Oth. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago, If thou but think'st him wrong'd, and mak'st his ear A stranger to thy thoughts. I do beseech you, Iago. (As, I confess, it is my nature's plague To spy into abuses, and oft my jealousy' Shapes faults that are not)—that your wisdom yet', Would take no notice; nor build yourself a trouble Oth. What dost thou mean? Iago. Good name, in man, and woman, dear my lord, Is the immediate jewel of their souls: Who steals my purse, steals trash; 'tis something, nothing; "Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands; But he, that filches from me my good name, Robs me of that, which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed. Oth. By heaven, I'll know thy thoughts. Iago. You cannot, if my heart were in your hand; Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody. Oth. Ha! Iago. O! beware, my lord, of jealousy; - and oFT my jealousy] So both the quartos: the folio of for "oft," probably a typographical error. that your wisdom yet,] The follo omits "yet," found in the quarto, 1630, and completing the line: it had probably dropped out at the end of the verse. The quarto, 1622, “I entreat you, then." In the next line it has conjects for "conceits" of the folio, and quarto, 1630. 2 - honesty, or wisdom,] The folio alone has "honesty and wisdom." For Othello's next speech, "What dost thou mean?" the quarto, 1622, has only the exclamation "Zounds!" 3 By heaven, I'll know thy thoughts.] The folio and quarto, 1630, omit "By heaven;" the Master of the Revels had, no doubt, here also corrected the manuscripts from which they were printed. The quarto, 1622, contains the words. It is the green-ey'd monster, which doth make Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves! Iago. Poor, and content, is rich, and rich enough; But riches, fineless, is as poor as winter, To him that ever fears he shall be poor. Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend Oth. Why? why is this? Think'st thou, I'd make a life of jealousy, Is once to be resolv'd. No: to be once in doubt, When I shall turn the business of my soul To such exsufflicate and blown surmises', which doth MAKE The meat it feeds on:] The old copies, including the second quarto, have "which doth mock," &c.; Sir Thomas Hanmer substituted "make," and that reading has since been generally adopted; though Warburton would justify mock, on the ground that it is to be taken in the sense of loath, which Johnson denies. Mock was of old spelt with a final e, and so it is printed in the two quartos and in the folio, and nothing could be much easier than for a compositor to misread "make" mocke. The sense seems indisputably to require "make,” viz. that jealousy creates food for itself; and so strongly did Southern feel this, that in his copy of the fourth folio (the property of Mr. Holgate) he has altered mock to "make," in his own hand-writing. We have little difficulty, therefore, in treating mocke as a mere error of the press. It is to be observed, that the quarto, 1630, reads "It is a green-ey'd monster," contrary to the two other ancient authorities, and Southern concurred in this change of the text; but as the alteration does not to us appear necessary, nor even judicious, we adhere to the words of the first quarto and first folio. 5 yet STRONGLY loves!] So the two quartos: the folio "yet soundly loves," and not "yet fondly loves," as some modern editors inform us. Soundly may be a misprint for " fondly," but every copy of the folio, 1623, we have seen has soundly, and moreover, it is so reprinted in every later folio. IS ONCE to be resolv'd.] The folio reads merely, "Is to be resolv'd," with much loss of force and meaning. 7 To such EXSUFFLICATE and blown surmises,] The meaning of " exsufflicate” is more obvious than its etymology; and if we had any difficulty, it would be removed, perhaps, by the additional epithet "blown," (blow'd in the folio). "Exsufflicate" is one of the words, the origin of which must not be traced with too much lexicographical curiosity. Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me jealous, Iago. I am glad of it; for now I shall have reason I know our country disposition well: In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks They dare not show their husbands; their best con science Is, not to leave't undone, but keep't unknown'. Oth. Dost thou say so? Iago. She did deceive her father, marrying you ; And, when she seem'd to shake, and fear your looks, She lov'd them most. Oth. Iago. And so she did. Why, go to, then; She that, so young, could give out such a seeming, and dances WELL ;] The line is clearly incomplete as it stands in the folio, without "well," which is found in both the quarto impressions. Southern's ear was so sensible of the deficiency, that he added the word in manuscript in his copy of the folio, 1685. His emendations appear to have been merely conjectural, but they are generally happy. I am glad of IT;] So both the quartos: the folio, "I am glad of this." 1 Is, not to leave't undone, but keep't unknown.] So the folio, and the quarto, 1630: the quarto, 1622, has leave and keep, and in the preceding line it omits "not." To seal her father's eyes up', close as oak,—— He thought, 'twas witchcraft.-But I am much to blame; I humbly do beseech you For too much loving you. of your pardon, I am bound to thee for ever. Oth. Iago. Trust me, I fear it has. I hope, you will consider what is spoke : Comes from my love.-But, I do see you are mov'd :— I am to pray you, not to strain my speech To grosser issues, nor to larger reach, Than to suspicion. Oth. I will not. Iago. My speech should fall into such vile success Should you do so, my lord, Cassio's my worthy friend. No, not much mov'd. My lord, I see you are mov'd. Oth. I do not think but Desdemona's honest. Iago. Long live she so; and long live you to think so! Oth. And yet, how nature erring from itself, Iago. Ay, there's the point:-as,-to be bold with you, Not to affect many proposed matches, Of her own clime, complexion, and degree, But pardon me; I do not in position 2 TO SEAL her father's eyes up,] To seel up was certainly a term of falconry, as Steevens informs us; but the ordinary word seal seems here only intended, and in the two quartos it is so spelt. 3 As my thoughts AIM not at.] This is the reading of both quartos: the folio, "Which my thoughts aim'd not." The quarto, 1622, has "trusty friend," for 66 worthy friend" of the folio, and quarto, 1630. Distinctly speak of her, though I may fear, Oth. Farewell, farewell. If more thou dost perceive, let me know more; [Going. Oth. Why did I marry?-This honest creature, doubtless, Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds. Iago. My lord, I would, I might entreat your ho nour 5 [Returning. To scan this thing no farther; leave it to time. Although 'tis fit that Cassio have his place, (For, sure, he fills it up with great ability) Yet if you please to hold him off a while, You shall by that perceive him and his means: Note, if your lady strain his entertainment With any strong or vehement importunity; Much will be seen in that. In the mean time, Let me be thought too busy in my fears, (As worthy cause I have to fear I am) And hold her free, I do beseech your honour. Oth. Fear not my government. Iago. I once more take my leave. Oth. This fellow's of exceeding honesty, [Exit. 4 And HAPPILY repent.] “Happily” here, of course, means perhaps, and ought properly to have been spelt haply; but a word of three syllables was required by the line. The second "farewell" is from the folio. My lord, I would, I might entreat your honour] In the quarto, 1622, this line is erroneously made the conclusion of Othello's speech. 6 Although 'tis fit-] So the folio: the quarto, 1622, "Tho' it be fit ;" and the quarto, 1630, "And though 'tis fit." In the next line but one the folio omits the necessary word "hold." 7 — if I do prove her HAGGARD,] A "haggard" is a wild, and, as Johnson truly says, an unreclaimed hawk. See Vol. ii. p. 224, and Vol. iii. p. 375. Mr. Bruce has referred me to the following apposite passage in Sir T. Browne's |