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The beauties of this play impress themselves so strongly upon the attention of the reader, that they can draw no aid from critical illustration. The fiery openness of Othello, magnanimous, artless, and credulous, boundless in his confidence, ardent in his affection, inflexible in his resolution, and obdurate in his revenge; the cool malignity of Lago, silent in his resentment, subtle in his designs, and studious at once of his interest and his vengeance; the soft simplicity of Desdemona, confident of merit, and conscious of innocence, her artless perseverance in her suit, and her slowness to suspect that she can be suspected, are such proofs of Shakspeare's skill in human nature, as, I suppose, it is vain to seek in any modern writer. The gradual progress which lago makes in the Moor's conviction, and the circumstances which he employs to inflame him, are so artfully natural, that, though it will, perhaps, Bot be said of him as he says of himself, that he is a man not easily jealous, yet we cannot but pity him, when it last we find him perplexed in the extreme.

There is always danger, lest wickedness, conjoined with abilities, should steal upon esteem, though it misses of approbation; but the character of lago is so conducted, that he is, from the first scene to the last, hated and despised. Even the inferior characters of this play would be very conspicuous in any other piece, not only for their justness. but their strength. Cassio is brave, benevolent, and honest, ruined only by his want of stubbornness to resist an insidious invitation. Roderigo's suspicious credulity, and impatient submission to the cheats which he sees practised apen him, and which, by persuasion, he suffers to be repeated, exhibit a strong picture of a weak mind betrayed, by unlawful desires, to a false friend; and the virtue of Emilia is such as we often find, worn loosely, but not cast off easy to commit small crimes, but quickened and alarmed at atrocious villanies.

The scenes, from the beginning to the end, are busy, varied by happy interchanges, and regularly promoting the progression of the story; and the narrative in the end, though it tells but what is known already, yet is necessary to produce the death of Othello.

Had the scene opened in Cyprus, and the preceding incidents been occasionally related, there had been little wanting to a drama of the most exact and scrupulous regularity. Johnson.

DUKE OF VENICE.

BRABANTIO, a Senator.

Two other Senators.

GRATIANO, Brother to Brabantio.

LODOVICO, Kinsman to Brabantio.
OTHELLO, the Moor.

IAGO, his Ancient.

CASSIO, his Lirutenant.

RODERIGO, a Venetian Gentleman.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

MONTANO, Othello's Predecessor in the Government of

Cyprus.

Clown, Servant to Othello.-Herald.

DESDEMONA, Daughter to Brabantio, and Wife to

Othello.

EMILIA, Wife to Iago.

BIANCA, a Courtezan, Mistress to Cassio.

Officers, Gentlemen, Messengers, Musicians, Sailors,
Attendants, etc.

SCENE, for the First Act, in Venice; during the rest of the Play, at a Sea-port in Cyprus.

ACT I.

SCENE I-Venice. A Street.

Enter RODERIGO and IAGO.

Rod. Tush, never tell me, I take it much unkindly,
That thou, Iago,-who hast had my purse,
As if the strings were thine,-should'st know of this.
Iago. 'Sblood, but you will not hear me :-
If ever I did dream of such a matter,

Abhor me.

[hate. Rod. Thou told'st me, thou didst hold him in thy Iago. Despise me, if I do not. Three great ones of the city,

In personal suit to make me his lieutenant,
Oft capp'd to him;-and, by the faith of man,
I know my price, I am worth no worse a place :
But he, as loving his own pride and purposes,
Evades them, with a bombast circumstance,
Horribly stuff'd with epithets of war;
And, in conclusion, nonsuits

My mediators; for, certes, says he,
I have already chose my officer.
And what was he?

Forsooth, a great arithmetician,
One Michael Cassio, a Florentine,

A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife;
That never set a squadron in the field,
Nor the division of a battle knows

More than a spinster; unless the bookish theoric,
Wherein the toged consuls can propose

As masterly as he mere prattle, without practice,
Is all his soldiership. But he, sir, had the election:
And I,-of whom his eyes had seen the proof,
At Rhodes, at Cyprus; and on other grounds,
Christian and heathen,-must be be-lee'd and calm'd
By debitor and creditor, this counter-caster;
He, in good time, must his lieutenant be,
And I, (God bless the mark!) his Moorship's

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Preferment goes by letter, and affection,
Not by the old gradation, where each second
Stood heir to the first. Now, sir, be judge yourself,
Whether I in any just term am affin'd

To love the Moor.

Rod.

I would not follow him then.
Iago. O, sir, content you;

I follow him to serve my turn upon him:
We cannot all be masters, nor all masters
Cannot be truly follow'd. You shall mark
Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave,
That, doting on his own obsequious bondage,
Wears out his time, much like his master's ass,
For nought but provender; and, when he's old,
cashier'd;

Whip me such honest knaves: Others there are,
Who, trimm'd in forms and visages of duty,
Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves;
And, throwing but shews of service on their lords,
Do well thrive by them, and, when they have lin'd
their coats,

[soul;

Do themselves homage: these fellows have some
And such a one do I profess myself.

For, sir,

It is as sure as you are Roderigo,

Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago:

In following him, I follow but myself;
Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,
But seeming so, for my peculiar end:
For when my outward action doth demonstrate
The native act and figure of my heart
In compliment extern, 'tis not long after
But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve
For daws to peck at; I am not what I am.
Rod. What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe
If he can carry't thus !
Iago.
Call up her father;
Rouse him: make after him, poison his delight,
Proclaim him in the streets; incense her kinsmen.
And, though he in a fertile climate dwell,
Plagne him with flies: though that his joy be joy,
Yet throw such changes of vexation on't,

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Oth. Let him do his spite: My services, which I have done the signiory, Shall out-tongue his complaints. "Tis yet to know, (Which, when I know that boasting is an honour, I shall promulgate,) I fetch my life and being From men of royal siege; and my demerits May speak, unbonneted, to as proud a fortune As this that I have reach'd: For know, lago, But that I love the gentle Desdemona, I would not my unhoused free condition Put into circumscription and confine

For the sea's worth. But, look! what lights come yonder?

Enter CASSIO, at a distance, and certain Officers with torches.

lago. These are the raised father, and his friends: You were best go in. Oth. My parts, my title, and my perfect soul, Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they? Iago. By Janus, I think no.

Not I: I must be found;

Oth. The servants of the duke, and my lieutenant. The goodness of the night upon you, friends! What is the news?

Cas. The duke does greet you, general; And he requires your haste-post-haste appearance, Even on the instant. Oth. What is the matter, think you? Cas. Something from Cyprus, as I may divine; It is a business of some heat: the galleys Have sent a dozen sequent messengers This very night at one another's heels;

And many of the consuls, rais'd, and met,

Are at the duke's already: You have been hotly call'd for;

When, being not at your lodging to be found,
The senate hath sent about three several quests,
To search you out.

Oth.

"Tis well I am found by you. I will but spend a word here in the house, And go with you.

Cas.

[Exit.

Ancient, what makes he here? Iago. 'Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land carack;

If it prove lawful prize, he's made for ever.
Cas. I do not understand.

Iago. Cas.

He's married.

To who?

Re-enter OTHELLO.

Jago. Marry, to-Come, captain, will you go? Oth. Have with you. Cas. Here comes another troop to seek for you. Enter BRABANTIO, RODERICO, and Officers of night, with torches and weapons. Iago. It is Brabantio:-General, be advis'd: le comes to bad intent. Holla! stand there!

Oth

Rod. Signior, it is the Moor.
Bra.

Down with him, thief! (They draw on both sides.) Jago. You, Roderigo! come, sir, I am for you. Oth. Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.

Jood signior, you shall more command with years, han with your weapons.

Bra. O thou foul thief, where hast thou stow'd my daughter?

Jamn'd as thou art, thou hast enchanted her :
or I'll refer me to all things of sense,
f she in chains of magic were not bound,
Whether a maid-so tender, fair, and happy;
opposite to marriage, that she shum'd'
The wealthy curled darlings of our nation,
Yould ever have, to incur a general mock,
Con from her guardage to the sooty bosom

such a thing as thou: to fear, not to delight. adge me the world, if 'tis not gross in sense,

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Duke. There is no composition in these news, That gives them credit.

1 Sen.

Indeed, they are disproportion'd; My letters say, a hundred and seven galleys. Duke. And mine, a hundred and forty. 2 Sen. And mine, two hundred: But though they jump not on a just account, (As in these cases, where the aim reports, "Tis oft with difference,) yet do they all confirm A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus. Duke. Nay, it is possible enough to judgment; I do not so secure me in the error, But the main article I do approve

In fearful sense.

Sailor. (Within.) What ho! what ho! what ho!

Enter an Officer, with a Sailor. Off. A messenger from the galleys. Duke. Now? the business? Sail. The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes; So was I bid report here to the state, By signior Angelo.

Duke. How say you by this change? 1 Sen.

This cannot be,

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Hambly I thank your grace. Here is the man, this Moor: whom no, it seems, Your special mandate, for the state affairs. Hata hither bronht.

Duke & Sen.

for it.

We are very sorry Dose. What, in your own part, can you say to tis? To Othello.

Bra. Noming, but this is so.

Oth. Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, My very noble and approv'd good masters.That I have talen away this old man's daughter, It is most true; true. I have married her; The very head and front of my offending Hath this extent, no more. Ride an I in my speech, And little bless'd with the set phrase of peace: For suce these arms of mine had seven years pith, Till now, some nine moons wasted, they have us'd Their dearest action in the tented field; And little of this great world can I speak, More than pertains to feats of broil and battle; And therefore little shall I grace my cause,

In speaking for myself: Yet, by your gracious pa

tience.

I will a round mavarn.sh'd tale deliver

[Of years, of country, credit, every thing.-
I a. in love with what she fear'd to look on
It is a judgment main d, and most imperfect,
That will couless-perfection so conid err
Against all rules of nature: and must be driven
Is End out practices of cunning hell,
Why this should be. I therefore vonch agair,
That with some matures powerful o'er the blood,
Or with some dram conjur'd to this effect,
He wrest upon her.
To vouch this, is no proo,

Dike.
Watest more certain and more overt test,
Toad these thin habits, and poor likelihoods
Oft. dera szeming, do prefer against him
1 Sen. Bit. Otneno, speak ;—
Ddy, ty direct and forced courses,

It fie au poison this young maid's affections'
Orcane it by request, and such fair question
As to soul affordeth?
I do beseech you,

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Se for the lady to the Sagittary,
And let ber speak of me before her father:
Ify do find the foul in her report,
The trist, the office, I do bold of you,
Not only take away, but let your sentence
Even fall upon my life.

Dike.
Fetch Desdemona hither.
Oth. Ancient, conduct them; you best know the
place. Exeunt lago and Attendants
And. till she come, as truly as to heaven
I do confess the vices of my blood,
Softly to your grave ears I'll present
How I did thrive in this fair lady's love,
A. ste in mine.

Dake. Say it. Othello.

Or. Her father lov'd me; oft invited me;
Stil question'd me the story of my life,
From year to year; the battles, sieges, fortunes,
That I have pass'd.

I ran it through, even from my boyish days,
To the very moment that he bade me tell it
Wherein I spoke of most disastrous chances,
Of moving accidents, by flood and field;
Of hair-breadth scapes 'the imminent deadly breach;
Of being taken by the insolent foe,
And sold to slavery of my redemption thence,
And portance in my travel's history:

Wherein of antres vast, and deserts idle.

Rough quarries, rocks, and hills whose heads too:a heaven,

It was my hint to speak, such was the process;
And of the Cannibals that each other eat,
The Anthropophagi, and men whose heads
Do grow beneath their shoulders. These things to
hear,

Would Desdemona seriously incline:

But still the house affairs would draw her thence.
Which ever as she could with haste despatch,
She'd come again, and with a greedy ear
Devour up my discourse: Which I observing,
Took once a pliant hour; and found good means
To draw from her a prayer of earnest heart,
That I would all my pilgrimage dilate,
Whereof by parcels she had something heard,
But not intentively: I did consent;

And often did beguile her of her tears,
When I did speak of some distressful stroke,
That my youth suffer'd. My story being done,
She gave me for my pains a world of sighs:
She swore,-In faith, twas strange, twas passing

strange;

'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful:

Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what She wish'd, she had not heard it; yet she wish'd

charms.

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That heaven had made her such a man: she tank'd

me;

And bade me, if I had a friend that lov'd her,

I should but teach him how to tell my story,
And that would woo her. Upon this hiot, I spake.
She lov'd me for the dangers I had pass'd;
And I lov'd her, that she did pity them.

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