Othello

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     bragging and telling her fantastical lies. To love him still for

     prating²³⁷? 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 dull²³⁹ with the act of sport, there

     should be a game²⁴⁰ to inflame it and to give satiety a fresh

     appetite, loveliness in favour²⁴¹, sympathy in years, manners

     and beauties, all which the Moor is defective in. Now,

     for want of these required conveniences²⁴³, her delicate

     tenderness will find itself abused, begin to heave the gorge²⁴⁴,

     disrelish²⁴⁵ 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 pregnant²⁴⁷ and unforced position—

     who stands so eminent in the degree²⁴⁸ of this fortune as Cassio

     does? A knave very voluble²⁴⁹, no further conscionable than

     in putting on the mere form of civil and humane²⁵⁰ seeming

     for the better compass²⁵¹ of his salt and most hidden loose

     affection? Why, none, why, none. A slipper²⁵² and subtle knave,

     a finder of occasion²⁵³, that has an eye can stamp and

     counterfeit advantages²⁵⁴, though true advantage never

     present itself: a devilish knave. Besides, the knave is

     handsome, young, and hath all those requisites in him that

     folly²⁵⁷ and green minds look after. A pestilent complete knave,

     and the woman hath found him already.RODORIGO   I cannot believe that in her: she’s full of most

     blessed condition²⁶⁰.IAGO   Blessed fig’s-end! The wine she drinks is made of ²⁶¹

     grapes. If she had been blessed, she would never have loved

     the Moor. Blessed pudding²⁶³! Didst thou not see her paddle

     with the palm of his hand? Didst not mark that?RODORIGO   Yes, that I did, but that was but courtesy.IAGO   Lechery, by this hand: an index²⁶⁶ 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, Rodorigo! When these mutabilities²⁶⁹ so

     marshal the way, hard²⁷⁰ at hand comes the master and main

     exercise²⁷¹, th’incorporate conclusion. Pish! But, sir, be you

     ruled by me: I have brought you from Venice. Watch you²⁷²

     tonight: for the command, I’ll lay’t upon you²⁷³. 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 ²⁷⁵

     discipline, or from what other course you please, which the

     time shall more favourably minister²⁷⁷.RODORIGO   Well.IAGO   Sir, he’s rash and very sudden in choler²⁷⁹, and haply

     may strike at you: provoke him that he may, for even out

     of that will I cause these²⁸¹ of Cyprus to mutiny, whose

     qualification shall come into no true taste again but by the

     displanting²⁸³ of Cassio. So shall you have a shorter journey to

     your desires by the means I shall then have to prefer²⁸⁴ them,

     and the impediment most profitably removed, without the

     which there were no expectation of our prosperity²⁸⁶.RODORIGO   I will do this, if you can bring it to any opportunity²⁸⁷.IAGO   I warrant²⁸⁸ thee. Meet me by and by at the citadel: I

     must fetch his²⁸⁹ necessaries ashore. Farewell.RODORIGO   Adieu.Exit

IAGO   That Cassio loves her, I do well believe’t:

     That she loves him, ’tis apt²⁹² and of great credit.

     The Moor — howbeit that I endure him not²⁹³ —

     Is of a constant, loving, noble nature,

     And I dare think he’ll prove to Desdemona

     A most dear²⁹⁶ husband. Now, I do love her too,

     Not out of absolute lust — though peradventure²⁹⁷

     I stand accountant²⁹⁸ for as great a sin —

     But partly led to diet²⁹⁹ my revenge,

     For that³⁰⁰ I do suspect the lusty Moor

     Hath leaped into³⁰¹ my seat, the thought whereof

     Doth — like a poisonous mineral — gnaw my inwards:

     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 judgement cannot cure. Which thing to do,

     If this poor trash of Venice³⁰⁸, whom I trace

     For³⁰⁹ his quick hunting, stand the putting on,

     I’ll have our Michael Cassio on the hip³¹⁰,

     Abuse him to the Moor in the right garb³¹¹ —

     For I fear Cassio with my night-cap³¹² too —

     Make the Moor thank me, love me and reward me

     For making him egregiously³¹⁴ an ass

     And practising upon³¹⁵ his peace and quiet

     Even to madness. ’Tis here³¹⁶, but yet confused:

     Knavery’s plain face is never seen till used.Exit

Act 2 Scene 2running scene 5

Location: Cyprus

Enter Othello’s Herald with a proclamationHERALD   It is Othello’s pleasure, our noble and valiant

     general, that upon certain tidings now arrived, importing

     the mere perdition³ of the Turkish fleet, every man put

     himself into triumph⁴: some to dance, some to make bonfires,

     each man to what sport and revels his addition⁵ leads him, for

     besides these beneficial news, it is the celebration of his

     nuptial. So much was his pleasure should be proclaimed. All

     offices⁸ are open, and there is full liberty of feasting from this

     present hour of five till the bell have told⁹ eleven. Bless the isle

     of Cyprus and our noble general Othello! Exit

[Act 2 Scene 3] running scene 6

Location: Cyprus (the citadel)

Enter Othello, Desdemona, Cassio and AttendantsOTHELLO   Good Michael, look you to the guard tonight:

     Let’s teach ourselves that honourable stop²

     Not to outsport discretion³.CASSIO   Iago hath direction what to do,

     But notwithstanding, with my personal eye

     Will I look to’t.OTHELLO   Iago is most honest.

     Michael, goodnight: tomorrow with your earliest⁸

     Let me have speech with you.—

          Come, my dear love,To Desdemona

The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue¹⁰:

     That profit’s yet to come ’tween me and you.—

     Goodnight.Exeunt [Othello, Desdemona and Attendants]

Enter IagoCASSIO   Welcome, Iago: we must to the watch.IAGO   Not this hour, lieutenant: ’tis not yet ten o’th’clock.

     Our general cast¹⁵ us thus early for the love of his Desdemona,

     who let us not therefore blame: he hath not yet made

     wanton¹⁷ the night with her, and she is sport for Jove.CASSIO   She’s a most exquisite¹⁸ lady.IAGO   And, I’ll warrant her, full of game¹⁹.CASSIO   Indeed, she’s a most fresh and delicate²⁰ creature.IAGO   What an eye she has! Methinks it sounds a parley²¹ to

     provocation.CASSIO   An inviting eye, and yet methinks right modest.IAGO   And when she speaks, is it not an alarum²³ to