true advantage never prefent itself. A devilish knave! befides, the knave is handfome, young, and hath all thofe requifites in him that folly and green minds look after. A peftilent compleat knave! and the woman hath found him already.

Rod. I cannot believe that of her, fhe's full of moft blefs'd condition.

Lago. Blefs'd figs' end! the wine fhe drinks is made of grapes. If fhe had been blefs'd, fhe would never, have lov'd the Moor. Blefs'd pudding! didst thou not fee her paddle with the palm of his hand? didst not mark that?

Rod. Yes, that I did; but that was but courtesy.

Iago. Lechery, by this hand; an index, and obfcure prologue to the hiftory of luft, and foul thoughts, They met fo near with their lips, that their breaths embrac'd together. Villanous thoughts, Rodorigo! when thefe mutualities fo marfhal the way, hard at hand comes the malter and main exercife, the incorporate conclufion: pish-But, Sir, be you rul'd by me. I have brought you from Venice. Watch you to-night; for the command i'll lay't upon you. Caffio knows you not: I'll not be far from you. Do you find fome occáfion to anger Caffio, either by fpeaking too loud, or tainting his difcipline, or from what other course you pleafe, which the time fhall more favourably minister. Rod. Well.

Iago. Sir, he's rash, and very fudden in choler; and happily may ftrike at you. Provoke him, that he may; for even out of that will I caufe thofe of Cyprus to mutiny whofe qualification fhall come into no true tafte again, but by tranfplanting of Caffio. So fhall you have a thorter journey to your defires, by the means I fhall then have to prefer them; and the impediments most profitably removed, without which there was no expectation of our profperity."

Rod. 1 will do this, if you can bring it to any oppor tunity.

Iago. I wariant thee. Meet me by and by at the citadel I must fetch his neceffaries ahore. Farewel.

Rod. Adieu.

VOL. VIII.

T

[Exit.

SCENE VIII.

Manet Iago.

Iago. That Caffio loves her, I do well believe:
That he loves him, 'tis apt, and of great credit.
The Moor, howbeit that I endure him not,
is of a conftant, loving, noble nature;

And I dare think he'll prove to Desdemona
A moft dear husband. Now I love her too,
Not out of abfolute luft, (though peradventure
I fland accountant for as great a sin),
But partly led to diet my revenge,

For that I do fufpect, the lufty Moor

Hath leapt into my feat. The thought whereof
Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards;
And nothing can or fhall content my foul,
Till I am even'd with him, wife for wife;
Or failing fo, yet that I put the Moor
At least into a jealousy so strong,
That judgment cannot cure. Which thing to do,
If this poor brach of Venice, whom I cherish
For his quick hunting, ftand the putting on,
I'll have our Michael Caffio on the hip,
Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb;
(For I fear Caffio with my night-cap too);

Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me,
For making him egregiously an afs;

And practifing upon his peace and quiet,

Even to madnels.' is here--but yet confus'd;

Knavery's plain face is never feen till us❜d.

SCENE IX. The Street.

Enter Herald with a proclamation.

[Exit.

Her. It is Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant General, that, upon certain tidings now arrived, importing the n.ere* perdition of the Turkish fleet, every man put himself into triumph; fome to dance, fome to make bonefires, each man to what sport and revels his mind leads him. For, befides this beneficial news, it is the celebration of his nuptials. So much was his pleafure should be proclaimed. All offices are open, and

mere, for total.

there is full liberty of feafting, from this prefent hour of five, till the bell have told eleven. Bless the isle of Cyprus, and our noble General Othello !

[Exit.

Enter Othello, Defdemona, Caffio, and Attendants.

Oth. Good Michael, look you to the guard to night; Let's teach ourselves that honourable top,

Not to outfport discretion.

Caf. Iago hath direction what to do:

But, notwithstanding, with my perfonal eye
Will I look to't.

Oth. Iago is most honest.

Michael, good night. To-morrow, with your earliest, Let me have speech with you. Come, my dear love, The purchase made, the fruits are to enfue;

That profit's yet to come 'tween me and you.

Good night.

[Exeunt Othello and Desdemona,

Enter Iago.

Caf. Welcome, Iago; we muft to the watch.

lago. Not this hour, Lieutenant; 'tis not yet ten o' th' clock. Our General caft us thus early for the love of his Defdemona: whom let us not therefore blame; he hath not yet made wanton. the night with her; and fhe is fport for Jove.

Caf. She's a molt exquisite lady.

Iago. And, I'll warrant her, full of game.

Caf. Indeed fhe's a most fresh and delicate creature. Iago. What an eye fhe has? methinks it founds & parley to provocation.

Caf An inviting eye; and yet methinks right modeft. Jago And when the fpeaks, is it not an alarum to love !* Gaf. She is indeed perfection.

Iago Well, happiness to their fheets: come, Lieutenant, I have a ftoop of wine, and here without are as brace of Cyprus gallants, that would fain have a meafure to the health of the black Othello.

Caf. Not to night, good lago; I have very poor andunhappy brains for drinking. I could well with courtefy would invent fome other cufton of entertainment. lago. Oh, they are our friends; but one cup: 1: drink for you.

Caf I have drunk but one cup to-night, and that was craftily qualified too; and behold what innovation it makes here. I am unfortunate in the infirmity, and dare not talk my weakness with any more.

Iago. What, man? 'tis a night of revels, the gallants defire it.

Caf. Where are they?

Iago. Here at the door; I pray you, call them in. Caf. I'll do't, but it dislikes me.

[Exit Caffio. Iago. If I can faften but one cup upon him,

With that which he hath drunk to-night already, "He'll be as full of quarrel and offence,

"As my young miftrefs' dog.

Now, my fick fool, Rodorigo,

"Whom love hath turn'd almost the wrong fide out, To Defdemona hath to-night careuz'd Potations pottle-deep; and he's to watch. Three lads of Cyprus, noble fwelling fpirits, (That hold their honours in a wary distance, The very elements of this warlike ifle), Have I to-night flußer'd with flowing cups.

And they watch too. Now, 'mongst this flock of drun
Ami to put our Caffio in fome action,

That may offend the ifle. But here they come.
If confequence do but approve my deem,

[kards,

My boat fails freely, both with wind and ftream.

SCENE X. Enter Caffio, Montano, and Gentlemen,

Caf. 'Fore heav'n, they have given me a rouse already. Mont. Good faith, a little one: not past a pint, as I am a foldier.

Lago. Some wine, ho!

And let me the canakin clink, clink,

And let me the canakin clink.

[lago fings,

A foldier's a man; oh, man's life's but a span;
Why, then let a foldier drink.

Some wine, boys.

Caf 'Fore heav'n an excellent fong.

lago. I learn'd it in England: where indeed they are molt potent in potting. Your Dane, your German, and

your fwag-belly'd Hollander,--Drink, ho!-are nothing to your Englith.

Caf. Is your English.nan fo exquifite in his drinking? lago Why, he drinks you with facility your Dane dead drunk. He sweats not to overthrow your Almain. He gives your Hollander a vomit ere the next pottle: can be fill'd..

Caf To the health of our General,

Mon. I am for it, Lieutenant, and I'll do you justice. lago. 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 s place that does thofe things. Well-Heaven's above all; and there be fouls that must be faved,. "and there be fouls muft not be faved..

66

Iago 'Tis true, good Lieutenant.

Caf.

"For mine own part (no offence to the Gene. ral, nor any man of quality) I hope to be faved. Iago. And fo do 1 too, Lieutenant.

Let's

Caf." Ay, but, by your leave, not before me, The: "Lieutenant is to be faved before the Ancient. "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 fpeak well enough.

Gent. Excellent well.

Caf. Why, very well then you mut not think then that I am drunk.

[Exit