Iago. That Cassio loves her, I do well be- That she loves him, 'tis apt, and of great credit: Rod. With him? why, 'tis not possible. But partly led to diet my revenge, And nothing can or shall content my soul, Rod. I cannot believe that in her; she is full of most blessed condition. ¶ For making him egregiously an ass, SCENE II.-A Street. Enter a HERALD, with a Proclamation; Her. It is Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant general, that, upon certain tidings now arrived, importing the mere || perdition of the Turkish fleet, every man put himself into triumph; some to dance, some to make bon Iago. Blessed fig's end! the wine she drinks is made of grapes: if she bad been blessed, she would never have loved the Moor: Blessed pud-res, each man to what sport and revel his adding! 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. Iago. 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. Villainous thoughts, Roderigo, when these mutualities so marshal the way, hard at hand comes the master and main exercise, and 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 minister. Rod. Well. Iago. Sir, he is rash, and very sudden in • Much solicited by invitation. Without method. t Listen to me. The place where the guard Inbsters. Minds unripe. Qualities. Throwing a slur upon his discipline. diction leads him; for, besides these beneficial news, it is the celebration of his nuptials: So 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, and our noble general, Othello! [Exeunt. SCENE III.—A Hall in the Castle. Enter OTHELLO, DESDEMONA, Cassio, and Attendants. Oth. Good Michael, look you to the guard Let's teach ourselves that honourable stop, Cas. lago hath direction what to do; Oth. Iago is most honest, • Perhaps. To advance them. To trash was to put a stone on a hound's neck to hinder him outstripping his companions. In the grossest manner. Entire. Rooms in the ce tle. 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 ; [Exeunt OтH. DES. and Attend. Cas. Welcome, lago: 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 wantou the night with her; and she is sport for Jove. Cas. She's a most exquisite lady. lago. 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.. lago. And, when she speaks, is it not an alarm to love? Cas. She is, indeed, perfection. lago. 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. 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 was craftily qualified too, and behold what innovation it makes here: I am unfortunate in the infirmity, and dare not task my weakness with any more. Jago. What, man! 'tis a night of revels; the gallants desire it. Cas. Where are they? A soldier's a man; A life's but a span; Why then, let a soldier drink. Some wine, boys! [Wine brought in. Cas. 'Fore heaven, an excellent song. Iago. I learned it in England, where, indeed, they are most potent in potting: your Daue, 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, His breeches cost him but a crown; He held them sixpence all too dear, With that he call'd the tailor-lown. He was a wight of high renown, And thou art but of low degree: 'Tis pride that pulls the country down, Then tak' thine auld cloak about thee. + Some wine, ho! Cas. Why, this is a more exquisite song than the other. Jago. Will you hear it again? Cas. No; for I hold him to be unworthy of his above all: and there be souls that must be saved place, that does those things.-Well,-Heaven's 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; Iago. Here at the door; I pray you, call the lieutenant is to be saved before the anthem in. Cas. I'll do't; but it dislikes me. [Exit CASSIO. Ingo. If I can fasten but one cup upon him, With that which he hath drunk to-night already, He'll be as full of quarrel and offence As my young mistress' dog. Now, my sick fool, Roderigo, Whom love has turn'd almost the wrong side outward, To Desdemona bath to-night carous'd cient. 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, right hand, and this is my left hand :-I am not I am drunk this is my ancient;-this is my drunk now; I can stand well enough, and speak well enough. All. Excellent well. then that I am drunk. Cas. Why, very well, then you must not think [Exit. Mon. To the platform, masters; come, let's set the watch. Iago. You see this fellow, that is gone before: He is a soldier, fit to stand by Cesar, And they watch too. Now, 'mongst this flock of The one as long as the other: 'tis pity of him. drunkards, I fear, the trust Othello puts him in, Will shake this island. On some odd time of his infirmity Mon. But is he often thus? Jago. 'Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep: He'll watch the horologe a double set, If drink rock not his cradle. Mon. It were well, The general were put in mind of it. Drink as much as you do. For the whole of this song, see Fercy's Relics of Auy scheme existing only in the imagination may Ancient Poetry. be called a dream. More than enough. 4 While the clock strikes two rounds, i. e. four-and twenty hours. So to the Moor. Iago. Not I, for this fair island: I do love Cassio well; and would do much Re-enter CASSIO, driving in RODERIGO. Mon. What's the matter, lieutenant? Cas. Dost thou prate, rogue? [Striking RODERIGO. Or I'll knock you o'er the mazzard. deed! You will be sham'd for ever. ་ Enter OTHELLO, and Attendants. Oth. What is the matter here? Mon. I bleed still, I am hurt to the he dies. Oth. Hold, for your lives. In mouths of wisest censure: What's the matter While I spare speech, which something now Of all that I do know: nor know I aught Oth. Now, by heaven, My blood begins my safer guides to rule; Shall lose me.-What! in a town of war, Mon. If partially affin'd, ‡ or leagued in office, Jago. Touch me not so near: I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth, Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio; And Cassio following him with determin'd To execute upon him: Sir, this gentleman lago. Hold, hold, lieutenant, Sir, Montano,-The town might fall in fright: he, swift of foot, gentlemen, Have you forgot all sense of place and duty? for shame! Oth. Why, how now, ho! from whence ariseth Are we turn'd Turks; and to ourselves do that, brawl: He that stirs next to carve for his own rage, ers ? Honest Iago, that look'st dead with grieving, thee. Iugo. I do not know;-friends all but now, even now. In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom Cas. I pray you, pardon me, I cannot speak. Outran my purpose; and I return'd the rather More of this matter can I not report :- Yet surely Cassio, I believe, receiv'd, Cas. Ay, past all surgery. 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, 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 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 despis'd, 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 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! Jago. What was he that you followed with your sword? What had he done to you? Cas. I know not. Iago. Is it possible? When this advice is free I give, and honest, derigo. Cas. I remember a mass of things, but nothingThat shall enmesh them all.-How now, Rodistinctly; a quarrel, but nothing wherefore.O 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! 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 unperfect ness 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 1-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. Aud, 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;-1 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; importane 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 lay t worth naming, this crack of your love shall grow stronger than 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. Jago. You are in the right. Good night, lieutenant; I must to the watch. • Dismissed in anger. + Talk foolishly. Enter RODERIGO. Rod. I do follow here in the chase, 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. Iugo. How poor are they, that have not patience! What wound did ever heal, but by degrees? Thou know'st we work by wit, and not by witchcraft; And wit depends on dilatory time. Though other things grow fair against the sun, Pleasure and action make the hours seem short. My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress; Myself, the while, to draw the Moor apart, ACT III. [Exit. SCENE I.-Before the Castle Cas. Masters, play here, I will content your pains, Something that's brief; and bid-good-morrow, general. [Music. Enter CLOWN. Clo. Why, masters, have your instruments been at Naples, that they speak i'the nose thus ? 1 Mus. How, Sir, how! Bet. Clo. Are these, I pray you, called wind instruments? 1 Mus. Ay, marry, are they, Sir. 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? Clo. No, I hear not your honest friend. hear you. There's Cas. Pr'ythee, keep up thy quillets. 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. SCENE III.-Before the Castle. As if the case were his. honest fellow.-Do not But I will have my lord and you again Cas. Bounteous madam, You have known him long; and be you well He shall in strangeness stand no further off Cas. Ay, but, lady, That policy may either last so long, Des. Do not doubt that; before Emilia here, Cas. Do, good my friend.-In happy time, To the last article: my lord shall never rest; Iago. Ingo. You have not been a-bed then? Iago. I'll send her to you presently; Out of the way, that your converse and busi ness For your displeasure! + but all will soon be well. That he you hurt is of great fame in Cyprus, He might not but refuse you: but, he protests he loves you; And needs no other suitor, but his likings, To bring you in again. Cas. Yet, I beseech you, If you think fit, or that it may be done, Emil. Pray you, come in; I will bestow you where you shall have time [Exeunt. I'll watch him tame, aud talk him out of pa tience; His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift; With Cassio's suit: Therefore be merry, Cassio; Than give thy cause away. Enter OTHELLO, and IAGO, at a distance. My lord. Cas. Madam, I'll take my leave. Des. Why, stay, And bear me speak. Cas. Madam, not now; I am very ill at ease, Unfit for mine own purposes. Des. Well, well, Do your discretion. Iago. Ha! I like not that. [Exit CASSIO. Iago. Nothing, my lord: or if I know not what. Oth. Was not that Cassio, parted from my That he would steal away so guilty-like, Oth. I do believe 'twas be. Des. How now, my lord? I have been talking with a suitor here, A man that languishes in your cispleasure. Des. Why, your lieutenant Cassio. Good my If I have any grace, or power to move you, For, if he be not one that truly loves you, I pr'ythee, call him back. Oth. Went he hence now? Des. Ay, sooth; so humbled, That he hath left part of his grief with me; I suffer with him. Good love, call him back. Oth. Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other time. Des. But shall't be shortly? Oth. The sooner, sweet, for you, Hawks are tamed by keeping them from sleep |