Help, ho!— Lieutenant— Sir Montano— Sir—
Help, masters149!— Here’s a goodly watch indeed!Bell rings
Who’s that which rings the bell150?— Diablo, ho!
The town will rise151. Fie, fie, lieutenant!
You’ll be ashamed152 for ever.
Enter Othello and Attendants With weapons
OTHELLO What is the matter here?MONTANO I bleed still: I am hurt to th’death. He dies!Attacks Cassio?
OTHELLO Hold, for your lives!IAGO Hold, ho! Lieutenant— Sir Montano— Gentlemen,
Have you forgot all sense of place157 and duty?
Hold! The general speaks to you. Hold, for shame!OTHELLO Why, how now, ho! From whence ariseth this?
Are we turned Turks160, and to ourselves do that
Which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites?
For Christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl!
He that stirs next to carve163 for his own rage
Holds his soul light164: he dies upon his motion.—
Silence that dreadful165 bell: it frights the isle
From her propriety166.— What is the matter, masters?
Honest Iago, that looks dead with grieving167,
Speak: who began this? On thy love168, I charge thee.IAGO I do not know. Friends all but now, even now,
In quarter170 and in terms like bride and groom
Devesting them171 for bed: and then, but now —
As if some planet had unwitted men172 —
Swords out, and tilting173 one at other’s breasts
In opposition bloody. I cannot speak
Any beginning to this peevish odds175,
And would176 in action glorious I had lost
Those legs that brought me to a part of it!OTHELLO How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot178?CASSIO I pray you pardon me: I cannot speak.OTHELLO Worthy Montano, you were wont180 to be civil:
The gravity and stillness181 of your youth
The world hath noted, and your name is great
In mouths of wisest censure183. What’s the matter
That you unlace184 your reputation thus
And spend your rich opinion185 for the name
Of a night-brawler? Give me answer to it.MONTANO Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger:
Your officer, Iago, can inform you —
While I spare speech, which something now offends189 me —
Of all that I do know, nor know I aught190
By me that’s said or done amiss this night,
Unless self-charity be sometimes a vice,
And to defend ourselves it be a sin
When violence assails us.OTHELLO Now, by heaven,
My blood196 begins my safer guides to rule,
And passion — having my best judgement collied197 —
Assays198 to lead the way: if I once stir,
Or do but lift this arm, the best of you
Shall sink in my rebuke. Give me to know
How this foul rout201 began, who set it on,
And he that is approved202 in this offence,
Though he had twinned with me, both at a birth203,
Shall lose me. What, in a town of war204
Yet wild205, the people’s hearts brim-full of fear,
To manage206 private and domestic quarrel?
In night, and on the court and guard of safety207?
’Tis monstrous208. Iago, who began’t?MONTANO If partially affined, or leagued in office209,To Iago
Thou dost deliver more or less than truth,
Thou art no soldier.IAGO Touch212 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. This it is, general:
Montano and myself being in speech,
There comes a fellow crying out for help,
And Cassio following him with determined sword219
To execute upon him. Sir, this gentlemanIndicates Montano
Steps in to Cassio and entreats his pause221:
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 returned then rather225
For that I heard the clink and fall of swords
And Cassio high in oath227, which till tonight
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 cannot I report.
But men are men: the best sometimes forget233:
Though Cassio did some little wrong to him234,
As men in rage strike those that wish them best,
Yet surely Cassio, I believe, received
From him that fled some strange indignity237,
Which patience could not pass238.OTHELLO I know, Iago,
Thy honesty and love doth mince240 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 raised up.
I’ll make thee an example.DESDEMONA What is the matter, dear?OTHELLO All’s well, sweeting246:Come away to bed.— Sir, for your hurts,To Montano
Myself will be your surgeon248.— Lead him off.[Exeunt some with Montano]
Iago, look with care about the town
And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted250.—
Come, Desdemona: ’tis the soldiers’ life
To have their balmy252 slumbers waked with strife. Exeunt[all but Iago and Cassio]IAGO What, are you hurt, lieutenant?CASSIO Ay, past all surgery.IAGO Marry, heaven forbid!CASSIO Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost
my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and
what remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation!IAGO As I am an honest man, I had thought you had
received some bodily wound; there is more sense260 in that
than in reputation. Reputation is an idle261 and most false
imposition262: oft got without merit and lost without deserving:
you have lost no reputation at all, unless you repute yourself
such a loser. What, man, there are more ways to recover264
the general again: you are but now cast in his mood265 — a
punishment more in policy than in malice — even so as one
would beat his offenceless dog to affright an imperious lion.
Sue to268 him again and he’s yours.CASSIO I will rather sue to be despised than to deceive
so good a commander with so slight270, so drunken and
so indiscreet271 an officer. Drunk? And speak parrot? And
squabble? Swagger? Swear? And discourse fustian272 with one’s
own shadow? O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no
name to be known by, let us call thee devil!IAGO What275 was he that you followed with your sword?
What had he done to you?CASSIO I know not.IAGO Is’t possible?CASSIO I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly:
a quarrel, but nothing wherefore280. O, that men should put an
enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains! That we
should, with joy, pleasance282, revel and applause transform
ourselves into beasts!IAGO Why, but you are now well enough: how came you
thus recovered?CASSIO It hath pleased the devil drunkenness to give place
to the devil wrath: one unperfectness shows me another, to
make me frankly288 despise myself.IAGO Come, you are too severe a moraler289. As the time, the
place and the condition of this country stands, I could
heartily wish this had not befal
len: but since it is as it is,
mend it292 for your own good.CASSIO I will ask him for my place again: he shall tell me I
am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra294, such an
answer would stop295 them all. To be now a sensible man, by
and by a fool, and presently a beast! O, strange! Every
inordinate297 cup is unblessed, and the ingredient is a devil.IAGO Come, come, good wine is a good familiar298 creature,
if it be well used: exclaim no more against it. And, good
lieutenant, I think you think I love you.CASSIO I have well approved it301, sir. I drunk?IAGO You or any man living may be drunk at a time302,
man. I tell you what you shall do. Our general’s wife is now
the general: I may say so in this respect, for that304 he hath
devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, 305
and denotement of her parts306 and graces: confess yourself
freely to her, importune307 her help to put you in your place
again. She is of so free308, so kind, so apt, so blessed a
disposition, 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 splinter311, and, my fortunes against
any lay312 worth naming, this crack of your love shall grow
stronger than it was before.CASSIO You advise me well.IAGO I protest315, in the sincerity of love and honest
kindness.CASSIO I think it freely317, and betimes in the morning I will
beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake318 for me: I am
desperate of319 my fortunes if they check me.IAGO
You are in the right. Goodnight, lieutenant: I must
to the watch.CASSIO Goodnight, honest Iago.Exit Cassio
IAGO And what’s he then that says I play the villain?
When this advice is free324 I give, and honest,
Probal325 to thinking, and indeed the course
To win the Moor again? For ’tis most easy
Th’inclining327 Desdemona to subdue
In any honest suit: she’s framed as fruitful328
As the free elements. And then for her
To win the Moor — were’t to renounce his baptism,
All seals331 and symbols of redeemèd sin —
His soul is so enfettered332 to her love
That she may make, unmake, do what she list333,
Even as her appetite334 shall play the god
With his weak function335. How am I then a villain
To counsel Cassio to this parallel336 course
Directly to his good? Divinity337 of hell!
When devils will the blackest sins put on338,
They do suggest339 at first with heavenly shows,
As I do now. For whiles this honest fool
Plies341 Desdemona to repair his fortune,
And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor,
I’ll pour this pestilence343 into his ear,
That she repeals him344 for her body’s lust,
And by how much she strives to do him good,
She shall undo her credit346 with the Moor.
So will I turn her virtue into pitch347,
And out of her own goodness make the net
That shall enmesh them all.—
Enter RodorigoHow now, Rodorigo?RODORIGO I do follow here in the chase350, not like a hound that
hunts, but one that fills up the cry351. My money is almost
spent; I have been tonight exceedingly well cudgelled352, and I
think the issue353 will be I shall have so much experience for my
pains, and so, wit354h no money at all and a little more wit,
return again to Venice.IAGO How poor are they that have not patience!
What wound did ever heal but by degrees?
Thou know’st we work by wit, and not by witchcraft,
And wit depends on dilatory359 time.
Does’t not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee,
And thou, by that small hurt, hath cashiered361 Cassio.
Though other things grow fair against362 the sun,
Yet fruits that blossom first will first be ripe363.
Content thyself awhile. In troth364, ’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 Rodorigo
Two things are to be done:
My wife must move370 for Cassio to her mistress:
I’ll set her on:
Myself the while372 to draw the Moor apart
And bring him jump373 when he may Cassio find
Soliciting his wife: ay, that’s the way.
Dull not device375 by coldness and delay.Exit
Act 3 Scene 1 running scene 7
Location: Cyprus (governor’s residence/citadel)
Enter Cassio, Musicians , ClownCASSIO Masters, play here: I will content your pains1:
Something that’s brief, and bid ‘Good morrow,Music
general.’CLOWN Why masters, have your instruments been in
Naples4, that they speak i’th’nose thus?MUSICIAN How5, sir? How?CLOWN Are these, I pray you, wind instruments?MUSICIAN Ay, marry, are they, sir.CLOWN O, thereby hangs a tail8.MUSICIAN Whereby hangs a tale, sir?CLOWN Marry, sir, by many a wind instrument10 that I know.
But, masters, here’s money for you: and theGives money
general so likes your music that he desires you, for love’s12
sake, to make no more noise13 with it.MUSICIAN Well, sir, we will not.CLOWN 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.MUSICIAN We have none such, sir.CLOWN Then put up19 your pipes in your bag, for I’ll away: go,
vanish into air, away!Exeunt Musicians
CASSIO Dost thou hear me, mine honest friend?CLOWN No, I hear not your honest friend: I hear you.CASSIO Prithee keep up thy quillets23. There’s aGives money
poor piece of gold for thee: if the gentlewoman24 that attends
the general be stirring25, tell her there’s one Cassio entreats
her a little favour of speech: wilt thou do this?CLOWN She is stirring, sir: if she will stir hither, I shall seem27
to notify unto her.Exit Clown
Enter IagoCASSIO In happy time29, Iago.IAGO You have not been a-bed, then?CASSIO Why, no: the day had broke
Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago,
To send in to your wife: my suit to her
Is that she will to virtuous Desdemona
Procure me some access.IAGO I’ll send her to you presently36,
And I’ll devise a mean37 to draw the Moor
Out of the way, that your converse and business
May be more free.Exit
CASSIO I humbly thank you for’t.— I never knew
A Florentine41 more kind and honest.
Enter EmiliaEMILIA Good morrow, good Lieutenant: I am sorry
For your displeasure43, but all will sure be well.
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