That my disports corrupt and taint my business, Duke. Be it as you shall privately determine, 5 [again. Duke. At nine i' the morning here we'll meet Othello, leave some officer behind, And he shall our commission bring to you; Oth. Please your grace, my ancient; With what else needful your good grace shall think Duke. Let it be so. Good night to every one.-And, noble signior, [To Brab. If virtue no delighted' beauty lack, She has deceiv'd her father, and may thee. Rod. Iago,- Rod. I will incontinently drown myself. Iago. Well, if thou dost, I shall never love thee after it. Why, thou silly gentleman! Rod. It is silliness to live, when to live is a torment: and then have we a prescription to die when death is our physician. Iago. Virtue? a fig! 'tis in ourselves, that we are thus, or thus. Our bodies are our gardens; to the which, our wills are gardeners: so that if we will plant nettles, or sow lettuce; set hyssop, and weed up thyme; supply it with one gender of herbs, or distract it with many; either have it sterile with idleness, or manur'd with industry; why, the 10 power and corrigible authority of this lies in our wills. If the balance of our lives had not one scale of reason to poise another of sensuality, the blood and baseness of our natures would conduct us to most preposterous conclusions: But we have rea15son, to cool our raging motions, our carnal stings, our unbitted lusts; whereof I take this, that you call-love, to be a sect* or scyon. Rod. It cannot be. 5 Put lago. It is merely a lust of the blood, and a 20 permission of the will. Come, be a man: Drown thyself? drown cats, and blind puppies. I have profess'd me thy friend, and I confess me knit to thy deserving with cables of perdurabletoughness; I could never better stead thee than now. 25 money in thy purse: follow thou these wars; defeat thy favour with an usurped beard: I say, put money in thy purse. It cannot be, that Desdemona should long continue her love to the Moor, -put money in thy purse;-nor he his to her: it 30 was a violent commencement in her, and thou shalt see an answerable sequestration ';-put but money in thy purse. These Moors are changeable in their wills;-fill thy purse with money: the food that to him now is as luscious as locusts, shall 35 be to him shortly as bitter as coloquintida. She must change for youth: when she is sated with his body, she will find the error of her choice.— She must have change, she must therefore put money in thy purse. If thou wilt needs damn 40 thyself, do it a more delicate way than drowning. Make all the money thou canst: If sanctimony and a frail vow, betwixt an erring Barbarian and a super-subtle Venetian, be not too hard for my wits, and all the tribe of hell, thou shalt enjoy her; 45 therefore make money. A pox of drowning thyself! it is clean out of the way: seek thou rather to be hang'd in compassing thy joy, than to be drown'd and go without her. Iago. O villainous! I have look'd upon the world for four times seven years: and since I could 50 distinguish betwixt a benefit and an injury, I never found man that knew how to love himself. Ere I would say, I would drown myself for the love of a Guinea hen, I would change my humanity with a baboon. 1 Rod. What should I do? I confess, it is my Rod. Wilt thou be fast to my hopes, if I depend on the issue? Jago. Thou art sure of me;-Go, make money: I have told thee often, and I re-tell thee again and again, I hate the Moor: My cause is hearted; thine hath no less reason: Let us be conjunctive 55 in our revenge against him: if thou canst cuckold him, thou dost thyself a pleasure, and me a sport. Delighted, for delighting, or delightful.-Shakspeare often uses the active and passive participles indiscriminately. for a prostitute. is to undo, to change. i. e. fairest opportunity. 3 A Guinea-hen was anciently the cant term however, may mean no more than separation. which contains the reeds, among which there is a very sweet luscious juice, of much the same consistency as fresh honey, There There are many events in the womb of time, Rod. Where shall we meet i' the morning? Rod. I'll be with thee betimes. Jago. Go to; farewell. Do you hear, Roderigo? 5 He has done my office: I know not, if't be true; Will do, as if for surety. He holds me well; Jago. No more of drowning, do you hear? Rod. I am chang'd. I'll go sell all my land. Iago. Go to; farewell; put money enough in [Exit Roderigo. your purse. Thus do I ever make my fool my purse: For I mine own gain'd knowledge should profane, 15 If I should time expend with such a snipe, But for my sport, and profit. I hate the Moor; And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets I have 't; it is engender'd: Hell and night Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light, [Exit, SCENE I. The Capital of Cyprus. A Platform. Enter Montano, and two Gentlemen. at sea? Mont. How! is this true? 3 Gent. The ship is here put in, 30 A Veronese': Michael Cassio, Mont, WHAT from the cape can you discern [land; On the enchafed flood. Mont. If that the Turkish fleet Be not inshelter'd, and embay'd,they are drown'd;} Enter a third Gentleman. 3 Gent. News, lords! our wars are done: The desperate tempest hath so bang'd the Turks, That their designment halts: A noble ship of Venice Hath seen a grievous wreck and sufferance Alluding to the star Arctophylax. 40 Lieutenant to the warlike Moor, Othello, Mont. I am glad on 't; 'tis a worthy governor, Touching the Turkish loss,-yet he looks sadly, Mont. Pray heaven he be; For I have serv'd him, and the man conmands As to throw out our eyes for brave Othello; 50 55 Mont. Is he well shipp'd? Cas. His bark is stoutly timber'd, and his pilot Of very expert and approv'd allowance'; Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death, 60 [Within,] A sail, a sail, a sail! 2 By a Veronese, a ship of Verona is denoted. Expert and approv'd allowance, is put for allow'd and approv'd expertness. The meaning, Mr. Steevens thinks, is, Therefore, my hopes, not being destroy'd by their own excess, but being reasonable and moderate, are likely to be fulfilled. Cas. Cas. What noise? Gent. The town is empty; on the brow o' the sea Cas. I pray you, sir, go forth, And give us truth who 'tis that is arrived. [Exit. Mont. But, good lieutenant, is your general 10 Cas. Most fortunately: he hath atchiev'd a maid Re-enter Gentleman. Jago. Sir, would she give you so much of he lips, As of her tongue she oft bestows on me, Des. Alas, she has no speech. I find it still, when I have list to sleep; Emil. You have little cause to say so. Bells in your parlours, wild cats in your kitchens, 15 Saints in your injuries, devils being offended, Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds. Gent. 'Tis one lago, ancient to the general. Tempeststhemselves,high seas, and howlingwinds, Mont. What is she? [captain, Cas. She that I spake of, our great captain's Des. I thank you, valiant Cassio. Cas. He is not yet arriv'd; nor know I aught Des. O, but I fear;-How lost you company? 25 130 35 40 45 150 [Guns heard. Gent. They give this greeting to the citadel; This likewise is a friend. Cas. See for the news. [An attendant goes out. Good ancient, you are welcome ;- -Welcome, 55 mistress. [To Amilia. Let not it gall your patience, good lago, That I extend my manners; 'tis my breeding That gives me this bold shew of courtesy. Des. O, fie upon thee, slanderer! Iago. Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk; Des. What would'st thou write of me, if thou Iago. O gentle lady, do not put me to 't; Des. Come on, assay:There's one gone to Iago. Ay, madam. Des. I am not merry; but I do beguile Iago. I am about it; but, indeed, my invention And thus she is deliver'd: If she be fair and wise,-fairness, and wit, witty? Iago. If she be black, and thereto have a wit, She'll find a white that shall her blackness fit. Des. Worse and worse. Emil. How, if fair and foolish? Iago. She never yet was foolish that was fair; For even her folly help'd her to an heir. Des. These are old fond paradoxes, to make fools laugh i' the alchouse. What miserable praise hast thou for her that's foul and foolish? Iago. There's none so foul, and foolish thereunto, But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do. Des. O heavy ignorance!-thou praisest the worst best. But what praise could'st thou bestow on a deserving woman indeed? one, that, in the authority of her merit, did justly put on the vouch [Kisses her. 60 of very malice itself1? That is, She excels the praises of invention, and in real (the author seeming to use essential for real) qualities, with which creation has invested her, bears all excellency. 2 That is, censorious. 'Dr. Johnson says, To put on the vouch of malice, is to assume a character vouched by the testimony of malice itself. She that, being anger'd, her revenge being She that in wisdom never was so frail, were, Des. To do what?. [Aside. Oth. Come, let us to the castle.- How do our old acquaintance of this isle?— lago. Tosuckle fools, and chronicle small beer'. Des. O most lame and impotent conclusion !Do not learn of him, Emilía, though he be thy husband.-How say you, Cassio? is he not a most 20 profane and liberal counsellor? 3 Cas. He speaks home, madam; you may relish him more in the soldier, than in the scholar. Ay, Iago. [Aside.] He takes her by the palm: Ay, well said, whisper: with as little a web as this, 25 will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. smile upon her, do; I will gyve' thee in thine own courtship. You say true; 'tis so, indeed : if such tricks as these strip you out of your lieutenantry, it had been better you had not kiss'd your 30 three fingers so oft, which now again you are most apt to play the sir in. Very good; well kiss'd! an excellent courtesy! 'tis so indeed. Yet again your fingers to your lips? 'would, they were clyster-pipes for your sake!- [Trumpet. 35 The Moor, I know his trumpet. Cas. 'Tis truly so. Des. Let's meet him, and receive him. Cas. Lo, where he comes! Enter Othello, and Attendants. Oth. O my fair warrior! Des. My dear Othello! Oth. It gives me wonder great as my content, As hell's from heaven! If it were now to die, Des. The heavens forbid, But that our loves and comforts should increase, Even as our days do grow! Oth. Amen to that, sweet powers !→→→→ I cannot speak enough of this content, It stops me here; it is too much of joy; 1i. e. to exchange a delicacy for coarser fare. gross of language, of expression broad and brutal. [Exeunt Othello, Desdemona, and Attendants. Jugo. 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 native to them,-list me. The lieutenant to-night watches on the court of guard':-First, I must tell thee this, -Desdemona is directly in love with him. Rod. With him! Why, 'tis not possible. Iugo. Lay thy finger-thus, and let thy soul be instructed. Mark me with what violence she first lov'd 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 de40fective in: Now, for want of these required conveniences, her delicate tenderness will find itself abus'd, 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, 45 sir, this granted, (as it is a most pregnant and unforc'd position,) who stands so eminently in the degree of this fortune, as Cassio does; a knave very voluble; no farther conscionable, than in putting on the mere form of civil and humane 50 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 55 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 wo man hath found him already. 2 i. e. to keep the accounts of a household. i. e. * i. e. a licentious talker. 'i. e. catch, shackle. i. e. out of method, without any settled order of discourse. 'i. e. the place where the guard musters. i. e. on thy mouth, to stop it while thou art listening to a wiser mau. • Minds not yet fully formed. Rod. Rod. I cannot believe that in her; she is full of most bless'd condition'. Iago. Bless'd figs' end! the wine she drinks is made of grapes: if she had been bless'd, she would never have lov'd the Moor: Bless'd pudding! Didst thou not see her paddle in the palm of his hand? didst not mark that? 5 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 10 thoughts. They met so near with their lips, that their breaths embrac'd together. Villainous thoughts, Roderigo! When these mutualities so marshal the way, hard at hand comes the master and main exercise, the incorporate conclusion:15 Pish!-But, sir, be you rul'd 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 find some occasion to anger Cassio, either by speaking 20 too loud, or tainting his discipline; or from what other course you please, which the time shall more favourably minister. Rod. Well. you Iago. Sir, he is rash, and very sudden in 25 choler; and, haply, with his truncheon maystrike at you: Provoke him, that he may: for, even out of that, will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny; whose qualification shall come into no true taste again, but by the displanting of Cassio. So shall you 30 have a shorter journey to your desires, by the means I shall then have to prefer them; and the impediment most profitably removed, without the which there were no expectation of our prosperity. 35 Rod. I will do this, if you can bring it to any opportunity. lago. I warrant thee. Meet me by-and-by at the citadel: I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewell. [Exit. Rod. Adieu. 4 140 Or, failing so, yet that I put the Moor That judgement cannot cure. Which thing to do,- A Street. Enter Herald, with a proclamation. 10 Her. It is Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant general, that, upon certain tidings now arriv'd,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 revels 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! [Exit. [love: 45 Let me have speech with you.-Come, my dear The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue ; [To Desdemona. That profit's yet to come 'twixt me and you.Good night. [Exeunt Othello and Desdemona. Enter Iago. 50 Cas. Welcome, Iago: We must to the watch. Jago. Not this hour, lieutenant; 'tis not yet ten o'clock: Our general cast us " thus early, for the 55 love of his Desdemona: whom let us not there. 1i. e. qualities, disposition of mind. 2 Indexes were formerly prefixed to books. i. e. throwing a slur upon his discipline. Sudden, is precipitately violent. i. e. whose resentment shall not be so qualified or tempered, as to be well tasted, as not to retain some bitterness. A trifling, insignifi cant fellow may, in some respects, very well be called trash. 'To trash a hound is a term of hunting still used in the North, and perhaps not uncommon in other parts of England. It is, to correct, to rate. A phrase from the art of wrestling. Rank garb may mean grossly, i. e. without mincing the matter. 10 Mere in this place signifies entire. "That is, appointed us to our stations, according to Dr. Johnson; whereas Mr. Steevens thinks, that cast us only means dismissed us, or got rid of our company. |