarser fare. In Queene Elizabeth's household book for the forty-third year of her reign: Item, the master cookes have to fee all the salmon's tailes.-STEVENS.

P To suckle fools, and chronicle small beer.] i. e. To nurse children, and keep household accounts. The expressions used by Iago, are only instances of the want of natural affection and the predominance of a critical censoriousness, which he allows himself to be possessed of, when he says, O! I am nothing, if not critical.-STEEVENS.

q

t

profane-] i. e. Gross of language.

liberal-] For licentious.

gyve-] i. e. Shackle.

to play the sir in.] That is, to show your good breeding and gallantry -HENLEY.

·well kissed! an excellent courtesy!] Spoken when Cassio kisses his hand, and Desdemona courtsies.-JOHNSON.

Des.

My dear Othello?

Oth. It gives me wonder great as my content,
To see you here before me. O my soul's joy!
If after every tempest come such calms,

May the winds blow till they have waken'd death!
And let the labouring bark climb hills of seas,
Olympus-high; and duck again as low

As hell's from heaven! If it were now to die,
"Twere now to be most happy; for, I fear,
My soul hath her content so absolute,
That not another comfort like to this
Succeeds in unknown fate.

Des.

But that our loves and comforts should increase,

Even as our days do grow!

Oth.

The heavens forbid,

Amen to that, sweet powers!

I cannot speak enough of this content,

It stops me here; it is too much of joy:

And this, and this, the greatest discords be, [Kissing her.
That e'er our hearts shall make!

Iago.
But I'll set down the pegs that make this musick,

As honest as I am.

Oth.

O, you are well tun'd now!

[Aside.

Come, let's to the castle.

News, friends; our wars are done, the Turks are drown'd. How do our old acquaintance of this isle?

Honey, you shall be well desir'd* in Cyprus,

I have found great love amongst them. O my sweet,
I prattle out of fashion,' and I dote

In mine own comforts :-I pr'ythee, good lago,

Go to the bay, and disembark my coffers:

Bring thou the master to the citadel;

He is a good one, and his worthiness

Does challenge much respect.-Come, Desdemona,
Once more well met at Cyprus.

x

[Exeunt OTHELLO, DES DEMONA, and Attendants.

well desired-] i. e. Much solicited by invitation.-STEEVENS.

I prattle out of fashion.] Out of method, without any settled order of discourse.-JOHNSON.