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true;

him if thou canst cuckold him, thou dost | He has done my office: I know not if't be thyself a pleasure, and me a sport. There are many events in the womb of time, which will be delivered. Traverse; go; provide thy money. We will have more of this to-morrow. Adieu.

Rod. Where shall we meet i'the morning? lago. At my lodging.

Rod. I'll be with thee betimes. Iago. Go to; farewell. Do you hear, RoRod. What say you? [derigo? Iago. No more of drowning, do you hear. Rod. I am changed. I'll self all my land. Iago. Go to; farewell put money enough in your purse. [Exit RODERIGO. Thus do 1 ever make my fool my purse: For I. mine own gain'd knowledge should profane,

If I would time expend with such a snipe, But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor; And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets

But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
Will do, as if for surety. He holdst me well;
The better shall my purpose work on him.
Cassio's a proper man: Let me see now;
To get his place, and to plume up my will;
A double knavery,-How? how?-Let me

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After some time, to abuse Othello's ear,
That he is too familiar with his wife :-
He hath a person, and a smooth dispose,
To be suspected; framed to make women
The Moor is of a free and open nature, [false.
That thinks men honest, that but seem to be
And will as tenderly be led by the nose, [so;
As asses are.

I hav't; it is engender'd: Hell and night
Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's
light.
[Exit.

ACT II.

SCENE I. A Sea-Port Town in Cyprus, A Platform.

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Enter MONTANO and Two Gentlemen. Mon. What from the cape can you discern at sea ? [flood Gent. Nothing at all: it is a high-wrought I cannot, 'twixt the heaven and the main, Descry a sail. [at land: Mon. Methinks, the wind hath spoke aloud A fuller blast ne'er shook our battlements : Iit hath ruffian'd so upon the sea, What ribs of oak, when mountains melt on them, [this? Can hold the mortise? what shall we hear of 2 Gent. A segregation of the Turkish fleet: For do but stand upon the foaming shore, The chiding billow seems to pelt the clouds; The wind-shaked surge, with high and mon. strous main,

Seems to cast water on the burning bear §,
And quench the guards of the ever-fixed pole:
I never did like molestation view
On th' enchafed flood.

Mon.
If that the Turkish fleet
Be not inshelter'd and embay'd, they are
It is impossible they bear it out. [drown'd;
Enter a third Gentleman.

3 Gent. News, lords! our wars are done; The desperate tempest hath so bang'd the Turks, [Venice That their designment halts: A noble ship of Hath seen a grievous wreck and sufferance On most part of their fleet. Mon.

How! is this true? 3 Gent. The ship is here put in, A Veronese; Michael Cassio

Lieutenant to the warlike Moory Othello,
Is come on shore: the Moor himself's at sea,

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And is in full commission here for Cyprus. Mon. I am glad on't; 'tis a worthy governor. 3 Gent. But this same Cassio,-though he speak of comfort,

Touching the Turkish loss, yet he looks sadly, [parted And prays the Moor be safe; for they were With foul and violent tempest.

Mon. 'Pray heaven he be; For I have served him, and the man commands Like a full || soldier. Let's to the sea-side, ho! As well to see the vessel that's come in, As throw out our eyes for brave Othello; Even till we make the main, and the aerial An indistinct regard. [blue, Come, let's do so;

3 Gent.

For every minute is expectancy Of more arrivance.

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† Esteems.

Separation.

[Guns heard.

The con

¶ Allowed and approved expertness.

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Cas. She that I spake of, our great captain's
captain,

Left in the conduct of the bold Iago?
Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts,
A se'nnight's speed. Great Jove, Othello
guard,
[breath;
And swell his sail with thine own powerful
That he may bless this bay with his tall ship,
Make love's quick pants in Desdemona's arms,
Give renew'd fire to our extincted spirits,
And bring all Cyprus comfort!-O, behold,
Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA, IAGO, RODE-
RIGO, and Attendants.

The riches of the ship is come on shore!
Ye men of Cyprus, let her have your knees;
Hail to thee, lady! and the grace of heaven,
Before, behind thee, and on every hand,
Enwheel thee round!

Des. I thank you, valiant Cassio. What tidings can you tell me of my lord? Cas. He is not yet arrived; nor know I aught But that he's well, and will be shortly here. Des. O, but I fear;-How lost you company? [skies Cas. The great contention of the sea and Parted our fellowship: But, hark! a sail. [Cry within, A sail, a sail! Then Guns heard. 2 Gent. They give their greeting to the citaThis likewise is a friend. [del;

Cas.

See for the news. [Exit Gentleman. Good ancient, you are welcome; - Welcome mistress:(To EMILIA. Let it not gall your patience, good Iago, That I extend my manners; 'tis my breeding That gives me this bold show of courtesy. [Kissing her. Iago. Sir, would she give you so much of

her lips,

As of her tongue she oft bestows on me, You'd have enough.

Des.

Alas, she has no speech.

lago. In faith, too much

I find it still, when I have list† to sleep:

• Deadly, destructive.

+ Desire,

Emil.

Marry, before your ladyship, I grant, She puts her tongue a little in her heart, And chides with thinking. You have little cause to say so. Jago, Come on, come on; you are pictures out of doors, [kitchens, Bells in your parlours, wild cats in your Saints in your injuries, devils being offended, Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds.

Des. O, fie upon thee, slanderer!

Jago. Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk; You rise to play, and go to bed to work. Emil, You shall not write my praise. lago. No, let me not. Des. What wouldst thou write of me, if thou shouldst praise me? lago. O, gentle lady, do not put me to❜t; For I am nothing, if not critical ‡. Des. Come on, assay.-There's one gone lago. Ay, madam. [to the harbour?

Des. I am not merry; but I do beguile The thing I am, by seeming otherwise.— Come, how wouldst thou praise me? Iago. I am about it; but, indeed, my invention

[frize, Comes from my pate, as birdlime does from It plucks out brains and all: But my muse labours, And thus she is deliver'd.

If she be fair and wise, fairness, and wit,
The one's for use, the other useth it.

Des. Wel praised! How if she be black
and witty?

[wit, lago. If she be black, and thereto have a She'll find a white that shall her lackness fit. Des. Worse and worse.

Emil. How, if fair and foolish? [fair; Iago. She never yet was foolish that was For even her folly help'd her to an heir.

Des. These are old fond paradoxes, to make fools laugh i'the alehouse. What miserable praise hast thou for her that's foul and foolish?

lago. There's none so foul, and foolish thereunto, [do. But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones Des. O heavy ignorance!-thou praisest the worst best. But what praise couldst thou be stow on a deserving woman indeed! one, that, in the authority of her merit, did justly put on the vouch of very malice itself? [proud;

Ingo. She that was ever fair, and never Had tongue at will, and yet was never loud; Never lack'd gold, and yet went never gay; Fled from her wish, and yet said,-now I may; She that, being anger'd, her revenge being nigh, Bade her wrong stay, and her displeasure fly: She, that in wisdom never was so frail, To change the cod's head for the salmon's tail; She that could think, and ne'er disclose her

mind,

See suitors following, and not look behind;
She was a wight, if ever such wight were,-
Des. To do what?
[beer.

Iago. To suckle fools, and chronicle small

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Des. O most lame and impotent conclu. sion!-Do not learn of him, Emilia, though he be thy husband.-How say you, Cassio? is he not a most profane and liberal counsellor ? Cas. He speaks home, madam; you may relish him more in the soldier, than in the scholar.

Iago. [Aside.] He takes her by the palm: Ay, well said, whisper: with as little a web as this, will I insnare as great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do; I will gy vet thee in thine own courtship. You say true; 'tis so, indeed: if such tricks as these strip you out of your lieutenantry, it had been better you bad not kissed your three fingers so oft, which now again you are most apt to play the sir in. Very good; well kissed! an excellent courtesy ! 'tis so, indeed. Yet again your fingers to your lips? would they were clyster-pipes for your sake?--Trumpet.] The Moor, I know his trumpet.

Cas. 'Tis truly so.

Des. Let's meet him, and receive him.
Cas. Lo, where he comes!

Enter OTHELLO, and Attendants.
Oth. O my fair warrior!
Des.

My dear Othello?

Oth. It gives me wonder great as my con-
tent,

To see you here before me. O my soul's joy!
If after every tempest come such calms,
May the winds blow till they have waken'd
death!

Does challenge much respect.-Come, Desde
Once more well met at Cyprus. [mova,

[Exeunt OTHELLO, DESDEMOAA,
and Attendants.

lago. Do thou meet me presently at the harbour. Come hither. If thon be'st valiant as (they say) base men, being in love, have then a nobility in their natures more than is native to them,-list me**. The lieutenant tonight watches on the court of guard :-First, I must tell thee this-Desdemona is directly in love with him.

Rod. With him! why, 'tis not possible. Iago. Lay thy finger-thus, and let thy soul be instructed. Mark me with what violence she first loved the Moor, but for bragging, and telling her fantastical lies: And will she love him still for prating? let not thy discreet heart think it. Her eye must be fed; and what delight shall she have to look on the devil? When the blood is made dull with the act of sport, there should be,-again to inflame it, and to give satiety a fresh appetite,-loveliness in favour; sympathy in years, manners, and beauties; all which the Moor is defective in: Now, for want of these required conveniencies, her delicate tenderness will find itself abused, begin to heave the gorge, disrelish and abhor the Moor; very nature will instruct her in it, and compel her to some second choice. Now, sir, this granted, (as it is a most pregnant and unforced position,) who stands so eminently in the degree of this fortune, as Cassio does? a knave very voluble; no further conscionable, than in putting on the mere form of civil and humane seeming, for the better compassing of his salt and most hidden loose affection? why, none; why, none: A. slippery and subtle knave; a finder out of occasions: that has an eye can stamp and counterfeit advantages, though true advantage never present itself: A devilish knave! besides, the knave is handsome, young; and hath all those Amen to that, sweet powers!-requisites in him, that folly and green minds ++ I cannot speak enough of this content, look after: A pestilent complete knave; and It stops me here; it is too much of joy: the woman hath found him already. And this, and this, the greatest discords be.. [Kissing her. That e'er our hearts shall make! Iago. O, you are well tuned now! But I'll set down the pegs that make this music, As honest as I am. [Aside. Oth. Come, let's to the castle. News, friends; our wars are done, the Turks are drown'd.

And let the labouring bark climb hills of seas,
Olympus-high; and duck again as low
As bell's from heaven! If it were now to die,
"Twere now to be most happy; for I fear,
My soul hath her content so absolute,
That not another comfort like to this
Succeeds in unknown fate.

Des.
The heavens forbid,
But that our loves and comforts should in-
Even as our days do grow.

Oth.

[crease,

How do our old acquaintance of this isle?-
Honey, you shall be well desired in Cyprus,
I have found great love amongst them. O my
I prattle out of fashion ¶, and I dote [sweet,
In mine own comforts.-I pr'ythee, good lago,
Go to the bay, and disembark my coffers:
Bring thou the master to the citadel;
He is a good one, and his worthiness"

Rod. I cannot believe that in her; she is full of most blessed condition .

Lugo. Blessed fig's end! the wine she drinks is made of grapes: if she had been blessed, she would never have loved the Moor: Blessed pudding! Didst thou not see her paddle with the palm of his hand? didst not mark that?

Rod. Yes, that I did; but that was but courtesy.

Iago. Lechery, by this hand; an index, and obscure prologue to the history of lust and foul thoughts. They met so near with their lips, that their breaths embraced together. Villanous thoughts, Roderigo! when these mutualities so marshal the way, hard at hand comes the master and main exercise, the incorporate conclusion: Pish!-But, sir, be you Licentious, free-spoken. Your good breeding and gallantry. Courtesy, in the sense of obeisance, was applied to men as well as women. Much solicited by invitation. ¶ Out of method, without order. ** Listen to me. #Qualities, disposition of mind.

+ Shackle, fetter.

tt Minds unripe.

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Iago. Sir, he is rash, and very sudden in choler; and, haply t, with his truncheon may strike at you: Provoke him, that he may: for, even out of that, will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny; whose qualification shall come into no true taste again, but by the displanting of Cassio. So shall you have a shorter journey to your desires, by the means I shall then have to prefer them; and the impediment most profitably removed, without the which there were no expectation of our prosperity. Rod. I will do this, if I can bring it to any opportunity.

Iago. I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the citadel; I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewell.

Rod. Adieu..

[Exit.
Iago. That Cassio loves her, I do well be.
lieve it;
[dit:
That she loves him, 'tis apt, and of great cre.
The Moor-how beit that I endure him not,
Is of a constant, loving, noble nature;
And, I dare think, he'll prove to Desdemona
A most dear husband. Now I do love her too;
Not out of absolute lust, (though, peradven-
I stand accountant for as great a sin,) [ture,
But partly led to diet my revenge,
For that I do suspect the lusty Moor
Hath leap'd into my seat; the thought whereof
Doth like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my in-
wards;

[do,

And nothing can or shall content my soul,
Till I am even with him, wife for wife;
Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor
At least into a jealousy so strong
That judgment cannot cure. Which thing to
If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trash
For his quick hunting, stand the putting on,
I'll have our Michael Cassio on the hip;
Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb T-
For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too;
Make the Moor thank me, love me, and re-
For making him egregiously an ass, [ward me,
And practising upon his peace and quiet
Even to madness. 'Tis here, but yet confused;
Knavery's plain face is never seen, till used.
[Exit.

SCENE II. A Street.
Enter a Herald, with a Proclamation;
People following.

Her. It is Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant general, that upon certain tidings now arrived, importing the mere** perdition of the

Throwing a slur upon his discipline.
Worthless hound.
In the grossest manner.

Dismissed.

Turkish fleet, every man put h himself into triumph; some to dance, some to make bonfires, each man to what sport and revels his addiction leads him; for, besides these beneficial news, it is the celebration of his nuptials: So much was his pleasure should be proclaimed. All offices ++ are open; and there is full liberty of feasting, from this present hour of five, till the bell hath told eleven. Heaven bless the isle of Cyprus, and our noble general, | Othello! [Exeunt. SCENE III. A Hall in the Castle. Enter OTHELLO, DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and d Attendants.

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Oth. Good Michael, look you to the guard
to night:

Let's teach ourselves that honourable stop,
Not to out-sport discretion.

Cas. Iago hath direction what to do;
But, notwithstanding, with my personal eye
Will I look to't.

Oth.
Iago is most honest.
Michael, good night: To-morrow, with our
earliest,
¿dear love,
Let me have speech with you.-Come, my
The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue;
[To DESDEMONA.
That profit's yet to come 'twixt me and you.—
Good night. [Exeunt OTH. DES. and Attend.
Enter IAGO.

Cas. Welcome, Iago: We must to the watch. Tago. Not this hour, lieutenant; 'tis not yet ten o'clock: Our general cast us thus early, for the love of his Desdemona; whom let us not therefore blame; he hath not yet made wanton the night with her: and she is sport for Jove.

Cas. She's a most exquisite lady.

Iago. And, I'll warraut her full of game. Cas. Indeed, she is a most fresh and deli cate creature.

Iago. What an eye she has! methinks it sounds a parley of provocation.

Cas. An inviting eye; and yet methinks right modest.

Iago. And, when she speaks, is it not an alarm to love?

Cas. She is, indeed, perfection.

Lago. Well, happiness to their sheets. Come, lieutenant, I have a stoop of wine; and here without are a brace of Cyprus gallants, that would fain have a measure to the health of the black Othello.

Cas. Not to-night, good Iago; I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking: I could well wish courtesy would invent some other custom of entertainment.

Tage. O, they are our friends; but one cup; I'll drink for you.

Cas. I have drunk but one cup to-night, and that was craftily qualified too, and, behold, what innovation it makes here: I am unfortu

+ Perhaps. To advance them. The term for a clog put on a hound to hinder his running. Entire. tt Rooms, or places in the castle. § Slily mixed with water.

nate in the infirmity, and dare not task my. weakness with any more.

Iago. What, man! 'tis a night of revels; the gallants desire it. A pout 3 mo Cas. Where are they?,,

lago. Here at the door; I pray you, call

them in.

Cas. I'll do't; but it dislikes me. [Exit CASSIO. Iago. If I can fasten but one cup upon him, With that which he hath drunk to-night ready,

He was a wight of high renown
And thou art but of low degree:
"Tis pride that pulls the country down,
Then take thine auld cloak about thee.
Some wine, ho!

Cas. Why, this is a more exquisite song than the other.

Iago. Will you hear it again?

Cas. No; for I hold him to be unworthy of his place that does those things.-Well,-Hea. al-ven's above all; and there be souls that must be saved, and there be souls must not be saved. lago. It's true, good lieutenant.

He'll be as full of quarrel and offence
As my young mistress' dog. Now, my sick
fool, Roderigo,

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Whom love has turn'd almost the wrong side
outward,

To Desdemona hath to-night caroused
Potations pottle deep; and he's to watch:
Three lads of Cyprus, noble swelling spirits,
That hold their honours in a wary distance,
The very elements of this warlike isle,-
Have I to-night fluster'd with flowing cups,
And they watch too. Now, 'mongst this flock
of drunkards,.

Am I to put our Cassio in some action
That may offend the isle:-But here they come:
If consequence do but approve my dream,
My boat sails freely both with wind and stream.
Re-enter CASSIO, with him MONTANO, and
Gentlemen.

Cas. 'Fore heaven, they have given me a rouse already.

Mon. Good faith, a little one; not pást a pint, as I'm a soldier.

Iago. Some wine, ho!

Cas. For mine own part, no offence to the general or any man of quality,-I hope to be saved. Iago. And so do I too, lieutenant.

Cas. Ay, but, by your leave, not before me; the lieutenant is to be saved before the ancient. Let's have no more of this; let's to our affairs.Forgive us our sins!-Gentlemen, let's look to our business. Do not think, gentlemen, I am drunk this is my ancient; this is my right hand, and this is my left hand :-I am not drunk now; I can stand well enough, and speak well enough.

All. Excellent well.

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

Iago. You see this fellow that is gone be-
He is a soldier, fit to stand by Cæsar [fore;-
And give direction; and do but see his vice;
"Tis to his virtue a just equinox,

The one as long as the other: 'tis pity of him,
I fear, the trust Othello puts him in,

And let me the canakin clink,clink: [Sings. On some odd time of his infirmity

And let me the canakin clink:

A soldier's a man;

A life's but a span;

Why then let a soldier drink.
Some wine, boys! [Wine brought in.

Cas. 'Fore heaven, an excellent song.
Iago. I learned it in England, where (in-
deed) they are most potent in potting: your
Dane, your German, and your swag-bellied
Hollander, Drink, ho!-are nothing to your
English. J

Cas. Is your Englishman so expert in his drinking? ..

Iago. Why, he drinks you, with facility, your Dane dead drunk; he sweats not to overthrow your Almain; he gives your Hollander a vomit, ere the next pottle can be filled. Cus. To the health of our general Mon. I am for it, lieuteuant; and I'll do you justice+.

lago. O sweet England!

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A little more than enough. g Clown.

Will shake this island.

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+ Drink as much as you do.

A worthy fellow. While the clock strikes two rounds, or four-and-twenty hours.

Rooted, settled.

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