Cas. Is your Englishman so expert in his drinking? Iago. Why, he drinks you, with facility, your Dane dead drunk; he sweats not to overthrow your Almain; he gives your Hollander a vomit, ere the next pottle can be fill'd. Cas. To the health of our general. Mon. I am for it, lieutenant; and I'll do you justice. King Stephen was a worthy peer,7 Cas. Why, this is a more exquisite song than the other. Cas. No; for I hold him to be unworthy of his place that does those things.-Well,-Heaven's above all ; and there be souls that must be saved, and there be souls must not be saved. Iago. It's true, good lieutenant. Cas. For mine own part,-no offence to the general, nor any man of quality,--I hope to be saved. Iago. And so do I too, lieutenant. Cas. Ay, but, by your leave, not before me; the lieutenant is to be saved before the ancient. Let's have no more of this; let's to our affairs.-Forgive us our sins!-Gentlemen, let's look to our business. Do not think, gentlemen, I am drunk; this is my ancient ;—this is my right hand, and this is my left hand :--I am not drunk now; I can stand well enough, and speak well enough. All. Excellent well. Cas. Why, very well, then you must not think then that I am drunk. [Exit. Mon. To the platform, master's; come, let's set the watch. [7] These stanzas are taken from an old song, which the reader will find recovered and preserved in a curious work lately printed, intitled-Relicks of Ancient Poetry, consisting of old heroic ballads, songs, &c. JOHNSON. [8] Lown-sorry fellow, paltry wretch. JOHNSON. Iago. You see this fellow, that is gone before ;He is a soldier, fit to stand by Cæsar And give direction: and do but see his vice; The one as long as the other: 'tis pity of him. On some odd time of his infirmity, Will shake this island. Mon. But is he often thus ? Iago. 'Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep: He'll watch the horologe a double set, If drink rock not his cradle.9 Mon. It were well, The general were put in mind of it. And looks not on his evils; Is not this true? Iago. How now, Roderigo ? I pray you, after the lieutenant; go. [Aside [Exit ROD Mon. And 'tis great pity, that the noble Moor It were an honest action, to say Iago. Not I, for this fair island: I do love Cassio well; and would do much To cure him of this evil. But hark! what noise? [Cry within,-Help! help! Re-enter CASSIO, driving in RODERIGO. Cas. You rogue! you rascal! Mon. What's the matter, lieutenant ? I'll beat the knave into a twiggen bottle.' Rod. Beat me! Cas. Dost thou prate, rogue ? Mon. Nay, good lieutenant; [Striking RODERIGO. [Staying him I pray you, sir, hold your hand. Cas. Let me go, sir, Or I'll knock you o'er the mazzard. Mon. Come, come, you're drunk. [9] If he have no drink, he'll keep awake while the clock strikes two rounds, or four-and-twenty hours. JOHNSON. [1] An infirmity rooted, settled in his constitution. JOHNSON. [2] A twiggen bottle is a wickered bottle. STEEVENS. Cas. Drunk! [They fight. Iago. Away, I say! go out, and cry-a mutiny. [Aside to RoD. who goes out. Nay, good lieutenant,-alas, gentlemen,- Help, masters!-Here's a goodly watch, indeed! [Bell rings. The town will rise: God's will, lieutenant! hold ; Enter OTHELLO, and Attendants. Oth. What is the matter here? Mon. I bleed still, I am hurt, but not to th' death. [men,-lago. Hold, hold, lieutenant,--sir, Montano,-gentleHave you forgot all sense of place and duty? Hold, hold! the general speaks to you; hold, for shame! From her propriety.-What is the matter, masters ?---- Devesting them for bed and then, but now, (As if some planet had unwitted men) Swords out, and tilting one at other's breast, Oth. How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot? And spend your rich opinion, for the name VOL. X. G. 2 Mon. Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger; Your officer, lago, can inform you While I spare speech, which something now offends me ;- By me that's said or done amiss this night, Oth. Now, by heaven, My blood begins my safer guides to rue; Mon. If partially affin'd, or leagu'd in office, Iago. Touch me not so near: I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth, There comes a fellow, crying out for help; [S] To colly---anciently signified to besmut, to blacken with coal. Othello mean that passion has discoloured his judgment. STEEVENS. [4] He that is convicted by proof of having been engaged in this offence. STEEVENS. (For this was brief,) I found them close together, At blow, and thrust; even as again they were, When you yourself did part them. More of this matter can I not report : : But men are men; the best sometimes forget: Oth. I know, Iago, Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter, Enter DESDEMONA, attended. Look, if my gentle love be not rais'd up ; I'll make thee an example. Des. What's the matter, dear? Oth. All's well now, sweeting: Come away to bed. --Sir, for your hurts, Myself will be your surgeon: Lead him off. [To MONTANO, who is led off. Iago, look with care about the town; And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted. ---Come, Desdemona; 'tis the soldier's life, To have their balmy slumbers wak'd with strife. [Exeunt all but IAGO and CASSIO. Iago. What, are you hurt, lieutenant ? Cas. Ay, past all surgery. Iago. Marry, heaven forbid ! Cas. Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part, sir, of myself, and what remains is bestial.-My reputation, Iago, my reputation. Iago. As I am an honest man, I thought you had received some bodily wound; there is more offence in that, than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving: You have lost no reputation at all, unless you repute yourself such a loser. What, man! there are ways to recover the general again: You are but now cast 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: sue to him again, and he's yours. |