DUKE OF VENICE. DRAMATIS PERSONÆ BRABANTIO, a Senator. Other Senators. GRATIANO, Brother to BRABANTIO. LODOVICO, Kinsman to BRABANTIO. OTHELLO, A noble Moor: General in the Venetian Service. IAGO, his Ancient. RODERIGO, a Venetian Gentleman. MONTANO, OTHELLO's predecessor in the Government of Cyprus. Herald. DESDEMONA, Daughter to BRABANTIO, and Wife to OTHELLO. BIANCA, Mistress to CASSIO. Officers, Gentlemen, Messengers, Musicians, Sailors, Attendants, &. SCENE,-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. Rod. 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, Off-capp'd to him :-and, by the faith of man, I know my price, I am worth no worse a place : But he, as loving his own pride and purposes, Evades them, with a bombast circumstance And, in conclusion, Nonsuits my mediators; for, "Certes," says he, One Michael Cassio, a Florentine, A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife; Nor the division of a battle knows More than a spinster; unless the bookish theorick, As masterly as he mere prattle, without practice, He, in good time, must his lieutenant be, And I, (God bless the mark!) his Moorship's ancient. Not by the old gradation, where each second Stood heir to the first. Now, Sir, be judge yourself, To love the Moor. Rod. I would not follow him, then. Iago. O, Sir, content you; I follow him to serve my turn upon him: Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave, For naught but provender; and when he's old, cashier'd: Who, trimm'd in forms and visages of duty, Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves; And, throwing but shows of service on their lords, 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, Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago: In following him, I follow but myself; But seeming so, for my peculiar end: Rod. What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe, Iago. Plague him with flies: though that his joy be joy, Rod. Here is her father's house; I'll call aloud. Is spied in populous cities. Rod. What, ho, Brabantio! signior Brabantio, ho! Iago. Awake! what, ho, Brabantio! thieves! thieves ! thieves! Look to your house, your daughter, and your bags! Thieves! thieves! Enter BRABANTIO, above, at a window. Bra. What is the reason of this terrible summons? What is the matter there? Rod. Signior, is all your family within ? Iago. Are your doors lock'd? Bra. Why, wherefore ask you this? Iago. 'Zounds, Sir, you are robb'd; for shame, put on your gown; Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul; Even now, now, very now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise; Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you: Bra. What, have you lost your wits? Rod. Most reverend signior, do you know my voice? Bra. Not I: what are you? Rod. My name is Roderigo. Bra. The worser welcome: I have charg'd thee not to haunt about my doors: In honest plainness thou hast heard me say, My daughter is not for thee; and now, in madness, Upon malicious bravery, dost thou come To start my quiet. Rod. Sir, Sir, Sir, Bra. But thou must needs be sure, Rod. My spirit and my place have in them power Patience, good Sir. Bra. What tell'st thou me of robbing? this is Venice; Rod. Most grave Brabantio, In simple and pure soul I come to you. Iago. 'Zounds, Sir, you are one of those, that will not serve God, if the devil bid you. Because we come to do you service, and you think we are ruffians, you'll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse; you'll have your nephews neigh to you; you'll have coursers for cousins, and gennets for germans. Bra. What profane wretch art thou? Iago. I am one, Sir, that comes to tell you, your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs. Bra. Thou art a villain. Iago. You are a senator. Bra. This thou shalt answer; I know thee, Roderigo. Bra. If't be your pleasure, and most wise consent, I thus would play and trifle with your reverence: Tying her duty, beauty, wit, and fortunes, In an extravagant and wheeling stranger, Of here and everywhere. Straight satisfy yourself: Strike on the tinder, ho! Give me a taper!-call up all my people !— This accident is not unlike my dream : Belief of it oppresses me already. Light, I say! light! [Exit above |