P.2563

D

UKE of Venice.

Brabantio, a noble Venetian.

Gratiano, Brother to Brabantio.

Lodovico, Kinfman to Brabantio and Gratiano. Othello, the Moor, General for the Venetians in Cyprus.

Caffio, his Lieutenant-General,

Jago, Standard-bearer to Othello.

Rodorigo, a Foolish Gentleman, in Love with Def demona.

Montano, the Moor's Predeceffor in the Govern ment of Cyprus.

Clown, Servant to the Moor.

Herald.

Desdemona, Daughter to Brabantio, and Wife to

Othello.

Emilia, Wife to Jago.

Bianca, a Curtezan, Miftrefs to Caffio.

Officers, Gentlemen, Messengers, Muficians, and Attendants:

SCENE for the First At in Venice; during the rest of the Play in Cyprus.

OTHEL

OTHELLO,

THE

MOOR of VENICE.

ACT I. SCENE I.

SCENE Venice.

Enter Rodorigo and Jago.

RODORIGO.

EVER tell me, I take it very unkindly,
That thou, Jago, who haft had my Purse,
As if the Strings were thine,

Shouldft know of this.

Jag. But you'll not hear me.

[hor me.

If ever I did dream of fuch a Matter, ab

Rod. Thou told'ft me, thou didst hold him in thy hate.

Jago. Defpife me

If I do not. Three great ones of the City,
In perfonal fuit to make me his Lieutenant,
Oft' Cap't to him: And by the faith of Mant
I know my Price, I am worth no worfe a Place.
VOL. V.

Ii 2

But

But he, as loving his own Pride and Purposes,
Evades them, with a bumbaft Circumftance,
Horribly ftufe with Epithets of War;

Non-fuits my Mediators; for certes, fays he,

I have already chofe my Officer. And what was he?
Forsooth, a great Arithmetician,

One Michael Caffio, a Florentine,

A Fellow almoft damn'd in a fair Wife,
That never fet a Squadron in the Field,
Nor the Divifion of a Battel knows

More than a Spinfter, unless the Bookish Theorick,
Wherein the Tongued Confuls can propose

As mafterly as he; meer prattle, without practice,
Is all his Soldiership. But he, Sir, had th' Election;
And I, of whom his Eyes had feen the proof
At Rhodes, at Cypras, and on other Grounds
Chriftian and Heathen, must be be-lee'd, and calm'd
By Debitor, and Creditor. This Counter-caster,
He, in good time, muft his Lieutenant be,

And I, Sir, blefs the mark, his Moor-fhip's Ancient.
Rod. By Heav'n, I rather would have been his Hangman.
Jago. Why there's no remedy, 'tis the curfe of Service;
Preferment goes by Letter, and Affection,

And not by old gradation, where each fecond
Stood Heir to th' firft. Now, Sir, be Judge your felf,
Whether I in any just term am Affin'd

To love the Moor?

Rod. I would not follow him then.
Jago. O, Sir, content you;

I follow him to ferve my turn upon him.
We cannot all be Mafters, nor all Mafters
Cannot be truly follow'd. You shall mark
Many a duteous and knee crooking Knave,
That, doting on his own obfequious Bondage,
Wears out his time, much like his Mafter's Afs,
For nought but Provender, and when he's old, Cafheer'd;
Whip me fuch honeft Knaves. Others there are
Who trimm'd in Forms and Vifages of Duty,
Keep yet their Hearts attending on themselves;
And throwing but fhows of Service on their Lords,

Do