PERSONS REPRESENTED. Duke of Venice. Brabantio, a senator. Two other senators. Gratiano, brother to Brabantio. Lodovico, kinsman to Brabantio. Othello, the Moor: Cassio, his lieutenant; Iago, his ancient. Roderigo, a Venetian gentleman. Montano, Othello's predecessor in the government of Cyprus. Clown, servant to Othello. Herald. Desdemona, daughter to Brabantio, and wife to Othello. Emilia, wife to lago. Bianca, a courtezan, mistress to Cassio. Officers, gentlemen, messengers, musicians, sailors, SCENE, For the first act, in Venice; during the rest of the play, at a sea-port in Cyprus. THE MOOR OF VENICE. ACT I.....SCENE I. Venice. A Street. Enter RODERIGO and IAGO. Rod. Tush, never tell me, I take it much unkindly, That thou, Iago,who hast had my purse, As if the strings were thine,-should'st know of this. Iago. 'Sblood, but you will not hear me: If ever I did dream of such a matter, Abhor me. Rod. Thou told'st me, thou didst hold him in thy hate. Iago. Despise me, if I do not. Three great ones of the city, In personal suit to make me his lieutenant, Oft capp'd to him;--and, by the faith of man, My mediators; for, certes, says he, Forsooth, a great arithmetician, More thn a spainster; unless the bookish theorick, As masterly as he: mere prattle, without practice, Christian and heathen,-must be be-lee'd and calm'd And I, (God bless the mark!) his Moor-ship's ancient. man. Iago. But there's no remedy, 'tis the curse of service; Preferment goes by letter, and affection, Not by the old gradation, where each second To love the Moor. Rod. I would not follow him then. Iago. O, sir, content you; I follow him to serve my turn upon him: Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul; For, sir, It is as sure as you are Roderigo, Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago: |