He'll watch the horologe a double set,1 If drink rock not his cradle. Mon. It were well The general were put in mind of it. Perhaps he sees it not; or his good nature Prizes the virtue that appears in Cassio, And looks not on his evils. Is not this true? Enter RODERIGO. Iago. How now, Roderigo? [Aside. I pray you, after the lieutenant; go. [Exit RODERIGO. It were an honest action to say So to the Moor. Iago. Not I, for this fair island. I do love Cassio well; and would do much To cure him of this evil. But hark! what noise? [Cry within-Help! help! Re-enter CASSIO, driving in RODERIGO. Cas. You rogue! you rascal! Mon. What's the matter, lieutenant? Cas. A knave!-teach me my duty! I'll beat the knave into a twiggen3 bottle. 1 If he have no drink, he'll keep awake while the clock strikes two rounds, or four-and-twenty hours.-The word horologe is familiar to most of our ancient writers. 2 Rooted, settled. 3 i. e. a wickered bottle; and so the quarto reads. Mon. Come, come, you're drunk. Cas. Drunk! [They fight. Iago. Away, I say! go out, and cry-A mutiny. [Aside to ROD., who goes out. Nay, good lieutenant,-alas, gentlemen,Help, ho!-Lieutenant,-sir,-Montano,-sir ; Help, masters!-Here's a goodly watch, indeed! [Bell rings. Who's that that rings the bell?-Diablo, ho! Oth. Enter OTHELLO and Attendants. What is the matter here? Mon. I bleed still; I am hurt to the death;-he dies.1 Oth. Hold, for your lives. Iago. Hold, hold, lieutenant, sir, Montano,-gentlemen, Have you forgot all sense of place and duty? Hold, hold! the general speaks to you; hold, for shame! Oth. Why, how now, ho! from whence ariseth this? Are we turned Turks; and to ourselves do that, Which Heaven hath forbid the Ottomites? For Christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl. 1 The first quarto omits the words he dies, and has zounds! at the commencement of the line. Montano may be supposed to say he dies, i. e. he shall die. Othello, in the very next speech, says, He dies upon his motion." 2 i. e. on our station. This seems the leading signification, for the principal camp-guard of a regiment is called the quarter-guard; but a regiment in quarters has no such guard. VOL. VII. 56 Divesting them for bed; and then, but now, Oth. How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot?1 The world hath noted, and your name is great 2 And spend your rich opinion, for the name While I spare speech, (which something now offends me) Of all that I do know: nor know I aught 3 And to defend ourselves it be a sin, When violence assails us. Oth. Now, by Heaven, My blood begins my safer guides to rule; Or do but lift this arm, the best of you Shall sink in my rebuke. Give me to know 4 Collied is blackened, as with smut or coal; and, figuratively, means here obscured, darkened. 5 Convicted by proof. Yet wild, the people's hearts brimful of fear, Mon. If partially affined, or leagued in office, Iago. Touch me not so near. I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth, There comes a fellow, crying out for help; The town might fall in fright. He, swift of foot, More of this matter can I not report ; But men are men; the best sometimes forget.- From him that fled, some strange indignity, "In night, and on the court and guard of safety." Malone made the necessary transposition. 2 Affined is "bound by proximity of relationship;" but here it means "related by nearness of office." 3 The old copy reads: "And Cassio following him with determined sword." Oth. I know, Iago, Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter, Making it light to Cassio.-Cassio, I love thee; Enter DESDEMONA, attended. Look, if my gentle love be not raised up;— I'll make thee an example. Des. What's the matter, dear? Oth. All's well now, sweeting; come away to bed. Sir, for your hurts, Myself will be your surgeon ;-Lead him off.1 [To MONTANO, who is led off. Iago, look with care about the town; And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted. Come, Desdemona; 'tis the soldiers' life, To have their balmy slumbers waked with strife: [Exeunt all but IAGO and CASSIO. Iago. What, are you hurt, lieutenant ? Cas. Ay, past all surgery. Iago. Marry, Heaven forbid ! Cas. Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part, sir, of myself, and what remains is bestial.-My reputation, lago, my reputation. Iago. As I am an honest man, I thought you had received some bodily wound; there is more offence in that, than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving. You have lost no reputation at all, unless you repute yourself such a loser. What, man! there are ways to recover the general again. You are but now cast in his mood, a punishment more in policy than in malice; even so as one would beat his 1 Malone thinks that the words "Lead him off" were originally a marginal stage direction, as it was common to express them in imperative terms:-"Play music.-Ring the bell.-Lead him off," &c. 2 Thrown off, dismissed in his anger. |