1

Shall out-tongue his complaints. 'Tis yet to know,
Which, when I know that Boafting is an honour,
I fhall promulgate, I fetch my Life and Being
From men of royal fiege; and my demerits
May 2 speak, and bonnetted, to as proud a fortune
As this that I have reach'd. For know, lago,
But that I love the gentle Defdemona,

I would not my 3 unhoufed free condition

Put into circumfcription and confine,

4 For the fea's worth. But look, what light-comes

yonder?

SCENE V.

Enter Caffio, with torches.

Tago. Those are the raised father, and his friends: You were best go in.

Oth. Not I: I must be found.

]

2

1-men of royal fiege; Men who have fat upon royal thrones. The quarto has, -men of royal height. -Speak, UNBONNETTED,--] 'Thus all the copies read. It fhould be UNBONNETTING, i. e. without putting off the bonnet. POPE. -and my demerits May freak unbonnetted to as proud a Fortune

As this that I have reach'd-] Thus all the copies read this paffage. But, to fpeak unbonnetted, is to fpeak with the cap off, which is directly oppofite to the poet's meaning. Othello means to fay, that his birth and fervices fet him upon fuch a rank, that he may speak to a fenator of Venice

My parts, my title and my perfect Soul
Shall manifeft me rightly. Is it they?
Tago. 5 By Janus, I think no.

Oth. The Servants of the Duke, and my lieutenant. -The goodness of the night upon you, friends! What is the news?

Caf. The Duke does greet you, General, And he requires your hafte, post-haste, appearance, Ev'n on the inftant.

Oth. What is the matter, think you?
Caf. Something from Cyprus, as I may
It is a business of fome heat. The Gallies
Have fent a dozen fequent meffengers
This very night, at one anothers heels:
And many of the Council, rais'd and met,
Are at the Duke's already.

•

divine;

call'd for,

When, being not at your lodging to be found, 7 The fenate hath fent out three feveral quefts, To fearch you out.

5 By Janus, I think, no.] There is great propriety in making the double lago fwear by Janus, who has two faces. The addrefs of it likewife is as remarkable, for as the people coming up appeared at different diftances to have different shapes, he might fwear by Janus, without fufpicion of any other emblematical meaning.

WARBURTON. 6 And many of the Confuls rais'd and met,

Are at the Duke's already-] Thus all the editions concur in

You have been hotly

Oth. 'Tis well I am found by you.

I will but fpend a word here in the house,
And go with you.

Caf. Ancient, what makes he here?

[Exit Othello.

Iago. 'Faith, he to-night hath boarded, 8 a land-car

rack ;

If it prove lawful prize, he's made for ever.
Caf. I do not understand.
Iago. He's married.
Caf. To whom?
Jago. Marry, to-

Come, Captain, will you go?

Enter Othello.

Oth. Have with you.

Caf. Here comes another troop to feek for you.

SCENE VI.

Enter Brabantio, Rodorigo, with officers and torches.

1

Iago. It is Brabantio: General, 9 be advis'd; He comes to bad intent,

Oth. Holla! ftand there.

Rod. Signior, it is the Moor.
Bra. Down with him, thief!

[They draw on both fides. Jago. You, Rodorigo! come, Sir, I am for youOth. Keep up your bright fwords, for the dew will ruft 'em.

Good Signior, you shall more command with years, Than with your weapons.

my

Bra. O thou foul thief! where haft thou stow'd
daughter?

Damn'd as thou art, thou haft enchanted her;
For I'll refer me to all things of fense,

-a land-carrack,] A carrack is a fhip of great bulk, and commonly of great value; per

haps what we now call, a galleon.

9-be advis'd;) That is, be cool; be cautious; be difcreet.

If the in chains of magick were not bound,
Whether a maid, fo tender, fair, and happy,
So oppofite to marriage, that the fhunn'd
'The wealthy curled darlings of our nation,
Would ever have, t' incur a general mock,
Run from her guardage to the footy bofom
Of fuch a thing as thou; to fear, not to delight?
Judge me the world, if 'tis not grofs in fenfe,
That thou hast practis'd on her with foul charms,
3 Abus'd ber delicate youth with drugs or minerals,
That weaken Notion.I'll hav't difputed on;
'Tis probable, and palpable to thinking.

The wealthy CURLED darlings of our nation.] I read CULLED, . . felect, chofen. Shakespear uses this word very frequently,

Thefe CULL'D and choice drawn Cavaliers from France. Henry V. Curled was an improper mark of difference between a Venetian and a Moor, which latter people are, remarkably curl'd by nature. WARBURTON. Curled is elegantly and oftenta. tiously dreffed. He had not the hair particularly in his thought.

:.

2 Fudge me the world, &c.] The five following lines are not in the first edition.

POPE. 3 Abus'd her delicate youth with drugs, or minerals,

That weken Motion.] Brabantio is here accufing Obello of having used fome foul play, and intoxicated Defdemona by drugs and potions to win her over to his love. But why, drigs to weaken motion? How then could fhe have run away with him volunta

rily from her father's house? Had he been averfe to chufing Othello, tho' he had given her medicines. that took away the use of her limbs, might the not still have retain'd her fenfes, and oppos'd the marriage? Her father, 'tis evident, from several of his speeches, is pofitive, that the mufthave been abufed in her rational faculties; or the could not have made fo prepofterous a choice, as to wed with a Moor, a Black, and refuse the finest young gentlemen in Venice. What then have we to do with her motion being weaken'd? If I understand any thing of the poet's meaning here, I cannot but think, he must have

wrote;

Abus'd her delicate youth with drugs, or minerals, That weaken Notion. i. e. her apprehenfion, right conception and idea of things, underftanding, judgment, &C. THEOB. Hanmer reads with equal probability,

That waken motion.

I

I therefore apprehend and do attach thee
For an abuser of the world, a practicer
Of arts inhibited and out of warrant,
-Lay hold upon him; if he do refift,
Subdue him at his peril.

Oth. Hold your hands,
Both you of my inclining, and the rest.
Were it my cue to fight, I fhould have known it
Without a prompter. Where will you I go
To answer this your charge?

Bra. To prifon, 'till fit time

Of law, and courfe of direct Seffion
Call thee to answer.

Oth. What if I do obey?

How may the Duke be therewith satisfied,
Whofe meffengers are here about my fide,
Upon fome prefent business of the State,
To bring me to him?

Offi. True, most worthy fignior,
The Duke's in Council; and your
I'm fure, is fent for.

Bra. How! the Duke in Council?
In this time of the night? 'Bring them away;
Mine's not an idle caufe. The Duke himself,
of my
Brothers of the State,

Or any
Cannot but feel this wrong, as 'twere their own;
For if fuch actions may have paffage free,

noble felf,

* Bond-flaves, and Pagans, fhall our Statesmen be.

[Exeunt.