That not another comfort like to this
Succeeds in unknown fate.

Def. The heav'ns forbid

But that our loves and comforts fhould increase,
Ev'n as our days do grow!

Oth. Amen to that, fweet powers!
I cannot speak enough of this content,
It stops me here it is too much of joy.
And this and this the greatest difcords be
That e'er our hearts fhall make !

Iago. You are well-tun'd now;

[Kiffing ber.

[Afide.

But I'll let down the pegs that make this musick,

As honeft as I am.

Oth. Come, let's to the caftle.

Now, friends, our wars are done; the Turks are drown'd.

How do our old acquaintance of this ifle ?

Honey, you fhall be well defir'd in Cyprus,

I've found great love amongst them. Oh my fweet,

I prattle out of fashion, and I dote

In mine own comfort. Pr'ythee, good Jago,
Go to the bay, and difembark my coffers:
Bring thou the mafter to the citadel,

He is a good one, and his worthiness

Does challenge much refpect. Come, Desdemona,
Once more well met at Cyprus.

[Exeunt Othello and Desdemona. SCENE. VII. Manent Iago and Rodorigo. Iago. Do you meet me prefently at the harbour. Come thither, if thou be'ft valiant; as they fay, base men being in love, have then a nobility in their natures, more than is native to them lift me; the lieutenant to-night watches on the court of guard. First, I must tell thee this: Desdemona is directly in love with him.

Rod. With him? why, 'tis not poffible.

Iago. Lay thy fingers thus; and let thy foul be inftructed. Mark me with what violence fhe first lov'd the Moor, but for bragging, and telling her fantaftical lies. And will the love him ftill for prating? let not thy difcreet heart think it. Her eye must be fed. And what delight fhall the have to look on the devil? When the blood is made dull

with the act of fport, there fhould be, again to inflame it and to give fatiety a fresh appetite, loveliness in favour, fympathy in years, manners, and beauties: all which the Moor is defective in. Now for want of these requir'd conveniences, her delicate tenderness will find it self abus'd, begin to heave the gorge, difrelish and abhor the Moor; very nature will inftruct her in it, and compel her to fome fecond choice. Now, Sir, this granted, (as it is a moft pregnant and unforc'd pofition) who ftands fo eminent in the degree of this fortune, as Caffio does? a knave very voluble; no further confcionable, than in putting on the meer form of civil and humane feeming, for the better compaffing of his falt and most hidden loofe affection; a flippery and fubtle knave, a finder of occafions, that has an eye can ftamp and counterfeit advantages, tho' true advantage never present it seif. A devilish knave! befides, the knave is hand fome, young, and hath all thofe requifites in him, that folly and green minds look after. A peftilent compleat knave! and the woman hath found him already. Rod. I cannot believe that of her, fhe's full of most blefs'd condition.

Iago. Blefs'd figs end! the wine the drinks is made of grapes. If he had been blefs'd, fhe would never have lov'd the Moor: blefs'd pudding! didst thou not fee her paddle. with the palm of his hand? didft not mark that?

Rod. Yes, that I did; but that was but courtefie. Iago. Letchery, by this hand; an index, and obfcure, prologue to the history of luft, and foul thoughts. They met fo near with their lips, that their breaths embrac'd together. Villainous thoughts, Rodorigo! when these mutualities fo marshal the way, hard at hand comes the master and main exercise, th'incorporate conclufion : pish - But, Sir, be you rul❜d by me. I have brought you from Venice. Watch you to-night; for the command, I'll lay't upon you. Caffio knows you not: I'll not be far from you. Do you find fome occafion to anger Caffio, either by speaking too loud, or tainting his difcipline, or from what other courfe you pleafe, which the time fhall more favourably minifter.

Rod. Well,

Jago,

Lago. Sir, he's rafh, and very fudden in choler: and happily may ftrike at you. Provoke him that he may; for even out of that will I caufe thofe of Cyprus to mutiny : whofe qualification fhall come into no true tafte again, but by difplanting of Caffio. So fhall you have a fhorter journey to your defires, by the means I fhall then have to prefer them: and the impediments moft profitably removed, without which there was no expectation of our profperity.

Rod. I will do this, if you can bring it to any opportunity. Iago. I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the citadel. I must fetch his neceffaries afhore. Farewel,

Rod. Adieu.

SCENE VIII. Manet Iago.
Jago. That Caffio loves her, I do well believe :
That the loves him, 'tis apt, and of great credit.
The Moor, howbeit that I endure him not,
Is of a conftant, loving, noble nature,
And I dare think he'll prove to Desdemona
A most dear husband. Now I love her too,
Not out of abfolute luft, (though peradventure
I ftand accountant for as great a fin,)
But partly led to diet my revenge,

For that I do fufpect the lufty Moor

Hath leapt into my feat: the thought whereof
Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards;
And nothing can, or fhall content my foul,
'Till I am even'd with him, wife for wife :
Or failing fo, yet that I put the Moor
At least into a jealousie so strong,

That judgment cannot cure. Which thing to do,
If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trace
For his quick hunting, ftand the putting on;
I'll have our Michael Caffio on the hip,
Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb,
(For I fear Caffio with my night-cap too,)

Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me,
For making him egregiously an afs,

And practifing upon his peace and quiet,

Even to madness. "Tis here- but yet confus'd;
Knavery's plain face is never feen, 'till us'd.

[Exit.

[Exit.

SCENE

SCENE IX. The Street.

Enter Herald, with a Proclamation.

Her. It is Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant General, that upon certain tidings now arriv'd, importing the meer perdition of the Turkish fleet, every man put himself into triumph: Some to dance, fome to make bonefires, each man to what fport and revels his mind leads him. For befides this beneficial news, it is the celebration of his nuptial. So much was his pleasure should be proclaimed. All offices are open, and there is full liberty of feafting, from this prefent hour of five, 'till the bell have toll'd eleven. Blefs the ine of Cyprus, and our noble General Othello! [Exit. SCENE X. The Caftle.

Enter Othello, Desdemona, Caffio, and Attendants. Oth. Good Michael, look you to the guard to night. Let's teach our felves that honourable stop,

Not to out-fport discretion.

Caf. Iago hath direction what to do:

But notwithstanding, with my perfonal eye
Will I look to't.

Oth. Iago is moft honeft:

Michael, good night. To-morrow with your earliest
Let me have fpeech with you. Come, my dear love,
The purchase made, the fruits are to enfue;

That profit's yet to come 'tween me and you.

Good night.

[Exeunt Othello and Defdemona, Enter Iago.

Caf. Welcome, Iago; we muft to the watch.

Jago. Not this hour, lieutenant: 'tis not yet ten o' th' clock. Our General caft us thus early for the love of his Desdemona whom let us not therefore blame; he hath not yet made the wanton night with her and she is sport for Jove.

Caf. She's a moft exquifite Lady.

Iago. And I'll warrant her full of game.

Caf. Indeed fhe's a most fresh and delicate creature. Lago. What an eye she has! methinks it founds a parley to provocation.

Caf. An inviting eye; and yet methinks right modeft. Iago. And when the fpeaks, is it not an alarum to love? VOL. IX.

T

Caf.

Caf. She is indeed perfection.

Lago. Well, happiness to their fheets! come, lieutenant, I have a ftoop of wine, and here without are a brace of Cyprus gallants, that would fain have a measure to the health of black Othello.

Caf. Not to-night, good Iago: I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking. I could well with courtefie would invent fome other cuftom of entertainment.

Iago. Oh, they are our friends: but one cup; I'll drink

for you.

Caf. I have drunk but one cup to-night, and that was craftily qualified too and behold what innovation it makes here. I am unfortunate in the infirmity, and dare not task my weakness with any more.

Jago. What, man? 'tis a night of revels, the gallants defire it.

Caf. Where are they?

Iago. Here at the door; I pray you call them in.
Caf. I'll do't, but it diflikes me.

Iago. If I can faften but one cup upon him,

[Exit Caffio.

With that which he hath drunk to-night already,
He'll be as full of quarrel and offence

As my young mistress' dog.

Now my fick fool, Rodrigo,

Whom love hath turn'd almoft the wrong fide out,
To Defdemona hath to-night carouz'd

Potations pottle deep; and he's to watch.
Three lads of Cyprus, noble fwelling fpirits,
That hold their honours in a wary distance,
The very elements of this warlike ifle,
Have I to-night flufter'd with flowing cups,

And they watch too. Now 'mongst this flock of drunkards,
Am I to put our Caffio in fome action

That may offend the ifle. But here they come.

If confequence do but approve my deem,

My boat fails freely, both with wind and stream.

SCENE XI.

Enter Caffio, Montano, and Gentlemen. Caf. 'Fore heav'n, they have given me a rouse already. Mont. Good faith, a little one: not paft a pint, as I an a foldier.

Lage.