ACT

1 Gent. Nothing at all: it is a high-wrought 35 3 Gent. But this same Cassio, -though he speak I cannot, 'twixt the heaven and the main, Descry a sail.

Be not inshelter'd, and embay'd, they are drown'd; That so approve the Moor; O, let the heavens It is impossible they bear it out.

[60] [Within.] A sail, a sail, a sail!

By a Veronese, a ship of Verona is denoted. Expert and approv'd allowance, is put for allow'd and approv'd expertness. * The meaning, Mr. Steevens thinks, is, Therefore, my hopes, not being destroy'd by their own excess, but being reasonable and moderate, are likely to be fulfilled.

Cas. What noise?

Gent. The town is empty; on the brow o' the sea

Stand ranks of people, and they cry-a sail.

Cas. My hopes do shape him for the governor.
Gent. They do discharge their shot of courtesy: 5
Our friends, at least.
[Guns heard.

Cas. I pray you, sir, go forth,

And give us truth who 'tis that is arrived.
Gent. I shall.

[Exit.

Iago. Sir, would she give you so much of her

lips,

As of her tongue she oft bestows on me,
You'd have enough.

Des. Alas, she has no speech.
Iago. In faith, too much;

I find it still, when I have list to sleep;
Marry, before your ladyship, I grant,
She puts her tongue a little in her heart,

Mont. But, good lieutenant, is your general 10 And chides with thinking.

Cas. Most fortunately: he hath atchiev'd a maid

That paragons description, and wild fame;

One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens,

And, in the essential vesture of creation,

wiv'd?

Amil. You have little cause to say so.

Iago. Come on, come on; you are pictures out

of doors,

Bells in your parlours, wild cats in your kitchens,

15 Saints in your injuries, devils being offended,

your beds.

Des. O, fie upon thee, slanderer!
Iago. Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk;

Does bear all excellency'. How now? who has Players in your housewifery, and housewives in

put in?

Re-enter Gentleman,

Gent. 'Tis one lago, ancient to the general.

Cas. He has had most favourable and happy 20 You rise to play, and go to bed to work.

speed:
Tempeststhemselves, highseas, and howlingwinds,
The gutter'd rocks, and congregated sands,—
Traitors ensteep'd to clog the guiltless keel, -
As having sense of beauty, do omit
Their mortal natures, letting go safely by
The divine Desdemona.

Make love's quick pants in Desdemona's arms, 35 It plucks out brains and all: But my muse labours,

That he may bless this bay with his tall ship,

Iago. I am about it; but, indeed, my invention Comes from my pate, as bird-lime does from frize,

Give renew'd fire to our extincted spirits,

And thus she is deliver'd:

And bring all Cyprus comfort! -O, behold,

If she be fair and wise, fairness, and wit,
The one's for use, the other useth it.

Enter Desdemona, Iago, Roderigo, and Amilia.
The riches of the ship is come on shore!-
Ye men of Cyprus, let her have your knees:
Hail to thee, lady! and the grace of heaven,
Before, behind thee, and on every hand,
Enwheel thee round!

Des. I thank you, valiant Cassio.
What tidings can you tell me of my lord?
Cas. He is not yet arriv'd; nor know I aught
But that he's well, and will be shortly here.
Des. O, but I fear;-How lost you company?
Cas. The great contention of the sea and skies
Parted our fellowship: But, hark! a sail.

[Within.] A sail, a sail!
[Guns heard.
Gent. They give this greeting to the citadel;
This likewise is a friend.

40

Des. Well prais'd! How if she be black and witty?

Iago. If she be black, and thereto have a wit, She'll find a white that shall her blackness fit.

45 Des. Worse and worse.

Emil. How, if fair and foolish?
Iago. She never yet was foolish that was fair;
For even her folly help'd her to an heir.
Des. These are old fond paradoxes, to make
50 fools laugh i' the alehouse. What miserable praise

Cas. See for thenews.- [Anattendant goes out. Good ancient, you are welcome;-Welcome, 55 mistress. [To Emilia. Let not it gall your patience, good lago, That I extend my manners; 'tis my breeding That gives me this bold shew of courtesy.

hast thou for her that's foul and foolish?

Fago. There's none so foul, and foolish thereunto, But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do.

Des. O heavy ignorance!-thou praisest the worst best. But what praise could'st thou bestow on a deserving woman indeed? one, that, in the authority of her merit, did justly put on the vouch

[Kisses her. 60 of very malice itself3?

That is, She excels the praises of invention, and in real (the author seeming to use essential for real) qualities, with which creation has invested her, bears all excellency. * That is, censorious. 3 Dr. Johnson says, To put on the touch of malice, is to assume a character vouched by the testimony of malice itself.

Iago. She that was ever fair, and never proud;
Had tongue at will, and yet was neverloud;
Never lack'd gold, and yet went never gay;
Fled from her wish, and yet said, now I

may;

Iago. O, you are well tun'd now!
[nigh, 5 But I'll let down the pegs that make this music,
As honest as I am.
[Aside.

She that, being anger'd, her revenge being
Bade her wrong stay, and her displeasure
fly;
She that in wisdom never was so frail,
To change the cod's head for the salmon's 10 How do our old acquaintance of this isle?-

Oth. Come, let us to the castle.-
News, friends; our wars are done, the Turks are
drown'd.

tail;
[mind,
She that could think, and ne'er disclose her
See suitors following, and not look behind;
She was a wight, if ever such wight
were,-

Des. To do what?

Honey, you shall be well desir'd in Cyprus,
I have found great love amongst them. Omysweet,
I prattle out of fashion, and I dote
In mine own comforts. I pr'ythee, good Iago,

15 Go to the bay, and disembark my coffers:
Bring thou the master to the citadel;
He is a good one, and his worthiness
[mona,
Does challenge much respect. -Come, Desde-
Once more well met at Cyprus.

Iugo. Tosuckle fools, and chronicle small beer2. Des. O most lame and impotent conclusion!Do not learn of him, Emilia, though he be thy husband. How say you, Cassio? is he not a most 20 profane and liberal counsellor?

Cas. He speaks home, madam; you may relish him more in the soldier, than in the scholar.

lago. [Aside.] He takes her by the palm: Ay,

[Exeunt Othello, Desdemona, and Attendants. Iugo. Do thou meet me presently at the harbour. Come hither. If thou be'st valiant; as (they say) base men, being in love, have then a nobility in their natures more than is native to them,-list

well said, whisper: with as little a web as this, 25 me. The lieutenant to-night watches on the

will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do; I will gyve' thee in thine own courtship. You say true; 'tis so, indeed: if such tricks as these strip you out of your lieu

court of guard':-First, I must tell thee this,
-Desdemona is directly in love with him.
Rod. With him! Why, 'tis not possible.
Iago. Lay thy finger-thus, and let thy soul be

tenantry, it had been better you had not kiss'd your 30 instructed. Mark me with what violence she first

three fingers so oft, which now again you are

most apt to play the sir in. Very good; well

kiss'd! ! an excellent courtesy! 'tis so indeed.

Yet again your fingers to your lips? 'would, they

were clyster-pipes for your sake!- [Trumpet. 35 have to look on the devil? When the blood is

Oth. O my fair warrior!
Des. My dear Othello!

Oth. It gives me wonder great as my content,
To see you here before me. O my soul's joy!
If after every tempest come such calmness,
May the winds blow till they have waken'd death!
And let the labouring bark climb hills of seas,
Olympus high; and duck again as low
As hell's from heaven! If it were now to die,
'Twere now to be most happy; for, I fear,
My soul hath her content so absolute,
That not another comfort like to this

Succeeds in unknown fate.

Des. The heavens forbid,

made dull with the act of sport, there should be,again to inflame it, and to give satiety a fresh appetite, -loveliness in favour; sympathy in years, manners, and beauties; all which the Moor is de40 fective in: Now, for want of these required conveniences, her delicate tenderness will find itself abus'd, begin to heave the gorge, disrelish and abhor the Moor; very nature will instruct her in it, and compel her to some second choice. Now, 45 sir, this granted, (as it is a most pregnant and unforc'd position,) who stands so eminently in the degree of this fortune, as Cassio does; a knave very voluble; no farther conscionable, than in putting on the mere form of civil and humane 50 seeming, for the better coinpassing of his salt and most hidden loose affection? Why, none; why, none: A slippery and subtle knave; a finder out of occasions; that has an eye can stamp and counterfeit advantages, though true advantage never

But that our loves and comforts should increase, 55 present itself: A devilish knave! Besides, the

i. e. out of method, without any settled order of discourse. ' i. e. the place where the guard musters. i. e. on thy mouth, to stop it while thou art listening to a wiser man. • Minds not zet fully formed.

Rod.

Rod. I cannot believe that in her; she is full of most bless'd condition'.

Iago. Bless'd figs' end! the wine she drinks is made of grapes: if she had been bless'd, she would never have lov'd the Moor: Bless'd pud-5 ding! Didst thou not see her paddle in the palm of his hand? didst not mark that?

Rod. Yes, that I did; but that was but courtesy.
Iago. Lechery, by this hand! an index, and

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 Moorthank me, love me, and reward me,

And practising upon his peace and quiet
Even to madness. 'Tis here, but yet confus'd;
Knavery's plain face is never seen, 'tillus'd. [Exit.

SCENE II.

obscure prologue to the history of lust and foul 10 For making him egregiously an ass,
thoughts. They met so near with their lips, that
their breaths embrac'd together. Villainous
thoughts, Roderigo! When these mutualities so
marshal the way, hard at hand comes the master
and main exercise, the incorporate conclusion: 15
Pish!-But, sir, be you rul'd 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 discipline3; from

or

what other course you please, which the time shall more favourably minister.

Rod. Well.

20

A Street.

Enter Herald, with a proclamation.

Her. It is Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant general, that, upon certain tidings now arriv'd, 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,

Iago. Sir, he is rash, and very sudden in 25 besides these beneficial news, it is the celebration

choler; and, haply, with his truncheon maystrike at you: Provoke him, that he may: for, even out of that, will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny; whose qualification shall come into no true taste

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

again, but by the displanting of Cassio. Soshall you 30 the

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 prospe

rity.

Rod. I will do this, if you can bring it to any opportunity.

lago. I warrant thee. Meet me by-and-by at the citadel: I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewell.

Rod. Adieu.

35

40

45

isle of Cyprus, and our noble general Othello!

SCENE III.
The Castle.

[Exits

Enter Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, and Attendants.
Oth. Good Michael, look you to the guard to-

night:

Let's teach ourselves that honourable stop,
Not to out-sport discretion.

Cas. Iago hath direction, what to do;
But, notwithstanding, with my personal eye
Will I look to't.

[Exit.
Iago. That Cassio loves her, I do well believeit;
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

50 Good night.

Hath leap'd into my seat: The thought whereof
Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw ny inwards:
And nothing can or shall content my soul,
'Till I am even with him, wife for wife;

[To Desdemona. That profit 's yet to come 'twixt me and you.[Exeunt Othello and Desdemona.

1 i. e. qualities, disposition of mind. Indexes were formerly prefixed to books. i. e. throwing a slur upon his discipline. * Sudden, is precipitately violent. i. e. whose resentment shall not be so qualified or tempered, as to be well tasted, as not to retain some bitterness. * A trifling, insignificant fellow may, in some respects, very well be called trash. To trash a hound is a term of hunting still used in the North, and perhaps not uncommon in other parts of England. It is, to correct, to rate. * A phrase from the art of wrestling. • Rank garb may mean grossly, i. e. without mincing the matter. 10 Mere in this place signifies entire. That is, appointed us to our stations, according to Dr. Johnson; whereas Mr. Steevens thinks, that cast us only means dismissed us, or got rid of our company.

fore 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 5

creature.

Iago. What an eye she has! methinks, it sounds a parley of provocation.

Cas. An inviting eye; and yet, methinks, right modest.

lago. And, when she speaks, is it not an alarum to love?

Cas. She is, indeed, perfection.

lago. I learn'd it in England, where (indeed) they are most potent in potting: your Dane, your 10 German, and your swag-bellied Hollander, Drink, ho! are nothing to your English.

Cas. Is your Englishman so exquisite in his drinking?

Iago. Why, he drinks you, with facility, your

Iago. Well, happiness to their sheets! Come, lieutenant, I have a stoop of wine; and here 15 Dane dead drunk; he sweats not to overthrow

without are a brace of Cyprus gallants, that would fain have a measure to the health of the black Othello.

your Alınain; he gives your Hollander a vomit, ere the next pottle can be fill'd.

Cas. To the health of our general.

Mont. I am for it, lieutenant; and I'll do you

Cas. Not to-night, good lago; I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking: I could well 20 justice. wish courtesy would invent some other custom of entertainment.

lago. O, they are our friends; but one cup: I'll drink for you. Cas. I have drunk but one cup to-night, and 25 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.

lago. O sweet England !

* King Stephen was a worthy peer',
His breeches cost him but a crown;
He held them six-pence all too dear,
With that he call'd the taylor- 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.

Iago. What, man! 'tis a night of revels; the 30 Some wine, ho! gallants desire it.

Cas. Where are they?

lago. Here at the door; I pray you, call them in. Cas. I'll do't; but it dislikes me. [Exit Cassio.

Cas. Why, this is a more exquisite song than the other.

Iago. Will you hear it again?

Iago. If I can fasten but one cup upon him, 35 place, that does those things. Well,-Heaven's

With that which he hath drunk to-night already,

Cas. No; for I hold him to be unworthy of his

above all; and there be souls that must be saved, and there be souls must not be saved.

Iago. It's true, good lieutenant.

Roderigo,

Cas. For mine own part,-no offence to the

He'll be as full of quarrel and offence

As my young mistress' dog. Now, my sick fool,

Whom love hath turn'd almost the wrong side 40 general, nor any man of quality, -I hope to be

outward,

To Desdemona hath to-night carouz'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 2,-

Have I to-night fluster'd with flowing cups,
And they watch too. Now, 'mongst this flock of drunk; this is my ancient; this is my right

1i. e. slily mixed with water. i. e. As quarrelsome as the discordia semina rerum; as quick in opposition as fire and water. * These stanzas are taken from an old song, which the reader will find in Percy's Relicks of Ancient Poetry. i. e. a worthy fellow.

A rouse appears to be a quantity of liquor rather too large.

i. e. sorry fellow, paltry wretch.

Tis