One Michael Cassio;-(the Florentine's
A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife;) ----
That never set a squadron in the field,
Nor the division of a battle knows
More than a spinster; (4) but the bookish theoric,
Wherein the toged couns’lors can purpose
As masterly as he; mere prattle, without practice,
Is all his soldiership he had th' election;
And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof
At Rhodes, at Cyprus, and on other grounds
Christian and Heathen must be belee'd and calm'd.
By Debitor und Creditor, this Counter-Caster;
He, in good time, must his lieutenant be,
And I, (5) (God bless the mark!) his Moorship's

ancient. (6)

(4) More than a spinster. This expression is referable to the streaks of light mentioned in the last note as marked on Cassio's person, which (among many other things) may be likened to a distaff with wool on it.

(5) Ancient, or ensign-bearer. lago, on inspecting the map, may be easily conceived to be executing such an office; the colours, in light, being considered as either furled round, or spread from, what constituted the blade of Hudibras's sword, as the flag-staff.

(6) His Moorship. Othello is the same as Hamlet's father in the play of that name, drawn in fig. 60. His face, by its flat nose, and from its being composed princi

e

1

Rod. By Heaven, I would have rather been his

hangman. (7) lago. But there's no remedy, 'tis curse of serPreferment goes by letter and affection, (vice; And not by old gradation, where each second Stood heir to the first. Now, Sir, be judge yourIf I in any just term am assigned To love the Moor.

Rod. I would not follow him then.

Iago. O Sir, content you;
I follow him to serve my turn upon him.

(self

pally of dark shadows, resembles that of a negro. He is drawn in

Fig. 98.

(7) The streaks of light mentioned above in notes 3 and 4, may be easily fancied to resemble a rope round Cassio's

We cannot all be masters, nor all masters
Cannot be truly followed. You shall mark
Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave,
That, doating on his own obsequious bondage,
Wears out his time, much like his master's ass,
For nought but provender; and when he's old,

cashiered: (8) Whipme such honest knaves-Others there are, Who trimm'd in form and visages of duty, Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves; And, throwing but shows of service on their lords, Well thrive by them; and when they've lin’d their

[soul, Do themselves homage. These folks have some And such a one do I profess myself. It is as sure as you are Rodorigo, Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago: In following him, I follow but myself, Heaven is my judge, not I, for love and duty, But seeming so, for my peculiar end: For when my outward action doth demonstrate

coats,

a when ble in

(8) Ass and whip. Whenever objects are mentioned, of which drawings have been already given or notes made in the former volumes, and when the objects themselves are plainly and obviously perceptible in the moon, it is hoped that the printing the lines or words that mention them in italics will serve as a sufficient reference for the reader's guidance.

chat me

The native act and figure of my heart
In compliment extern, 'tis not long after
But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve,
For daws to peck at; I'm not what I seem.

Rod. What a full fortune doth the thick-lips owe, If he can carry her thus ?

Iago. Call up her father, Rouse him, make after him, poison his delight; Proclaim him in the streets, incense her kinsmen: And though he in a fertile climate dwell, Plague him with flies; tho' that his joy be joy, Yet throw such changes of vexation on't, As it may lose some colour.

Rod. Here is her father's house, I'll call aloud.

Iago. Do, with like timorous accent, and dire As when, by night and negligence, the fire [yell, Is spied in populous cities.

[ho. Rod. What, ho! Brabantio! Signior Brabantio, Iago. Awake! what ho! Brabantio! ho! thieves ! thieves !

[bags : Look to your house, your daughter, and your Thieves! thieves !

BRABANTIO appears above at a Window. (9) Bra. What is the reason of this terrible summons ? What is the matter there?

· (9) Brabantio is the same as Gloster in King Lear, drawn ante, in fig. 78.

Rod. Signior is all your family within ?
Iago. Are all doors lock'd ?
Bra. Why, wherefore ask you this?
Tago. Zounds ! Sir, you're robb’d: for shame,

put on your gown,
Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul:
Ev’n now, ev’n very now, an old black ram
Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise,
Awake the snorting citizens with the bell, (10)
Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you.
Arise, I say.

Bra. What, have-you lost your wits (11)
Rod. Most reverend Signior, do you know my
Bra. NotT; what are you?

(voice? Rod. My name is Rodorigo.

Bra. The worse welcome: I've charged thee not to haunt about my doors : In honest plainness thou hast heard me say, [ness, My daughter's not for thee. And now in madBeing full of supper and distemp’ring draughts, Upon malicious bravery dost thou come To start my quiet.

Rod. Sir, Sir, Sir,

(10) The bell is to be referred to the bell-shaped streaks of light on Cassio's body in the moon, to which the fancy of the poet has been seen to attribute a thousand other similitudes.

(11) In other words; are you lunatic, or connected with the moon?