German, and your swag-bellied Hollander,-Drink, ho!-are nothing to your English. Cas. Is your Englishman so expert in his drinking? Tago. Why, he drinks you, with facility, your Dane dead drunk; he sweats not to overthrow your Almain; he gives your Hollander a vomit, ere the next pottle can be filled. Cas. To the health of our general. Mon. I am for it, lieutenant; and I'll do you justice. Iago. O sweet England! 8 King Stephen' was a worthy peer,o He was a wight of high renown, 'Tis pride that pulls the country down, Some wine, ho! Cas. Why, this is a more exquisite song than the other. Iago. Will you hear it again? Cas. No; for I hold him to be unworthy of his place, that does those things.-Well,-Heaven's above all; and there be souls that must be saved, and there be souls must not be saved. 6 I'll do you justice.] i. e. drink as much as you do. 7 King Stephen, &c.] These stanzas are taken from an old song, which the reader will find recovered and preserved in Percy's Relicks of Ancient Poetry. 8 a worthy peer,] A worthy peer is a worthy lord, a title frequently bestowed upon kings in our old romances. 9 lown.] Sorry fellow, paltry wretch. Iago. It's true, good lieutenant. Cas. For mine own part,-no offence to the ge neral, nor any man of quality,—I hope to be saved. Iago. And so do I too, lieutenant. Let's Cas. Ay, but, by your leave, not before me; the lieutenant is to be saved before the ancient. have no more of this; let's to our affairs.-Forgive us our sins-Gentlemen, let's look to our business. Do not think, gentlemen, I am drunk; this is my ancient ;-this is my right hand, and this is my left hand:-I am not drunk now; I can stand well enough, and speak well enough. All. Excellent well. Cas. Why, very well, then you must not think then that I am drunk. [Exit. Mon. To the platform, masters; come, let's set the watch. Iago. You see this fellow, that is gone before;— He is a soldier, fit to stand by Cæsar And give direction: and do but see his vice; The one as long as the other: 'tis pity of him. On some odd time of his infirmity, Will shake this island. Mon. But is he often thus ? Iago. 'Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep: He'll watch the horologe a double set,' If drink rock not his cradle. Mon. It were well, The general were put in mind of it. And looks not on his evils; Is not this true? 'He'll watch the horologe a double set, &c.] If he have no drink, he'll keep awake while the clock strikes two rounds, or four-and-twenty hours. Mon. And 'tis great pity, that the noble Moor Should hazard such a place, as his own second, With one of an ingraft infirmity :2 It were an honest action, to say So to the Moor. 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! Mon. What's the matter, lieutenant? Cas. A knave!-teach me my duty! I'll beat the knave into a twiggen bottle.3 Rod. Beat me! [They fight. Or I'll knock you o'er the mazzard. Cas. Drunk! Iago. Away, I say! go out, and cry-a mutiny, Nay, good lieutenant, [Aside to ROD. who goes out, alas, gentlemen, ingraft infirmity:] An infirmity rooted, settled in his constitution. 3 into a twiggen bottle.] i. e. a wickered bottle. Help, ho!-Lieutenant,-sir,-Montano,-sir ;- Oth. Enter OTHELLO, and Attendants. What is the matter here? Mon. I bleed still, I am hurt to the death ;-he dies.* Oth. Hold, for your lives. Iago. Hold, hold, lieutenant,-sir, Montano,gentlemen, Have you forgot all sense of place and duty? Hold, hold! the general speaks to you; hold, for shame! Oth. Why, how now, ho! from whence ariseth this? Are we turn'd Turks; and to ourselves do that, ters? Honest Iago, that look'st dead with grieving, 6 now, In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom 4 He dies.] i. e. he shall die. 5 From her propriety.] From her regular and proper state. • In quarter,] ie. on our station. (As if some planet had unwitted men,) Cas. I pray you, pardon me, I cannot speak. And spend your rich opinion, for the name Mon. Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger; Your officer, Iago, can inform you While I spare speech, which something now offends me; Of all that I do know: nor know I aught When violence assails us. Oth. Now, by heaven, And passion, having my best judgment collied," 7 you are thus forgot?] i. e. you have thus forgot yourself. 8 self-charity Care of one's self. 9 And passion, having my best judgment collied,] Othello means, that passion has discoloured his judgment. To colly, anciently signified to besmut, to blacken as with coal. |