IAGO, his Ancient, RODERIGO, a Venetian Gentleman. Who, trimm'd in forms and visages of duty, Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul; And such a one do I profess myself. It is as sure as you are Roderigo, MONTANO, Othello's predecessor in the Government of In following him, I follow but myself; Cyprus. CLOWN, Servant to Othello. of the city, In personal suit to make me his lieutenant, My mediators; for, certes, says he, I have already chose my officer. And what was he? Forsooth, a great arithmetician, 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 theoric, As masterly as he: mere prattle, without practice, Preferment goes by letter, and affection, Stood heir to the first. Now, Sir, be judge yourself, To love the Moor. Rod. I would not follow him then. I follow him to serve my turn upon him: Whip me such honest knaves: Others there are, Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty, Rod. What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe, If he can carry't thus! Rouse him: make after him, poison his delight, Iago. Call up her father, Proclaim him in the streets; incense her kinsmen, Rod. Here is her father's house; I'll call aloud. 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 ! 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 Rod. Sir, Sir, Sir, Sir, Bra. But thou must needs be sure, My spirit, and my place, have in them power To make this bitter to thee. Rod. Patience, good Sir. Bra. What tell'st thou me of robbing? this is Venice; My house is not a grange. Rod. Most grave Brabantio, In simple and pure soul I come to you. Iugo. 'Zounds, Sir, you are one of those, that will not serve God, if the devil bid you. Because we come to do you service, 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. Rod. Sir, will answer any thing. But I beseech you, I thus would play and trifle with your reverence: Tying her duty, beauty, wit, and fortunes, Of here and every where: Straight satisfy yourself: Let loose on me the justice of the state For thus deluding you. Bra. Strike on the tinder, ho! Give me a taper;-call up all my people:- [Exit from above. Iago. Farewell; for I must leave you: Against the Moor: For, I do know, the state,- I must show out a flag and sign of love, Which is indeed but sign. That you shall surely find him, Lead to the Sagittary the rais'd search; And there will I be with him. So, farewell. [Exit. Enter below, BRABANTIO, and Servants with Bra. It is too true an evil: gone she is; ther ? How didst thou know 'twas she?-O, thou deceiv'st me Past thought!-What said she to you?-Get more tapers; Raise all my kindred.-Are they married, think you? Rod. Truly, I think, they are. Bra. O heaven!-How got she out ?-O treason of the blood! Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters' minds Rod. Yes, Sir, I have indeed. Bra. Call up my brother.-O, that you had had her 1 Some one way, some another.-Do you know Rod. I think, can discover him; if you please [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same. Another Street. Enter OTHELLO, IAGO, and Attendants. Iago. Though in the trade of war I have slain men, Yet do I hold it very stuff o'the conscience, To do no contriv'd murder; I lack iniquity Sometimes to do me service: Nine or ten times I had thought to have yerk'd him here under the ribs. Oth. 'Tis better as it is. Iago. Nay, but he prated, And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms Against your honour, That, with the little godliness I have, I did full hard forbear him. But, I pray, Sir, Oth. Let him do his spite : My services which I have done the signiory, I would not my unhoused free condition For the sea's worth, But, look: what lights come yonder? Enter CASSIO, at a distance, and certain Officers with Torches. Iago. These are the raised father, and his friends : You were best go iu. Oth. Not I: I must be found; My parts, my title, and my perfect soul, Iago. By Janus, I think no. Oth. The servants of the duke, and my lieutenant. The goodness of the night upon you, friends! What is the news? Cas. The duke does greet you, general; And he requires your haste-post-haste appearance, Even on the instant. Oth. What is the matter, think you? Cas. Something from Cyprus; as I may divine, This very night at one another's heels; Are at the duke's already: You have been hotly call'd for ; The senate hath sent about three several quests, Oth. 'Tis well I am found by you. I will but spend a word here in the house, Cas. Ancient, what makes he here ? [Exit. Iago. 'Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land carack; Oth. Here comes another troop to seek for you. Enter BRABANTIO, RODERIGO, and Officers of night, with Torches and Weapons. Iago. It is Brabantio:-general, be advis'd; Oth. Hola! stand there! [They draw on both sides. Iago. You, Roderigo! come, Šir, I am for you. Oth. Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will daughter? Damn'd as thou art, thou hast enchanted her: That thou hast practis'd on her with foul charms; I therefore apprehend and do attach thee, Of arts inhibited and out of warrant :- Oth. Hold your hands, Both you of my inclining, and the rest: Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it Bra. To prison: till fit time Of law, and course of direct session, Oth. What if I do obey? How may the duke be therewith satisfied: Off. 'Tis true, most worthy signior, Bra. How! the duke in council! In this time of the night !-Bring him away: [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same. A Council Chamber. The DUKE, and SENATORS, sitting at a Tuble: Officers attending. Duke. There is no composition in these news, That gives them credit. 1 Sen. Indeed, they are disproportion'd: Duke. Nay, it is possible enough to judgment; Sailor. [Within.] What ho! what ho! what ho! Of. A messenger from the galleys. Sailor. The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes. Duke. How say you by this change? 1 Sen. This cannot be, By no essay of reason; 'tis a pageant, To keep us in false gaze: When we consider That, as it more concerns the Turk than Rhodes, That Rhodes is dress'd in :-if we make thought of this, We must not think, the Turk is so unskilful, Duke. Nay, in all confidence, he's not for Rhodes. Enter a MESSENGER. Mess. The Ottomites, reverend and gracious, Steering with due course toward the isle of Rhodes, Have there injointed them with an after fleet. 1 Sen. Ay, so I thought:-How many, as you guess? Mess. Of thirty sail: and now do they re-stem Their backward course, bearing with frank appear ance Their purposes toward Cyprus.-Signior Montano, Duke. 'Tis certain then for Cyprus. Marcus Lucchesé, is he not in town? 1 Sen, He's Low in Florence. Duke. Write from us: wish him post-post-haste : despatch. 1 Sen. Here comes Brabantio, with the valiant Moor. Enter BRABANTIO, OTHELLO, IAGO, RODERIGO, and Officers, Duke. Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you Against the general enemy Ottoman. I did not see you; Welcome, gentle Signior; We lack'd your counsel and your help to-night. care Take hold on me; for my particular grief Is of so flood-gate and o'erbearing nature, That it engluts and swallows other sorrows, And it is still itself. Duke. Why, what's the matter? Bru. My daughter! O, my daughter! Bra. Ay, to me; She is abus'd, stol'n from me, and corrupted By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks: Being not deficiènt, blind, or lame of sense, Duke. Whoe'er he be, that, in this foul proceeding Bra. Humbly I thank your grace. Here is the man, this Moor; whom now, it seems, Duke & Sen. We are very sorry for it. Duke. What, in your own part, can you say to this? [To OTHELLO. Bra. Nothing, but this is so. Oth. Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, My very noble and approv'd good masters, That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter, It is most true; true, I have married her; The very head and front of my offending Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in speech, And little bless'd with the set phrase of peace; For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith, Till now some nine moons wasted, they have us'd Their dearest action in the tented field; And little of this great world can I speak, More than pertains to feats of broil and battle; And therefore little shall I grace my cause, In speaking for myself: Yet, by your gracious patience, I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what charms, What conjuration, and what mighty magic, (For such proceeding I am charg'd withal,) won his daughter with. Bra. A maiden never bold; Of spirit so still and quiet, that her motion Duke. To vouch this, is no proof; Did you by indirect and forced courses Oth. I do beseech you, Send for the lady to the Sagittary, And let her speak of me before her father; If you do find me foul in her report, The trust, the office, I do hold of you, And, till she come, as truly as to heaven I do confess the vices of my blood, So justly to your grave ears I'll present How I did thrive in this fair lady's love, And she in mine. Duke. Say it, Othello. Oth. Her father lov'd me; oft invited me; From year to year; the battles, sieges, fortunes, I ran it through, even from my boyish days, Of hair-breadth 'scapes i'the imminent deadly breach; And sold to slavery; of my redemption thence, Rough quarries, rocks, and hills whose heads touch heaven, It was my hint to speak, such was the process; Do grow beneath their shoulders. These things to hear, Would Desdemona seriously incline: But still the house affairs would draw her thence; She swore,-In faith, 'twas strange, 'twas passing strange, 'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful: She wish'd she had not heard it; yet she wish'd That heaven had made her such a man: she thank'd And so much duty as my mother show'd Due to the Moor, my lord. Bra. God be with you!-I have done :Please it your grace, on to the state affairs; 1 had rather to adopt a child, than get it.Come hither, Moor: I here do give thee that with all my heart, Which, but thou hast already, with all my heart I would keep from thee.-For your sake, jewel, I am glad at soul I have no other child; For thy escape would teach me tyranny, To hang clogs on them.-I have done, my lord, Duke. Let me speak like yourself: and lay a sentence, Which as a grise, or step, may help these lovers When remedies are past, the griefs are ended, The robb'd, that smiles, steals something from the thief; He robs himself, that spends a bootless grief. He bears the sentence well, that nothing bears Oth. The tyrant custom, most grave senators, I find in hardness: and do undertake I crave fit disposition for my wife; Duke. If you please, Be't at her father's, Bra. I'll not have it so. Des. Nor I; I would not there reside, Duke. What would you, Desdemona ? Des. That I did love the Moor to live with him, My downright violence and storm of fortunes May trumpet to the world; my heart's subdued Even to the very quality of my lord: I saw Othello's visage in his mind; And to his honours, and his valiant parts, So that, dear lords, if I be left behind, A moth of peace, and he go to the war, The rights for which I love him, are bereft me, By his dear absence: Let me go with him. Oth. Your voices, lords :-'beseech you, let her will Have a free way. Vouch with me, heaven; I therefore beg it not Nor to comply with heat, the young affects In my distinct and proper satisfaction; But to be free and bounteous to her mind : And heaven defend your good souls that you think I will your serious and great business scant, Duke. Be it as you shall privately determine, Either for her stay or going: the affair cries-haste, And speed must answer it; you must hence to-night. Des. To-night, my lord? Duke. This night. Oth. With all my heart. Duke. At nine i' the morning here we'll meet again. If virtue no delighted beauty lack, 1 Sen. Adieu, brave Moor! use Desdemona well. Bra. Look to her, Moor; have a quick eye to see, She has deceiv'd her father, and may thee. [Exeunt DUKE, SENATORS, OFFICEES, &c. And bring them after in the best advantage.- Rod. Iago, Iago. What say'st thou, noble heart? Iago. Why, go to bed and sleep. Rod. I will incontinently drown myself. Iago. Well, if thou dost, I shall never love thee after it. Why, thou silly gentleman! Rod. It is silliness to live, when to live is a torment; and then have we a prescription to die, when death is our physician. Lago. O villainous! I have looked upon the world for four times seven years; and since I could distinguish between a benefit and an injury, I never found a man that knew how to love himself. Ere I would say, I would drown myself for the love of a Guinea-hen, I would change my humanity with a baboon. Rod. What should I do ? I confess, it is my shame to be so fond; but it is not in virtue to amend it. If Iago. Virtue? a fig! 'tis in ourselves, that we are thus, or thus. Our bodies are our gardens; to the which our wills are gardeners: so that if we will plant nettles, or sow lettuce; set hyssop, and weed up thyme; supply it with one gender of herbs, or distract it with many; either to have it steril with idleness, or manured with industry; why, the power and corrigible authority of this lies in our wills. the balance of our lives had not one scale of reason to poise another of sensuality, the blood and baseness of our natures would conduct us to most preposterous conclusions: But we have reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal stings, our unbitted lusts, whereof I take this, that you call-love, to be a sect, or scion. Rod. It cannot be. Iago. It is merely a lust of the blood, and a permission of the will. Come, be a man: Drown thyself! drown cats and blind puppies. I have professed me thy friend, and I confess me knit to thy deserving with cables of perdurable toughness; I could never better stead thee than now. Put money in thy purse; follow these wars; defeat thy favour with an usurped beard; I say, put money in thy purse. It cannot be, that Desdemona should long continue her love to the Moor;-put money in thy purse ;-nor he his to her: it was a violent commencement, and thou shalt see an answerable sequestration;-put but money in thy purse. These Moors are changeable in their wills; -fill thy purse with money: the food that to him now is as luscious as locusts, shall be to him shortly as bitter as coloquintida. She must change for youth when she is sated, with his body, she will find the error of her choice.-She must have change, she must therefore put money in thy purse.-If thou wilt needs damn thyself, do it a more delicate way than drowning. Make all the money thou canst: If sanctimony and a frail vow, betwixt an erring barbarian and a supersubtle Venetian, be not too hard for my wits, and all the tribe of hell, thou shalt enjoy her; therefore make money. A pox of drowning thyself! it is clean out of the way: seek thou rather to be hanged in compassing thy joy, than to be drowned and go without her. Rod. Wilt thou be fast to my hopes, if I depend on the issue? Iago. Thou art sure of me ;-Go, make money :I have told thee often, and I re-tell thee again and again, I hate the Moor: my cause is hearted: thine bath no less reason: Let us be conjuuctive in our revenge against him: if thou canst cuckold him, thou dost thyself a pleasure, and me a sport. There are many events in the womb of time, which will be delivered. Traverse; go; provide thy money. We will have more of this to-morrow. Adieu. Rod. Where shall we meet i' the morning? Iago. At my lodging. Rod. I'll be with thee betimes. Iago. Go to; farewell. Do you hear, Roderigo ? Rod. What say you? purse. Iago. No more of drowning, do you hear. To be suspected; fram'd to make woman false; I have't;-it is engender'd:-Hell and night ACT II. SCENE I.-A Sea-port Town in CYPRUS.-4 Enter MONTANO and Two Gentlemen, Mon. Methinks, the wind hath spoke aloud at land; Seems to cast water on the burning bear, Mon. If that the Turkish fleet Enter a third GENTLEMAN. 3 Gent. News, lords! our wars are done; The desperate tempest hath so bang'd the Turks, That their designment halts: A noble ship of Venice Hath seen a grievous wreck and sufferance On most part of their fleet. Mon. How is this true? 3 Gent. The ship is here put in, Mon. I am glad on't; 'tis a worthy governor. Touching the Turkish loss,-yet he looks sadly, Mon. 'Pray heaven he be; For I have serv'd him, and the man commands Like a full soldier. Let's to the sea-side, ho! As well to see the vessel that's come in, |