The worms were hallow'd that did breed the filk; 9 And it was dy'd in mummy, which the fkilful Conferv'd of maidens' hearts. Def. Indeed! is it true? Oth. Moft veritable; therefore look to it well. Def. Why do you speak fo ftartingly, and rafh? Oth. Is it loft? is it gone? fpeak, is it out of the way? Def. Blefs us! Oth. Say you? Def. It is not loft; but what, an if it were? Def. I fay, it is not lost. Oth. Fetch it, let me fee it. Def. Why, fo I can, Sir; but I will not now : This is a trick to put me from my fuit; Pray you, let Caffio be receiv'd again. Oth. Fetch me the handkerchief. My mind mifgives. Def. Come, you'll ne'er meet a more fufficient man. Oth. The handkerchief Def. [I pray talk me of Caffio. Oth. The handkerchief -] Def. A man, that, all his time, Hath founded his good fortunes on your love; Shar'd dangers with you Oth. The handkerchief Def. Infooth, you are to blame. Oth. Away! Emil. Is not this man jealous? [Exit Othello. • And it was dy'd in mummy,- -] The balfamic liquor running from mummies was formerly celebrated for its anti-epileptic virtues. We are now wife enough to know, that the qualities afcribed to it are all imaginary; and yet I have been informed, that this fanciful medicine ftill holds a place in the shops where drugs are fold. STEEVENS. rafb?] Is vehement, violent. JOHNSON. Def. Def. I ne'er faw this before. Sure, there's fome wonder in this handkerchief: 2 Emil. 'Tis not a year, or two, fhews us a man: They are all but ftomachs, and we all but food; They eat us hungerly, and, when they are full, They belch us. Look you! Caffio, and my husband. Enter Iago and Caffio. Iago. There is no other way. 'Tis she must do't; And lo, the happiness! Go, and importune her. Def. How now, good Caffio? what's the news with you? Caf. Madam, my former fuit: I do beseech you, That by your virtuous means I may again Exift, and be a member of his love, Whom I, with all 3 the duty of my heart, Intirely honour. I would not be delay'd, If my offence be of fuch mortal kind, That neither service paft, nor prefent forrows, Nor purpos'd merit in futurity 2 'Tis not a year, or two, fhews us a man:] From this line it may be conjectured, that the author intended the action of this play to be confidered as longer than is marked by any note of time. Since their arrival at Cyprus, to which they were hurried on their wedding-night, the fable feems to have been in one continual progrefs, nor can I fee any vacuity into which a year or two, or even a month or two, could be put. On the night of Othello's arrival, a feaft was proclaimed; at that feaft Caffio was degraded, and immediately applies to Desdemona to get him restored. Iago indeed advifes Othello to hold him off a while, but there is no reafon to think, that he has been held off long. A little longer interval would increase the probability of the story, though it might violate the rules of the drama. See A&t 5. Sc. 2. JOHNSON. 3 the office of my heart,] The elder quarto reads, -the duty of my heart. The author ufed the more proper word, and then changed it, I fuppofe, for fashionable diction; but, as fashion is a very weak protectrefs, the old word is now ready to refume its place. JOHNSON. Can Can ranfom me into his love again; Def. Alas! thrice-gentle Caffio, My advocation is not now in tune: My lord is not my lord; nor fhould I know him, As I have spoken for you all my best; 8 And stood within the blank of his displeasure, Than for myself I dare. Let that fuffice you. Amil. He went hence but now; Lago. Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon, When it hath blown his ranks into the air, And, like the devil, from his very arm • But to know fo, must be my benefit.] "Si nequeo placidas affari Cæfaris aures, "Saltem aliquis veniat, qui mihi dicat, abi." JOHNSON, $ And hoot myself up- -] This is the reading of one of the early quartos. The folio, and all the modern editions. have, And fhut myself up JOHNSON. The quarto 1630 (like the folio) reads, And thut myself up I cannot help thinking this reading to be the true one. The idea feems taken from the confinement of a monaftic life. The words, forc'd content, help to confirm the fuppofition. The meaning will therefore be, "I will put on a constrain'd appearance of being contented, and fhut myself up in a dif"ferent course of life, no longer to depend on myself, but to "wait for accidental charity." STEEVENS. 46 in favour,-] In look, in countenance. JOHNSON. within the blank of his displeasure,] Within the foot of his anger. JOHNSON. Something Something of moment, then I will go meet him. 'Tis even fo; 'for let our finger ach, Nor of them look for fuch obfervances As fit the bridal. Befhrew me much, Æmilia, I was ( unhandfome warrior as I am) Arraigning his unkindnefs with my foul; But now, I find, I had fuborn'd the witness, Emil. Pray heaven, it be ftate-matters, as you think And no conception, nor no jealous toy, Concerning you. Def. Alas the day! I never gave him cause. Emil. But jealous fouls will not be anfwer'd fo; -fome unhatch'd practice,] Some treason that has not taken effect. JOHNSON. • For let our finger ach, and it endues Our other bealthful members with a fenfe Of pain. Endue with a fenfe of pain, is an expreffion, which, though it might be endured, if it were genuine, cannot deserve to be introduced by artifice. The copies, both quarto and folio, read, Endue our other healthful members even to a fenfe of pain. I believe it fhould be rather, SUBDUE our ather healthful members to a fenfe of pain. JOHNSON. 2 -(unbandsome WARRIOR as I am)] How this came to be fo blundered, I cannot conceive. It is plain Shakespeare wrote, -unhandfome WRANGLER as I am. So Antony and Cleopatra, -fie wrangling queen. WARBURTON. Unhandsome warrior, is evidently unfair affailant. JOHNSON. They They are not ever jealous for a cause, Def. Heaven keep that monfter from Othello's mind! Emil. Lady, amen. Def. I will go feek him.-Caffio, walk hereabout: If I do find him fit, I'll move your fuit, And feek to effect it to my uttermoft. Caf. I humbly thank your ladyship. [Exeunt Defdemona and Æmilia. Enter Bianca. Bian. Save you, friend Caffio. Caf. What makes you from home? Bian. And I was going to your lodging, Caffio. Caf. Pardon me, Bianca; I have this while with leaden thoughts been prefs'd: But I fhall in a 3 more continuate time Strike off this score of abfence. Sweet Bianca, [Giving her Desdemona's handkerchief. 4 Take me this work out. Bian. Oh Caffio, whence came this? This is fome token from a newer friend: 3 -more convenient time] The folio has, Time lefs interrupted, time which I can call more my own. It gives a more diftinct image than convenient. JOHNSON. ↑ Take me this work out.] The meaning is not, "Pick out "the work, and leave the ground plain;" but, "Copy this "work in another handkerchief." JOHNSON. To |