SCENE IV. Enter Gentleman.

How now? who has put in?

Gent 'Tis one lago, Ancient to the general, Gaf. H'as had most favourable and happy fpeed: Tempefts themfelves, high feas, and howling winds, The gutter'd rocks, and congregated fanis, (Traitors enfteep'd to clog the guiltless-keel), As having fenfe of beauty, do onit

Their mortal natures, letting fale 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 lago;

Whofe footing here anticipates our thoughts,
A fe'en-night's fpeed. Great Jove, Othello guard!
And fwell his fail with thine own powerful breath,
That he may blefs this bay with his tall fhip,
Make love's quick pants in Defdemona's arms,
Give renew'd fire to our extinguifh'd spirits,
And bring all Cyprus comfort

Enter Defdemona, Iago, Roderigo, and Emilia.. O behold!

The riches of the fhip is come on fhore:

You men of Cyprus, let her have your knees.
Hail to thee, Lady! and the grace of heav'n,
Before, behind thee, and on every hand
Enwheel thee round.

Def. I thank you, valiant Caffio.

What tidings can you tell me of my Lord ?
Caf He is not yet arriv'd, nor know I ́aught:
But that he's well, and will be fhortly here.
Def. O, but I fear-How loft you company?
Caf. The great contention of the fea and fkies
Parted our fellowship, but hark, A fail!
[Within.] A fail, a fail !

Gent. They give this greeting to the citadel;
This likewife is a friend.

Caf See for the news,

Good Ancient, you are welcome. Welcome, mistress,

Let it not gall your patience, good lago,

That I extend my manners.

[To Æmilia.

'Tis my breeding,

[Saluting her.

That gives me this bold fhew of courtesy.

Iago. Sir, would the give you fo much of her lips,

As of her tongue fhe oft bellows 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;
Marry, before your Ladyship, I grant
She puts her tongue a little in her heart,
And chides with thinking.

Emil. You have little caufe to fay fo.

Iago. Come on, come on; you're pictures out of doors,

Bells in your parlours, wild-cats in your kitchens,

Saints in your injuries, devils being offended,

[beds!

Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your Def. O, fe upon thee, anderer!

Iago. Nay, it is true, or elfe I am a Turk; You rife to play, and go to bed to work. Emil. You fhall not write my praite.

Iago. No, let me not.

Def. What would'st thou write of me, if thou should' praise me?

Iago. O gentle Lady, do not put me to't,

For I am nothing, if not critical *.

Def. Come, one effay. There's one gone to the har bour

Iago. Ay, Madam.

Def. I am not merry; but I do beguile The thing I am, by feeining otherwife; Come, how would't thou praise me?

lago. I am about it; but indeed "my invention comes "from my pate, as birdlime does from freeze, it placks "out brains and all." But my mufe labours, and thus fhe is delivered.

If he be fair and wife, fairness and wit,
The one's for ufe, the other ufeth it.

• critical, for fatyrical,

Def Well prais'd; how if fhe be black and witty? tago. If he be black, and thereto have a wit,

She'll find a white that shall her backness fit.

Def Worfe, and worfe.

Emil. How, if fair and foolish?

Jago. She never yet was foolish that was fair;
For even her folly help'a her to an heir.

Def. These are old fond paradoxes, to make fools laugh i' th'alehoufe. What miferable praife 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 praisest the worst beft. But what praise could't thou bestow on a deferving woman indeed? one that in the authority of her merit did juftly put on the vouch of very malice itself? Iago. "She that was ever fair, and never proud, "Had tongue at will, and yet was never loud; "Never lack'd gold, and yet went never gay, "Fled from her wish, and yet faid, Now I "She that, when anger'd, her revenge being nigh, "Bade her wrong stay, and her displeasure fly; She that in wifdom never was fo frail, To change the cod's head for the filmon's tail! "She that could think, and ne'er difclofe her mind, See fuitors following, and-net look behint; She was a wight, (if ever fuch wight were)— Def. To do what?

Jago. To fuckle fools, and chronicle fall beer.

may;

Def. O moit lame and impotent conclufion! do not learn of him, Æmilia, though he be thy husband. How fay you, Callio, is he not a molt profane and liberal * counfeller?

Caf. He fpeaks home, Midam; you may relish him more in the foldier than in the fenolar.

Lago. [Afite.] He takes her by the palm; ay, well fand-whitper-With as little a web as this, will *beral, for licentious.

You

infnare as great a fly as Caffio. Ay, fimile upon her, do- I will gyve thee in thine own courtship. 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 courtesy- -'tis fo indeed.

Yet again your fingers to your lips? 'would they were clyfter-pipes for your fake.

The Moor,--I know his trumpet.

Caf. 'Tis truly fo.

Def. Let's meet him, and receive him.

Caf. Lo, where he comes !

[Trumpet.

SCENE VI. Enter Othello, and Attendants.

Oth. Oh, my fair warrior!

Def. My dear Othello !

Oth. It gives me wonder, great as my content,

To fee you here before me. O my foul's joy!

If after every tempeft comes fuch calms,

May the winds blow till they have waken'd Death;
And let the labouring bark climb hills of feas
Olympus high, and duck again as low

As hell's from heav'n! If 1 were now to die,
'Twere now to be most happy; for I fear
My foul hath her content to abfolute,
That not another comfort like to this
Succeeds in unknown fate,

Def. The heav'ns forbid,

But that our loves and comforts fhould increase,
Ev'n as our days do grow!

Oth. Amen to that fweet prayer!

I cannot speak enough of this content,
It stops me here: it is too much of joy.

And this, and this, the greatest difcords be [Kiffing her.
That e'er our hearts thall make !

Iago. Oh, you are well tun'd now; but I'll let down the pegs that make this mufic, as honeft as I am.

Oth. Come, let's to the castle,

[Afide.

Now, friends, our wars are done; the Turks are drown'd. How do our old acquaintance of this isle ?

Honey, you shall be well defir'd in Cyprus,
I've found great love amongst them.

Oh my fweet,

I prattle out of fashion, and I doat
In mine own comfort. Pr'ythee, good lago,
Go to the bay, and difimbark my coffers.
Bring thou the malter to the citadel;
He is a good one, and his worthiness
Does challenge much respect.
Once more well met at Cyprus.

SCENE

Come, Defdemona,

[Exeunt Othello and Defdemona.

VII. Manent lago and Rodorigo.

Iago. Do you meet me prefently at the harbour. Come thither, if thou bet valiant, (as, they fay, base men, being in love, have then a nobility in their natures, more than is native to them)-lift me; the Lieutenant to night watches on the court of guard. First, I must tell thee, this Defdemona is directly in love with him.

Rod. With him? why, 'tis not poffible.

Iago. Lay thy fingers thus; and let thy foul be inftructed. Mark me with what violence the first lov`d the Moor, but for bragging, and telling her fantastical lies. And will fhe love him fill for prating? let not thy difcreet heart think it. Her eye must be fed. And what delight fhall fhe have to look on the devil? When the blood is made dull with the act of fport, there fhould be, again to inflame it, and to give fatiety a fresh appetite, loveliness in favour, fympathy in years, manners, and beauties; all which the Moor is defective in. Now, for want of these requir'd conveniencies, her delicate tenderness will find itself abus'd, begin to heave the gorge, difrelish and abhor the Moor; very nature will inftru&t her in it, and compel her to fome fecond choice. Now, Sir, this granted, (as it is a moft pregnant and unforc'd pofition), who stands fo eminent in the degree of this fortune, as Caffio does? a knave very voluble; no further confcionable, than in putting on the mere form of civil and humane feeming, for the better compaffing of his falt and most hidden loose affection a flippery and fubtil knave, a finder of occafions; that has an eye can ftamp and counterfeit advantages, tho'