'PERSONS REPRESENTED. DUKE OF VENICE. Two other Senators. GRATIANO, Brother to Brabantio. 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 Courtezan, Mistress to Cassio. Officers, Gentlemen, Messengers, Musicians, Sailors, Attendants, &c. Seene, for the first Act, in Venice; during the rest of the Play, at a Sea-port in Cyprus. OTHELLO, THE MOOR OF VENICE. ACT I. SCENE 1.-Venice.-A Street. Enter RODERIGO and IAGO. Rod. Tush, never tell me, I take it much unkindly, That thou, lago,-who hast had my purse, As if the strings were thine,-shouldst know of this. Iago. 'Sblood, but you will not hear me :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. Three great ones of the city, In personal suit to make me his lieutenant, My mediators; for, certes ‡, says he, And what was he? Forsooth, a great arithmetician, One Michael Cassio, a Florentine, A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife §; • Saluted. + Circumlocution. Certainly. For wife some read life, supposing it to allude to the denunciation in the Gospel, woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you. More than a spinster; unless the bookish theoric, As masterly as he: mere prattle, without practice, By debitor and creditor, this counter-caster ‡: cient. Rod. By heaven, I rather would have been his hangman. lago. But there's no remedy, 'tis the curse of service; Preferment goes by letter, and affection, Not by the old gradation, where each second Stood heir to the first. Now, Sir, be judge your self, Whether I in any just term am affin'd§ 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, Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul; And such a one do I profess myself. For, Sir, It is as sure as you are Roderigo, Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago: Theory. + Rulers of the state. It was anciently the practice to reckon up Sums with counters. § Related, In following him, I follow but myself; For when my outward action doth demonstrate Rod. What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe +, If he can carry't thus ! Iago. Call up her father, Rouse him make after him, poison his delight, Plague him with flies: though that his joy be joy, Rod. Here is her father's house; I'll call aloud. Iago. Do; with like timorous accent, and dire yell, As when, by night and negligence, the fire 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? Lago Are your doors lock'd? Bra. Why? wherefore ask you this? Iago. 'Zounds, Sir, you are robb'd; for shame, put on your gown: Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul; Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise; Bra. What, have you lost your wits? Outward show of civility. + Own, possess. ti. e. Is broken. VOL. V. Rod. Most reverend Signior, do you know my voice? Bra. Not 1; What are you? I have charged thee, not to haunt about my doors: My daughter is not for thee; and now, in madness, Upon malicious bravery, dost thou come Rod. Sir, Sir, Sir, Sir, Bra. But thou must needs be sure, draughts, 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 t. 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 cover'd with a barbary horse you'll have your nephews neigh to you: you'll have coursers for cousins, and gennets for germanst. 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, Ro derigo. Rod. Sir, I will answer any thing. seech you, But I be If't be your pleasure, and most wise consent Intoxicating. + A lone farm-house. 9 Midnight. Relations. A waterman. |