Act II Sc. 1
“A Veronesè, Michael Cassio.”
This is another instance of the poet’s negligence or forgetfulness; for in the first Act he had called him a Florentine. Though the metre is perfect, it might be better to insert nam’d or one. As in the old copies ‘Veronese’ is spelt Veronessa, Malone thought it was the ship that was so called; but that is not likely.
“Thanks you, the valiant of this warlike isle.”
The reading of the folio, with ‘this’ for the from the 4tos, which read ‘worthy isle.’
“And in the essential vesture of creation
Does bear all excellency.”
This is the reading of the 4to; the folio reads in the second line, ‘Does tyre the ingenieur,’ of which it seems almost impossible to make any good sense. ‘The essential,’ etc., means person, body, form.
“If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trace
For his quick hunting, stand the putting on.”
This is the reading of the folio; the 4to 1622 has crush for ‘trace’; and Warburton, followed by Steevens, Singer, and Dyce, read brach for ‘trash.’ These last-named critics read the whole line thus: “If this poor brach of Venice whom I trash.” “The jingle,” Steevens says, “being in Shakespeare’s manner.” Now to this I object—first, that this was not Shakespeare’s manner, for the apparent instances of it are mostly printers’ blunders; and secondly, that Roderigo did not require to be trashed or checked ‘for his quick hunting,’ for he was always hanging back and ready to give up the chase till urged on by Iago. This last objection also applies to ‘trace’ in the sense of follow or accompany.
“Can trace me in the tedious ways of art,
Or hold me pace in deep experiments.”
1 Hen. IV. iii. 1.
It would also apply, though in a less degree, to train, which would yield a tolerable sense. On the whole, I think that Iago’s words may have been praise, which would suit his sneering ironical tone. As to ‘brach,’ though we frequently find it used of a woman, I believe it was never applied to a man.
Sc. 3
“And passion having my best judgement collied.”
The reading quelled, approved by Collier, is not so absurd as Singer thinks it.
“In night and on the court and guard of safety.”
This is the reading of all the old copies. Malone read ‘of guard and safety,’ making the necessary transposition.
“Probal to thinking.”
As I have never met with the word ‘Probal’ elsewhere, I think it may be a mere misprint for probable.
“As the free element[s].”
It is the air that is meant, which was called ‘the element.’ See on Tw. Night, i. 1, and on Temp. v. ad fin.