To him, Enter lago..

In happy time, Iago.

lago. You have not been abed then?

Caf. Why, no; the day had broke before we parted. I have made bold to fend in to your wife;

My fuit to her

Is, that she will to virtuous Dejdemona
Procure me fome accefs.

Iago. I'll fend her presently;

And I'll devise a mean to draw the Moor

Out of the way, that your converfe and business

May be more free.

[Exit.

Caf. I humbly thank

you for't. I never knew

A Florentine more kind and honeft.

To him, enter Æmilia.

Emil. Good-morrow, good lieutenant. I am forry For your difpleafure; but all will, fure, be well. The General and his wife are talking of it: And the fpeaks for you ftoutly. The Moor replies, That he, you hurt, is of great fame in Cyprus, And great affinity; and that in wholesome wisdom He might not but refufe you. But he protefts, he loves

you;

And needs no other fuitor, but his likings,

"To take the firft occafion by the front

To bring you in again.

Caf. Yet I befeech you,

If you think fit, or that it may be done,

Give me advantage of fome brief difcourfe
With Desdemona alone.

Æmil. Pray you, come in;

I will bestow you where you shall have time

To fpeak your bofom freely.

Caf. I am much bound unto you.

[Exeunt.

SCENE

SCENE II.

Enter Othello, Iago, and Gentlemen.

Oth. These letters give, lago, to the pilot,
And by him do my duties to the fenate;
That done, I will be walking on the Works.
Repair there to me.

Jago. My good Lord, I'll do't.
Oth. This fortification, gentlemen
Gent. We'll wait upon your Lordship.

SCENE III.

fhall we fee't? [Exeunt.

Changes to an Apartment in the Palace.

Enter Defdemona, Caffio, and Emilia.

Def. Be thou affur'd, good Caffio, I will do All my abilities in thy behalf.

Emil. Good Madam, do. I know, it grieves my husband

As if the cause were his.

Def. Oh, that's an honeft fellow. Doubt not, Caffio, But I will have my Lord and you again

As friendly as you were.

Caf. Most bounteous Madam,

Whatever shall become of Michael Caffio,

Lord;

He's never any thing but your true fervant.
Def. I know't; I thank you. You do love
You've known him long; and, be you well affur'd,

He fhall in ftrangeness stand no farther off
Than in a politick distance.

Caf. Ay, but, lady,

(9) That policy may either laft fo long,

my

make

(9) That policy may either laft fo long,] He may either of himself think it politick to keep me out of office fo long, or he may be fatisfed with fuch flight reafons, or fo accidents many him think my re-admiffion at that time improper, that I may quite forgotten.

may

be

Or

Or feed upon fuch nice and and waterish diet,
Or breed itself fo out of circumstances,
That I being abfent, and my place fupply'd,.
My General will forget my love and fervice.

Def. Do not doubt that; before Æmilia here,
I give thee warrant of thy Place. Affure thee,
If I vow a friendship, I'll perform it

To the last article. My Lord fhall never reft;
(1) I'll watch him tame, and talk him out of patience;
His bed fhall feem a school, his board a fhrift t;
I'll intermingle every thing he does

With Caffio's fuit; therefore be merry, Caffio;
For thy follicitor fhall rather die,
Than give thy cause away.

SCENE IV.

Enter Othello, and Iago, at diftance.

Emil. Madam, here comes my Lord.
Caf. Madam, I'll take my leave.
Def. Why, ftay, and hear me fpeak.

Caf. Madam, not now. I am very ill at ease,

Unfit for mine own purposes.

Def. Well, do your difcretion.
Iago. Hah! I like not that.
Oth. What doft thou fay?

Jago. Nothing, my Lord

what.

[Exit Callio

or if

I know not

Oth. Was not that Caffio, parted from my wife? lago. Caffio, my Lord? no, fure, I cannot think it, That he would fteal away fo guilty-like,

Seeing you coming.

Oth. I believe, 'twas he.

Def. How now, my

Lord?

I have been talking with a fuitor here,

A man that languifhes in your difpleasure..

Oth. Who is't you mean?

(1) I'll watch him tame,

-] It is faid, that the ferocity of

beafts, infuperable and irreclaimable by any other means, is fub

dued by keeping them from fleep.

Def.

Def. Why, your lieutenant Caffio. Good my Lord, If I have any grace, or power to move you, (2) His prefent reconciliation take.

For if he be not one that truly loves you,
That errs in ignorance, (3) and not in cunning,
I have no judgment in an honeft face.
I pr'ythee, call him back.

Oth. Went he hence now?

Def. I'footh, fo humbled,

That he hath left part of his grief with me,
To fuffer with him. Good love, call him back.
Oth. Not now, fweet Defdemona; fome other time.
Def. But fhall't be shortly?

Oth. The fconer, Sweet, for you.
Def. Shall't be to-night at fupper?
Oth. Not to-night.

Def. To-morrow dinner then?
Oth. I fhall not dine at home.
I meet the Captains at the Citadel.

Def. Why then to-morrow night, or Tuesday morn,
Or Tuesday noon, or night, or Wednesday morn,
I pr'ythee, name the time; but let it not
Exceed three days; in faith, he's penitent,
And yet his trefpafs, in our common reason,

Save that, they fay, (4) the wars must make examples
Out of their beft, is not almost a fault
T'incur a private check. When fhall he come?
Tell me Othello. I wonder in my foul,

What you should ask me, that I would deny,

Or stand so mummering on? What? Michael Caffio ! That came a wooing with you, and many a time,

(2) His prefent reconciliation TAKE.] Coffio was to be reconciled to his General, not his General to him, therefore take cannot be right. We should read MAKE. WARBURTON. To take bis reconciliation, may be to accept the submission which he makes in order to be reconciled.

(3)

fimply. (4)

and not in cunning,] Cunning, for defign, or purpose, WARBURTON.

the wars must make examples

Out of their, -] The feverity of military difcipline muft not fpare the beft men of the army, when their punishment may afford a wholesome example.

When

When I have spoke of you difpraisingly,

Hath ta'en your part, to have fo much to do
To bring him in? Truft me, I could do much

Oth. Pr'ythee, no more. Let him come when he will,. I will deny thee nothing.

Def. Why, this is not a boon.

'Tis as I fhould entreat you wear your gloves,
Or feed on nourishing meats, or keep you warm;.
Or fue to you, to do peculiar profit

Το

your own perfon. Nay, when I have fuit,
Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed,,
It fhall be full of poife and difficulty,
And fearful to be granted.

Oth. I will deny thee nothing;

Whereon I do befeech thee, grant me this,
To leave me but a little to myself.

Def. Shall I deny you? No. Farewel, my Lord." Oth. Farewel, my Defdemona; I'll come ftraight. Def. Emilia, come. Be as your fancies teach you Whate'er you be, I am obedient.

SCENE V.

Manent Othello, and Iago.

[Exeunt:

Oth. (5) Excellent Wretch !-Perdition catch my foul,

(5) Excellent Wretch! Perdition catch my foul,

But I do love thee; &c.] Tho' all the printed copies concur in this reading, I think, it is very reafonably to be fufpected. Othello is exclaiming here with admiration and rapturous fondness: but Wretch can fcarce be admitted to be used, unless in compaffion or contempt. I make no queftion, but the poet wrote;

Excellent Wench!..

Perdition catch my foul, &c.

It is to be obferv'd, that, in SHAKESPEARE's time, Wench, Lafs, and Girl, were not used in that low and vulgar acceptation as they are at this time of day, but very frequently with dignity.

THEOBALD:

The meaning of the word wretch, is not generally understood. It is now, in fome parts of England, a term of the fofteft and fondeft tenderness. It expreffes the utmoft degree of amiablenessi joined with an idea, which perhaps all tenderness includes, of feebleness, foftnefs, and want of protection. Othello, confidering Defdemona as excelling in beauty and virtue, foft and timorous by her fex, and by her fituation abfolutely in his power, calls her, Excellent Wretch. It may be expreffed,

Dear, barmless, belpless Excellence.

But