policy than in malice; even fo as one would beat his offenceless dog, to affright an imperious lion. Sue to him again, and he's yours.

Caf. I will rather fue to be defpis'd, than to deceive fo good a commander, with fo flight, fo drunken, and fo indifcreet an officer. Drunk, and speak Parrot, and Squabble? Swagger? fwear? and difcourfe fuftian with one's own fhadow? oh thou invifible fpirit of wine; if thou haft no name to be known by, let us call thee Devil.

Iago. What was he that you follow'd with your fword? what had he done to you ?

Caf. I know not.

lago. Is't poffible?

Caf. I remember a mass of things, but nothing diftinctly a quarrel, but nothing wherefore. Oh, that men should put an enemy in their mouths, to steal away their brains! that we fhould with joy, pleafance, revel, and applaufe, transform ourfelves into beafts. Iage. Why, but you are now well enough. How came you thus recover'd?

Caf. It has pleas'd the devil, Drunkenness, to give place to the devil, Wrath; one unperfectness fhews me another, to make me frankly defpise myself.

Iago. Come, you are too fevere a moraler. As the time, the place, and the condition of this country ftands, I could heartily wifh this had not befallen, but fince it is as it is, mend it for your own good.

Caf. I will ask him for my place again; he fhall tell me, I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, fuch an answer would ftop them all. To

7 And Speak Parrot,] A phrafe fignifying to act foolishly and childithly. So Skelton

Thefe maidens fullmekely with many a divers flour,
Freshly they drefs and make fweete my beure,

With spake parrot I pray you full courteously thei faye.

WARBURTON.

be

be now a fenfible man, by and by a fool, and prefently a beaft! Every inordinate cup is unblefs'd, and the ingredient is a devil..

Iago. Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well us'd; exclaim no more against it. And good lieutenant, I think, you think, I love

you.

Caf. I have well approv'd it, Sir. I drunk!

8

Iago. You, or any man living, may be drunk at fome time, man. I tell you what you fhall do our General's wife is now the General. I may fay fo, in this refpect, for that he hath devoted and giv'n up himself to the contemplation, mark, and denotement of her parts and graces, Confefs yourself freely to her importune her help, to put you in your Place again. She is of fo free, fo kind, fo apt, fo bleffed a difpofition, the holds it a vice in her goodness not to do more than she is requested. This broken joint between you and her husband, intreat her to fplinter. And, my fortunes against any lay worth naming, this crack of your love, fhall grow ftronger than it was before.

Caf. You advise me well.

Iago. I proteft, in the fincerity of love, and honeft kindness.

Caf. I think it freely; and betimes in the morning

Upon a firumpet's front. This is finely exprefs'd; but I cannot perfuade myfelf that our

For that he hath devoted, and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, and devotement of -her parts and graces.] I remem-poet would ever have faid, any ber, it is faid of Antony, in the beginning of his tragedy, that he, who used to fix his eyes altogether on the dreadful ranges of war, ·now bendi, notʊ turns, The office and devotion of their

View

one devoted himself to the devotement of any thing. All the copies agree; but the mistake certainly arofe from a single letter being turn'd upfide down at prefs. THEOBALD.

I will befeech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me. I am defperate of my fortunes, if they check me

here.

Iago. You are in the right. Good-night, lieutenant, I must to the Watch.

Caf. Good-night, honeft Iago.

SCENÈ

Manet Iago.

[Exit Caffio.

XV.

Iago. And what's he then, that fays, I play the vil

lain?

When this advice is free I give, and honeft,
Likely to thinking, and, indeed, the course
To win the Moor again. For 'tis most easy
Th' inclining Desdemona to fubdue

In any honeft fuit; fhe's fram'd as fruitful

T

As the free elements. And then for her

To win the Moor, were't to renounce his baptism, All feals and fymbols of redeemed fin,

His foul is fo enfetter'd to her love

That she may make, unmake, do what she lift,
Even as her appetite fhall play the god
With his weak function. Am I then a villain,
To counsel Caffio to this parallel course,
Directly to his Good? Divinity of Hell!
When Devils will their blackeft fins put on,
They do fuggeft at first with heav'nly Shews,
As I do now. For while this honest fool

I

—this advice is free-] This counfel has an appearance of honeft openness, of frank good-will. free elements-] Liberal, bountiful, as the elements, out of which all things are produced.

2

-to this parallel course,] Parallel, for even; because parallel lines run even and equidiftant. WARBURTON. Parallel courfe; i. e. a course level, and even with his defign.

Plies Defdemona to repair his fortune,
And the for him pleads ftrongly to the Moor;
3 I'll pour this peftilence into his ear,

+ That the repeals him from her body's luft:
And by how much the ftrives to do him good,
She shall undo her credit with the Moor.
So will I turn her virtue into Pitch;

And out of her own goodness make the net, s That shall enmesh them all. How now, Rodrigo!

SCEN E XVI.

Enter Rodorigo.

Rod. I do follow here in the chace, not like a hound that hunts, but one that fills up the cry. My mony is almost spent; I have been to-night exceedingly well cudgelled; and I think, the iffue will be, I fhall have fo much experience for my pains; and fo with no mony at all, and a little more wit, return again to Ve

nice.

Iago. How poor are they, that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees? Thou know'ft, we work by wit, and not by witchcraft;

And wit depends on dilatory time.

Does't not go well? Caffio hath beaten thee,
And thou by that small hurt haft cashier'd Caffio.
Tho' other things grow fair against the Sun,

Yet

6 Tho' other things grow fair against the Sun,

Yet fruits, that blaffom fift,

will firft be ripe,] Of many different things, all planned with the fame art, and promoted

with

Yet fruits, that bloffom first, will first be ripe.
Content thyself a while. In troth, 'tis morning,
Pleasure and action make the hours feem fhort.
Retire thee; go where thou art billeted.

Away, I fay. Thou fhalt know more hereafter.
-Nay, get thee gone.
[Exit Rodorigo,

Two things are to be done;

My wife must move for Caffio to her mistress:
I'll fet her on:

Myself, the while, will draw the Moor apart,
And bring him jump, when he may Caffio find
Solliciting his Wife,ay, that's the way:
Dull not Device by coldness and delay.

[Exit.

ACT III.

SCENE I.

Before Othello's Palace.

Enter Caffio, with Muficians.

CASSIO.

MASTERS, play here,---I will content your

pains,

Something that's brief; and bid, Good-morrow, Ge

neral.

[Mufick plays; and enter Clown from the House.