All. Excellent well.

left

Cas. Why, very well, then: you must not think then that I am drunk. [Exit Mon. To the platform, masters; come, let's set 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?

pray you, sir, hold your hand. Cas.

Let me go, sir,

Or I'll knock you o'er the mazzard.
Mon.

Come, come, you're drunk. Cas. Drunk! [They fight. lago. Away, I say! go out, and cry-a mutiny! [Aside to Rod. who goes out. Nay, good lieutenant,-alas, gentlemen,Help, ho!-Lieutenant,-sir,-Montano,-sir;Help, masters!-Here's a goodly watch, indeed! [Bell rings. Who's that that rings the bell?-Diablo, ho! The town will rise; God's will, lieutenant! hold; You will be sham'd for ever.

Enter Othello, and Attendants.

Oth.
What is the matter here?
Mon. I bleed still, I am hurt to the death;-he
dies.

Oth. Hold, for your lives.

lago. Hold, hold, lieutenant, sir, Montano,gentlemen,

Have you forgot all sense of place and duty? Hold, hold! the general speaks to you; hold, for shame!

Oth. Why, how now, ho! from whence ariseth
this?

Are we turn'd Turks; and to ourselves do that,
Which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites?

For Christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl:
He that stirs next to carve for his own rage,
Holds his soul light; he dies upon his motion.-
Silence that dreadful bell, it frights the isle
From her propriety.-What is the matter, mas-
ters?-

Honest lago, that look'st dead with grieving,
Speak, who began this? on thy love, I charge thee.
Iago. I do not know ;-friends all but now, even

now,

In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom
Devesting them for bed: and then, but now
(As if some planet had unwitted men,)
Swords out, and tilting one at other's breast,
In opposition bloody. I cannot speak
Any beginning to this peevish odds;
And 'would in action glorious I had lost
These legs, that brought me to a part of it!
Oth. How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot?4
Cas. I pray you, pardon me, I cannot speak.
Oth. Worthy Montano, you were wont be civil;
The gravity and stillness of your youth
The world hath noted, and your name is great
In mouths of wisest censure; What's the matter,
That
you unlace your reputation thus,
And spend your rich opinion, for the name
Of a night-brawler? give me answer to it.

Mon. Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger;
Your officer, Iago, can inform you-
While I spare speech, which something now offends

Shall sink in my rebuke. Give me to know
How this foul rout began, who set it on ;
And he that is approv'd in this offence,
Though he had twinn'd with me, both at a birth,
Shall lose me-What! in a town of war,
Yet wild, the people's hearts brimful of fear,
To manage private and domestic quarrel,
In night, and on the court and guard of safety!
'Tis monstrous.-Iago, who began it?

Mon. If partially affin'd,2 or leagu'd in office,
Thou dost deliver more or less than truth,
Thou art no soldier.

Iago.

Touch me not so near:

I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth,
Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio;
Yet, I persuade myself, to speak the truth
Shall nothing wrong him. Thus it is, general.
Montano and myself being in speech,
There comes a fellow, crying out for help;
And Cassio following him with determin'd sword,
To execute upon him: Sir, this gentleman
Steps in to Cassio, and entreats his pause;
Myself the crying fellow did pursue,
Lest, by his clamour (as it so fell out,)

The town might fall in fright: he, swift of foot,
Outran my purpose; and I return'd the rather
For that I heard the clink and fall of swords,
And Cassio high in oath; which, till to-night,
I ne'er might say before: when I came back
(For this was brief,) I found them close together,
At blow, and thrust; even as again they were,
When you yourself did part them.
More of this matter can I not report :-
But men are men; the best sometimes forget :-
Though Cassio did some little wrong to him,-
As men in rage strike those that wish them best,-
Yet, surely, Cassio, I believe, receiv'd,
From him that fled, some strange indignity,
Which patience could not pass.

Oth.
I know, Iago,
Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter,
Making it light to Cassio :-Cassio, I love thee;
But never more be officer of mine.-

Enter Desdemona, attended.

Look, if my gentle love be not rais'd up ;-
I'll make thee an example.

Des.
What's the matter, dear?
Oth. All's well now, sweeting; Come away
to bed.

loser. What, man! there are ways to recover the general again: You are but now cast in his mood,3 a punishment more in policy than in malice; even so as one would beat his offenceless dog, to affright an imperious lion: sue to him again, and he's yours.

Cas. I will rather sue to be despised, than to deceive so good a commander, with so slight, so drunken, and so indiscreet an officer. Drunk? and speak parrot ?4 and squabble? swagger? swear? and discourse fustian with one's own shadow?thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee-devil!

Iago. What was he that you followed with your sword? What had he done to you?

Cas. I know not.

Iago. Is it possible?

Cas. I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly; a quarrel, but nothing wherefore.-O, that men should put an enemy in their mouths, to steal away their brains! that we should, with joy, revel, pleasure, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts!

Iago. Why, but you are now well enough: How came you thus recovered?

Cas. It hath pleased the devil, drunkenness, to give place to the devil, wrath: one unperfectness shows me another, to make me frankly despise myself.

lago. Come, you are too severe a moraler: As the time, the place, and the condition of this country stands, I could heartily wish this had not befallen; but, since it is as it is, mend it for your own good.

Cas. I will ask him for my place again; he shall tell me, I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast! O strange!-Every inordinate cup is unblessed, and the ingredient is a devil.

Iago Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well used; exclaim no more against it. And, good lieutenant, I think, you think I love you.

Cas. I have well approved it, sir.—I drunk!

Iago. You, or any man living, may be drunk at some time, man. I'll tell you what you shall do. Our general's wife is now the general;-I may say so in this respect, for that he hath devoted, and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, and denotement of her parts and graces :-confess yourself freely to her; importune her; she'll help to put you in your place again: she is of so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed a disposition, that she holds it a vice in her goodness, not to do more than she is requested: This broken joint, between you and her husband, entreat her to splinter; and, my fortunes against any lays worth naming, this crack your love shall grow stronger than it was before. Cas. You advise me well.

Iago. I protest, in the sincerity of love, and honest kindness.

Iago. As I am an honest man, I thought you had received some bodily wound; there is more offence in that, than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving: You have lost no reputation at all, unless you repute yourself such a

(1) Convicted by proof.

(2) Related by nearness of office.

Iago. You are in the right. tenant; I must to the watch.

Good night, lieu

Cas. Good night, honest Iago. [Exit Cassio. lago. And what's he then, that says,-I play the

villain?

When this advice is free, I give, and honest,

(3) Dismissed in his anger (4) Talk idly. (5) Bet or wager.

Probal to thinking, and (indeed) the course
To win the Moor again? For, 'tis most easy
The inclining Desdemona to subdue

In any honest suit; she's fram'd as fruitful'
As the free elements. And then for her
To win the Moor,-were't to renounce his baptism,
All seals and symbols of redeemed sin,-
His soul is so enfetter'd to her love,

That she may make, unmake, do what she list,
Even as her appetite shall play the god
With his weak function. How am I then a villain,
To counsel Cassio to this parallel2 course,
Directly to his good? Divinity of hell!
When devils will their blackest sins put on,
They do suggest3 at first with heavenly shows,
As I do now: For while this honest fool
Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes,
And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor,
I'll pour this pestilence into his ear,--
That she repeals4 him for her body's lust;
And, by how much she strives to do him good,
She shall undo her credit with the Moor.
So will I turn her virtue into pitch;
And out of her own goodness make the net,
That shall enmesh them all.---How now, Roderigo?
Enter Roderigo.

Rod. I do follow here in the chace, not like a hound that hunts, but one that fills up the cry. My money is almost spent; I have been to-night exceedingly well cudgelled; and, I think, the issue will be I shall have so much experience for my pains and so, with no money at all, and a little more wit, return to Venice.

Iago. How poor are they, that have not tience!

1 Mus. How, sir, how?

Clo. Are these, I pray you, called wind instruments?

1 Mus. Ay, marry, are they, sir. Clo O, thereby hangs a tail.

1 Mus. Whereby hangs a tale, sir?

Clo. Marry, sir, by many a wind instrument that I know. But, masters, here's money for you: and the general so likes your music, that he desires you, of all loves, to make no more noise with it. 1 Mus. Well, sir, we will not.

Clo. If you have any music that may not be heard, to't again: but, as they say, to hear music, the general does not greatly care.

1 Mus. We have none such, sir. Clo. Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll away: Go; vanish into air; away.

[Exeunt Musicians. Cas. Dost thou hear, my honest friend? Clo. No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear you.

Cas. Pr'ythee, keep up thy quillets.6 There's a poor piece of gold for thee: if the gentlewoman that attends the general's wife, be stirring, tell her, there's one Cassio entreats her a little favour of speech: Wilt thou do this?

Clo. She is stirring, sir; if she will stir hither, I shall seem to notify unto her. [Exit.

Enter Iago.

What wound did ever heal, but by degrees? Thou know'st we work by wit, and not by witch craft;

And wit depends on dilatory time.

Does't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee,
And thou, by that small hurt, hast cashier'd Cassio:
Though other things grow fair against the sun,
Yet fruits, that blossom first, will first be ripe:
Content thyself a while.-By the mass, 'tis morning;
Pleasure, and action, make the hours seem short.—
Retire thee; go where thou art billeted
Away, I say; thou shalt know more hereafter:
Nay, get thee gone. [Exit Rod.] Two things are
to be done,-

My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress;
I'll set her on ;

Myself, the while, to draw the Moor apart,
And bring him jumps when he may Cassio find
Soliciting his wife :-Ay, that's the way;
Dull not device by coldness and delay.

ACT III.

[Exit.

And, by him, do my duties to the state: That done, I will be walking on the works, Repair there to me. lago. Well, my good lord, I'll do't. Oth. This fortification, gentlemen,-shall we see't?

Gent. We'll wait upon your lordship. [Exeunt. SCENE III-Before the castle. Enter Desde

mona, Cassio, and Emilia. Des. Be thou assur'd, good Cassio, I will do All my abilities in thy behalf.

Emil. Good madam, do; I know it grieves my husband,

As if the case were his.

Des. O, that's an honest fellow.-Do not doubt,
Cassio,

But I will have my lord and you again
As friendly as you were.

Cas.
Bounteous madam,
Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,
He's never any thing but your true servant.

Des. O, sir, I thank you: You do love my lord: You have known him long; and be you well assur'd, He shall in strangeness stand no further off Than in a politic distance.

Cas.

Ay, but, lady,
That policy may either last so long,
Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet,
Or breed itself so out of circumstance,
That, I being absent, and my place supplied,
My general will forget my love and service.

Des. Do not doubt that; before Emilia here,
I give thee warrant of thy place assure thee,
If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it
To the last article: my lord shall never rest;
I'll watch him tame, and talk him out of patience;
His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;
I'll intermingle every thing he does

With Cassio's suit: Therefore be merry, Cassio;
For thy solicitor shall rather die,
Than give thy cause away.

Enter Othello, and Iago, at a distance.
Emil.

Madam, here comes

My lord.

Or Tuesday noon, or night; or Wednesday morn;→→
I pray thee, name the time; but let it not
Exceed three days: in faith, he's penitent;
And yet his trespass, in our common reason
(Save that, they say, the wars must make examples
Out of their best,3) is not almost a fault
To incur a private check: When shall he come?
Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul,
What you could ask me, that I should deny,
Or stand so mammering4 on. What? Michael

Cassio,

That came a wooing with you; and many a time,
When I have spoke of you dispraisingly,
Hath ta'en your part; to have so much to do
To bring him in! Trust me, I could do much,-
Oth. Pr'ythee, no more: let him come when he
will;

I will deny thee nothing.

Des.

Why, this is not a boon;
Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves,
Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm;
Or sue to you to do peculiar profit

To your own person: Nay, when I have a suit,
Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed,
It shall be full of poises and difficulty,
And fearful to be granted.

Oth.
I will deny thee nothing,
Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this,
To leave me but a little to myself.

Des. Shall I deny you? no: Farewell, my lord. Oth. Farewell, my Desdemona: I will come to thee straight.

Des. Emilia, come :-Be it as your fancies teach you;

Whate'er you be, I am obedient. [Exit, with Emil.
Oth. Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul,
But I do love thee! and when I love thee not,
Chaos is come again.
Jago. My noble lord,–

Oth.

What dost thou say, Iago? Iago. Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my lady,

Know of your love?

Oth. He did, from first to last: Why dost thou

ask?

lago. But for a satisfaction of my thought;

No further harm.

Oth.

Why of thy thought, Iago?

Iago. I did not think he had been acquainted

with her.

Oth. O, yes; and went between us very oft.
Iago. Indeed?

Oth. Indeed! ay, indeed :-Discern'st thou aught in that?