--_New Monthly Magazine_.
* * * * *
THE ANECDOTE GALLERY.
* * * * *
OTHELLO.
On the crew of the Flora being treated to see _Othello_ at the
Portsmouth Theatre, Cassio's silly speech proved an exquisite relish to
the audience, where he apostrophizes heaven, "Forgive us our sins," and
endeavours to persuade his companion that he is sober. "Do not think,
gentlemen, I am drunk? this is my Ancient: this is my right hand, and
this is my left hand: I am not drunk now." "No, not _you_," roared a
Jack, who no doubt would have been a willing witness in Cassio's
defence, had he been brought to the gangway for inebriety. "I can stand
well enough," continued the representative of Cassio. "Then, hang it!
why don't you walk the _plank_ at once, and prove yourself sober?"
vociferated a long-tailed wag, determined not to slip this opportunity
of having a shot on the sly at his first lieutenant, who had only a
night or two before put his perpendicularity to a similar test.
At the last scene the shouts became alarming; volleys of imprecations
were hurled at his head--his limbs--his life. "What!" said one of the
rudest of the crew, "can the black brute cut her lifelines? She's a
reg'lar-built angel, and as like my Bet as two peas.
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