That gives me this bold fhew of courtesy.
Iago. Sir, would fhe give you fo much of her lips,
As of her tongue fhe oft beltows on me,
You'd have enough.

Def. Alas, fhe has no fpeech.

lago. In faith, too much;

I find it still, when I have lift to fleep;
Marry, before your Ladyfhip, I grant,
She puts her tongue a little in her heart,
And chides with thinking.

Emil. You have little caufe to fay fo..

lago. 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, Players in your housewifery, and housewives in

your beds!

Def. O, fy upon thee, flanderer!

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 praise.

Jago. No, let me not.

Def. What wouldst thou write of me, if thou fhouldt praife me?

Iago. Oh, gentle Lady, do not put me to't, For I am nothing, if not critical.

Def. Come, one affay. There's one gone to the harbour-----

Iago. Ay, Madam.

Def. I am not merry; but I do beguile The thing I am, by feeming otherwife ;----Come, how wouldst thou praise me?

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

"If fhe be fair and wife, fairness and wit, "The one's for ule, the other ufeth it."

Def Well praised; how if the be black and witty?.

Lago. "If the be black, and thereto have a wit, "She'll find a white that fhall her black"nefs fit."

Def. Worfe and worse.

Emil. How, if fair and foolish?

Iago. "She never yet was foolith, that was fair; "For even her folly helped her to an heir."

Def. Thefe are old fond paradoxes, to make fools laugh,i' th' alehoufe. What miferable praife haft thou for her that's foul and foolish?

66

Iago. "There's none fo foul and foolish thereunto, But, does foul pranks, which fair and "wife ones do."

Def. Oh, heavy ignorance! thou praifeft the worlt beft. But what praife couldst thou bestow on a deferving woman indeed? (23) one that, in

(23) One that, in the authority of her merit, did jully put on the vouch of very malice itself.] Though all the printed copies agree in this reading, I cannot help fufpeing it. It the text fhould be genuine, I confefs it is above my underflanding In what fenfe can me it be faid to put on the vouch of malice? I should rather think, merit was fo fafe in itself, as to repel and put off all that malice and envy could advance and affirm to its prejudice; was upon its guard again every attack of calumny, and defied it. I have ventured to reform the text to this conftruction. by a very flight change that makes it intelligible. To the fame purpose the Duke fays in Meafure for Measure;

-Loid Angelo is precise,
Stands at a guard with envy.

the authority of her merit, did juftly put down 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 with, and yet faid, now I 66 may;

"She that when angered, her revenge being nigh,

"Bade her wrong ftay, and her displea "fure fly;

She that in wifdom never was fo frail To change the cod's head for the fal"mon's tail;

"She that could think, and ne'er disclofe “ her mind,

"See fuitors following, and not look behind; "She was a wight, (if ever fuch wight "were)----

Def. To do what?

lago. "To fuckle fools, and chronicle fmall beer." Def. Oh moft lame and impotent conclufion! Do not learn of him, Æmilia, though he be thy hufband. (24) How fay you, Caffio, is he not a moft profane and liberal cenfurer?

So Queen Catharine, speaking of herself and the clearness of her life and conduct,

My Lords, I care not (fo much I am happy

Above a number) if my actions

Were tried by every tongue, every eye faw them,
Favy and bafe opinion fet against them;

I know my life fo even.

K. Henry VII.

And much to the tenor of our Poet's fentiment, as I have corrected it, Aufonius fpeaks of chastity.

Que cafia eft? De qua mentiri fama veretur.

(24) How fay you, Caflio? Is be not a most profane and l

Caf. He fpeaks home, Madam; you may relilla him more in the foldier than in the fcholar.

lago. [Afide.] He takes her by the palm; ay, well faid--whisper----With as little a web as this, will I enfnare as great a fly as Caffio. Ay, fmile upon her, do; I will gyve thee in thine own courtfhip. You fay true, 'tis fo indeed. If fuch tricks as thefe ftrip you out of your lieutenancy, it had been better you had not kiffed your three fingers fo oft, which now again you are most apt to play the Sir in. Very good---well kiffed, and excellent courtesy—'tis fo indeed-Yet again------your fingers to your lips? 'would they were clifter-pipes for your fake. [Trumpet.

The Moor, I know his trumpet.

Caf. 'Tis truly fo

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

Caf. Lo, where he comes!

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 come fuch calms,

May the winds blow till they have wakened death; And let the labouring bark climb hills of feas Olympus high, and dack again as low

As hell's from heaven! if I were now to die, "Twere now to be moft happy; for I fear, My foul hath her content fo absolute,

beral counfellor] But in what refpect was Iago a counsellor ? He caps fentences, indeed; but they are not by way of advice. but defcription: what he fays, is, reflections on character and conduct in life. For this reafon, I am very apt to think our Author wrote cefirer.

VOL. XII.

T

That not another comfort like to this

Succeeds in unknown fate.

Def. The Heavens forbid,

But that our loves and comforts fhould increase,
Even as our days do grow!

Oth. Amen to that, fweet powers!

I cannot speak enough of this content,
It stops me here; it is too much of joy.
And this, and this, the greateft difcords be

That e'er our hearts fhall make !

[Kiffing her.

Iago. Oh, you are well-tuned now; but I'll let down the pegs that make this music, as honest as I

am.

Oth. Come, let's to the caftle.

[Afide. [drowned.

Now, friends, our wars are done; the Turks are
How do our old acquaintance of this isle?
Honey, you shall be well defired in Cyprus,

I've found great love amongst them. Oh, my sweet,
I prattle out of fashion, and I doat

In mine own comfort. Pr'ythee, good Iago,
Go to the bay, and disembark my coffers:
Bring thou the mafter to the citadel,

He is a good one, and his worthiness
Does challenge much refpect.
Once more well met at Cyprus.

Come, Defdemona,

[Exeunt Othello and Defdemona.

Manent AGO and RODORIGO.

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