SCENE IF.

Cyprus.

The Guard-house before the Castle.

Enter OTHELLO, CASSIO, GIOVANNI, LUCA, MARCO, and PAULO.

Oth. Good Michael, look you to the guard tonight;

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 your ear

liest,

Let me have speech with you :

Good night.

[Exeunt all but CASSIO.

Enter IAGO.

Cas. Welcome, Iago: We must to the watch. Iago. Not this hour, lieutenant; it is not yet ten o'clock: Our general cast us thus early, for the love of his Desdemona; who 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. 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, 'tis an alarum to love.

Cas. She is, indeed, perfection.

Iago. 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.

Iago. 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 unfortunate in the infirmity, and dare not task my weakness with any more. Iago. What, man! 'tis a night of revels; the gallants desire it.

Cas. Where are they?

Iago. Here ;-I pray you call them in.

Cas. I'll do 't; but it dislikes me.

Iago. If I can fasten but one cup upon him,

[Exit.

With that which he hath drunk to-night already,
He'll be as full of quarrel and offence

As my young mistress' dog. Now, my sick fool,

Roderigo,

Whom love hath turn'd almost the wrong ward,

side out

To Desdemona hath to-night carous'd
Potations pottle-deep; and he's to watch:
Three lads of Cyprus-noble, swelling spirits,
That hold their honour 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,

I am 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.

Enter CASSIO, MONTANO, JULIO, ANTONIO, and
LEONARDO, with Wine.

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

Mont. Good faith, a little one; not past a pint, As I am a soldier.

Iago. Some wine, ho?

[Sings.] And let me the canakin clink, clink;

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!

Cas. 'Fore Heaven, an excellent song!

Iago. I learn'd it in England, where, indeed, they are most potent in potting: your Dane, your German, and your swag-bellied Hollander,-Drink, ho!-are nothing to your English.

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 fill'd.

Cas. To the health of our general.

Mont. I am for it, lieutenant; and I'll do you justice.

Iago. O sweet England!

[Sings.] King Stephen was a worthy peer,

His breeches cost him but a crown;
He held them sixpence all too dear,
With that he call'd the tailor-lown.

Some wine, ho!

Cas. 'Fore Heaven, this is a more exquisite song than the other!

Iago. Will you hear it again?

Cas. No; for I hold him unworthy of his place, that does those things.-Well,-Heaven's above all; and there be souls that must be saved, and there be souls that must not be saved.

Iago. It's true, good lieutenant.

Cas. For mine own part,-no offence to the general, nor any man of quality,—I hope to be saved. lago. 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 band:-I am not drunk now; I can stand well enough, and speak well enough.

All. Excellent well.

Cas. Very well then: you must not think that I am drunk.

[Exeunt CASSIO, ANTONIO, JULIO, and LEONARDO. Lago. You see this fellow, that is gone before;→→ He is a soldier, fit to stand by Cæsar

And give direction: and do but see his vice.
I fear, the trust Othello puts him in,

On some odd time of his infirmity,

Will shake this island.

Mont. But is he often thus ?

Iago. "Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep.

Mont. It were well,

The general were put in mind of it:
Perhaps, he sees it not! or his good nature
Prizes the virtues that appear in Cassio,

And looks not on his evils:-Is not this true ?—

Enter RODErigo.

Iago. How now, Roderigo!

I pray you, after the lieutenant; go.

[Exit RODERIGO.
Mont. And 'tis great pity, that the noble Moor
Should hazard such a place, as his own second,
With one of an ingraft infirmity:

It were an honest action, to say so
To the Moor.

Iago. Not I, for this fair island:

I do love Cassio well; and would do much
To cure him of this evil.

Rod. [Without.] Help! help!

lago. But, hark! what noise?

Enter CASSIO, driving in RODERIGO,- ANTON 10 and JULIO following them.

Cas. You rogue! you rascal!

Mont. What's the matter, lieutenant ?

[Stops CASSIO.

Cas. A knave!-teach me my duty!

I'll beat the knave into a wicker bottle.

Rod. Beat me!

Cas. Dost thou prate, rogue?

Mont. Nay, good lieutenant;

Pray, sir, hold your hand.

[Struggling to reach RODERIGO. [Staying him.

Cas. Let me go, sir,

Or I'll knock you o'er the mazzard.

Mont. Come, come, you're drunk.

Cas. Drunk!

[Strikes MONTANO.

[They draw, and fight.