Othello

love?CASSIO   She is indeed perfection.IAGO   Well, happiness to their sheets! Come, lieutenant, I

     have a stoup²⁶ of wine, and here without are a brace of Cyprus

     gallants²⁷ that would fain have a measure to the health of

     black Othello.CASSIO   Not tonight, good Iago: I have very poor and

     unhappy³⁰ 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 tonight, and that was

     craftily qualified³⁴ too, and behold what innovation it makes

     here: I am infortunate³⁵ 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 me⁴⁰.Exit

IAGO   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 offence⁴³

     As my young mistress’ dog⁴⁴. Now, my sick fool Rodorigo,

     Whom love hath turned almost the wrong side out,

     To Desdemona hath tonight caroused⁴⁶

     Potations pottle-deep⁴⁷; and he’s to watch:

     Three else of Cyprus, noble swelling⁴⁸ spirits —

     That hold their honours in a wary distance⁴⁹,

     The very elements⁵⁰ of this warlike isle —

     Have I tonight flustered⁵¹ with flowing cups,

     And they watch⁵² too. Now, ’mongst this flock of drunkards

     Am I to put our Cassio in some action⁵³

     That may offend the isle.— But here they come:

Enter Cassio, Montano and GentlemenServants following with wine

     If consequence do but approve⁵⁵ my dream,

     My boat sails freely, both with wind and stream⁵⁶.CASSIO   ’Fore heaven, they have given me a rouse⁵⁷ already.MONTANO   Good faith, a little one, not past a pint, as I am a

     soldier.IAGO   Some wine, ho!Sings

     And let me the cannikin⁶⁰ clink, clink,     And let me the cannikin clink.

     A soldier’s a man,

     O, man’s life’s but a span⁶³:Why, then, let a soldier drink.

     Some wine, boys!CASSIO   ’Fore heaven, an excellent song.IAGO   I learned it in England, where indeed they are most potent ⁶⁷

     in potting: your Dane, your German, and

     your swag-bellied⁶⁸ Hollander— Drink, ho!— are nothing to your

     English.CASSIO   Is your Englishman so exquisite in his drinking?IAGO   Why, he drinks⁷²

      you with facility, your Dane dead drunk: he sweats not to overthrow your Almain⁷³: he gives

     your Hollander a vomit ere the next pottle⁷⁴ can be filled.CASSIO   To the health of our general! MONTANO   I am for it, lieutenant, and I’ll do you justice⁷⁶.IAGO   O sweet England! Sings

King Stephen⁷⁸ was and-a worthy peer,His breeches cost him but a crown⁷⁹:He held⁸⁰ them sixpence all too dear,With that he called the tailor lown⁸¹.He was a wight of high renown,And thou art but of low degree:’Tis pride that pulls the country down:

     Then take thy auld⁸⁵ cloak about thee.

     Some wine, ho!CASSIO   Why, this is a more exquisite song than the other.IAGO   Will you hear’t again?CASSIO   No, for I hold him to be unworthy of his place that

     does those things. Well, heav’n’s above all, and there be souls

     must be saved, and there be souls must not be saved.IAGO   It’s true, good lieutenant.CASSIO   For mine own part — no offence to the general, nor

     any man of quality⁹⁴ — I hope to be saved.IAGO   And so do I too, lieutenant.CASSIO   Ay, but, by your leave, not before me: the lieutenant

     is to be saved before the ancient. Let’s have no more of this:

      let’s to our affairs. Forgive us our sins! Gentlemen, let’s look

     to our business. Do not think, gentlemen, I am drunk: this is

     my ancient, this is my right hand, and this is my left. I am not

     drunk now: I can stand well enough, and I speak well

     enough.GENTLEMEN   Excellent well.CASSIO   Why, very well then: you must not think then, that I

     am drunk.Exit

MONTANO   To th’platform¹⁰⁶, masters. Come, let’s set the watch.Starts to leave

[Exeunt Gentlemen?]

IAGO   You see this fellow that is gone before:To Montano

     He’s a soldier fit to stand by Caesar

     And give direction. And do but see his vice:

     ’Tis to his virtue a just equinox¹¹⁰,

     The one as long as th’other. ’Tis pity of¹¹¹ him.

     I fear the trust Othello puts him in

     On some odd time of his infirmity

     Will shake this island.MONTANO   But is he often thus?IAGO   ’Tis evermore his prologue to his sleep:

     He’ll watch the horologe a double set¹¹⁷,

     If drink rock not his cradle.MONTANO   It were well

     The general were put in mind of it.

     Perhaps he sees it not, or his good nature

     Prizes the virtue that appears in Cassio

     And looks not on his evils: is not this true?

Enter RodorigoIAGO   How now, Rodorigo?Aside to Rodorigo

     I pray you, after the lieutenant, go.[Exit Rodorigo]

MONTANO   And ’tis great pity that the noble Moor

     Should hazard such a place as his own second¹²⁷

     With one of an ingraft¹²⁸ infirmity:

     It were an honest action to say so

     To the Moor.IAGO   Not I, for this fair island:

     I do love Cassio well and would do much

     To cure him of this evil.—Cry within

          But, hark! What noise?

Enter Cassio pursuing RodorigoCASSIO   You rogue! You rascal!MONTANO   What’s the matter, lieutenant?CASSIO   A knave¹³⁶ teach me my duty?

     I’ll beat the knave into a twiggen bottle¹³⁷.RODORIGO   Beat me?CASSIO   Dost thou prate, rogue?Strikes Rodorigo

MONTANO   Nay, good lieutenant:Stops him

     I pray you, sir, hold¹⁴¹ your hand.CASSIO   Let me go, sir,

     Or I’ll knock you o’er the mazzard¹⁴³.MONTANO   Come, come, you’re drunk.CASSIO   Drunk?They fight

IAGO   Away, I say: go out and cry aAside to Rodorigo

     mutiny.—[Exit Rodorigo]

     Nay, good lieutenant— Alas, gentlemen—

     Help, ho!— Lieutenant— Sir Montano— Sir—

     Help, masters¹⁴⁹!— Here’s a goodly watch indeed!Bell rings

     Who’s that which rings the bell¹⁵⁰?— Diablo, ho!

     The town will rise¹⁵¹. Fie, fie, lieutenant!

     You’ll be ashamed¹⁵² for ever.

Enter Othello and AttendantsWith weapons

OTHELLO   What is the matter here?MONTANO   I bleed still: I am hurt to th’death. He dies! Attacks Cassio?

OTHELLO   Hold, for your lives! IAGO   Hold, ho! Lieutenant— Sir Montano— Gentlemen,

     Have you forgot all sense of place¹⁵⁷ and duty?

     Hold! The general speaks to you. Hold, for shame! OTHELLO   Why, how now, ho! From whence ariseth this?

     Are we turned Turks¹⁶⁰, and to ourselves do that

     Which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites?

     For Christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl!

     He that stirs next to carve¹⁶³ for his own rage

     Holds his soul