UN To set forth a booke without an Epistle, were like to the old English proverbe, “ A blew coat without a badge ;” and the author being dead, I thought good to take that piece of worke upon me: To commend it, I will not; for that which is good, I hope every man will commend without intreaty: and I am the bolder, because the Author's name is sufficient to vent his worke. Thus leaving every one to the liberty of judgment, I have ventured to print this play, and leave it the generall censure. Yours, THOMAS WALKLY. I have already chose iny officer. And what was he? Forsooth, a great arithmetician, One Michael Cassio, a Florentine, A fellow almost damned in a fair wife ;) That never set a squadron in the field, Nor the division of a battle knows More than a spinster; unless the bookish theoric, 3 Wherein the toged consuls 4 can propose As masterly as he. Mere prattle, without practice, Is all his soldiership. But he, sir, had the election. And 1-of whom his eyes had seen the proof At Rhodes, at Cyprus, and on other grounds, Christian and heathen—must be be-lee'd and calmed By debitor and creditor, this counter-caster ; 5 He, in good time, must his lieutenant be, And I (God bless the mark !) his Moorship's ancient. Rod. By Heaven, I rather would have been his hangman. Iago. But there's no remedy ; 'tis the curse of service; Preferment goes by letter, and affection, Not by the old gradation, where each second Stood heir to the first. Now, sir, be judge yourself, i lago probably means to represent Cassio as a man who knew no more of a squadron than the number of men it contained. He afterwards calls him “ this counter-caster.” 2 The folio reads, dambd. This passage has given rise to much discussion, Mr. Tyrwhitt thought that we should read, “ almost damned in a fair life ;” alluding to the judgment denounced in the Gospel against those of whom all men speak well." Mr. Singer would be contented to adopt his emendation, but with a different interpretation :"A fellow almost damned (i. e. lost from luxurious habits) in the serene or equable tenor of his life." The passage, as it stands at present, has been said by Steevens to mean, according to lago's licentious manner of expressing himself, no more than a man “very near being married." This seems to have been the case in respect to Cassio. Mr. Boswell suspects that there may be some corruption in the text. 3 i. e. theory. See All's Well that Ends Well, Act iv. Sc. 3. 4 The rulers of the state, or civil governors. By toged is meant peaceable, in opposition to warlike qualifications. The folio reads “ tongued consuls." 5 It was anciently the practice to reckon up sums with counters. 6 i. e by recommendation. Whether I in any just term am affined' I would not follow him, then. That, doting on his own obsequious bondage, cashiered; their coats, Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul ; And such a one do I profess myself. For, sir, It is as sure as you are Roderigo, Were I the Moor, I would not be lago. In following him, I follow but myself : Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty, But seeming so, for my peculiar end : For when my outward action doth demonstrate The native act and figure of my heart In compliment extern,3 'tis not long after But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve For daws 4 to peck at. I am not what I am. Rod. What a full fortune 5 does the thick-lips owe, If he can carry't thus! Iago. Call up her father, Rouse him; make after him, poison his delight, 1 "Do I stand within any such terms of propinquity to the Moor, as that I am bound to love him?” The first quarto has assigned, 2 Knave is here used for servant, but with a mixture of contempt. VOL. VII. 51 I have already chose iny officer. hangman. Iago. But there's no remedy ; 'tis the curse of service; Preferment goes by letter,6 and affection, Not by the old gradation, where each second Stood heir to the first. Now, sir, be judge yourself, 1 lago probably means to represent Cassio as a man who knew no more of a squadron than the number of men it contained. He afterwards calls him “ this counter-caster." 2 The folio reads, dambd. This passage has given rise to much discussion, Mr. Tyrwhitt thought that we should read, “almost damned in a fair life ;” alluding to the judgment denounced in the Gospel against those of whom all men speak well.” Mr. Singer would be contented to adopt his emendation, but with a different interpretation :-“ A fellow almost damned (i. e. lost from luxurious habits) in the serene or equable tenor of his life.” The passage, as it stands at present, has been said by Steevens to mean, according to Iago's licentious manner of expressing himself, no more than a man very near being married." This seems to have been the case in respect to Cassio. Mr. Boswell suspects that there may be some corruption in the text. 3 i. e. theory. See All's Well that Ends Well, Act iv. Sc. 3. 4 The rulers of the state, or civil governors. By toged is meant peaceable, in opposition to warlike qualifications. The folio reads “ tongued consuls." 5 It was anciently the practice to reckon up sums with counters. 6 i. e by recommendation, Whether I in any just term am affined' I would not follow him, then. That, doting on his own obsequious bondage, cashiered; their coats, Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul; And such a one do I profess myself. For, sir, It is as sure as you are Roderigo, Were I the Moor, I would not be lago. In following him, I follow but myself : Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty, But seeming so, for my peculiar end : For when my outward action doth demonstrate The native act and figure of my heart In compliment extern, 'tis not long after But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve For daws 4 to peck at. I am not what I am. Rod. What a full fortune 5 does the thick-lips owe, If he can carry't thus! Iago. Call up her father, Rouse him; make after him, poison his delight, 1 " Do I stand within any such terms of propinquity to the Moor, as that I am bound to love him?” The first quarto has assigned. 2 Knave is here used for servant, but with a mixture of contempt. VOL. VII. |