corrigible authority344 of this lies in our wills. If the beam of
our lives had not one scale of reason to poise345 another of
sensuality, the blood346 and baseness of our natures would
conduct us to most preposterous347 conclusions: but we have
reason to cool our raging motions348, our carnal stings, our
unbitted349 lusts, whereof I take this that you call love to be a
sect or scion350.RODORIGO It cannot be.IAGO It is merely a lust of
the blood and a permission of the will353. Come, be a man. Drown thyself? Drown cats and
blind puppies. I have professed me thy friend and I confess
me knit355 to thy deserving with cables of perdurable
toughness: I could never better stead356 thee than now. Put
money in thy purse: follow thou the wars: defeat thy favour357
with an usurped beard: I say, put money in thy purse. It
cannot be long that Desdemona should continue her love to
the Moor. Put money in thy purse. Nor he his to her: it was
a violent commencement in her, and thou shalt see an
answerable sequestration362. 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 locusts364
shall be to him shortly as bitter as coloquintida365. She must
change for youth366: when she is sated with his body, she will
find the errors of her choice: therefore put money in thy
purse. If thou wilt needs damn thyself, do it a more delicate368
way than drowning. Make369 all the money thou canst. If
sanctimony370 and a frail vow betwixt an erring barbarian and
supersubtle371 Venetian be not too hard for my wits and all
the tribe of hell, thou shalt enjoy her. Therefore make money. A
pox of373 drowning thyself! It is clean out of the way: seek thou
rather to be hanged in374 compassing thy joy than to be
drowned and go without her.RODORIGO Wilt thou be fast376 to my hopes if I depend on the
issue377?IAGO Thou art378 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 hearted380; thine hath no less reason. Let us
be conjunctive381 in our revenge against him: if thou canst
cuckold him382, thou dost thyself a pleasure, me a sport. There
are many events in the womb of time which will be delivered.
Traverse384, go, provide thy money. We will have more of this
tomorrow. Adieu.RODORIGO Where shall we meet i’th’morning?IAGO At my lodging.RODORIGO I’ll be with thee betimes388.IAGO Go to389, farewell. Do you hear,As Rodorigo leaves Rodorigo?RODORIGO I’ll sell all my land.Exit
IAGO Thus do I ever make my fool my purse,
For I mine own gained knowledge should profane392,
If I would time expend with such a snipe393
But394 for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor:
And it is thought abroad395 that ’twixt my sheets
He has done my office396: I know not if’t be true,
But I, for mere suspicion in that kind397,
Will do as if for surety398. He holds me well,
The better shall my purpose work on him.
Cassio’s a proper400 man. Let me see now:
To get his place and to plume up401 my will
In double knavery. How, how? Let’s see:
After some time, to abuse Othello’s ears
That he404 is too familiar with his wife.
He hath a person405 and a smooth dispose
To be suspected, framed406 to make women false.
The Moor is of a free407 and open nature,
That thinks men honest that but seem to be so,
And will as tenderly409 be led by th’nose
As asses are.
I have’t: it is engend’red411: hell and night
Must bring this monstrous412 birth to the world’s light.[Exit]
Act 2 Scene 1 running scene 4
Location: a port in Cyprus
Enter Montano and two GentlemenMONTANO What from the cape1 can you discern at sea?FIRST GENTLEMAN Nothing at all: it is a high-wrought flood2:
I cannot, ’twixt the heaven and the main3,
Descry4 a sail.MONTANO Methinks the wind hath spoke aloud at land:
A fuller blast ne’er shook our battlements.
If it hath ruffianed7 so upon the sea,
What ribs8 of oak, when mountains melt on them,
Can hold the mortise9? What shall we hear of this?SECOND GENTLEMAN A segregation10 of the Turkish fleet:
For do but stand upon the foaming shore,
The chidden12 billow seems to pelt the clouds:
The wind-shaked surge, with high and monstrous mane13,
Seems to cast water on the burning bear14
And quench the guards15 of th’ever-fixèd pole.
I never did like molestation16 view
On the enchafèd17 flood.MONTANO If that the Turkish fleet
Be not ensheltered and embayed19, they are drowned:
It is impossible to bear it out.
Enter a [Third] GentlemanTHIRD GENTLEMAN News, lads! Our wars are done:
The desperate tempest hath so banged the Turks
That their designment23 halts. A noble ship of Venice
Hath seen a grievous wreck and sufferance24
On most part of their fleet.MONTANO How? Is this true?THIRD GENTLEMAN The ship is here put in,
A Veronesa28. Michael Cassio,
Lieutenant to the warlike Moor Othello,
Is come on shore: the Moor himself at sea,
And is in full commission here31 for Cyprus.MONTANO I am glad on’t: ’tis a worthy governor.THIRD GENTLEMAN But this same Cassio, though he speak of comfort
Touching34 the Turkish loss, yet he looks sadly
And pray35 the Moor be safe; for they were parted
With foul and violent tempest.MONTANO Pray heavens he be,
For I have served him, and the man commands
Like a full39 soldier. Let’s to the seaside, 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 th’aerial blue42
An indistinct regard.THIRD GENTLEMAN Come, let’s do so;
For every minute is expectancy
Of more arrivancy46.
Enter CassioCASSIO Thanks, you the valiant of the warlike isle,
That so approve48 the Moor. O, let the heavens
Give him defence against the elements,
For I have lost him on a dangerous sea.MONTANO Is he well shipped?CASSIO His bark52 is stoutly timbered, and his pilot
Of very expert and approved allowance53;
Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death,54
Stand in bold cure.[VOICES] A sail, a sail, a sail!Within
CASSIO What noise?GENTLEMAN The town is empty: on the brow o’th’sea58
Stand ranks of people, and they cry ‘A sail!’CASSIO My hopes do shape him for60 the
governor.A shot is heard
GENTLEMAN They do discharge their shot of courtesy61:
Our friends at least.CASSIO I pray you, sir, go forth
And give us truth who ’tis that is arrived.GENTLEMAN I shall.Exit
MONTANO But, good lieutenant, is your general wived?CASSIO Most fortunately: he hath achieved67 a maid
That paragons68 description and wild fame,
One that excels the quirks69 of blazoning pens,
And in th’essential vesture of creation70
Does tire the engineer71.
Enter Gentleman How now? Who has put in72?GENTLEMAN ’Tis one Iago, ancient to the general.CASSIO He’s had most favourable and happy speed74:
&nbs
p; Tempests themselves, high seas and howling winds,
The guttered76 rocks and congregated sands,
Traitors ensteeped77 to enclog the guiltless keel,
As78 having sense of beauty, do omit
Their mortal79 natures, letting go safely by
The divine Desdemona.MONTANO What is she?CASSIO She that I spake of, our great captain’s captain,
Left in the conduct of83 the bold Iago,
Whose footing84 here anticipates our thoughts
A sennight’s85 speed. Great Jove, Othello guard,
And swell his sail with thine own powerful breath,
That he may bless this bay with his tall87 ship,
Make love’s quick88 pants in Desdemona’s arms,
Give renewed fire to our extincted89 spirits—
Enter Desdemona, Iago, Rodorigo and Emilia [with Attendants] O, behold,
The riches of the ship is come on shore!Kneels
You men of Cyprus, let her have your knees.—
Hail to thee, lady! And the grace of heaven,
Before, behind thee, and on every hand
Enwheel95 thee round!Rises
DESDEMONA I thank you, valiant Cassio.
What tidings can you tell of my lord?CASSIO He is not yet arrived, nor know I aught
But that he’s well and will be shortly here.DESDEMONA O, but I fear. How lost you company?CASSIO The great contention of sea and skies
Parted our fellowship102.— But, hark! A sail.[VOICES] A sail, a sail!Within
A shot is heard
GENTLEMAN They give this greeting to the citadel104:
This likewise is a friend.CASSIO See for the news. [Exit Gentleman]
Good ancient, you are welcome.— Welcome, mistress.—
Let it not gall108 your patience, good Iago,
That I extend my manners: ’tis my breeding109
That gives me this bold show of courtesy. Kisses Emilia
IAGO Sir, would she give you so much of her lips
As of her tongue112 she oft bestows on me,
You would have enough.DESDEMONA Alas, she has no speech114.IAGO In faith, too much:
I find it still116, when I have leave to sleep.
Marry, before117 your ladyship, I grant,
She puts her tongue a little in her heart
And chides119 with thinking.EMILIA You have little cause to say so.IAGO Come on, come on: you are pictures121 out of door,
bells122 in your parlours, wild-cats in your kitchens, saints in
your injuries, devils being offended, players123 in your
housewifery124, and housewives in your beds.DESDEMONA O, fie upon thee, slanderer!IAGO Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk126:
You rise to play127 and go to bed to work.EMILIA You shall not write my praise.IAGO No, let me not.DESDEMONA What wouldst write of me, if thou shouldst praise
me?IAGO O gentle lady, do not put me to’t,
For I am nothing if not critical.DESDEMONA Come on assay133. There’s one gone to the harbour?IAGO Ay, madam.DESDEMONA I am not merry, but I do beguile135
The thing I am by seeming otherwise.
Come, how wouldst thou praise me?IAGO I am about it, but indeed my invention138
Comes from my pate139 as birdlime does from frieze,
It plucks out brains and all. But my muse140 labours,
And thus she is delivered:
‘If she be fair142 and wise, fairness and wit,
The one’s for use, the other useth it143.’DESDEMONA Well praised! How if she be black144 and witty?IAGO ‘If she be black, and thereto145 have a wit,
She’ll find a white146 that shall her blackness fit.’DESDEMONA Worse and worse.EMILIA How if fair and foolish?IAGO ‘She never yet was foolish that was fair,
For even her folly150 helped her to an heir.’DESDEMONA These are old fond151 paradoxes to make fools laugh
i’th’ale-house. What miserable praise hast thou for her
that’s foul153 and foolish?IAGO ‘There’s none so foul and foolish thereunto154,
But does foul pranks155 which fair and wise ones do.’DESDEMONA O heavy156 ignorance! Thou praisest the worst best.
But what praise couldst thou bestow on a deserving woman
indeed, one that, in the authority of her merit, did justly put 158
on the vouch of very malice itself?IAGO ‘She that was ever fair and never proud,
Had tongue161 at will and yet was never loud,
Never lacked gold and yet went never gay162,
Fled from her wish and yet said “Now I may163”,
She that being ang’red, 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 tail167,
She that could think and ne’er disclose her mind,
See suitors following and not look behind,
She was a wight170, if ever such wights were—’DESDEMONA To do what?IAGO ‘To suckle172 fools and chronicle small beer.’DESDEMONA 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 profane and liberal175 counsellor?CASSIO He speaks home176, madam: you may relish him more in the soldier than in the scholar.Cassio takes Desdemona’s hand and they converse apart
IAGO He takes her by the palm: ay, well said,Aside177
whisper. With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a
fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do: I will gyve180 thee in thine
own courtship181. 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 fingers183 so oft, which now
again you are most apt to play the sir184 in. Very good: well
kissed, and excellent courtesy185! ’Tis so, indeed. Yet again your
fingers to your lips? Would they were clyster-pipes186 for your
sake!—The Moor! I know his trumpet.Trumpet within
CASSIO ’Tis truly so.DESDEMONA Let’s meet him and receive him.CASSIO Lo190, where he comes!
Enter Othello and AttendantsOTHELLO O my fair warrior!DESDEMONA My dear Othello!OTHELLO 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 wakened death!
And let the labouring bark197 climb hills of seas
Olympus-high198 and duck again as low
As hell’s from heaven! If it were now to die199,
’Twere now to be most happy, for I fear
My soul hath her content so absolute
That not another comfort like to this
Succeeds203 in unknown fate.DESDEMONA The heavens forbid
But that our loves and comforts should increase,
Even as our days do grow!OTHELLO Amen to that, sweet powers!
I cannot speak enough of this content:
It stops209 me here: it is too much of joy.
And this, and this, the greatest discords beKisses her
That e’er our hearts shall make!IAGO O, you are well tuned now!Aside
Othello Page 6