Othello

canst

      cuckold him³⁸², thou dost thyself a pleasure, me a sport. There

      are many events in the womb of time which will be delivered.

      Traverse³⁸⁴, go, provide thy money. We will have more of this

      tomorrow. Adieu.RODORIGO   Where shall we meet i’th’morning?IAGO   At my lodging.RODORIGO   I’ll be with thee betimes³⁸⁸.IAGO   Go to³⁸⁹, farewell. Do you hear,As Rodorigo leaves     Rodorigo?RODORIGO   I’ll sell all my land.Exit

IAGO   Thus do I ever make my fool my purse,

     For I mine own gained knowledge should profane³⁹²,

     If I would time expend with such a snipe³⁹³

     But³⁹⁴ for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor:

     And it is thought abroad³⁹⁵ that ’twixt my sheets

     He has done my office³⁹⁶: I know not if’t be true,

     But I, for mere suspicion in that kind³⁹⁷,

     Will do as if for surety³⁹⁸. He holds me well,

     The better shall my purpose work on him.

     Cassio’s a proper⁴⁰⁰ man. Let me see now:

     To get his place and to plume up⁴⁰¹ my will

     In double knavery. How, how? Let’s see:

     After some time, to abuse Othello’s ears

     That he⁴⁰⁴ is too familiar with his wife.

     He hath a person⁴⁰⁵ and a smooth dispose

     To be suspected, framed⁴⁰⁶ to make women false.

     The Moor is of a free⁴⁰⁷ and open nature,

     That thinks men honest that but seem to be so,

     And will as tenderly⁴⁰⁹ be led by th’nose

     As asses are.

     I have’t: it is engend’red⁴¹¹: hell and night

     Must bring this monstrous⁴¹² birth to the world’s light.[Exit]

Act 2 Scene 1running scene 4

Location: a port in Cyprus

Enter Montano and two GentlemenMONTANO   What from the cape¹ can you discern at sea?FIRST GENTLEMAN   Nothing at all: it is a high-wrought flood²:

     I cannot, ’twixt the heaven and the main³,

     Descry⁴ a sail.MONTANO   Methinks the wind hath spoke aloud at land:

     A fuller blast ne’er shook our battlements.

     If it hath ruffianed⁷ so upon the sea,

     What ribs⁸ of oak, when mountains melt on them,

     Can hold the mortise⁹? What shall we hear of this?SECOND GENTLEMAN   A segregation¹⁰ of the Turkish fleet:

     For do but stand upon the foaming shore,

     The chidden¹² billow seems to pelt the clouds:

     The wind-shaked surge, with high and monstrous mane¹³,

     Seems to cast water on the burning bear¹⁴

     And quench the guards¹⁵ of th’ever-fixed pole.

     I never did like molestation¹⁶ view

     On the enchafed¹⁷ flood.MONTANO   If that the Turkish fleet

     Be not ensheltered and embayed¹⁹, they are drowned:

     It is impossible to bear it out.

Enter a [Third] GentlemanTHIRD GENTLEMAN   News, lads! Our wars are done:

     The desperate tempest hath so banged the Turks

     That their designment²³ halts. A noble ship of Venice

     Hath seen a grievous wreck and sufferance²⁴

     On most part of their fleet.MONTANO   How? Is this true?THIRD GENTLEMAN   The ship is here put in,

     A Veronesa²⁸. Michael Cassio,

     Lieutenant to the warlike Moor Othello,

     Is come on shore: the Moor himself at sea,

     And is in full commission here³¹ for Cyprus.MONTANO   I am glad on’t: ’tis a worthy governor.THIRD GENTLEMAN   But this same Cassio, though he speak of comfort

     Touching³⁴ the Turkish loss, yet he looks sadly

     And pray³⁵ the Moor be safe; for they were parted

     With foul and violent tempest.MONTANO   Pray heavens he be,

     For I have served him, and the man commands

     Like a full³⁹ soldier. Let’s to the seaside, ho!

     As well to see the vessel that’s come in

     As to throw out our eyes for brave Othello,

     Even till we make the main and th’aerial blue⁴²

     An indistinct regard.THIRD GENTLEMAN   Come, let’s do so;

     For every minute is expectancy

     Of more arrivancy⁴⁶.

Enter CassioCASSIO   Thanks, you the valiant of the warlike isle,

     That so approve⁴⁸ the Moor. O, let the heavens

     Give him defence against the elements,

     For I have lost him on a dangerous sea.MONTANO   Is he well shipped?CASSIO   His bark⁵² is stoutly timbered, and his pilot

     Of very expert and approved allowance⁵³;

     Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death,⁵⁴

     Stand in bold cure.[VOICES]   A sail, a sail, a sail! Within

CASSIO   What noise?GENTLEMAN   The town is empty: on the brow o’th’sea⁵⁸

     Stand ranks of people, and they cry ‘A sail!’CASSIO   My hopes do shape him for⁶⁰ the

     governor.A shot is heard

GENTLEMAN   They do discharge their shot of courtesy⁶¹:

     Our friends at least.CASSIO   I pray you, sir, go forth

     And give us truth who ’tis that is arrived.GENTLEMAN   I shall.Exit

MONTANO   But, good lieutenant, is your general wived?CASSIO   Most fortunately: he hath achieved⁶⁷ a maid

     That paragons⁶⁸ description and wild fame,

     One that excels the quirks⁶⁹ of blazoning pens,

     And in th’essential vesture of creation⁷⁰

     Does tire the engineer⁷¹.

Enter Gentleman     How now? Who has put in⁷²?GENTLEMAN   ’Tis one Iago, ancient to the general.CASSIO   He’s had most favourable and happy speed⁷⁴:

     Tempests themselves, high seas and howling winds,

     The guttered⁷⁶ rocks and congregated sands,

     Traitors ensteeped⁷⁷ to enclog the guiltless keel,

     As⁷⁸ having sense of beauty, do omit

     Their mortal⁷⁹ natures, letting go safely by

     The divine Desdemona.MONTANO   What is she?CASSIO   She that I spake of, our great captain’s captain,

     Left in the conduct of⁸³ the bold Iago,

     Whose footing⁸⁴ here anticipates our thoughts

     A sennight’s⁸⁵ speed. Great Jove, Othello guard,

     And swell his sail with thine own powerful breath,

     That he may bless this bay with his tall⁸⁷ ship,

     Make love’s quick⁸⁸ pants in Desdemona’s arms,

     Give renewed fire to our extincted⁸⁹ spirits—

Enter Desdemona, Iago, Rodorigo and Emilia [with Attendants]     O, behold,

     The riches of the ship is come on shore!Kneels

     You men of Cyprus, let her have your knees.—

     Hail to thee, lady! And the grace of heaven,

     Before, behind thee, and on every hand

     Enwheel⁹⁵ thee round!Rises

DESDEMONA   I thank you, valiant Cassio.

     What tidings can you tell of my lord?CASSIO   He is not yet arrived, nor know I aught

     But that he’s well and will be shortly here.DESDEMONA   O, but I fear. How lost you company?CASSIO   The great contention of sea and skies

     Parted our fellowship¹⁰².— But, hark! A sail.[VOICES]   A sail, a sail! Within

A shot is