[Pope:  Not to obey] [T:  Nor, to obey.] [W:  me.  Remord] Of these two emendations, I believe, Theobald’s will have the greater number of suffrages; it has at least mine.  The objection against the propriety of the declaration in Iago is a cavil; he does not say that he has no principle of remorse, but that it shall not operate against Othello’s commands. To obey shall be in me, for I will obey you, is a mode of expression not worth the pains here taken to introduce it; and the word remords has not in the quotation the meaning of withhold, or make reluctant, but of reprove, or censure; nor do I know that it is used by any of the contemporaries of Shakespeare.

I will offer an interpretation, which, if it be received, will make alteration unnecessary, but it is very harsh and violent.  Iago devotes himself to wronged Othello, and says, Let him command whatever bloody business, and in me it shall be an act, not of cruelty, but of tenderness, to obey him; not of malice to other, but of tenderness for him.  If this sense be thought too violent, I see nothing better than to follow Pope’s reading, as it is improved by Theobald.

III.iv.26 (457,5) cruzadoes] [A Portugueze coin, in value three shillings sterling.  Dr. GREY.] So called from the cross stamped upon it.

III.iv.46 (458,6) The hearts, of old, gave hands] [Warburton explains this is an allusion to James the First’s practice of creating baronets for money and emends to “The hands of old gave hearts”] The historical observation is very judicious and acute, but of the emendation there is no need.  She says, that her hand gave away her heart.  He goes on with his suspicion, and the hand which he had before called frank, he now terms liberal; then proceeds to remark, that the hand was formerly given by the heart; but now it neither gives it, nor is given by it.

III.iv.51 (459,7) salt and sullen rheum]—­salt and sorry rheum] The old quarto has,

  —­salt and sullen rheum—–­

That is, a rheum obstinately troublesome.  I think this better.

III.iv.70 (459,8)

  A Sybil, that had numbred in the world
  The sun to course two hundred compasses]

The expression is not very infrequent; we say, I counted the clock to strike four; so she number’d the sun to course, to run two hundred compasses, two hundred annual circuits.

III.iv.79 (460,1) Why do you speak so startingly, and rash?] Is vehement, violent.