It were an honest action, to say Iago. Not I, for this fair island: I do love Cassio well; and would do much To cure him of this evil. But hark! what noise? [Cry within,-Help! help! Re-enter CASSIO, driving in RODERIGO. Cas. You rogue! you rascal! What's the matter, lieutenant? Mon. I'll beat the knave into a twiggen bottle." Rod. Beat me! Let me go, sir, Come, come, you 're drunk. [They fight. I pray you, sir, hold your hand. Cas. Or I'll knock you o'er the mazzard. Cas. Drunk! -Iago. Away, I say! go out, and cry—a mutiny. [Aside to RoD. who goes out. Nay, good lieutenant,-alas, gentlemen,- [Bell rings. Who's that that rings the bell?-Diablo,1 ho! grafted, that its future fruits are not such as would have naturally sprung from the stock, but derive their qualities from the graft inserted into it. Conformably to this idea, is the assertion of Hamlet concerning the same vice in his countrymen : "They clepe us drunkards," &c. See Hamlet, Act I, sc. iv, Vol. XV. Henley. Dr. Johnson's explanation is certainly just, though it has been controverted. So, in King Lear: “ then must we look to receive from his age not alone the imperfection of long ingrafted condition, but there-withal," &c. Malone. 9 into a twiggen bottle.] A twiggen bottle is a wickered bottle; and so the quarto reads. Steevens. 1 Diablo,] I meet with this exclamation in Marlowe's King Edward II, 1598: “ Diablo ? what passions call you these?" It is, as Mr. M. Mason observes, a mere contraction of Diç yolo, the Italian word for the Devil. Steevens. The town will rise: God's will, lieutenant! hold; Oth. Enter OTHELLO, and Attendants. What is the matter here? Mon. I bleed still, I am hurt to the death;-he dies.2 Oth. Hold, for your lives. Iago. Hold, hold, lieutenant,-sir, Montano,-gentle men, Have you forgot all sense of place and duty?4 For christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl: 2 I bleed still, I am hurt to the death; he dies.] The first quarto reads 'Zounds, I bleed &c. Steevens. The editor of the folio, thinking it necessary to omit the first word in the line, absurdly supplied its place by adding at the end of the line, He dies. I had formerly inadvertently said, that the marginal direction, He faints, was found in the quarto, 1622: but this was a mistake. It was inserted in a quarto of no value or authority, printed in 1630. Malone. I am hurt to the death;-he dies.] Montano thinks he is mortally wounded, yet by these words he seems determined to continue the duel, and to kill his antagonist Cassio. So, when Roderigo runs at Cassio, in the fifth Act, he says,—“ Villain, thou diest." Tollet. He dies, i. e. he shall die. He may be supposed to say this as he is offering to renew the fight. Thus, likewise Othello himself, in his very next speech: 66 he dies upon his motion." I do not therefore regard these words, when uttered by Montano, as an absurd addition in the first folio. Steevens. 3 Hold, hold, lieutenant,] Thus the original quarto. The folio reads-Hold ho, lieutenant. Malone. 4 all sense of place and duty?] So Sir Thomas Hanmer. The rest: all place of sense and duty? Johnson. 5 to carve for his own rage,] Thus the folio, 1623. The quarto, 1622, has forth; which, I apprehend to be little better than nonsense. To" carve forth" &c. can only signify-to cut or portion out his resentment; whereas, the phrase I have placed in the text, affords the obvious and appropriate meaning-to supply food or gratification for his own anger. Holds his soul light; he dies upon his motion. From her propriety.—What is the matter, masters?— The same phrase occurs in Hamlet : "He may not, as unvalued persons do, "Carve for himself." Steevens. 6 Silence that dreadful bell,] It was a common practice formerly, when any great affray happened in a town, to ring the alarum bell. When David Rizzio was murdered at Edinburgh, the Provost ordered the common bell to be rung, and five hundred persons were immediately assembled. See Saunderson's History of Queen Mary, p. 41. Malone. At Paris the Tocsin is still rung as often as fires or disturbances break out. Steevens. 7 it frights the isle 8 From her propriety.] From her regular and proper state. Johnson. In quarter,] In their quarters; at their lodging. Johnson. Rather at peace, quiet. They had been on that very spot (the court or platform, it is presumed before the castle,) ever since Othello left them, which can scarcely be called being in their quarters, or at their lodging. Ritson. So, in The Dumb Knight, Act III, sc.i: "Did not you hold fair quarter and commerce with all the spies of Cypres?" Reed. It required one example, if no more, to evince that in quarter ever signified quiet, at peace. But a little attention would have shown, that the them, whom he speaks of Othello's having left, was only Cassio; who, being joined by Iago, where Othello (but not on the platform) had just left him, is dissuaded from setting the watch immediately; entreated to partake of a stoop of wine, in company with a brace of Cyprus gallants, then waiting without; and prevailed upon, though reluctantly, to invite them in. In this apartment the carousal happens, and wine is repeatedly called for, till at last Cassio, finding its too powerful effects, goes out to set the watch. At the proposal of Montano, himself and Iago follow Cassio towards the platform, and the latter sets on Roderigo to insult him. The scuffle ensues; an alarm is given, and Othello comes forth to inquire the cause. When, therefore, Iago answers: "I do not know:-friends all but now, even now "In quarter, it is evident the quarter referred to, was that apartment of the castle assigned to the officers on guard, where Othello, after giv Devesting them for bed: and then, but now, Oth. How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot?? The world hath noted, and your name is great And spend your rich opinion, for the name Mon. Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger; Your officer, Iago, can inform you→ ing Cassio his orders, had, a little before, left him; and where lago, with his companions, immediately found him. Henley. In quarter,] i. e. on our station. So, in Timon of Athens: "With my more noble meaning, not a man Their station or quarter in the present instance, was the guard-room in Othello's castle. In Cymbeline we have-" their quarter'd fires," i. e. their fires regularly disposed. In quarter Dr. Johnson supposed to mean, at their lodgings; but that cannot be the meaning, for Montano and the Gentlemen who accompanied him, had continued, from the time of their entrance, in the apartment of Othello's castle, in which the carousal had been; and Cassio had only gone forth for a short time to the platform, to set the watch. On his return from the platform into the apartment, in which he left Montano and Iago, he meets Roderigo; and the scuffle, first between Cassio and Roderigo, and then between Montano and Cassio, ensues. Malone. 9 you are thus forgot?] i. e. you have thus forgot your self. Steevens. 1 That you unlace ] Slacken, or loosen. Put in danger of dropping; or perhaps strip off its ornaments. A similar phrase occurs in Twelfth Night: Johnson. "I pr'ythee now, ungird thy strangeness." Steevens. 2 spend your rich opinion,] Throw away and squander a reputation so valuable as yours. Johnson. While I spare speech, which something now offends me, Of all that I do know: nor know I aught And to defend ourselves it be a sin, When violence assails us. Oth. Now, by heaven, 3 self-charity] Care of one's self. Johnson. 4 And passion, having my best judgment collied,] Thus the folio reads, and I believe rightly. Othello means, that passion has discoloured his judgment. The word is used in A Midsummer Night's Dream: like lightning in the collied night." 66 carry my ruffe." To colly anciently signified to besmut, to blacken as with coal. So, in a comedy called The Family of Love, 1608 : thy link a't'other side the way, thou collow'st me and The word (as I am assured) is still used in the midland counties. Mr. Tollet informed me that Wallis's History of Northumberland, p. 46, says: in our northern counties it [i. e. a fine black clay or ochre] is commonly known by the name of collow or killow, by which name it is known by Dr. Woodward," &c. The Doctor says it had its name from kollow, by which name, in the North, the smut, or grime on the top of chimneys is called. Colly, however, is from coal, as collier. Sir Thomas Hanmer reads-choler' d. Steevens. Coles, in his Dictionary, 1679, renders "collow'd by denigratus:-to colly," denigro. The quarto, 1622, reads-having my best judgment cool'd. A modern editor supposed that quell'd was the word intended. Malone. 5 he that is approv'd in this offence,] He that is convicted by proof, of having been engaged in this offence. Johnson. |