Iago. Do thou meet me presently at the harbour. Come hither. If thou be'st valiant,-as (they say) base men, being in love, have then a nobility in their natures more than is nature to them,-list me. I The lieutenant to-night watches on the court of guard : f First, I must tell thee this-Desdemona is directly in love with him. Rod. With him? why, 'tis not possible. Iago. Lay thy finger-thus, and let thy soul be instructed. Mark me with what violence she first loved the Moor, but for bragging, and telling her fantastical lies: And will she love him still for prating? let not thy discreet heart think it. Her eye must be fed; and what delight shall she have to look on the devil? When the blood is made dull with the act of sport, there should be, -again to inflame it, and to give satiety a fresh appetite, loveliness in favour; sympathy in years, manners, and beauties; all which the Moor is defective in: Now, for want of these required conveniences, her delicate tenderness will find itself abused, begin to heave the gorge, disrelish and abhor the Moor; very nature will instruct her in it, and compel her to some second choice. Now, Sir, this granted, (as it is a most pregnant and unforced position,) who stands so eminently in the degree of this fortune, as Cassio does? a knave very voluble; no further conscionable than in putting on the mere form of civil and humane seeming, for the better compassing of his salt and most hidden loose affection? why, none; why, none: A slippery and subtle knave; a finder out of occasions; that has an eye can stamp and counterfeit advantages, though true advantage never present itself : a devilish knave! Besides, the knave is handsome, young, and hath all those requisites in him, that folly and green minds || look after : A pestilent complete knave: and the woman hath found him already. Rod. I cannot believe that in her; she is full of most blessed condition. ¶ Jago. Blessed fig's end! the wine she drinks is made of grapes: if she bad been blessed, she would never have loved the Moor: Blessed pudding! Didst thou not see her paddle with the palm of his hand? didst not mark that? Rod. Yes, that I did; but that was but courtesy. Iago. Lechery, by this hand; an index, and obscure prologue to the history of lust and foul thoughts. They met so near with their lips, that their breaths embraced together. Villainous thoughts, Roderigo, when these mutualities so marshal the way, hard at hand comes the master and main exercise, and incorporate conclusion: Pish!-But, Sir, be you ruled by me: I have brought you from Venice. Watch you to-night; for the command, I'll lay't upon you: Cassio knows you not ;-I'll not be far from you: Do you find some occasion to auger Cassio, either by speaking too loud, or tainting * * his discipline; or from what other course yon please, which the time shall more favourably minister. Rod. Well. Iago. Sir, he is rash, and very sudden in • Much solicited by invitation. + Without method. 1 Listen to me. The place where the guard musters | Minds unripe. f Qualities. Throwing a slur upon his discipline. Iago. I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the citadel: I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewell. {Exit. Rod. Adien. Iago. That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it ; That she loves him, 'tis apt, and of great credit : And nothing can or shall content my soul, SCENE II.-A Street. Exit. Enter a HERALD, with a Proclamation; Her. It is Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant general, that, upon certain tidings now arrived, importing the mere perdition of the Turkish fleet, every man put himself into triumph; some to dance, some to make bonfires, each man to what sport and revel his addiction leads him; for, besides these beneficial news, it is the celebration of his nuptials: So much was his pleasure should be proclaimed. All offices¶ are open; and there is full liberty of feasting, from this present hour of five, till the bell hath told eleven. Heaven bless the isle of Cyprus, and our noble general, Othello! [Exeunt. Michael, good night: To-morrow, with our earliest, Let me have speech with you.-Come, my dear love, The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue ; [Exeunt OтH. DES. and Attend. Cas. Welcome, lago: We must to the watch. lago. Not this hour, lieutenant; 'tis not yet ten o'clock: Our general cast us thus early, for the love of his Desdemona; whom let us not therefore blame; he hath not yet made wanton the night with her; and she is sport for Jove. Cas. She's a most exquisite lady. Iago. And, I'll warrant her, full of game. Cas. Indeed, she is a most fresh and delicate creature. Iago. What an eye she has! methinks it sounds a parley of provocation. Cas. An inviting eye; and yet, methinks, right modest. Jago. And, when she speaks, is it not an alarm to love? Cas. She is, indeed, perfection. lago. Well, happiness to their sheets! Come, Lieutenant, I have a stoup of wine; and here without are a brace of Cyprus gallants, that would fain have a measure to the health of the black Othello. Cas. Not to-night, good lago; I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking: I could well wish courtesy would invent some other custom of entertainment. Iago. O they are our friends; but one cup; I'll drink for you. Cas. I have drunk but one cup to-night, and that was craftily qualified + too, and behold what innovation it makes here: I am unfortunate in the infirmity, and dare not task my weakness with any more. Iago. What, man! 'tis a night of revels gallants desire it. Cas. Where are they? ; the Iago. Some wine, ho! [Sings. And let me the canakin clink clink, A soldier's a man; A life's but a span; Why then, let a soldier drink, [Wine brought in. Some wine, boys! Cas. 'Fore heaven, an excellent song. lago. I learned it in England, where, indeed, they are most potent in potting: your Dane, your German, and your swag-bellied Hollander,Drink, ho!-are nothing to your English. Cas. Is your Englishman so expert in his drinking? Iago. Why, he drinks you, with facility, your Dane dead drunk; he sweats not to overthrow your Almain; he gives your Hollander a vomit ere the next pottle can be filled. Cas. To the health of our general. Mon. I am for it, lieutenant; and I'll do you justice. Iago. O sweet England! King Stephen was a worthy peer, His breeches cost him but a crown; He held them sixpence all too dear, With that he call'd the tailor-lown. He was a wight of high renown, And thou art but of low degree: 'Tis pride that pulls the country down, Then tak' thine auld cloak about thee. t Some wine, ho! Cas. Why, this is a more exquisite song than the other. Jago. Will you hear it again? Cus. No; for I hold him to be unworthy of his place, that does those things.-Well,-Heaven's above all: and there be souls that must be saved and there be souls must not be saved. Iago. It's true, good lieutenant. Cas. For mine own part,-no offeuce to the general, or any man of quality,-I hope to be saved. lago. And so do I too, lieutenant. Cas. Ay, but, by your leave, not before me; Iago. Here at the door; I pray you, call the lieutenant is to be saved before the authem in. Cas. I'll do't; but it dislikes me. [Exit CASSIO. Iago. If I can fasten but one cup upon him, With that which he hath drunk to-night ready, cient. Let's have no more of this; let's to our affairs.-Forgive us our sins !-Gentlemen, let's look to our business. Do not think, gentlemen, I am drunk this is my ancient ;-this is my alright hand, and this is my left hand :-I am not drunk now; I can stand well enough, and speak well enough. He'll be as full of quarrel and offence Whom love has turn'd almost the wrong side outward, To Desdemona hath to-night carous'd All. Excellent well. Cas. Why, very well, then you must not think [Exit. then that I am drunk. Mon. To the platform, masters; come, let's set the watch. Iago. You see this fellow, that is gone before: He is a soldier, fit to stand by Cesar, And give direction: and do but see his vice; 'Tis to his virtue a just equinox, And they watch too. Now, 'mongst this flock of The one as long as the other: 'tis pity of him. drunkards, Am I to put our Cassio in some action That may offend the isle :-But here they come: stream. I fear, the trust Othello puts him iù, On some odd time of his infirmity Mon. But is he often thus ? lago. 'Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep : The general were put in mind of it. Iago. Not 1, for this fair island: I do love Cassio well; and would do much Re-enter CASSIO, driving in RODERIGO. Mon. What's the matter, lieutenant? Cas. Dost thou prate, rogue? [Striking RODERIGO. Mon. Nay, good lieutenant, [They fight. - Montano, In mouths of wisest censure: What's the matter Of all that I do know: nor know I aught Oth. Now, by heaven, My blood begins my safer guides to rule; Shall lose me.-What! in a town of war, Mon. If partially affin'd, ‡ or leagued in office, lago. Touch me not so near: I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth, Help, masters!-Here's a goodly watch, in-Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio; Sir;deed! [Bell rings. Who's that that tings the bell ?-Diablo, ho! You will be sham'd for ever. Enter OTHELLO, and Attendants. Oth. What is the matter here? Mon. I bleed still, I am hurt to the he dies. Oth. Hold, for your lives. Yet, I persuade myself, to speak the truth And Cassio following him with determin'd To execute upon him: Sir, this gentleman Jago. Hold, hold, lieutenant, Sir, Montano,-The town might fall in fright: he, swift of foot, gentlemen, Have you forgot all sense of place and duty? Hold, hold! the general speaks to you; hold, for shame! Oth. Why, how now, ho! from whence ariseth Are we turn'd Turks; and to ourselves do that, brawl: He that stirs next to carve for his own rage, ers ? Honest lago, that look'st dead with grieving, thee. Jugo. I do not know;-friends all but now, even now. In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom Cas. I pray yon, pardon me, I cannot speak. Outran my purpose; and I return'd the rather More of this matter can I not report :- Yet surely Cassio, I believe, receiv'd, Cas. Ay, past all surgery. Cas. Reputation, reputation, reputation! 01 have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part, Sir, of myself; and what remains is bestial. My reputation, lago, my reputation. Iago. As I am an honest man, I thought you had received some bodily wound; there is more offence in that, than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving: You have lost no reputation at all, unless you repute yourself such a loser. What, man! there are ways to recover the general again: You are but now cast in his mood; a punishment more in policy than in malice; even so as one would beat his offenceless dog, to affright an imperious Hon sue to him again, and he's yours. Cas. I will rather sue to be despis'd, than to deceive so good a commander, with so slight, so drunken, and so indiscreet an officer. Drunk? and speak parrot? and squabble? swagger? swear and discourse fustian with one's own shadow-0 thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee-devil! Iago. What was he that you followed with your sword? What had he done to you? Cas. I know not. Iago. Is it possible? Cas. I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly; a quarrel, but nothing wherefore.O that men should put an enemy in their mouths, to steal away their brains! that we should with joy, revel, pleasure, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts! lago. Why, but you are now well enough: How came you thus recovered ? Cus. It hath pleased the devil, drunkenness, to give place to the devil, wrath: one unperfect ness shows me another, to make me frankly despise myself. lago. Come, you are too severe a moraler : As the time, the place, and the condition of this country stands, I could heartily wish this had not befallen; but, since it is as it is mend it for your own good. Cas. I will ask him for my place again; he shall tell me, I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast! O strange 1-Every inordinate cup is unblessed, and the ingredient is a devil. Iago. Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well used; exclaim no more against it. And, good lieutenant, I think you think I love you. Cas. I have well approved it, Sir,-I drunk! Iago. You, or any man living, may be drunk at some time, man. I'll tell you what you shall do. Our general's wife is now the general;-I may say so in this respect, for that he hath devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, and denotement of her parts and graces: -confess yourself freely to her; importune her; she'll help to put you in your place again: she is of so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed a disposition, that she holds it a vice in her goodness, not to do more than she is requested: This broken joint between you and her husband, entreat her to splinter; and, my fortunes against any lay worth naming, this erack of your love shall grow stronger than was before. Cas. You advise me well. Jago. I protest in the sincerity of love, and honest kindness. Cas. I think it freely, and, betimes in the morning, I will beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me: I am desperate of my fortunes, if they check me here. Iago. You are in the right. Good night, lieutenant; I must to the watch. Cas. Good night honest Iago. [Exit CASSIO. When this advice is free I give, and honest, villain, To counsel Cassio to this parallel + course, Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes, Enter RODERIGO. Rod. I do follow here in the chase, not like a hound that hunts, but one that fills up the cry. My money is almost spent ; I have been to-night exceedingly well cudgelled; and, I think, the issue will be-I shall have so much experience for my pains: and so, with no money at all, and a little more wit, return to Venice. Iago. How poor are they, that have not patience! What wound did ever heal, but by degrees? And wit depends on dilatory time. Though other things grow fair against the sun, Pleasure and action make the hours seem short. My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress; Myself, the while, to draw the Moor apart, ACT III. [Exit. SCENE I-Before the Castle Enter CASSIO, and some MUSICIANS. Cas. Masters, play here, I will content your pains, Something that's brief; and bid-good-morrow, general. [Music. Enter CLOWN. Clo. Why, masters, have your instruments been at Naples, that they speak i'the nose thus ? 1 Mus. How, Sir, how! Clo. Are these, I pray you, called wind instruments? 1 Mus. Ay, marry, are they, Sir. Clo. Oh! thereby hangs a tail. 1 Mus. Whereby hangs a tale, Sir? Clo. Marry, Sir, by many a wind instrument that I know. But, masters, here's money for you and the general so likes your music, that he desires you, of all loves to make no more noise with it. 1 Mus. Well, Sir, we will not. Clo. If you have any music that may not be heard, to't again: but, as they say, to hear music, the general does not greatly care. 1 Mus. We have noue such, Sir. Clo. Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll away: Go; vanish into air; away. [Exeunt MUSICIANS. Cas. Dost thou hear, my honest friend? Clo. No, I hear not your honest friend. hear you. There's Cas. Pr'ythee, keep up thy quillets. a poor piece of gold for thee if the gentlewoman that attends the general's wife be stirring, tell her, there's one Cassio entreats her a little favour of speech: Wilt thou do this? Clo. She is stirring, Sir: if she will stir hither, I shall seem to notify unto her. Enter IAGO. [Exit. SCENE III.—Before the Castle. Enter DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and EMILIA. Des. Be thou assur'd, good Cassio, I will do All my abilities in thy behalf. Emil. Good madam do; I know it grieves my husband, As if the case were his. Des. O that's an honest fellow.-Do not doubt, Cassio, But I will have my lord and you again Cas. Bounteous madam, Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio, You have known him long; and be you well assur'd, He shall in strangeness stand no further off Cas. Ay, but, lady, That policy may either last so long, Des. Do not doubt that; before Emilia here, Cas. Do, good my friend.-In happy time, To the last article: my lord shall never rest; Emil. Good morrow, good lieutenant: I am For your displeasure! + but all will soon be well. That he you hurt is of great fame in Cyprus, And great affinity; and that, in wholesome wisdom, He might not but refuse you: but, he protests he loves you; And needs no other suitor, but his likings, Cas. Yet, I beseech you,— If you think fit, or that it may be done, Emil. Pray you, come in; I will bestow you where you shall have time [Exeunt. I'll watch him tame, and talk him out of pa tience; His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift; I'll intermingle every thing he does With Cassio's suit: Therefore be merry, Cassio; For thy sclicitor shall rather die, Than give thy cause away. Enter OTHELLO, and IAGO, at a distance. Emil. Madam, bere comes My lord. Oth. Was not that Cassio, parted from my wife? Iago. Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it, That he would steal away so guilty-like, Oth. I do believe 'twas he. Des. How now, my lord? I have been talking with a suitor here, A man that languishes in your displeasure. Des. Why, your lieutenant Cassio. Good my lord, If I have any grace, or power to move you, For, if he be not one that truly loves you, I pr'ythee, call him back. Oth. Went he hence now? Des. Ay, sooth; so humbled, That he hath left part of his grief with me ; I suffer with him. Good love, call him back. Oth. Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other time. Des. But shall't be shortly? Oth. The sooner, sweet, for you, Hawks are tamed by keeping them from siceps † Accept his submission. |