PERSONS REPRESENTED. DUKE OF Venice. BRABANTIO, a Senator. Two other Senators. GRATIANO, Brother to Brabantio. CASSIO, his Lieutenant; IAGO, his Ancient. RODERIGO, a Venetian Gentleman. MONTANO, Othello's Predecessor in the Govern ment of Cyprus. Clown, Servant to Othello. Herald. DESDEMONA, Daughter to Brabantio, and Wife to Othello. EMILIA, Wife to lago. BIANCA, a Courtesan, Mistress to Cassio. Officers, Gentlemen, Messengers, Musicians, Sailors, Attendants, &c. SCENE-for the first Act, in Venice; during the rest of the Play, at a Seaport in Cyprus. Othello, 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, lago,-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 did'st 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, My mediators; for, certes, says he, Forsooth, a great arithmetician, More than a spinster; unless the bookish theorick, Wherein the toged consuls can propose As masterly as he: mere prattle, without prac tice, VOL. VII. X Is all his soldiership. But, he, sir, had the election: And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof, By debitor and creditor, this counter-caster; Rod. By heaven, I rather would have been his hangman. Iago. But there's no remedy, 'tis the curse of service; Preferment goes by letter, and affection, Whether I in any just term am affin'd Rod. I would not follow him then. Iago. O, sir, content you; I follow him to serve my turn upon him: Whip me such honest knaves: Others there are, Do well thrive by them, and, when they have lin'd their coats, Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul: And such a one do I profess myself. For, sir, It is as sure as you are Roderigo, |