DUKE of Venice. Brabantio, a noble Venetian. Gratiano, Brother to Brabantio. Lodovico, Kinfman to Brabantio and Gratiano. Caffio. Jago, Standard-bearer to Othello. Rodorigo, a Gentleman. Montano, the Moor's Predeceffor in the Government of Cyprus. Clown, Servant to the Moor. Herald. Defdemona, Wife to Othello. Emilia, Wife to lago. Bianca, Miftrefs to Caffio. Officers, Gentlemen, Messengers, Muficians, Sailors, and Attendants. SCENE, for the First Act, in Venice; during the reft of the Play, in Cyprus. 1. Quarto, 2. 3. 4. 5. Folio, Of this Play the Editions are, Preface by Thomas Walkely. 1622. N. O. for Thomas Walkely. 1623. I have the folio, and the third quarto collated with the second, and the fourth. 1OTHELLO, The Moor of VENICE. ACT I. SCENE I N A Street in VENICE. Enter Rodorigo and Iago. RODORIGO. EVER tell me. I take it much unkindly, As if the ftrings were thine, fhouldft know of lago. But you'll not hear me. If ever I did dream of fuch a matter, abhor me. Rod. Thou toldft me, thou didst hold him in thy hate. Iag. Defpife me, If I do not. Three Great ones of the city, In perfonal fuit to make me his lieutenant, Othello, the Moor of Venice.] The flory is taken from Cyn thio's Novels. Pore. Off Off-capp'd to him; and, by the faith of man, Non-fuits my mediators. "Certes, fays he, Forfooth, a great arithmetician, za Florentine ] It appears from many paffages of this play, (rightly understood) that Caffio was a Florentine, and Iago a Venetian. HANMER. 3-in a fair wife ;] In the former editions this hath been printed, a fair wife; but furely it must from the beginning have been a miake, because it appears from a following part of the play, that Caffio was an unmarried man: On the other hand, his beauty is often hinted at, which it is natural enough for rough foldiers to treat with fcorn and ridicule. I read therefore, A fellow almoft damn'd in a fair phyz. HANMER. a Florentine, A fellow almofi damn'd in a fair wife;] But it was lago, and not Caffio, who was the Florentine, as appears from Act 3. Scene 1. The paffage therefore fhould be read thus, (a Florentine's A fellow alm.oft cumn'din a fair wife;-) Thefe are the words of Othello, (which Iago in this relation re peats,) and fignify, that a Floreniine was an unfit perfon for command, as being always a slave to a fair wife; which was the cafe of lago. The Oxford Editor, fuppofing this was faid by Iage of Caffio, will have Caffio to be the Florentine; which, he fays, is plain from many passages in the Play, rightly under flood. But becaufe Caffio was no married man, (tho' I wonder it did not appear he was, from fome passages rightly underflo:d) he alters the line thus, A fellow almost damn'd in a fair Phyz, A White-friers' phrafe. WARB. This is one of the paffages which muft for the present be refigned to corruption and obfcurity. I have nothing that I can, with any approach to confidence, propofe. I cannot think it very plain from Act II. Scene 1. that Cafio was or was not a Florentine. That : That never fet a fquadron in the field, Nor the divifion of a battle knows More than a spinfter; but the bookish theorick, As masterly as he. Meer prattle, without practice And I, of whom his At Rhodes, at Cyprus, Christian and heathen, eyes had feen the proof and on other grounds must be belee'd and calm'd By Debitor and Creditor. This Counter-cafter And I, Sir, (blefs the mark!) his Moor-fhip's An cient. Rod. By heav'n, I rather would have been his hang man. Iago. But there's no remedy; 'tis the curfe of fer vice; Preferment goes by letter and affection, ? And not by old gradation, where each second Stood 4 Wherein the tongued Confuls] So the generality of the impreffions read; but the oldeft quarto has it toged; the Senators, that affifted the Duke in Council, in their proper Gowns. -But let me explain, why I have ventured to fubftitute Counfellors in the room of Confuls: The Venetian nobility constitute the great Council of the Senate, and are a part of the adminiftration; and fummon'd to affift and counsel the Doge, who is Prince of the Senate. So that they may very properly be called Counsellors. Tho' the Government of Venice was democratick at first, under Confuls and Tribunes; that form of power has been totally VOL. VIII. abrogated, fince Doges have been elected. THEOBALD. Wherein the toged Confuls-] Corfuls, for couns'lors. WARD. 5 must be LED and calm'd] So the old Quarto. The first Folio reads belee'd: but that spoils the meafure. I read LET, hindered. WARBURTON. Belee'd fuits to calmed, and the measure is not lefs perfect than in many other places. 6 -by letter] By recommendation from powerful friends. 7 And not by old gradation,-] What is old gradation? He immediately explains gradation very properly. But the idea of old does not come into it, Y where Stood heir to th' firft. Now, Sir, be judge yourself, * If I in any just term am affin'd Rod. I would not follow him then. I follow him to ferve my turn upon him. Whip me fuch honeft knaves. Others there are, coats, Do themselves homage. Thefe folks have fome foul, And fuch a one do I profefs myself. It is as fure as you are Rodorigo, Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago: In following him, I follow but myself, Heav'n is my judge!-Not I, for love and duty, where each fecond Stood heir to th' first. I read therefore, Not (as of old) gradation i. e. it does not go by gradation, as it did of old. WARB. Old gradation, is gradation eltablifhed by ancient practice. Where is the difficulty? 8 If I in any juft term am affin'd] Affined is the reading of the third quarto and the firft folio. The fecond quarto and all the modern editions have affign'd. The meaning is, Do Iftand within any fuch terms of propinquity or relation to the Moor, as that it is my duty to love him? 9 honeft knaves.— ] Krave is here for fervant, but with a mixture of fly contempt. For |