I humbly beseech you, proceed to the affairs of state.
Duke. The Turk with a most mighty preparation
makes for Cyprus:-Othello, the fortitude of the
place is best known to you: And though we have
there a substitute of most allowed sufficiency, yet
opinion, a sovereign mistress of effects, throws a
more safer voice on you: you must therefore be
content to slubber1 the gloss of your new fortunes
with this more stubborn and boisterous expedition.
Oth. The tyrant custom, most grave senators,
Hath made the flinty and steel couch of war
My thrice-driven bed of down: I do agnize2
A natural and prompt alacrity,

I find in hardness; and do undertake
These present wars against the Ottomites.
Most humbly therefore bending to your state,
I crave fit disposition for my wife;
Due reference of place, and exhibition;3
With such accommodation, and besort,
As levels with her breeding.

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 heart.deserving with cables of perdurable toughness; could never better stead thee than now. money in thy purse; follow these wars; defeat thy favour with an usurped beard :14 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 bit-
ter 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?

lago. 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 hath no less reason: Let us be conjunctive 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;2 go; provide thy money. We will have more of this to-morrow. Adieu.

Rod. Where shall we meet i'the morning?
Jago. At my lodging.

Rod. I'll be with thee betimes.

Jago. Go to; farewell. Do you hear, Roderigo?
Rod. What say you?

Iago. No more of drowning, do you hear?
Rod. I am changed. I'll sell all my land.
Iago. Go to; farewell: put money enough in
your purse.
[Exit Roderigo.
Thus do I ever make my fool my purse:
For I mine own gain'd knowledge should profane,
If I would time expend with such a snipe,
But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor;
And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets
He has done my office: I know not if't be true;
But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
Will do, as if for surety. He holds3 me well;
The better shall my purpose work on him.
Cassio's a proper man: Let me see now;
To get his place, and to plume up my will;
A double knavery,-How? how?-Let me see :-
After some time, to abuse Othello's ear,
That he is too familiar with his wife :-
He hath a person, and a smooth dispose,
To be suspected; fram'd to make women false.
The Moor is of a free and open nature,
That thinks men honest, that but seem to be so;
And will as tenderly be led by the nose,
As asses are.

I have't;-it is engender'd :-Hell and night
Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light.

ACT II.

[Exit.

SCENE I-A sea-port town in Cyprus. A platform. Enter Montano and two Gentlemen. Mon. What from the cape can you discern at sea?

(1) Wandering.

(2) An ancient military word of command. (3) Esteems. (4) Separation.

1 Gent. Nothing at all: it is a high-wrought flood; I cannot, 'twixt the heaven and the main, Descry a sail.

Mon. Methinks, the wind hath spoke aloud at
land:

A fuller blast ne'er shook our battlements :
If it hath ruffian'd so upon
the sea,
What ribs of oak, when mountains melt on them,
Can hold the mortise? what shall we hear of this?
2 Gent. A segregation4 of the Turkish fleet:
For do but stand upon the foaming shore,
The chiding billow seems to pelt the clouds;
|| The wind-shak'd surge, with high and monstrous
main,
Seems to cast water on the burning bear,5
And quench the guards of the ever-fixed pole:
I never did like molestation view
On th' enchafed flood.
Mon.
If that the Turkish fleet
Be not inshelter'd and embay'd, they are drown'd;
It is impossible they bear it out.

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,
A Veronesé; Michael Cassio,
Lieutenant to the warlike Moor, Othello,
Is come on shore: The Moor himself's at sea,
And is in full commission here for Cyprus.

Mon. I am glad on't; 'tis a worthy governor.
3 Gent. But this same Cassio,-though he speak
of comfort,

Touching the Turkish loss,-yet he looks sadly,
And prays the Moor be safe; for they were parted
With foul and violent tempest.

Mon.

'Pray heaven he be;
For I have serv'd him, and the man commands
Like a full6 soldier. Let's to the sea-side, ho!
As well to see the vessel that's come in,
As to throw out our eyes for brave Othello;
Even till we make the main, and the aerial blue,
An indistinct regard.

3 Gent.

Come, let's do so;
For
every minute is expectancy
Of more arrivance.

Enter Cassio.

Cas. Thanks to the valiant of this warlike isle,
That so approve the Moor; O let the heavens
Give him defence against the elements,
For I have lost him on a dangerous sea.
Mon. Is he well shipp'd?

Cas. His bark is stoutly timber'd, and his pilot
Of very expert and approv'd allowance;7
Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death,
Stand in bold cure.
[Within.]

A sail, a sail, a sail!

Enter another Gentleman.

Cas. What noise?

4 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.
2 Gent. They do discharge their shot of courtesy:
[Guns heard.

(5) The constellation near the polar star.
(6) Complete.

(7) Allowed and approved expertness.

Our friends, at least.
Cas.
I pray you, sir, go forth,
And give us truth who 'tis that is arriv'd.

[Exit.

2 Gent. I shall.
Mon. But, good lieutenant, is your general wiv'd?
Cas Most fortunately he hath achiev'd a maid
That paragons description, and wild fame;
One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens,
And, in the essential vesture of creation,
Does bear all excellency.-How now? who has put
in?

Re-enter second Gentleman.

2 Gent. 'Tis one lago, ancient to the general.
Cas. He has had most favourable and happy speed:
Tempests themselves, high seas, and howling winds,
The gutter'd rocks, and congregated sands,-
Traitors ensteep'd to clog the guiltless knell,-
As having sense of beauty, do omit

Their mortal natures, letting go safely by
The divine Desdemona.

Mon.

What is she?

Des. O, fie upon thee, slanderer!
Iago. Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk;
You rise to play, and go to bed to work.
Emil. You shall not write my praise.
lago.
No, let me not.
Des. What would'st thou write of me, if thou
should'st praise me?

Iago. O gentle lady, do not put me to't;
For am nothing, if not critical.3

Des. Come on, assay :-There's one gone to the
harbour?

lago. Ay, madam.

Des. I am not merry; but I do beguile
The thing I am, by seeming otherwise.-
Come, how would'st thou praise me?

Iago. I am about it; but, indeed, my invention
Comes from my pate, as birdlime does from frize,
It plucks out brains and all: But my muse labours,
And thus she is deliver'd.

Cas. She that I spake of, our great captain's If she be fair and wise,-fairness, and wit,

captain,

Left in the conduct of the bold Iago;
Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts,
A se'nnight's speed.--Great Jove, Othello guard,
And swell his sail with thine own powerful breath;
That he may bless this bay with his tall ship,
Make love's quick pants in Desdemona's arms,
Give renew'd fire to our extincted spirits,
And bring all Cyprus comfort!-O, behold,

The one's for use, the other useth it.

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.
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 fond4 paradoxes, to make

Enter Desdemona, Emilia, Iago, Roderigo, and fools laugh i'the alehouse. What miserable praise

Attendants.

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.

[Cry within, A sail, a sail! Then guns heard. 2 Gent. They give their greeting to the citadel This likewise is a friend.

Cas. See for the news.[Exit Gentleman. Good ancient, you are welcome;-Welcome, mis[To Emilia.

tress :

Let it not gall your patience, good lago,
That I extend my manners; 'tis my breeding
That gives me this bold show of courtesy.

hast thou for her that's foul and foolish?

Iago. 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 of very malice itself?

I

Iago. She that was ever fair, and never proud;
Had tongue at will, and yet was never loud;
Never lack'd gold, and yet went never gay;
Fled from her wish, and yet said,—
—now I may,
She that, being anger'd, her revenge being nigh,
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 tail;
She that could think, and ne'er disclose her mind,
See suitors following, and not look behind;
She was a wight,-if ever such wight were,—
Des. To do what?

lago. To suckle fools, and chronicle small beer. Des. O most lame and impotent conclusion!-Do not learn of him, Emilia, though he be thy husband. her.-How say you, Cassio! is he not a most profane and liberal counsellor?

[Kissing
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,
And chides with thinking.

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

Iago. [Aside.] He takes her by the palm: Ay, well said, whisper: with as little a web as this, will 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 lieutenantry, it had been better you had not kissed your three fingers so oft, which now again you are most apt to play the sir in.7 Very good; well kissed! an excellent courBells in your parlours, wild cats in your kitchens,tesy 8 'tis so, indeed. Yet again, your fingers to

Emil.
You have little cause to say so.
Iago. Come on, come on; you are pictures out
of doors,

(7) Your good-breeding and gallantry. (8) Courtesy, in the sense of obeisance, was ap(6) Shackle, fetter.plied to men as well as women.

Des. Let's meet him, and receive him.
Cas. Lo, where he comes!

Enter Othello, and Attendants.

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 calms,

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,

But that our loves and comforts should increase,
Even as our days do grow !
Oth.

That e'er our hearts shall make!

[Kissing her

to some second choice. Now, sir, this granted (as it is a most pregnant and unforced position,) who stands so eminently in the degree of this fortune, as Cassio does? a knave very voluble; no further conscionable, than in putting on the mere form of civil and humane seeming, for the better compassing 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 present itself: A devilish knave! besides, the knave is handsome, young; and hath all those requisites in him, that folly and green minds look after: A pestilent complete knave; and the woman hath found him already.

Rod. I cannot believe that in her; she is full of most blessed condition.5

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.
Iago. Lechery, by this hand; an index, and ob-

Amen to that, sweet powers!-scure prologue to the history of lust and foul I cannot speak enough of this content, thoughts. They met so near with their lips, that It stops me here; it is too much of joy: their breaths embraced together. Villanous thoughts, And this, and this, the greatest discords be, 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 tainting6 his discipline; or from what other course you please, which the time shall more favourably min

Iago.
O, you are well tun'd now!
But I'll set down the pegs that make this music,
As honest as I am.
[Aside.
Oth.
Come, let's to the castle.-
News, friends; our wars are done, the Turks are
drown'd.

How do our old acquaintance of this isle?
Honey, you shall be well desir'd1 in Cyprus,
I have found great love amongst them. O my sweet,
I prattle out of fashion,2 and I dote

In mine own comforts.-I pr'ythee, good Iago,
Go to the bay, and disembark my coffers:
Bring thou the master to the citadel;
He is a good one, and his worthiness
Does challenge much respect.-Come, Desdemona,
Once more well met at Cyprus.

ister.

Rod. Well.

Iago. 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 qualification 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 [Exeunt Othello, Desdemona, and Attendants. shall then have to prefers them; and the impedilago. Do thou meet me presently at the harbour.ment most profitably removed, without the which Come hither. If thou be'st valiant,-as (they say) there were no expectation of our prosperity. base men, being in love, have then a nobility in Rod. I will do this, if I can bring it to any optheir natures more than is native to them,-list me. portunity. The lieutenant to-night watches on the court of guard:-First, I must tell thee this-Desdemona is directly in love with him.

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

Rod. Adieu.

[Exit.

Rod. With him? why, 'tis not possible.
lago. Lay thy finger-thus, and let thy soul be
instructed. Mark me, with what violence she first
loved the Moor, but for bragging, and telling her
fantastical lies: And will she love him still for
prating? let not thy discreet heart think it. Her
eye must be fed; and what delight shall she have
to look on the devil? When the blood is made dull
with the act of sport, there should be,-again to
inflame it, and to give satiety a fresh appetite,-But partly led to diet my revenge,
loveliness in favour; sympathy in years, manners,
and beauties; all which the Moor is defective in:
Now, for want of these required conveniences, her
delicate tenderness will find itself abused, begin to
heave the gorge, disrelish and abhor the Moor;
very nature will instruct her in it, and compel her

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 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,)

(1) Much solicited by invitation.
(2) Out of method, without order.
(3) Listen to me. (4) Minds unripe.

For that I do suspect the lusty Moor
Hath leap'd 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

(5) Qualities, disposition of mind.
(6) Throwing a slur upon his discipline.
(7) Perhaps. (8) To advance them.

Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me, was craftily qualified? too, and, behold, what innoFor making him egregiously an ass,