For I have lost him on a dangerous sea.

Mon. Is he well shipp'd ?

Cas. His bark is stoutly timber'd, and his pilot Of very expert and approv'd allowance; Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death, Stand in bold cure.

[Within.] A sail, a sail, a sail !

Enter. a Messenger.
Cas. What noise ?

Mess. The town is empty; on the brow o’ the sea
Stand ranks of people, and they cry, “a sail.”
Cas. My hopes do shape him for the governor.

[Guns heard. 2 Gent. They do discharge their shot of courtesy : Our friends, at least. Cas.

I pray you, sir, go forth, And give us truth who 'tis that is arriv'd. 2 Gent. I shall.

[Exit. Mon. But, good lieutenant, is your general wiv'd ?

Cas. Most fortunately: he hath achiev'd a maid, That paragons description, and wild fame; One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens', And in th' essential vesture of creation, Does bear all excellency. — How now? who has put

in ?

Re-enter Second Gentleman. 2 Gent. 'Tis one Iago, ancient to the general.

3 — not surfeited to death,] The meaning seems to be that Cassio's hopes are not destroyed by constant repetition and disappointment. This passage has occasioned much dispute.

* One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens,] The quarto, 1622, omits the words “quirks of.”

5 Does bear all excellency.] The folio reads, “Does tire the ingeniuer," which has been taken for inginer, though if that were the true word, we cannot tell why the compositor should have put so many letters into it. Our text is that, not only of the quarto, 1622, but of the quarto, 1630, which sometimes agrees with the folio, sometimes with the quarto, 1622, and now and then with neither. VOL. VII.

M m

Cas. He has had most favourable and happy speed: Tempests themselves, high seas, and howling winds, The gutter'd rocks, and congregated sands, Traitors ensteep'do to clog the guiltless keel, As having sense of beauty, do omit Their mortal natures, letting go safely by The divine Desdemona. Mon.

What is she? Cas. She that I spake of, our great captain's captain, Left in the conduct of the bold Iago; Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts, A se'nnight's speed.—Great Jove! Othello guard, And swell his sail with thine own powerful breath, That he may bless this bay with his tall ship, Make love's quick pants in Desdemona's arms”, Give renew'd fire to our extincted spirits, And bring all Cyprus comfort.—0, behold!

Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA, Iago, RODERIGO, and

Attendants.
The riches of the ship is come on shore.
Ye men of Cyprus, let her bave your knees.-
Hail to thee, lady! and the grace of heaven,
Before, behind thee, and on every hand,
Enwheel thee round !

I thank you, valiant Cassio.
What tidings can you tell me of my lordo?

Cas. He is not yet arriv'd: nor know I aught But that he's well, and will be shortly here.

Des.

Des. O! but I fear.—How lost you company?

Cas. The great contention of the sea and skies
Parted our fellowship.

[Within.] A sail, a sail ! But, hark! a sail.

[Guns heard. 2 Gent. They give their greeting to the citadel : This likewise is a friend. Cas.

See for the news'.

[Exit Gentleman. Good ancient, you are welcome.—Welcome, mistress.

[To Emilia.
Let it not gall your patience, good Iago,
That I extend my manners : 'tis my breeding
That gives me this bold show of courtesy. [Kissing her.

Iago. Sir, would she give you so much of her lips,
As of her tongue she oft bestows on me,
You'd have enough.
Des.

Alas! she has no speech.
Iago. In faith, too much?;
I find it still, when I have leave to sleep:
Marry, before your ladyship, I grant,
She puts her tongue a little in her heart,
And chides with thinking.

Emil. You have little cause to say so.
Iago. Come on, come on; you are pictures out of

doors,
Bells in your parlours, wild cats in your kitchens,
Saints in your injuries, devils being offended,
Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your

Des. O, fie upon thee, slanderers!

Iago. Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk :
You rise to play, and go to bed to work.

Emil. You shall not write my praise.
Iago.

No, let me not. Des. What would'st thou write of me, if thou should'st

praise me? Iago. O gentle lady, do not put me to't, For I am nothing, if not critical. Des. Come on; assay. — There's one gone to the

harbour ? Iago. Ay, madam.

Des. I am not merry; but I do beguile
The thing I am, by seeming otherwise.—
Come; how would'st thou praise me?

Iago. I am about it, but, indeed, my invention
Comes from my pate, as birdlime does from frize,
It plucks out brains and all; but my muse labours,
And thus she is deliver’d.
If she be fair and wise,— fairness, and wit,
The one's for use, the other useth it.

Des. Well prais'd! How, if she be black and witty?

Iago. If she be black, and thereto have a wit,
She'll find a white that shall her blackness fit.

Des. Worse and worse.
Emil. How, if fair and foolish ?

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

Des. These are old fond paradoxes', to make fools laugh i’ the alehouse. What miserable praise hast thou for her that's foul and foolish?

Iago. There's none so foul, and foolish thereunto, But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do.

Des. O heavy ignorance! thou praisest the worst best. But what praise could'st thou bestow on a deserving woman indeed ? one that, in the authority of her merit, did justly 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 said, “now I may;"
She that, being anger’d, her revenge being nigh,
Bade her wrong stay, and her displeasure fly;
She that in wisdom never was so frail,
To change the cod's head for the salmon's tail;
She that could think, and ne'er disclose her mind,
See suitors following, and not look behinde;
She was a wight,-if ever such wight were,

Des. To do what?
Iago. To suckle fools, and chronicle small beer.

Des. O, most lame and impotent conclusion ! Do not learn of him, Emilia, though he be thy husband.How say you, Cassio ? is he not a most profane and liberal counsellor ?

l counsellor ? Cas. He speaks home, madam : you may relish him more in the soldier, than in the scholar.

Iago. [Aside.] He takes her by the palm?: ay, well said, whisper: with as little a web as this, will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do; I will gyve thee in thine own courtship. You say true; 'tis so, indeed: if such tricks as these strip you

See suitors following, and not look behind ;] This line is wanting only in the quarto, 1622.

? He takes her by the palm :] In a hand-writing of the time, in the Duke of Devonshire's copy of the quarto, 1622, we read opposite this speech, “ Aside, to him selfe." We follow the text of the folio, which does not vary from that of the quarto, 1630, excepting in the words “gyve thee" for catch you. The quarto, 1622, has the same, and one or two other immaterial variations.