Des. Why, so I can, sir; but I will not now. This is a trick, to put me from my suit: I pray, let Cassio be receiv'd again. Oth. Fetch me that handkerchief: my mind mis gives. Des. Come, come; You'll never meet a more sufficient man. Oth. The handkerchief, pray, talk me of Cassio.10 Oth. The handkerchief, Des. A man that, all his time, Hath founded his good fortune on your love; Oth. The handkerchief, Des. In sooth, you are to blame. Emil. Is not this man jealous? Des. I ne'er saw this before. [Exit OTHELLO. Sure, there's some wonder in this handkerchief: Emil. 'Tis not a year or two shows us a man: band. Enter IAGO and CASSIO. Iago. There is no other way; 'tis she must do't: And, lo, the happiness! go, and importune her. Des. How now, good Cassio! what's the news with you? Cas. Madam, my former suit. I do beseech you, 10 This speech and the next are found only in the quarto of 1622. -"Talk me of Cassio," is the same phraseology as in Falstaff's account of sack: "It ascends me into the brain." H. That by your virtuous means I may again Can ransom me into his love again, But to know so must be my benefit: Des. Alas! thrice-gentle Cassio, My advocation is not now in tune; My lord is not my lord; nor should I know him, Were he in favour, as in humour, alter'd. So help me every spirit sanctified, As I have spoken for you all my best, And stood within the For my free speech. blank of his displeasure, 12 You must awhile be patient: What I can do, I will; and more I will, ? Than for myself I dare: let that suffice you. He went hence but now, And, certainly, in strange unquietness. Iago. 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 11 Thus the folio and the quarto of 1630: the other quarto bas shoot instead of shut. Mr. Collier's second folio, with some plausibility, changes the text to "shift myself upon some other course." Shut myself up evidently means the same as confine myself, so that the sense is apt and clear enough. H. 12 The blank is the white spot of a mark, at which the shots are aimed. So that to stand within the blank is to stand directly before the aim. H. 13 Puff'd his own brother; and can he be angry ? Something of moment, then: I will go meet him : There's matter in't indeed, if he be angry. Des. I pr'ythee, do so. - state, Something, sure, of [Exit IAGO. Either from Venice, or some unhatch'd practice, Made demonstrable here in Cyprus to him,Hath puddled his clear spirit; and, in such cases, Men's natures wrangle with inferior things, Though great ones are their object. "Tis even so; For let our finger ache, and it indues Our other healthful members even to that sense Of pain: Nay, we must think, men are not gods; Nor of them look for such observances As fit the bridal. - Beshrew me much, Emilia, I was (unhandsome warrior as I am) Arraigning his unkindness with my soul; But now I find I had suborn'd the witness, And he's indited falsely. Emil. Pray Heaven, it be state matters, as you think; And no conception, nor no jealous toy,' Concerning you. 14 Des. Alas, the day! I never gave him cause. Emil. But jealous souls will not be answer'd so; They are not ever jealous for the cause, But jealous for they're jealous: 'tis a monster, Des. Heaven keep that monster from Othello's mind! Emil. Lady, amen. Des. I will go seek him. Cassio, walk here about: 13 The folio reads, "and is he angry?" H. 14 A toy is a fancy, or any fond trifle that one entertains himself with. H. If I do find him fit, I'll move your suit, [Exeunt DESDEMONA and EMILIA. Enter BIANCA. Bian. Save you, friend Cassio! Cas. 15 What make you from home? 15 How is it with you, my most fair Bianca? Cas. Pardon me, Bianca; I have this while with leaden thoughts been press'd; But I shall, in a more continuate time," Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca, [Giving her DESDEMONA'S Handkerchief. Take me this work out." 18 Bian. O, Cassio! whence came this? This is some token from a newer friend. 15 That is, "What do you from home?" We have repeatedly met with the same phraseology. H. 16 It would seem, by this, that seven days at least have elapsed since Cassio was cashiered; perhaps much more, as the "leaden thoughts" may have been kept off for some time by the hopes built upon Desdemona's promise of intercession, and brought on again by the unexpected delay. See Act iii. sc. 3, note 32. H. 17 Continuate time" is time uninterrupted. The quarto of 1622 has convenient. н. 18 That is, copy this work in another handkerchief. See Act 1. sc. 3, note 33. So in Middleton's Women beware Women: "She intends to take out other works in a new sampler." Again in the Preface to Holland's Pliny, 1601: "Nicophanes gave his mind wholly to antique pictures, partly to exemplify and take out patterns, after that in long continuance of time they were decayed." To the felt absence now I feel a cause : Cas. Go to, woman! Throw your vile guesses in the devil's teeth, From whence you have them. You are jealous now, That this is from some mistress, some remembrance: No, in good troth, Bianca. Bian. Why, whose is it? Cas. I know not, sweet: I found it in my cham ber. I like the work well; ere it be demanded, (As like enough it will,) I'd have it copied : Take it, and do't; and leave me for this time. Bian. Leave you! wherefore? Cas. I do attend here on the general; And think it no addition, nor my wish, To have him see me woman'd. I Bian. Why, I pray you? 19 Cas. Not that I love you not. But that you do not love me. pray you, bring me on the way a little ; And say, if I shall see you soon at night. Cas. 'Tis but a little way, that I can bring you, For I attend here; but I'll see you soon. Bian. "Tis very good: I must be circumstanc'd.20 [Exeunt. 19 This and the next speech are wanting in the first quarto. 20 Probably meaning, "I must yield to circumstances." H. |
