(As if some planet had unwitted men,)
Swords out, and tilting one at other's breast,
In opposition bloody. I cannot speak
Any beginning to this peevish odds ;
And 'would in action glorious I had lost
These legs, that brought me to a part of it!

Oth. How comes it, Michael, you are thus for

got?"

me;

Cas. I pray you, pardon me, I cannot speak. Oth. Worthy Montano, you were wont be civil; The gravity and stillness of your youth The world hath noted, and your name is great In mouths of wisest censure; What's the matter, That you

unlace your reputation thus, And spend your rich opinion, for the name Of a night-brawler? give me answer to it.

Mon. Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger;
Your officer, lago, can inform you-
While I spare speech, which something now offends
Of all that I do know: nor know I aught
By me that's said or done amiss this night;
Unless self-charityø be sometime a vice;
And to defend ourselves it be a sin,
When violence assails us.
Oth.

Now, by heaven,
My blood begins my safer guides to rule;
And passion, having my best judgment collied,
Assays to lead the way: If I once stir,
Or do but lift this arm, the best of you
Shall sink in my rebuke. Give me to know
How this foul rout began, who set it on;

you are thus forgot?] i. e. you have thus forgot yourself.

self-charity) Care of one's self. 9 And pussion, having my best judgment collied,] Othello means, that passion has diścoloured his judgment. To colly, anciently sig nified to besmut, to blacken as with coal.

And he that is approv'd' in this offence,
Though he had twinn’d with me, both at a birth,
Shall lose me.-What! in a town of war,
Yet wild, the people's hearts brimful of fear,
To manage private and domestick quarrel,
In night, and on the court and guard of safety!
'Tis monstrous.—Iago, who began it?

Mon. If partially affin'd, or leagu'd in office,
Thou dost deliver more or less than truth,
Thou art no soldier.
Iago.

Touch me not so near:
I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth,
Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio;
Yet, I persuade inyself, to speak the truth
Shall nothing wrong him.—Thus it is, general.
Montano and myself being in speech,
There comes a fellow, crying out for help;
And Cassio following him with determin'd sword,
To execute upon him: Sir, this gentleman
Steps in to Cassio, and entreats his pause;
Myself the crying fellow did pursue,
Lest, by his clamour, (as it so fell out)
The town miglit fall in fright: he, swift of foots
Outran my purpose; and return'd the rather
For that I heard the clink and fall of swords,
And Cassio high in oath; which, till to-night,
I ne'er might say before: When I came back,
(For this was brief,) I found them close together,
At blow, and thrust; even as again they were,
When you yourself did part them.
More of this matter can I not report:
But men are men; the best sometimes forget:-
Though Cassio did some little wrong to him,

1 he that is approv'd-] He that is convicted by proof, of having been engaged in this offence.

If partially affin’d,] Affin'd is bound by proximity of relationship; but here it means related by nearness of office.

2

As men in rage strike those that wish them best,
Yet, surely, Cassio, I believe, receiv’d,
From him that fled, some strange indignity,
Which patience could not pass.
Oth.

I know, Iago,
Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter,
Making it light to Cassio :-Cassio, I love thee;
But never more be officer of mine.

Enter DESDEMONA, attended. Look, if my gentle love be not rais'd

up; I'll make thee an example. Des.

What's the matter, dear? Oth. All's well now, sweeting; Come away to bed. Sir, for your hurts, Myself will be your surgeon: Lead him off.

[TO MONTANO, who is led off.
Iago, look with care about the town;
And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted.
Come, Desdemona; 'tis the soldiers' life,
To have their balmy slumbers wak'd with strife.

Exeunt all but Iago and Cassio.
Iago. What, are you hurt, lieutenant?
Cas. Ay, past all surgery.
Iago. Marry, heaven forbid !

Cas. Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part, sir, of myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation.

Iago. As I am an honest man, I thought you had received some bodily wound; there is more offence in that, than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving: You have lost no reputation at all, unless you repute yourself such a loser. What, man! there are ways to recover the

Сс

VOL. IX.

general again: You are but now cast in his mood, a punishment more in policy than in malice; even so as one would beat his offenceless dog, to affright an imperious lion: sue to him again, and he's yours.

Cas. I will rather sue to be despised, than to deceive so good a commander, with so_slight, so drunken, and so indiscreet an officer. Drunk? and speak parrot ?4 and squabble? swagger? swear? and discourse fustian with one's own shadow! -0 thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee--devil!

Iago. What was he that you followed with your sword? What had he done to you?

Cas. I know not.
Iago. Is it possible?

Cas. I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly; a quarrel, but nothing wherefore.-0, that men should put an enemy in their mouths, to steal away their brains! that we should, with joy, revel, pleasure, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts!

Iago. Why, but you are now well enough: How came you thus recovered?

Cas. It hath pleased the devil, drunkenness, to give place to the devil, wrath: one unperfectness shows me another, to make me frankly despise myself.

Iago. Come, you are too severe a moraler: As the time, the place, and the condition of this country stands, I could heartily wish this had not befallen; but, since it is as it is, mend it for your own good.

Cas. I will ask him for my place again; he shall tell me, I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths cast in his mood,] Ejected in his

anger. and speak parrot?! A phrase signifying to act foolishly and childishly.

3

4

as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast! O strange! -Every inordinate cup is unblessed, and the ingredient is a devil.

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

you. Cas. I have well approved it, sir.-I drunk!

Iago. You, or any man living, may be drunk at some time, man. I'll tell you what you shall do. Our general's wife is now the general;-I may say so in this respect, for that he hath devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, and denotement of her parts and graces:-confess yourself freely, to her; importune her; she'll help to put you in your place again: she is of so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed a disposition, that she holds it a vice in her goodness, not to do more than she is requested: This broken joint, between you and her husband, entreat her to splinter; and, my fortunes against any lay? worth naming, this crack of your love shall grow stronger than it was before.

Cas. You advise me well.

Iago. I protest, in the sincerity of love, and honest kindness.

Cas. I think it freely; and, betimes in the morning, I will beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me: I am desperate of my fortunes, if they check me here,

İago. You are in the right. Good night, lieutenant; I must to the watch. Cas. Good night, honest lago.

[Exit Cassio. Iago. And what's he then, that says,- I play the