<p>A Sea-port in Cyprus.An open place near the quay</p>
<p>[Enter MONTANO and two Gentlemnen]</p>
<p>MONTANO</p>
<p>What from the capecan you discernat sea?</p>
<p>First Gentleman</p>
<p>Nothing at all:it is a highwroughtflood;</p>
<p>I cannot,’twixtthe heaven and the main,</p>
<p>Descrya sail.</p>
<p>MONTANO</p>
<p>Methinks the wind hath spoke aloud at land;</p>
<p>A fuller blast.ne’ershook our battlements:</p>
<p>If it hath ruffian’dso upon the sea,</p>
<p>What ribsof oak,when mountains melt on them,</p>
<p>Can hold the mortise?What shall we hear of this?</p>
<p>Second Gentleman</p>
<p>A segregationof the Turkish fleet:</p>
<p>For do but stand upon the foamingshore,</p>
<p>The chidden billow seems to pelt the clouds ;</p>
<p>The wind-shaked surge,with high and monstrous mane,</p>
<p>seems to cast water on the burning bear,</p>
<p>And quenchthe guards of the ever-fixed pole:</p>
<p>I never did like molestationview</p>
<p>On the ehchafedflood</p>
<p>MONTANO</p>
<p>If that the Turkish fleet</p>
<p>Be not enshelter’dand embay’d,they are drown’d:</p>
<p>It is impossible they bear it out.</p>
<p>[Enter a third Gentleman]</p>
<p>Third Gentleman</p>
<p>News,lads!our wars are done.</p>
<p>The desperatetempest hath so bang’d.the Turks,</p>
<p>That their designment halts.:a noble ship of Venice</p>
<p>Hath seen a grievouswreckand sufferance</p>
<p>On most part of their fleet.</p>
<p>MONTANO</p>
<p>How!is this true?</p>
<p>Third Gentleman</p>
<p>The ship is here put in,</p>
<p>A Veronesa;Michael Cassio,</p>
<p>Lieutenant to the warlikeMoor Othello,</p>
<p>Is come on shore:the Moor himself at sea,</p>
<p>And is in full commission here for Cyprus.</p>
<p>MONTANO</p>
<p>I am glad on’t;’tis a worthygovernor.</p>
<p>Third Gentleman</p>
<p>But this same Cassio,though he speak of comfort</p>
<p>Touchingthe Turkish loss,yet he looks sadly,</p>
<p>And prays the Moor be safe;for they were parted</p>
<p>With foul and violent tempest.</p>
<p>MONTANO</p>
<p>Pray heavens he be;</p>
<p>For I have served him,and the man commands</p>
<p>Like a full soldier Let’s to the seaside,ho!</p>
<p>As well to see the vessel that’s come in</p>
<p>As to throw out our eyes forbrave Othello,</p>
<p>Even till we make the main and the aerialblue</p>
<p>An indistinctregard.</p>
<p>Third Gentleman</p>
<p>Come,let’s do so:</p>
<p>For every minute is expectancy</p>
<p>Of more arrivance.</p>
<p>[Enter CASSIO]</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Thanks,you the valiant of this warlike isle,</p>
<p>That so approve the Moor!O,let the heavens</p>
<p>Give him defence against the elements,</p>
<p>For I have lost us him on a dangerous sea.</p>
<p>MONTANO</p>
<p>Is he well shipp’d?</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>His barkis stoulytimber’d,his pilot</p>
<p>Of very expert and approved allowance;</p>
<p>Therefore my hope,not surfeitedto death,</p>
<p>Stand in boldcure.</p>
<p>[A cry within ‘A sail,a sail,a sail’!Enter a fourthGentleman]</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>What noise?</p>
<p>Fourth Gentleman</p>
<p>The town is empty;on the browo’the sea</p>
<p>Stand ranks of people,and they cry’A sail!’</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>My hopes do shape him for the governor</p>
<p>[Guns heard]</p>
<p>Second Gentlemen</p>
<p>They do discharge their shot of courtesy:</p>
<p>Our friends at least.</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>I prayyou,sir,go forth,</p>
<p>And give us truth who’tis that is arrived.</p>
<p>Second Gentleman</p>
<p>I shall.</p>
<p>[Exit]</p>
<p>MONTANO</p>
<p>But,good lieutenant,is general wived?</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Most fortunately:he hath achieved a maid</p>
<p>That paragons descriptionand wildfame;</p>
<p>One that excelsthe quirksof blazoningpens,</p>
<p>And in the essentialvestureof creation</p>
<p>Does tirethe ingener</p>
<p>[Re-enter second Gentleman]</p>
<p>How now!who has put in</p>
<p>Second Gentleman</p>
<p>‘Tis one Iago,ancient to the general</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Has had favourable and happy speed :</p>
<p>Tempests themselves,high seas,and howling winds,</p>
<p>The gutter’drocks and congregatedsands——</p>
<p>Traitorsensteep’dto clogthe guiltlesskeel,——</p>
<p>As having sense of beauty,do omit</p>
<p>Their mortal natures,letting go safely by</p>
<p>The divineDesdemona.</p>
<p>MONTANO</p>
<p>What is she?</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>She that I spakeof,our great captain’s captain,</p>
<p>Left in the conduct of the boldIago,</p>
<p>Whose footing here anticipatesour thoughts</p>
<p>A se’nnight’sspeed.Great Jove,Othello guard,</p>
<p>And swellhis sail with thineown powerful breath,</p>
<p>That he may blessthis baywith his tall ship,</p>
<p>Make love’s quick pantsin Desdemona’s arms,</p>
<p>Give renew’d fire to our extinctedspirits</p>
<p>And bring all Cyprus comfort!</p>
<p>[Enter DESDEMONA,EMILIA,IAGO,RODERIGO,and Attendants]</p>
<p>O,behold,</p>
<p>The riches of the ship is come on shore!</p>
<p>Ye men of Cyprus,</p>
<p>let her have your knees.</p>
<p>Hail to thee,lady!and the grace of heaven,</p>
<p>Before,behind thee,and on every hand,</p>
<p>Enwheelthee round!</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>I thank you,valiantCassio.</p>
<p>What tidingscan you tell me of my lord?</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>He is not yet arrived:nor know I aught</p>
<p>But that he’s well and will be shortly here.</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>O,but I fear——How lost you company?</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>The great contention of the sea and skies</p>
<p>Partedour fellowship——But,hark!a sail.</p>
<p>[Within’A sail,a sail!’Guns heard]</p>
<p>Second Gentleman</p>
<p>They give their greetingto the citadel;This likewiseis a friend</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>See fot the news.</p>
<p>[Exit Gentleman]</p>
<p>Good ancient,you are welcome.</p>
<p>[To EMILIA]</p>
<p>Welcome,mistress.</p>
<p>Let it not gallyour patience,good Iago,</p>
<p>That I extend my manners;’tismy breeding</p>
<p>That gives me this boldshow of courtesy.</p>
<p>[Kissing her]</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Sir,would she give you so much of her lips</p>
<p>As of her tongue she oftbestowson me,</p>
<p>You’ll have enough.</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Alas,she has no speech.</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>In faith,too much;</p>
<p>I find it still,when I have listto sleep:</p>
<p>Marry,before your ladyship,I grant ,</p>
<p>She puts her tongue a little in her heart,</p>
<p>And chideswith thinking.</p>
<p>EMILIM</p>
<p>You have little causeto say so.</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Come on,come on;you are pictures out of doors,</p>
<p>Bells in your parlors,wild-cats in your kitchens,</p>
<p>Saintsm your injuries,devils being offended,</p>
<p>Players in your housewifery,and housewives’in your beds.</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>O,fie upon thee,slanderer!</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Nay,it is true,or else I am a Turk :</p>
<p>You rise to play and go to bed to work.</p>
<p>EMILIA</p>
<p>You shall not write my praise</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>No,let me not.</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>What wouldstthouwrite of me,if thou shouldst prsise me?</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>O gentle lady,do not put me to’t;</p>
<p>For I am nothing,if not critical.</p>
<p>DFSDEMONA</p>
<p>Come on assay.There’s one gone to the harbour?</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Ay,madam.</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>I am not merry;but I do beguile</p>
<p>The thing I am,by seeming otherwise.</p>
<p>Come,how wouldst thou praise me?</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>I am about it;but indeed my invention</p>
<p>Comes from my pate as birdlime does from frize;</p>
<p>It plucks out brains and all: but my Muse labours,</p>
<p>And thus She is deliver’d,</p>
<p>The one’s for use, the other useth it.</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Well praised!How if she be black and witty?</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>If she be black, and thereto have a wit,</p>
<p>She’ll find a white that shall her blackness fit.</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Worse and worse.</p>
<p>EMILIA</p>
<p>How if fair and foolish?</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>She never yet was foolish that was fair;</p>
<p>For even her folly help’d her to an heir.</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>These are old fond paradoxes to make fools laugh i’</p>
<p>the alehouse.What miserable praise hast thou for</p>
<p>her that’s foul and foolish?</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>There’s none so foul and foolish thereunto, But does foul pranks</p>
<p>which fair and wise ones do.</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>O heavy ignorance!thou praisest the worst best.</p>
<p>But what praise couldst thou bestow on a deserving womani</p>
<p>ndeed,one that,in the authority of hermerit,did justly put on</p>
<p>the vouch of very malice itself?</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>She that was ever fair and never proud.</p>
<p>Had tongue at will and yet was never loud,</p>
<p>Never lack’d gold and yet went never gay ,</p>
<p>Fled from her wish and yet said ‘Now I may,’</p>
<p>She that being anger’d, her revengebeing nigh,</p>
<p>Bade her wrong stay and her displeasure fly,</p>
<p>She that in wisdomnever was so frail</p>
<p>To change the cod’s head for the salmon’s tail;</p>
<p>She that could think and ne’er disclose her mind,</p>
<p>See suitorsfollowing and not look behind,</p>
<p>She was a wight,if ever such wight were,——</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>To do what?</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>To suckle fools and chronicle small beer.</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>O most lame and impotentconclusion!Do not learn</p>
<p>of him,Emilia,though he be thy husband.How say</p>
<p>you, Cassio?is he not a most profaneand liberal counsellor?</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>He speaks home,madam:You may relish him more in</p>
<p>the soldier than in the scholar.</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>[Aside] He takes her by the palm:ay,well said,</p>
<p>whisper : with as little a web as this will I</p>
<p>ensnare as great a flyas Cassio.Ay,smile upon</p>
<p>her,do;I will gyve theein thine own courtship.</p>
<p>You say true;’tis so, indeed: if such tricks as</p>
<p>these strip you out of your lieutenantry,it had</p>
<p>been better you had not kissed your three fingers so</p>
<p>oft, which now again you are most apt to play the</p>
<p>sir in .Very good;well kissed!an excellent</p>
<p>courtesy!’tis so, indeed.Yet again your fingers</p>
<p>to your lips ?would they were clyster-pipes for your sake!</p>
<p>[Trumpet within]</p>
<p>The Moor! I know his trumpet.</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>‘Tis truly so.</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Let’s meet him and receivehim.</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Lo, where he comes!</p>
<p>[Enter OTHELLO and Attendants]</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>O my fair warrior!</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>My dear Othello!</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>It gives me wondergreat as my content</p>
<p>To see you here before me. O my soul’s joy!</p>
<p>If after every tempest come such calms,</p>
<p>May the winds blowtill they have waken’d death!</p>
<p>And let the labouring bark climb hills of seas</p>
<p>Olympus-high and duckagain as low</p>
<p>As hell’sfrom heaven!If it were now to die,</p>
<p>‘Twerenow to be most happy;for,I fear,</p>
<p>My soul hath her content so absolute</p>
<p>That not another comfort like to this</p>
<p>Succeedsin unknown fate.</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>The heavens forbid</p>
<p>But that our loves and comforts should increase,</p>
<p>Even as our days do grow!</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Amento that,sweet powers!</p>
<p>I cannot speak enought of this content;</p>
<p>It stops me here;it is too much of joy:</p>
<p>And this,and this, the greatest discords be</p>
<p>[kissing her]</p>
<p>That e’er our hearts shall make!</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>[Aside] O,you are well tunednow!</p>
<p>But I’ll set down the pegs that make this music,</p>
<p>As honest as I am.</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Come,let us to the castle.</p>
<p>News,friends;our wars are done,the Turks are drown’d .</p>
<p>How does my old acquaintanceof this isle?</p>
<p>Honey,you shall be well desired in Cyprus;</p>
<p>I have found great love amongstthem.O my sweet,</p>
<p>I prattleout of fashion, and I dote</p>
<p>In mine own comforts .I prithee,good Iago,</p>
<p>Go to the bay and disembark my coffers :</p>
<p>Bring thou the master to the citadel;</p>
<p>He is a good one, and his worthiness</p>
<p>Does challenge much respect.Come,Desdemona,</p>
<p>Once more,well met at Cyprus.</p>
<p>[Exeunt OTHELLO,DESDEMONA,and Attendants]</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Do thou meet me presently at the harbour.Come</p>
<p>hither. If thou be’st valiant,——as,they say,base</p>
<p>men being in love have then a nobility in their</p>
<p>natures more than is native to them ——list me.The</p>
<p>lieutenant tonight watches on the court of</p>
<p>guard :——first,I must tell thee this——Desdemona is</p>
<p>directly in love with him.</p>
<p>RODERIGO</p>
<p>With him!why,’tis not possible</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Lay thy finger thus,and let thy soul be instructed.</p>
<p>Mark me with what violence she first loved the Moor,</p>
<p>but for braggingand telling her fantasticallies:</p>
<p>and will she love him still for prating?let not</p>
<p>thy discreet heart think it.Her eye must be fed;</p>
<p>and what delight shall she have to look on the</p>
<p>devil? When the blood is made dull with the act of</p>
<p>sport,there should be,again to in flame it and to</p>
<p>give satiety a fresh appetite,loveliness in favour,</p>
<p>sympathy in years,manners and beauties;all which</p>
<p>the Moor is defective in:now,for want of these</p>
<p>required conveniences, her delicate tendemess will</p>
<p>find itself abused,begin to heave the gorge,</p>
<p>disrelish and abhor the Moor;very nature will</p>
<p>instruct her in it and compel her to some second</p>
<p>choice.Now,sir,this granted,——as it is a most</p>
<p>pregnantand unforced position——who stands so</p>
<p>eminent in the degree of this fortune as Cassio</p>
<p>does?a knave very voluble; no further</p>
<p>conscionablethan in putting on the mere form of</p>
<p>civil and humane seeming , for the better compassing</p>
<p>of his saltand most hidden loose affection?why,</p>
<p>none; why, none:a slipper and subtle knave,a</p>
<p>finder of occasions,that has an eye can stampand</p>
<p>counterfeitadvantages, though true advantage never</p>
<p>present itself;a devilish knave. Besides,the</p>
<p>knave is handsome,young,and hath all those</p>
<p>requisitesin him that folly and green minds look</p>
<p>after:a pestilentcomplete knave;and the woman</p>
<p>hath found him already.</p>
<p>RODERIGO</p>
<p>I cannot believe that in her; she’s full of</p>
<p>most blessed condition.</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Blessed fig’s-end!the wine she drinks is made of</p>
<p>grapes:if she had been blessed,she would never</p>
<p>have loved the Moor. Blessed pudding!Didst thou</p>
<p>not see her paddle with the palm of his hand? didst not mark that?</p>
<p>RODERIGO</p>
<p>Yes, that I did;but that was but courtesy.</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Lechery, by this hand; an index and obscureprologue</p>
<p>to the history of lust and foul thoughts.They met</p>
<p>so near with their lips that their breaths embraced</p>
<p>together.Villanous thoughts, Roderigo!when these</p>
<p>mutualitiesso marshal the way,hard at hand comes</p>
<p>the master and main exercise,the incorporate</p>
<p>conclusion,Pish!But,sir,be you ruled by me:I</p>
<p>have brought you from Venice.Watch you to-night;</p>
<p>for the command,I’ll lay’t upon you. Cassio knows</p>
<p>you not.I’ll not be far from you:do you find</p>
<p>some occasion to anger Cassio,either by speaking</p>
<p>too loud,or taintinghis discipline;or from what</p>
<p>other course you please,which the time shall more</p>
<p>favourably minister.</p>
<p>RODERIGO</p>
<p>Well.</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Sir,he is rash and very sudden in choler,and haply</p>
<p>may strike at you:provokehim,that he may;for</p>
<p>even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to</p>
<p>mutiny; whose qualification shall come into no true</p>
<p>taste again but by the displantingof Cassio.So</p>
<p>shall you have a shorter journey to your desires by</p>
<p>the means I shall then have to prefer them; and the</p>
<p>impedimentmost profitably removed, without the</p>
<p>which there were no expectation of our prosperity</p>
<p>RODERIGO</p>
<p>I will do this,if I can bring it to any</p>
<p>opportunity</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>I warrant thee.Meet me by and by at the citadel:</p>
<p>I must fetch his necessariesashore.Farewell.</p>
<p>RODERIGO</p>
<p>Adieu.</p>
<p>[Exit]</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>That Cassio loves her,I do well believe it;</p>
<p>That she loves him,’tis apt and of great credit:</p>
<p>The Moor,howbeitthat I endurehim not,</p>
<p>Is of a constant, loving,noble nature,</p>
<p>And I dare think he’ll prove to Desdemona</p>
<p>A most dear husband.Now,I do love her too;</p>
<p>Not out of absolute lust, though peradventure</p>
<p>I stand accountantfor as great a sin,</p>
<p>But partly led to dietmy revenge,</p>
<p>For that I do suspect the lusty Moor</p>
<p>Hath leap’d into my seat;the thought whereof</p>
<p>Doth,like a poisonous mineral, gnawmy inwards;</p>
<p>And nothing can or shall content my soul</p>
<p>Till I even’d with him,wife for wife,</p>
<p>Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor</p>
<p>At least into a jealousyso strong</p>
<p>That judgment cannot cure.Which thing to do,</p>
<p>If this poor trashof Venice,whom I trash</p>
<p>For his quick hunting,stand the putting on,</p>
<p>I’ll have our Michael Cassio on the hip,</p>
<p>Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb-</p>
<p>For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too——</p>
<p>Make the Moor thank me,love me and rewardme.</p>
<p>For making him egregiouslyan ass</p>
<p>And practising upon his peace and quiet</p>
<p>Even to madness.’Tis here,but yet confused:</p>
<p>Knavery’splain face is never seen tinused.</p>
<p>[Exit]</p>