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diff --git a/2267-0.txt b/2267-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d3535bb --- /dev/null +++ b/2267-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4756 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 2267 *** + + +Executive Director's Notes: + +In addition to the notes below, and so you will *NOT* think all +the spelling errors introduced by the printers of the time have +been corrected, here are the first few lines of Hamlet, as they +are presented herein: + + Barnardo. Who's there? + Fran. Nay answer me: Stand & vnfold +your selfe + + Bar. Long liue the King + + * * * * * + +As I understand it, the printers often ran out of certain words +or letters they had often packed into a "cliche". . .this is the +original meaning of the term cliche. . .and thus, being unwilling +to unpack the cliches, and thus you will see some substitutions +that look very odd. . .such as the exchanges of u for v, v for u, +above. . .and you may wonder why they did it this way, presuming +Shakespeare did not actually write the play in this manner. . . . + +The answer is that they MAY have packed "liue" into a cliche at a +time when they were out of "v"'s. . .possibly having used "vv" in +place of some "w"'s, etc. This was a common practice of the day, +as print was still quite expensive, and they didn't want to spend +more on a wider selection of characters than they had to. + +You will find a lot of these kinds of "errors" in this text, as I +have mentioned in other times and places, many "scholars" have an +extreme attachment to these errors, and many have accorded them a +very high place in the "canon" of Shakespeare. My father read an +assortment of these made available to him by Cambridge University +in England for several months in a glass room constructed for the +purpose. To the best of my knowledge he read ALL those available +. . .in great detail. . .and determined from the various changes, +that Shakespeare most likely did not write in nearly as many of a +variety of errors we credit him for, even though he was in/famous +for signing his name with several different spellings. + +So, please take this into account when reading the comments below +made by our volunteer who prepared this file: you may see errors +that are "not" errors. . . . + +So. . .with this caveat. . .we have NOT changed the canon errors, +here is the Project Gutenberg Etext of Shakespeare's play. + +Michael S. Hart +Project Gutenberg +Executive Director + + * * * * * + +Scanner's Notes: + +What this is and isn't. This was taken from a copy of +Shakespeare's first folio and it is as close as I can come in +ASCII to the printed text. + +The elongated S's have been changed to small s's and the +conjoined ae have been changed to ae. I have left the spelling, +punctuation, capitalization as close as possible to the printed +text. I have corrected some spelling mistakes (I have put +together a spelling dictionary devised from the spellings of +the Geneva Bible and Shakespeare's First Folio and have unified +spellings according to this template), typo's and expanded +abbreviations as I have come across them. Everything within +brackets [] is what I have added. So if you don't like that you +can delete everything within the brackets if you want a purer +Shakespeare. + +Another thing that you should be aware of is that there are +textual differences between various copies of the first folio. So +there may be differences (other than what I have mentioned above) +between this and other first folio editions. This is due to the +printer's habit of setting the type and running off a number of +copies and then proofing the printed copy and correcting the type +and then continuing the printing run. The proof run wasn't thrown +away but incorporated into the printed copies. This is just the +way it is. The text I have used was a composite of more than 30 +different First Folio editions' best pages. + +David Reed + +===================================================================== + + + + +The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice + + +Actus Primus. Scoena Prima. + +Enter Rodorigo, and Iago. + + Rodorigo. Neuer tell me, I take it much vnkindly +That thou (Iago) who hast had my purse, +As if y strings were thine, should'st know of this + + Ia. But you'l not heare me. If euer I did dream +Of such a matter, abhorre me + + Rodo. Thou told'st me, +Thou did'st hold him in thy hate + + Iago. Despise me +If I do not. Three Great-ones of the Cittie, +(In personall suite to make me his Lieutenant) +Off-capt to him: and by the faith of man +I know my price, I am worth no worsse a place. +But he (as louing his owne pride, and purposes) +Euades them, with a bumbast Circumstance, +Horribly stufft with Epithites of warre, +Non-suites my Mediators. For certes, saies he, +I haue already chose my Officer. And what was he? +For-sooth, a great Arithmatician, +One Michaell Cassio, a Florentine, +(A Fellow almost damn'd in a faire Wife) +That neuer set a Squadron in the Field, +Nor the deuision of a Battaile knowes +More then a Spinster. Vnlesse the Bookish Theoricke: +Wherein the Tongued Consuls can propose +As Masterly as he. Meere pratle (without practise) +Is all his Souldiership. But he (Sir) had th' election; +And I (of whom his eies had seene the proofe +At Rhodes, at Ciprus, and on others grounds +Christen'd, and Heathen) must be be-leed, and calm'd +By Debitor, and Creditor. This Counter-caster, +He (in good time) must his Lieutenant be, +And I (blesse the marke) his Mooreships Auntient + + Rod. By heauen, I rather would haue bin his hangman + + Iago. Why, there's no remedie. +'Tis the cursse of Seruice; +Preferment goes by Letter, and affection, +And not by old gradation, where each second +Stood Heire to'th' first. Now Sir, be iudge your selfe, +Whether I in any iust terme am Affin'd +To loue the Moore? + Rod. I would not follow him then + + Iago. O Sir content you. +I follow him, to serue my turne vpon him. +We cannot all be Masters, nor all Masters +Cannot be truely follow'd. You shall marke +Many a dutious and knee-crooking knaue; +That (doting on his owne obsequious bondage) +Weares out his time, much like his Masters Asse, +For naught but Prouender, & when he's old Casheer'd. +Whip me such honest knaues. Others there are +Who trym'd in Formes, and visages of Dutie, +Keepe yet their hearts attending on themselues, +And throwing but showes of Seruice on their Lords +Doe well thriue by them. +And when they haue lin'd their Coates +Doe themselues Homage. +These Fellowes haue some soule, +And such a one do I professe my selfe. For (Sir) +It is as sure as you are Rodorigo, +Were I the Moore, I would not be Iago: +In following him, I follow but my selfe. +Heauen is my Iudge, not I for loue and dutie, +But seeming so, for my peculiar end: +For when my outward Action doth demonstrate +The natiue act, and figure of my heart +In Complement externe, 'tis not long after +But I will weare my heart vpon my sleeue +For Dawes to pecke at; I am not what I am + + Rod. What a fall Fortune do's the Thicks-lips owe +If he can carry't thus? + Iago. Call vp her Father: +Rowse him, make after him, poyson his delight, +Proclaime him in the Streets. Incense her kinsmen, +And though he in a fertile Clymate dwell, +Plague him with Flies: though that his Ioy be Ioy, +Yet throw such chances of vexation on't, +As it may loose some colour + + Rodo. Heere is her Fathers house, Ile call aloud + + Iago. Doe, with like timerous accent, and dire yell, +As when (by Night and Negligence) the Fire +Is spied in populus Citties + + Rodo. What hoa: Brabantio, Signior Brabantio, hoa + + Iago. Awake: what hoa, Brabantio: Theeues, Theeues. +Looke to your house, your daughter, and your Bags, +Theeues, Theeues + + Bra. Aboue. What is the reason of this terrible +Summons? What is the matter there? + Rodo. Signior is all your Familie within? + Iago. Are your Doores lock'd? + Bra. Why? Wherefore ask you this? + Iago. Sir, y'are rob'd, for shame put on your Gowne, +Your heart is burst, you haue lost halfe your soule +Euen now, now, very now, an old blacke Ram +Is tupping your white Ewe. Arise, arise, +Awake the snorting Cittizens with the Bell, +Or else the deuill will make a Grand-sire of you. +Arise I say + + Bra. What, haue you lost your wits? + Rod. Most reuerend Signior, do you know my voice? + Bra. Not I: what are you? + Rod. My name is Rodorigo + + Bra. The worsser welcome: +I haue charg'd thee not to haunt about my doores: +In honest plainenesse thou hast heard me say, +My Daughter is not for thee. And now in madnesse +(Being full of Supper, and distempring draughtes) +Vpon malitious knauerie, dost thou come +To start my quiet + + Rod. Sir, Sir, Sir + + Bra. But thou must needs be sure, +My spirits and my place haue in their power +To make this bitter to thee + + Rodo. Patience good Sir + + Bra. What tell'st thou me of Robbing? +This is Venice: my house is not a Grange + + Rodo. Most graue Brabantio, +In simple and pure soule, I come to you + + Ia. Sir: you are one of those that will not serue God, +if the deuill bid you. Because we come to do you seruice, +and you thinke we are Ruffians, you'le haue your Daughter +couer'd with a Barbary horse, you'le haue your Nephewes +neigh to you, you'le haue Coursers for Cozens: +and Gennets for Germaines + + Bra. What prophane wretch art thou? + Ia. I am one Sir, that comes to tell you, your Daughter +and the Moore, are making the Beast with two backs + + Bra. Thou art a Villaine + + Iago. You are a Senator + + Bra. This thou shalt answere. I know thee Rodorigo + + Rod. Sir, I will answere any thing. But I beseech you +If't be your pleasure, and most wise consent, +(As partly I find it is) that your faire Daughter, +At this odde Euen and dull watch o'th' night +Transported with no worse nor better guard, +But with a knaue of common hire, a Gundelier, +To the grosse claspes of a Lasciuious Moore: +If this be knowne to you, and your Allowance, +We then haue done you bold, and saucie wrongs. +But if you know not this, my Manners tell me, +We haue your wrong rebuke. Do not beleeue +That from the sence of all Ciuilitie, +I thus would play and trifle with your Reuerence. +Your Daughter (if you haue not giuen her leaue) +I say againe, hath made a grosse reuolt, +Tying her Dutie, Beautie, Wit, and Fortunes +In an extrauagant, and wheeling Stranger, +Of here, and euery where: straight satisfie your selfe. +If she be in her Chamber, or your house, +Let loose on me the Iustice of the State +For thus deluding you + + Bra. Strike on the Tinder, hoa: +Giue me a Taper: call vp all my people, +This Accident is not vnlike my dreame, +Beleefe of it oppresses me alreadie. +Light, I say, light. +Enter. + + Iag. Farewell: for I must leaue you. +It seemes not meete, nor wholesome to my place +To be producted, (as if I stay, I shall,) +Against the Moore. For I do know the State, +(How euer this may gall him with some checke) +Cannot with safetie cast-him. For he's embark'd +With such loud reason to the Cyprus Warres, +(Which euen now stands in Act) that for their soules +Another of his Fadome, they haue none, +To lead their Businesse. In which regard, +Though I do hate him as I do hell paines, +Yet, for necessitie of present life, +I must show out a Flag, and signe of Loue, +(Which is indeed but signe) that you shal surely find him +Lead to the Sagitary the raised Search: +And there will I be with him. So farewell. + +Enter. + +Enter Brabantio, with Seruants and Torches. + + Bra. It is too true an euill. Gone she is, +And what's to come of my despised time, +Is naught but bitternesse. Now Rodorigo, +Where didst thou see her? (Oh vnhappie Girle) +With the Moore saist thou? (Who would be a Father?) +How didst thou know 'twas she? (Oh she deceaues me +Past thought:) what said she to you? Get moe Tapers. +Raise all my Kindred. Are they married thinke you? + Rodo. Truely I thinke they are + + Bra. Oh Heauen: how got she out? +Oh treason of the blood. +Fathers, from hence trust not your Daughters minds +By what you see them act. Is there not Charmes, +By which the propertie of Youth, and Maidhood +May be abus'd? Haue you not read Rodorigo, +Of some such thing? + Rod. Yes Sir: I haue indeed + + Bra. Call vp my Brother: oh would you had had her. +Some one way, some another. Doe you know +Where we may apprehend her, and the Moore? + Rod. I thinke I can discouer him, if you please +To get good Guard, and go along with me + + Bra. Pray you lead on. At euery house Ile call, +(I may command at most) get Weapons (hoa) +And raise some speciall Officers of might: +On good Rodorigo, I will deserue your paines. + +Exeunt. + + +Scena Secunda. + +Enter Othello, Iago, Attendants, with Torches. + + Ia. Though in the trade of Warre I haue slaine men, +Yet do I hold it very stuffe o'th' conscience +To do no contriu'd Murder: I lacke Iniquitie +Sometime to do me seruice. Nine, or ten times +I had thought t'haue yerk'd him here vnder the Ribbes + + Othello. 'Tis better as it is + + Iago. Nay but he prated, +And spoke such scuruy, and prouoking termes +Against your Honor, that with the little godlinesse I haue +I did full hard forbeare him. But I pray you Sir, +Are you fast married? Be assur'd of this, +That the Magnifico is much belou'd, +And hath in his effect a voice potentiall +As double as the Dukes: He will diuorce you. +Or put vpon you, what restraint or greeuance, +The Law (with all his might, to enforce it on) +Will giue him Cable + + Othel. Let him do his spight; +My Seruices, which I haue done the Signorie +Shall out-tongue his Complaints. 'Tis yet to know, +Which when I know, that boasting is an Honour, +I shall promulgate. I fetch my life and being, +From Men of Royall Seige. And my demerites +May speake (vnbonnetted) to as proud a Fortune +As this that I haue reach'd. For know Iago, +But that I loue the gentle Desdemona, +I would not my vnhoused free condition +Put into Circumscription, and Confine, +For the Seas worth. But looke, what Lights come yond? + +Enter Cassio, with Torches. + + Iago. Those are the raised Father, and his Friends: +You were best go in + + Othel. Not I: I must be found. +My Parts, my Title, and my perfect Soule +Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they? + Iago. By Ianus, I thinke no + + Othel. The Seruants of the Dukes? +And my Lieutenant? +The goodnesse of the Night vpon you (Friends) +What is the Newes? + Cassio. The Duke do's greet you (Generall) +And he requires your haste, Post-haste appearance, +Euen on the instant + + Othello. What is the matter, thinke you? + Cassio. Something from Cyprus, as I may diuine: +It is a businesse of some heate. The Gallies +Haue sent a dozen sequent Messengers +This very night, at one anothers heeles: +And many of the Consuls, rais'd and met, +Are at the Dukes already. You haue bin hotly call'd for, +When being not at your Lodging to be found, +The Senate hath sent about three seuerall Quests, +To search you out + + Othel. 'Tis well I am found by you: +I will but spend a word here in the house, +And goe with you + + Cassio. Aunciant, what makes he heere? + Iago. Faith, he to night hath boarded a Land Carract, +If it proue lawfull prize, he's made for euer + + Cassio. I do not vnderstand + + Iago. He's married + + Cassio. To who? + Iago. Marry to- Come Captaine, will you go? + Othel. Haue with you + + Cassio. Here comes another Troope to seeke for you. + +Enter Brabantio, Rodorigo, with Officers, and Torches. + + Iago. It is Brabantio: Generall be aduis'd, +He comes to bad intent + + Othello. Holla, stand there + + Rodo. Signior, it is the Moore + + Bra. Downe with him, Theefe + + Iago. You, Rodorigo? Come Sir, I am for you + + Othe. Keepe vp your bright Swords, for the dew will +rust them. Good Signior, you shall more command with +yeares, then with your Weapons + + Bra. Oh thou foule Theefe, +Where hast thou stow'd my Daughter? +Damn'd as thou art, thou hast enchaunted her +For Ile referre me to all things of sense, +(If she in Chaines of Magick were not bound) +Whether a Maid, so tender, Faire, and Happie, +So opposite to Marriage, that she shun'd +The wealthy curled Deareling of our Nation, +Would euer haue (t' encurre a generall mocke) +Run from her Guardage to the sootie bosome, +Of such a thing as thou: to feare, not to delight? +Iudge me the world, if 'tis not grosse in sense, +That thou hast practis'd on her with foule Charmes, +Abus'd her delicate Youth, with Drugs or Minerals, +That weakens Motion. Ile haue't disputed on, +'Tis probable, and palpable to thinking; +I therefore apprehend and do attach thee, +For an abuser of the World, a practiser +Of Arts inhibited, and out of warrant; +Lay hold vpon him, if he do resist +Subdue him, at his perill + + Othe. Hold your hands +Both you of my inclining, and the rest. +Were it my Cue to fight, I should haue knowne it +Without a Prompter. Whether will you that I goe +To answere this your charge? + Bra. To Prison, till fit time +Of Law, and course of direct Session +Call thee to answer + + Othe. What if I do obey? +How may the Duke be therewith satisfi'd, +Whose Messengers are heere about my side, +Vpon some present businesse of the State, +To bring me to him + + Officer. 'Tis true most worthy Signior, +The Dukes in Counsell, and your Noble selfe, +I am sure is sent for + + Bra. How? The Duke in Counsell? +In this time of the night? Bring him away; +Mine's not an idle Cause. The Duke himselfe, +Or any of my Brothers of the State, +Cannot but feele this wrong, as 'twere their owne: +For if such Actions may haue passage free, +Bond-slaues, and Pagans shall our Statesmen be. + +Exeunt. + +Scaena Tertia. + +Enter Duke, Senators, and Officers. + + Duke. There's no composition in this Newes, +That giues them Credite + + 1.Sen. Indeed, they are disproportioned; +My Letters say, a Hundred and seuen Gallies + + Duke. And mine a Hundred fortie + + 2.Sena. And mine two Hundred: +But though they iumpe not on a iust accompt, +(As in these Cases where the ayme reports, +'Tis oft with difference) yet do they all confirme +A Turkish Fleete, and bearing vp to Cyprus + + Duke. Nay, it is possible enough to iudgement: +I do not so secure me in the Error, +But the maine Article I do approue +In fearefull sense + + Saylor within. What hoa, what hoa, what hoa. + +Enter Saylor. + + Officer. A Messenger from the Gallies + + Duke. Now? What's the businesse? + Sailor. The Turkish Preparation makes for Rhodes, +So was I bid report here to the State, +By Signior Angelo + + Duke. How say you by this change? + 1.Sen. This cannot be +By no assay of reason. 'Tis a Pageant +To keepe vs in false gaze, when we consider +Th' importancie of Cyprus to the Turke; +And let our selues againe but vnderstand, +That as it more concernes the Turke then Rhodes, +So may he with more facile question beare it, +For that it stands not in such Warrelike brace, +But altogether lackes th' abilities +That Rhodes is dress'd in. If we make thought of this, +We must not thinke the Turke is so vnskillfull, +To leaue that latest, which concernes him first, +Neglecting an attempt of ease, and gaine +To wake, and wage a danger profitlesse + + Duke. Nay, in all confidence he's not for Rhodes + + Officer. Here is more Newes. + +Enter a Messenger. + + Messen. The Ottamites, Reueren'd, and Gracious, +Steering with due course toward the Ile of Rhodes, +Haue there inioynted them with an after Fleete + + 1.Sen. I, so I thought: how many, as you guesse? + Mess. Of thirtie Saile: and now they do re-stem +Their backward course, bearing with frank appearance +Their purposes toward Cyprus. Signior Montano, +Your trustie and most Valiant Seruitour, +With his free dutie, recommends you thus, +And prayes you to beleeue him + + Duke. 'Tis certaine then for Cyprus: +Marcus Luccicos is not he in Towne? + 1.Sen. He's now in Florence + + Duke. Write from vs, +To him, Post, Post-haste, dispatch + + 1.Sen. Here comes Brabantio, and the Valiant Moore. + +Enter Brabantio, Othello, Cassio, Iago, Rodorigo, and Officers. + + Duke. Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you, +Against the generall Enemy Ottoman. +I did not see you: welcome gentle Signior, +We lack't your Counsaile, and your helpe to night + + Bra. So did I yours: Good your Grace pardon me. +Neither my place, nor ought I heard of businesse +Hath rais'd me from my bed; nor doth the generall care +Take hold on me. For my perticular griefe +Is of so flood-gate, and ore-bearing Nature, +That it engluts, and swallowes other sorrowes, +And it is still it selfe + + Duke. Why? What's the matter? + Bra. My Daughter: oh my Daughter! + Sen. Dead? + Bra. I, to me. +She is abus'd, stolne from me, and corrupted +By Spels, and Medicines, bought of Mountebanks; +For Nature, so prepostrously to erre, +(Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense,) +Sans witch-craft could not + + Duke. Who ere he be, that in this foule proceeding +Hath thus beguil'd your Daughter of her selfe, +And you of her; the bloodie Booke of Law, +You shall your selfe read, in the bitter letter, +After your owne sense: yea, though our proper Son +Stood in your Action + + Bra. Humbly I thanke your Grace, +Here is the man; this Moore, whom now it seemes +Your speciall Mandate, for the State affaires +Hath hither brought + + All. We are verie sorry for't + + Duke. What in your owne part, can you say to this? + Bra. Nothing, but this is so + + Othe. Most Potent, Graue, and Reueren'd Signiors, +My very Noble, and approu'd good Masters; +That I haue tane away this old mans Daughter, +It is most true: true I haue married her; +The verie head, and front of my offending, +Hath this extent; no more. Rude am I, in my speech, +And little bless'd with the soft phrase of Peace; +For since these Armes of mine, had seuen yeares pith, +Till now, some nine Moones wasted, they haue vs'd +Their deerest action, in the Tented Field: +And little of this great world can I speake, +More then pertaines to Feats of Broiles, and Battaile, +And therefore little shall I grace my cause, +In speaking for my selfe. Yet, (by your gratious patience) +I will a round vn-varnish'd Tale deliuer, +Of my whole course of Loue. +What Drugges, what Charmes, +What Coniuration, and what mighty Magicke, +(For such proceeding I am charg'd withall) +I won his Daughter + + Bra. A Maiden, neuer bold: +Of Spirit so still, and quiet, that her Motion +Blush'd at her selfe, and she, in spight of Nature, +Of Yeares, of Country, Credite, euery thing +To fall in Loue, with what she fear'd to looke on; +It is a iudgement main'd, and most imperfect. +That will confesse Perfection so could erre +Against all rules of Nature, and must be driuen +To find out practises of cunning hell +Why this should be. I therefore vouch againe, +That with some Mixtures, powrefull o're the blood, +Or with some Dram, (coniur'd to this effect) +He wrought vpon her. +To vouch this, is no proofe, +Without more wider, and more ouer Test +Then these thin habits, and poore likely-hoods +Of moderne seeming, do prefer against him + + Sen. But Othello, speake, +Did you, by indirect, and forced courses +Subdue, and poyson this yong Maides affections? +Or came it by request, and such faire question +As soule, to soule affordeth? + Othel. I do beseech you, +Send for the Lady to the Sagitary, +And let her speake of me before her Father; +If you do finde me foule, in her report, +The Trust, the Office, I do hold of you, +Not onely take away, but let your Sentence +Euen fall vpon my life + + Duke. Fetch Desdemona hither + + Othe. Aunciant, conduct them: +You best know the place. +And tell she come, as truely as to heauen, +I do confesse the vices of my blood, +So iustly to your Graue eares, Ile present +How I did thriue in this faire Ladies loue, +And she in mine + + Duke. Say it Othello + + Othe. Her Father lou'd me, oft inuited me: +Still question'd me the Storie of my life, +From yeare to yeare: the Battaile, Sieges, Fortune, +That I haue past. +I ran it through, euen from my boyish daies, +Toth' very moment that he bad me tell it. +Wherein I spoke of most disastrous chances: +Of mouing Accidents by Flood and Field, +Of haire-breadth scapes i'th' imminent deadly breach; +Of being taken by the Insolent Foe, +And sold to slauery. Of my redemption thence, +And portance in my Trauellours historie. +Wherein of Antars vast, and Desarts idle, +Rough Quarries, Rocks, Hills, whose head touch heauen, +It was my hint to speake. Such was my Processe, +And of the Canibals that each others eate, +The Antropophague, and men whose heads +Grew beneath their shoulders. These things to heare, +Would Desdemona seriously incline: +But still the house Affaires would draw her hence: +Which euer as she could with haste dispatch, +She'l'd come againe, and with a greedie eare +Deuoure vp my discourse. Which I obseruing, +Tooke once a pliant houre, and found good meanes +To draw from her a prayer of earnest heart, +That I would all my Pilgrimage dilate, +Whereof by parcels she had something heard, +But not instinctiuely: I did consent, +And often did beguile her of her teares, +When I did speake of some distressefull stroke +That my youth suffer'd: My Storie being done, +She gaue me for my paines a world of kisses: +She swore in faith 'twas strange: 'twas passing strange, +'Twas pittifull: 'twas wondrous pittifull. +She wish'd she had not heard it, yet she wish'd +That Heauen had made her such a man. She thank'd me, +And bad me, if I had a Friend that lou'd her, +I should but teach him how to tell my Story, +And that would wooe her. Vpon this hint I spake, +She lou'd me for the dangers I had past, +And I lou'd her, that she did pitty them. +This onely is the witch-craft I haue vs'd. +Here comes the Ladie: Let her witnesse it. + +Enter Desdemona, Iago, Attendants. + + Duke. I thinke this tale would win my Daughter too, +Good Brabantio, take vp this mangled matter at the best: +Men do their broken Weapons rather vse, +Then their bare hands + + Bra. I pray you heare her speake? +If she confesse that she was halfe the wooer, +Destruction on my head, if my bad blame +Light on the man. Come hither gentle Mistris, +Do you perceiue in all this Noble Companie, +Where most you owe obedience? + Des. My Noble Father, +I do perceiue heere a diuided dutie. +To you I am bound for life, and education: +My life and education both do learne me, +How to respect you. You are the Lord of duty, +I am hitherto your Daughter. But heere's my Husband; +And so much dutie, as my Mother shew'd +To you, preferring you before her Father: +So much I challenge, that I may professe +Due to the Moore my Lord + + Bra. God be with you: I haue done. +Please it your Grace, on to the State Affaires; +I had rather to adopt a Child, then get it. +Come hither Moore; +I here do giue thee that with all my heart, +Which but thou hast already, with all my heart +I would keepe from thee. For your sake (Iewell) +I am glad at soule, I haue no other Child, +For thy escape would teach me Tirranie +To hang clogges on them. I haue done my Lord + + Duke. Let me speake like your selfe: +And lay a Sentence, +Which as a grise, or step may helpe these Louers. +When remedies are past, the griefes are ended +By seeing the worst, which late on hopes depended. +To mourne a Mischeefe that is past and gon, +Is the next way to draw new mischiefe on. +What cannot be preseru'd, when Fortune takes: +Patience, her Iniury a mock'ry makes. +The rob'd that smiles, steales something from the Thiefe, +He robs himselfe, that spends a bootelesse griefe + + Bra. So let the Turke of Cyprus vs beguile, +We loose it not so long as we can smile: +He beares the Sentence well, that nothing beares, +But the free comfort which from thence he heares. +But he beares both the Sentence, and the sorrow, +That to pay griefe, must of poore Patience borrow. +These Sentences, to Sugar, or to Gall, +Being strong on both sides, are Equiuocall. +But words are words, I neuer yet did heare: +That the bruized heart was pierc'd through the eares. +I humbly beseech you proceed to th' Affaires of State + + Duke. The Turke with a most mighty Preparation +makes for Cyprus: Othello, the Fortitude of the place is +best knowne to you. And though we haue there a Substitute +of most allowed sufficiencie; yet opinion, a more +soueraigne Mistris of Effects, throwes a more safer +voice on you: you must therefore be content to slubber +the glosse of your new Fortunes, with this more stubborne, +and boystrous expedition + + Othe. The Tirant Custome, most Graue Senators, +Hath made the flinty and Steele Coach of Warre +My thrice-driuen bed of Downe. I do agnize +A Naturall and prompt Alacratie, +I finde in hardnesse: and do vndertake +This present Warres against the Ottamites. +Most humbly therefore bending to your State, +I craue fit disposition for my Wife, +Due reference of Place, and Exhibition, +With such Accomodation and besort +As leuels with her breeding + + Duke. Why at her Fathers? + Bra. I will not haue it so + + Othe. Nor I + + Des. Nor would I there recide, +To put my Father in impatient thoughts +By being in his eye. Most Gracious Duke, +To my vnfolding, lend your prosperous eare, +And let me finde a Charter in your voice +T' assist my simplenesse + + Duke. What would you Desdemona? + Des. That I loue the Moore, to liue with him, +My downe-right violence, and storme of Fortunes, +May trumpet to the world. My heart's subdu'd +Euen to the very quality of my Lord; +I saw Othello's visage in his mind, +And to his Honours and his valiant parts, +Did I my soule and Fortunes consecrate. +So that (deere Lords) if I be left behind +A Moth of Peace, and he go to the Warre, +The Rites for why I loue him, are bereft me: +And I a heauie interim shall support +By his deere absence. Let me go with him + + Othe. Let her haue your voice. +Vouch with me Heauen, I therefore beg it not +To please the pallate of my Appetite: +Nor to comply with heat the yong affects +In my defunct, and proper satisfaction. +But to be free, and bounteous to her minde: +And Heauen defend your good soules, that you thinke +I will your serious and great businesse scant +When she is with me. No, when light wing'd Toyes +Of feather'd Cupid, seele with wanton dulnesse +My speculatiue, and offic'd Instrument: +That my Disports corrupt, and taint my businesse: +Let House-wiues make a Skillet of my Helme, +And all indigne, and base aduersities, +Make head against my Estimation + + Duke. Be it as you shall priuately determine, +Either for her stay, or going: th' Affaire cries hast: +And speed must answer it + + Sen. You must away to night + + Othe. With all my heart + + Duke. At nine i'th' morning, here wee'l meete againe. +Othello, leaue some Officer behind +And he shall our Commission bring to you: +And such things else of qualitie and respect +As doth import you + + Othe. So please your Grace, my Ancient, +A man he is of honesty and trust: +To his conueyance I assigne my wife, +With what else needfull, your good Grace shall think +To be sent after me + + Duke. Let it be so: +Good night to euery one. And Noble Signior, +If Vertue no delighted Beautie lacke, +Your Son-in-law is farre more Faire then Blacke + + Sen. Adieu braue Moore, vse Desdemona well + + Bra. Looke to her (Moore) if thou hast eies to see: +She ha's deceiu'd her Father, and may thee. +Enter. + + Othe. My life vpon her faith. Honest Iago, +My Desdemona must I leaue to thee: +I prythee let thy wife attend on her, +And bring them after in the best aduantage. +Come Desdemona, I haue but an houre +Of Loue, of wordly matter, and direction +To spend with thee. We must obey the time. +Enter. + + Rod. Iago + + Iago. What saist thou Noble heart? + Rod. What will I do, think'st thou? + Iago. Why go to bed and sleepe + + Rod. I will incontinently drowne my selfe + + Iago. If thou do'st, I shall neuer loue thee after. Why +thou silly Gentleman? + Rod. It is sillynesse to liue, when to liue is torment: +and then haue we a prescription to dye, when death is +our Physition + + Iago. Oh villanous: I haue look'd vpon the world +for foure times seuen yeares, and since I could distinguish +betwixt a Benefit, and an Iniurie: I neuer found man that +knew how to loue himselfe. Ere I would say, I would +drowne my selfe for the loue of a Gynney Hen, I would +change my Humanity with a Baboone + + Rod. What should I do? I confesse it is my shame +to be so fond, but it is not in my vertue to amend it + + Iago. Vertue? A figge, 'tis in our selues that we are +thus, or thus. Our Bodies are our Gardens, to the which, +our Wills are Gardiners. So that if we will plant Nettels, +or sowe Lettice: Set Hisope, and weede vp Time: +Supplie it with one gender of Hearbes, or distract it with +many: either to haue it sterrill with idlenesse, or manured +with Industry, why the power, and Corrigeable authoritie +of this lies in our Wills. If the braine of our liues +had not one Scale of Reason, to poize another of Sensualitie, +the blood, and basenesse of our Natures would +conduct vs to most prepostrous Conclusions. But we +haue Reason to coole our raging Motions, our carnall +Stings, or vnbitted Lusts: whereof I take this, that you +call Loue, to be a Sect, or Seyen + + Rod. It cannot be + + Iago. It is meerly a Lust of the blood, and a permission +of the will. Come, be a man: drowne thy selfe? Drown +Cats, and blind Puppies. I haue profest me thy Friend, +and I confesse me knit to thy deseruing, with Cables of +perdurable toughnesse. I could neuer better steed thee +then now. Put Money in thy purse: follow thou the +Warres, defeate thy fauour, with an vsurp'd Beard. I say +put Money in thy purse. It cannot be long that Desdemona +should continue her loue to the Moore. Put Money in +thy purse: nor he his to her. It was a violent Commencement +in her, and thou shalt see an answerable Sequestration, +put but Money in thy purse. These Moores +are changeable in their wils: fill thy purse with Money. +The Food that to him now is as lushious as Locusts, +shalbe to him shortly, as bitter as Coloquintida. She +must change for youth: 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 damne thy selfe, do +it a more delicate way then drowning. Make all the Money +thou canst: If Sanctimonie, and a fraile vow, betwixt +an erring Barbarian, and super-subtle Venetian be +not too hard for my wits, and all the Tribe of hell, thou +shalt enioy her: therefore make Money: a pox of drowning +thy selfe, it is cleane out of the way. Seeke thou rather +to be hang'd in Compassing thy ioy, then to be +drown'd, and go without her + + Rodo. Wilt thou be fast to my hopes, if I depend on +the issue? + Iago. Thou art sure of me: Go make Money: I haue +told thee often, and I re-tell thee againe, and againe, I +hate the Moore. My cause is hearted; thine hath no lesse +reason. Let vs be coniunctiue in our reuenge, against +him. If thou canst Cuckold him, thou dost thy selfe a +pleasure, me a sport. There are many Euents in the +Wombe of Time, which wilbe deliuered. Trauerse, go, +prouide thy Money. We will haue more of this to morrow. +Adieu + + Rod. Where shall we meete i'th' morning? + Iago. At my Lodging + + Rod. Ile be with thee betimes + + Iago. Go too, farewell. Do you heare Rodorigo? + Rod. Ile sell all my Land. +Enter. + + Iago. Thus do I euer make my Foole, my purse: +For I mine owne gain'd knowledge should prophane +If I would time expend with such Snipe, +But for my Sport, and Profit: I hate the Moore, +And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets +She ha's done my Office. I know not if't be true, +But I, for meere suspition in that kinde, +Will do, as if for Surety. He holds me well, +The better shall my purpose worke on him: +Cassio's a proper man: Let me see now, +To get his Place, and to plume vp my will +In double Knauery. How? How? Let's see. +After some time, to abuse Othello's eares, +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 Moore is of a free, and open Nature, +That thinkes men honest, that but seeme to be so, +And will as tenderly be lead by'th' Nose +As Asses are: +I hau't: it is engendred: Hell, and Night, +Must bring this monstrous Birth, to the worlds light. + +Actus Secundus. Scena Prima. + +Enter Montano, and two Gentlemen. + + Mon. What from the Cape, can you discerne at Sea? + 1.Gent. Nothing at all, it is a high wrought Flood: +I cannot 'twixt the Heauen, and the Maine, +Descry a Saile + + Mon. Me thinks, the wind hath spoke aloud at Land, +A fuller blast ne're shooke our Battlements: +If it hath ruffiand so vpon the Sea, +What ribbes of Oake, when Mountaines melt on them, +Can hold the Morties. What shall we heare of this? + 2 A Segregation of the Turkish Fleet: +For do but stand vpon the Foaming Shore, +The chidden Billow seemes to pelt the Clowds, +The winde-shak'd-Surge, with high & monstrous Maine +Seemes to cast water on the burning Beare, +And quench the Guards of th' euer-fixed Pole: +I neuer did like mollestation view +On the enchafed Flood + + Men. If that the Turkish Fleete +Be not enshelter'd, and embay'd, they are drown'd, +It is impossible to beare it out. +Enter a Gentleman. + + 3 Newes Laddes: our warres are done: +The desperate Tempest hath so bang'd the Turkes, +That their designement halts. A Noble ship of Venice, +Hath seene a greeuous wracke and sufferance +On most part of their Fleet + + Mon. How? Is this true? + 3 The Ship is heere put in: A Verennessa, Michael Cassio +Lieutenant to the warlike Moore, Othello, +Is come on Shore: the Moore himselfe at Sea, +And is in full Commission heere for Cyprus + + Mon. I am glad on't: +'Tis a worthy Gouernour + + 3 But this same Cassio, though he speake of comfort, +Touching the Turkish losse, yet he lookes sadly, +And praye the Moore be safe; for they were parted +With fowle and violent Tempest + + Mon. Pray Heauens he be: +For I haue seru'd him, and the man commands +Like a full Soldier. Let's to the Sea-side (hoa) +As well to see the Vessell that's come in, +As to throw-out our eyes for braue Othello, +Euen till we make the Maine, and th' Eriall blew, +An indistinct regard + + Gent. Come, let's do so; +For euery Minute is expectancie +Of more Arriuancie. +Enter Cassio. + + Cassi. Thankes you, the valiant of the warlike Isle, +That so approoue the Moore: Oh let the Heauens +Giue him defence against the Elements, +For I haue lost him on a dangerous Sea + + Mon. Is he well ship'd? + Cassio. His Barke is stoutly Timber'd, and his Pylot +Of verie expert, and approu'd Allowance; +Therefore my hope's (not surfetted to death) +Stand in bold Cure + + Within. A Saile, a Saile, a Saile + + Cassio. What noise? + Gent. The Towne is empty; on the brow o'th' Sea +Stand rankes of People and they cry, a Saile + + Cassio. My hopes do shape him for the Gouernor + + Gent. They do discharge their Shot of Courtesie, +Our Friends, at least + + Cassio. I pray you Sir, go forth, +And giue vs truth who 'tis that is arriu'd + + Gent. I shall. +Enter. + + Mon. But good Lieutenant, is your Generall wiu'd? + Cassio. Most fortunately: he hath atchieu'd a Maid +That paragons description, and wilde Fame: +One that excels the quirkes of Blazoning pens, +And in th' essentiall Vesture of Creation, +Do's tyre the Ingeniuer. +Enter Gentleman. + +How now? Who ha's put in? + Gent. 'Tis one Iago, Auncient to the Generall + + Cassio. Ha's had most fauourable, and happie speed: +Tempests themselues, high Seas, and howling windes, +The gutter'd-Rockes, and Congregated Sands, +Traitors ensteep'd, to enclogge the guiltlesse Keele, +As hauing sence of Beautie, do omit +Their mortall Natures, letting go safely by +The Diuine Desdemona + + Mon. What is she? + Cassio. She that I spake of: +Our great Captains Captaine, +Left in the conduct of the bold Iago, +Whose footing heere anticipates our thoughts, +A Senights speed. Great Ioue, Othello guard, +And swell his Saile with thine owne powrefull breath, +That he may blesse this Bay with his tall Ship, +Make loues quicke pants in Desdemonaes Armes, +Giue renew'd fire to our extincted Spirits. + +Enter Desdemona, Iago, Rodorigo, and Aemilia. + +Oh behold, +The Riches of the Ship is come on shore: +You men of Cyprus, let her haue your knees. +Haile to thee Ladie: and the grace of Heauen, +Before, behinde thee, and on euery hand +Enwheele thee round + + Des. I thanke you, Valiant Cassio, +What tydings can you tell of my Lord? + Cas. He is not yet arriu'd, nor know I ought +But that he's well, and will be shortly heere + + Des. Oh, but I feare: +How lost you company? + Cassio. The great Contention of Sea, and Skies +Parted our fellowship. But hearke, a Saile + + Within. A Saile, a Saile + + Gent. They giue this greeting to the Cittadell: +This likewise is a Friend + + Cassio. See for the Newes: +Good Ancient, you are welcome. Welcome Mistris: +Let it not gaule your patience (good Iago) +That I extend my Manners. 'Tis my breeding, +That giues me this bold shew of Curtesie + + Iago. Sir, would she giue you so much of her lippes, +As of her tongue she oft bestowes on me, +You would haue enough + + Des. Alas: she ha's no speech + + Iago. Infaith too much: +I finde it still, when I haue leaue to sleepe. +Marry before your Ladyship, I grant, +She puts her tongue a little in her heart, +And chides with thinking + + aemil. You haue little cause to say so + + Iago. Come on, come on: you are Pictures out of +doore: Bells in your Parlours: Wilde-Cats in your Kitchens: +Saints in your Iniuries: Diuels being offended: +Players in your Huswiferie, and Huswiues in your +Beds + + Des. Oh, fie vpon thee, Slanderer + + Iago. Nay, it is true: or else I am a Turke, +You rise to play, and go to bed to worke. +Aemil. You shall not write my praise + + Iago. No, let me not + + Desde. What would'st write of me, if thou should'st +praise me? + Iago. Oh, gentle Lady, do not put me too't, +For I am nothing, if not Criticall + + Des. Come on, assay. +There's one gone to the Harbour? + Iago. I 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 inuention comes +from my pate, as Birdlyme do's from Freeze, it pluckes +out Braines and all. But my Muse labours, and thus she +is deliuer'd. +If she be faire, and wise: fairenesse, and wit, +The ones for vse, the other vseth it + + Des. Well prais'd: +How if she be Blacke and Witty? + Iago. If she be blacke, and thereto haue a wit, +She'le find a white, that shall her blacknesse fit + + Des. Worse, and worse. +Aemil. How if Faire, and Foolish? + Iago. She neuer yet was foolish that was faire, +For euen her folly helpt her to an heire + + Desde. These are old fond Paradoxes, to make Fooles +laugh i'th' Alehouse. What miserable praise hast thou +for her that's Foule, and Foolish + + Iago. There's none so foule and foolish thereunto, +But do's foule pranks, which faire, and wise-ones do + + Desde. Oh heauy ignorance: thou praisest the worst +best. But what praise could'st thou bestow on a deseruing +woman indeed? One, that in the authorithy of her +merit, did iustly put on the vouch of very malice it +selfe + + Iago. She that was euer faire, and neuer proud, +Had Tongue at will, and yet was neuer loud: +Neuer lackt Gold, and yet went neuer gay, +Fled from her wish, and yet said now I may. +She that being angred, her reuenge being nie, +Bad her wrong stay, and her displeasure flie: +She that in wisedome neuer was so fraile, +To change the Cods-head for the Salmons taile: +She that could thinke, and neu'r disclose her mind, +See Suitors following, and not looke behind: +She was a wight, (if euer such wightes were) + Des. To do what? + Iago. To suckle Fooles, and chronicle small Beere + + Desde. Oh most lame and impotent conclusion. Do +not learne of him aemillia, though he be thy husband. +How say you (Cassio) is he not a most prophane, and liberall +Counsailor? + Cassio. He speakes home (Madam) you may rellish +him more in the Souldier, then in the Scholler + + Iago. He takes her by the palme: I, well said, whisper. +With as little a web as this, will I ensnare as great +a Fly as Cassio. I smile vpon her, do: I will giue thee +in thine owne Courtship. You say true, 'tis so indeed. +If such tricks as these strip you out of your Lieutenantrie, +it had beene better you had not kiss'd your three fingers +so oft, which now againe you are most apt to play +the Sir, in. Very good: well kiss'd, and excellent Curtsie: +'tis so indeed. Yet againe, your fingers to your +lippes? Would they were Cluster-pipes for your +sake. +The Moore I know his Trumpet + + Cassio. 'Tis truely so + + Des. Let's meete him, and recieue him + + Cassio. Loe, where he comes. +Enter Othello, and Attendants. + + Oth. O, my faire Warriour + + Des. My deere Othello + + Othe. It giues me wonder great, as my content +To see you heere before me. +Oh my Soules Ioy: +If after euery Tempest, come such Calmes, +May the windes blow, till they haue waken'd death: +And let the labouring Barke climbe hills of Seas +Olympus high: and duck againe as low, +As hell's from Heauen. If it were now to dye, +'Twere now to be most happy. For I feare, +My Soule hath her content so absolute, +That not another comfort like to this, +Succeedes in vnknowne Fate + + Des. The Heauens forbid +But that our Loues +And Comforts should encrease +Euen as our dayes do grow + + Othe. Amen to that (sweet Powers) +I cannot speake enough of this content, +It stoppes me heere: it is too much of ioy. +And this, and this the greatest discords be +That ere our hearts shall make + + Iago. Oh you are well tun'd now: But Ile set downe +the peggs that make this Musicke, as honest as I am + + Othe. Come: let vs to the Castle. +Newes (Friends) our Warres are done: +The Turkes are drown'd. +How do's my old Acquaintance of this Isle? +(Hony) you shall be well desir'd in Cyprus, +I haue found great loue among'st them. Oh my Sweet, +I prattle out of fashion, and I doate +In mine owne comforts. I prythee, good Iago, +Go to the Bay, and disimbarke my Coffers: +Bring thou the Master to the Cittadell, +He is a good one, and his worthynesse +Do's challenge much respect. Come Desdemona, +Once more well met at Cyprus. + +Exit Othello and Desdemona. + + Iago. Do thou meet me presently at the Harbour. +Come thither, if thou be'st Valiant, (as they say base men +being in Loue, haue then a Nobilitie in their Natures, +more then is natiue to them) list-me; the Lieutenant to +night watches on the Court of Guard. First, I must tell +thee this: Desdemona, is directly in loue with him + + Rod. With him? Why, 'tis not possible + + Iago. Lay thy finger thus: and let thy soule be instructed. +Marke me with what violence she first lou'd +the Moore, but for bragging, and telling her fantasticall +lies. To loue him still for prating, let not thy discreet +heart thinke it. Her eye must be fed. And what delight +shall she haue to looke on the diuell? When the Blood +is made dull with the Act of Sport, there should be a +game to enflame it, and to giue Satiety a fresh appetite. +Louelinesse in fauour, simpathy in yeares, Manners, +and Beauties: all which the Moore is defectiue in. Now +for want of these requir'd Conueniences, her delicate +tendernesse wil finde it selfe abus'd, begin to heaue the, +gorge, disrellish and abhorre the Moore, very Nature wil +instruct her in it, and compell her to some second choice. +Now Sir, this granted (as it is a most pregnant and vnforc'd +position) who stands so eminent in the degree of +this Fortune, as Cassio do's: a knaue very voluble: no +further conscionable, then in putting on the meere forme +of Ciuill, and Humaine seeming, for the better compasse +of his salt, and most hidden loose Affection? Why none, +why none: A slipper, and subtle knaue, a finder of occasion: +that he's an eye can stampe, and counterfeit Aduantages, +though true Aduantage neuer present it selfe. +A diuelish knaue: besides, the knaue is handsome, young: +and hath all those requisites in him, that folly and greene +mindes looke after. A pestilent compleat knaue, and the +woman hath found him already + + Rodo. I cannot beleeue that in her, she's full of most +bless'd condition + + Iago. Bless'd figges-end. The Wine she drinkes is +made of grapes. If shee had beene bless'd, shee would +neuer haue lou'd the Moore: Bless'd pudding. Didst thou +not see her paddle with the palme of his hand? Didst not +marke that? + Rod. Yes, that I did: but that was but curtesie + + Iago . Leacherie by this hand: an Index, and obscure +prologue to the History of Lust and foule Thoughts. +They met so neere with their lippes, that their breathes +embrac'd together. Villanous thoughts Rodorigo, when +these mutabilities so marshall the way, hard at hand +comes the Master, and maine exercise, th' incorporate +conclusion: Pish. But Sir, be you rul'd by me. I haue +brought you from Venice. Watch you to night: for +the Command, Ile lay't vpon you. Cassio knowes you +not: Ile not be farre from you. Do you finde some occasion +to anger Cassio, either by speaking too loud, or +tainting his discipline, or from what other course +you please, which the time shall more fauorably minister + + Rod. Well + + Iago. Sir, he's rash, and very sodaine in Choller: and +happely may strike at you, prouoke him that he may: for +euen out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to Mutiny. +Whose qualification shall come into no true taste againe, +but by the displanting of Cassio. So shall you +haue a shorter iourney to your desires, by the meanes I +shall then haue to preferre them. And the impediment +most profitably remoued, without the which there were +no expectation of our prosperitie + + Rodo. I will do this, if you can bring it to any opportunity + + Iago. I warrant thee. Meete me by and by at the +Cittadell. I must fetch his Necessaries a Shore. Farewell + + Rodo. Adieu. +Enter. + + Iago. That Cassio loues her, I do well beleeu't: +That she loues him, 'tis apt, and of great Credite. +The Moore (howbeit that I endure him not) +Is of a constant, louing, Noble Nature, +And I dare thinke, he'le proue to Desdemona +A most deere husband. Now I do loue her too, +Not out of absolute Lust, (though peraduenture +I stand accomptant for as great a sin) +But partely led to dyet my Reuenge, +For that I do suspect the lustie Moore +Hath leap'd into my Seate. The thought whereof, +Doth (like a poysonous Minerall) gnaw my Inwardes: +And nothing can, or shall content my Soule +Till I am eeuen'd with him, wife, for wife. +Or fayling so, yet that I put the Moore, +At least into a Ielouzie so strong +That iudgement cannot cure. Which thing to do, +If this poore Trash of Venice, whom I trace +For his quicke hunting, stand the putting on, +Ile haue our Michael Cassio on the hip, +Abuse him to the Moore, in the right garbe +(For I feare Cassio with my Night-Cape too) +Make the Moore thanke me, loue me, and reward me, +For making him egregiously an Asse, +And practising vpon his peace, and quiet, +Euen to madnesse. 'Tis heere: but yet confus'd, +Knaueries plaine face, is neuer seene, till vs'd. +Enter. + + +Scena Secunda. + +Enter Othello's Herald with a Proclamation. + + Herald. It is Othello's pleasure, our Noble and Valiant +Generall. That vpon certaine tydings now arriu'd, +importing the meere perdition of the Turkish Fleete: +euery man put himselfe into Triumph. Some to daunce, +some to make Bonfires, each man, to what Sport and +Reuels his addition leads him. For besides these beneficiall +Newes, it is the Celebration of his Nuptiall. So +much was his pleasure should be proclaimed. All offices +are open, & there is full libertie of Feasting from this +present houre of fiue, till the Bell haue told eleuen. +Blesse the Isle of Cyprus, and our Noble Generall Othello. +Enter. + +Enter Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, and Attendants. + + Othe. Good Michael, looke you to the guard to night. +Let's teach our selues that Honourable stop, +Not to out-sport discretion + + Cas. Iago, hath direction what to do. +But notwithstanding with my personall eye +Will I looke to't + + Othe. Iago, is most honest: +Michael, goodnight. To morrow with your earliest, +Let me haue speech with you. Come my deere Loue, +The purchase made, the fruites are to ensue, +That profit's yet to come 'tweene me, and you. +Goodnight. +Enter. + +Enter Iago. + + Cas. Welcome Iago: we must to the Watch + + Iago. Not this houre Lieutenant: 'tis not yet ten +o'th' clocke. Our Generall cast vs thus earely for the +loue of his Desdemona: Who, let vs not therefore blame; +he hath not yet made wanton the night with her: and +she is sport for Ioue + + Cas. She's a most exquisite Lady + + Iago. And Ile warrant her, full of Game + + Cas. Indeed shes a most fresh and delicate creature + + Iago. What an eye she ha's? +Me thinkes it sounds a parley to prouocation + + Cas. An inuiting eye: +And yet me thinkes right modest + + Iago. And when she speakes, +Is it not an Alarum to Loue? + Cas. She is indeed perfection + + Iago. Well: happinesse to their Sheetes. Come Lieutenant, +I haue a stope of Wine, and heere without are a +brace of Cyprus Gallants, that would faine haue a measure +to the health of blacke Othello + + Cas. Not to night, good Iago, I haue very poore, +and vnhappie Braines for drinking. I could well wish +Curtesie would inuent some other Custome of entertainment + + Iago. Oh, they are our Friends: but one Cup, Ile +drinke for you + + Cassio. I haue drunke but one Cup to night, and that +was craftily qualified too: and behold what inouation +it makes heere. I am infortunate in the infirmity, and +dare not taske my weakenesse with any more + + Iago. What man? 'Tis a night of Reuels, the Gallants +desire it + + Cas. Where are they? + Iago. Heere, at the doore: I pray you call them in + + Cas. Ile do't, but it dislikes me. +Enter. + + Iago. If I can fasten but one Cup vpon him +With that which he hath drunke to night alreadie, +He'l be as full of Quarrell, and offence +As my yong Mistris dogge. +Now my sicke Foole Rodorigo, +Whom Loue hath turn'd almost the wrong side out, +To Desdemona hath to night Carrows'd. +Potations, pottle-deepe; and he's to watch. +Three else of Cyprus, Noble swelling Spirites, +(That hold their Honours in a wary distance, +The very Elements of this Warrelike Isle) +Haue I to night fluster'd with flowing Cups, +And they Watch too. +Now 'mongst this Flocke of drunkards +Am I put to our Cassio in some Action +That may offend the Isle. But here they come. +Enter Cassio, Montano, and Gentlemen. + +If Consequence do but approue my dreame, +My Boate sailes freely, both with winde and Streame + + Cas. 'Fore heauen, they haue giuen me a rowse already + + Mon. Good-faith a litle one: not past a pint, as I am a +Souldier + + Iago. Some Wine hoa. +And let me the Cannakin clinke, clinke: +And let me the Cannakin clinke. +A Souldiers a man: Oh, mans life's but a span, +Why then let a Souldier drinke. +Some Wine Boyes + + Cas. 'Fore Heauen: an excellent Song + + Iago. I learn'd it in England: where indeed they are +most potent in Potting. Your Dane, your Germaine, +and your swag-belly'd Hollander, (drinke hoa) are +nothing to your English + + Cassio. Is your Englishmen so exquisite in his drinking? + Iago. Why, he drinkes you with facillitie, your Dane +dead drunke. He sweates not to ouerthrow your Almaine. +He giues your Hollander a vomit, ere the next +Pottle can be fill'd + + Cas. To the health of our Generall + + Mon. I am for it Lieutenant: and Ile do you Iustice + + Iago. Oh sweet England. +King Stephen was anda worthy Peere, +His Breeches cost him but a Crowne, +He held them Six pence all to deere, +With that he cal'd the Tailor Lowne: +He was a wight of high Renowne, +And thou art but of low degree: +'Tis Pride that pulls the Country downe, +And take thy awl'd Cloake about thee. +Some Wine hoa + + Cassio. Why this is a more exquisite Song then the other + + Iago. Will you heare't againe? + Cas. No: for I hold him to be vnworthy of his Place, +that do's those things. Well: heau'ns aboue all: and +there be soules must be saued, and there be soules must +not be saued + + Iago. It's true, good Lieutenant + + Cas. For mine owne part, no offence to the Generall, +nor any man of qualitie: I hope to be saued + + Iago. And so do I too Lieutenant + + Cassio. I: (but by your leaue) not before me. The +Lieutenant is to be saued before the Ancient. Let's haue +no more of this: let's to our Affaires. Forgiue vs our +sinnes: Gentlemen let's looke to our businesse. Do not +thinke Gentlemen, I am drunke: this is my Ancient, this +is my right hand, and this is my left. I am not drunke +now: I can stand well enough, and I speake well enough + + Gent. Excellent well + + Cas. Why very well then: you must not thinke then, +that I am drunke. +Enter. + + Monta. To th' Platforme (Masters) come, let's set the +Watch + + Iago. You see this Fellow, that is gone before, +He's a Souldier, fit to stand by Caesar, +And giue direction. And do but see his vice, +'Tis to his vertue, a iust Equinox, +The one as long as th' other. 'Tis pittie of him: +I feare the trust Othello puts him in, +On some odde time of his infirmitie +Will shake this Island + + Mont. But is he often thus? + Iago. 'Tis euermore his prologue to his sleepe, +He'le watch the Horologe a double Set, +If Drinke rocke not his Cradle + + Mont. It were well +The Generall were put in mind of it: +Perhaps he sees it not, or his good nature +Prizes the vertue that appeares in Cassio, +And lookes not on his euills: is not this true? +Enter Rodorigo. + + Iago. How now Rodorigo? +I pray you after the Lieutenant, go + + Mon. And 'tis great pitty, that the Noble Moore +Should hazard such a Place, as his owne Second +With one of an ingraft Infirmitie, +It were an honest Action, to say so +To the Moore + + Iago. Not I, for this faire Island, +I do loue Cassio well: and would do much +To cure him of this euill, But hearke, what noise? +Enter Cassio pursuing Rodorigo. + + Cas. You Rogue: you Rascall + + Mon. What's the matter Lieutenant? + Cas. A Knaue teach me my dutie? Ile beate the +Knaue in to a Twiggen-Bottle + + Rod. Beate me? + Cas. Dost thou prate, Rogue? + Mon. Nay, good Lieutenant: +I pray you Sir, hold your hand + + Cassio. Let me go (Sir) +Or Ile knocke you o're the Mazard + + Mon. Come, come: you're drunke + + Cassio. Drunke? + Iago. Away I say: go out and cry a Mutinie. +Nay good Lieutenant. Alas Gentlemen: +Helpe hoa. Lieutenant. Sir Montano: +Helpe Masters. Heere's a goodly Watch indeed. +Who's that which rings the Bell: Diablo, hoa: +The Towne will rise. Fie, fie Lieutenant, +You'le be asham'd for euer. +Enter Othello, and Attendants. + + Othe. What is the matter heere? + Mon. I bleed still, I am hurt to th' death. He dies + + Othe. Hold for your liues + + Iag. Hold hoa: Lieutenant, Sir Montano, Gentlemen: +Haue you forgot all place of sense and dutie? +Hold. The Generall speaks to you: hold for shame + + Oth. Why how now hoa? From whence ariseth this? +Are we turn'd Turkes? and to our selues do that +Which Heauen hath forbid the Ottamittes. +For Christian shame, put by this barbarous Brawle: +He that stirs next, to carue for his owne rage, +Holds his soule light: He dies vpon his Motion. +Silence that dreadfull Bell, it frights the Isle, +From her propriety. What is the matter, Masters? +Honest Iago, that lookes dead with greeuing, +Speake: who began this? On thy loue I charge thee? + Iago. I do not know: Friends all, but now, euen now. +In Quarter, and in termes like Bride, and Groome +Deuesting them for Bed: and then, but now: +(As if some Planet had vnwitted men) +Swords out, and tilting one at others breastes, +In opposition bloody. I cannot speake +Any begining to this peeuish oddes. +And would, in Action glorious, I had lost +Those legges, that brought me to a part of it + + Othe. How comes it (Michaell) you are thus forgot? + Cas. I pray you pardon me, I cannot speake + + Othe. Worthy Montano, you were wont to be ciuill: +The grauitie, and stillnesse of your youth +The world hath noted. And your name is great +In mouthes of wisest Censure. What's the matter +That you vnlace your reputation thus, +And spend your rich opinion, for the name +Of a night-brawler? Giue me answer to it + + Mon. Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger, +Your Officer Iago, can informe you, +While I spare speech which something now offends me. +Of all that I do know, nor know I ought +By me, that's said, or done amisse this night, +Vnlesse selfe-charitie be sometimes a vice, +And to defend our selues, it be a sinne +When violence assailes vs + + Othe. Now by Heauen, +My blood begins my safer Guides to rule, +And passion (hauing my best iudgement collied) +Assaies to leade the way. If I once stir, +Or do but lift this Arme, the best of you +Shall sinke in my rebuke. Giue me to know +How this foule Rout began: Who set it on, +And he that is approu'd in this offence, +Though he had twinn'd with me, both at a birth, +Shall loose me. What in a Towne of warre, +Yet wilde, the peoples hearts brim-full of feare, +To Manage priuate, and domesticke Quarrell? +In night, and on the Court and Guard of safetie? +'Tis monstrous: Iago, who began't? + Mon. If partially Affin'd, or league in office, +Thou dost deliuer more, or lesse then Truth, +Thou art no Souldier + + Iago. Touch me not so neere, +I had rather haue this tongue cut from my mouth, +Then it should do offence to Michaell Cassio. +Yet I perswade my selfe, to speake the truth +Shall nothing wrong him. This it is Generall: +Montano and my selfe being in speech, +There comes a Fellow, crying out for helpe, +And Cassio following him with determin'd Sword +To execute vpon him. Sir, this Gentleman, +Steppes in to Cassio, and entreats his pause: +My selfe, the crying Fellow did pursue, +Least by his clamour (as it so fell out) +The Towne might fall in fright. He, (swift of foote) +Out-ran my purpose: and I return'd then rather +For that I heard the clinke, and fall of Swords, +And Cassio high in oath: Which till to night +I nere might say before. When I came backe +(For this was briefe) I found them close together +At blow, and thrust, euen as againe they were +When you your selfe did part them. +More of this matter cannot I 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 beleeue receiu'd +From him that fled, some strange Indignitie, +Which patience could not passe + + Othe. I know Iago +Thy honestie, and loue doth mince this matter, +Making it light to Cassio: Cassio, I loue thee, +But neuer more be Officer of mine. +Enter Desdemona attended. + +Looke if my gentle Loue be not rais'd vp: +Ile make thee an example + + Des. What is the matter (Deere?) + Othe. All's well, Sweeting: +Come away to bed. Sir for your hurts, +My selfe will be your Surgeon. Lead him off: +Iago, looke with care about the Towne, +And silence those whom this vil'd brawle distracted. +Come Desdemona, 'tis the Soldiers life, +To haue their Balmy slumbers wak'd with strife. +Enter. + + Iago. What are you hurt Lieutenant? + Cas. I, past all Surgery + + Iago. Marry Heauen forbid + + Cas. Reputation, Reputation, Reputation: Oh I haue +lost my Reputation. I haue lost the immortall part of +myselfe, and what remaines is bestiall. My Reputation, +Iago, my Reputation + + Iago. As I am an honest man I had thought you had +receiued some bodily wound; there is more sence in that +then in Reputation. Reputation is an idle, and most false +imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deseruing. +You haue lost no Reputation at all, vnlesse you +repute your selfe such a looser. What man, there are +more wayes to recouer the Generall againe. You are +but now cast in his moode, (a punishment more in policie, +then in malice) euen so as one would beate his offencelesse +dogge, to affright an Imperious Lyon. Sue to +him againe, and he's yours + + Cas. I will rather sue to be despis'd, then to deceiue +so good a Commander, with so slight, so drunken, and so +indiscreet an Officer. Drunke? And speake Parrat? And +squabble? Swagger? Sweare? And discourse Fustian +with ones owne shadow? Oh thou invisible spirit of +Wine, if thou hast no name to be knowne by, let vs call +thee Diuell + + Iago. What was he that you follow'd with your +Sword? What had he done to you? + Cas. I know not + + Iago. Is't possible? + Cas. I remember a masse of things, but nothing distinctly: +a Quarrell, but nothing wherefore. Oh, that +men should put an Enemie in their mouthes, to steale away +their Braines? that we should with ioy, pleasance, +reuell and applause, transforme our selues into Beasts + + Iago. Why? But you are now well enough: how +came you thus recouered? + Cas. It hath pleas'd the diuell drunkennesse, to giue +place to the diuell wrath, one vnperfectnesse, shewes me +another to make me frankly despise my selfe + + Iago. Come, you are too seuere a Moraller. As the +Time, the Place, & the Condition of this Country stands +I could hartily wish this had not befalne: but since it is, as +it is, mend it for your owne good + + Cas. I will aske him for my Place againe, he shall tell +me, I am a drunkard: had I as many mouthes as Hydra, +such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible +man, by and by a Foole, and presently a Beast. Oh +strange! Euery inordinate cup is vnbless'd, and the Ingredient +is a diuell + + Iago. Come, come: good wine, is a good familiar +Creature, if it be well vs'd: exclaime no more against it. +And good Lieutenant, I thinke, you thinke I loue +you + + Cassio. I haue well approued it, Sir. I drunke? + Iago. You, or any man liuing, may be drunke at a +time man. I tell you what you shall do: Our General's +Wife, is now the Generall. I may say so, in this respect, +for that he hath deuoted, and giuen vp himselfe to the +Contemplation, marke: and deuotement of her parts +and Graces. Confesse your selfe freely to her: Importune +her helpe to put you in your place againe. She is +of so free, so kinde, so apt, so blessed a disposition, +she holds it a vice in her goodnesse, not to do more +then she is requested. This broken ioynt betweene +you, and her husband, entreat her to splinter. And my +Fortunes against any lay worth naming, this cracke of +your Loue, shall grow stronger, then it was before + + Cassio. You aduise me well + + Iago. I protest in the sinceritie of Loue, and honest +kindnesse + + Cassio. I thinke it freely: and betimes in the morning, +I will beseech the vertuous Desdemona to vndertake +for me: I am desperate of my Fortunes if they check me + + Iago. You are in the right: good night Lieutenant, I +must to the Watch + + Cassio. Good night, honest Iago. + +Exit Cassio. + + Iago. And what's he then, +That saies I play the Villaine? +When this aduise is free I giue, and honest, +Proball to thinking, and indeed the course +To win the Moore againe. +For 'tis most easie +Th' inclyning Desdemona to subdue +In any honest Suite. She's fram'd as fruitefull +As the free Elements. And then for her +To win the Moore, were to renownce his Baptisme, +All Seales, and Simbols of redeemed sin: +His Soule is so enfetter'd to her Loue, +That she may make, vnmake, do what she list, +Euen as her Appetite shall play the God, +With his weake Function. How am I then a Villaine, +To Counsell Cassio to this paralell course, +Directly to his good? Diuinitie of hell, +When diuels will the blackest sinnes put on, +They do suggest at first with heauenly shewes, +As I do now. For whiles this honest Foole +Plies Desdemona, to repaire his Fortune, +And she for him, pleades strongly to the Moore, +Ile powre this pestilence into his eare: +That she repeales him, for her bodies Lust, +And by how much she striues to do him good, +She shall vndo her Credite with the Moore. +So will I turne her vertue into pitch. +And out of her owne goodnesse make the Net, +That shall en-mash them all. +How now Rodorigo? +Enter Rodorigo. + + Rodorigo. I do follow heere in the Chace, not +like a Hound that hunts, but one that filles vp the +Crie. My Money is almost spent; I haue bin to night +exceedingly well Cudgell'd: And I thinke the issue +will bee, I shall haue so much experience for my paines; +And so, with no money at all, and a little more Wit, returne +againe to Venice + + Iago. How poore are they that haue not Patience? +What wound did euer heale but by degrees? +Thou know'st we worke by Wit, and not by Witchcraft +And Wit depends on dilatory time: +Dos't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee, +And thou by that small hurt hath casheer'd Cassio: +Though other things grow faire against the Sun, +Yet Fruites that blossome first, will first be ripe: +Content thy selfe, a-while. Introth 'tis Morning; +Pleasure, and Action, make the houres seeme short. +Retire thee, go where thou art Billited: +Away, I say, thou shalt know more heereafter: +Nay get thee gone. + +Exit Roderigo. + +Two things are to be done: +My Wife must moue for Cassio to her Mistris: +Ile set her on my selfe, a while, to draw the Moor apart, +And bring him iumpe, when he may Cassio finde +Soliciting his wife: I, that's the way: +Dull not Deuice, by coldnesse, and delay. +Enter. + + +Actus Tertius. Scena Prima. + +Enter Cassio, Musitians, and Clowne. + + Cassio. Masters, play heere, I wil content your paines, +Something that's briefe: and bid, goodmorrow General + + Clo. Why Masters, haue your Instruments bin in Naples, +that they speake i'th' Nose thus? + Mus. How Sir? how? + Clo. Are these I pray you, winde Instruments? + Mus. I marry are they sir + + Clo. Oh, thereby hangs a tale + + Mus. Whereby hangs a tale, sir? + Clow. Marry sir, by many a winde Instrument that I +know. But Masters, heere's money for you: and the Generall +so likes your Musick, that he desires you for loues +sake to make no more noise with it + + Mus. Well Sir, we will not + + Clo. If you haue any Musicke that may not be heard, +too't againe. But (as they say) to heare Musicke, the Generall +do's not greatly care + + Mus. We haue none such, sir + + Clow. Then put vp your Pipes in your bagge, for Ile +away. Go, vanish into ayre, away. + +Exit Mu. + + Cassio. Dost thou heare me, mine honest Friend? + Clo. No, I heare not your honest Friend: +I heare you + + Cassio. Prythee keepe vp thy Quillets, ther's a poore +peece of Gold for thee: if the Gentlewoman that attends +the Generall be stirring, tell her, there's one Cassio entreats +her a little fauour of Speech. Wilt thou do this? + Clo. She is stirring sir: if she will stirre hither, I shall +seeme to notifie vnto her. + +Exit Clo. + +Enter Iago. + +In happy time, Iago + + Iago. You haue not bin a-bed then? + Cassio. Why no: the day had broke before we parted. +I haue made bold (Iago) to send in to your wife: +My suite to her is, that she will to vertuous Desdemona +Procure me some accesse + + Iago. Ile send her to you presently: +And Ile deuise a meane to draw the Moore +Out of the way, that your conuerse and businesse +May be more free. + +Exit + + Cassio. I humbly thanke you for't. I neuer knew +A Florentine more kinde, and honest. +Enter aemilia. + +Aemil. Goodmorrow (good Lieutenant) I am sorrie +For your displeasure: but all will sure be well. +The Generall and his wife are talking of it, +And she speakes for you stoutly. The Moore replies, +That he you hurt is of great Fame in Cyprus, +And great Affinitie: and that in wholsome Wisedome +He might not but refuse you. But he protests he loues you +And needs no other Suitor, but his likings +To bring you in againe + + Cassio. Yet I beseech you, +If you thinke fit, or that it may be done, +Giue me aduantage of some breefe Discourse +With Desdemon alone. +Aemil. Pray you come in: +I will bestow you where you shall haue time +To speake your bosome freely + + Cassio. I am much bound to you. + +Scoena Secunda. + +Enter Othello, Iago, and Gentlemen. + + Othe. These Letters giue (Iago) to the Pylot, +And by him do my duties to the Senate: +That done, I will be walking on the Workes, +Repaire there to mee + + Iago. Well, my good Lord, Ile doo't + + Oth. This Fortification (Gentlemen) shall we see't? + Gent. Well waite vpon your Lordship. + +Exeunt. + +Scoena Tertia. + +Enter Desdemona, Cassio, and aemilia. + + Des. Be thou assur'd (good Cassio) I will do +All my abilities in thy behalfe. +Aemil. Good Madam do: +I warrant it greeues my Husband, +As if the cause were his + + Des. Oh that's an honest Fellow, Do not doubt Cassio +But I will haue my Lord, and you againe +As friendly as you were + + Cassio. Bounteous Madam, +What euer shall become of Michael Cassio, +He's neuer any thing but your true Seruant + + Des. I know't: I thanke you: you do loue my Lord: +You haue knowne him long, and be you well assur'd +He shall in strangenesse stand no farther off, +Then in a politique distance + + Cassio. I, but Lady, +That policie may either last so long, +Or feede vpon such nice and waterish diet, +Or breede it selfe so out of Circumstances, +That I being absent, and my place supply'd, +My Generall will forget my Loue, and Seruice + + Des. Do not doubt that: before aemilia here, +I giue thee warrant of thy place. Assure thee, +If I do vow a friendship, Ile performe it +To the last Article. My Lord shall neuer rest, +Ile watch him tame, and talke him out of patience; +His Bed shall seeme a Schoole, his Boord a Shrift, +Ile intermingle euery thing he do's +With Cassio's suite: Therefore be merry Cassio, +For thy Solicitor shall rather dye, +Then giue thy cause away. +Enter Othello, and Iago. + +Aemil. Madam, heere comes my Lord + + Cassio. Madam, Ile take my leaue + + Des. Why stay, and heare me speake + + Cassio. Madam, not now: I am very ill at ease, +Vnfit for mine owne purposes + + Des. Well, do your discretion. + +Exit Cassio. + + Iago. Hah? I like not that + + Othel. What dost thou say? + Iago. Nothing my Lord; or if- I know not what + + Othel. Was not that Cassio parted from my wife? + Iago. Cassio my Lord? No sure, I cannot thinke it +That he would steale away so guilty-like, +Seeing your comming + + Oth. I do beleeue 'twas he + + Des. How now my Lord? +I haue bin talking with a Suitor heere, +A man that languishes in your displeasure + + Oth. Who is't you meane? + Des. Why your Lieutenant Cassio: Good my Lord, +If I haue any grace, or power to moue you, +His present reconciliation take. +For if he be not one, that truly loues you, +That erres in Ignorance, and not in Cunning, +I haue no iudgement in an honest face. +I prythee call him backe + + Oth. Went he hence now? + Des. I sooth; so humbled, +That he hath left part of his greefe with mee +To suffer with him. Good Loue, call him backe + + Othel. Not now (sweet Desdemon) some other time + + Des. But shall't be shortly? + Oth. The sooner (Sweet) for you + + Des. Shall't be to night, at Supper? + Oth. No, not to night + + Des. To morrow Dinner then? + Oth. I shall not dine at home: +I meete the Captaines at the Cittadell + + Des. Why then to morrow night, on Tuesday morne, +On Tuesday noone, or night; on Wensday Morne. +I prythee name the time, but let it not +Exceed three dayes. Infaith hee's penitent: +And yet his Trespasse, in our common reason +(Saue that they say the warres must make example) +Out of her best, is not almost a fault +T' encurre a priuate checke. When shall he come? +Tell me Othello. I wonder in my Soule +What you would aske me, that I should deny, +Or stand so mam'ring on? What? Michael Cassio, +That came a woing with you? and so many a time +(When I haue spoke of you dispraisingly) +Hath tane your part, to haue so much to do +To bring him in? Trust me, I could do much + + Oth. Prythee no more: Let him come when he will: +I will deny thee nothing + + Des. Why, this is not a Boone: +'Tis as I should entreate you weare your Gloues, +Or feede on nourishing dishes, or keepe you warme, +Or sue to you, to do a peculiar profit +To your owne person. Nay, when I haue a suite +Wherein I meane to touch your Loue indeed, +It shall be full of poize, and difficult waight, +And fearefull to be granted + + Oth. I will deny thee nothing. +Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this, +To leaue me but a little to my selfe + + Des. Shall I deny you? No: farewell my Lord + + Oth. Farewell my Desdemona, Ile come to thee strait + + Des. aemilia come; be as your Fancies teach you: +What ere you be, I am obedient. +Enter. + + Oth. Excellent wretch: Perdition catch my Soule +But I do loue thee: and when I loue thee not, +Chaos is come againe + + Iago. My Noble Lord + + Oth. What dost thou say, Iago? + Iago. Did Michael Cassio +When he woo'd my Lady, know of your loue? + Oth. He did, from first to last: +Why dost thou aske? + Iago. But for a satisfaction of my Thought, +No further harme + + Oth. Why of thy thought, Iago? + Iago. I did not thinke he had bin acquainted with hir + + Oth. O yes, and went betweene vs very oft + + Iago. Indeed? + Oth. Indeed? I indeed. Discern'st thou ought in that? +Is he not honest? + Iago. Honest, my Lord? + Oth. Honest? I, Honest + + Iago. My Lord, for ought I know + + Oth. What do'st thou thinke? + Iago. Thinke, my Lord? + Oth. Thinke, my Lord? Alas, thou ecchos't me; +As if there were some Monster in thy thought +Too hideous to be shewne. Thou dost mean somthing: +I heard thee say euen now, thou lik'st not that, +When Cassio left my wife. What didd'st not like? +And when I told thee, he was of my Counsaile, +Of my whole course of wooing; thou cried'st, Indeede? +And didd'st contract, and purse thy brow together, +As if thou then hadd'st shut vp in thy Braine +Some horrible Conceite. If thou do'st loue me, +Shew me thy thought + + Iago. My Lord, you know I loue you + + Oth. I thinke thou do'st: +And for I know thou'rt full of Loue, and Honestie, +And weigh'st thy words before thou giu'st them breath, +Therefore these stops of thine, fright me the more: +For such things in a false disloyall Knaue +Are trickes of Custome: but in a man that's iust, +They're close dilations, working from the heart, +That Passion cannot rule + + Iago. For Michael Cassio, +I dare be sworne, I thinke that he is honest + + Oth. I thinke so too + + Iago. Men should be what they seeme, +Or those that be not, would they might seeme none + + Oth. Certaine, men should be what they seeme + + Iago. Why then I thinke Cassio's an honest man + + Oth. Nay, yet there's more in this? +I prythee speake to me, as to thy thinkings, +As thou dost ruminate, and giue thy worst of thoughts +The worst of words + + Iago. Good my Lord pardon me, +Though I am bound to euery Acte of dutie, +I am not bound to that: All Slaues are free: +Vtter my Thoughts? Why say, they are vild, and falce? +As where's that Palace, whereinto foule things +Sometimes intrude not? Who ha's that breast so pure, +Wherein vncleanly Apprehensions +Keepe Leetes, and Law-dayes, and in Sessions sit +With meditations lawfull? + Oth. Thou do'st conspire against thy Friend (Iago) +If thou but think'st him wrong'd, and mak'st his eare +A stranger to thy Thoughts + + Iago. I do beseech you, +Though I perchance am vicious in my guesse +(As I confesse it is my Natures plague +To spy into Abuses, and of my iealousie +Shapes faults that are not) that your wisedome +From one, that so imperfectly conceits, +Would take no notice, nor build your selfe a trouble +Out of his scattering, and vnsure obseruance: +It were not for your quiet, nor your good, +Nor for my Manhood, Honesty, and Wisedome, +To let you know my thoughts + + Oth. What dost thou meane? + Iago. Good name in Man, & woman (deere my Lord) +Is the immediate Iewell of their Soules; +Who steales my purse, steales trash: +'Tis something, nothing; +'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has bin slaue to thousands: +But he that filches from me my good Name, +Robs me of that, which not enriches him, +And makes me poore indeed + + Oth. Ile know thy Thoughts + + Iago. You cannot, if my heart were in your hand, +Nor shall not, whil'st 'tis in my custodie + + Oth. Ha? + Iago. Oh, beware my Lord, of iealousie, +It is the greene-ey'd Monster, which doth mocke +The meate it feeds on. That Cuckold liues in blisse, +Who certaine of his Fate, loues not his wronger: +But oh, what damned minutes tels he ore, +Who dotes, yet doubts: Suspects, yet soundly loues? + Oth. O miserie + + Iago. Poore, and Content, is rich, and rich enough, +But Riches finelesse, is as poore as Winter, +To him that euer feares he shall be poore: +Good Heauen, the Soules of all my Tribe defend +From Iealousie + + Oth. Why? why is this? +Think'st thou, I'ld make a Life of Iealousie; +To follow still the changes of the Moone +With fresh suspitions? No: to be once in doubt, +Is to be resolu'd: Exchange me for a Goat, +When I shall turne the businesse of my Soule +To such exufflicate, and blow'd Surmises, +Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me Iealious, +To say my wife is faire, feeds well, loues company, +Is free of Speech, Sings, Playes, and Dances: +Where Vertue is, these are more vertuous. +Nor from mine owne weake merites, will I draw +The smallest feare, or doubt of her reuolt, +For she had eyes, and chose me. No Iago, +Ile see before I doubt; when I doubt, proue; +And on the proofe, there is no more but this, +Away at once with Loue, or Iealousie + + Ia. I am glad of this: For now I shall haue reason +To shew the Loue and Duty that I beare you +With franker spirit. Therefore (as I am bound) +Receiue it from me. I speake not yet of proofe: +Looke to your wife, obserue her well with Cassio, +Weare your eyes, thus: not Iealious, nor Secure: +I would not haue your free, and Noble Nature, +Out of selfe-Bounty, be abus'd: Looke too't: +I know our Country disposition well: +In Venice, they do let Heauen see the prankes +They dare not shew their Husbands. +Their best Conscience, +Is not to leaue't vndone, but kept vnknowne + + Oth. Dost thou say so? + Iago. She did deceiue her Father, marrying you, +And when she seem'd to shake, and feare your lookes, +She lou'd them most + + Oth. And so she did + + Iago. Why go too then: +Shee that so young could giue out such a Seeming +To seele her Fathers eyes vp, close as Oake, +He thought 'twas Witchcraft. +But I am much too blame: +I humbly do beseech you of your pardon +For too much louing you + + Oth. I am bound to thee for euer + + Iago. I see this hath a little dash'd your Spirits: + Oth. Not a iot, not a iot + + Iago. Trust me, I feare it has: +I hope you will consider what is spoke +Comes from your Loue. +But I do see y'are moou'd: +I am to pray you, not to straine my speech +To grosser issues, nor to larger reach, +Then to Suspition + + Oth. I will not + + Iago. Should you do so (my Lord) +My speech should fall into such vilde successe, +Which my Thoughts aym'd not. +Cassio's my worthy Friend: +My Lord, I see y'are mou'd + + Oth. No, not much mou'd: +I do not thinke but Desdemona's honest + + Iago. Long liue she so; +And long liue you to thinke so + + Oth. And yet how Nature erring from it selfe + + Iago. I, there's the point: +As (to be bold with you) +Not to affect many proposed Matches +Of her owne Clime, Complexion, and Degree, +Whereto we see in all things, Nature tends: +Foh, one may smel in such, a will most ranke, +Foule disproportions, Thoughts vnnaturall. +But (pardon me) I do not in position +Distinctly speake of her, though I may feare +Her will, recoyling to her better iudgement, +May fal to match you with her Country formes, +And happily repent + + Oth. Farewell, farewell: +If more thou dost perceiue, let me know more: +Set on thy wife to obserue. +Leaue me Iago + + Iago. My Lord, I take my leaue + + Othel. Why did I marry? +This honest Creature (doubtlesse) +Sees, and knowes more, much more then he vnfolds + + Iago. My Lord, I would I might intreat your Honor +To scan this thing no farther: Leaue it to time, +Although 'tis fit that Cassio haue his Place; +For sure he filles it vp with great Ability; +Yet if you please, to him off a-while: +You shall by that perceiue him, and his meanes: +Note if your Lady straine his Entertainment +With any strong, or vehement importunitie, +Much will be seene in that: In the meane time, +Let me be thought too busie in my feares, +(As worthy cause I haue to feare I am) +And hold her free, I do beseech your Honor + + Oth. Feare not my gouernment + + Iago. I once more take my leaue. +Enter. + + Oth. This Fellow's of exceeding honesty, +And knowes all Quantities with a learn'd Spirit +Of humane dealings. If I do proue her Haggard, +Though that her Iesses were my deere heart-strings, +I'ld whistle her off, and let her downe the winde +To prey at Fortune. Haply, for I am blacke, +And haue not those soft parts of Conuersation +That Chamberers haue: Or for I am declin'd +Into the vale of yeares (yet that's not much) +Shee's gone. I am abus'd, and my releefe +Must be to loath her. Oh Curse of Marriage! +That we can call these delicate Creatures ours, +And not their Appetites? I had rather be a Toad, +And liue vpon the vapour of a Dungeon, +Then keepe a corner in the thing I loue +For others vses. Yet 'tis the plague to Great-ones, +Prerogatiu'd are they lesse then the Base, +'Tis destiny vnshunnable, like death: +Euen then, this forked plague is Fated to vs, +When we do quicken. Looke where she comes: +Enter Desdemona and aemilia. + +If she be false, Heauen mock'd it selfe: +Ile not beleeue't + + Des. How now, my deere Othello? +Your dinner, and the generous Islanders +By you inuited, do attend your presence + + Oth. I am too blame + + Des. Why do you speake so faintly? +Are you not well? + Oth. I haue a paine vpon my Forehead, heere + + Des. Why that's with watching, 'twill away againe. +Let me but binde it hard, within this houre +It will be well + + Oth. Your Napkin is too little: +Let it alone: Come, Ile go in with you. +Enter. + + Des. I am very sorry that you are not well. +Aemil. I am glad I haue found this Napkin: +This was her first remembrance from the Moore, +My wayward Husband hath a hundred times +Woo'd me to steale it. But she so loues the Token, +(For he coniur'd her, she should euer keepe it) +That she reserues it euermore about her, +To kisse, and talke too. Ile haue the worke tane out, +And giu't Iago: what he will do with it +Heauen knowes, not I: +I nothing, but to please his Fantasie. +Enter Iago. + + Iago. How now? What do you heere alone? +Aemil. Do not you chide: I haue a thing for you + + Iago. You haue a thing for me? +It is a common thing- +Aemil. Hah? + Iago. To haue a foolish wife. +Aemil. Oh, is that all? What will you giue me now +For that same Handkerchiefe + + Iago. What Handkerchiefe? +Aemil. What Handkerchiefe? +Why that the Moore first gaue to Desdemona, +That which so often you did bid me steale + + Iago. Hast stolne it from her? +Aemil. No: but she let it drop by negligence, +And to th' aduantage, I being heere, took't vp: +Looke, heere 'tis + + Iago. A good wench, giue it me. +Aemil. What will you do with't, that you haue bene +so earnest to haue me filch it? + Iago. Why, what is that to you? +Aemil. If it be not for some purpose of import, +Giu't me againe. Poore Lady, shee'l run mad +When she shall lacke it + + Iago. Be not acknowne on't: +I haue vse for it. Go, leaue me. + +Exit aemil. + +I will in Cassio's Lodging loose this Napkin, +And let him finde it. Trifles light as ayre, +Are to the iealious, confirmations strong, +As proofes of holy Writ. This may do something. +The Moore already changes with my poyson: +Dangerous conceites, are in their Natures poysons, +Which at the first are scarse found to distaste: +But with a little acte vpon the blood, +Burne like the Mines of Sulphure. I did say so. +Enter Othello. + +Looke where he comes: Not Poppy, nor Mandragora, +Nor all the drowsie Syrrups of the world +Shall euer medicine thee to that sweete sleepe +Which thou owd'st yesterday + + Oth. Ha, ha, false to mee? + Iago. Why how now Generall? No more of that + + Oth. Auant, be gone: Thou hast set me on the Racke: +I sweare 'tis better to be much abus'd, +Then but to know't a little + + Iago. How now, my Lord? + Oth. What sense had I, in her stolne houres of Lust? +I saw't not, thought it not: it harm'd not me: +I slept the next night well, fed well, was free, and merrie. +I found not Cassio's kisses on her Lippes: +He that is robb'd, not wanting what is stolne, +Let him not know't, and he's not robb'd at all + + Iago. I am sorry to heare this? + Oth. I had beene happy, if the generall Campe, +Pyoners and all, had tasted her sweet Body, +So I had nothing knowne. Oh now, for euer +Farewell the Tranquill minde; farewell Content; +Farewell the plumed Troopes, and the bigge Warres, +That makes Ambition, Vertue! Oh farewell, +Farewell the neighing Steed, and the shrill Trumpe, +The Spirit-stirring Drum, th' Eare-piercing Fife, +The Royall Banner, and all Qualitie, +Pride, Pompe, and Circumstance of glorious Warre: +And O you mortall Engines, whose rude throates +Th' immortall Ioues dread Clamours, counterfet, +Farewell: Othello's Occupation's gone + + Iago. Is't possible my Lord? + Oth. Villaine, be sure thou proue my Loue a Whore; +Be sure of it: Giue me the Occular proofe, +Or by the worth of mine eternall Soule, +Thou had'st bin better haue bin borne a Dog +Then answer my wak'd wrath + + Iago. Is't come to this? + Oth. Make me to see't: or (at the least) so proue it, +That the probation beare no Hindge, nor Loope, +To hang a doubt on: Or woe vpon thy life + + Iago. My Noble Lord + + Oth. If thou dost slander her, and torture me, +Neuer pray more: Abandon all remorse +On Horrors head, Horrors accumulate: +Do deeds to make Heauen weepe, all Earth amaz'd; +For nothing canst thou to damnation adde, +Greater then that + + Iago. O Grace! O Heauen forgiue me! +Are you a Man? Haue you a Soule? or Sense? +God buy you: take mine Office. Oh wretched Foole, +That lou'st to make thine Honesty, a Vice! +Oh monstrous world! Take note, take note (O World) +To be direct and honest, is not safe. +I thanke you for this profit, and from hence +Ile loue no Friend, sith Loue breeds such offence + + Oth. Nay stay: thou should'st be honest + + Iago. I should be wise; for Honestie's a Foole, +And looses that it workes for + + Oth. By the World, +I thinke my Wife be honest, and thinke she is not: +I thinke that thou art iust, and thinke thou art not: +Ile haue some proofe. My name that was as fresh +As Dians Visage, is now begrim'd and blacke +As mine owne face. If there be Cords, or Kniues, +Poyson, or Fire, or suffocating streames, +Ile not indure it. Would I were satisfied + + Iago. I see you are eaten vp with Passion: +I do repent me, that I put it to you. +You would be satisfied? + Oth. Would? Nay, and I will + + Iago. And may: but how? How satisfied, my Lord? +Would you the super-vision grossely gape on? +Behold her top'd? + Oth. Death, and damnation. Oh! + Iago. It were a tedious difficulty, I thinke, +To bring them to that Prospect: Damne them then, +If euer mortall eyes do see them boulster +More then their owne. What then? How then? +What shall I say? Where's Satisfaction? +It is impossible you should see this, +Were they as prime as Goates, as hot as Monkeyes, +As salt as Wolues in pride, and Fooles as grosse +As Ignorance, made drunke. But yet, I say, +If imputation, and strong circumstances, +Which leade directly to the doore of Truth, +Will giue you satisfaction, you might haue't + + Oth. Giue me a liuing reason she's disloyall + + Iago. I do not like the Office. +But sith I am entred in this cause so farre +(Prick'd too't by foolish Honesty, and Loue) +I will go on. I lay with Cassio lately, +And being troubled with a raging tooth, +I could not sleepe. There are a kinde of men, +So loose of Soule, that in their sleepes will mutter +Their Affayres: one of this kinde is Cassio: +In sleepe I heard him say, sweet Desdemona, +Let vs be wary, let vs hide our Loues, +And then (Sir) would he gripe, and wring my hand: +Cry, oh sweet Creature: then kisse me hard, +As if he pluckt vp kisses by the rootes, +That grew vpon my lippes, laid his Leg ore my Thigh, +And sigh, and kisse, and then cry cursed Fate, +That gaue thee to the Moore + + Oth. O monstrous! monstrous! + Iago. Nay, this was but his Dreame + + Oth. But this denoted a fore-gone conclusion, +'Tis a shrew'd doubt, though it be but a Dreame + + Iago. And this may helpe to thicken other proofes, +That do demonstrate thinly + + Oth. Ile teare her all to peeces + + Iago. Nay yet be wise; yet we see nothing done, +She may be honest yet: Tell me but this, +Haue you not sometimes seene a Handkerchiefe +Spotted with Strawberries, in your wiues hand? + Oth. I gaue her such a one: 'twas my first gift + + Iago. I know not that: but such a Handkerchiefe +(I am sure it was your wiues) did I to day +See Cassio wipe his Beard with + + Oth. If it be that + + Iago. If it be that, or any, it was here. +It speakes against her with the other proofes + + Othel. O that the Slaue had forty thousand liues: +One is too poore, too weake for my reuenge. +Now do I see 'tis true. Looke heere Iago, +All my fond loue thus do I blow to Heauen. 'Tis gone. +Arise blacke vengeance, from the hollow hell, +Yeeld vp (O Loue) thy Crowne, and hearted Throne +To tyrannous Hate. Swell bosome with thy fraught, +For 'tis of Aspickes tongues + + Iago. Yet be content + + Oth. Oh blood, blood, blood + + Iago. Patience I say: your minde may change + + Oth. Neuer Iago. Like to the Ponticke Sea, +Whose Icie Current, and compulsiue course, +Neu'r keepes retyring ebbe, but keepes due on +To the Proponticke, and the Hellespont: +Euen so my bloody thoughts, with violent pace +Shall neu'r looke backe, neu'r ebbe to humble Loue, +Till that a capeable, and wide Reuenge +Swallow them vp. Now by yond Marble Heauen, +In the due reuerence of a Sacred vow, +I heere engage my words + + Iago. Do not rise yet: +Witnesse you euer-burning Lights aboue, +You Elements, that clip vs round about, +Witnesse that heere Iago doth giue vp +The execution of his wit, hands, heart, +To wrong'd Othello's Seruice. Let him command, +And to obey shall be in me remorse, +What bloody businesse euer + + Oth. I greet thy loue, +Not with vaine thanks, but with acceptance bounteous, +And will vpon the instant put thee too't. +Within these three dayes let me heare thee say, +That Cassio's not aliue + + Iago. My Friend is dead: +'Tis done at your Request. +But let her liue + + Oth. Damne her lewde Minx: +O damne her, damne her. +Come go with me a-part, I will withdraw +To furnish me with some swift meanes of death +For the faire Diuell. +Now art thou my Lieutenant + + Iago. I am your owne for euer. + +Exeunt. + + +Scaena Quarta. + +Enter Desdemona, aemilia, and Clown. + + Des. Do you know Sirrah, where Lieutenant Cassio +lyes? + Clow. I dare not say he lies any where + + Des. Why man? + Clo. He's a Soldier, and for me to say a Souldier lyes, +'tis stabbing + + Des. Go too: where lodges he? + Clo. To tell you where he lodges, is to tel you where +I lye + + Des. Can any thing be made of this? + Clo. I know not where he lodges, and for mee to deuise +a lodging, and say he lies heere, or he lies there, were +to lye in mine owne throat + + Des. Can you enquire him out? and be edified by report? + Clo. I will Catechize the world for him, that is, make +Questions, and by them answer + + Des. Seeke him, bidde him come hither: tell him, I +haue moou'd my Lord on his behalfe, and hope all will +be well + + Clo. To do this, is within the compasse of mans Wit, +and therefore I will attempt the doing it. + +Exit Clo. + + Des. Where should I loose the Handkerchiefe, aemilia? +Aemil. I know not Madam + + Des. Beleeue me, I had rather haue lost my purse +Full of Cruzadoes. And but my Noble Moore +Is true of minde, and made of no such basenesse, +As iealious Creatures are, it were enough +To put him to ill-thinking. +Aemil. Is he not iealious? + Des. Who, he? I thinke the Sun where he was borne, +Drew all such humors from him. +Aemil. Looke where he comes. +Enter Othello. + + Des. I will not leaue him now, till Cassio be +Call'd to him. How is't with you, my Lord? + Oth. Well my good Lady. Oh hardnes to dissemble! +How do you, Desdemona? + Des. Well, my good Lord + + Oth. Giue me your hand. +This hand is moist, my Lady + + Des. It hath felt no age, nor knowne no sorrow + + Oth. This argues fruitfulnesse, and liberall heart: +Hot, hot, and moyst. This hand of yours requires +A sequester from Liberty: Fasting, and Prayer, +Much Castigation, Exercise deuout, +For heere's a yong, and sweating Diuell heere +That commonly rebels: 'Tis a good hand, +A franke one + + Des. You may (indeed) say so: +For 'twas that hand that gaue away my heart + + Oth. A liberall hand. The hearts of old, gaue hands: +But our new Heraldry is hands, not hearts + + Des. I cannot speake of this: +Come, now your promise + + Oth. What promise, Chucke? + Des. I haue sent to bid Cassio come speake with you + + Oth. I haue a salt and sorry Rhewme offends me: +Lend me thy Handkerchiefe + + Des. Heere my Lord + + Oth. That which I gaue you + + Des. I haue it not about me + + Oth. Not? + Des. No indeed, my Lord + + Oth. That's a fault: That Handkerchiefe +Did an aegyptian to my Mother giue: +She was a Charmer, and could almost read +The thoughts of people. She told her, while she kept it, +'T would make her Amiable, and subdue my Father +Intirely to her loue: But if she lost it, +Or made a Guift of it, my Fathers eye +Should hold her loathed, and his Spirits should hunt +After new Fancies. She dying, gaue it me, +And bid me (when my Fate would haue me Wiu'd) +To giue it her. I did so; and take heede on't, +Make it a Darling, like your precious eye: +To loose't, or giue't away, were such perdition, +As nothing else could match + + Des. Is't possible? + Oth. 'Tis true: There's Magicke in the web of it: +A Sybill that had numbred in the world +The Sun to course, two hundred compasses, +In her Prophetticke furie sow'd the Worke: +The Wormes were hallowed, that did breede the Silke, +And it was dyde in Mummey, which the Skilfull +Conseru'd of Maidens hearts + + Des. Indeed? Is't true? + Oth. Most veritable, therefore looke too't well + + Des. Then would to Heauen, that I had neuer seene't? + Oth. Ha? wherefore? + Des. Why do you speake so startingly, and rash? + Oth. Is't lost? Is't gon? Speak, is't out o'th' way? + Des. Blesse vs + + Oth. Say you? + Des. It is not lost: but what and if it were? + Oth. How? + Des. I say it is not lost + + Oth. Fetcht, let me see't + + Des. Why so I can: but I will not now: +This is a tricke to put me from my suite, +Pray you let Cassio be receiu'd againe + + Oth. Fetch me the Handkerchiefe, +My minde mis-giues + + Des. Come, come: you'l neuer meete a more sufficient +man + + Oth. The Handkerchiefe + + Des. A man that all his time +Hath founded his good Fortunes on your loue; +Shar'd dangers with you + + Oth. The Handkerchiefe + + Des. Insooth, you are too blame + + Oth. Away. + +Exit Othello. + +Aemil. Is not this man iealious? + Des. I neu'r saw this before. +Sure, there's some wonder in this Handkerchiefe, +I am most vnhappy in the losse of it. +Aemil. 'Tis not a yeare or two shewes vs a man: +They are all but Stomackes, and we all but Food, +They eate vs hungerly, and when they are full +They belch vs. +Enter Iago, and Cassio. + +Looke you, Cassio and my Husband + + Iago. There is no other way: 'tis she must doo't: +And loe the happinesse: go, and importune her + + Des. How now (good Cassio) what's the newes with +you? + Cassio. Madam, my former suite. I do beseech you, +That by your vertuous meanes, I may againe +Exist, and be a member of his loue, +Whom I, with all the Office of my heart +Intirely honour, I would not be delayd. +If my offence, be of such mortall kinde, +That nor my Seruice past, nor present Sorrowes, +Nor purpos'd merit in futurity, +Can ransome me into his loue againe, +But to know so, must be my benefit: +So shall I cloath me in a forc'd content, +And shut my selfe vp in some other course +To Fortunes Almes + + Des. Alas (thrice-gentle Cassio) +My Aduocation is not now in Tune; +My Lord, is not my Lord; nor should I know him, +Were he in Fauour, as in Humour alter'd. +So helpe me euery spirit sanctified, +As I haue spoken for you all my best, +And stood within the blanke of his displeasure +For my free speech. You must awhile be patient: +What I can do, I will: and more I will +Then for my selfe, I dare. Let that suffice you + + Iago. Is my Lord angry? +Aemil. He went hence but now: +And certainly in strange vnquietnesse + + Iago. Can he be angry? I haue seen the Cannon +When it hath blowne his Rankes into the Ayre, +And like the Diuell from his very Arme +Puff't his owne Brother: And is he angry? +Something of moment then: I will go meet him, +There's matter in't indeed, if he be angry. + +Exit + + Des. I prythee do so. Something sure of State, +Either from Venice, or some vnhatch'd practise +Made demonstrable heere in Cyprus, to him, +Hath pudled his cleare Spirit: and in such cases, +Mens Natures wrangle with inferiour things, +Though great ones are their obiect. 'Tis euen so. +For let our finger ake, and it endues +Our other healthfull members, euen to a sense +Of paine. Nay, we must thinke men are not Gods, +Nor of them looke for such obseruancie +As fits the Bridall. Beshrew me much, aemilia, +I was (vnhandsome Warrior, as I am) +Arraigning his vnkindnesse with my soule: +But now I finde, I had suborn'd the Witnesse, +And he's Indited falsely. +Aemil. Pray heauen it bee +State matters, as you thinke, and no Conception, +Nor no Iealious Toy, concerning you + + Des. Alas the day, I neuer gaue him cause. +Aemil. But Iealious soules will not be answer'd so; +They are not euer iealious for the cause, +But iealious, for they're iealious. It is a Monster +Begot vpon it selfe, borne on it selfe + + Des. Heauen keepe the Monster from Othello's mind. +Aemil. Lady, Amen + + Des. I will go seeke him. Cassio, walke heere about: +If I doe finde him fit, Ile moue your suite, +And seeke to effect it to my vttermost. + +Exit + + Cas. I humbly thanke your Ladyship. +Enter Bianca. + + Bian. 'Saue you (Friend Cassio.) + Cassio. What make you from home? +How is't with you, my most faire Bianca? +Indeed (sweet Loue) I was comming to your house + + Bian. And I was going to your Lodging, Cassio. +What? keepe a weeke away? Seuen dayes, and Nights? +Eight score eight houres? And Louers absent howres +More tedious then the Diall, eight score times? +Oh weary reck'ning + + Cassio. Pardon me, Bianca: +I haue this while with leaden thoughts beene prest, +But I shall in a more continuate time +Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca +Take me this worke out + + Bianca. Oh Cassio, whence came this? +This is some Token from a newer Friend, +To the felt-Absence: now I feele a Cause: +Is't come to this? Well, well + + Cassio. Go too, woman: +Throw your vilde gesses in the Diuels teeth, +From whence you haue them. You are iealious now, +That this is from some Mistris, some remembrance; +No, in good troth Bianca + + Bian. Why, who's is it? + Cassio. I know not neither: +I found it in my Chamber, +I like the worke well; Ere it be demanded +(As like enough it will) I would haue it coppied: +Take it, and doo't, and leaue me for this time + + Bian. Leaue you? Wherefore? + Cassio. I do attend heere on the Generall, +And thinke it no addition, nor my wish +To haue him see me woman'd + + Bian. Why, I pray you? + Cassio. Not that I loue you not + + Bian. But that you do not loue me. +I pray you bring me on the way a little, +And say, if I shall see you soone at night? + Cassio. 'Tis but a little way that I can bring you, +For I attend heere: But Ile see you soone + + Bian. 'Tis very good: I must be circumstanc'd. + +Exeunt. omnes. + + +Actus Quartus. Scena Prima. + +Enter Othello, and Iago. + + Iago. Will you thinke so? + Oth. Thinke so, Iago? + Iago. What, to kisse in priuate? + Oth. An vnauthoriz'd kisse? + Iago. Or to be naked with her Friend in bed, +An houre, or more, not meaning any harme? + Oth. Naked in bed (Iago) and not meane harme? +It is hypocrisie against the Diuell: +They that meane vertuously, and yet do so, +The Diuell their vertue tempts, and they tempt Heauen + + Iago. If they do nothing, 'tis a Veniall slip: +But if I giue my wife a Handkerchiefe + + Oth. What then? + Iago. Why then 'tis hers (my Lord) and being hers, +She may (I thinke) bestow't on any man + + Oth. She is Protectresse of her honor too: +May she giue that? + Iago. Her honor is an Essence that's not seene, +They haue it very oft, that haue it not. +But for the Handkerchiefe + + Othe. By heauen, I would most gladly haue forgot it: +Thou saidst (oh, it comes ore my memorie, +As doth the Rauen o're the infectious house: +Boading to all) he had my Handkerchiefe + + Iago . I: what of that? + Othe. That's not so good now + + Iag. What if I had said, I had seene him do you wrong? +Or heard him say (as Knaues be such abroad, +Who hauing by their owne importunate suit, +Or voluntary dotage of some Mistris, +Conuinced or supply'd them, cannot chuse +But they must blab.) + Oth. Hath he said any thing? + Iago. He hath (my Lord) but be you well assur'd, +No more then he'le vn-sweare + + Oth. What hath he said? + Iago. Why, that he did: I know not what he did + + Othe. What? What? + Iago. Lye + + Oth. With her? + Iago. With her? On her: what you will + + Othe. Lye with her? lye on her? We say lye on her, +when they be-lye-her. Lye with her: that's fullsome: +Handkerchiefe: Confessions: Handkerchiefe. To confesse, +and be hang'd for his labour. First, to be hang'd, +and then to confesse: I tremble at it. Nature would not +inuest her selfe in such shadowing passion, without some +Instruction. It is not words that shakes me thus, (pish) +Noses, Eares, and Lippes: is't possible. Confesse? Handkerchiefe? +O diuell. + +Falls in a Traunce. + + Iago. Worke on, +My Medicine workes. Thus credulous Fooles are caught, +And many worthy, and chast Dames euen thus, +(All guiltlesse) meete reproach: what hoa? My Lord? +My Lord, I say: Othello. +Enter Cassio. + +How now Cassio? + Cas. What's the matter? + Iago. My Lord is falne into an Epilepsie, +This is his second Fit: he had one yesterday + + Cas. Rub him about the Temples + + Iago. The Lethargie must haue his quyet course: +If not, he foames at mouth: and by and by +Breakes out to sauage madnesse. Looke, he stirres: +Do you withdraw your selfe a little while, +He will recouer straight: when he is gone, +I would on great occasion, speake with you. +How is it Generall? Haue you not hurt your head? + Othe. Dost thou mocke me? + Iago. I mocke you not, by Heauen: +Would you would beare your Fortune like a Man + + Othe. A Horned man's a Monster, and a Beast + + Iago. Ther's many a Beast then in a populous Citty, +And many a ciuill Monster + + Othe. Did he confesse it? + Iago. Good Sir, be a man: +Thinke euery bearded fellow that's but yoak'd +May draw with you. There's Millions now aliue, +That nightly lye in those vnproper beds, +Which they dare sweare peculiar. Your case is better. +Oh, 'tis the spight of hell, the Fiends Arch-mock, +To lip a wanton in a secure Cowch; +And to suppose her chast. No, let me know, +And knowing what I am, I know what she shallbe + + Oth. Oh, thou art wise: 'tis certaine + + Iago. Stand you a while apart, +Confine your selfe but in a patient List, +Whil'st you were heere, o're-whelmed with your griefe +(A passion most resulting such a man) +Cassio came hither: I shifted him away, +And layd good scuses vpon your Extasie, +Bad him anon returne: and heere speake with me, +The which he promis'd. Do but encaue your selfe, +And marke the Fleeres, the Gybes, and notable Scornes +That dwell in euery Region of his face. +For I will make him tell the Tale anew; +Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when +He hath, and is againe to cope your wife. +I say, but marke his gesture: marry Patience, +Or I shall say y'are all in all in Spleene, +And nothing of a man + + Othe. Do'st thou heare, Iago, +I will be found most cunning in my Patience: +But (do'st thou heare) most bloody + + Iago. That's not amisse, +But yet keepe time in all: will you withdraw? +Now will I question Cassio of Bianca, +A Huswife that by selling her desires +Buyes her selfe Bread, and Cloath. It is a Creature +That dotes on Cassio, (as 'tis the Strumpets plague +To be-guile many, and be be-guil'd by one) +He, when he heares of her, cannot restraine +From the excesse of Laughter. Heere he comes. +Enter Cassio. + +As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad: +And his vnbookish Ielousie must conserue +Poore Cassio's smiles, gestures, and light behauiours +Quite in the wrong. How do you Lieutenant? + Cas. The worser, that you giue me the addition, +Whose want euen killes me + + Iago. Ply Desdemona well, and you are sure on't: +Now, if this Suit lay in Bianca's dowre, +How quickely should you speed? + Cas. Alas poore Caitiffe + + Oth. Looke how he laughes already + + Iago. I neuer knew woman loue man so + + Cas. Alas poore Rogue, I thinke indeed she loues me + + Oth. Now he denies it faintly: and laughes it out + + Iago. Do you heare Cassio? + Oth. Now he importunes him +To tell it o're: go too, well said, well said + + Iago. She giues it out, that you shall marry her. +Do you intend it? + Cas. Ha, ha, ha + + Oth. Do ye triumph, Romaine? do you triumph? + Cas. I marry. What? A customer; prythee beare +Some Charitie to my wit, do not thinke it +So vnwholesome. Ha, ha, ha + + Oth. So, so, so, so: they laugh, that winnes + + Iago. Why the cry goes, that you marry her + + Cas. Prythee say true + + Iago. I am a very Villaine else + + Oth. Haue you scoar'd me? Well + + Cas. This is the Monkeys owne giuing out: +She is perswaded I will marry her +Out of her owne loue & flattery, not out of my promise + + Oth. Iago becomes me: now he begins the story + + Cassio. She was heere euen now: she haunts me in euery +place. I was the other day talking on the Seabanke +with certaine Venetians, and thither comes the +Bauble, and falls me thus about my neck + + Oth. Crying oh deere Cassio, as it were: his iesture imports +it + + Cassio. So hangs, and lolls, and weepes vpon me: +So shakes, and pulls me. Ha, ha, ha + + Oth. Now he tells how she pluckt him to my Chamber: +oh, I see that nose of yours, but not that dogge, I +shall throw it to + + Cassio. Well, I must leaue her companie + + Iago. Before me: looke where she comes. +Enter Bianca. + + Cas. 'Tis such another Fitchew: marry a perfum'd one? +What do you meane by this haunting of me? + Bian. Let the diuell, and his dam haunt you: what +did you meane by that same Handkerchiefe, you gaue +me euen now? I was a fine Foole to take it: I must take +out the worke? A likely piece of worke, that you should +finde it in your Chamber, and know not who left it there. +This is some Minxes token, & I must take out the worke? +There, giue it your Hobbey-horse, wheresoeuer you had +it, Ile take out no worke on't + + Cassio. How now, my sweete Bianca? +How now? How now? + Othe. By Heauen, that should be my Handkerchiefe + + Bian. If you'le come to supper to night you may, if +you will not come when you are next prepar'd for. + +Exit + + Iago. After her: after her + + Cas. I must, shee'l rayle in the streets else + + Iago. Will you sup there? + Cassio. Yes, I intend so + + Iago. Well, I may chance to see you: for I would very +faine speake with you + + Cas. Prythee come: will you? + Iago. Go too; say no more + + Oth. How shall I murther him, Iago + + Iago. Did you perceiue how he laugh'd at his vice? + Oth. Oh, Iago + + Iago. And did you see the Handkerchiefe? + Oth. Was that mine? + Iago. Yours by this hand: and to see how he prizes +the foolish woman your wife: she gaue it him and, he +hath giu'n it his whore + + Oth. I would haue him nine yeeres a killing: +A fine woman, a faire woman, a sweete woman? + Iago. Nay, you must forget that + + Othello. I, let her rot and perish, and be damn'd to +night, for she shall not liue. No, my heart is turn'd to +stone: I strike it, and it hurts my hand. Oh, the world +hath not a sweeter Creature: she might lye by an Emperours +side, and command him Taskes + + Iago. Nay, that's not your way + + Othe. Hang her, I do but say what she is: so delicate +with her Needle: an admirable Musitian. Oh she will +sing the Sauagenesse out of a Beare: of so high and plenteous +wit, and inuention? + Iago. She's the worse for all this + + Othe. Oh, a thousand, a thousand times: +And then of so gentle a condition? + Iago. I too gentle + + Othe. Nay that's certaine: +But yet the pitty of it, Iago: oh Iago, the pitty of it +Iago + + Iago. If you are so fond ouer her iniquitie: giue her +pattent to offend, for if it touch not you, it comes neere +no body + + Oth. I will chop her into Messes: Cuckold me? + Iago. Oh, 'tis foule in her + + Oth. With mine Officer? + Iago. That's fouler + + Othe. Get me some poyson, Iago, this night. Ile not +expostulate with her: least her body and beautie vnprouide +my mind againe: this night Iago + + Iago. Do it not with poyson, strangle her in her bed, +Euen the bed she hath contaminated + + Oth. Good, good: +The Iustice of it pleases: very good + + Iago. And for Cassio, let me be his vndertaker: +You shall heare more by midnight. +Enter Lodouico, Desdemona, and Attendants. + + Othe. Excellent good: What Trumpet is that same? + Iago. I warrant something from Venice, +'Tis Lodouico, this, comes from the Duke. +See, your wife's with him + + Lodo. Saue you worthy Generall + + Othe. With all my heart Sir + + Lod. The Duke, and the Senators of Venice greet you + + Othe. I kisse the Instrument of their pleasures + + Des. And what's the newes, good cozen Lodouico + Iago. I am very glad to see you Signior: +Welcome to Cyprus + + Lod. I thanke you: how do's Lieutenant Cassio? + Iago. Liues Sir, + Des. Cozen, there's falne betweene him, & my Lord, +An vnkind breach: but you shall make all well + + Othe. Are you sure of that? + Des. My Lord? + Othe. This faile you not to do, as you will- + Lod. He did not call: he's busie in the paper, +Is there deuision 'twixt my Lord, and Cassio? + Des. A most vnhappy one: I would do much +T' attone, them, for the loue I beare to Cassio + + Oth. Fire, and brimestone + + Des. My Lord + + Oth. Are you wise? + Des. What is he angrie? + Lod. May be the Letter mou'd him. +For as I thinke, they do command him home, +Deputing Cassio in his Gouernment + + Des. Trust me, I am glad on't + + Othe. Indeed? + Des. My Lord? + Othe. I am glad to see you mad + + Des. Why, sweete Othello? + Othe. Diuell + + Des. I haue not deseru'd this + + Lod. My Lord, this would not be beleeu'd in Venice, +Though I should sweare I saw't. 'Tis very much, +Make her amends: she weepes + + Othe. Oh diuell, diuell: +If that the Earth could teeme with womans teares, +Each drop she falls, would proue a Crocodile: +Out of my sight + + Des. I will not stay to offend you + + Lod. Truely obedient Lady: +I do beseech your Lordship call her backe + + Othe. Mistris + + Des. My Lord + + Othe. What would you with her, Sir? + Lod. Who I, my Lord? + Othe. I, you did wish, that I would make her turne: +Sir, she can turne, and turne: and yet go on +And turne againe. And she can weepe, Sir, weepe. +And she's obedient: as you say obedient. +Very obedient: proceed you in your teares. +Concerning this Sir, (oh well-painted passion) +I am commanded home: get you away: +Ile send for you anon. Sir I obey the Mandate, +And will returne to Venice. Hence, auaunt: +Cassio shall haue my Place. And Sir, to night +I do entreat, that we may sup together. +You are welcome Sir to Cyprus. +Goates, and Monkeys. +Enter. + + Lod. Is this the Noble Moore, whom our full Senate +Call all in all sufficient? Is this the Nature +Whom Passion could not shake? Whose solid vertue +The shot of Accident, nor dart of Chance +Could neither graze, nor pierce? + Iago. He is much chang'd + + Lod. Are his wits safe? Is he not light of Braine? + Iago. He's that he is: I may not breath my censure. +What he might be: if what he might, he is not, +I would to heauen he were + + Lod. What? Strike his wife? + Iago. 'Faith that was not so well: yet would I knew +That stroke would proue the worst + + Lod. Is it his vse? +Or did the Letters, worke vpon his blood, +And new create his fault? + Iago. Alas, alas: +It is not honestie in me to speake +What I haue seene, and knowne. You shall obserue him, +And his owne courses will denote him so, +That I may saue my speech: do but go after +And marke how he continues + + Lod. I am sorry that I am deceiu'd in him. + +Exeunt. + + +Scena Secunda. + +Enter Othello and aemilia. + + Othe. You haue seene nothing then? +Aemil. Nor euer heard: nor euer did suspect + + Othe. Yes, you haue seene Cassio, and she together + + Aemi. But then I saw no harme: and then I heard, +Each syllable that breath made vp betweene them + + Othe. What? Did they neuer whisper? +Aemil. Neuer my Lord + + Othe. Nor send you out o'th' way? +Aemil. Neuer + + Othe. To fetch her Fan, her Gloues, her Mask, nor nothing? +Aemil. Neuer my Lord + + Othe. That's strange. +Aemil. I durst (my Lord) to wager, she is honest: +Lay downe my Soule at stake: If you thinke other, +Remoue your thought. It doth abuse your bosome: +If any wretch haue put this in your head, +Let Heauen requit it with the Serpents curse, +For if she be not honest, chaste, and true, +There's no man happy. The purest of their Wiues +Is foule as Slander + + Othe. Bid her come hither: go. + +Exit aemilia. + +She saies enough: yet she's a simple Baud +That cannot say as much. This is a subtile Whore: +A Closset Locke and Key of Villanous Secrets, +And yet she'le kneele, and pray: I haue seene her do't. +Enter Desdemona, and aemilia. + + Des. My Lord, what is your will? + Othe. Pray you Chucke come hither + + Des. What is your pleasure? + Oth. Let me see your eyes: looke in my face + + Des. What horrible Fancie's this? + Othe. Some of your Function Mistris: +Leaue Procreants alone, and shut the doore: +Cough, or cry hem; if any body come: +Your Mystery, your Mystery: May dispatch. + +Exit aemi. + + Des. Vpon my knee, what doth your speech import? +I vnderstand a Fury in your words + + Othe. Why? What art thou? + Des. Your wife my Lord: your true and loyall wife + + Othello. Come sweare it: damne thy selfe, least +being like one of Heauen, the diuells themselues should +feare to ceaze thee. Therefore be double damn'd: sweare +thou art honest + + Des. Heauen doth truely know it + + Othe. Heauen truely knowes, that thou art false as hell + + Des. To whom my Lord? +With whom? How am I false? + Othe. Ah Desdemon, away, away, away + + Des. Alas the heauy day: why do you weepe? +Am I the motiue of these teares my Lord? +If happely you my Father do suspect, +An Instrument of this your calling backe, +Lay not your blame on me: if you haue lost him, +I haue lost him too + + Othe. Had it pleas'd Heauen, +To try me with Affliction, had they rain'd +All kind of Sores, and Shames on my bare-head: +Steep'd me in pouertie to the very lippes. +Giuen to Captiuitie, me, and my vtmost hopes, +I should haue found in some place of my Soule +A drop of patience. But alas, to make me +The fixed Figure for the time of Scorne, +To point his slow, and mouing finger at. +Yet could I beare that too, well, very well: +But there where I haue garnerd vp my heart, +Where either I must liue, or beare no life, +The Fountaine from the which my currant runnes, +Or else dries vp: to be discarded thence, +Or keepe it as a Cesterne, for foule Toades +To knot and gender in. Turne thy complexion there: +Patience, thou young and Rose-lip'd Cherubin, +I heere looke grim as hell + + Des. I hope my Noble Lord esteemes me honest + + Othe. Oh I, as Sommer Flyes are in the Shambles, +That quicken euen with blowing. Oh thou weed: +Who art so louely faire, and smell'st so sweete, +That the Sense akes at thee, +Would thou had'st neuer bin borne + + Des. Alas, what ignorant sin haue I committed? + Othe. Was this faire Paper? This most goodly Booke +Made to write Whore vpon? What commited, +Committed? Oh, thou publicke Commoner, +I should make very Forges of my cheekes, +That would to Cynders burne vp Modestie, +Did I but speake thy deedes. What commited? +Heauen stoppes the Nose at it, and the Moone winks: +The baudy winde that kisses all it meetes, +Is hush'd within the hollow Myne of Earth +And will not hear't. What commited? + Des. By Heauen you do me wrong + + Othe. Are not you a Strumpet? + Des. No, as I am a Christian. +If to preserue this vessell for my Lord, +From any other foule vnlawfull touch +Be not to be a Strumpet, I am none + + Othe. What, not a Whore? + Des. No, as I shall be sau'd + + Othe. Is't possible? + Des. Oh Heauen forgiue vs + + Othe. I cry you mercy then. +I tooke you for that cunning Whore of Venice, +That married with Othello. You Mistris, +Enter aemilia. + +That haue the office opposite to Saint Peter, +And keepes the gate of hell. You, you: I you. +We haue done our course: there's money for your paines: +I pray you turne the key, and keepe our counsaile. +Enter. + +Aemil. Alas, what do's this Gentleman conceiue? +How do you Madam? how do you my good Lady? + Des. Faith, halfe a sleepe + + Aemi. Good Madam, +What's the matter with my Lord? + Des. With who? +Aemil. Why, with my Lord, Madam? + Des. Who is thy Lord? +Aemil. He that is yours, sweet Lady + + Des. I haue none: do not talke to me, aemilia, +I cannot weepe: nor answeres haue I none, +But what should go by water. Prythee to night, +Lay on my bed my wedding sheetes, remember, +And call thy husband hither. +Aemil. Heere's a change indeed. +Enter. + + Des. 'Tis meete I should be vs'd so: very meete. +How haue I bin behau'd, that he might sticke +The small'st opinion on my least misvse? +Enter Iago, and aemilia. + + Iago. What is your pleasure Madam? +How is't with you? + Des. I cannot tell: those that do teach yong Babes +Do it with gentle meanes, and easie taskes. +He might haue chid me so; for in good faith +I am a Child to chiding + + Iago. What is the matter Lady? +Aemil. Alas (Iago) my Lord hath so bewhor'd her, +Throwne such dispight, and heauy termes vpon her +That true hearts cannot beare it + + Des. Am I that name, Iago? + Iago. What name, (faire Lady?) + Des. Such as she said my Lord did say I was. +Aemil. He call'd her whore: a Begger in his drinke: +Could not haue laid such termes vpon his Callet + + Iago. Why did he so? + Des. I do not know: I am sure I am none such + + Iago. Do not weepe, do not weepe: alas the day. +Aemil. Hath she forsooke so many Noble Matches? +Her Father? And her Country? And her Friends? +To be call'd Whore? Would it not make one weepe? + Des. It is my wretched Fortune + + Iago. Beshrew him for't: +How comes this Tricke vpon him? + Des. Nay, Heauen doth know + + Aemi. I will be hang'd, if some eternall Villaine, +Some busie and insinuating Rogue, +Some cogging, cozening Slaue, to get some Office, +Haue not deuis'd this Slander: I will be hang'd else + + Iago. Fie, there is no such man: it is impossible + + Des. If any such there be, Heauen pardon him. +Aemil. A halter pardon him: +And hell gnaw his bones. +Why should he call her Whore? +Who keepes her companie? +What Place? What Time? +What Forme? What liklyhood? +The Moore's abus'd by some most villanous Knaue, +Some base notorious Knaue, some scuruy Fellow. +Oh Heauens, that such companions thou'd'st vnfold, +And put in euery honest hand a whip +To lash the Rascalls naked through the world, +Euen from the East to th' West + + Iago. Speake within doore. +Aemil. Oh fie vpon them: some such Squire he was +That turn'd your wit, the seamy-side without, +And made you to suspect me with the Moore + + Iago. You are a Foole: go too + + Des. Alas Iago, +What shall I do to win my Lord againe? +Good Friend, go to him: for by this light of Heauen, +I know not how I lost him. Heere I kneele: +If ere my will did trespasse 'gainst his Loue, +Either in discourse of thought, or actuall deed, +Or that mine Eyes, mine Eares, or any Sence +Delighted them: or any other Forme. +Or that I do not yet, and euer did, +And euer will, (though he do shake me off +To beggerly diuorcement) Loue him deerely, +Comfort forsweare me. Vnkindnesse may do much, +And his vnkindnesse may defeat my life, +But neuer taynt my Loue. I cannot say Whore, +It do's abhorre me now I speake the word, +To do the Act, that might the addition earne, +Not the worlds Masse of vanitie could make me + + Iago. I pray you be content: 'tis but his humour: +The businesse of the State do's him offence + + Des. If 'twere no other + + Iago. It is but so, I warrant, +Hearke how these Instruments summon to supper: +The Messengers of Venice staies the meate, +Go in, and weepe not: all things shall be well. + +Exeunt. Desdemona and aemilia. + +Enter Rodorigo. + +How now Rodorigo? + Rod. I do not finde +That thou deal'st iustly with me + + Iago. What in the contrarie? + Rodori. Euery day thou dafts me with some deuise +Iago, and rather, as it seemes to me now, keep'st from +me all conueniencie, then suppliest me with the least aduantage +of hope: I will indeed no longer endure it. Nor +am I yet perswaded to put vp in peace, what already I +haue foolishly suffred + + Iago. Will you heare me Rodorigo? + Rodori. I haue heard too much: and your words and +Performances are no kin together + + Iago. You charge me most vniustly + + Rodo. With naught but truth: I haue wasted my +selfe out of my meanes. The Iewels you haue had from +me to deliuer Desdemona, would halfe haue corrupted a +Votarist. You haue told me she hath receiu'd them, +and return'd me expectations and comforts of sodaine +respect, and acquaintance, but I finde none + + Iago. Well, go too: very well + + Rod. Very well, go too: I cannot go too, (man) nor +'tis not very well. Nay I think it is scuruy: and begin to +finde my selfe fopt in it + + Iago. Very well + + Rodor. I tell you, 'tis not very well: I will make my +selfe knowne to Desdemona. If she will returne me my +Iewels, I will giue ouer my Suit, and repent my vnlawfull +solicitation. If not, assure your selfe, I will seeke +satisfaction of you + + Iago. You haue said now + + Rodo. I: and said nothing but what I protest intendment +of doing + + Iago. Why, now I see there's mettle in thee: and +euen from this instant do build on thee a better opinion +then euer before: giue me thy hand Rodorigo. +Thou hast taken against me a most iust exception: +but yet I protest I haue dealt most directly in thy +Affaire + + Rod. It hath not appeer'd + + Iago. I grant indeed it hath not appeer'd: and +your suspition is not without wit and iudgement. +But Rodorigo, if thou hast that in thee indeed, which +I haue greater reason to beleeue now then euer (I +meane purpose, Courage, and Valour) this night +shew it. If thou the next night following enioy not +Desdemona, take me from this world with Treacherie, +and deuise Engines for my life + + Rod. Well: what is it? Is it within, reason and compasse? + Iago. Sir, there is especiall Commission come from +Venice to depute Cassio in Othello's place + + Rod. Is that true? Why then Othello and Desdemona +returne againe to Venice + + Iago. Oh no: he goes into Mauritania and taketh +away with him the faire Desdemona, vnlesse his abode +be lingred heere by some accident. Wherein +none can be so determinate, as the remouing of +Cassio + + Rod. How do you meane remouing him? + Iago. Why, by making him vncapable of Othello's +place: knocking out his braines + + Rod. And that you would haue me to do + + Iago. I: if you dare do your selfe a profit, and a +right. He sups to night with a Harlotry: and thither +will I go to him. He knowes not yet of his Honourable +Fortune, if you will watch his going thence (which +I will fashion to fall out betweene twelue and one) +you may take him at your pleasure. I will be neere +to second your Attempt, and he shall fall betweene +vs. Come, stand not amaz'd at it, but go along with +me: I will shew you such a necessitie in his death, that +you shall thinke your selfe bound to put it on him. It +is now high supper time: and the night growes to wast. +About it + + Rod. I will heare further reason for this + + Iago. And you shalbe satisfi'd. + +Exeunt. + + +Scena Tertia. + +Enter Othello, Lodouico, Desdemona, aemilia, and Atendants. + + Lod. I do beseech you Sir, trouble your selfe no further + + Oth. Oh pardon me: 'twill do me good to walke + + Lodoui. Madam, good night: I humbly thanke your +Ladyship + + Des. Your Honour is most welcome + + Oth. Will you walke Sir? Oh Desdemona + + Des. My Lord + + Othello. Get you to bed on th' instant, I will be return'd +forthwith: dismisse your Attendant there: look't +be done. +Enter. + + Des. I will my Lord + + Aem. How goes it now? He lookes gentler then he did + + Des. He saies he will returne incontinent, +And hath commanded me to go to bed, +And bid me to dismisse you + + Aemi. Dismisse me? + Des. It was his bidding: therefore good aemilia, +Giue me my nightly wearing, and adieu. +We must not now displease him. +Aemil. I, would you had neuer seene him + + Des. So would not I: my loue doth so approue him, +That euen his stubbornesse, his checks, his frownes, +(Prythee vn-pin me) haue grace and fauour + + Aemi. I haue laid those Sheetes you bad me on the bed + + Des. All's one: good Father, how foolish are our minds? +If I do die before, prythee shrow'd me +In one of these same Sheetes. +Aemil. Come, come: you talke + + Des. My Mother had a Maid call'd Barbarie, +She was in loue: and he she lou'd prou'd mad, +And did forsake her. She had a Song of Willough, +An old thing 'twas: but it express'd her Fortune, +And she dy'd singing it. That Song to night, +Will not go from my mind: I haue much to do, +But to go hang my head all at one side +And sing it like poore Barbarie: prythee dispatch + + Aemi. Shall I go fetch your Night-gowne? + Des. No, vn-pin me here, +This Lodouico is a proper man. +Aemil. A very handsome man + + Des. He speakes well. +Aemil. I know a Lady in Venice would haue walk'd +barefoot to Palestine for a touch of his nether lip + + Des. The poore Soule sat singing, by a Sicamour tree. +Sing all a greene Willough: +Her hand on her bosome her head on her knee, +Sing Willough, Willough, Willough. +The fresh Streames ran by her, and murmur'd her moanes +Sing Willough, &c. +Her salt teares fell from her, and softned the stones, +Sing Willough, &c. (Lay by these) +Willough, Willough. (Prythee high thee: he'le come anon) +Sing all a greene Willough must be my Garland. +Let no body blame him, his scorne I approue. +(Nay that's not next. Harke, who is't that knocks? +Aemil. It's the wind + + Des. I call'd my Loue false Loue: but what said he then? +Sing Willough, &c. +If I court mo women, you'le couch with mo men. +So get thee gone, good night: mine eyes do itch: +Doth that boade weeping? +Aemil. 'Tis neyther heere, nor there + + Des. I haue heard it said so. O these Men, these men! +Do'st thou in conscience thinke (tell me aemilia) +That there be women do abuse their husbands +In such grosse kinde? +Aemil. There be some such, no question + + Des. Would'st thou do such a deed for all the world? +Aemil. Why, would not you? + Des. No, by this Heauenly light. +Aemil. Nor I neither, by this Heauenly light: +I might doo't as well i'th' darke + + Des. Would'st thou do such a deed for al the world? +Aemil. The world's a huge thing: +It is a great price, for a small vice + + Des. Introth, I thinke thou would'st not. +Aemil. Introth I thinke I should, and vndoo't when +I had done. Marry, I would not doe such a thing for a +ioynt Ring, nor for measures of Lawne, nor for Gownes, +Petticoats, nor Caps, nor any petty exhibition. But for +all the whole world: why, who would not make her husband +a Cuckold, to make him a Monarch? I should venture +Purgatory for't + + Des. Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong +For the whole world. +Aemil. Why, the wrong is but a wrong i'th' world; +and hauing the world for your labour, 'tis a wrong in +your owne world, and you might quickly make it right + + Des. I do not thinke there is any such woman. +Aemil. Yes, a dozen: and as many to'th' vantage, as +would store the world they plaid for. +But I do thinke it is their Husbands faults +If Wiues do fall: (Say, that they slacke their duties, +And powre our Treasures into forraigne laps; +Or else breake out in peeuish Iealousies, +Throwing restraint vpon vs: Or say they strike vs, +Or scant our former hauing in despight) +Why we haue galles: and though we haue some Grace, +Yet haue we some Reuenge. Let Husbands know, +Their wiues haue sense like them: They see, and smell, +And haue their Palats both for sweet, and sowre, +As Husbands haue. What is it that they do, +When they change vs for others? Is it Sport? +I thinke it is: and doth Affection breed it? +I thinke it doth. Is't Frailty that thus erres? +It is so too. And haue not we Affections? +Desires for Sport? and Frailty, as men haue? +Then let them vse vs well: else let them know, +The illes we do, their illes instruct vs so + + Des. Good night, good night: +Heauen me such vses send, +Not to picke bad, from bad; but by bad, mend. + +Exeunt. + +Actus Quintus. Scena Prima. + +Enter Iago, and Rodorigo. + + Iago. Heere, stand behinde this Barke, +Straight will he come: +Weare thy good Rapier bare, and put it home: +Quicke, quicke, feare nothing; Ile be at thy Elbow, +It makes vs, or it marres vs, thinke on that, +And fixe most firme thy Resolution + + Rod. Be neere at hand, I may miscarry in't + + Iago. Heere, at thy hand: Be bold, & take thy stand + + Rod. I haue no great deuotion to the deed, +And yet he hath giuen me satisfying Reasons: +'Tis but a man gone. Forth my Sword: he dies + + Iago. I haue rub'd this yong Quat almost to the sense, +And he growes angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio, +Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other, +Euery way makes my gaine. Liue Rodorigo, +He calles me to a restitution large +Of Gold, and Iewels, that I bob'd from him, +As Guifts to Desdemona. +It must not be: If Cassio do remaine, +He hath a dayly beauty in his life, +That makes me vgly: and besides, the Moore +May vnfold me to him: there stand I in much perill: +No, he must dye. But so, I heard him comming. +Enter Cassio. + + Rod. I know his gate, 'tis he: Villaine thou dyest + + Cas. That thrust had beene mine enemy indeed, +But that my Coate is better then thou know'st: +I will make proofe of thine + + Rod. Oh, I am slaine + + Cassio. I am maym'd for euer: +Helpe hoa: Murther, murther. +Enter Othello. + + Oth. The voyce of Cassio. Iago keepes his word + + Rod. O Villaine that I am + + Oth. It is euen so + + Cas. Oh helpe hoa: Light, a Surgeon + + Oth. 'Tis he: O braue Iago, honest, and iust, +That hast such Noble sense of thy Friends wrong, +Thou teachest me. Minion, your deere lyes dead, +And your vnblest Fate highes: Strumpet I come: +For of my heart, those Charmes thine Eyes, are blotted. +Thy Bed lust-stain'd, shall with Lusts blood bee spotted. + +Exit Othello. + +Enter Lodouico and Gratiano. + + Cas. What hoa? no Watch? No passage? +Murther, Murther + + Gra. 'Tis some mischance, the voyce is very direfull + + Cas. Oh helpe + + Lodo. Hearke + + Rod. Oh wretched Villaine + + Lod. Two or three groane. 'Tis heauy night; +These may be counterfeits: Let's think't vnsafe +To come into the cry, without more helpe + + Rod. Nobody come: then shall I bleed to death. +Enter Iago. + + Lod. Hearke + + Gra. Here's one comes in his shirt, with Light, and +Weapons + + Iago. Who's there? +Who's noyse is this that cries on murther? + Lodo. We do not know + + Iago. Do not you heare a cry? + Cas. Heere, heere: for heauen sake helpe me + + Iago. What's the matter? + Gra. This is Othello's Ancient, as I take it + + Lodo. The same indeede, a very valiant Fellow + + Iago. What are you heere, that cry so greeuously? + Cas. Iago? Oh I am spoyl'd, vndone by Villaines: +Giue me some helpe + + Iago. O mee, Lieutenant! +What Villaines haue done this? + Cas. I thinke that one of them is heereabout. +And cannot make away + + Iago. Oh treacherous Villaines: +What are you there? Come in, and giue some helpe + + Rod. O helpe me there + + Cassio. That's one of them + + Iago. Oh murd'rous Slaue! O Villaine! + Rod. O damn'd Iago! O inhumane Dogge! + Iago. Kill men i'th' darke? +Where be these bloody Theeues? +How silent is this Towne? Hoa, murther, murther. +What may you be? Are you of good, or euill? + Lod. As you shall proue vs, praise vs + + Iago. Signior Lodouico? + Lod. He Sir + + Iago. I cry you mercy: here's Cassio hurt by Villaines + + Gra. Cassio? + Iago. How is't Brother? + Cas. My Legge is cut in two + + Iago. Marry heauen forbid: +Light Gentlemen, Ile binde it with my shirt. +Enter Bianca. + + Bian. What is the matter hoa? Who is't that cry'd? + Iago. Who is't that cry'd? + Bian. Oh my deere Cassio, +My sweet Cassio: Oh Cassio, Cassio, Cassio + + Iago. O notable Strumpet. Cassio, may you suspect +Who they should be, that haue thus mangled you? + Cas. No + + Gra. I am sorry to finde you thus; +I haue beene to seeke you + + Iago. Lend me a Garter. So: - Oh for a Chaire +To beare him easily hence + + Bian. Alas he faints. Oh Cassio, Cassio, Cassio + + Iago. Gentlemen all, I do suspect this Trash +To be a party in this Iniurie. +Patience awhile, good Cassio. Come, come; +Lend me a Light: know we this face, or no? +Alas my Friend, and my deere Countryman +Rodorigo? No: Yes sure: Yes, 'tis Rodorigo + + Gra. What, of Venice? + Iago. Euen he Sir: Did you know him? + Gra. Know him? I + + Iago. Signior Gratiano? I cry your gentle pardon: +These bloody accidents must excuse my Manners, +That so neglected you + + Gra. I am glad to see you + + Iago. How do you Cassio? Oh, a Chaire, a Chaire + + Gra. Rodorigo? + Iago. He, he, 'tis he: +Oh that's well said, the Chaire. +Some good man beare him carefully from hence, +Ile fetch the Generall's Surgeon. For you Mistris, +Saue you your labour. He that lies slaine heere (Cassio) +Was my deere friend. What malice was between you + + Cas. None in the world: nor do I know the man? + Iago. What? looke you pale? Oh beare him o'th' Ayre. +Stay you good Gentlemen. Looke you pale, Mistris? +Do you perceiue the gastnesse of her eye? +Nay, if you stare, we shall heare more anon. +Behold her well: I pray you looke vpon her: +Do you see Gentlemen? Nay, guiltinesse will speake +Though tongues were out of vse. +Aemil. Alas, what is the matter? +What is the matter, Husband? + Iago. Cassio hath heere bin set on in the darke +By Rodorigo, and Fellowes that are scap'd: +He's almost slaine, and Rodorigo quite dead. +Aemil. Alas good Gentleman: alas good Cassio + + Iago. This is the fruits of whoring. Prythe aemilia, +Go know of Cassio where he supt to night. +What, do you shake at that? + Bian. He supt at my house, but I therefore shake not + + Iago. O did he so? I charge you go with me. +Aemil. Oh fie vpon thee Strumpet + + Bian. I am no Strumpet, but of life as honest, +As you that thus abuse me. +Aemil. As I? Fie vpon thee + + Iago. Kinde Gentlemen: +Let's go see poore Cassio drest. +Come Mistris, you must tel's another Tale. +aemilia, run you to the Cittadell, +And tell my Lord and Lady, what hath happ'd: +Will you go on afore? This is the night +That either makes me, or foredoes me quight. + +Exeunt. + +Scoena Secunda. + +Enter Othello, and Desdemona in her bed. + + Oth. It is the Cause, it is the Cause (my Soule) +Let me not name it to you, you chaste Starres, +It is the Cause. Yet Ile not shed her blood, +Nor scarre that whiter skin of hers, then Snow, +And smooth as Monumentall Alablaster: +Yet she must dye, else shee'l betray more men: +Put out the Light, and then put out the Light: +If I quench thee, thou flaming Minister, +I can againe thy former light restore, +Should I repent me. But once put out thy Light, +Thou cunning'st Patterne of excelling Nature, +I know not where is that Promethaean heate +That can thy Light re-Lume. +When I haue pluck'd thy Rose, +I cannot giue it vitall growth againe, +It needs must wither. Ile smell thee on the Tree. +Oh Balmy breath, that dost almost perswade +Iustice to breake her Sword. One more, one more: +Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee, +And loue thee after. One more, and that's the last. +So sweet, was ne're so fatall. I must weepe, +But they are cruell Teares: This sorrow's heauenly, +It strikes, where it doth loue. She wakes + + Des. Who's there? Othello? + Othel. I Desdemona + + Des. Will you come to bed, my Lord? + Oth. Haue you pray'd to night, Desdemon? + Des. I my Lord + + Oth. If you bethinke your selfe of any Crime +Vnreconcil'd as yet to Heauen, and Grace, +Solicite for it straight + + Des. Alacke, my Lord, +What may you meane by that? + Oth. Well, do it, and be breefe, I will walke by: +I would not kill thy vnprepared Spirit, +No, Heauens fore-fend) I would not kill thy Soule + + Des. Talke you of killing? + Oth. I, I do + + Des. Then Heauen haue mercy on mee + + Oth. Amen, with all my heart + + Des. If you say, I hope you will not kill me + + Oth. Humh + + Des. And yet I feare you: for you're fatall then +When your eyes rowle so. +Why I should feare, I know not, +Since guiltinesse I know not: But yet I feele I feare + + Oth. Thinke on thy sinnes + + Des. They are Loues I beare to you + + Oth. I, and for that thou dy'st + + Des. That death's vnnaturall, that kils for louing. +Alas, why gnaw you so your nether-lip? +Some bloody passion shakes your very Frame: +These are portents: but yet I hope, I hope, +They do not point on me + + Oth. Peace, and be still + + Des. I will so: What's the matter? + Oth. That Handkerchiefe +Which I so lou'd, and gaue thee, thou gau'st to Cassio + + Des. No by my Life, and Soule: send for the man, +And aske him + + Oth. Sweet Soule, take heed, take heed of Periury, +Thou art on thy death-bed + + Des. I, but not yet to dye + + Oth. Presently. +Therefore confesse thee freely of thy sinne: +For to deny each Article with Oath, +Cannot remoue, nor choake the strong Conception +That I do grone withall. Thou art to dye + + Des. O Heauen haue mercy on me + + Oth. I say, Amen + + Des. And haue you mercy too. I neuer did +Offend you in my life: neuer lou'd Cassio, +But with such generall warrantie of Heauen, +As I might loue. I neuer gaue him Token + + Oth. By Heauen I saw my Handkerchiefe in's hand. +O periur'd woman, thou do'st stone my heart, +And makes me call, what I intend to do, +A Murther, which I thought a Sacrifice. +I saw the Handkerchiefe + + Des. He found it then: +I neuer gaue it him: Send, for him hither: +Let him confesse a truth + + Oth. He hath confest + + Des. What, my Lord? + Oth. That he hath vs'd thee + + Des. How? vnlawfully? + Oth. I + + Des. He will not say so + + Oth. No: his mouth is stopp'd: +Honest Iago hath 'tane order for't + + Des. Oh, my feare interprets. What is he dead? + Oth. Had all his haires bin liues, my great Reuenge +Had stomacke for them all + + Des. Alas, he is betray'd, and I vndone + + Oth. Out Strumpet: weep'st thou for him to my face? + Des. O banish me, my Lord, but kill me not + + Oth. Downe Strumpet + + Des. Kill me to morrow, let me liue to night + + Oth. Nay, if you striue + + Des. But halfe an houre + + Oth. Being done, there is no pawse + + Des. But while I say one prayer + + Oth. It is too late. + +Smothers her. + +aemilia at the doore. + +Aemil. My Lord, my Lord? What hoa? +My Lord, my Lord + + Oth. What noise is this? Not dead? not yet quite dead? +I that am cruell, am yet mercifull, +I would not haue thee linger in thy paine? +So, so. +Aemil. within. What hoa? my Lord, my Lord? + Oth. Who's there? +Aemil. Oh good my Lord, I would speake a word +with you + + Oth. Yes: 'Tis aemilia: by and by. Shee's dead. +'Tis like she comes to speake of Cassio's death: +The noise was high. Hah, no more moouing? +Still as the Graue. Shall she come in? Wer't good? +I thinke she stirres againe. No, what's best to do? +If she come in, shee'l sure speake to my wife: +My wife, my wife: what wife? I haue no wife. +Oh insupportable! Oh heauy houre! +Me thinkes, it should be now a huge Eclipse +Of Sunne, and Moone; and that th' affrighted Globe +Did yawne at Alteration. +Aemil. I do beseech you +That I may speake with you. Oh good my Lord + + Oth. I had forgot thee: oh come in aemilia. +Soft, by and by, let me the Curtaines draw. +Where art thou? What's the matter with thee now? +Enter aemilia. + +Aemil. Oh my good Lord, yonders foule Murthers +done + + Oth. What? now? +Aemil. But now, my Lord + + Oth. It is the very error of the Moone, +She comes more neerer Earth then she was wont, +And makes men mad. +Aemil. Cassio, my Lord, hath kill'd +A young Venetian, call'd Rodorigo + + Oth. Rodorigo kill'd? and Cassio kill'd? +Aemil. No, Cassio is not kill'd + + Oth. Not Cassio kill'd? Then Murther's out of tune, +And sweet Reuenge growes harsh + + Des. O falsely, falsely murder'd. +Aemil. Alas! what cry is that? + Oth. That? What? +Aemil. Out, and alas, that was my Ladies voice. +Helpe, helpe hoa, helpe. Oh Ladie speake againe, +Sweet Desdemona, oh sweet Mistris, speake + + Des. A guiltlesse death, I dye. +Aemil. Oh who hath done this deed? + Des. No body: I my selfe, farewell: +Commend me to my kinde Lord: oh farewell + + Oth. Why, how should she be murdred? +Aemil. Alas: who knowes? + Oth. You heare her say her selfe, it was not I. +Aemil. She said so: I must needs report the truth + + Oth. She's like a Liar gone to burning hell, +'Twas I that kill'd her. +Aemil. Oh the more Angell she, and you the blacker +Diuell + + Oth. She turn'd to folly: and she was a whore. +Aemil. Thou do'st bely her, and thou art a diuell + + Oth. She was false as water. +Aemil. Thou art rash as fire, to say +That she was false. Oh she was heauenly true + + Oth. Cassio did top her: Ask thy husband else. +O, I were damn'd beneath all depth in hell: +But that I did proceed vpon iust grounds +To this extremity. Thy Husband knew it all. +Aemil. My Husband? + Oth. Thy Husband. +Aemil. That she was false to Wedlocke? + Oth. I, with Cassio: had she bin true, +If Heauen would make me such another world, +Of one entyre and perfect Chrysolite, +I'ld not haue sold her for it. +Aemil. My Husband? + Oth. I, 'twas he that told me on her first, +An honest man he is, and hates the slime +That stickes on filthy deeds. +Aemil. My Husband? + Oth. What needs this itterance, Woman? +I say, thy Husband. +Aemil. Oh Mistris, +Villany hath made mockes with loue: +My Husband say she was false? + Oth. He, Woman; +I say thy Husband: Do'st vnderstand the word? +My Friend, thy Husband; honest, honest Iago. +Aemil. If he say so, may his pernicious Soule +Rot halfe a graine a day: he lyes to'th' heart, +She was too fond of her most filthy Bargaine + + Oth. Hah? +Aemil. Do thy worst: +This deede of thine is no more worthy Heauen, +Then thou was't worthy her + + Oth. Peace, you were best. +Aemil. Thou hast not halfe that powre to do me harm, +As I haue to be hurt. Oh Gull, oh dolt, +As ignorant as durt: thou hast done a deed +(I care not for thy Sword) Ile make thee known, +Though I lost twenty liues. Helpe, helpe, hoa, helpe: +The Moore hath kill'd my Mistris. Murther, murther. +Enter Montano, Gratiano, and Iago. + + Mon. What is the matter? How now Generall? +Aemil. Oh, are you come, Iago: you haue done well, +That men must lay their Murthers on your necke + + Gra. What is the matter? +Aemil. Disproue this Villaine, if thou bee'st a man: +He sayes, thou told'st him that his wife was false: +I know thou did'st not: thou'rt not such a Villain. +Speake, for my heart is full + + Iago. I told him what I thought, +And told no more +Then what he found himselfe was apt, and true. +Aemil. But did you euer tell him, +She was false? + Iago. I did. +Aemil. You told a Lye an odious damned Lye: +Vpon my Soule, a Lye; a wicked Lye. +Shee false with Cassio? +Did you say with Cassio? + Iago. With Cassio, Mistris? +Go too, charme your tongue + + Emil. I will not charme my Tongue; +I am bound to speake, +My Mistris heere lyes murthered in her bed + + All. Oh Heauens, forefend + + Emil. And your reports haue set the Murder on + + Othello. Nay stare not Masters, +It is true indeede + + Gra. 'Tis a strange Truth + + Mont. O monstrous Acte + + Emil. Villany, villany, villany: +I thinke vpon't, I thinke: I smel't: O Villany: +I thought so then: Ile kill my selfe for greefe. +O villany! villany! + Iago. What, are you mad? +I charge you get you home + + Emil. Good Gentlemen, let me haue leaue to speake: +'Tis proper I obey him; but not now: +Perchance Iago, I will ne're go home + + Oth. Oh, oh, oh + + Emil. Nay, lay thee downe, and roare: +For thou hast kill'd the sweetest innocent, +That ere did lift vp eye + + Oth. Oh she was fowle! +I scarse did know you Vnkle, there lies your Neece, +Whose breath (indeed) these hands haue newly stopp'd: +I know this acte shewes horrible and grim + + Gra. Poore Desdemon: +I am glad thy Father's dead, +Thy Match was mortall to him: and pure greefe +Shore his old thred in twaine. Did he liue now, +This sight would make him do a desperate turne: +Yea, curse his better Angell from his side, +And fall to Reprobance + + Oth. 'Tis pittifull: but yet Iago knowes +That she with Cassio, hath the Act of shame +A thousand times committed. Cassio confest it, +And she did gratifie his amorous workes +With that Recognizance and pledge of Loue +Which I first gaue her: I saw it in his hand: +It was a Handkerchiefe, an Antique Token +My Father gaue my Mother + + Emil. Oh Heauen! oh heauenly Powres! + Iago. Come, hold your peace + + Emil. 'Twill out, 'twill out. I peace? +No, I will speake as liberall as the North; +Let Heauen, and Men, and Diuels, let them all, +All, all, crie shame against me, yet Ile speake + + Iago. Be wise, and get you home + + Emil. I will not + + Gra. Fye, your Sword vpon a Woman + + Emil. Oh thou dull Moore, +That Handkerchiefe thou speak'st of +I found by Fortune, and did giue my Husband: +For often, with a solemne earnestnesse, +(More then indeed belong'd to such a Trifle) +He begg'd of me, to steale't + + Iago. Villanous Whore + + Emil. She giue it Cassio? No, alas I found it, +And I did giu't my Husband + + Iago. Filth, thou lyest + + Emil. By Heauen I do not, I do not Gentlemen: +Oh murd'rous Coxcombe, what should such a Foole +Do with so good a wife? + Oth. Are there no stones in Heauen, +But what serues for the Thunder? +Precious Villaine + + Gra. The woman falles: +Sure he hath kill'd his Wife + + Emil. I, I: oh lay me by my Mistris side + + Gra. Hee's gone, but his wife's kill'd + + Mon. 'Tis a notorious Villain: take you this weapon +Which I haue recouer'd from the Moore: +Come guard the doore without, let him not passe, +But kill him rather. Ile after that same villaine, +For 'tis a damned Slaue. +Enter. + + Oth. I am not valiant neither: +But euery Punie whipster gets my Sword. +But why should Honor out-liue Honesty? +Let it go all. +Aemil. What did thy Song boad Lady? +Hearke, canst thou heare me? I will play the Swan, +And dye in Musicke: Willough, Willough, Willough. +Moore, she was chaste: She lou'd thee, cruell Moore, +So come my Soule to blisse, as I speake true: +So speaking as I thinke, alas, I dye + + Oth. I haue another weapon in this Chamber, +It was a Sword of Spaine, the Ice brookes temper: +Oh heere it is: Vnkle I must come forth + + Gra. If thou attempt it, it will cost thee deere; +Thou hast no weapon, and perforce must suffer + + Oth. Looke in vpon me then, and speake with me, +Or naked as I am I will assault thee + + Gra. What is the matter? + Othel. Behold, I haue a weapon: +A better neuer did it selfe sustaine +Vpon a Soldiers Thigh. I haue seene the day, +That with this little Arme, and this good Sword, +I haue made my way through more impediments +Then twenty times your stop. But (oh vaine boast) +Who can controll his Fate? 'Tis not so now. +Be not affraid, though you do see me weapon'd: +Heere is my iournies end, heere is my butt +And verie Sea-marke of my vtmost Saile. +Do you go backe dismaid? 'Tis a lost feare: +Man but a Rush against Othello's brest, +And he retires. Where should Othello go? +Now: how dost thou looke now? Oh ill-Starr'd wench, +Pale as thy Smocke: when we shall meete at compt, +This looke of thine will hurle my Soule from Heauen, +And Fiends will snatch at it. Cold, cold, my Girle? +Euen like thy Chastity. O cursed, cursed Slaue! +Whip me ye Diuels, +From the possession of this Heauenly sight: +Blow me about in windes, roast me in Sulphure, +Wash me in steepe-downe gulfes of Liquid fire. +Oh Desdemon! dead Desdemon: dead. Oh, oh! +Enter Lodouico, Cassio, Montano, and Iago, with Officers. + + Lod. Where is this rash, and most vnfortunate man? + Oth. That's he that was Othello: heere I am + + Lod. Where is that Viper? +Bring the Villaine forth + + Oth. I look down towards his feet; but that's a Fable, +If that thou bee'st a Diuell, I cannot kill thee + + Lod. Wrench his Sword from him + + Iago. I bleed Sir, but not kill'd + + Othel. I am not sorry neither, Il'd haue thee liue: +For in my sense, 'tis happinesse to die + + Lod. Oh thou Othello, that was once so good, +Falne in the practise of a cursed Slaue, +What shall be saide to thee + + Oth. Why any thing: +An honourable Murderer, if you will: +For nought I did in hate, but all in Honour + + Lod. This wretch hath part confest his Villany: +Did you and he consent in Cassio's death + + Oth. I + + Cas. Deere Generall, I neuer gaue you cause + + Oth. I do beleeue it, and I aske your pardon: +Will you, I pray, demand that demy-Diuell, +Why he hath thus ensnar'd my Soule and Body + + Iag. Demand me nothing: what you know, you know: +From this time forth, I neuer will speake word + + Lod. What? not to pray? + Gra. Torments will ope your lips + + Oth. Well, thou dost best + + Lod. Sir, +You shall vnderstand what hath befalne, +(Which, as I thinke, you know not) heere is a Letter +Found in the pocket of the slaine Rodorigo, +And heere another, the one of them imports +The death of Cassio, to be vndertooke +By Rodorigo + + Oth. O Villaine! + Cassio. Most Heathenish, and most grosse + + Lod. Now, heere's another discontented paper +Found in his pocket too: and this it seemes +Rodorigo meant t'haue sent this damned villaine: +But that (belike) Iago in the interim +Came in, and satisfi'd him + + Oth. Oh thou pernitious Caitiffe; +How came you (Cassio) by that Handkerchiefe +That was my wiues? + Cassio. I found it in my Chamber: +And he himselfe confest it but euen now, +That there he dropt it for a speciall purpose, +Which wrought to his desire + + Othel. O Foole, foole, foole! + Cassio. There is besides, in Rodorigo's Letter, +How he vpbraides Iago, that he made him +Braue me vpon the Watch: whereon it came +That I was cast: and euen but now he spake +(After long seeming dead) Iago hurt him, +Iago set him on + + Lod. You must forsake this roome, and go with vs: +Your Power, and your Command is taken off, +And Cassio rules in Cyprus. For this Slaue, +If there be any cunning Crueltie, +That can torment him much, and hold him long, +It shall be his. You shall close Prisoner rest, +Till that the Nature of your fault be knowne +To the Venetian State. Come, bring away + + Oth. Soft you; a word or two before you goe: +I haue done the State some seruice, and they know't: +No more of that. I pray you in your Letters, +When you shall these vnluckie deeds relate, +Speake of me, as I am. Nothing extenuate, +Nor set downe ought in malice. +Then must you speake, +Of one that lou'd not wisely, but too well: +Of one, not easily Iealious, but being wrought, +Perplexed in the extreame: Of one, whose hand +(Like the base Iudean) threw a Pearle away +Richer then all his Tribe: Of one, whose subdu'd Eyes, +Albeit vn-vsed to the melting moode, +Drops teares as fast as the Arabian Trees +Their Medicinable gumme. Set you downe this: +And say besides, that in Aleppo once, +Where a malignant, and a Turbond-Turke +Beate a Venetian, and traduc'd the State, +I tooke by th' throat the circumcised Dogge, +And smoate him, thus + + Lod. Oh bloody period + + Gra. All that is spoke, is marr'd + + Oth. I kist thee, ere I kill'd thee: No way but this, +Killing my selfe, to dye vpon a kisse. + +Dyes + + Cas. This did I feare, but thought he had no weapon: +For he was great of heart + + Lod. Oh Sparton Dogge: +More fell then Anguish, Hunger, or the Sea: +Looke on the Tragicke Loading of this bed: +This is thy worke: +The Obiect poysons Sight, +Let it be hid. Gratiano, keepe the house, +And seize vpon the Fortunes of the Moore, +For they succeede on you. To you, Lord Gouernor, +Remaines the Censure of this hellish villaine: +The Time, the Place, the Torture, oh inforce it: +My selfe will straight aboord, and to the State, +This heauie Act, with heauie heart relate. + +Exeunt. + + +FINIS. + +The Names of the Actors. + +Othello, the Moore. +Brabantio, Father to Desdemona. +Cassio, an Honourable Lieutenant. +Iago, a Villaine. +Rodorigo, a gull'd Gentleman. +Duke of Venice. +Senators. +Montano, Gouernour of Cyprus. +Gentlemen of Cyprus. +Lodouico, and Gratiano, two Noble Venetians. +Saylors. +Clowne. +Desdemona, Wife to Othello. +Aemilia, Wife to Iago. +Bianca, a Curtezan. + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 2267 *** |