Rodorigo.
Iago.
Do you meet me presently at the harbour.
Come thither, if thou be'st valiant; as, they say, base
men, being in love, have then a nobility in their natures,
more than is native to them. List me, the lieutenant
to-night watches on the Court of Guard. First,
-- 365 --
I must tell thee, this Desdemona is directly in love with
him.
Rod.
With him? why, 'tis not possible?
Iago.
5 noteLay thy finger thus; and let thy soul be instructed.
Mark me with what violence she first lov'd
the Moor, but for bragging, and telling her fantastical
lies. And will she love him still for prating? let
not thy discreet heart think it. Her eye must be fed.
And what delight shall she have to look on the Devil?
6 noteWhen the blood is made dull with the act of sport,
there should be again to inflame it, and to give Satiety
a fresh appetite, loveliness in favour, sympathy in
years, manners, and beauties: all which the Moor is
defective in. Now, for want of these required conveniences,
her delicate tenderness will find itself abus'd,
begin to heave the gorge, disrelish and abhor the
Moor; very nature will instruct her in it, and compel
her to some second choice. Now, Sir, this granted,
as it is a most pregnant and unforc'd position, who
stands so eminent in the degree of this fortune, as
Cassio does? a knave very voluble; no farther conscionable,
than in putting on the mere form of civil and humane
Seeming, for the better compassing of his salt
-- 366 --
and most hidden loose affection; a slippery and subtle
knave, a finder of warm occasions, that has an eye
can stamp and counterfeit advantages, though true advantage
never present itself. A devilish knave! besides,
the knave is handsom, young, and hath all
those requisites in him, that folly and 7 notegreen minds
look after. A pestilent compleat knave! and the woman
hath found him already.
Rod.
I cannot believe that of her, she's full of most
bless'd 8 notecondition.
Iago.
Bless'd figs' end! the wine she drinks is made
of grapes. If she had been bless'd, she would never
have lov'd the Moor. Bless'd pudding! Didst thou not
see her paddle with the palm of his hand? didst not
mark that?
Rod.
Yes, that I did; but that was but courtesy.
Iago.
Letchery, by this hand; an index, and obscure
prologue to the history of lust, and foul thoughts.
They met so near with their lips, that their breaths
embrac'd together. Villainous thoughts, Rodorigo!
when these mutualities so marshal the way, hard at
hand comes the main exercise, the incorporate conclusion.
Pish—But, Sir, be you rul'd by me. I
have brought you from Venice. Watch you to-night.
For the command, I'll lay't upon you. Cassio knows
you not: I'll not be far from you. Do you find
some occasion to anger Cassio, either by speaking too
loud, or 9 notetainting his discipline, or from what other
course you please, which the time shall more favourably
minister.
Rod.
Well.
Iago.
Sir, he's rash, and very 1 notesudden in choler:
-- 367 --
and, haply, may strike at you. Provoke him, that
he may; for even out of that will I cause those of
Cyprus to mutiny, 2 notewhose qualification shall come into
no true taste again, but by displanting of Cassio. So
shall you have a shorter journey to your desires, by
the means I shall then have to prefer them, and the
impediments most profitably removed, without which
there were no expectation of our prosperity.
Rod.
I will do this, if you can bring it to any opportunity.
Iago.
I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the
citadel. I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewel.
Rod.
Adieu.
[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].