Oth. What promife, chuck?

Def. I've fent to bid Caffio come fpeak with you. Oth. I have a 7 falt and forry Rheum offends mei Lend me thy handkerchief.

Def. Here, my Lord.

Oth. That, which I gave you.
Def. I have it not about me.
Oth. Not?-

Def. No, indeed, my Lord.

Oth. That's a fault. That handkerchief Did an Ægyptian to my mother give;

She was a Charmer, and could almoft read

The thoughts of people. She told her, while fhe kept it,

'Twould make her amiable, fubdue my father
Intirely to her love; but if fhe loft it,
Or made a gift of it, my father's eye
Should hold her loathed, and his spirits hunt
After new fancies. She, dying, gave it me;
And bid me, when my fate would have me wiv'd,
To give it her. I did fo; and take heed on't;
Make it a darling, like pour precious eye;
To lofe 't, or giv't away, were fuch perdition,
As nothing else could match.

Def. Is't poffible?

8

Oth. 'Tis true; there's magic in the web of it;
A Sybil, that had numbred in the world
The Sun to course two hundred compaffes,
In her prophetick fury few'd the Work:

The worms were hallowed, that did breed the filk;
And it was dy'd in Mummey, which the skilful
Conferv'd of Maidens' hearts.

Def. Indeed! is't true?

Oth. Moft veritable, therefore look to't well.
Def. Then would to heaven that I had never feen't!
Oth. Ha? wherefore?

Def. Why do you speak fo ftartingly, and rafh? Oth. Is't loft? is't gone? fpeak, is it out o' th' way?

Def. Blefs us!

Oth. Say you?

Def. It is not loft; but what, an if it were?
Oth. Ha!

Def. I fay, it is not loft.

Oth. Fetch't, let me fee't.

Def. Why, fo I can, Sir; but I will not now: This is a trick to put me from my fuit,

Pray you, let Cafto be receiv'd again.

Ótb. Fetch me the handkerchief. My mind mifgives.

Def. Come, you'll ne'er meet a more fufficient man. Oth. The handkerchief

Def. I pray talk me of Caffio.

Oth. The handkerchief

Def. A man, that, all his time,

Hath founded his good fortunes on your love;

Shar'd dangers with you.

Oth. The handkerchief

Def. Infooth, you are to blame.

Oth. Away!

[Exit Othello

9

rafh?] Is vehement, violent,

SCENE

ŚĆENE XI.

Manent Defdemona and Emilia.

Emil. Is not this man jealous?
Def. I ne'er faw this before.

Sure, there's fome wonder in this handkerchief:
I'm most unhappy in the lofs of it.

Emil. 'Tis not a year, or two, fhews us a man:
They are all but ftomachs, and we all but food;
They eat us hungerly, and, when they're full,
They belch us. Look you! Caffio, and my husband.

Enter Iago and Caffio.

Iago. There is no other way. 'Tis fhe muft do't. And lo, the happiness. Go and importune her. Def. How now, good Caffio, what's the news with you?

Caf. Madam, my former fuit. I do beseech you, That by your virtuous means I may again Exift, and be a member of his love;

■ 'Tis not a year, or two, fhews us a man?] From this line it may be conjectured, that the authour intended the action of this play to be confidered as longer than is marked by any note of time. Since their arrival at Ciprus, to which they were hurried on their weddingnight, the fable feems to have been in one continual progrefs, nor can I fee any vacuity into which a year or two, or even a month or two, could be put. On

2

Whom I, with all the duty of my heart,
Intirely honour. I would not be delay'd;
If my offence be of fuch mortal kind,
That neither service paft, nor present forrows,
Nor purpos'd merit in futurity

Can ransom me into his love again;

3 But to know fo, must be my benefit. So fhall I clothe me in a forc'd content,

* And shoot myself up in fome other course, To fortune's alms.

Def. Alas! thrice-gentle Caffio,

My advocation is not now in tune;

My Lord is not my Lord; nor fhould I know him, Were he in favour, as in humour, alter'd.

So help me every spirit fanctified,

As I have spoken for you all my beft;

And stood within the blank of his difpleasure,

For my free speech! You must a-while be patient;
What I can do, I will: and more I will

Than for myself I dare. Let that suffice you.
Iago. Is my Lord angry?

Emil. He went hence but now;

And, certainly, in ftrange unquietness.

Iago. Can he be angry? I have seen the Cannon, When it hath blown his ranks into the air,

And, like the Devil, from his very arm

?

Puft his own brother; and can he be angry Something of moment then. I will go meet him. There's matter in't, indeed, if he be angry. [Exit.

Manent Defdemona, Æmilia, and Caffio.

Def. I pr'ythee, do fo.-Something, sure, of State,
Either from Venice, of fome unhatch'd practice,
Made here demonftrable in Cyprus to him,
Hath puddled his clear fpirit; and, in fuch cases,
Men's natures wrangle with inferior things,
Tho' great ones are their object. 'Tis ev'n fo.
For let our finger ake, and it endues

Our other healthful members with a fenfe
Of pain. Nay, we must think, men are not Gods;
Nor of them look for fuch obfervance always,
As fits the bridal. Befhrew me much, Emilia,
I was, unhandfome warrior as I am,
Arraigning his unkindness with my foul;
But now I find, I had fuborn'd the witness,
And he's indited falfely.