Enter Rodorigo.

Jago. How now, Rodorigo!

I pray you, after the lieutenant, go.

[Exit Rod
Mont. And 'tis great pity, that the noble Moor
Should hazard fuch a Place as his own Second,
With one of an ingraft infirmity;

It were an honeft action to fay fo
Unto the Moor.

lago. Not I, for this fair ifland;

I do love Cafio well, and would do much
To cure him of this evil. Hark, what noise?

[Within, help! help!

Re-enter Caffio, pursuing Rodorigo.

Caf. You rogue! you rascal!

Mont. What's the matter, lieutenant ?

Caf. A knave teach me my duty, I'll beat the knave

into a twiggen bottle.

Rod. Beat me

Caf. Doft thou prate, rogue?

Mont. Nay, good lieutenant;

I pray you, Sir, hold your hand.

[Staying him. [zard.

Caf. Let me go, Sir, or I'll knock you o'er the mazMont. Come, come, you're drunk.

Caf. Drunk?.

[They fight.

Jago. Away, I fay, go out and cry a mutiny.

[Exit Rodorigo. Nay, good lieutenant-Alas, gentlemenHelp, ho!Lieutenant- -Sir- -Montano Help, mafters! here's a goodly watch, indeedWho's that, who rings the bell-diablo, ho!

[Bell rings.

The town will rife. Fy, fy, lieutenant! hold:
You will be fham'd for ever.

Enter Othello, and Attendants.

Oth. What is the matter here?

Mont. I bleed ftill, I am hurt, but not to th' death.

Oth. Hold, for your lives.

Bago. Hold, ho! lieutenant-Sir-Montano
Gentlemen-

Have you forgot all place of fenfe and duty?
The General speaks to you-hold, hold, for fhame-
Oth. Why, how now, ho? from whence arifeth this?
Are we turn'd Turks? and to ourselves do that,
"Which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites ?*

For chriftian fhame, put by this barbarous brawl;
He that ftirs next to carve for his own rage,
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 now
In quarter and in terms like bride and groom
Divefting them for bed; and then, but now-
(As if fome planet had.unwitted men,)

Swords out, and tilting one at other's breafts,,
In oppofition bloody. I can't fpeak-
Any beginning to this peevish odds,
And, 'twould, in action glorious I had loft
Those 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 speak.
Oth. Worthy Montano, you were wont be civil !
The gravity and ftillnefs 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 fpend 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 spare fpeech, which fomething now offends me,, Of all that I do know; nor know I aught

By me that's faid or done amifs this night,

Unless self-charity be fometimes a vice,

And to defend ourselves it be a fin,

When violence affails us.

Oth. Now, by heav'n,

My blood begins my fafer guides to rule;
And paffion, having my belt judgment choler'd,
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 approv'd in this offence,
Tho' he had twinn'd with me both at a birth,
Shall lofe me. What, in a town of war,
Yet wild, the people's hearts brim-full of fear,
To manage private and domestic quarrel?
In night, and on the Court of Guard and Safety? (28)
'Tis monftrous. Say, Iago, who began't?
Mont. If partially affin'd, or leagu'd in office,
Thou doft deliver more or lefs than truth
Thou art no foldier.

lago. Touch me not so neár :

I'd rather have this tongue cut from my mouth,

Than it should do offence to Michael Caffis:

Yet I perfuade myself, to speak the truth

Shall nothing wrong him. Thus 'tis General
Montano and myself being in a speech,
There comes a fellow crying out for help,
And Caffio following with determin'd fword,
To execute upon him. Sir, this gentleman
Steps in to Caffio, and intreats his paufe ;
Myfelf the crying fellow did purfue,
Left by his clamour (as it fo fell out)

(28) In night, and on the court and guard of fafety?] This is fpoken by Okello; but guard of fafety, tho coupled with a word of fynony. mous conftru&tion, was never a foldier's language. I have ventur'd to make the conjunction and fign of the genitive cafe change places: and fo the phrafe in ufe is reftor'd, tho' against the authority of the printed copies.

In night, and on the court of guard and safety ?

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

The town might fall in fright. He, fwift of foot,
Out-ran my purpose: I return'd, 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 sometimes forget;
Tho' Caffio did fome little wrong to him,
As men in rage frike those that with them best,
Yet, furely, Caffio, I believe, receiv'd
From him that fled, fome ftrange indignity,
Which patience could not pafs.

Oth. I know, Iago,

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

Enter Defdemona attended.

Look, if my gentle love be not rais'd 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, myfelf will be your furgeon, Lead him off;

Iago, look with care about the town,

And filence those whom this vile brawl diftra&ted:
Come, Desdemona, 'tis the foldier's life,

To have their balmy slumbers wak'd with ftrife,

Manent Tago and Caffio.

Iago. What, are you hurt, lieutenant?

Caf. Paft all Surgery.

Iago. Marry, heav'n forbid!

[Exeunt

Caf. Reputation, reputation, reputation! oh I have loft my reputation! I have loft the immortal part of

N 6

myfelf,

myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation! Iago, my reputation

Iago. As I am an honeft man, I had thought, you had receiv'd 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 fuch a loser. What, man,

there are ways to recover the General again. You are but now caft in his mood, a punishment more in policy than in malice; even so as one would beat his offenceless dog, to affright an imperious lion. him again, and he's yours.

Sue to

Caf. I will rather fue to be despis'd, than to deceive fo good a commander, with fo flight, fo drunken, and fo indifcreet an officer. Drunk, and fpeak? Parrot, and fquabble? fwagger? fwear? and difcourfe fuftian with one's own fhadow? oh thou invincible fpirit of wine; if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee devil!

Iago. What was he that you follow'd with your fword? what had he done to you?

Caf. I know not.

Iago. Is't poffible?

Caf. I remember a mass of things, but nothing diftinely; a quarrel, but nothing whereof.

Oh, that men fhould put an enemy in their mouths, to steal away their brains! that we should with joy, pleafance, revel, and applaufe, transform ourfelves into beafts.

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

Caf. It has pleas'd the devil, drunkenness, to give place to the devil, wrath; one unperfectnefs fhews me another, to make me frankly despise myself.

Iago. Come, you are too fevere a moraler. As the time, the place, and the condition of this country stands, I could heartily wish 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 fhall tell me, I am a drunkard !——had I as many mouths as

Hydra,