PERSONS REPRESENTED. Duke of Venice. BRABANTIO, a Senator. Two other Senators. GRATIANO, Brother to Brabantio. LODOVICO, Kinsman to Brabantio. OTHELLO, the Moor: CASSIO, his Lieutenant; IAGO, his Ancient. RODERIGO, a Venetian Gentleman. MONTANO, Othello's Predecessor in the Government of Cyprus. Clown, Servant to Othello. Herald. DESDEMONA, Daughter to Brabantio, and Wife to Othello. EMILIA, Wife to Lago. BIANCA, a Courtesan, Mistress to Cassio. Officers, Gentlemen, Messengers, Musicians, Sailors, SCENE, for the first Act, in Venice; during the rest of the Play, at a Seaport in Cyprus. (576) OTHELLO, THE MOOR OF VENICE. ACT I. SCENE I. Venice. A Street. Enter RODERIGO and IAGO. Roderigo. TUSH, never tell me; I take it much unkindly, That thou, Iago,-who hast had my purse, As if the strings were thine,-shouldst know of this. 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. city, Three great ones of the In personal suit to make me his lieutenant, And, in conclusion, nonsuits My mediators; for, certes, says he, And what was he? Forsooth, a great arithmetician, One Michael Cassio, a Florentine, A fellow almost damned in a fair wife; More than a spinster; unless the bookish theoric, Wherein the toged consuls can propose And I (God bless the mark!) his Moorship's ancient. Not by the old gradation, where each second To love the Moor. Rod. I would not follow him, then. I follow him to serve my turn upon him. Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul; 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: Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty, For when my outward action doth demonstrate Rod. What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe, Iago. Rod. Here is her father's house; I'll call aloud. Rod. What, ho! Brabantio! seignior Brabantio! ho! Iago. Awake! what, ho! Brabantio! thieves! thieves! thieves ! Look to your house, your daughter, and your bags! BRABANTIO, above, at a window. Bra. What is the reason of this terrible summons? What is the matter there? Rod. Seignior, is all your family within? Iago. Are your doors locked? Bra. Why, wherefore ask you this? Iago. 'Zounds, sir, you are robbed; 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; Awake the snorting citizens with the bell, Bra. What, have you lost your wits? Rod. Most reverend seignior, do you know my voice? Bra. Not I; what are you? Rod. My name is-Roderigo. Bra. The worse welcome; I have charged 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, To start my quiet. Rod. Sir, sir, sir, sir, Bra. But thou must needs be sure, My spirit, and my place, have in them power 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. 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, 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 genets 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. 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 every where. Straight satisfy yourself; Let loose on me the justice of the state For thus deluding you. Bra. Light, I say light! Iago. [Exit, from above. Farewell; for I must leave you. It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place, |