Othello Page #5

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O, my soul's joy.

If after every tempest come such calms...

...may the winds blow

till their wakened death...

...and let the laboring bark

climb hills of seas olympus-high...

...and duck again as low

as hell's from heaven.

If it were now to die...

...'twere now to be most happy...

...for I fear my soul hath

her content so absolute...

...that not another comfort like

to this succeeds in unknown fate.

The heavens forbid but that our

loves and comforts should increase...

...even as our days do grow.

Amen to that, sweet powers.

I cannot speak enough of this content.

It stops me here.

It is too much of joy.

And this...

...and this...

...the greatest discords be

that e'er our hearts shall make.

O, you are well-tuned now.

But I'll set down the pegs that

make this music, as honest as I am.

OTHELLo:
News, friends: Our wars

are done, the Turks are drowned.

How does my old acquaintance of this isle?

Honey, you shall be well-desired in Cyprus.

I have found great love amongst them.

O, my sweet, I prattle out of fashion

and I dote in mine own comforts.

I prithee, good lago, go to the

bay and disembark my coffers.

Bring thou the master to the citadel.

He is a good one and his worthiness

does challenge much respect.

Come, my Desdemona.

Once more, well-met at Cyprus.

Do thou meet me presently at the harbor.

Come hither.

Roderigo.

The lieutenant, Cassio, tonight

watches on the court of guard.

First, I must tell thee this:

Desdemona is directly in love with him.

With him? Why, 'tis not possible.

The knave is young, handsome...

...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.

I cannot believe that in her.

She's full of most blessed condition.

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?

- Ay, that I did.

But that was but courtesy.

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.

Villainous thoughts, Roderigo.

When these mutualarities

so marshal the way...

...hard at hand comes the

master and main exercise...

...th'incorporate conclusion.

But, sir, be you ruled by me.

I have brought you from venice.

Watch you tonight. For your

command, I'll lay't upon you.

Cassio knows you not.

I'll not be far from you.

Find you some occasion to anger Cassio...

...either by speaking too loud

or tainting his discipline...

...or from whatever cause you may please...

...which the time shall

more favorably minister.

- Well.

- Sir, he is rash, very sudden in choler...

...and haply with his truncheon 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 expectations of our prosperity.

I will do this if I can

bring it to any opportunity.

I warrant thee. Meet me

by and by at the citadel.

I must fetch his necessaries ashore.

- Adieu.

- Adieu.

That Cassio loves her, I do well believe't.

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 to Desdemona

will prove a most dear husband.

Now, I do love her too.

Not out of absolute lust...

Although peradventure I stand

accountant for as great a sin.

- But partly led to diet my revenge...

...for that I do suspect the lustful

Moor hath leaped into my seat.

The thought whereof doth

like a poisonous mineral...

...gnaw my innards.

And nothing can or shall content my soul

till I am evened 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 trail 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 nightcap too.

Make the Moor love me,

thank me and reward me...

...for making him egregiously an ass...

...and practicing upon his peace and quiet...

...even to madness.

'Tis here, but yet confused.

Knavery's plain face is never seen till used.

OTHELLo:
Good Michael.

Look you to the guard tonight.

Let's teach ourselves that honorable

stop, not to outsport discretion.

Lago hath direction what to do...

...but notwithstanding, with my

personal eye will I look to't.

Lago is most honest. Michael, good night.

Tomorrow with your earliest,

let me have speech with you.

Come, my dear love.

The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue.

That profit's yet to come...

...'twixt me...

...and you.

CASSlo:
Lago.

We must to the watch.

Not this hour, lieutenant.

'Tis not yet 1 o o'th'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.

- She's a most exquisite lady.

- And I'll warrant her full of game.

Indeed, she's a most fresh

and delicate creature.

What an eye she has. Methinks it

sounds a parley to provocation.

An inviting eye and yet

methinks right modest.

And when she speaks, 'tis an alarum to love.

It is indeed perfection.

Well, happiness to their sheets.

Come, lieutenant, I have a stoup of wine.

Here without are a brace of gallants...

...that'd fain have a measure

to the health of othello.

Not tonight, good lago. I have very

poor and unhappy brains for drinking.

I could wish courtesy would invent

other custom of entertainment.

They are our friends, but one cup.

I have drunk but one cup tonight,

and that was craftily qualified too...

...and behold what innovation it makes here.

I am unfortunate in this infirmity. I

dare not task my weakness with any more.

What, man. 'Tis a night of

revels, the gallants desire it.

- Where are they?

- Here, at the door.

- I pray you, call them in.

- I'll do it.

But it dislikes me.

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

...with that which he hath

drunk tonight already...

...he'll be as full of quarrel and

offense as my young mistress' dog.

Now, my sick fool Roderigo...

...whom love hath turned

almost the wrong side outward...

...to Desdemona tonight hath

caroused potations pottle-deep...

...and he's to watch.

Three lads of Cyprus have I tonight

flustered with flowing cups...

...and they watch too.

Now, 'mongst this flock of drunkards...

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