Iago. Blessed fig's end! the wine she drinks is made of grapes; if she had been blessed, she would never have loved the Moor. Blessed pudding! Didst thou not see her paddle with the palm of his hand? didst not mark that?

Rod. Yes, that I did; but that was but courtesy.

Tago. Lechery, by this hand; an index, and obscure prologue to the history of lust and foul thoughts. They met so near with their lips, that their breaths embraced together. Villanous thoughts, Roderigo! when these mutualities so marshal the way, hard at hand comes the master and main exercise, the incorporate conclusion. Pish!But, sir, be you ruled by me. I have brought you from Venice. Watch you to-night; for the command, I'll lay't upon you. Cassio 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 please, which the time shall more favorably minister.

Rod. Well.

Tago. Sir, he is rash, and very sudden in choler; and, haply, with his truncheon may strike at you. Provoke him, that he may; for, even out of that, will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny; whose qualifications 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.

Rod. 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.

Rod. 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 notIs 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 leaped 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 with him, wife for wife;

Or, failing so, yet that I put the Moor
At least into a jealousy so strong
That judgment cannot cure.
Which thing to do,-
If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trace
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 nightcap too;

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;
Knavery's plain face is never seen, till used.

SCENE II. A Street.

[Exit.

Enter a Herald, with a proclamation; People following. 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 himself into triumph; some to dance, some to make bonfires, each man to what sport and revels his addiction leads him; for, besides these beneficial news, it is the celebration of his nuptials. 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 hath told eleven. Heaven bless the isle of Cyprus, and our noble_general, Othello! [Exeunt.

SCENE III. A Hall in the Castle.

Enter OTHELLO, DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and Attendants. Oth. Good Michael, look you to the guard to-night. Let's teach ourselves that honorable stop,

Not to outsport discretion.

Cas. Iago hath direction what to do;
But, notwithstanding, with my personal eye

Will I look to't.

Michael, good night; to-morrow, with our earliest, Let me have speech with you.-Come, my dear love,

The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue;

[To DESDEMONA.

That profit's yet to come 'twixt me and you.-
Good night.
[Exeunt ОTH., DES., and Attend.
Enter IAGO.

Cas. Welcome, Iago; we must to the watch.

Iago. Not this hour, lieutenant; 'tis not yet ten o'clock. Our general cast us thus early, for the love of his Desdemona; whom let us not therefore blame; he hath not yet made wanton the night with her; and she is sport for Jove. Cas. She's a most exquisite lady.

Iago. And, I'll warrant her, full of game.

. Cas. Indeed, she is a most fresh and delicate creature. Iago. What an eye she has! Methinks it sounds a parley of provocation.

Cas. An inviting eye; and yet, methinks, right modest. Iago. And, when she speaks, is it not an alarm to love? Cas. 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.

Cas. Not to-night, 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.

Cas. I have drunk but one cup to-night; 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.

Cas. Where are they?

Iago. Here at the door; I pray you, call them in.

Cas. I'll do't; but it dislikes me.

[Exit CASSIO.

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

As my young mistress' dog. Now, my sick fool, Roderigo, Whom love has turned almost the wrong side outward, To Desdemona hath to-night caroused

Potations pottle deep; and he's to watch.

Three lads of Cyprus,-noble swelling spirits,
That hold their honors in a wary distance,
The very elements of this warlike eye,
Have I to-night flustered 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.

Re-enter CASSIO, with him MONTANO, and Gentlemen. Cas. 'Fore Heaven, they have given me a rouse already. Mon. Good faith, a little one; not past a pint, as I am a soldier.

Iago. Some wine, ho!

And let me the canakin clink, clink;
And let me the canakin clink:

A soldier's a man;

A life's but a span;

Why, then, let a soldier drink.

Some wine, boys!

Cas. 'Fore Heaven, an excellent song.

[Sings.

[Wine brought in.

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.

Cas. 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. Cas. To the health of our general.

Mon. I am for it, lieutenant; and I'll do you justice. Iago. O, sweet England!

King Stephen was a worthy peer,

His breeches cost him but a crown;
He held them sixpence all to dear,
With that he called 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!

Cas. Why, this is a more exquisite song than the other. Iago. Will you hear it again?

Cas. No; for I hold him to be unworthy of his place, that does those things.-Well,- Heaven's above all; and

there be souls that must be saved, and there be souls must not be saved.

Iago. It's true, good lieutenant.

Cas. For mine own part,-no offence to the general, or any man of quality,-I hope to be saved.

Iago. And so do I too, lieutenant.

Cas. 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 hand.-I am not drunk now; I can stand well enough, and speak well enough.

All. Excellent well.

Cas. Why, very well, then; you must not think, then, that I am drunk. [Exit. Mon. To the platform, masters; come, let's see 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 the other; 'tis pity of him.
I fear the trust Othello puts him in,

On some odd time of his infirmity

Will shake this island.

Mon.

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.

Mon.

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. How now, Roderigo?

I pray you, after the lieutenant; go.

Mon. 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!