Iago. There's none so foul, and foolish thereunto,structed. Mark me, with what violence she first But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do. Des. O heavy ignorance-thou praisest the worst best. But what praise couldst thou bestow on a deserving woman indeed? one, that, in the authority of her merit, did justly put on the vouch of very malice itself? Iago. She that was ever fair, and never proud; To change the cod's head for the salmon's tail; Iago. To suckle fools, and chronicle small beer. Des. O most lame and impotent conclusion!-Do not learn of him, Emilia, though he be thy husband. -How say you, Cassio?-is he not a most profane and liberal counsellor ? Cas. He speaks home, madam i you may relish him more in the soldier, than in the scholar. Iago. [Aside] He takes her by the palm: Ay, well said, whisper with as little a web as this, will I ensnare as great a fly as. Cassio. Ay, 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 kissed your three fingers so oft, which now again you are most apt to play the sir in. Very good; well kissed an excellent courtesy! 'tis so, indeed. Yet again, your fingers to your lips? would they were clyster-pipes, for your sake. [Trumpet] 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, May the winds blow till they have waken'd death! As hell's from heaven! If it were now to die, Des. 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 bandsome, 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. Iago. Blessed tig's end! the wine she drinks is made of grapes: if she had 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. Lago. Lechery, by this hand; an index, and obscure prologue to the history of last and foul thoughts. They met so near with their lips, that their breaths embraced together. Villanons thoughts, Roderigo! when these mutualities so marshal the way, hard at hand comes the master and main exercise, the 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;-'ll not be far from you: Do you find some occasion to anger Cassio, either by speaking too lond, or tainting his discipline; or from what other course you please, which the time shall more favourably minister. Rod, Well, Iago. Sir, he is rash, and very sudden in choler; and, haply, with his truncheon, may strike 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 have a shorter journey to your desires, by the means, I shall then have to prefer them; and the impediment most propowers!-fitably removed, without the which there were no expectation of our prosperity. The heavens forbid, Oth. [Kissing her. That e'er our hearts shall make ! How do our old acquaintance of this isle ?- I have found great love amongst them. O my sweet, I prattle out of fashion, and I dote In mine own comforts.-I pr'ythee, good Iago, Rod. I will do this, if I can bring it to any opportunity. Iago. I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the citadel: I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewell. [Exit. Rod. Adieu. Iago. That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it; That she loves him, 'tis apt, and of great credit: The Moor-howbeit that I endure him notIs of a constant, loving, noble nature And, I dare think, he'll prove to Desdemona A most dear husband. Now I do love her too; Not out of absolute lust (though, peradventure, I stand accountant for as great a sin), But partly led to diet my revenge, For that I do suspect the lusty Moor Hath leap'd into my seat: the thought whereof Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards; And nothing can or shall content my soul, Till I am even with him, wife for wife; Or, failing so, yet that I put the Moor At least into a jealousy so strong That judgment cannot cure. Which thing to do,If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trash For his quick hunting, stand the putting on, I'll have our Michael Cassio on the hip; Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb,For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too; Rod. With him? why, 'tis not possible.. Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me, Lago. Lay thy finger-thus, and let thy soul be in- For making him egregiously an ass, [Exeunt Othello, Desdemona, and Attendants. 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 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. Her. It is Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant SCENE III. A Hall in the Castle. Not to out-sport discretion. Cas. Iago hath direction what to do; Oth. Iago is most honest. Michael, good night: To-morrow, with our earliest, [To Desdemona. Cas. She is, indeed, perfection. Iago. Well, happiness to their sheets! Come, lieutenant, I have a stoop 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. Re-enter Cassio; with him Montano and Gentlemen. Cas. 'Fore heaven, they have given me a rouse already. Mon. Good faith, a little one; not past a pint, as I am a soldier. Iago. Some wine, ho! And let me the canakin clink, clink; A soldier's a man; [Sings. [Wine brought in. Cas. 'Fore heaven, an excellent song. Iago. 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. Lago. O sweet England! King Stephen was a worthy peer, His breeches cost him but a crown; He was a wight of high renown, And thou art but of low degree: Cas. Why, this is a more exquisite song than the other. Iago. Will you hear it again? Cas. 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 offence to the general, or any man of quality.-I hope to be saved. Iago. And so do I too, lieutenant. Cas. Ay, but, by your leave, not before me; the lieutenant is to be saved before the ancient. 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 right hand, and this is my left band: I am not drunk now; I can stand well enough, and speak well enough. All. Excellent well. Cas. Why, very well, then you must not thjuk Iago. You see this fellow, that is gone before ;- Cas. I have drunk but one cup to-night, and that The one as long as the other: 'tis pity of him. was craftily qualified too, and, behold, what innova-I fear, the trust Othello pats him in, tion makes here: I am unfortunate in the infirmi-On some odd time of his infirmity, ty, and dare not task my weakness with any more. Iago. What, man! 'tis a night of revels; the gallants desire it. Cas. Where are they? Iago. Here at the door; I pray you, call them in. Iago. If I can fasten but one cup upon him, As my young mistress' dog. Now, my sick fool, Whom love has turn'd almost the wrong side outward, Will shake this island. Mon. But is he often thus? Iago. How now, Roderigo? LAside. [Exit Rod. I pray yon, after the lieutenant; go. ft were an honest action, to say Iago. Not I, for this fair island: I do love Cassio well; and would do much fo cure him of this evil. But, hark! what noise? 2 [Cry within-Help! Help! I pray you, sir, hold your hand. Cas. Let me go, sir, Or I'll knock you o'er the mazzard. Who's that that rings the bell ?-Diablo, ho! Enter Othello and Attendants. Oth. shame! Oth. Why, how now, ho! from whence ariseth this? Oth. How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot? Mon. Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger; Montano and myself being in speech, But men are men; the best sometimes forget:- Oth. Enter Desdemona, attended. Des. Myself will be your surgeon: Lead him off. Cas. Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part, sir, of myself, and what remains is bestial.-My reputation, Iago, my reputation. Iugo. 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 lion sue to him again, and he's yours. Cas. I will rather sue to be despised, 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 dis[me-course fustian with one's own shadow -O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee-devil! While I spare speech, which something now offends Oth. Lago. Why, but you are now well enough: How came you thus recovered? Cas. It hath pleased the devil, drunkenness, to give place to the devil, wrath one unperfectness 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 !-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 ay worth naming, this crack of your love shall grow stronger than it was before. Cas. You advise me well. Iago. 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 Jago. [Exit. Enter Clown. Clo. Why, masters, have your instruments been at Clo. Are these, I pray you, call'd wind instruments? 1 Mus. Whereby hangs a tale, sir? know. But, masters, here's money for you: and the to't again: bat, as they say, to hear music, the general 1 Mus. We have none sach, 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; 1 hear you. Cas. Pr'ythee, keep up thy quillets. There's a poor piece of gold for thee: if the gentlewoman that one Cassio entreats her a little favour of speech: attends the general's wife be stirring, tell her, there's Wilt thou do this? Iago. And what's he then, that says, I play the vil-shall seem to notify unto her. When this advice is free, I give, and honest, [lain? Clo. She is stirring, sir; if she will stir hither, I [Exit. Probal to thinking, and (indeed) the course To win the Moor again! For, 'tis most easy The inclining Desdemona to subdue In any honest suit; she's fram'd as fruitful As the free elements. And then for her To win the Moor,-were't to renounce his baptism, His soul is so enfetter'd to her love, That she may make, unmake, do what she list, With his weak function. How am I then a villain, Enter Roderigo. Enter Iago. Cas. Do, good my friend.-In happy time, Iago. Iago. [Exit. Cas. I humbly thank you for't. I never knew A Florentine more kind and honest. Enter Emilia. Emil. Good morrow, good lieutenant: I am sorry And needs no other suitor, but his likings, Iago. How poor are they, that have not patience!- Does't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee, Myself, the while, to draw the Moor apart, ACT III. SCENE I. Before the Castle. [Exit. Cas. Masters, play here, I will content your pains. Something that's brief; and bid-good morrow, general. [Music. Emil. am much bound to you. SCENE II. A Room in the Castle. Lage. 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 hus- Des. O that's an honest fellow. Do not doubt, Cas. [Cassio, Bounteous madam, Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio, He shall in strangeness stand no further off Cas. Ay, but lady, Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet, Des. Do not doubt that; before Emilia bere, I give thee warrant of thy place: assure thee, If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it To the last article: my lord shall never rest; I'll watch him tame, and talk him out of patience; With Cassio's suit: Therefore be merry, Cassio; Than give thy cause away. Enter Othello and Iago, at a Distance. Emil. My lord. Des. Emilia, come:-Beit as your fancies teach you; Iago. My noble lord,— Oth. He did, from tirst to last: Why dost thou ask? Oth. Why of thy thought, Iago? Iago. I did not think he had been acquainted with Oth. Indeed! ay, indeed :-Discern'st thou aught Iago. Oth. Iago. My lord, for aught I know. Honest, my lord? [in that? Ay, honest. Madam, here comes Why, stay, Oth. What dost thou think? Think, my lord ? Think, my lord! Cas. Madam, I'll take my leave. And hear me speak. Cas. Madam, not now; I am very ill at ease, Unfit for mine own purposes. Des. Do your discretion. Lago. Well, well, I do believe 'twas he. I have been talking with a suitor here, A man that languishes in your displeasure. By heaven, he echoes me, As if there were some monster in his thought, Iago. My lord, you know I love you. Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more: Des. Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord, For such things, in a false disloyal knave, If I have any grace or power to move you, His present reconciliation take; For, if he be not one that truly loves you, That errs in ignorance, and not in cunning, Went he hence now? The sooner, sweet, for you. Oth. No, not to-night. Des. To-morrow dinner then? To incur a private check; When shall he come ? Or stand so mammering on. What! Michael Cassio, To your own person: Nay, when I have a suit, Oth. Des. Shall I deny you? no: Farewell, my lord, I pray thee, speak to me as to thy thinkings, Utter my thoughts? Why, say, they are vile and As where's that palace, whereinto foul things Keep leets, and law-days, and in session sit, Oth. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, lago, |