The Arden Shakespeare Complete Works
Page 417
Even as our days do grow.
OTHELLO Amen to that, sweet powers!
I cannot speak enough of this content,
It stops me here, it is too much of joy.
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And this, and this the greatest discords be [They kiss.]
That e’er our hearts shall make.
IAGO [aside]
O, you are well tuned now: but I’ll set down
The pegs that make this music, as honest
As I am.
OTHELLO Come, let us to the castle.
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News, friends, our wars are done, the Turks are drowned.
How does my old acquaintance of this isle?
Honey, you shall be well desired in Cyprus,
I have found great love amongst them. O my sweet,
I prattle out of fashion, and I dote
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In mine own comforts. I prithee, 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;
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Once more, well met at Cyprus.
Exeunt all but Iago and Roderigo.
IAGO Do thou meet me presently at the harbour. Come
hither: if thou be’st valiant – as, they say, base men
being in love have then a nobility in their natures,
more than is native to them – list me. The lieutenant
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tonight watches on the court of guard. First I must tell
thee this: Desdemona is directly in love with him.
RODERIGO With him? why, ’tis not possible.
IAGO Lay thy finger thus, and let thy soul be instructed.
Mark me with what violence she first loved the Moor,
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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
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to inflame it, and to give satiety a fresh appetite,
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
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gorge, disrelish and abhor the Moor – very nature will
instruct her in it and compel her to some second
choice. Now sir, this granted – as it is a most pregnant
and unforced position – who stands so eminent in the
degree of this fortune as Cassio does? a knave very
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voluble, no farther 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 slipper and subtle knave, a
finder out of occasions, that has an eye, can stamp and
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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
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already.
RODERIGO I cannot believe that in her, she’s full of most
blest condition.
IAGO Blest fig’s-end! The wine she drinks is made of
grapes. If she had been blest she would never have
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loved the Moor. Blest pudding! Didst thou not see her
paddle with the palm of his hand? Didst not mark
that?
RODERIGO Yes, that I did, but that was but courtesy.
IAGO Lechery, by this hand: an index and obscure
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prologue to the history of lust and foul thoughts. They
met so near with their lips that their breaths embraced
together. Villainous thoughts, Roderigo: when these
mutualities so marshal the way, hard at hand comes
the master and main exercise, th’incorporate
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conclusion. Pish! But, sir, be you ruled by me. I have
brought you from Venice: watch you tonight. 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 tainting
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his discipline, or from what other cause you please
which the time shall more favourably minister.
RODERIGO Well.
IAGO Sir, he’s rash and very sudden in choler, and haply
with his truncheon may strike at you: provoke him
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that he may, for even out of that will I cause these of
Cyprus to mutiny, whose qualification shall come into
no true trust again but by the displanting of Cassio. So
shall you have a shorter journey to your desires, by the
means I shall then have to prefer them, and the
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impediment most profitably removed, without the
which there were no expectation of our prosperity.
RODERIGO I will do this, if you can bring it to any
opportunity.
IAGO I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the citadel:
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I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewell.
RODERIGO Adieu. Exit.
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,
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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 –
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But partly led to diet my revenge,
For that I do suspect the lusty Moor
Hath leaped into my seat, the thought whereof
Doth like a poisonous mineral gnaw my inwards …
And nothing can or shall content my soul
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Till I am evened with him, wife for wife …
Or, failing so, yet that I put the Moor
At least into a jealousy so strong
That judgement cannot cure; which thing to do,
If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trash
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For his quick hunting, stand the putting on,
I’ll have our Michael Cassio on the hip,
Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb –
For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too –
Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me
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For making him egregiously an ass,
And practising upon his peace and quiet
Even to madness. ’Tis here, but yet confused:
Knavery’s plain face is never seen, till used. Exit.
2.2 Enter Othello’s Herald, with a proclamation.
HERALD [Reads.] It is Othello’s pleasure, our noble and
valiant general, that, upon certain tidings now arrived,
importing the mere perdition of the Turkish fleet, every
man put himself into triumph: some to dance, some to
make bonfires, each man to what sport and revels his
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addiction leads him. For besides these beneficial news, it is
pleasure should be proclaimed. All offices are open,
and there is full liberty of feasting from this present
hour of five till the bell have told eleven. Heaven bless
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the isle of Cyprus and our noble general Othello!
Exit.
2.3 Enter OTHELLO, CASSIO and DESDEMONA.
OTHELLO
Good Michael, look you to the guard tonight.
Let’s teach ourselves that honourable stop
Not to outsport discretion.
CASSIO Iago hath direction what to do,
But notwithstanding with my personal eye
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Will I look to’t.
OTHELLO Iago is most honest.
Michael, good night. Tomorrow with your earliest
Let me have speech with you. Come, my dear love,
The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue:
That profit’s yet to come ’tween me and you.
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Good-night. Exeunt Othello and Desdemona.
Enter IAGO.
CASSIO Welcome, Iago, we must to the watch.
IAGO Not this hour, lieutenant, ’tis not yet ten o’th’
clock. Our general cast us thus early for the love of his
Desdemona – whom let us not therefore blame; he
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hath not yet made wanton the night with her, and she
is sport for Jove.
CASSIO She’s a most exquisite lady.
IAGO And I’ll warrant her full of game.
CASSIO Indeed she’s a most fresh and delicate creature.
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IAGO What an eye she has! methinks it sounds a parley
to provocation.
CASSIO An inviting eye; and yet methinks right modest.
IAGO And when she speaks is it not an alarum to love?
CASSIO She is indeed perfection.
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IAGO Well: happiness to their sheets! Come, lieutenant,
I have a stoup of wine, and here without are a brace of
Cyprus gallants that would fain have a measure to the
health of black Othello.
CASSIO Not tonight, good Iago, I have very poor and
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unhappy brains for drinking. I could well wish courtesy
would invent some other custom of entertainment.
IAGO O, they are our friends. But one cup, I’ll drink for
you.
CASSIO I have drunk but one cup tonight, and that was
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craftily qualified too, and behold what innovation it
makes here! I am unfortunate in the infirmity, and
dare not task my weakness with any more.
IAGO What, man, ’tis a night of revels, the gallants
desire it.
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CASSIO Where are they?
IAGO Here, at the door, I pray you call them in.
CASSIO I’ll do’t, but it dislikes me. Exit.
IAGO If I can fasten but one cup upon him,
With that which he hath drunk tonight already
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He’ll be as full of quarrel and offence
As my young mistress’ dog. Now my sick fool, Roderigo,
Whom love hath turned almost the wrong side out,
To Desdemona hath tonight caroused
Potations pottle-deep, and he’s to watch.
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Three else of Cyprus, noble swelling spirits
That hold their honours in a wary distance,
The very elements of this warlike isle,
Have I tonight flustered with flowing cups,
And the watch too. Now ’mongst this flock of drunkards
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Am I to put our Cassio in some action
That may offend the isle.
Enter CASSIO, MONTANO and Gentlemen.
But here they come.
If consequence do but approve my dream
My boat sails freely, both with wind and stream.
CASSIO ’Fore God, they have given me a rouse already.
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MONTANO Good faith, a little one, not past a pint, as
I am a soldier.
IAGO Some wine, ho!
[Sings.]
And let me the cannikin clink, clink,
And let me the cannikin clink.
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A soldier’s a man,
O, man’s life’s but a span,
Why then let a soldier drink!
Some wine, boys!
CASSIO ’Fore God, an excellent song!
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IAGO I learned it in England, where indeed they are
most potent in potting. Your Dane, your German, and
your swag-bellied Hollander – drink, ho! – are nothing
to your English.
CASSIO Is your Englishman so exquisite in his drinking?
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IAGO Why, he drinks you with facility your Dane dead
drunk; he sweats not to overthrow your Almain; he