Iago. Oh fweet England.

King Stephen was an a worthy peer,
"His breeches coft him but a crown;
"He held them fixpence all too dear,
"With that he call'd the tailor lown.
"He was a wight of high renown,

"And thou art but of low degree:
"'Tis pride that pulls the country down,
"Then take thine auld cloak about thee.

Some wine, ho!

Caf. Why, this is a more exquifite fong than the other.

Iago. Will you hear't again?

Caf. No, for I hold him to be unworthy of his place that does these things. Well Heaven's above all; and there be fouls that must be faved, and there be fouls must not be faved.

Iago. It's true, good Lieutenant.

Caf. For mine own part, (no offence to the General, nor any man of quality;) I hope to be faved.

Iago. And fo do I too, Lieutenant.

Caf. Ay, but, by your leave, not before me. The Lieutenant is to be faved before the Ancient. Let's have no more of this; let's to our affairs. Forgive our fins ---Gentlemen, let's look to our bufinefs. Do not think, gentlemen, I am drunk: this is my Ancient; this is my right hand, and this is my left. I am not drunk now; I can stand well enough, and I speak well enough.

Gent, Excellent well.

Caf. Why, very well then you must not think

:

then that I am drunk.

[Evit.

Manent IAGO and MONTANO.

Mont. To the platform, masters; come, let's fet the Watch.

Iago. You fee this fellow that is gone before; He is a foldier fit to ftand by Cæfar,

And give direction. And do but fee his vice; 'Tis to his virtues a juft equinox,

The one as long as the other.

'Tis pity of him; I fear, the truft Othello puts him in, On fome odd time of his infirmity, Will fhake this ifland.

Mont. But is he often thus?

Iago. 'Tis evermore the prologue to his fleep, -He'll watch the horologue a double fet,

If drink rock not his cradle.

Mont. It were well

The General were put in mind of it:
Perhaps he fees it not; or his good nature
Prizes the virtue that appears in Caffio,
And looks not on his evils: is not this true?

Enter RODORIGO.

Iago. How now, Rodorigo!

I pray you, after the Lieutenant, go.

[Exit Rod.

Mont. And 'tis great pity, that the noble Moor Should hazard fuch a place as his own fecond, With one of an ingraft infirmity;

It were an honest action to say fo
Unto the Moor.

Iago. Not I, for this fair island;

I do love Caffio well, and would do much
To cure him of this evil. Hark, what noife?

[Within, Help! help!

Re-enter CASSIO, pursuing RODORIGO.

Caf. You rogue! you rascal!

Mont. What's the matter, Lieutenant ?

Caf. A knave teach me my duty! I'll beat the knave into a twiggen bottle.

Rod. Beat me

Caf. Doft thou prate, rogue? Mont. Nay, good Lieutenant; I pray you, Sir, hold your hand.

[Staying him.

Caf. Let me go, Sir, or I'll knock you o'er the mazzard.

Mont. Come, come, you're drunk.

Caf. Drunk?---

[They fight. Iago. Away, I fay, go out and cry a mutiny.

[Exit Rodorigo. May, good Lieutenant Alas, gentlemen---Help, ho!Lieutenant---Sir----Montano----Help, mafters! here's a goodly watch, indeed----Who's that who rings the bell-------diablo, ho !

[Bell rings. The town will rife. Fy, fy, Lieutenant! hold: You will be fhamed for ever.

Enter OTHELLO, and Attendants.

Oth. What is the matter here?

Mont. I bleed ftill, I am hurt, but not to th' death.

Oth. Hold, for your lives.

Iago. Held, ho! Lieutenant-Sir-Montano-→→→ gentlemen

Have you forgot all fenfe of place and duty?
The General speaks to you-hoid, hold, for fhame--
Oth. Why, how now, ho! from whence arifeth
this?

Are we turned Turks? and to ourselves do that
Which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites?
For Chriftian fhame, put by this barbarous brawl;
He that ftirs next to carve for his own rage,

Holds his foul light: he dies upon his motion.
Silence that dreadful bell; it frights the isle
From her propriety. What is the matter?
Hone Iago, that looks dead with grieving,
Speak, who began this? on thy love, I charge thee.
Iago. I do not know; friends all, but now, ev'n
In quarter and in terms like bride and groom [now
Divefting them for bed; and then, but now---
(As if fome planet had unwitted men,)
Swords out, and tilting one at other's breafts,
In oppofition bloody. I can't fpeak
Any beginning to this peevish odds;
And 'would in action glorious I had loft
Those legs that brought me to a part of it!

Oth. How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot? Caf. I pray you, pardon me, I cannot fpeak. Oth. Worthy Montano, you were wont be civil: The gravity and ftillness of your youth

The world hath noted, and your name is great
In mouths of wifeft cenfure. What's the matter,
That you unlace your reputation thus,
And spend your rich opinion, for the name
Of a night-brawler? give me anfwer to it.

Mont. Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger; Your officer Iago can inform you,

[me,

While I fpare fpeech, which fomething now offends
Of all that I do know; nor know I aught
By me that's faid or done amifs this night,
Unless felf-charity be fometimes a vice,
And to defend ourselves it be a fin,
When violence affails us.

Oth. Now, by Heaven,

My blood begins my fafer guides to rule;
And paffion, having my belt judgment cholered,
Aflays to lead the way. If I once ftir,

Or do but lift this arm, the best of you

Shall fink in my rebuke. Give me to know
How this foul rout began; who set it on ;
And he that is approved in this offence,
Tho' he had twinned with me both at a birth,
Shall lofe me.- What, in a town of war,
Yet wild; the people's hearts brimful of fear,
To manage private and domestic quarrel,
In night, and on the court of guard and safety? (28)
'Tis monftrous. Say, Iago, who began't?

Mont. If partially affined, or leagued in office,
Thou doft deliver more or less than truth,
Thou art no foldier.

Iago. Touch me not so near:

I'd rather have this tongue cut from my mouth,
Than it fhould do offence to Michael Caffio:
Yet I perfuade myfelf, to fpeak the truth
Shall nothing wrong him. Thus 'tis, General:
Montano and myself being in fpeech,
There comes a fellow crying out for help,
And Caffio following with determined fword
To execute upon him. Sir, this gentleman
Steps in to Caffio, and intreats his paufe;
Myfelf the crying fellow did purfue,
Left by his clamour (as it fo fell out)

(18) In right, and on the court and guard of fafety? This is fpoken by Othello; but guard of fafety, though coupled with a word of fynonymous conftruction, was never a foldier's language. I have ventured to make the conjunction and fign of the genitive cafe change places and fo the phrafe in ufe is restored, though against the authority of the printed copies.

In night, and on the court of guard and safety? So, before;

The lieutenant to-night watches on the curt of guard. And, again;

Good Michael, look you to the guard to-night. And fo in Antony and Cleopatra;

Let's bear him to the court of guard; he is of note.