Give him defence against the elements, " Caf. His bark is ftoutly timber'd, and his pilot Of very expert and approv'd allowance ; Therefore my hopes, not furfeited to death, Stand in bold cure. Within.] A fail, a fail, a fail! Caf. What noife? Gent. The town is empty; on the brow o'th' fea Caf. I pray you, Sir, go forth, And give us truth who 'tis that is arriv'd. Gent. I fhall.. [Exit. Mont. But, good lieutenant, is your General wiv'd? Caf. Moft fortunately, he hath atchiev'd a maid That paragons defcription and wild fame: One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens, Do's bear all excellency Enter Gentleman. How now? who has put in? Gent. 'Tis one Iago, Ancient to the General. (Traitors enfteep'd to clog the guiltlefs keel ;) As having fenfe of beauty, do omit Their mortal natures, letting fafe go by The divine Desdemona. Mont. What is the? 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, A fe'nnight's speed. Great Jove, Othello guard! Cc 3 And And fwell his fail with thine own powerful breath, Enter Desdemona, Iago, Rodorigo, and Emilia. O behold! The riches of the fhip is come on fhore: Def. I thank you, valiant Caffio, What tidings can you tell me of my lord? Def. O, but I fear how loft you company? Gent. They give this greeting to the Cittadel: This likewife is a friend. Caf. See for the news: Good Ancient, you are welcome. Welcome, miftrefs. Let it not gall your patience, good lago, [To Æmilia That I extend my manners. 'Tis my breeding, That gives me this bold fhew of courtefie. Iago. Sir, would fhe give you fo much of her lips, As of her tongue the oft beftows on me, You'd have enough. Def. Alas! fhe has no fpeech. Iago. In faith, too much ; I find it ftill, when I have lift to fleep; Emil. You have little caufe to fay fo. Tago. Come on, come on; you're pictures out of doors, Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your Tago. Nay, it is true, or elfe I am a Turk ; Iago. No, let me not. beds! Def. What wouldst thou write of me, if thou shouldst praise me? Iago. Oh gentle lady, do not put me to't, For I am nothing, if not critical. Def. Come, one affay. There's one gone to the harbour Iago. Ay, Madam. Def. I am not merry; but I do beguile The thing I am, by feeming otherwife ;Come, how wouldft thou praise me? Iago. I am about it; but, indeed, my invention comes from my pate, as birdlime does from freeze, it plucks out brains and all. But my mufe labours, and thus the is delivered. If she be fair and wife, fairness and wit, The one's for ufe, the other ufeth it. Def. Well prais'd; how if the be black and witty? Def. Worfe and worse. Emil. How if fair and foolish? Iago. She never yet was foolish, that was fair; Def. These are old fond paradoxes, to make fools laugh i'th' alehouse. What miferable praise haft thou for her that's foul and foolish? Iago. There's none fo foul and foolish thereunto, But does foul pranks, which fair and wife ones do. Def. Oh heavy ignorance! thou praiseft the worst best. But what praife couldst thou beltow on a deferving woman indeed? (23) one, that in the authority of her merit, did juftly put down the vouch of very malice it felf? Iago. She that was ever fair, and never proud, Iago. To fuckle fools, and chronicle fmall beer. (23) One, that in the Authority of her Merit, did juftly put on the Vouch of very Malice it felf] Tho' all the printed Copies agree in this Reading, I cannot help fufpecting it. If the Text fhould be genuine, I confefs, it is above my Understanding. In what Sense can Merit be faid to put on the Vouch of Malice? I fhould rather think, Merit was fo fafe in it felf, as to repel and put off all that Malice and Envy could advance and affirm to its Prejudice; was upon its Guard against every Attack of Calumny, and defied it. I have ventur'd to reform the Text to this Construction, by a very flight Change that makes it intelligible. To the fame purpofe the Duke fays, in Measure for Meafure, Lord Angelo is precife, Stands at a Guard with Envy. So, Queen Catherine, speaking of her felf and the Clearness of her Life and Conduct, My Lords, 1 care not (fo much I am happy Above a Number,) if my Actions Were try'd by ev'ry Tongue, ev'ry eye faw them, Envy and bafe Opinion fet against them; I know my Life for even. K. Hen. VIII. And much to the Tenour of our Poet's Sentiment, as I have corrected it, AUSONIUS fpeaks of Chastity. Que cafta eft? De qua mentiri Fama veretur. learn learn of him, Emilia, tho' he be thy husband. (24) How fay you, Caffio, is he not a profane and liberal cenfurer? i Caf. He fpeaks home, Madam; you may relish him more in the foldier, than in the fcholar. 2 lago. [Afide.] He takes her by the palm; ay, well faid whisper-With as little a web as this, will I enfnare as great a fly as Caffo. Ay, fmile upon her, do— I will gyve thee in thine own courtship. You fay true, 'tis fo, indeed. If fuch tricks as thefe ftrip you out of your lieutenancy, it had been better you had not kifs'd your three fingers fo oft, which now again you are most apt to play the Sir in. Very good-well kifs'd and excellent courtefietis fo, indeed-Yet again your fingers to your lips? would, they were clifter-pipes for your fake. [Trumpet. I know his trumpet. The Moor, Def. Let's meet him, and receive him. Enter Othello, and Attendants. Oth. Oh my fair warrior! Def. My dear Othello! Oth. It gives me wonder, great as my content, May the winds blow 'till they have waken'd death: As hell's from heav'n! If I were now to die, That not another comfort like to this ; (24) How fay you, Caffio? Is he not a most profane and liberal Counsellor ?] But in what Refpect was Iago a Counsellor? He caps Sentences, indeed but they are not by way of Advice, but Defcription: what he says, is, Reflexions on Character and Conduct in Life. For this Reason, I am very apt to think, our Author wrote Cenfurer. Def. |