To fcan this thing no farther; leave it to time:
Altho' 'tis fit that Caffio have his place,
For, fure, he fills it up with great ability;
Yet if you please to hold him off awhile,
You shall by that perceive him, and his means;
Note, if your lady strain his entertainment
With any strong or vehement importunity;
Much will be feen in that. In the mean time,
Let me be thought too busy in my fears,
(As worthy caufe I have to fear I am;)
And hold her free, I do befeech your Honour.
Oth. Fear not my government.
Iago. I once more take my leave.

Manet OTHELLO.

[Exit.

Oth. This fellow's of exceeding honesty,
And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,
Of human dealings. If I prove her haggard,
Tho' that her jeffes were my dear heart-strings,
I'd whistle her off, and let her down the wind

To prey at fortune. Haply, for I'm black,
And have not those soft parts of converfation
That chamberers have; or, for I am declined
Into the vale of years, yet that's not much-
She's gone, I am abused, and my relief

Must be to loath her. Oh the curfe of marriage!
That we can call thefe delicate creatures ours,
And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad,
And live upon the vapour of a dungeon,
Than keep a corner in the thing I love,
For others' ufe. Yet 'tis the plague of great ones:
Prerogativ'd are they lefs than the base;
'Tis destiny unfhunnable, like death.

Even then, this forked plague is fated to us,
When we do quicken. Desdemona comes!

Enter DESDEMONA and EMILIA.

If fhe be falfe, oh, then Heaven mocks itself::
I'll not believe it.

Def. How now, my dear Othello?
Your dinner, and the generous iflanders,
By you invited, do attend your presence.
Oth. I am to blame.

Def. Why do you speak so faintly? Are you not well?

Oth. I have a pain upon my forehead here.

Def. Why, that's with watching, 'twill awayagain;

Let me but bind it hard, within this hour

It will be well.

Oth. Your napkin is too little;

[She drops her handkerchief.

Let it alone: come, I'll go in with you.
Def. I am very forry that you are not well.

Manet EMILIA.

[Exeunt.

Emil. I am glad I have found this napkin;
This was her firit remembrance from the Moor.
My wayward husband hath a hundred times
Woo'd me to fteal it. But fhe fo loves the token,
(For he conjured her fhe fhould ever keep it)
That the referves it ever more about her,

To kifs and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out,
And give't Iago; what he'll do with it,
Heaven knows, not I;

I nothing, but to please his fantasy.

Enter 1AGO.

Tago. How now? what do you here alone?"

Emil. Do not you chide; I have a thing for you.

Jago. You have a thing for me? It is a common thing

Emil. Ha?

Iago. To have a foolish wife.

Emil. Oh, is that all? what will you give me For that fame handkerchief?

lago. What handkerchief?

Emil. What handkerchief?————————

[now

Why, that the Moor first gave to Defdemona;
That which fo often you did bid me steal.
Iago. Haft ftolen it from her?

Emil. No; but fhe let it drop by negligence; And to the advantage, I being here took't up: Look, here 'tis.

Iago. A good wench, give it me.

Emil. What will you do with't, you have been To have me filch it?

[fo earnest Iago. Why, what is that to you! [Snatching it. Emil. If 't be not for fome purpose of import, Give't me again. Poor Lady ! fhe'll run mad, When the fhall lack it.

Iago. Be not you known on't: I have use for it. Go, leave me→→ [Exit Emil. I will in Caffio's lodging lofe this napkin, And let him find it. Trifles light as air Are, to the jealous, confirmations ftreng As proofs of holy writ. This may do fomething. The Moor already changes with my poifons: Dangerous conceits are in their nature poifons, (36)

(36) Dangerous conceits are in their nature puifors,] I cannot poffibly account for Mr Pope's oftentation of industry upon this paffage. This line (fays he) reftored from the first edition, compleats the fenfe." But, pray, let us obferve the accuracy of this wonderful reftorer. The line, 'tis true, is in the first edition, but 'tis likewife in the first and fecond impreffions in Folio; 'tis in the Quarto of 1630; and 'tis in the editions put out by Mr Rowe; how then is it reftored? Huic mandes, fi quid refle curatum velis.

Which at the first are scarce found to distaste;
But, with a little act upon the blood,

Burn like the mines of fulphur.-I did fay fo.

Enter OTHELLO.

Look, where he comes! not poppy, nor mandro
Nor all the drowfy fyrups of the world,

Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet fleep,
Which thou hadst yesterday.

Oth. Ha! falfe to me!

[gora,

Jago. Why, how now, General? no more of that. Oth. Avant! be gone! thou'ft fet me on the rack: I fwear 'tis better to be much abused,

Than but to know a little.

Iago. How, my Lord?

Oth. What fenfe had I of her stolen hours of luft? I faw't not, thought it not, it harmed not me; I flept the next night well; was free and merry; I found not Caffio's kiffes on her lips:

He, that is robb'd, not wanting what is stolen, Let him not know't, and he's not robb'd at all. lago. I am forry to hear this.

Oth. I had been happy, if the general camp,
(Poineers and all,) had tafted her fweet body,
So I had nothing known. Oh now, for ever
Farewel the tranquil mind! farewel content!
Farewel the plumed troops, and the big war,
That make ambition virtue ! oh, farewel!
Farewel the neighing steed, and the fhrill trump,
The fpirit-ftirring drum, the ear-piercing fife,
The royal banner, and all quality,

Pride, pomp, and circunftance of glorious war!
And, oh, you mortal engines, whose rude throats
Th' immortal Jove's dread clamours counterfeit,
Farewel! Othello's occupation's gone!
Lago. Is't poffible, my Lord?

Oth. Villain, be sure you prove my love a whore; Be fure of it: give me the ocular proof,

[Catching hold on him. Or, by the worth of mine eternal foul, Thou hadst been better have been born a dog, Than answer my waked wrath. Iago. Is't come to this?

Oth. Make me to fee't; or, at the least, so prove it That the probation bear no hinge, nor loop, Te hang a doubt on: or, woe upon thy life! Iago. My noble Lord——

Oth. If thou doft flander her, and torture me, Never pray more; abandon all remorse;

On horror's head horrors accumulate;

Do deeds to make Heaven weep, all earth amaz’d:
For nothing canst thou to damnation add,
Greater than that.

Iago. Oh grace! oh Heaven defend me !
Are you a man? have you a foul? or fenfe?
God be w' you; take mine office.O wretched
That liveft to make thine honesty a vice!

[fool, Oh monftrous world! take note, take ncte, oh world, To be direct and honest, is not fafe.

I thank you for this profit, and from hence
I'll love no friend, fith love breeds fuch offence.
Oth. Nay, ftay-thou fhouldst be hone

Iago. I fhould be wife, for honelty's a fool,
And lofes what it works for.

lage. By the world,

I think my wife is honest; and think fhe is not;
I think that thou art juft; and think thou art not;
I'll have fome proof. Her name, that was as fresh
As Dian's visage, is now begrim`d and black
As my own face. If there be cords, or knives,
Poifon, or fire, or fuffocating ftreams,

I'll not endure't----'Would I were fatisfied!
VOL. XII.

Y