SCENE XI.
Enter Cassio, Montano, and Gentlemen.
Cas.
'Fore heav'n, they have given me a rouse already.
Mont.
Good faith, a little one. Not past a pint, as
I am a soldier.
Iago.
Some wine, ho!
[Iago sings.
And let me the canakin clink, clink, clink,
And let me the canakin clink.
A soldier's a man; oh, man's life's but a span;
Why, then let a soldier drink.
Some wine, boys.
Cas.
'Fore heav'n, an excellent song.
Iago.
I learn'd it in England: where, indeed, they
are most potent in potting. Your Dane, your German,
and your swag-belly'd Hollander,—Drink, ho!—
are nothing to your English.
Cas.
Is your Englishman so exquisite in his drinking?
Iago.
Why, he drinks you with facility your Dane
dead drunk; he sweats not to overthrow your Almain;
he gives your Hollander a vomit, ere the next
pottle can be fill'd.
Cas.
To the health of our General.
-- 373 --
Mont.
I am for it, lieutenant, and I'll do you justice.
Iago.
Oh sweet England.
4 noteKing Stephen was an a worthy peer,
His breeches cost him but a crown;
He held them six-pence all too dear,
With that he call'd the tailor 5 notelown.
He was a wight of high renown,
And thou art but of low degree:
'Tis pride that pulls the country down,
Then take thine auld cloak about thee.
Some wine, ho!
Cas.
Why, this is a more exquisite song than the
other.
Iago.
Will you hear't again?
Cas.
No, for I hold him to be unworthy of his
place, that does those things. Well—Heaven's above
all; and there be souls that must be saved, and there
be souls must not be saved.
Iago.
It's true, good lieutenant.
Cas.
For mine own part, no offence to the General,
nor any man of quality; I hope to be saved.
Iago.
And so I do too, lieutenant.
Cas.
Ay, but, by your leave, not before me. The
Lieutenant is to be saved before the Ancient. Let's
have no more of this. Let's to our affairs. Forgive
our sins. Gentlemen, let's look to our business. Do
not think, gentlemen, I am drunk. This is my Ancient.
This is my right hand, and this is my left. I
am not drunk now; I can stand well enough, and I
speak well enough.
-- 374 --
Gent.
Excellent well.
Cas.
Why, very well then: you must not think
then that I am drunk.
[Exit.
Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
