Do your discretion. Iago. Well, well, [Exit CASSIO. Ha! I like not that. That he would steal away so guiltylike, I do believe 'twas he. I have been talking with a suitor here, A man that languishes in your displeasure. Des. Why, your lieutenant Cassio. Good lord, my Oth. Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other time. Oth. O, yes; and went between us very oft. Oth. Indeed! ay, indeed :--Discern'st thou aught in that? Is he not honest ? Iago. Oth. Iago. My lord, for aught I know. By heaven, he echoes me, As if there were some monster in his thought I heard thee say but now-Thou lik'dst not that, 1 Hawks and other birds are tamed by keeping them from sleep. To this Shakspeare alludes.-So in Cart-of the fondest and softest tenderness. It expresses the utwright's Lady Errant : We'll keep you As they do hawks, watching until you leave And in Davenant's Just Italian: "They've watch'd my hardy violence so tame.' most degree of amiableness, joined with an idea which perhaps all tenderness includes, of feebleness, softness, and want of protection. Othello, considering 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 expressed, 'Dear, harmless, helpless excellence.'-Johnson. Sir W. Da i. e. take his present atonement,' or submission.venant, in his Cruel Brother, uses the word twice with The words were formerly synonymous. 3 Cunning here signifies knowledge, the ancient sense of the word. Oth. Certain, men should be what they seem. I pray thee, speak to me as to thy thinkings, [As, I confess, it is my nature's plague 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 thou- But he that filches from me my good name, Oth. By heaven, I'll know thy thought. Iago. O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; As thou dost ruminate; and give thy worst of It is the green-ey'd monster, which doth make As where's that palace, whereinto foul things Keep leets, and law-days, and in session sit Oth. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago, I do beseech you,— The meat it feeds on: That cuckold lives in bliss, Iago. Poor, and content, is rich and rich enough; Oth Why! why is this? So 8 Nunc ager Umbreni sub nomine nuper Ofelli Dictus, erit nulli proprius; sed cedet in usum Nunc mihi, nunc alii.' Horat. Sat. lib. ii. 2. 1 Thus the earliest quarto. The first folio reads'close dilations. Which Johnson says was intended for cold delations, i. e. occult and secret accusations, working involuntary from the heart. The second folio in Camden's Remaines, 1605, p. 107:reads cold dilations, which Warburton explains Nunc mea, mox hujas, sed postea nescio cujus' 'cold, keeping back a secret,' which men of phlegmatic 9 The old copy reads mock. The emendation is constitutions, whose arts are not swayed or governed by Hanmer's. Steevens attempted to justify the old readtheir passions, we find can do: while more sanguine ing; but his arguments are not convincing; and the tempers reveal themselves at once, and without re-slight alteration of the text renders it much more clear, serve.' Upton says dilations comes from the Latin dilationes, delayings, pauses. 2 I believe the meaning is, would they might no longer seem or bear the shape of men.—Johnson. 3 I am not bound to do that rhich even slaves are not bound to do.' So in Cymbeline : Every good servant does not all commands, --- No perfection is so absolute 5 Who has so virtuous a breast that some impure conceptions and uncharitable surmises will not sometimes enter into it; hold a session there, as in a regular court, and bench by the side" of authorised and law. ful thoughts. In the poet's thirtieth sonnet we find the same imagery: When to the sessions of sweet silent thoughts 1 summon up remembrance of things past.' A leet is also called a law day. This court, in whose manor soever kept, was accounted the king's court, and commonly held every half year,' it was a meeting of the hundred to certify the king of the good manners and government of the inhabitants,' &c. elegant, and poetical, and has been so well defended by To which Emilia replies: But jealous fools will not be answer'd so, But jealous, for they are jealous: 'tis a monster 10 i. e. endless, unbounded. Warburton observes that this is finely expressed-winter producing no fruits. 11 No instance of this word has elsewhere occurred. It appears to me to be intended to convey the meaning of whispered, or made out of breath. Sufflation is interpreted by Phillips, a puffing up, a making to swell with blowing. In Plautus we have, 'Suflant nescio quid uxore; which Cooper renders, He hath whispered somewhat in his wives eare, whatsoever it be. He also translates Rumoris nescio quid aface rat, a certain brute or rumour come to my hearing." Though I do not agree with the following explanation, I think it right to lay it before the reader :-It seems to me, (says Mr. Todd,) that all the critics have overlooked the meaning of the passage. Ersufficates may be traced to the low Latin exsuflare, to spit down upon, an ancient form of exorcising; and, figuratively, to spit out in abhorrence or contempt. See Du Cange, in v. exsufflare. Ersufficate may thus signify contemp 7 The sacred writings were perhaps in the poet's tible: and Othello may be supposed to mean, that he thoughts: A good name is rather to be chosen than would not change the noble designs, that then employed great riches, and loving favour than silver and gold.'--his thoughts, for contemptible and despicable surmises." Proverbs, xxii. 1. 6 i. e. conjectures. Thus the quarto 1622. The folio reads: and of my jealousy Shapes faults that are not, that your wisdom Johnson's Dict. in v. Exsuffolate. Matching thy inference.' 'Tis not to make me | As my thoughts aim not at. Cassio's my worthy jealous, To say-my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company, Jago. I am glad of this, for now I shall have reason I am to pray you not to strain my speech Oth. will not. 2 A passage in All's Well that Ends Well is perhaps friend : My lord, I see you are mov'd. No, not much mov'd:- 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; Oth. Farewell, farewell: Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds. honour To scan this thing no further; leave it to time: [Exit. 13 10 i. e. press hard his readmission to his pay and office. Entertainment was the military term for the admission of soldiers. 11 Do not distrust my ability to contain my passion. 12 Learned for experienced. The construction is, 'He knows with an experienced spirit all qualities of human dealings." 4 This and the following argument of lago ought to be deeply impressed on every reader. Deceit and false- 13 Haggard is wild, and therefore libertine. A hag hood, whatever conveniences they may for a time pro-gard falcon was a wild hawk that had preyed for her. mise or produce, are in the sum of life obstacles to self long before she was taken; sometimes also called happiness. Those who profit by the cheat, distrust the a ramage falcon. From a passage in The White Dedeceiver, and the act by which kindness is sought puts vil, or Vittoria Corombona, 1612, it appears that hagan end to confidence.-The same objection may be gard was a term of reproach, sometimes applied to a made with a lower degree of strength against the im-icanton:- Is this your perch, you haggard? fly to the prudent generosity of disproportionate marriages. stews.' So in Shakerley Marmion's Holland's LeaWhen the first heat of passion is over, it is easily suc- guer, 1633: ceeded by suspicion, that the same violence of inclination, which caused one irregularity, may stimulate to another; and those who have shown that their passions are too powerful for their prudence, will, with very slight appearances against them, be censured, as not very likely to restrain them by their virtue.-Johnson. 5 An expression from falconry: to seel a hawk is to sew up his eyelids. Close as oak means as close as the grain of oak. 6 Issues for conclusions. Before these courtiers lick their lips at her, Again : For she is ticklish as any haggard, 14 Jesses are short straps of leather tied about the foot of a hawk, by which she is held on the fist.-"The falconers always let fly the hawk against the wind; if she flies with the wind behind her, she seldom returns. If therefore a hawk was for any reason to be dismissed, 7 Success here means consequence or event; as suc-she was let down the wind, and from that time shifted resso, in Italian. So in Sidney's Arcadia, p. 39, ed. for herself and preyed at fortune.' This was told to 1613 Straight my heart misgave me some evil suc- Dr. Johnson by Mr. Clark. So in the Spanish Gipsie, cess!" And in The Palace of Pleasure:- Fearing 1053: les their case would sort to some pitiful successe.' 8 Will for inclination or desire. A rank will is a lustful inclination. 9 You shall discover whether he thinks his best means, his most powerful interest, is by the solicitation of your lady.' That young lannerd (i. e. hawk) her To come to fist, make trial, play the young falconer,' 15 Men of intrigue. Chambering and wantonness are mentioned together in the Scriptures. Into the vale of years;-yet that's not much ;- For others' uses. Yet, 'tis the plague of great ones; If she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself!- Des. Why is your speech so faint? are you not well? Oth. I have a pain upon my forehead here. again: Let me but bind it hard, within this hour It will be well. Oth. Your napkin is too little; [He puts the Handkerchief from him, and it drops. Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you. Des. I am very sorry that you are not well. [Exeunt ОTH. and DES. Emil. I am glad I have found this napkin; What he'll do with it, heaven knows, not I; 3 The generous islanders' are the islanders of rank, distinction: generosi, Lat. This explanation however (as Steevens observes) may be too particular; for generous also signified valiant, of a brave spirit. 4 In the north of England this term for a handkerchief is still used. The word occurs in Macbeth, Julius Cesar, and other of these plays. Emil. No, 'faith; she let it drop by negligence; And, to the advantage, I, being here, took't up. Look, here it is. 5 That is, copied. Her first thoughts are to have a copy made of it for her husband, and restore the original to Desdemona: but the sudden coming in of lago, in a surly humour, makes her alter her resolution, to please him. The same phrase afterwards occurs between Cassio and Bianca, in Sc. iv. been so earnest Iago. A good wench; give it me. Emil. What will you do with it, that you have To have me filch it? Iago. Why, what's that to you? [Snatching it. Emil. If it be not for some purpose of import, Give it me again: Poor lady! she'll run mad, When she shall lack it. Iago. Be not you known of't;" I have use for it. Go, leave me. [Exit EMILIA. I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin, And let him find it: Trifles light as air, Are, to the jealous, confirmations strong As proofs of holy writ. This may do something. The Moor already changes with my poison: Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poisons, Which, at the first, are scarce found to distaste; But, with a little act upon the blood, Burn like the mines of sulphur.-I did say so :Enter OTHELLO. Look, where he comes! Not poppy, nor mandra. gora, Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world, Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep Which thou ow'dsti yesterday. This scheme of getting the work of this valued handkerchief copied, and restoring the original to Desdemona, was probably introduced by the poet to render Emilia less unamiable. It is remarkable that when she perceives Othello's fury on the loss of this token, though she is represented as affectionate to her mistress, she never attempts to relieve her from her distress; which she might easily have done by demanding the handker chief from her husband, or divulging the story if he refused to restore it. But this would not have served the plot.-In Cinthio's Novel, while the artless Desdemona is caressing the child of Othello's ancient, the villain steals the handkerchief which hung at her girdle without the knowledge of his wife.'--Malone. Oth. To me? Ha! ha! false to me? Jago. Why, how now, general? no more of that, Oth. Avaunt! be gone! thou hast set me on the rack -- I swear, 'tis better to be much abus'd, Than but to know't a little. This observation is very just; it is particularly striking in the representation; neither is the concluding Iago. I saw it not, thought it not, it harm'd not me: apology to be admitted, as there is no reason why Emilia should be present when Othello demands the handkerchief.'-Pye. 6 That is, I being opportunely here, took it up. 7 Seem as if you knew nothing of the matter.' The folio reads, Be not acknown on't.'-This word occurs in the Life of Ariosto, subjoined to Sir John Haring. ton's translation of the Orlando Furioso, p. 418, ed. 1607-some say he was married to her privilie, but durst not be acknowne to it.' Again, in Cornelia, a tragedy, by Thomas Kyd, 1594: Our friend's misfortune doth increase our own. 8 lago first ruminates on the qualities of the passion which he is labouring to excite; and then proceeds to comment on its effects. Jealousy, (says he,) with the smallest operation on the blood, flames out with all the violence of sulphur,' &c. I did say so; Look where he comes!" i. e. I knew the least touch of such a passion would not permit the Moor a moment of repose :--I have just said that jealousy is a restless commotion of the mind; and look where Othello approaches, to confirm the propriety and justice of my observation.--Steevens. 9 The mandrake has a soporific quality, and the ancients used it when they wanted an opiate of the mo powerful kind. See Antony and Cleopatra, Act. i. Sc. & 10 i. e. possessedst. 11 A similar passage to this, and what follows it, is found in The Witch, by Middleton. In the same drama there is also a scene between Francisca and her brother Antonio, when she first excites his jealousy, which has several circumstances in common with the dialogue which passes between lago and Othello on the same subject. It is more than probable that Middleton wa the imitator. I found not Cassio's kisses on her lips: Oth. I had been happy, if the general camp, Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war!" I think my wife be honest, and think she is not; Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on? Oth. Death and damnation! O! Iago. It were a tedious difficulty, I think, Oth. Villain, be sure thou prove my love a If ever mortal eyes do see them bolster, whore ; Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof; That the probation bear no hinge, nor loop, .6 Oth. If thou dost slander her, and torture me, Do deeds to make heaven weep, all earth amaz'd, Iago. More than their own! What then? how then? Oth. Give me a living reason she's disloyal. But, sith I am enter'd in this cause so far,- There are a kind of men so loose of soul, In sleep I heard him say,-Sweet Desdemona, 1 The vilest of the camp. Pioneers were generally degraded soldiers. According to the old ordinances of 1510, in which Henry VIII. was an actor, Holinshed war, a soldier who lost any part of his arms by negli-mentions the entry of a drum and fife, apparelled in gence or play, was to be distnissed with punishment, or white damaske and grene bonnettes; and at the Inner to be made some abject pioneer,' Temple celebration of Christmas (described by Leigh in his Accidence of Armory, 1576,) We entered the prince his hall, where anon we heard the noise of drum and fife. It will hardly be necessary to state that this note is abridged from one by Thomas Warton, whose passion for the spirit-stirring instruments to which it relates is upon record. The remainder of his note is an attempt to derive the word whiffler from riffieur, a fifer; but it is probable that it had another origin. 2 There are some points of resemblance btween this speech and the following lines in a poem of George Peele's. 'A Farewell to the Famous and Fortunate Generals of our English Forces, Sir John Norris and Sir Francis Drake, 1589 : Change love for armes ; gyrt to your blades, my boyes: Your rests and muskets take, take helme and targe, And let god Mars his trumpet make you mirth, The roaring cannon, and the brazen trumpe, The angry-sounding drum, the whistling fife, The shriekes of men, the princelie courser's ney.' 3 In mentioning the fife joined to the drum, Shakspeare, as usual, paints from life; those instruments, accompanying each other, being used in his age by the English soldiery. The fife, however, as a martial instrument, was afterwards entirely discontinued among our troops for many years; but at length revived in the war before the last by the British guards under order of the duke of Cumberland, when they were encamped before Maestricht in 1747, and thence soon adopted into other English regiments of infantry. They took it from the allies with whom they served. This instrunient accompanying the drum is of considerable antiquity in the European armes, particularly the Germian. In a curious picture, painted 1525, in the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford, representing the siege of Pavia by the French King, we see fifes and drums. In the diary of King Henry's siege of Bolloigne, 1544, (Rymer, Foed. xv. p. 53,) mention is made of drommes and rifleurs marching at the head of the king's army. The drum and fife were also much used at shows and processions. At a stately masque on Shrove Tuesday, 4 Davenant in his Albovine, and Fletcher in his Prophetess, have each of them imitated this passage of Othello. 5 The quarto of 1522 reads, man's eternal soul.”— Perhaps an opposition was designed between man and dog. 6 i. e. all tenderness of nature, all pity; the sense in which remorse is most frequently used by Shakspeare. 7 A similar image is found in Marlowe's Lust's Dominion; where the Moor says: Cardinal, this disgrace Shall dye thy soul as inky as my face.' 8 So in Pericles : If fires be hot, knives sharp, or waters deep, Untied I still my virgin knot will keep.' 9 A living reason is a reason founded on fact and experience, not on surmise and conjecture; a reason that convinces the understanding as perfectly as if the fact were exhibited to the life. 10 Some foregone conclusion is some former ex perience. Conclusion is used for experiment or trial in several other places of these plays. 11 The old quarto gives this line to Iago, as well as the two which follow; in the folio it is given to Othello |