Othello

brow o’ the sea
Stand ranks of people, and they cry “A sail!” Cassio My hopes do shape him for the governor. Guns heard. Second Gentlemen

They do discharge their shot of courtesy:
Our friends at least.

Cassio

I pray you, sir, go forth,
And give us truth who ’tis that is arrived.

Second Gentleman I shall. Exit. Montano But, good lieutenant, is your general wived? Cassio

Most fortunately: he hath achieved a maid
That paragons description and wild fame;
One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens,
And in the essential vesture of creation
Does tire the ingener.

Re-enter second Gentleman. How now! who has put in? Second Gentleman ’Tis one Iago, ancient to the general. Cassio

Has had most favourable and happy speed:
Tempests themselves, high seas, and howling winds,
The gutter’d rocks and congregated sands⁠—
Traitors ensteep’d to clog the guiltless keel⁠—
As having sense of beauty, do omit
Their mortal 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 of the bold Iago,
Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts
A se’nnight’s speed. Great Jove, Othello guard,
And swell his sail with thine own powerful breath,
That he may bless this bay with his tall ship,
Make love’s quick pants in Desdemona’s arms,
Give renew’d fire to our extincted spirits
And bring all Cyprus comfort!

Enter Desdemona, Emilia, Iago, Roderigo, and Attendants.

O, behold,
The riches of the ship is come on shore!
Ye men of Cyprus, let her have your knees.
Hail to thee, lady! and the grace of heaven,
Before, behind thee, and on every hand,
Enwheel thee round!

Desdemona

I thank you, valiant Cassio.
What tidings can you tell me 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 the sea and skies
Parted our fellowship⁠—But, hark! a sail. Within “A sail, a sail!” Guns heard.

Second Gentleman

They give their greeting to the citadel;
This likewise is a friend.

Cassio

See for the news. Exit Gentleman.
Good ancient, you are welcome. To Emilia. Welcome, mistress.
Let it not gall your patience, good Iago,
That I extend my manners; ’tis my breeding
That gives me this bold show of courtesy. Kissing her.

Iago

Sir, would she give you so much of her lips
As of her tongue she oft bestows on me,
You’ll have enough.

Desdemona Alas, she has no speech. Iago

In faith, too much;
I find it still, when I have list to sleep:
Marry, before your ladyship, I grant,
She puts her tongue a little in her heart,
And chides with thinking.

Emilia You have little cause to say so. Iago

Come on, come on; you are pictures out of doors,
Bells in your parlors, wild-cats in your kitchens,
Saints in your injuries, devils being offended,
Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds.

Desdemona O, fie upon thee, slanderer! Iago

Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk:
You rise to play and go to bed to work.

Emilia You shall not write my praise. Iago No, let me not. Desdemona

What wouldst thou write of me, if thou shouldst
praise me?

Iago

O gentle lady, do not put me to’t;
For I am nothing, if not critical.

Desdemona Come on, assay. There’s one gone to the harbour? Iago Ay, madam. Desdemona

I am not merry; but I do beguile
The thing I am, by seeming otherwise.
Come, how wouldst thou praise me?

Iago

I am about it; but indeed my invention
Comes from my pate as birdlime does from frize;
It plucks out brains and all: but my Muse labours,
And thus she is deliver’d.
If she be fair and wise, fairness and wit,
The one’s for use, the other useth it.

Desdemona Well praised! How if she be black and witty? Iago

If she be black, and thereto have a wit,
She’ll find a white that shall her blackness fit.

Desdemona Worse and worse. Emilia How if fair and foolish? Iago

She never yet was foolish that was fair;
For even her folly help’d her to an heir.

Desdemona These are old fond paradoxes to make fools laugh i’ the alehouse. What miserable praise hast thou for her that’s foul and foolish? Iago

There’s none so foul and foolish thereunto,
But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do.

Desdemona O heavy ignorance! thou praisest the worst best. But what praise couldst thou bestow on a deserving woman indeed, one that, in the authority of her merit, did justly put on the vouch of very malice itself? Iago

She that was ever fair and never proud,
Had tongue at will and yet was never loud,
Never lack’d gold and yet went never gay,
Fled from her wish and yet said “Now I may,”
She that being anger’d, her revenge being nigh,
Bade her wrong stay and her displeasure fly,
She that in wisdom never was so frail
To change the cod’s head for the salmon’s tail;
She that could think and ne’er disclose her mind,
See suitors following and not look behind,
She was a wight, if ever such wight were⁠—

Desdemona To do what? Iago To suckle fools and chronicle small beer. Desdemona O most lame and impotent conclusion! Do not learn of him, Emilia, though he be thy husband. How say you, Cassio? is he not a most profane and liberal counsellor? Cassio He speaks home, madam: You may relish him more in the soldier than in the scholar. Iago Aside. He takes her by the palm: ay, well said, whisper: with as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do; I will gyve thee in thine own courtship. You say true; ’tis so, indeed: if such tricks as these strip you out of your lieutenantry, it had been better you had not kissed your three fingers so oft, which now again you are most apt to play the sir in. Very good; well kissed! an excellent courtesy! ’tis so, indeed. Yet again your fingers to your lips? would they were clyster-pipes for your sake! Trumpet within. The Moor! I know his trumpet. Cassio ’Tis truly so. Desdemona Let’s meet him and receive him. Cassio Lo, where he