SCENE II. Enter Othello, Iago, and Gentlemen. Oth. Thefe letters give, Iago, to the pilot, Iago. My good Lord, I'll do't. Oth. This fortification, gentlemen-shall we fee't? Gent. We'll wait upon your Lordship. Def. SCENE [Exeunt. III. Changes to an Apartment in the Palace. Enter Defdemona, Caffio, and Æmilia. B E thou affur'd, good Caffio, I will do Emil, Good Madam, do. I know, it grieves my hufband As if the cause were his. Def. Oh, that's an honeft fellow. Doubt not, Caffio, But I will have my Lord and you again As friendly as you were. Caf. Most bounteous Madam, Whatever fhall become of Michael Caffio, He's never any thing but your true fervant. Def. I know't; I thank you. You do love my Lord; You've known him long; and, be you well affur'd, He shall in ftrangeness ftand no farther off Thank in a politick distance. Caf. Ay, but, lady, Cc 2 That 9 That policy may either last so long, Def. Do not doubt that; before Emilia here, To the last article. My Lord fhall never reft; With Caffio's fuit; therefore be merry, Caffio; SCENE V. Enter Othello, and Iago, at distance. I am very ill at eafe, Emil. Madam, here comes my Lord. 9 That policy may either laft fo Long] He may either of himfelf think it politick to keep me out of office fo long, or he may be fatisfied with fuch flight reafons, or so many accidents may make him think my re-ad [Exit Caffio. miffion at that time improper, that I may be quite forgotten. 1 I'll watch him tame,—] It is faid, that the ferocity of beafts, infuperable and irreclaimable by any other means, is fubdued by keeping them from fleep. Jago. Nothing, my Lord; or if-I know not what. Oth. Was not that Caffio, parted from my wife? Iago. Caffio, my Lord? no, fure, I cannot think it, That he would fteal away fo guilty-like, Seeing you coming. Oth. I believe, 'twas he. Def. How now, my Lord? I have been talking with a fuitor here, Def. Why, your lieutenant Caffio. Good If I have any grace, or power to move you, "His prefent reconciliation take. my Lord, For if he be not one that truly loves you, Oth. Went he hence now? Def. I'footh, fo humbled, That he hath left part of his grief with me, Oth. The fooner, Sweet, for you. Def. To-morrow dinner then? I meet the Captains at the citadel. Def. Why then to-morrow night, or Tuesday morn, Or Tuesday noon, or night, or Wednesday morn, 4 T'incur a private check. When fhall he come? What you should ask me, that I would deny, Hath ta'en your part, to have fo much to do will, I will deny thee nothing. Let him come when he Def. Why, this is not a boon. 'Tis as I fhould entreat you wear your gloves, To your own perfon. Nay, when I have fuit, And fearful to be granted. Oth. I will deny thee nothing; Whereon I do befeech thee, grant me this, Def. Shall I deny you? No. Farewel, my Lord. SCENE V. Manent Othello, and Iago. Oth. 5 Excellent Wretch!-Perdition catch my foul, 6 But I do love thee; and when I love thee not, Iago. My noble Lord, Oth. What doft thou fay, Iago? Iago. Did Michael Caffio, when you woo'd my lady, Know of your love? Oth. He did, from firft to laft. Why doft thou afk? 5 Excellent Wretch! Perdition flood. It is now, in fome parts of catch my foul, But I do love thee; &c.] Tho' all the printed copies concur in this reading, I think, it is very reasonably to be fufpected. Othello is exclaiming here with admiration and rapturous fondness: but Wretch can fcarce be admitted to be used, unlefs in compaffion or contempt. I make no queftion, but the poet wrote; Excellent Wench !---Perdition catch my foul, &c. It is to be obferv'd, that, in SHAKESPEARE's time, Wench, Lafs, and Girl, were not used in that low and vulgar acceptation as they are at this time of day; but very frequently with dignity. THEOBALD. The meaning of the word wretch, is not generally under England, a term of the fofteft and fondeft tenderness. It expreffes the utmoft degree of amiablenefs, joined with an idea, which perhaps all tenderness includes, of feebleness, foftness, and want of protection. Othello, confidering Desdemona as excelling in beauty and virtue, foft and timorous by her fex, and by her fituation abfolutely in his power, calls hér, Excellent Wretch. It may be expreffed, 6 Dear, harmlfs, helpless Excellence. -when I love thee not, Chaos is come again.] When. my love is for a moment fufpended by fufpicion, I have nothing in my mind but difcord, tumult, perturbation, and confufion. Cc 4 lag |