PERSONS REPRESENTED. Duke of Venice. Brabantio, a senator. Two other Senators. Gratiano, brother to Brabantio. Othello, the Moor: Cassio, his lieutenant ; Iago, his ancient. Roderico, 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 Iago. Bianca, a courtezan, 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 sea-port in Cyprus. OTHELLO, THE MOOR OF VENICE. ACT I. SCENE I. Venice. A Street. Enter RODERIGO and IAGO. Roderigo. TUSH, never tell me, I take it much unkindly, 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,3 says he, 1 Saluted. 2 Circumlocution. 3 Certainly, I have already chose my officer. Forsooth, a great arithmetician, One Michael Cassio, a Florentine, A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife ;4 Nor the division of a battle knows More than a spinster; unless the bookish theorick,' Wherein the toged consuls can propose As masterly as he Is all his soldiership. mere prattle, without practice, But, he, sir, had the election: And I,-of whom his eyes had seen the proof, And I, (God bless the mark!) his Moorship's ancient. hangman. 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. 4 For wife some read life, supposing it to allude to the denunciation in the Gospel, wo unto you when all men shall speak well of you. 5 Theory. Rulers of the state. 7 It was anciently the practice to reckon up sums with Related. counters. Iago. O, sir, content you ; I follow him to serve my turn upon him: Whip me such honest knaves: Others there are, 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: In following him, I follow but myself; Rod. What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe,' If he can carry't thus! |