In my whole course of wooing, thou cry'dst, Indeed? And didst contract and purse thy brow together, As if thou then hadst shut up in thy brain Some horrible conceit. Show me thy thought. Iago. If thou dost love me, My lord, you know I love you. I think thou dost; And-for I know thou art full of love and honesty, And weigh'st thy words before thou giv'st them breath Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more; Are tricks of custom; but, in a man that's just, Iago. For Michael Cassio, I dare be sworn, I think that he is honest. Oth. I think so too. Iago. Men should be what they seem; Or, those that be not, 'would they might seem none!* I pray thee, speak to me as to thy thinkings, As thou dost ruminate; and give thy worst of thoughts The worst of words. Good my lord, pardon me; Iago. I am not bound to that all slaves are free to.3 1 Thus the earliest quarto. The first folio reads-" close dilations ;" which Johnson says was intended for "cold delations," i. e. occult and secret accusations, working involuntarily from the heart. The second folio reads "cold dilations;" which Warburton explains "cold keeping back a secret," which men of phlegmatic constitutions, whose arts are not swayed or governed by their passions, we find can do; while more sanguine tempers reveal themselves at once, and without reserve." Upton says dilations comes from the Latin dilationes, delayings, pauses. 2 I believe the meaning is, "would they might no longer seem or bear the shape of men."-Johnson. 3 "I am not bound to do that which even slaves are not bound to do." As where's that palace, whereinto foul things Keep leets, and law-days, and in session sit Oth. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago, If thou but think'st him wronged, and mak'st his ear A stranger to thy thoughts. Iago. Το spy into abuses; and, oft, my jealousy You'd take no notice; nor build yourself a trouble Oth. Who steals my purse, steals trash; 'tis something, nothing. 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands; But he that filches from me my good name, Robs me of that which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed. Oth. By Heaven, I'll know thy thought. Iago. You cannot, if my heart were in your hand; Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody. Oth. Ha! Iago. O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster, which doth make? i. e. conjectures. Thus the quarto 1622. The folio reads: 2 The old copy reads mock. The emendation is Hanmer's. The slight alteration of the text renders it more clear and poetical. The meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss, Iago. Poor, and content, is rich, and rich enough; But riches, fineless,' is as poor as winter, To him that ever fears he shall be poor.- Oth. Why! why is this? With fresh suspicions? No; to be once in doubt, 3 Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me jealous, Iago. I am glad of this, for now I shall have reason To show the love and duty that I bear you With franker spirit; therefore, as I am bound, 1 i. e. endless, unbounded. Warburton observes that this is finely expressed-winter producing no fruits. 2 No instance of this word has elsewhere occurred. "It seems to me (says Mr. Todd), that all the critics have overlooked the meaning of the passage. Exsufficates may be traced to the low Latin exsuflare, to spit down upon, an ancient form of exorcising; and, figuratively, to spit out in abhorrence or contempt. See Du Cange, in v. exsuflare. Exsufficate may thus signify contemptible; and Othello may be supposed to mean, that he would not change the noble designs, that then employed his thoughts, for contemptible and despicable surmises."-Johnson's Dict. in v. exsuffolate. 3. e. such as you have mentioned in describing the torments of jealousy. VOL. VII. 58 Receive it from me.-I speak not yet of proof. In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks They dare not show their husbands; their best conscience Is-not to leave undone, but keep unknown. Oth. Dost thou say so? Iago. She did deceive her father, marrying you; And, when she seemed to shake, and fear your looks, She loved them most. Oth. And so she did. Why, go to, then ; She that, so young, could give out such a seeming, He thought 'twas witchcraft.-But I am much to blame; I humbly do beseech you of your pardon, For too much loving you. Oth. I am bound to thee forever. Trust me, I fear it has. Iago. I see this hath a little dashed your spirits. Iago. I hope you will consider, what is spoke Comes from my love;-but I do see you are moved.— I am to pray you not to strain my speech 3 To grosser issues, nor to larger reach, Than to suspicion. Oth. I will not. Iago. Should you do so, my lord, My speech should fall into such vile success. 1 Self-bounty for inherent generosity. 4 An expression from falconry: to seel a hawk is to sew up his eyelids. Close as oak means as close as the grain of oak. 3 Issues for conclusions. 4 Success here means consequence or event. So in Sidney's Arcadia, p. 39, ed. 1613:-" Straight my heart misgave me some evil success.” Cassio's my worthy As my thoughts aim not at. friend. My lord, I see you are moved. Oth. No, not much moved; I do not think but Desdemona's honest. Iago. Long live she so! and long live you to think so! you, Not to affect many proposed matches, Of her own clime, complexion, and degree; Oth. Farewell, farewell. If more thou dost perceive, let me know more; Set on thy wife to observe. Leave me, lago. Iago. My lord, I take my leave. [Going. Oth. Why did I marry?-This honest creature, doubtless, Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds. 1 Will for inclination or desire. A rank will is a lustful inclination. ful interest, is by the solicitation of your lady." 3 i. e. press hard his readmission to his pay and office. Entertainment was the military term for the admission of soldiers. |