Othello
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 shall
then have to prefer them, and the impediment most profitably removed,
without the which there were no expectation of our prosperity.
RODERIGO.
I will do this, if I can bring it to any opportunity.
IAGO.
I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the citadel: I must fetch his
necessaries ashore. Farewell.
RODERIGO.
Adieu.
[_Exit._]
IAGO.
That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it;
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;
And, I dare think, he’ll prove to Desdemona
A most dear husband. Now, I do love her too,
Not out of absolute lust (though peradventure
I stand accountant for as great a sin)
But partly led to diet my revenge,
For that I do suspect the lusty Moor
Hath leap’d into my seat. The thought whereof
Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards,
And nothing can or shall content my soul
Till I am even’d with him, wife for wife,
Or, failing so, yet that I put the Moor
At least into a jealousy so strong
That judgement cannot cure. Which thing to do,
If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trash
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
(For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too)
Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me
For making him egregiously an ass
And practicing upon his peace and quiet
Even to madness. ’Tis here, but yet confus’d.
Knavery’s plain face is never seen till us’d.
[_Exit._]
SCENE II. A street.
Enter Othello’s Herald with a proclamation.
HERALD.
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 bonfires, each man to what sport and revels his addition leads
him. For besides these beneficial news, it is the celebration of his
nuptial. 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 have told eleven. Heaven bless the isle of Cyprus
and our noble general Othello!
[_Exit._]
SCENE III. A Hall in the Castle.
Enter Othello, Desdemona, Cassio and Attendants.
OTHELLO.
Good Michael, look you to the guard tonight.
Let’s teach ourselves that honourable stop,
Not to outsport discretion.
CASSIO.
Iago hath direction what to do.
But notwithstanding with my personal eye
Will I look to’t.
OTHELLO.
Iago is most honest.
Michael, good night. Tomorrow with your earliest
Let me have speech with you. [_To Desdemona._] Come, my dear love,
The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue;
That profit’s yet to come ’tween me and you.—
Good night.
[_Exeunt Othello, Desdemona and Attendants._]
Enter Iago.
CASSIO.
Welcome, Iago. We must to the watch.
IAGO.
Not this hour, lieutenant. ’Tis not yet ten o’ th’ clock. Our general
cast us thus early for the love of his Desdemona; who let us not
therefore blame: he hath not yet made wanton the night with her; and
she is sport for Jove.
CASSIO.
She’s a most exquisite lady.
IAGO.
And, I’ll warrant her, full of game.
CASSIO.
Indeed, she is a most fresh and delicate creature.
IAGO.
What an eye she has! methinks it sounds a parley to provocation.
CASSIO.
An inviting eye, and yet methinks right modest.
IAGO.
And when she speaks, is it not an alarm to love?
CASSIO.
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 black Othello.
CASSIO.
Not tonight, good Iago. I have very poor and unhappy brains for
drinking. I could well wish courtesy would invent some other custom of
entertainment.
IAGO.
O, they are our friends; but one cup: I’ll drink for you.
CASSIO.
I have drunk but one cup tonight, 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.
IAGO.
What, man! ’Tis a night of revels. The gallants desire it.
CASSIO.
Where are they?
IAGO.
Here at the door. I pray you, call them in.
CASSIO.
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 tonight already,
He’ll be as full of quarrel and offence
As my young mistress’ dog. Now my sick fool Roderigo,
Whom love hath turn’d almost the wrong side out,
To Desdemona hath tonight carous’d
Potations pottle-deep; and he’s to watch:
Three lads of Cyprus, noble swelling spirits,
That hold their honours in a wary distance,
The very elements of this warlike isle,
Have I tonight fluster’d with flowing cups,
And they watch too. Now, ’mongst this flock of drunkards,
Am I to put our Cassio in some action
That may offend the isle. But here they come:
If consequence do but approve my dream,
My boat sails freely, both with wind and stream.
Enter Cassio, Montano and Gentlemen; followed by Servant with wine.
CASSIO.
’Fore God, they have given me a rouse already.
MONTANO.
Good faith, a little one; not past a pint, as I am a soldier.
IAGO.
Some wine, ho!
[_Sings._]
_And let me the cannikin clink, clink,
And let me the cannikin clink, clink:
A soldier’s a man,
O, man’s life’s but a span,
Why then let a soldier drink._
Some wine, boys!
CASSIO.
’Fore God, 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.
CASSIO.
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.
CASSIO.
To the health of our general!
MONTANO.
I am for it, lieutenant; and I’ll do you justice.
IAGO.
O sweet England!
[_Sings._]
_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 take thine auld cloak about thee._
Some wine, ho!
CASSIO.
’Fore God, this is a more exquisite song than the other.
IAGO.
Will you hear ’t again?
CASSIO.
No, for I hold him to be unworthy of his place that does those things.
Well, God’s above all, and there be souls must be saved, and there be
souls must not be saved.
IAGO.
It’s true, good lieutenant.
CASSIO.
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.
CASSIO.
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. I am not drunk now. I can stand well enough,
and I speak well enough.
ALL.
Excellent well.
CASSIO.
Why, very well then. You must not think, then, that I am drunk.
[_Exit._]
MONTANO.
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 Cæsar
And give direction: and do but see his vice,
’Tis to his virtue a just equinox,
The one as long as th’ other. ’Tis pity of him.
I fear the trust Othello puts him in,
On some odd time of his infirmity,
Will shake this island.
MONTANO.
But is he often thus?
IAGO.
’Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep:
He’ll watch the horologe a double set
If drink rock not his cradle.
MONTANO.
It were well
The general were put in mind of it.
Perhaps he sees it not, or his good nature
Prizes the virtue that appears in Cassio,
And looks not on his evils: is not this true?
Enter Roderigo.
IAGO.
[_Aside to him._] How now, Roderigo?
I pray you, after the lieutenant; go.
[_Exit Roderigo._]
MONTANO.
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.
Not I, for this fair island.
I do love Cassio well and would do much
To cure him of this evil. But, hark! What noise?
[_Cry within_: “Help! help!”]
Enter Cassio, driving in Roderigo.
CASSIO.
Zounds, you rogue, you rascal!
MONTANO.
What’s the matter, lieutenant?
CASSIO.
A knave teach me my duty! I’ll beat the knave into a twiggen bottle.
RODERIGO.
Beat me?
CASSIO.
Dost thou prate, rogue?
[_Striking Roderigo._]
MONTANO.
Nay, good lieutenant;
I pray you, sir, hold your hand.
CASSIO.
Let me go, sir,
Or I’ll knock you o’er the mazard.
MONTANO.
Come, come, you’re drunk.
CASSIO.
Drunk?
[_They fight._]
IAGO.
[_Aside to Roderigo._] Away, I say! Go out and cry a mutiny.
[_Exit Roderigo._]
Nay, good lieutenant, God’s will, gentlemen.
Help, ho!—Lieutenant,—sir,—Montano,—sir:—
Help, masters! Here’s a goodly watch indeed!
[_A bell rings._]
Who’s that which rings the bell?—Diablo, ho!
The town will rise. God’s will, lieutenant, hold,
You will be sham’d forever.
Enter Othello and Attendants.
OTHELLO.
What is the matter here?
MONTANO.
Zounds, I bleed still, I am hurt to the death.
OTHELLO.
Hold, for your lives!
IAGO.
Hold, ho! lieutenant,—sir,—Montano,—gentlemen,—
Have you forgot all place of sense and duty?
Hold! The general speaks to you; hold, hold, for shame!
OTHELLO.
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 motion.
Silence that dreadful bell, it frights the isle
From her propriety. What is the matter, masters?
Honest Iago, that looks dead with grieving,
Speak, who began this? On thy love, I charge thee.
IAGO.
I do not know. Friends all but now, even now,
In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom
Devesting them for bed; and then, but now,
As if some planet had unwitted men,
Swords out, and tilting one at other’s breast,
In opposition bloody. I cannot speak
Any beginning to this peevish odds;
And would in action glorious I had lost
Those legs that brought me to a part of it!
OTHELLO.
How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot?
CASSIO.
I pray you, pardon me; I cannot speak.
OTHELLO.
Worthy Montano, you were wont be civil.
The gravity and stillness of your youth
The world hath noted, and your name is great
In mouths of wisest censure: what’s the matter,
That you unlace your reputation thus,
And spend your rich opinion for the name
Of a night-brawler? Give me answer to it.
MONTANO.
Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger.
Your officer, Iago, can inform you,
While I spare speech, which something now offends me,
Of all that I do know; nor know I aught
By me that’s said or done amiss this night,
Unless self-charity be sometimes a vice,
And to defend ourselves it be a sin
When violence assails us.
OTHELLO.
Now, by heaven,
My blood begins my safer guides to rule,
And passion, having my best judgement collied,
Assays to lead the way. Zounds, if I stir,
Or do but lift this arm, the best of you