2 Gent. A fegregation of the Turkish fleet; For do but fland upon the foaming fhore, he chiding billows feem to pelt the clouds; The wind-fhak'd furge, with high and monstrous main Seems to caft water on the burning bear,

And quench the guards of th' ever fired-pole;
I never did like molestation view

On the enchafed flood.

Mont. If that the Turkish fleet

Be not infhelter'd and embay'd, they're drown'd
It is impoffible to bear it out.

Enter a third Gentleman.

3 Gent. News, Lords, our wars are done : The defperate tempeft hath fo bang'd the Turks,

That their defignment halts. A noble ship of Venice(21)

The ftrong-rib'd bark thro' liquid mountains cuts.

Hath

Troil. and Cref

Like as we fee the wrathful fea from far,.
In a great mountain heap'd, with hideous noife,
With thousand billows beat against the ships.
And fo Beaumont and Fletcher in their Elder Brother;
The merchant, when he ploughs the angry fea up,
And fees the mountain billows falling on him:

Locrine

In all which paffages our poets have but imitated their predeceffors the Claffics.

Πορφύρεον δ' ἄρα κύμα περιςάθη ἔρεϊ ἴσον,
Κυκλωθέν,
Ilom. Ody. λ. 242.
Κύμαλά τε τροφόειλα, πελώρια, ἴσα ὄρεσσιν. Odyll. y. 290.
-ἠλιβάλοισι δ' ἐοικίλα, κύμαλ ̓ ὄρεσσιν

*Αλλοθεν ἄλλα φέροντο Qu. Calaber. 1.v. Curvata in montis faciem circumftetit unda. Virg. Geor. iv. infequitur cumulo præruptus aquæ mons. Idem, Æn, I. Cum Mare furrexit, cumulufque immanis aquarum In montis fpeciem curvari, & crefcere vifus. Ovid. Metam. 1. xv. Memiferum,quanti montes volvuntur aquarum! Id. Trift.l.1.El.z. (a1)- Another hip of Venice

Hath feen a grievous wreck, &c.] But no fhip, before this, has arriv'd or brought any account of the Turkish fleet's diftrefs: how then can this be call'd another ship? Oh, but the eldest quarto has

call'd

Hath feen a grievous wreck and fufferance
On most part of the fleet.

Mont. How! is this true?

3 Gent. The fhip is here put in, (22) A Veronea; Michael Caffio,

Lieutenant of the warlike Moor Othello,
Is come on fhore; the Moor himself's at fea,
And is in full commiffion here for Cyprus.

Mont. I'm glad on't; 'tis a worthy Governor.
3 Gent. But this fame Caffio, though he speak of
comfort,

Touching the Turkish lofs, yet he looks fadly,
And prays the Moor be fafe; for they were parted
With foul and violent tempeft.

Mont. Pray heav'ns, he be:

For I have ferv'd him, and the man commands

Like a full foldier. Let's to the sea fide,

As well to fee the veffel that's come in,

As to throw out our eyes for brave Othello,
Ev'n till we make the main and th' aerial blue
An indiftinct regard.

Gent. Come, let's do fo;

For every minute is expectancy
Of more arrivance.

Enter Caffio.

Caf. Thanks to the valiant of this warlike ifle, That fo approve the Moor: oh, let the heav'ns

call'd it fo; and, if there be a various reading, Mr. Pope is pretty good at taking the wrong one. The two elder folios and the quarto in 1630 read, as I have reftor'd to the text;

(22)

-A noble fhip of Venice.

The fhip is here put in;

A Veroneffa, Michael Caffio, &c.] But Michael Caffio was ne Veronefe; we find, from other paffages in the play, he was of Rome. I read with the beft copies, only altering the pointing;

The fhip is bere put in,

A Veroneffa ;

i. e. A veffel properly belonging to the state of Verona, but in the fervice of Venice: and Verona, I believe, does, by the Adige, fend down fhips to the Adriatick.

Give him defence against the elements,
For I have loft him on a dangerous fea.
Mont. Is he well-fhipp'd?

Caf. His bark is ftoutly timber'd, and his pilot
Of very expert and approved allowance;
Therefore my hopes, not furfeited to death,
Stand in bold cure.

Within.] A fail, a fail, a fail!
Caf. What noise ?

Gent. The town is empty; on the brow o'th' fea
Stand ranks of people, and they cry a Sail.

Caf. My hopes do fhape him for the Governor. Gent. They do discharge their fhot of courtesy: Our friends, at least.

Caf. I pray you, Sir, go forth,

And give us truth who 'tis that is arriv'd.

Gent. I fhall.

[Exit.

Mont. But, good lieutenant, is your General wiv'd?
Caf. Moft fortunately, he hath atchiev'd a maid

That paragons description and wild fame :
One that excells the quirks of blazing pens,
And in the effential vefture of creation

Does bear all excellency

Enter Gentleman.

How now? who has put in?

Gent, 'Tis one Iago, Ancient to the General. Caf. H'as had most favourable and happy speed; Tempefts themselves, high feas, and howling winds; The gutter'd rocks, and congregated fands.

(Traitors enfteep'd to clog the guiltless keel;) As having fenfe of beauty, do omit

Their mortal natures, letting fafe go by

The divine Desdemona.

Mont. What is the ?

Caf. She that I fpake of, our great Captain's Captain, Left in the conduct of the bold Iago;

Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts,
A fe'nnight's fpeed. Great Jove, Othello guard!
And swell his fail with thine own powerful breath,

That

That he may blefs this bay with his tall ship,
Make love's quick pants in Desdemona's arms,
Give renew'd fire to our extinguish'd fpirits,
And bring all Cyprus comfort-

Enter Defdemona, lago, Rodorigo, and Emilia
Oh behold!

The riches of the fhip is come on fhore:
You men of Cyprus, let her have your knees.
Hail to thee, lady! and the grace of heav'n,
Before, behind thee, and on every hand
Enwheel thee round.

Def. I thank you, valiant Caffio,

What tidings can you tell me of my Lord?
Caf. He is not yet arriv'd, nor know I aught
But that he's well, and will be shortly here.
Def. O, but I fear-how loft you company?
Caf. The great contention of the fea and fkies
Parted our fellowship. But, hark, a fail!
Within.] A fail, a fail!

Gent. They give this greeting to the citadel:
This likewife is a friend.

Caf. See for the news:

Good ancient, you are welcome. Welcome, miftrefs

[To Æmilia,

Let it not gall your patience, good Iago,
That I extend my manners. Tis my breeding,
That gives me this bold fhew of courtesy.

Lago. Sir, would she give you so much of her lips As of her tongue the oft beftows on me,

You'd have enough.

Def. Alas! fhe has no fpeech.

Iago. In faith, too much;

I find it ftill, when I have lift to fleep;
Marry, before your ladyfhip, I grant,
She puts her tongue a little in her heart,
And chides with thinking.

Emil. You have little caufe to fay fo.

Iago. Come on, come on; your pictures out of doors, Bells in your parlours, wild-cats in your kitchens,

Saints in your injuries, devils being offended, [beds! Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your Def. O, fy upon thee, flanderer!

Iago. Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk ; You rife to play, and go to bed to work. Emil. You fhall not write my praise.

Iago. No, let me not,

[praise me?

Def. What wouldst thou write of me, if thou fhou'dft. Iago. Oh gentle Lady, do not put me to't,

For I am nothing, if not critical.

Def. Come, one affay. There's one gone to the Jago. Ay, Madam.

Def. I am not merry; but I do beguile The thing I am, by seeming otherwife; Come, how wouldst thou praise me?

[harbour

Iago. I am about it; but, indeed, my invention comes from my pate, as birdlime does from freeze, it plucks out brains and all. But my mufe labours, and thus fhe is deliver'd.

If he be fair and wife, fairness and wit,

The one's for ufe, the other ufeth it.

Def. Well prais'd; how if fhe be black and witty? Iago. If he be black, and thereto have a wit,

She'll find a white that shall her blackness fit.

Def. Worfe and worse.

Emil, How, if fair and foolish?

Iago. She never yet was foolish, that was fair;
For ev'n her folly helpt her to an heir.

Def. These are old fond paradoxes, to make fools laugh i'th' alehouse. What miferable praise hast thou for her that's foul and foolish?

Jago. There's none fo foul and foolish thereunto,

But does foul pranks, which fair and wife ones do.

Def. Oh heavy ignorance! thou praifeft the worst beft. But what praife couldst thou bestow on a deferving