Holds his foul light: he dies upon his motion.
Silence that dreadful bell; it frights the isle
From her propriety. What is the matter?
Honeft lago, 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
Divesting them for bed; and then, but now---
(As if fome planet had unwitted men,)
Swords out, and tilting one at other's breafts,
In opposition bloody. I can't speak
Any beginning to this peevith odds;
And 'would in action glorious I had lost
Thofe 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.
ath. 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 answer to it.

Mont. Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger;

Your officer lago can inform you,

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 ourfelves it be a fin,
When violence affails us.

Oth. Now, by Heaven,

My blood begins my fafer guides to rule;

[me,

And paffion, having my belt judgment cholered, Affays 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 fet 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 domeftic quarrel,
In night, and on the court of guard and safety? (28)
'Tis monstrous. 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 myself, to speak 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 pause;
Myfelf the crying fellow did pursue,
Left by his clamour (as it fo fell out)

(28) In night, and on the court and guard of fafety?] This is fpoken by Othello; but guard of fafety, though coupled with a word of fynonymous construction, 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 fafety? So, before;

The lieutenant to-night watches on the court 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.

The town might fall in fright. He, fwift of foot,
Outran my purpose; I returned, the rather
For that I heard the clink and fall of swords,
And Caffio high in oath; which till to-night
I ne'er might fay before. When I came back,
{For this was brief) I found them close together
At blow and thruft; even as again they were
When you yourself did part them.

More of this matter cannot I report.

But men are men; the best fometimes forget;
Tho' Caffio did fome little wrong to him,
As men in rage strike thofe that with them best,
Yet furely, Caffio, I believe, received.
From him that fled fome ftrange indignity,
Which patience could not país.

Oth. I know, Iago,

Thy honefty and love doth mince this matter,
Making it light to Callio. Caffio, I love thee,
But never more be officer of mine.—

Enter DESDEMONA, attended.

Look, if my gentle love be not raised up:
I'll make thee an example.

Def. What's the matter?

Oth. All is well, Sweeting, come away to bed. Sir, for your hurts, myself will be your furgeon. Lead him off.

Iago, look with care about the town,

And filence those whom this vile brawl distracted. Come, Defdemona, 'tis the foldier's life,

To have their balmy slumbers waked with strife.

Manent IAGO and CASS 10.

Tago. What, are you hurt, Lieutenant ?

[Exeunt

Caf. Paft all furgery.

U z

Jago. Marry, Heaven forbid !

Caf. Reputation, reputation, reputation! oh, I have loft my reputation! I have loft the immortal part of myfelf, and what remains is beitial. My reputation! Iago, my reputation---

lago. As I am an honeft man, I had thought you had received fome bodily wound; there is more fenfe in that than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and moft falfe impofition; oft got without merit, and loft without deferving. You have loft no reputation at all, unless you repute yourself fich a lofer. What, man,---there are ways to recover the General again. You are but now caft in his mood, a puniihment more in policy than in alice; even fo as one would beat his offenceless dog, to fright an imperious lion. Sue to him again, and he's

yours.

Caf. I will rather fue to be defpifed, than to deceive fo good a commander with fo fight, fo drunkun, end fo indifcreet an officer. Drunk, and fpeak? parrot, and fquabble? fwagger? fwear? and difcourfe fuftian with one's own fhadow? oh thou invincible spirit of wine! if thou haft no name to be known by, let us call thee devil.

Lago. What was he that you followed with your fword? what had he done to you? Caf. I know not.

Jago. Is't poffible?

Caf. I remember a mafs of things, but nothing diftinely a quarrel, but nothing wherefore. Oh, that men fhould put an enemy in their mouths, to fteal away their brains! that we fhould with joy, pleafance, revel, and applaufe, transform oufelves into beafts!

Jago. Why, but you are now well enough: how came you thus recovered?

Caf. It has pleafed the devil Drunkennefs, to give place to the devil Wrath; one unperfectness thews me another, to make me frankly defpife myfelf.

Iago. Come, you are too fevere a moraler. As the time, the place, and the condition of this country ftands, I could heartily with this had not befallen: but fince it is as it is, mend it for your own good.

Caf. I will ask him for my place again; he shall tell me, I am a drunkard!---had I as many mouths as Hydra, fuch an answer would ftop them all. To be now a fenfible man, by and bye a fool, and presently a beait ! -Every inordinate cup is unblefied, and the ingredient is a devil.

lago. Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well ufed: exclaim no more against it. And, good Lieutenant, I think you think I love you.

Caf. I have well approved it, Sir. I drunk!

lago. You, or any man living, may be drunk at fome time, man. I tell you what you fhall do: our General's wife is now the General. I may fay fo in this refpect, for that he hath devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark and denotement of her parts and graces (29). Confefs

(29) For that he hath devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, and devotement of her parts and graces.] I remember it is faid of Antony, in the beginning of his tragedy, that he, who used to fix his eyes altogether on the dreadful ranges of war,

~~now bends, now turns,

The office and devotion of their view

Upon a ftrumpet's front.

This is finely expreffed; but I cannot perfuade myself that our Poet would ever have faid, any one devoted himfelf to the devotement of any thing. All the copies agree; but