Iago. Do thou meet me presently at the harbour. Come[5461] 210
hither. If thou be'st valiant—as, they say, base men being[5462][5463]
in love have then a nobility in their natures more than is[5463]
native to them—list me. The lieutenant to-night watches[5463][5464]
on the court of guard. First, I must tell thee this: Desdemona[5465]
is directly in love with him. 215
Rod. With him! why, 'tis not possible.
Iago. Lay thy finger thus, and let thy soul be instructed.[5466]
Mark me with what violence she first loved the Moor, but[5467]
for bragging and telling her fantastical lies: and will she[5468]
love him still for prating? let not thy discreet heart think[5468][5469] 220
it. Her eye must be fed; and what delight shall she have[5470]
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[5471]
satiety a fresh appetite, loveliness in favour, sympathy in[5472]
years, manners and beauties; all which the Moor is defective 225
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[5473]
instruct her in it and compel her to some second choice.[5474]
Now, sir, this granted—as it is a most pregnant and unforced[5475] 230
position—who stands so eminently in the degree of this fortune[5476]
as Cassio does? a knave very voluble; no further conscionable[5477]
than in putting on the mere form of civil and humane[5478]
seeming, for the better compassing of his salt and most[5478][5479][5480]
hidden loose affection? why, none; why, none: a slipper and[5479][5481][5482] 235
subtle knave; a finder out of occasions; that has an eye can[5482][5483]
stamp and counterfeit advantages, though true advantage[5484]
never present itself: a devilish knave! Besides, the knave[5484][5485]
is handsome, young, and hath all those requisites in him
that folly and green minds look after: a pestilent complete[5486] 240
knave; and the woman hath found him already.[5487]
Iago. Blest fig's-end! the wine she drinks is made of[5489][5491]
grapes: if she had been blest, she would never have loved[5489] 245
the Moor: blest pudding! Didst thou not see her paddle[5489][5492]
with the palm of his hand? didst not mark that?[5493]
Rod. Yes, that I did; but that was but courtesy.[5494]
Iago. Lechery, by this hand; an index and obscure prologue[5495]
to the history of lust and foul thoughts. They met so 250
near with their lips that their breaths embraced together.
Villanous thoughts, Roderigo! when these mutualities so[5496]
marshal the way, hard at hand comes the master and main[5497]
exercise, the incorporate conclusion: pish! But, sir, be you[5498]
ruled by me: I have brought you from Venice. Watch 255
you to-night; for the command, I'll lay't upon you: Cassio[5499]
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[5500]
please, which the time shall more favourably minister. 260
Rod. Well.
Iago. Sir, he is rash and very sudden in choler, and[5501]
haply may strike at you: provoke him, that he may; for[5502]
even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny;[5503]
whose qualification shall come into no true taste again but[5504] 265
by the displanting of Cassio. So shall you have a shorter[5505]
journey to your desires by the means I shall then have to
prefer them, and the impediment most profitably removed,[5506]
without the which there were no expectation of our prosperity.[5507] 270
Rod. I will do this, if I can bring it to any opportunity.[5508]
Iago. I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the
citadel: I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewell.
Iago. That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it;[5510] 275
That she loves him, 'tis apt and of great credit:
The Moor, howbeit that I endure him not,
Is of a constant, loving, noble nature;[5511]
And I dare think he'll prove to Desdemona
A most dear husband. Now, I do love her too,[5512] 280
Not out of absolute lust, though peradventure
I stand accountant for as great a sin,
But partly led to diet my revenge,[5513]
For that I do suspect the lusty Moor[5514]
Hath leap'd into my seat: the thought whereof[5515] 285
Doth like a poisonous mineral gnaw my inwards;
And nothing can or shall content my soul[5516]
Till I am even'd with him, wife for wife;[5517]
Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor
At least into a jealousy so strong[5518] 290
That judgement cannot cure. Which thing to do,
If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trash[5519]
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;[5520] 295
For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too;[5521]
Make the Moor thank me, love me and reward me,
For making him egregiously an ass
And practising upon his peace and quiet
Even to madness. 'Tis here, but yet confused: 300
Knavery's plain face is never seen till used. [Exit.
Scene II. A street.
Enter a Herald with a proclamation; People following.[5522]
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[5523]
himself into triumph; some to dance, some to make bonfires,[5524]
each man to what sport and revels his addiction leads[5525] 5
him: for, besides these beneficial news, it is the celebration[5526]
of his nuptial. So much was his pleasure should be proclaimed.[5527]
All offices are open, and there is full liberty of[5528]
feasting from this present hour of five till the bell have[5528][5529]
told eleven. Heaven bless the isle of Cyprus and our[5530] 10
noble general Othello! [Exeunt.[5531]
Scene III. A hall in the castle.
Enter Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, and Attendants.[5532]
Oth. Good Michael, look you to the guard to-night:
Let's teach ourselves that honourable stop,[5533]
Not to outsport discretion.
Cas. Iago hath direction what to do;[5534]
But notwithstanding with my personal eye 5
Will I look to't.[5535]
Oth. Iago is most honest.
Michael, good night: to-morrow with your earliest[5536]
Let me have speech with you. Come, my dear love,[5537]
The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue;
That profit's yet to come 'tween me and you.[5538] 10
Good night. [Exeunt Othello, Desdemona, and Attendants.[5539]
Enter Iago.
Cas. Welcome, Iago; we must to the watch.
Iago. Not this hour, lieutenant; 'tis not yet ten o' the[5540]
clock. Our general cast us thus early for the love of his[5540]
Desdemona; who let us not therefore blame: he hath not yet[5541] 15
made wanton the night with her, and she is sport for Jove.
Cas. She's a most exquisite lady.[5542]
Iago. And, I'll warrant her, full of game.
Cas. Indeed she's a most fresh and delicate creature.[5543]
Cas. An inviting eye; and yet methinks right modest.[5547]
Iago. And when she speaks, is it not an alarum to love?[5547][5548]
Cas. She is indeed perfection.
Iago. Well, happiness to their sheets! Come, lieutenant, 25
I have a stoup of wine; and here without are a brace of[5549]
Cyprus gallants that would fain have a measure to the[5550]
health of black Othello.[5551]
Cas. Not to-night, good Iago: I have very poor and
unhappy brains for drinking: I could well wish courtesy 30
would invent some other custom of entertainment.
Iago. 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[5552]
craftily qualified too, and behold what innovation it makes[5553] 35
here: I am unfortunate in the infirmity and dare not task[5554]
my weakness with any more.
Iago. What, man! 'tis a night of revels: the gallants
desire it.
Cas. Where are they? 40
Iago. Here at the door; I pray you, call them in.
Cas. I'll do't; but it dislikes me. [Exit.
Iago. 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 45
As my young mistress' dog. Now my sick fool Roderigo,[5555]
Whom love hath turn'd almost the wrong side out,[5556]
To Desdemona hath to-night caroused
Potations pottle-deep; and he's to watch:
Three lads of Cyprus, noble swelling spirits,[5557] 50
That hold their honours in a wary distance,[5558]
The very elements of this warlike isle,
Have I to-night fluster'd with flowing cups,
And they watch too. Now, 'mongst this flock of drunkards,[5559]
Am I to put our Cassio in some action[5560] 55
That may offend the isle. But here they come:[5561]
If consequence do but approve my dream,[5562]
My boat sails freely, both with wind and stream.
Re-enter Cassio; with him Montano and Gentlemen; Servants
following with wine.[5563]
Cas. 'Fore God, they have given me a rouse already.[5564]
Mon. Good faith, a little one; not past a pint, as I am[5565] 60
a soldier.[5565]
Cas. 'Fore God, an excellent song.[5573]
Iago. I learned it in England, where indeed they are 70
most potent in potting: your Dane, your German, and
your swag-bellied Hollander,—Drink, ho!—are nothing to
your English.[5574]
Cas. Is your Englishman so expert in his drinking?[5575]
Iago. Why, he drinks you with facility your Dane dead 75
drunk; he sweats not to overthrow your Almain; he gives[5576]
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.[5577]
Iago. O sweet England! 80
[Sings] King Stephen was a worthy peer,[5578]
His breeches cost him but a crown;[5567]
He held them sixpence all too dear,[5567][5579]
With that he call'd the tailor lown.[5567]
He was a wight of high renown,[5567] 85
And thou art but of low degree:[5567]
'Tis pride that pulls the country down;[5567]
Then take thine auld cloak about thee.[5567][5580]
Some wine, ho!
Cas. Why, this is a more exquisite song than the other.[5581] 90
Iago. Will you hear't again?
Cas. No; for I hold him to be unworthy of his place[5582]
that does those things. Well: God's above all; and[5583]
there be souls must be saved, and there be souls must[5584][5585]
not be saved.[5585] 95
Iago. It's true, good lieutenant.[5586]
Cas. For mine own part—no offence to the general, nor
any man of quality—I hope to be saved.
Iago. And so do I too, lieutenant.[5587]
Cas. Ay, but, by your leave, not before me; the lieutenant 100
is to be saved before the ancient. Let's have no[5588]
more of this; let's to our affairs. God forgive us our sins![5589]
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. I am not drunk now; I can[5590] 105
stand well enough, and speak well enough.[5591]
Cas. Why, very well then; you must not think then[5593]
that I am drunk. [Exit.[5594]
Mon. To the platform, masters; come, let's set the watch.[5595] 110
Iago. You see this fellow that is gone before;
He is a soldier fit to stand by Cæsar[5596]
And give direction: and do but see his vice;
'Tis to his virtue a just equinox,[5597]
The one as long as the other: 'tis pity of him. 115
I fear the trust Othello puts him in[5598]
On some odd time of his infirmity
Will shake this island.[5599]
Mon. But is he often thus?
Iago. 'Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep:[5600]
He'll watch the horologe a double set,[5601] 120
If drink rock not his cradle.
Mon. It were well[5602]
The general were put in mind of it.[5603]
Perhaps he sees it not, or his good nature
Prizes the virtue that appears in Cassio[5604]
And looks not on his evils: is not this true? 125
Enter Roderigo.[5605]