Othello Page #7

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IAGO:

Do thou meet me presently at the harbour. Come

hither. If thou 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.

RODERIGO:

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 conveniences, 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

eminent 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 slipper and subtle knave, a

finder 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

requisites in him that folly and green minds look

after:
a pestilent complete knave; and the woman

hath found him already.

RODERIGO:

I cannot believe that in her; she's full of

most blessed condition.

IAGO:

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?

RODERIGO:

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 ruled by me: I

have brought you from Venice. Watch you to-night;

for the command, I'll lay't upon you. Cassio knows

you not. I'll not be far from you: do you find

some occasion to anger Cassio, either by speaking

too loud, or tainting his discipline; or from what

other course you please, which the time shall more

favourably minister.

RODERIGO:

Well.

IAGO:

Sir, he is rash and very sudden in choler, and haply

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.

RODERIGO:

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.

RODERIGO:

Adieu.

Exit

IAGO:

That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it;

That she loves him, 'tis apt and of great credit:

The Moor, howbeit 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 peradventure

I stand accountant for as great a sin,

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 inwards;

And nothing can or shall content my soul

Till I am even'd 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 do,

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--

For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too--

Make the Moor thank me, love me and reward me.

For making him egregiously an ass

And practising upon his peace and quiet

Even to madness. 'Tis here, but yet confused:

Knavery's plain face is never seen tin used.

Exit

SCENE II. A street.

Enter a Herald with a proclamation; People following

Herald

It is Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant

general, that, upon certain tidings now arrived,

importing the mere perdition of the Turkish fleet,

every man put 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

nuptial. 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 have 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 Attendants

OTHELLO:

Good Michael, look you to the guard to-night:

Let's teach ourselves that honourable stop,

Not to outsport discretion.

CASSIO:

Iago hath direction what to do;

But, notwithstanding, with my personal eye

Will I look to't.

OTHELLO:

Iago is most honest.

Michael, good night: to-morrow with your earliest

Let me have speech with you.

To DESDEMONA

Come, my dear love,

The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue;

That profit's yet to come 'tween me and you.

Good night.

Exeunt OTHELLO, DESDEMONA, and Attendants

Enter IAGO

CASSIO:

Welcome, Iago; we must to the watch.

IAGO:

Not this hour, lieutenant; 'tis not yet ten o' the

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.

CASSIO:

She's a most exquisite lady.

IAGO:

And, I'll warrant her, fun of game.

CASSIO:

Indeed, she's a most fresh and delicate creature.

IAGO:

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

provocation.

CASSIO:

An inviting eye; and yet methinks right modest.

IAGO:

And when she speaks, is it not an alarum to love?

CASSIO:

She is indeed perfection.

IAGO:

Well, happiness to their sheets! Come, lieutenant, I

have a stoup of wine; and here without are a brace

of Cyprus gallants that would fain have a measure to

the health of black Othello.

CASSIO:

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.

CASSIO:

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.

CASSIO:

Where are they?

IAGO:

Here at the door; I pray you, call them in.

CASSIO:

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

Exit

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