<p>[A hall in the castle Enter OTHELLO，DESDEMONA，CASSIO，and Attendants．]</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Good Michael，look you to the guardto－night：</p>
<p>Let’s teach ourselves that honourable stop，</p>
<p>Not to outsport discretion．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Iago hath direction what to do；</p>
<p>But，notwithstanding，with my personal eye</p>
<p>Will I look to’t．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Iago is most honest．</p>
<p>Michael，good night：to-morrow with your earliest</p>
<p>Let me have speech with you</p>
<p>[To DESDEMONA]</p>
<p>Come，my dear love，</p>
<p>The purchasemade，the fruits are to ensue；</p>
<p>That profit’s yet to come’tween me and you．</p>
<p>Good night．</p>
<p>[Exeunt OTHELLO，DESDEMONA， and Attendants．Enter IAGO]</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Welcome，Iago；we must to the watch ．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Not this hour，lieutenant；’tis not yet ten o’the</p>
<p>clock．Our general castus thus early for the love</p>
<p>of his Desdemona；who let us not therefore blame：</p>
<p>he hath not yet made wantonthe night with her；and</p>
<p>she is sport for Jove．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>She’s a most exquisitelady．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>And，I’ll warranther，fun of game．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Indeed， she’s a most fresh and delicate creature</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>What an eye she has！methinksit sounds a parleyof</p>
<p>provocation．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>An invitingeye；and yet methinks right modest．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>And when she speaks，is it not an alarumto love？</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>She is indeed perfection．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Well， happiness to their sheets！ Come，lieutenant，I</p>
<p>have a stoup of wine；and here without are a braceof</p>
<p>Cyprus gallants that would fain have a measure to</p>
<p>the health of black Othello</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Not to-night， good Iago：I have very poor and</p>
<p>unhappy brains for drinking：I could well wish</p>
<p>courtesy would invent some other custom of</p>
<p>entertainment．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>O， they are our friends；but one cup：I’ll drink for you．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>I have drunk but one cup to-night，and that was</p>
<p>craftilyqualified too，and，behold，what innovation</p>
<p>it makes here：I am unfortunate in the infirmity，</p>
<p>and dare not task my weakness with any more．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>What， man！’tis a night of revels： the gallants desire it．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Where are they？</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Here at the door；I pray you，call them in．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>I’ll do’t； but it dislikes me</p>
<p>[Exit]</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>If I can fastenbut one cup upon him，</p>
<p>With that which he hath drunk to－night already，</p>
<p>He’ll be as full of quarrel and offence</p>
<p>As my young mistress’dog．Now，my sick fool Roderigo，</p>
<p>Whom love hath turn’d almost the wrong side out，</p>
<p>To Desdemona hath to-night caroused</p>
<p>Potations pottle-deep；and he’s to watch：</p>
<p>Three ladsof Cyprus，noble swellingspirits，</p>
<p>That hold their honours in a wary distance，</p>
<p>The very elements of this warlike isle，</p>
<p>Have I to-night fluster’dwith flowing cups，</p>
<p>And they watch too．Now，’mongst this flock of</p>
<p>drunkards，</p>
<p>Am I to put our Cassio in some action</p>
<p>That may offend the isle．——But here they come：</p>
<p>If consequencedo but approve my dream，</p>
<p>My boat sails freely，both with wind and stream．</p>
<p>[Re-enter CASSIO；with him MONTANO and Gentlemen；</p>
<p>servants following with wine]</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>‘Fore God， they have given me a rouse already．</p>
<p>MONTANO</p>
<p>Good faith，a little one；not past a pint ， as I am a soldier．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Some wine，ho！</p>
<p>[Sings]</p>
<p>And let me the canakinclink，clink；</p>
<p>And let me the canakin clink</p>
<p>A soldier’s a man；</p>
<p>A life’s but a span；</p>
<p>Why，then，let a soldier drink．</p>
<p>Some wine，boys！</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>‘Fore God，an excellent song．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>I learned it in England，where，indeed，they are</p>
<p>most potentin potting：your Dane，your German，and</p>
<p>your swag-belliedHollander——Drink，ho！——are nothing</p>
<p>to your English．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Is your Englishman so expertin his drinking？</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Why，he drinks you，with facility，your Danedead</p>
<p>drunk；he sweats not to overthrow your Almain； he</p>
<p>gives your Hollander a vomit，ere the next pottle</p>
<p>can be filled．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>To the health of our general！</p>
<p>MONTANO</p>
<p>I am for it，lieutenant；and I’ll do you justice．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>O sweet England！</p>
<p>King Stephen was a worthy peer，</p>
<p>His breechescost him but a crown；</p>
<p>He held them sixpence all too dear，</p>
<p>With that he call’d the tailor lown．</p>
<p>He was a wightof high renown，</p>
<p>And thou art but of low degree：</p>
<p>‘Tis pride that pulls the country down；</p>
<p>Then take thineauld cloak about thee．</p>
<p>Some wine，ho！</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Why， this is a more exquisite song than the other．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Will you hear’ again？</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>No；for I hold him to be unworthyof his place that</p>
<p>does those things．Well，God’s above all；and there</p>
<p>be souls must be saved，and there be souls must not be saved．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>It’s true，good lieutenant．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>For mine own part，——no offence to the general，nor</p>
<p>any man of quality，——I hope to be saved．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>And so do I too，lieutenant．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Ay， but， by your leave，not before me；the</p>
<p>lieutenant is to be saved before the ancient．Le’s</p>
<p>have no more of this； let’s to our affairs．——Forgive</p>
<p>us our sins！——Gentlemen，let’s look to our business．</p>
<p>Do not think，gentlemen． I am drunk：this is my</p>
<p>ancient；this is my right hand，and this is my left：</p>
<p>I am not drunk now；I can stand well enough，and</p>
<p>speak well enough．</p>
<p>All Excellent well．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Why， very well then； you must not think then that I am drunk．</p>
<p>[Exit]</p>
<p>MONTANO</p>
<p>To the platform，masters； come，let’s set the watch．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>You see this fellow that is gone before；</p>
<p>He is a soldier fit to stand by Caesar</p>
<p>And give direction： and do but see his vice；</p>
<p>‘Tis to his virtue a just equinox，</p>
<p>The one as long as the other：’tis pity of him．</p>
<p>I fear the trust Othello puts him in．</p>
<p>On some odd time of his infirmity，</p>
<p>Will shake this island．</p>
<p>MONTANO</p>
<p>But is he often thus？</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>‘Tis evermorethe prologueto his sleep：</p>
<p>He’ll watch the horologea double set，</p>
<p>If drink rock not his cradle．</p>
<p>MONTANO</p>
<p>It were well</p>
<p>The general were put in mind of it．</p>
<p>Perhaps he sees it not；or his good nature</p>
<p>Prizes the virtue that appears in Cassio，</p>
<p>And looks not on his evils：is not this true？</p>
<p>[Enter RODERIGO]</p>
<p>IAGO [Aside to him．]</p>
<p>How now， Roderigo！</p>
<p>I pray you，after the lieutenant； go．</p>
<p>[Exit RODERIGO]</p>
<p>MONTANO</p>
<p>And ’tis great pity that the noble Moor</p>
<p>Should hazard such a place as his own second</p>
<p>With one of an ingraftinfimity：</p>
<p>It were an honest action to say</p>
<p>So to the Moor．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Not I，for this fair island：</p>
<p>I do love Cassio well；and would do much</p>
<p>To cure him of this evil——But，hark！what noise？</p>
<p>[Cry within：’Help！ help！’Re-enter CASSIO， driving in</p>
<p>RODERIGO］</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>You rogue！you rascal！</p>
<p>MONTANO</p>
<p>What’s the matter，lieutenant？</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>A knave teach me my duty！</p>
<p>I’ll beat the knave into a twiggen bottle．</p>
<p>RODERIGO</p>
<p>Beat me！</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Dost thou prate，rogue？</p>
<p>[Striking RODERIGO]</p>
<p>MONTANO</p>
<p>Nay，good lieutenant；</p>
<p>[Stayinghim]</p>
<p>I pray you，sir，hold your hand．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Let me go，sir，</p>
<p>Or I’ll knock you o’ er the mazzard．</p>
<p>MONTANO</p>
<p>Come，come，</p>
<p>you ‘re drunk．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Drunk！</p>
<p>[They fight]</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>[Aside to RODERIGO] Away，I say； go out， and cry a mutiny．</p>
<p>[Exit RODERIGO．]</p>
<p>Nay， good lieutenant，——alas， gentlemen；——</p>
<p>Help，ho！—Lieutenant，—sir，—Montano，—sir；</p>
<p>Help，masters！——Here’s a goodly watch indeed！</p>
<p>[Bell rings．]</p>
<p>Who’s that which rings the bell？——Diablo， ho！</p>
<p>The town will rise：God’s will， lieutenant， hold！</p>
<p>You will be shamed for ever．</p>
<p>[Re-enter OTHELLO and Attendants]</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>What is the matter here？</p>
<p>MONTANO</p>
<p>‘Zounds，I bleedstill；I am hurt to the death．</p>
<p>[Faints]</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Hold，for your lives！</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Hold，ho！ Lieutenant，—sir—Montano，—gentlemen，—</p>
<p>Have you forgot all sense of place and duty？</p>
<p>Hold！ the general speaks to you；hold，hold，for shame！</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Why，how now，ho！from whenceariseth this？</p>
<p>Are we turn’d Turks，and to ourselves do that</p>
<p>Which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites？</p>
<p>For Christian shame，put by this barbarous brawl：</p>
<p>He that stirsnext to carve for his own rage</p>
<p>Holds his soul light； he dies upon his motion．</p>
<p>Silence that dreadful bell：it frightsthe isle</p>
<p>From her propriety．What is the matter，masters？</p>
<p>Honest Iago，that look’st dead with grieving，</p>
<p>Speak，who began this？on thy love，I chargethee．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>I do not know ：friends all but now，even now，</p>
<p>In quarter ，and in terms like brideand groom</p>
<p>Devestingthem for bed；and then， but now—</p>
<p>As if some planet had unwitted men——</p>
<p>Swords out，and tilting one at other’s breast，</p>
<p>In opposition bloody．I cannot speak</p>
<p>Any beginning to this peevishodds；</p>
<p>And would in action glorious I had lost</p>
<p>Those legs that brought me to a part of it！</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>How comes it，Michael，you are thus forgot？</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>I pray you，pardon me ；I cannot speak．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Worthy Montano，you were wont be civil；</p>
<p>The gravity and stillness of your youth</p>
<p>The world hath noted，and your name is great</p>
<p>In mouths of wisest censure：what’s the matter，</p>
<p>That you unlaceyour reputation thus</p>
<p>And spend your rich opinion for the name</p>
<p>Of a night－brawler？give me answer to it．</p>
<p>MONTANO</p>
<p>Worthy Othello，I am hurt to danger：</p>
<p>Your officer，Iago，can informyou，——</p>
<p>While I spare speech，which something now</p>
<p>offends me，——</p>
<p>Of all that I do know：nor know I aught</p>
<p>By me that’s said or done amiss this night；</p>
<p>Unless self-charity be sometimes a vice，</p>
<p>And to defend ourselves it be a sin</p>
<p>When violence assails us．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Now，by heaven ，</p>
<p>My blood begins my safer guides to rule；</p>
<p>And passion， having my best judgment collied，</p>
<p>Assays to lead the way：if I once stir，</p>
<p>Or do but lift this arm，the best of you</p>
<p>Shall sinkin my rebuke．Give me to know</p>
<p>How this foul routbegan，who set it on ；</p>
<p>And he that is approved in this offence，</p>
<p>Though he had twinn’d with me， both at a birth，</p>
<p>Shall lose me．What！in a town of war，</p>
<p>Yet wild， the people’s hearts brimful of fear，</p>
<p>To manage private and domestic quarrel，</p>
<p>In night， and on the court and guard of safety！</p>
<p>‘Tis monstrous Iago， who began’t？</p>
<p>MONTANO</p>
<p>If partially affined，or leagued in office，</p>
<p>Thou dost deliver more or less than truth，</p>
<p>Thou art no soldier．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Touch me not so near：</p>
<p>I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth</p>
<p>Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio；</p>
<p>Yet，I persuade myself，to speak the truth</p>
<p>Shall nothing wrong him．Thus it is，general．</p>
<p>Montano and myself being in speech，</p>
<p>There comes a fellow crying out for help：</p>
<p>And Cassio following him with determinedsword，</p>
<p>To execute upon him．Sir， this gentleman</p>
<p>Steps in to Cassio，and entreats his pause：</p>
<p>Myself the crying fellow did pursue，</p>
<p>Lest by his clamour——as it so fell out——</p>
<p>The town might fall in fright：he，swift of foot，</p>
<p>Outran my purpose； and I return’d the rather</p>
<p>For that I heard the clink and fall of swords，</p>
<p>And Cassio high in oath；which till to-night</p>
<p>I ne’er might say before． When I came back——</p>
<p>For this was brief－I found them close together，</p>
<p>At blow and thrust；even as again they were</p>
<p>When you yourself did part them．</p>
<p>More of this matter cannot I report：</p>
<p>But men are men； the best sometimes forget：</p>
<p>Though Cassio did some little wrong to him，</p>
<p>As men in rage strike those that wish them best，</p>
<p>Yet surely Cassio，I believe，received</p>
<p>From him that fled some strange indignity，</p>
<p>Which petience could not pass.</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>I know，Iago，</p>
<p>Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter，</p>
<p>Making it light to Cassio．I love thee</p>
<p>But never more be officer of mine．</p>
<p>［Re-enter DESDEMONA，attended］</p>
<p>Look，if my gentle love be not raised up！</p>
<p>I’ll make thee an example．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>What’s the matter？</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>All’s well now，sweeting；come away to bed．</p>
<p>Sir，for your hurts，myself will be your surgeon：</p>
<p>Lead him off．</p>
<p>［To MONTANO，who is led off］</p>
<p>Iago，look with care about the town，</p>
<p>And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted．</p>
<p>Come，Desdemona：’tis the soldiers’life</p>
<p>To have their balmy slumbers waked with strife ．</p>
<p>［Exeunt all but IAGO and CASSIO］</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>What，are you hurt，lieutenant？</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Ay，past all surgery．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Marry，heaven forbid！</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Reputation，reputation，reputation！O，I have lost</p>
<p>my reputation！I have lost the immortal part of</p>
<p>myself，and what remains is bestial．My reputation，</p>
<p>Iago， my reputation！</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>As I am an honest man，I thought you had received</p>
<p>some bodily wound；there is more sensein that than</p>
<p>in reputation．Reputation is an idle and most false</p>
<p>imposition： oft got without merit，and lost without</p>
<p>deserving：you have lost no reputation at all，</p>
<p>unless you repute yourself such a loser．What，man！</p>
<p>there are ways to recover the general again you</p>
<p>are but now cast in his mood，a punishment more in</p>
<p>policy than in malice，even so as one would beat his</p>
<p>offenceless dog to affright an imperious lion：sue</p>
<p>to him again，and he’s yours．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>I will rather sue to be despised than to deceive so</p>
<p>good a commander with so slight，so drunken，and so</p>
<p>indiscreet an officer．Drunk？ and speak parrot？</p>
<p>and squabble？swagger？swear ？ and discourse</p>
<p>fustian with one’s own shadow？O thou invisible</p>
<p>spirit of wine，if thou hast no name to be known by，</p>
<p>let us call thee devil！</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>What was he that you followed with your sword？What</p>
<p>had he done to you？</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>I know not．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Is’t possible？</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>I remember a mass of things，but nothing distinctly；</p>
<p>a quarrel，but nothing wherefore O God，that men</p>
<p>should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away</p>
<p>their brains！ that we should， with joy，pleasance</p>
<p>revel and applause，transform ourselves into beasts！</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Why，but you are now well enough：how came you thus recovered？</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>It hath pleased the devil drunkenness to give place</p>
<p>to the devil wrath； one unperfectness shows me</p>
<p>another，to make me frankly despise myself．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Come，you are too severe a moraler：as the time，</p>
<p>the place， and the condition of this country</p>
<p>stands，I could heartily wish this had not befallen；</p>
<p>but，since it is as it is，mend it for your own good．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>I will ask him for my place again；he shall tell me</p>
<p>I am a drunkard！Had I as many mouths as Hydra ，</p>
<p>such an answer would stop them all．To be now a</p>
<p>sensible man， by and by a fool，and presently a</p>
<p>beast！O strange！Every inordinate cup is</p>
<p>unblessed and the ingredient is a devil．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Come，come， good wine is a good familiar creature，</p>
<p>if it be well used：exclaim no more against it．</p>
<p>And，good lieutenant，I think you think I love you．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>I have well approved it，sir Idrunk！IAGO</p>
<p>You or any man living may be drunk！at a time， man．</p>
<p>I’ll tell you what you shall do．Our general’s wife</p>
<p>is now the general: may say so in this respect，for</p>
<p>that he hath devoted and given up himself to the</p>
<p>contemplation，mark，and denotement of her parts and</p>
<p>graces：confess yourself freely to her；importune</p>
<p>her help to put you in your place again: she is of</p>
<p>so free，so kind，so apt，so blessed a disposition，</p>
<p>she holds it a vice in her goodness not to do more</p>
<p>than she is requested：this broken joint between</p>
<p>you and her husband entreat her to splinter；and，my</p>
<p>fortunes against any lay worth naming，this</p>
<p>crack of your love shall grow stronger than it was before．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>You advise me well．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>I protest，in the sincerity of love and honest kindness．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>I think it freely；and betimes in the morning I will</p>
<p>beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me：</p>
<p>I am desperate of my fortunes if they cheque me here．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>You are in the right．Good night，lieutenant；I</p>
<p>must to the watch．</p>
<p>［Exit］</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>And what’s he then that says I play the villain？</p>
<p>When this advice is free I give and honest，</p>
<p>Probal to thinking and indeed the course</p>
<p>To win the Moor again？ For ’tis most easy</p>
<p>The inclining Desdemona to subdue</p>
<p>In any honest suit：she’s framed as fruitful</p>
<p>As the free elements．And then for her</p>
<p>To win the Moor——were’t to renounce his baptism，</p>
<p>All seals and symbols of redeemed sin，</p>
<p>His soul is so enfetter’d to her love，</p>
<p>That she may make， unmake，do what she list，</p>
<p>Even as her appetite shall play the god</p>
<p>With his weak function．How am I then a villain</p>
<p>To counsel to this parallel course，</p>
<p>Directly to his good？ Divinity of hell！</p>
<p>When devils will the blackest sins put on，</p>
<p>They do suggest at first with heavenly shows，</p>
<p>As I do now：for whiles this honest fool</p>
<p>Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes</p>
<p>And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor，</p>
<p>I’ll pour this pestilence into his ear，</p>
<p>That she repeals him for her body’s lust；</p>
<p>And by how much she strives to do him good，</p>
<p>She shall undo her credit with the Moor</p>
<p>So will I turn her virtue into pitch，</p>
<p>And out of her own goodness make the net</p>
<p>That shall enmesh them all．</p>
<p>［Re-enter RODERIGO］</p>
<p>How now，Roderigo！</p>
<p>RODERIGO</p>
<p>I do follow here in the chase ， not like a hound that</p>
<p>hunts，but one that fills up the cry．My money is</p>
<p>almost spent；I have been to- night exceedingly well</p>
<p>cudgelled； and I think the issue will be，I shall</p>
<p>have so much experience for my pains，and so，with</p>
<p>no money at all and a little more wit， return again to Venice．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>How poor are they that have not patience！</p>
<p>What wound did ever heal but by degrees？</p>
<p>Thou know’st we work by wit，and not by witchcraft；</p>
<p>And wit depends on dilatory time．</p>
<p>Does’t not go well？ Cassio hath beaten thee．</p>
<p>And thou， by that small hurt，hast cashier’d Cassio：</p>
<p>Though other things grow fair against the sun，</p>
<p>Yet fruits that blossom first will first be ripe ：</p>
<p>Content thyself awhile．By the mass，’tis morning；</p>
<p>Pleasure and action make the hours seem short．</p>
<p>Retire thee；go where thou art billeted：</p>
<p>Away，I say； thou shalt know more hereafter：</p>
<p>Nay， get thee gone．</p>
<p>［Exit RODERIGO］</p>
<p>Two things are to be done</p>
<p>My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress；</p>
<p>I’ll set her on；</p>
<p>Myself the while to draw the Moor apart，</p>
<p>And bring him jump when he may Cassio find</p>
<p>Soliciting his wife：ay，that’s the way</p>
<p>Dull not device by coldness and delay．</p>
<p>［Exit］</p>