L

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

Cas. To the health of our general!

Cas. Dost thou prate, rogue? [Striking Roderige.
Mon. Nay, good lieutenant! [Staying him.

Mon. I am for it, lieutenant; and I'll do you justice. I pray you, sir, hold your hand!
Jago. O sweet England!

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.

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. Let me go, sir,

Or I'll knock you oe'r the mazzard!
Mon. Come, come, you're drunk!
Cas. Drunk!

They fight

Iago. Away, I say! go out, and cry-a mutiny. [Aside to Rod. who goes out.

Nay, good lieutenant, alas, gentlemen,-
Help, ho!-Lieutenant, sir, Montano,-sir!-

Help, masters! Here's a goodly watch, indeed!
[Bell ring

Whose that that rings the bell? - Diablo, ho!

Cas. Why, this is a more exquisite song, than the The town will rise: God's will, lieutenant! hold! other.

Iago. Will you hear it again?

Cas. No; for I hold him to be 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 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. Iago. And so do I too, lieutenant!

You will be sham'd for ever.

Enter OTHELLO and Attendants.
Oth. What is the matter here?
Mon. I bleed still, I am hurt to the death; -he dies.
Oth, Hold, for your lives.

Iago. Hold, hold, lieutenant!- sir, Montano,-
gentlemen,

Have you forgot all sense of place and duty? Hold, hold! the general speaks to you; hold, for shame! Oth. Why, how now, ho! from whence ariseth this? Cas. Ay, but, by your leave, not before me; the Are we turn'd Turks; and to ourselves do that, lieutenant is to be saved before the ancient. Let's Which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites? have no more of this; let's to our affairs!-For-For christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl: give us our sins! - Gentlemen, let's look to our bu-He, that stirs next to carve for his own rage, siness. 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 before;-
He is a soldier, fit to stand by Caesar
And give direction; and do but see his vice;
"Tis to his virtue a just equinox,

The one as long, as th' other: 'tis pity of him.
I fear, the trust Othello puts him in,
On some odd time of his infirmity,

Will shake this island.

Mon. But is he often thus?

Iago. 'Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep:
He'll watch the horologe a double set,
If drink rock not his cradle.

In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom
Divesting them for bed: and then, but now,
(As if some planet had unwitted men,)
Swords out, and tilting one at other's breast,
In opposition bloody. I cannot speak
Any beginning to this peevish odds;
And 'would in action glorious I had lost
These legs, that brought me to a part of it!
Oth. How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot?
Cas. I pray you, pardon me, I cannot speak!
Oth. Worthy Montano, you were wont be civil;
The gravity and stillness of your youth
The world hath noted, and your name is great
In mouths of wisest censure. What's the matter,
That you unlace your reputation thus,
And spend your rich opinion, for the name
Of a night-brawler? give me answer to it!
Mon. Worthy Othello, I am hurt do danger;
Your officer, Iago, can inform you --
While I spare speech, which something now offends

me,

-

Of all that I do know: nor know I aught
By me that's said or done amiss this night;
Unless self-charity be sometime a vice;
And to defend ourselves it be a sin,
When violence assails us.
Oth. Now, by heaven,

My blood begins my safer guides to rule;
collied,
And passion, having my best judgment
Assays to lead the way. If I once stir,
Or do but lift this arm, the best of you
Shall sink in my rebuke. Give me to know
How this foul rout began, who set it on;

And he that is approv'd in this offence,

Though he had twinn'd with me, both at a birth,
Shall lose me.- What! in a town of war,
Yet wild, the people's hearts brimful of fear,
To manage private and domestic quarrel,
In night, and on the court and guard of safety!
'Tis monstrous!-- Iago, who began it?

Mon. If partially affin'd, or leagu'd in office,
Thou dost deliver more or less than truth,
Thou art no soldier.

Iago. Touch me not so near:

I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth,
Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio;
Yet, I persuade myself, to speak the truth
Shall nothing wrong him. Thus it is, general!
Montano and myself being in speech,
There comes a fellow crying out for help;
And Cassio following him with determin'd sword,
To execute upon him. Sir, this gentleman
Steps in to Cassio, and entreats his pause;
Myself the crying fellow did pursue,
Lest, by his clamour, (as it so fell out,)
The town might fall in fright: he, swift of foot,
Outran my purpose; and I return'd the rather
For that I heard the clink and fall of swords
And Cassio high in oath; which, till to-night,
I ne'er might say before. When I came back,
(For this was brief,) I found them close together,
At blow and thrust; even as again they were,
When you yourself did part them.

More of this matter can I not 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 believe, receiv'd,
From him that fled, some strange indignity,
Which patience could not pass.

Oth. I know, Iago,

Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter,
Making it light to Cassio. Cassio, I love thee;
But never more be officer of mine.-

Cas. I know not.

Iugo. Is it possible?

Cas. I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly; a quarrel, but nothing wherefore.-0, that men should put an enemy in their mouths, to steal away their brains! that we should, with joy, revel, pleasure, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts!

Iago. Why, but you are now well enough: how came you thus recovered?

Cas. It hath pleased the devil, drunkenness, to give place to the devil, wrath: one imperfectness shows me another, to make me frankly despise myself.

Iago. Come, you are too severe a moraler. As the time, the place, and the condition of this country stands, I could heartily wish this had not befallen; but since it is as it is, mend it for your own good..

Cas. I will ask him for my place again; he shall tell me, I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all! To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast! O strange! Every inordinate cup is unblessed, and the ingredient is a devil.

Iago. Come, come,. good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well used; exclaim no more against it. And, good lieutenant, I think, you think I love you. Cas. I have well approved it, sir!-I drunk! Iago. You, or any man living, may be drunk at some time, man! I'll tell you what you shall do. Our general's wife is now the general :-I may say so in this respect, for that he hath devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, and denotement of her parts and graces: confess yourself freely to her; importune her; she'll help to put you in your place again: she is of so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed a disposition, that she holds it a bed!vice in her goodness, not to do more, than she is requested.. This broken joint, between you and her husband, entreat her to splinter; and, my fortunes [To Montano, who is led off. against any lay worth naming, this crack of your

Enter DESDEMONA, attended.

Look, if my gentle love be not rais'd up ;—
I'll make thee an example.

Des. What's the matter, dear?
Oth. All's well now, sweeting; come away to
Sir, for your hurts,

Myself will be your surgeon: lead him off!

lago, look with care about the town;

And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted.
Come, Desdemona! 'tis the soldiers' life,

To have their balmy slumbers wak'd with strife.
[Exeunt all but Iago and Cassio.
Jago. What, are you hurt, lieutenaut?
Cas. Ay, past all surgery.
Iago. Marry, heaven forbid!

Cas. Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part, sir, of myself, and what remains is bestial! My reputation, lago, my reputation!

love shall grow stronger, than it was before..

Cas. You advise me well.

Iago. I protest, in the sincerity of love, and honest kindness.

Cas. I think it freely; and, betimes in the morning, I will beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me: I am desperate of my fortunes, if they check me here.

Iago. You are in the right. Good-night, lieuten-
ant! I must to the watch.
Cas. Good-night, honest Iago!

[Exit Cassio.

Iago. And what's he then, that says, I play the
villain?

Iago. As I am an honest man, I thought you had
received some bodily wound; there is more offence When this advice is free, I give, and honest,
in that, than in reputation. Reputation is an idle Probal to thinking, and (indeed) the course
and most false imposition; oft got without merit, To win the Moor again? For 'tis most easy
and lost without deserving. You have lost no The inclining Desdemona to subdue
reputation at all, unless you repute yourself such In any honest suit; she's fram'd as fruitful
a loser. What, man! there are ways to recover the As the free elements. And then for her

general again. You are but now cast in his mood, To win the Moor, were't to renounce his baptism,

a punishment more in policy than in malice; even All seals and symbols of redeemed sin,

so as one would beat his offenceless dog, to affright His soul is so enfetter'd to her love,

an imperious lion: sue to him again, and he's yours. That she may make, unmake, do what she list, Cas. I will rather sue to be despised, than to deceive Even as her appetite shall play the god

With his weak function. How am I then a villain,
To counsel Cassio to this parallel course,
Directly to his good? Divinity of hell!
When devils will their blackest sins put on,
They do suggest at first with heavenly shows,
As I do now: for while this honest fool
Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes,
And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor,
I'll
pour this pestilence into his ear,-
That she repeals him for her body's lust;
And, by how much she strives to do him good,
She shall undo her credit with the Moor.
So will I turn her virtue into pitch;
And out of her own goodness make the net,
That shall enmesh them all. How now, Roderigo?
Enter RODErigo.
Rod. I do follow here in the chace, not like a
hound, that hunts, but one, that fills up the cry. My
is almost spent; I have been to-night exceed-
money
ingly well cudgelled; and, I think, the issue will
be I shall have so much experience for my pains:
and so, with no money at all, and a little more wit,
return to Venice.

Cas. Pr'ythee, keep up thy quillets! There's a poor piece of gold for thee: if the gentlewoman, that attends the general's wife, be stirring, tell her, there's one Cassio entreats her a little favour of speech. Wilt thou do this?

Clo. She is stirring, sir; if she will stir hither, I
shall seem to notify unto her.
[Exit.
Enter IAGO.

Cas. Do, good my friend!- In happy time, Iago!
Iago. You have not been a-bed then?
Cas. Why, no; the day had broke
Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago,
To send in to your wife. My suit to her
Is, that she will to virtuous Desdemona
Procure me some access.

Iago. I'll send her to you presently;
And I'll devise a mean to draw the Moor
Out of the way, that your converse and business
[Exit.
May be more free.
Cas. I humbly thank you for't! I never knew
A Florentine more kind and honest.
Enter EMILIA.

Emil. Good-morrow, good lieutenant! I am sorry Iago. How poor are they, that have not patience! -For your displeasure; but all will soon be well. What wound did ever heal, but by degrees? Thou know'st, we work by wit, and not by witchcraft; And wit depends on dilatory time.

Does't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee,
And thou, by that small hurt, hast cashier'd Cassio:
Though other things grow fair against the sun,
Yet fruits, that blossom first, will first be ripe:
Content thyself a while. By the mass, 'tis morning;
Pleasure, and action, make the hours seem short. -
Retire thee! go where thou art billetted!
Away, I say! thou shalt know more hereafter:
Nay, get thee gone! [Exit Rod.] Two things are to
be done,

Clo. Why, masters, have your instruments been at
Naples, that they speak i' the nose thus?
Mus. How, sir, how?

Clo. Are these, I pray you, called wind instruments?
1 Mus. Ay, marry, are they, sir!
Clo. O, thereby hangs a tail!

1 Mus. Whereby hangs a tale, sir?

Clo. Marry, sir, by many a wind instrument that I know. But, masters, here's money for you: and the general so likes your music, that he desires you, of all loves, to make no more noise with it. 1 Mus. Well, sir, we will not.

Clo. If you have any music, that may not be heard, to't again: but, as they say, to hear music, the general does not greatly care.

1 Mus. We have none such, sir! Clo. Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll away: go! vanish into air; away!

[Exeunt Musicians. Cas. Dost thou hear, my honest friend? Clo. No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear you.

The general, and his wife, are talking of it;
And she speaks for you stoutly. The Moor replies,
That he, you hurt, is of great fame in Cyprus,
And great affinity; and that, in wholesome wisdom.
He might not but refuse you: but, he protests, he
loves you;

And needs no other suitor, but his likings,
To take the saf'st occasion by the front,
To bring you in again.

Cas. Yet, I beseech you,

If you think fit, or that it may be done,-
Give me advantage of some brief discourse
With Desdemona alone.

Emil. Pray you, come in!

I will bestow you where you shall have time
To speak your bosom freely.
Cas. I am much bound to you.

[Exeunt.

- A room in the castle.
Enter OTHELLO, IACO, and Gentlemen.
Oth. These letters give, lago, to the pilot;
And, by him, do my duties to the state:
That done, I will be walking on the works;
Repair there to me.

Tago. Well, my good lord, I'll do't!
Oth. This fortification, gentlemen,-shall we see't?
Gent. We'll wait upon your lordship.

[Exeunt.

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And did'st contract and purse thy brow together,
As if thou then had'st shut up in thy brain
Some horrible conceit. If thou dost love me,
Show me thy thought.

Iago. My lord, you know I love you.
Oth. I think, thou dost :

And, for I know thou art full of love and honesty,
And weigh'st thy words before thou giv'st them
breath,
Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more:
For such things, in a false disloyal knave,
Are tricks of custom; but, in a man that's just,
They are close denotements working from the heart,
That passion cannot rule.

Iago. For Michael Cassio,

I dare be sworn, I think that he is honest.
Oth. I think so too.

Iago. Men should be what they seem;

Or, those that be not, 'would they might seem none!