Iago. Ay, madam. Des. I am not merry; but I do beguile The thing I am, by seeming otherwise.Come, how would'st thou praise me? Iago. I am about it; but, indeed, my invention Comes from my pate, as bird-lime does from frize, It plucks out brains and all: But my muse labours, And thus she is delivered. If she be fair and wise,-fairness, and wit, The one's for use, the other useth it. Des. Well prais'd! How if she be black and witty? Emil. How, if fair and foolish ? Iago. She never yet was foolish that was fair; For even her folly help'd her to an heir. Des. These are old fond paradoxes, to make fools laugh i'the alehouse. What miserable praise hast thou for her that's foul and foolish? lago. There's none so foul, and foolish thereunto, But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do. Des. O heavy ignorance!—thou praisest the worst best. But what praise could'st thou bestow on a deserving woman indeed? one, that, in the authority of her merit, did justly put on the vouch of very malice itself? ; Iago. She that was ever fair, and never proud; To change the cod's head for the salmon's tail ;9 Iago. To suckle fools, and chronicle small beer ' [8] To put on the vouch of malice---is, to assume a character vouched by the Testimony of malice itself. JOHNSON. [9] To exchange a delicacy for a coarser fare. See Q. Elizabeth's Household Book, &c. "Item, the master cookes have to fee all the salmon's tailes," &c. STEEV. [1] After enumerating the perfections of a woman, Iago adds, that if ever there was such a one as he had been describing she was at the best of no other use, than to suckle children, and keep the accounts of a household. The expressions, to suckle fools and chronicle small beer, are only instances of the want of nature Des. O most lame and impotent conclusion!-Do not learn of him, Emilia, though he be thy husband.-How say you, Cassio? is he not a most profane and liberal counsellor ?? Cas. He speaks home, madam; you may relish him more in the soldier, than in the scholar. lago. [Aside.] He takes her by the palm: Ay, well said, whisper with as little a web as this, will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do; I will gyve thee3 in thine own courtship. You say true; 'tis so, indeed if such tricks as these strip you out of your lieutenantry, it had been better you had not kissed your three fingers so oft, which now again you are most apt to play the sir in. Very good; well kissed! an excellent courtesy 'tis so, indeed. Yet again your fingers to your lips? would, they were clyster-pipes for your sake!— [Trumpet.] The Moor, I know his trumpet. Cas. 'Tis truly so. Des. Let's meet him, and receive him. Cas. Lo, where he comes! Enter. OTHELLO, and Attendants. Oth. O my fair warrior! Des. My dear Othello? Oth. It gives me wonder great as my content, May the winds blow till they have waken'd death! As hell's from heaven! If it were now to die, That not another comfort like to this Succeeds in unknown fate. Des. The heavens forbid, But that our loves and comforts should increase, Oth. Amen to that, sweet powers! I cannot speak enough of this content, witch but affection, and the predominance of a critical censoriousness in Iago, of which he allows himself to be possessed. STEEVENS. [2] Profine-gross of langnage. Liberal, for licentious. [3] Gyve---i. e. catch, shackle. POPE. 4) Spoken when Cassio kisses his hand, and Desdemona courtsies. JOHNSON. JOHNSON G 22.2 And this, and this, the greatest discords be, [Kissing her. Iago. O, you are well-tun'd now! But I'll set down the pegs that make this music, As honest as I am. Oth. Come, let's to the castle. [Aside. News, friends; our wars are done, the Turks are drown'd. How do our old acquaintance of this isle ?-- Honey, you shall be well desir'd in Cyprus, I have found great love amongst them. O my sweet, I prattle out of fashion, and I dote In mine own comforts.-I pr'ythee, good Iago, He is a good one, and his worthiness Does challenge much respect.-Come, Desdemona, [Exe. OTHELLO, DESDEMONA, and Attendants. Iago. Do thou meet me presently at the harbour. Come hither. If thou be'st valiant as (they say) base men, being in love, have then a nobility in their natures more than is native to them,-list me. The lieutenant to-night watches on the court of guard.-First, I must tell thee. this-Desdemona is directly in love with him. Rod. With him! why, 'tis not possible. lago. Lay thy finger-thus,' and let thy soul be instructed. Mark me with what violence she first loved the Moor, but for bragging, and telling her fantastical lies: And will she love him still for prating? let not thy discreet heart think it. Her eye must be fed; and what delight shall she have to look on the devil? When the blood is made dull with the act of sport, there should be,-again to inflame it, and to give satiety a fresh appetite,-loveliness in favour; sympathy in years, manners, and beauties; all which the Moor is defective in. Now, for want of these required conveniences, her delicate tenderness will find itself abused, begin to heave the gorge, disrelish and abhor the Moor; very nature will instruct her in it, and compel her to some second choice. Now, sir, this granted, (as it is a most pregnant and unforced position,) who stands so eminently in the degree of his fortune, as Cassio does? a knave very voluble; no further conscionable, than in putting on the mere form [5] Loy thy finger thus--on thy mouth, to stop it while thou art listening to a wiJOHNSON of civil and humane seeming, for the better compassing of his salt and most hidden loose affection? why, none; why, none: A slippery and subtle knave; a finder out of occasions; that has an eye can stamp and counterfeit advantages, though true advantage never present itself: A devilish knave! besides, the knave is handsome, young ; and hath all those requsities in him, that folly and green minds look after: A pestilent complete knave; and the woman hath found him already. Rod. I cannot believe that in her; she is full of most blessed condition." Iago. Blessed fig's end! the wine she drinks is made of grapes: If she had been blessed, she would never have loved the Moor: Blessed pudding! Didst thou not see her paddle with the palm of his hand? didst not mark that? Rod. Yes, that I did; but that was but courtesy. Iago. Lechery, by this hand; an index, and obscure prologue to the history of lust and foul thoughts. They met so near with their lips, that their breaths embraced together. Villanous thoughts, Roderigo! when these mutualities so marshal the way, hard at hand comes the master and main exercise, the incorporate conclusion: Pish! ---But, sir, be you rul'd by me: I have brought you from Venice. Watch you to-night; for the command, I'll lay't upon you. Cassio knows you not ;--I'll not be far from you: Do you find some occasion to anger Cassio, either by speaking too loud, or tainting his discipline; or from what other course you please, which the time shall more favourably minister. Rod. Well. Iago. Sir, he is rash, and very sudden in choler; and, haply, with his truncheon may strike at you. Provoke him, that he may; for, even out of that, will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny; whose qualification shall come into no true taste again, but by the displanting of Cassio. So shall you have a shorter journey to your desires, by the means I shall then have to prefer them; and the impediment most profitably removed, without the which there were no expectation of our prosperity. Rod. I will do this, if I can bring it to any opportunity." lago. I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the citadel: I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewell. Rod. Adieu. [6] Qualities, disposition of mind. JOHNSON. [Exit. 320 That she loves him, 'tis apt, and of great credit: And, I dare think, he'll prove to Desdemona For that I do suspect the lusty Moor chance Tath leap'd into my seat: the thought whereof 310 That judgment cannot cure. Which thing to do,- Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me, 1 take And practising upon his peace and quiet Her. It is Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant [7] This is philosophical. Mineral poisons kill by corrosion. JOHNSON. JOHNSON. 19 Rank garb, I believe means, grossly, i. e. without mincing the matter. STEE [1] An honest man acts upon a plan, and forecasts his designs; but a knave depends upon temporary and local opportunities and never knows his own purpose, JOHNSON. but at the time of execution. (2) Were in this place signifies entire. STEEVENS. (31411 rooms or places in the castle, at which refreshments are prepared, or ser ved out. So in Macbeth: Sent forth great largess to your offices." STEEVENS. |