Mon.

But is he often thus ?

11

Iago. "Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep: He'll watch the horologe a double set,11 If drink rock not his cradle.

Mon.

It were well,

The general were put in mind of it.

Perhaps, he sees it not; or his good nature
Prizes the virtue that appears in Cassio,
And looks not on his evils. Is not this true?

Enter RODERIGO.

Iago. [Aside.] How now, Roderigo!

I pray you, after the lieutenant; go.

[Exit RODERIGO. Mon. And 'tis great pity, that the noble Moor Should hazard such a place, as his own second, With one of an ingraft infirmity:

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 wicker bottle.'

12

11 If he have no drink, he'll keep awake while the clock strikes two rounds, or four and twenty hours. The word horologe is familiar to most of our ancient writers: Chaucer often uses it.

12 Thus both the quartos; the folio, " a twiggen bottle." Both mean the same; a bottle enclosed in wicker-work of twigs.

H.

Rod. Beat me!

Cas. [Striking him.] Dost thou prate, rogue? Mon. [Staying him.] Nay, good lieutenant; I pray you, sir, hold your hand.

Cas. Let me go, sir, or I'll knock you o'er the mazzard.

Mon. Come, come, you're drunk.

Cas. Drunk!

[They fight.

[Exit RODERIGO.

Iago. [Aside to ROD.] Away, I say! go out, and

Nay, good lieutenant, -alas, gentlemen!

Help, ho!- Lieutenant, sir,-Montano,-sir;— Help, masters! - Here's a goodly watch, indeed!

[Bell rings. Who's that that rings the bell? — Diablo, ho!

The town will rise: God's will! lieutenant, hold! You will be sham'd for ever.13.

Oth.

Enter OTHELLO, and Attendants.

What is the matter here?

Mon. 'Zounds! I bleed still; I am hurt to th'

death.

Oth. Hold, for your lives!

[He faints.1

Iago. Hold, hold, lieutenant! sir, Montano,

gentlemen!

15

14

Have you forgot all sense of place and duty?1 Hold, hold! the general speaks to you; hold, for

shame!

13 The folio substitutes "fie, fie!" for "God's will!" and omits 'Zounds in Montano's next speech.

H.

14 This stage-direction is found only in the quarto of 1630: the other quarto and the folio have "He dies" as a part of Montano's speech.

H.

15 In all the old copies these words are transposed, thus : « Have you forgot all place of sense and duty?"

H.

Oth. Why, how now, ho! from whence ariseth this?

Are we turn'd Turks, and to ourselves do that,
Which Heaven hath forbid the Ottomites?

For Christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl:
He that stirs next to carve for his own rage,
Holds his soul light; he dies upon his motion.
Silence that dreadful bell! it frights the isle
From her propriety. - What is the matter, mas-
ters?

Honest Iago, that look'st dead with grieving,

Speak, who began this? on thy love, I charge thee. Iago. I do not know: -friends all, but now, even

now,

16

In quarter,1 and in terms like bride and groom
Devesting them for bed; and then, but now,
(As if some planet had unwitted men,)
Swords out, and tilting one at other's breast,
In opposition bloody. I cannot speak
Any beginning to this peevish odds;
And would in action glorious I had lost
These legs, that brought me to a part of it!

Oth. How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot? 17

Cas. I pray you, pardon me; I cannot speak. Oth. Worthy Montano, you were wont be civil;

The gravity and stillness of your youth

The world hath noted, and your name is great
In mouths of wisest censure: what's the matter,

That you unlace your reputation thus,
And spend your rich opinion,18 for the name
Of a night-brawler? give me answer to it.

16 That is, on our station.

17 That is, you have thus forgot yourself. came and were for comes and are.

18 Opinion for reputation or character occurs in other places.

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
By me that's said or done amiss this night;
Unless self-charity be sometime a vice,

And to defend ourselves it be a sin,

When violence assails us.

Oth.

Now, by Heaven,

My blood begins my safer guides to rule;

And passion, having my best judgment collied,19 Assays to lead the way. If I once stir,

Or do but lift this arm, the best of you

Shall sink in my rebuke. Give me to know
How this foul rout began, who set it on;

And he that is approv'd in this offence,20
Though he had twinn'd with me, both at a birth,
Shall lose me. - What! in a town of war,

Yet wild, the people's hearts brimful of fear,
To manage private and domestic quarrel,
In night, and on the court of guard and safety!
'Tis monstrous.-Iago, who began't?

21

Mon. If, partially affin'd 22 or leagued in office, Thou dost deliver more or less than truth, Thou art no soldier.

Iago.

Touch me not so near.

I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth,

19 Collied is blackened, as with smut or coal, and figuratively means here obscured, darkened. See A Midsummer-Night's Dream, Act i. sc. 1, note 7.

20 Approv'd in means proved to be in.

21 The old copies read, "and on the court and guard of safety." Malone made the transposition.

22 Affin'd is linked in affinity. See Act i. sc. 1, note 8. Here it seems to mean an official, not a natural, relation.

H.

Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio;
Yet, I persuade myself, to speak the truth
Shall nothing wrong him.— Thus it is, general :
Montano and myself being in speech,

There comes a fellow, crying out for help;
And Cassio following him with determin'd sword,
To execute upon him. Sir, this gentleman
Steps in to Cassio, and entreats his pause :
Myself the crying fellow did pursue,
Lest by his clamour (as it so fell out)

The town might fall in fright: he, swift of foot,
Outran my purpose; and I return'd, the rather
For that I heard the clink and fall of swords,
And Cassio high in oath; which, till to-night,
I ne'er might say before. When I came back,
(For this was brief,) I found them close together,
At blow and thrust, even as again they were,
When you yourself did part them.

More of this matter can I not report:

1

But men are men; the best sometimes forget.
Though Cassio did some little wrong to him,
As men in rage strike those that wish them best,
Yet, surely, Cassio, I believe, receiv'd

From him that fled some strange indignity,

Which patience could not pass.

Oth.

I know, Iago,

Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter,
Making it light to Cassio. - Cassio, I love thee;
But never more be officer of mine.

Enter DESDEMONA, attended.

Look, if my gentle love be not rais'd up!—

I'll make thee an example.

Des.

What's the matter?

Oth. All's well now, sweeting; come away to

bed.