Upon fome prefent bufinefs of the ftate, OFF. 'Tis true, moft worthy fignior, The duke's in council; and your noble self, BRA. Cannot but feel this wrong, as 'twere their own: [Exeunt. To bring-] The quartos read-To bear. STEEVENS. 6 Bond-flaves, and pagans,] Mr. Theobald alters pagans to pageants, for this reafon," That pagans are as ftrict and moral all the world over, as the most regular Chriftians, in the preservation of private property." But what then? The fpeaker had not this high opinion of pagan morality, as is plain from hence, that this important difcovery, fo much to the honour of paganifm, was firft made by our editor. WARBURTON. The meaning of thefe expreffions of Brabantio feem to have been miftaken. I believe the morality of either chriftians or pagans was not in our author's thoughts. He alludes to the common condition of all blacks, who come from their own country, both flaves and pagans; and ufes the word in contempt of Othello and his complexion. If this Moor is now fuffered to efcape with impunity, it will be fuch an encouragement to his black countrymen, that we may expect to fee all the first offices of our state filled up by the pagans and bond-flaves of Africa. STEEVENS. In our author's time pagan was a very common expreffion of contempt. So, in King Henry IV. P. II: "What pagan may that be?" See Vol. IX. p. 68, n. 8. MALONE, SCENE III. The fame. A Council-Chamber. The Duke, and Senators, fitting at a table; Officers attending. DUKE. There is no compofition' in thefe news, That gives them credit. I. SEN. 8 Indeed, they are difproportion'd; My letters fay, a hundred and feven gallies. DUKE. And mine, a hundred and forty. 2. SEN. And mine, two hundred: But though they jump not on a just account, (As in these cafes, where the aim reports," There is no compofition-] Compofition, for confiftency, concordancy. WARBURTON. 8 - thefe nerus,] Thus the quarto, 1622, and fuch was frequently the phrafeology of Shakspeare's age. So, in The Spanish Tragedy, 1610: "The news are more delightful to his soul,——————.” See alfo Vol. X. p. 115, n. 9. The folio reads—this news. MALONE. 9 As in thefe cafes, where the aim reports,] The folio has-the aim reports. But, they aim reports, [the reading of the quarto] has a fenfe fufficiently eafy and commodious. Where men report not by certain knowledge, but by aim and conjecture. JOHNSON. To aim is to conjecture. So, in The Two Gentlemen of Verona : "But fearing left my jealous aim might err.' Again, in the manufcript known by the title of William and the Werwolf, in the library of King's College, Cambridge: "No man upon mold, might ayme the number." P. 56. STEEVENS.. where the aim reports,] In thefe cafes where conjecture or 'Tis oft with difference,) yet do they all confirm A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus. DUKE. Nay, it is poffible enough to judgement; I do not fo fecure me in the error, But the main article I do In fearful fense. approve SAILOR. [Within.] What ho! what ho! what ho! Enter an Officer with a Sailor. OFF. A meffenger from the gallies. DUKE. Now? the bufinefs? SAIL. The Turkifh preparation makes for Rhodes; So was I bid report here to the state, By fignior Angelo." DUKE. How fay you by this change? 1. SEN. 2 This cannot be, By no affay of reason; 'tis a pageant, To keep us in false gaze: When we confider That, as it more concerns the Turk than Rhodes, fufpicion tells the tale. Aim is again used as a substantive, in this fenfe, in Julius Cæfar: "What you would work me to, I have fome aim.” MALONE. By fignior Angelo.] This hemiftich is wanting in the first quarto. STEEVENS. By no affay of reafon ;] Bring it to the teft, examine it by reafon as we examine metals by the affay, it will be found counterfeit by all trials. JOHNSON. 3 with more facile question-] Queftion is for the act of fecking. With more eafy endeavour. JOHNSON. So may be with more facile question bear it,] That is, he may For that it stands not in fuch warlike brace,' But altogether lacks the abilities That Rhodes is drefs'd in:-if we make thought of this, We must not think, the Turk is so unskilful, To wake, and wage, a danger profitless." DUKE. Nay, in all confidence, he's not for Rhodes. OFF. Here is more news. Enter a Meffenger. MESS. The Ottomites, reverend and gracious, Steering with due course toward the ifle of Rhodes, Have there injointed them with an after fleet. 1. SEN. Ay, fo I thought: "-How many, as you guefs? MESS. Of thirty fail: and now do they re-ftem' carry it with lefs difpute, with lefs oppofition. I don't fee how the word queftion can fignify the act of feeking, though the word quest may. M. MASON. + For that it ftands not &c.] The feven following lines are added fince the first edition. POPE. 5-warlike brace,] State of defence. To arm was called to brace on the armour. JOHNSON. To wake, and wage, a danger profitlefs.] To wage here, as in many other places in Shak fpeare, fignifies to fight, to combat. Thus, in King Lear: To wage against the enmity of the air." It took its rife from the common expreffion, to wage war. ४ STEEVENS. Ay, fo &c.] This line is not in the first quarto. STEEVENS. do they re-ftem-] The quartos mean to read,-re-fterne, though in the first of them the word is misfpelt. STEEVENS. Their backward course, bearing with frank ap pearance Their purposes toward Cyprus.-Signior Montano, DUKE. 'Tis certain then for Cyprus.- 1. SEN. He's now in Florence. DUKE.Write from us; with him' poft-post-hafte: despatch.4 1. SEN. Here comes Brabantio, and the valiant Moor. Enter BRABANTIO, OTHELLO, IAGO, RODERIGO, and Officers. DUKE. Valiant Othello, we muft ftraight employ you Against the general enemy Ottoman.' 9 And prays you to believe him.] He entreats you not to doubt the truth of this intelligence. JOHNSON. 2 Marcus Lucchefé,] The old copies have Luccicos. Mr. Steevens made the correction. MALONE. 3 with him-] i. e. recommend, defire him. See Vol. IV. p. 462, n. 4, and other places. REED. 4 wish him poft-poft-hafte: defpatch.] i. e. tell him we with him to make all poffible hafte. Poft-hafte is before in this play ufed adjectively: "And he requires your hafte-poft-hafle appearance." All meffengers in the time of Shakspeare were enjoined, "Hafte hefte; for thy life, poft hafte." The reading of the text is that of the quarto, 1622. The folio reads: Write from us to him, poft, poft-hafte difpatch. MALONE. 5 Valiant Othello, we muft ftraight employ you Against the general enemy Ottoman.] It is part of the policy of the Venetian flate never to entrust the command of an army to a |