Des. Let's meet him, and receive him. Enter Othello, and Attendants. Oth. O my fair warrior! Des. Oth. That e'er our hearts shall make! [Kissing her. O, you are well tun'd now! But I'll set down the pegs that make this music, As honest as I am. [Aside. Come, let's to the castle.News, friends; our wars are done, the Turks are drown'd. Oth. How do our old acquaintance of this isle? 2 In mine own comforts.-I pr'ythee, good Iago, 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 compass ing of his salt and more 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 handsome, young; and bath 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.' lago. Blessed fig'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. Jago. Lechery, by this hand; an index, and obscure prologue to the history of lust and foul thoughts. They met so near with their lips, that their breaths embraced together. Villanous 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:-I'll not be far from you: Do you find some occasion to anger Cassio, either by speaking too loud, or tainting his discipline; or from what other course you please, which the time shall more favourably min ister. 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 [Exeunt Othello, Desdemona, and Attendants. shall then have to prefer them; and the impediIago. Do thou meet me presently at the harbour.ment most profitably removed, without the which Come hither. If thou be'st valiant,-as (they say) there were no expectation of our prosperity. base men, being in love, have then a nobility in Rod. I will do this, if I can bring it to any optheir natures more than is native to them,-list me.3 portunity. The lieutenant to-night watches on the court of guard:-First, I must tell thee this-Desdemona is directly in love with him. Jago. I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the citadel: I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewell. Rod. Adieu. [Exit. Rod. With him? why, 'tis not possible. Jago. That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it; (1) Much solicited by invitation. For that I do suspect the lusty Moor (5) Qualities, disposition of mind. 458 At least into a jealousy so strong Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb,3— For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too; Cas. Not to-night, good Iago; I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking: I could well wish courtesy would invent some other custom of entertainment. lago. O, they are our friends; but one cup; I'll drink for you. Cas. I have drunk but one cup to-night, and that Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me, was craftily qualified" too, and, behold, what inno For making him egregiously an ass, And practising upon his peace and quiet Even to madness. 'Tis here, but yet confus'd; SCENE II-A street. Enter a Herald, proclamation; people following. [Exit. with a vation it makes here: I am unfortunate in the infirmity, 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 m. Cas. I'll do't; but it dislikes me. [Exit Cassiu. Her. It is Othello's pleasure, our noble and vallago. If I can fasten but one cup upon him, jant general, that, upon certain tidings now arrived, importing the mere perdition of the Turkish fleet, With that which he hath drunk to-night already, every man put himself into triumph; some to dance, He'll be as full of quarrel and offence some to make bonfires, each man to what sport and As my young mistress' dog. Now, my sick fool, revel his addiction leads him; for, besides these Roderigo, beneficial news, it is the celebration of his nuptials: Whom love has turn'd almost the wrong side outSo 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, [Exeunt. and our noble general, Othello. Enter SCENE III.-A hall in the castle. Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, and Attendants. Oth. Good Michael, look you to the guard tonight: Let's teach ourselves that honourable stop, Cas. Iago hath direction what to do; But, notwithstanding, with my personal eye Oth. Iago is most honest. Michael, good night: To-morrow, with our earliest, Let me have speech with you.-Come, my dear love, The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue; [To Desdemona. That profit's yet to come 'twixt me and you.Good night. [Exeunt Oth. Des. and Attend. Enter Iago. Cas. Welcome, Iago: We must to the watch. Iago. Not this hour, lieutenant; 'tis not yet ten o'clock: Our general cast us thus early, for the love of his Desdemona; whom let us not therefore blame; he hath not yet made wanton the night with her and she is sport for Jove. Cas. She's a most exquisite lady. Jago. And, I'll warrant her, full of game. Cas. Indeed, she is a most fresh and delicate creature. lago. What an eye she has! methinks it sounds a parley of provocation. Cas. An inviting eye; and yet methinks right modest. Iago. And, when she speaks, is it not an alarm to love? Cas. She is, indeed, perfection. Iago. Well, happiness to their sheets! Come, lieutenant, I have a stoup of wine; and here without are a brace of Cyprus gallants, that would fain have a measure to the health of the black Othello. To Desdemona hath to-night carous'd Am I to put our Cassio in some action My boat sails freely, both with wind and stream. men. 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. lago. Some wine, ho! And let me the canakin clink, clink; A soldier's a man ; Some wine, boys! [Sings [Wine brought inCas. '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." Iago. O sweet England! King Stephen was a worthy peer,10 With that he call'd the tailor-lown." (6) Dismissed. (7) Slily mixed with water. (8) A little more than enough. (9) Drink as much as you do. (10) A worthy fellow." (11) Clown. other. lago. 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. lago. 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 hand:-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 think then that I am drunk. [Exit. Mon. To the platform, masters; come, let's set the watch. lago. You see this fellow, that is gone before The one as long as the other: 'tis pity of him. pray you, sir, hold your hand. Cas. Or I'll knock you o'er the mazzard. Mon. Let me go, sir, Come, come, you're drunk. Cas. Drunk! [They fight. Iago. Away, I say! go out, and cry-a mutiny! [Aside to Rod. who goes out. Nay, good lieutenant,-alas, gentlemen,- Enter Othello, and Attendants. Oth. dies, Oth. Why, how now, ho! from whence ariseth this? Are we turn'd Turks; and to ourselves do that, Which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites? :-For Christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl: He that stirs next to carve for his own rage, Holds his soul light; he dies upon his motionSilence that dreadful bell, it frights the isle From her propriety.-What is the matter, mas ters ? [Aside. [Exit Rod. Mon. And 'tis great pity, that the noble Moor Should hazard such a place, as his own second, With one of an ingraft infirmity: It were an honest action, to say So to the Moor. Iago. I do love Cassio well; and would do much To cure him of this evil. But hark! what noise? [Cry within.-Help! help! Re-enter Cassio, driving in Roderigo. Cas. You rogue! you rascal! Mon. What's the matter, lieutenant? Cas. A knave!-teach me my duty! I'll beat the knave into a twiggen' bottle. Rod. Beat me! Not I, for this fair island: Cas. Mon. Dost thou prate, rogue? (1) While the clock strikes two rounds, or fourand-twenty hours. (2) Rooted, settled. VOL. II. Honest lago, that look'st dead with grieving, Speak, who began this? on thy love, I charge thee. lago. I do not know ;-friends all but now, even now, In quarter, and in terins like bride and groom That you unlace your reputatiou thus, Mon. Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger; Shall sink in my rebuke. Give me to know Mon. If partially affin'd, or leagu'd in office, lago. Touch me not so near: I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth, More of this matter can I not report :- Oth. Enter Desdemona, attended. Look, if my gentle love be not rais'd up ;- What's the matter, dear? Oth. All's well now, sweeting; Come away to bed. Sir, for your hurts, 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 ?4 and squabble? swagger? swear? and discourse fustian with one's own shadow ?—0 thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee-devil! Iago. What was he that you followed with your sword? What had he done to you? Cas. I know not. lago. Is it possible? Cas. I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly; a quarrel, but nothing wherefore.-0, that men should put an enemy in their mouths, to steal away their brains! that we should, with joy, revel, pleasure, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts! Iago. 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. Iago. 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! lago. 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, [To Montano, who is led off. so apt, so blessed a disposition, that she holds it a fago, look with care about the town; vice in her goodness, not to do more than she is And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted.-requested: This broken joint, between you and Come, Desdemona; 'tis the soldier's life, To have their balmy slumbers wak'd with strife. [Exeunt all but lago and Myself will be your surgeon: Lead him off. Iago. What, are you hurt, lieutenant? Cas. Ay, past all surgery. Iago. Marry, heaven forbid! her husband, entreat her to splinter; and, my fortunes against any lays worth naming, this crack of Cassio.vour 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. Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I Cas. I think it freely; and, betimes in the mornhave lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal ing, I will beseech the virtuous Desdemona to unpart, sir, of myself, and what remains is bestial.-dertake for me: I am desperate of my fortunes, if My reputation, lago, my reputation. Iago. 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 10 reputation at all, unless you repute yourself such a (1) Convicted by proof. (2) Related by nearness of office. they check me here. Good night, lieu lage. You are in the right. tenant; I must to the watch. Cas. Good night, honest Iago. [Exit Cassio. Jago. And what's he then, that says,-I play the villain? When this advice is free, I give, and honest, Probal to thinking, and (indeed) the course In any honest suit; she's fram'd as fruitful' To win the Moor,-were't to renounce his baptism, That she may make, unmake, do what she list, With his weak function. How am I then a villain, Rod. I do follow here in the chace, not like a hound that hunts, but one that fills up the cry. My money is almost spent; I have been to-night exceedingly well cudgelled; and, I think, the issue will be I shall have so much experience for my pains: and so, with no money at all, and a little more wit, return to Venice. Iago. How poor are they, that have not pa tience! What wound did ever heal, but by degrees? And wit depends on dilatory time. My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress; Myself, the while, to draw the Moor apart, ACT III. [Exit. 1 Mus. Ay, marry, are they, sir. Clo. O, thereby hangs a tail. 1 Mus. Whereby hangs a tale, sir? Clo. Marry, sir, by many a wind instrument that I know. But, masters, here's money for you: and the general so likes your music, that he desires you, of all loves, to make no more noise with it. 1 Mus. Well, sir, we will not. Clo. If you have any music that may not be heard, to't again: but, as they say, to hear music, the general does not greatly care. 1 Mus. We have none such, 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? you. Cas. Pr'ythee, keep up thy quillets. There's a poor piece of gold for thee: if the gentlewoman that attends the general's wife, be stirring, tell her, there's one Cassio entreats her a little favour of speech: Wilt thou do this? Clo. She is stirring, sir; if she will stir hither, I shall seem to notify unto her. [Exit. Enter Iago. Cas. Do, good my friend.-In happy time, Iago. Iago. You have not been a-bed then? Cas. Why, no; the day had broke Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago, To send in to your wife: My suit to her Is, that she will to virtuous Desdemona Procure me some access. Iago. I'll send her to you presently; And I'll devise a mean to draw the Moor Out of the way, that your converse and business May be more free. [Exit. Cas. I humbly thank you for't. I never knew A Florentine more kind and honest. If you think fit, or that it may be done, Give me advantage of some brief discourse With Desdemona alone. Emil. Pray you, come in; I will bestow you where you shall have time To speak your bosom freely. Cas. I am much bound to you. [Exeunt. SCENE II-A room in the castle. Enter Othello, Iago, and Gentlemen. Oth. These letters give, Iago, to the pilot; (6) Nice distinctions. (7) The displeasure you have incurred from Othello. |