To him, Enter lago..

In happy time, lago.

lago. You have not been abed then?

Cas. Why, no; the day had broke before we parted..

I have made bold to send in to your wife;

My fuit to her

Is, that she will to virtuous Dejdemona
Procure me fome access.

Iago. I'll send her presently;

And I'll devise a mean to draw the Moor

Out of the way, that your converfe and business
May be more free.

Caf. I humbly thank you for't. I never knew
A Florentine more kind and honeft.

To him, enter Æmilia.

[Exit.

Emil. Good-morrow, good lieutenant. I'am forry

For your difpleasure; but all will, fure, be well.
The General and his wife are talking of it:
And she speaks for you stoutly. The Moor replies,
That he, you hurt, is of great fame in Cyprus,
And great affinity; and that in wholesome wifdom
He might not but refuse you. But he protests, he loves

you;

And needs no other suitor, but his likings, "To take the first occafion by the front To bring you in again.

Caf. Yet I beseech you,

If you think fit, or that it may be done,
Give me advantage of fome brief discourse
With Desdemona alone.

Emil. Pray you, come in;

I will bestow you where you shall have time
To fpeak your bosom freely.

Caf. I am much bound unto you.

[Exeunt.

SCENE

SCENE II.

Enter Othello, Iago, and Gentlemen.

Oth. These letters give, lago, to the pilot,
And by him do my duties to the fenate;
That done, I will be walking on the Works.
Repair there to me.

Jago. My good Lord, I'll do't.

Oth. This fortification, gentlemen -- shall we fee't?

Gent. We'll wait upon your Lordship.

SCENE III.

Changes to an Apartment in the Palace.

Enter Defdemona, Cassio, and Æmilia.

Def. Be thou affur'd, good Caffio, I will do

All my abilities in thy behalf.

[Exeunt.

Emil. Good Madam, do. I know, it grieves my

husband

As if the cause were his.

Def. Oh, that's an honest fellow. Doubt not, Caffio,
But I will have my Lord and you again
As friendly as you were.

Caf. Most bounteous Madam,
Whatever shall become of Michael Caffio,
He's never any thing but your true servant.

Def. I know't; I thank you. You do love my Lord;
You've known him long; and, be you well assur'd,
He shall in strangeness stand no farther off
Than in a politick distance.

Caf. Ay, but, lady,

(9) That policy may either last so long,

(9) That policy may either last so long,] He may either of himself think it politick to keep me out of office so long, or he may be satisfied with such flight reasons, or fo many accidents may make him think my re-admifion at that time improper, that I may be quite forgotten.

Or

Or feed upon such nice and and waterish diet,
Or breed itself so out of circumstances,
That I being absent, and my place fupply'd,
My General will forget my love and service.

Def. Do not doubt that; before Æmilia here,
I give thee warrant of thy Place. Affure thee,
If I vow a friendship, I'll perform it

To the last article. My Lord shall never rest;
(1) I'll watch him tame, and talk him out of patience;
His bed shall feem a school, his board a thrift;
I'll intermingle every thing he does

With Casio's fuit; therefore be merry, Caffio;
For thy follicitor shall rather die,
Than give thy cause away.

SCENE IV.

Enter Othello, and lago, at distance.

Emil. Madam, here comes my Lord.
Caf. Madam, I'll take my leave.

Des. Why, stay, and hear me speak.

Caf. Madam, not now. I am very ill at ease,

Unfit for mine own purposes.

Def. Well, do your difcretion.

Iago. Hah! I like not that.

Oth. What dost thou say ?

[Exit Caffio

Iago. Nothing, my Lord; or if I know not

what.

Oth. Was not that Caffio, parted from my wife?

lago. Casio, my Lord? no, sure, I cannot think it,

That he would steal away fo guilty-like,

Seeing you coming.

Oth. I believe, 'twas he.

Des. How now, my Lord?

I have been talking with a fuitor here,

A man that languishes in your displeasure,.

Oth. Who is't you mean?

(1) I'll watch him tame, beasts, infuperable and irreclaimable by any other means, is fubdued by keeping them from fleep.

] It is faid, that the ferocity of

Def.

Def. Why, your lieutenant Caffio. Good my Lord, If I have any grace, or power to move you, (2) His prefent reconciliation take. For if he be not one that truly loves you, That errs in ignorance, (3) and not in cunning, I have no judgment in an honeft face. I pr'ythee, call him back.

Oth. Went he hence now?

Des. I'sooth, so humbled,

That he hath left part of his grief with me,
To fuffer with him. Good love, call him back.

Oth. Not now, sweet Desdemona ; some other time.

Des. But fhall't be shortly?

Oth. The sooner, Sweet, for you.

Def. Shall't be to-night at supper ?
Oth. Not to-night.

Des. To-morrow dinner then?

Oth. I shall not dine at home.

I meet the Captains at the Citadel.

Def. Why then to-morrow night, or Tuesday morn, Or Tuesday noon, or night, or Wednesday morn, I pr'ythee, name the time; but let it not Exceed three days; in faith, he's penitent, And yet his trespass, in our common reafon, Save that, they say, (4) the wars must make examples Out of their best, is not almost a fault T'incur a private check. When shall he come? Tell me Othello. I wonder in my foul, What you should ask me, that I would deny, Or stand so mummering on? What? Michael Caffio! That came a wooing with you, and many a time,

(2) His present reconciliation TAKE.] Coffio was to be reconciled to his General, not his General to him, therefore take cannot be right. We should read MAKE. WARBURTON.

To take his reconciliation, may be to accept the fubmiffion which he makes in order to be reconciled.

(3)

simply.

(4)

Out of their

and not in cunning,] Cunning, for design, or purpose,

the wars must make examples

WARBURTON.

] The severity of military discipline must not spare the best men of the army, when their punishment

When I have spoke of you dispraisingly,
Hath ta'en your part, to have so much to do

To bring him in? Trust me, I could do much

Oth. Pr'ythee, no more. Let him come when he will,.

I will deny thee nothing.

Des. Why, this is not a boon.

'Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves,
Or feed on nourishing meats, or keep you warm;
Or fue to you, to do peculiar profit

To your own person. Nay, when I have suit,
Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed,,
It shall be full of poise and difficulty,

And fearful to be granted.

Oth. I will deny thee nothing;
Whereon I do beseech thee, grant me this,
To leave me but a little to myself.

Des. Shall I deny you? No. Farewel, my Lord.
Oth. Farewel, my Desdemona; I'll come straight.
Def. Anilia, come. Be as your fancies teach you :-
[Exeunt.

Whate'er you be, I am obedient.

SCENE V.

Manent Othello, and lago.

Oth. (5) Excellent Wretch!-Perdition catch my foul,

(5) Excellent Wretch! Perdition 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 suspected. Othello is exclaiming here with admiration and rapturous fondness: but Wretch can scarce be admitted to be used, unless in compaffion or contempt. I make no question, but the poet wrote; Excellent Wench! - Perdition catch my soul, &c.

It is to be observ'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 understood. It is now, in some parts of England, a term of the fofteft and fondest tenderness. It expresses the utmost degree of amiablenessi joined with an idea, which perhaps all tenderness includes, of feebleness, softness, and want of protection. Othello, confidering Desdemona as excelling in beauty and virtue, soft and timorous by her sex, and by her situation absolutely in his power, calls her,

Excellent Wretch. It may be expreffed,
Dear, harmless, belpless Excellence.

But