Matching thy inference. "Tis not to make me jealous, To say-my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company, Whether our poet had any authority for the word exsufflicate, which I think is used in the sense of swollen, and appears to have been formed from sufflatus, I am unable to ascertain: but I have not thought it safe to substitute for it another word equally unauthorised. Suffolare in Italian signifies to whistle. How then can Dr. Johnson's interpretation of exsuffolate be supported? The introducer of this word explains it, by "whispered, "buzz'd in the ears." MALONE. It seems to me that all the criticks have overlooked the meaning of the passage. Exsufflicate may be traced to the low Latin exsufflare, to spit down upon, an ancient form of exorcising; and figuratively, to spit out in abhorrence or contempt. See Du Cange in v. Exsufflare. Exsufflicate may thus signify contemptible: and Othello may be supposed to mean, that he would not change the noble designs that then employed his thoughts for contemptible and despicable surmises. Johnson's Dictionary by Todd, v. Exsuffolate. BOSWELL. blown surmises, Matching thy inference.] That is, such as you have mentioned in describing the torments of jealousy. The part of Iago's speech particularly alluded to, is that where he says: "But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er, "Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves!" M. MASON. 5 Where virtue is, these are MORE virtuous:] An action in itself indifferent, grows virtuous by its end and application. JOHNSON. I know not why the modern editors, in opposition to the first quarto and folio, read most, instead of more. A passage in All's Well That Ends Well, is perhaps the best comment on the sentiment of Othello: "I have those good hopes of her, education promises: his disposition she inherits: which makes fair gifts fairer." Gratior e pulchro veniens et corpore virtus. STEEVENS. Most was arbitrarily introduced by the ignorant editor of the second folio. MALONE. For she had eyes, and chose me: No, Iago; LAGO. I am glad of this; for now I shall have reason To show the love and duty that I bear you In Venice' they do let heaven see the pranks They dare not show their husbands; their best conscience Is-not to leave undone, but keep unknown. LAGO. She did deceive her father, marrying you; And, when she seem'd to shake, and fear your looks, She lov'd them most. 6 Out of SELF-BOUNTY be abus'd ;] generosity. WARBURTON. -our country disposition Self-bounty, for inherent In Venice] Here lago seems to be a Venetian. JOHNSON. There is nothing in any other part of the play, properly understood, to imply otherwise. HENLEY. Various other passages, as well as the present, prove him to have been a Venetian, nor is there any ground for doubting the poet's intention on this head. See p. 343, n. 1. MALONE. 8 Is-not to LEAVE undone, but KEEP unknown.] The folio perhaps more clearly reads: "Is not to leav't undone, but keep't unknown." STEEVENS, The folio, by evident error of the press, reads kept unknown. MALONE. 9 And, when she seem'd-] This and the following argument Отн. LAGO. And so she did. Why, go to, then; She that, so young, could give out such a seeming, To seel her father's eyes up, close as oak ', He thought, 'twas witchcraft :-But I am much to blame; I humbly do beseech you of your pardon, For too much loving you. Отн. I am bound to thee for ever. LAGO. I see, this hath a little dash'd your spirits. OTH. Not a jot, not a jot. IAGO. Trust me, I fear it has. I hope, you will consider, what is spoke * Quarto, I'faith. of lago ought to be deeply impressed on every reader. Deceit and falsehood, whatever conveniences they may for a time promise or produce, are in the sum of life, obstacles to happiness. Those, who profit by the cheat, distrust the deceiver, and the act by which kindness is sought, puts an end to confidence. The same objection may be made with a lower degree of strength against the imprudent generosity of disproportionate marriages. When the first heat of passion is over, it is easily succeeded by suspicion, that the same violence of inclination, which caused one irregularity, may stimulate to another; and those who have shown, that their passions are too powerful for their prudence, will, with very slight appearances against them, be censured, as not very likely to restrain them by their virtue. JOHNSON. TO SEEL her father's eyes up, close as OAK,] The oak is (I believe) the most close-grained wood of general use in England. Close as oak, means, close as the grain of oak. To seel is an expression from falconry. So, in Ben Jonson's Catiline : 66 would have kept "Both eyes and beak seel'd up, for six sesterces." To seel a hawk is to sew up his eye-lids. In The Winter's Tale, Paulina says: "The root of his opinion, which is rotten STEEVENS. "As ever oak, or stone, was sound." MALONE. Comes from my love ;-But, I do see you are I am to pray you, not to strain my speech OTH. I will not. LAGO. Should you do so, my lord, 3 My speech should fall into such vile success Success, 2 To grosser ISSUES,] Issues, for conclusions. WARBURTON. 3 My speech should fall into such vile SUCCESS-] for succession, i. e. conclusion; not prosperous issue. 66 WARBURTON. I rather think there is a depravation, and would read : My speech will fall into such vile excess." If success be the right word, it seems to mean consequence or event, as successo is used in Italian. JOHNSON. I think success may, in this instance, bear its common interpretation. What Iago means seems to be this: "Should you do so, my lord, my words would be attended by such an infamous degree of success, as my thoughts do not even aim at." Iago, who counterfeits the feelings of virtue, might have said fall into success, and vile success, because he would appear to Othello, to wish that the enquiry into Desdemona's guilt might prove fruitless and unsuccessful. See Hamlet, vol. vii. p. 274, n. 1. STEEVENS. The following passages will perhaps be considered as proofs of Dr. Johnson's explanation: "Then the poor desolate women, fearing least their case would sorte to some pitifull successe." Palace of Pleasure, bl. 1. "God forbyd all hys hope should turne to such successe.” Promos and Cassandra, 1578. HENDERSON. So, in Sidney's Arcadia, p. 39, edit. 1613: "Straight my heart misgave me some evil success!" It is thus used as late as by Barrow : "Yea to a person so disposed, that success which seemeth most adverse justly may be reputed the best and most happy." Boswell. IAGO. Long live she so! and long live you to think so! Oгн. And yet, how nature erring from itself,LAGO. Ay, there's the point:-As,-to be bold with you, Not to affect many proposed matches, Of her own clime, complexion, and degree; Отн. Farewell, farewell: If more thou dost perceive, let me know more ; Set on thy wife to observe: Leave me, Iago. IAGO. My lord, I take my leave. [Going. OTH. Why did I marry ?-This honest creature, doubtless, Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds. LAGO. My lord, I would, I might entreat your honour To scan this thing no further; leave it to time: * Quarto, Fie. + First folio, Although 'tis fit. 4 — a WILL most rank,] Will, is for wilfulness. It is so used by Ascham. A rank will, is self-will overgrown and exuberant. JOHNSON. 5 You shall by that perceive him and his MEANS:] You shall discover whether he thinks his best means, his most powerful interest, is by the solicitation of your lady. JOHNSON. 2 B VOL. IX. |