Othello (7 page)
Authors: William Shakespeare
OTHELLO
Let her have your
voice
277
.
Vouch
278
with me, heaven, I therefore beg it not
To please the palate of my appetite,
Nor to
comply with heat
280
— the young affects
In my
defunct and proper satisfaction
281
—
But to be
free
282
and bounteous to her mind:
And
heaven
283
defend your good souls that you think
I will your serious and great business
scant
284
When she is with me. No, when light-winged
toys
285
Of
feathered
286
Cupid seel with wanton dullness
My
speculative and officed instrument
287
,
That
288
my disports corrupt and taint my business,
Let housewives make a
skillet
289
of my helm,
And all
indign
290
and base adversities
Make head
291
against my estimation!
DUKE
Be it as you shall privately determine,
Either for her stay or going: th’affair
cries
293
haste,
And speed must answer it.
A SENATOR
You must away tonight.
OTHELLO
With all my heart.
DUKE
At nine i’th’morning here we’ll meet again.
Othello, leave some officer behind,
And he shall our commission bring to you,
And such things else of
quality and respect
300
As doth
import
301
you.
OTHELLO
So please your grace, my ancient:
A man he is of honesty and trust:
To his
conveyance
304
I assign my wife,
With what else needful your good grace shall think
To be sent after me.
DUKE
Let it be so.
Goodnight to everyone.— And, noble signior,
To Brabantio
If virtue no
delighted
309
beauty lack,
Your son-in-law is far more
fair
310
than black.
A SENATOR
Adieu, brave Moor: use Desdemona well.
BRABANTIO
Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see:
She has deceived her father, and may thee.
Exeunt [Duke, Senators and Officers]
OTHELLO
My life upon her faith!
Honest
314
Iago,
My Desdemona must I leave to thee:
I prithee let thy wife attend on her,
And bring them after
in the best advantage
317
.
Come, Desdemona, I have but an hour
Of love, of worldly matter and
direction
319
To spend with thee: we must obey the
time
320
.
Exeunt [Othello and Desdemona]
RODORIGO
Iago—
IAGO
What say’st thou, noble
heart
322
?
RODORIGO
What will I do, think’st thou?
IAGO
Why, go to bed and sleep.
RODORIGO
I will
incontinently
325
drown myself.
IAGO
If thou dost, I shall never love thee after. Why, thou
silly gentleman?
RODORIGO
It is silliness to live when to live is torment: and then
have we a
prescription
329
to die when death is our physician.
IAGO
O villainous! I have looked upon the world for four
times seven years, and since I could distinguish betwixt a
benefit and an injury, I never found man that knew how to
love himself.
Ere
333
I would say I would drown myself for the
love of a
guinea-hen
334
, I would change my humanity with a
baboon
335
.
RODORIGO
What should I do? I confess it is my shame to be so
fond
337
, but it is not in my virtue to amend it.
IAGO
Virtue?
A fig!
338
’Tis in ourselves that we are thus or
thus. Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills are
gardeners: so that if we will plant nettles or sow lettuce,
set
340
hyssop
341
and weed up thyme, supply it with one gender of
herbs or
distract
342
it with many, either to have it sterile with
idleness or manured with industry, why, the power and
corrigible authority
344
of this lies in our wills. If the beam of
our lives had not one scale of reason to
poise
345
another of
sensuality, the
blood
346
and baseness of our natures would
conduct us to most
preposterous
347
conclusions: but we have
reason to cool our raging
motions
348
, our carnal stings, our
unbitted
349
lusts, whereof I take this that you call love to be a
sect or scion
350
.
RODORIGO
It cannot be.
IAGO
It is merely a lust of
the blood and a permission of the
will
353
. Come, be a man. Drown thyself? Drown cats and
blind puppies. I have professed me thy friend and I confess
me
knit
355
to thy deserving with cables of perdurable
toughness: I could never better
stead
356
thee than now. Put
money in thy purse: follow thou the wars:
defeat thy favour
357
with an usurped beard
: I say, put money in thy purse. It
cannot be long that Desdemona should continue her love to
the Moor. Put money in thy purse. Nor he his to her: it was
a violent commencement in her, and thou shalt see an
answerable sequestration
362
. Put but money in thy purse.
These Moors are changeable in their wills. Fill thy purse with
money. The food that to him now is as luscious as
locusts
364
shall be to him shortly as bitter as
coloquintida
365
. She must
change for youth
366
: when she is sated with his body, she will
find the errors of her choice: therefore put money in thy
purse. If thou wilt needs damn thyself, do it a more
delicate
368
way than drowning.
Make
369
all the money thou canst. If
sanctimony
370
and a frail vow betwixt an erring barbarian and
supersubtle
371
Venetian be not too hard for my wits and all
the tribe of hell, thou shalt enjoy her. Therefore make money. A
pox of
373
drowning thyself! It is clean out of the way: seek thou
rather to be hanged
in
374
compassing thy joy than to be
drowned and go without her.
RODORIGO
Wilt thou be
fast
376
to my hopes if I depend on the
issue
377
?
IAGO
Thou
art
378
sure of me. Go, make money. I have told
thee often, and I re-tell thee again and again, I hate the
Moor: my cause is
hearted
380
; thine hath no less reason. Let us
be
conjunctive
381
in our revenge against him: if thou canst
cuckold him
382
, thou dost thyself a pleasure, me a sport. There
are many events in the womb of time which will be delivered.
Traverse
384
, 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
betimes
388
.
IAGO
Go to
389
, 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
profane
392
,
If I would time expend with such a
snipe
393
But
394
for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor:
And it is thought
abroad
395
that ’twixt my sheets
He has
done my office
396
: I know not if’t be true,
But I, for mere suspicion
in that kind
397
,
Will
do as if for surety
398
. He holds me well,
The better shall my purpose work on him.
Cassio’s a
proper
400
man. Let me see now:
To get his place and to
plume up
401
my will
In double knavery. How, how? Let’s see:
After some time, to abuse Othello’s ears
That
he
404
is too familiar with his wife.
He hath a
person
405
and a smooth dispose
To be suspected,
framed
406
to make women false.
The Moor is of a
free
407
and open nature,
That thinks men honest that but seem to be so,
And will as
tenderly
409
be led by th’nose
As asses are.
I have’t: it is
engend’red
411
: hell and night
Must bring this
monstrous
412
birth to the world’s light.
[Exit]
running scene 4
Location: a port in Cyprus
Enter Montano and two Gentlemen
MONTANO
What from the
cape
1
can you discern at sea?
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Nothing at all: it is a
high-wrought flood
2
:
I cannot, ’twixt the heaven and the
main
3
,
Descry
4
a sail.
MONTANO
Methinks the wind hath spoke aloud at land:
A fuller blast ne’er shook our battlements.
If it hath
ruffianed
7
so upon the sea,
What
ribs
8
of oak, when mountains melt on them,
Can
hold the mortise
9
? What shall we hear of this?
SECOND GENTLEMAN
A
segregation
10
of the Turkish fleet:
For do but stand upon the foaming shore,
The
chidden
12
billow seems to pelt the clouds:
The wind-shaked surge, with high and monstrous
mane
13
,
Seems to cast water on the
burning bear
14
And quench the
guards
15
of th’ever-fixèd pole.
I never did
like molestation
16
view
On the
enchafèd
17
flood.
MONTANO
If that the Turkish fleet
Be not ensheltered and
embayed
19
, they are drowned:
It is impossible to bear it out.
Enter a [Third] Gentleman
THIRD GENTLEMAN
News, lads! Our wars are done:
The desperate tempest hath so banged the Turks
That their
designment
23
halts. A noble ship of Venice
Hath seen a grievous wreck and
sufferance
24
On most part of their fleet.
MONTANO
How? Is this true?
THIRD GENTLEMAN
The ship is here put in,
A
Veronesa
28
. Michael Cassio,
Lieutenant to the warlike Moor Othello,
Is come on shore: the Moor himself at sea,
And is
in full commission here
31
for Cyprus.
MONTANO
I am glad on’t: ’tis a worthy governor.
THIRD GENTLEMAN
But this same Cassio, though he speak of comfort
Touching
34
the Turkish loss, yet he looks sadly
And
pray
35
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
full
39
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 blue
42
An indistinct regard
.
THIRD GENTLEMAN
Come, let’s do so;
For every minute is expectancy
Of more
arrivancy
46
.
Enter Cassio
CASSIO
Thanks, you the valiant of the warlike isle,
That so
approve
48
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
bark
52
is stoutly timbered, and his pilot
Of very expert and approved allowance
53
;
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’sea
58
Stand ranks of people, and they cry ‘A sail!’
CASSIO
My hopes do
shape him for
60
the
governor.
A shot is heard
GENTLEMAN
They do discharge their
shot of courtesy
61
:
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
achieved
67
a maid
That
paragons
68
description and wild fame,
One that excels the
quirks
69
of blazoning pens,
And in
th’essential vesture of creation
70
Does
tire the engineer
71
.
Enter Gentleman
How now? Who has
put in
72
?
GENTLEMAN
’Tis one Iago, ancient to the general.
CASSIO
He’s had most favourable and happy
speed
74
:
Tempests themselves, high seas and howling winds,
The
guttered
76
rocks and congregated sands,
Traitors
ensteeped
77
to enclog the guiltless keel,
As
78
having sense of beauty, do omit
Their
mortal
79
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
83
the bold Iago,
Whose
footing
84
here anticipates our thoughts
A
sennight’s
85
speed. Great Jove, Othello guard,
And swell his sail with thine own powerful breath,
That he may bless this bay with his
tall
87
ship,
Make love’s
quick
88
pants in Desdemona’s arms,
Give renewed fire to our
extincted
89
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
Enwheel
95
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
fellowship
102
.— But, hark! A sail.
[VOICES]
A sail, a sail!
Within
A shot is heard
GENTLEMAN
They give this greeting to the
citadel
104
:
This likewise is a friend.
CASSIO
See for the news.
[Exit Gentleman]
Good ancient, you are welcome.— Welcome, mistress.—
Let it not
gall
108
your patience, good Iago,
That I extend my manners: ’tis my
breeding
109
That gives me this bold show of courtesy.
Kisses Emilia
IAGO
Sir, would she give you so much of her lips
As of her
tongue
112
she oft bestows on me,
You would have enough.
DESDEMONA
Alas, she
has no speech
114
.
IAGO
In faith, too much:
I find it
still
116
, when I have leave to sleep.
Marry,
before
117
your ladyship, I grant,
She puts her tongue a little in her heart
And
chides
119
with thinking.
EMILIA
You have little cause to say so.
IAGO
Come on, come on: you are
pictures
121
out of door,
bells
122
in your parlours, wild-cats in your kitchens, saints in
your injuries, devils being offended,
players
123
in your
housewifery
124
, and housewives in your beds.
DESDEMONA
O, fie upon thee, slanderer!
IAGO
Nay, it is true, or else I am a
Turk
126
:
You rise to
play
127
and go to bed to work.
EMILIA
You shall not write my praise.
IAGO
No, let me not.
DESDEMONA
What wouldst 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
133
. There’s one gone to the harbour?
IAGO
Ay, madam.
DESDEMONA
I am not merry, but I do
beguile
135
The thing I am by seeming otherwise.
Come, how wouldst thou praise me?
IAGO
I am about it, but indeed my
invention
138
Comes from my
pate
139
as birdlime does from frieze,
It plucks out brains and all. But my
muse
140
labours,
And thus she is delivered:
‘If she be
fair
142
and wise, fairness and wit,
The one’s for use, the other useth it
143
.’
DESDEMONA
Well praised! How if she be
black
144
and witty?
IAGO
‘If she be black, and
thereto
145
have a wit,
She’ll find a
white
146
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
150
helped her to an heir.’
DESDEMONA
These are old
fond
151
paradoxes to make fools laugh
i’th’ale-house. What miserable praise hast thou for her
that’s
foul
153
and foolish?
IAGO
‘There’s none so foul and foolish
thereunto
154
,
But does
foul pranks
155
which fair and wise ones do.’
DESDEMONA
O
heavy
156
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
158
on the vouch of very malice itself
?
IAGO
‘She that was ever fair and never proud,
Had
tongue
161
at will and yet was never loud,
Never lacked gold and yet went never
gay
162
,
Fled from her wish and yet said “Now I may
163
”,
She that being ang’red, 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
167
,
She that could think and ne’er disclose her mind,
See suitors following and not look behind,
She was a
wight
170
, if ever such wights were—’
DESDEMONA
To do what?
IAGO
‘To
suckle
172
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
175
counsellor?
CASSIO
He speaks
home
176
, madam: you may relish him more in the soldier than in the scholar.
Cassio takes Desdemona’s hand and they converse apart
IAGO
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
180
thee in thine
own
courtship
181
. 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
183
so oft, which now
again you are most apt to play the
sir
184
in. Very good: well
kissed, and excellent
courtesy
185
! ’Tis so, indeed. Yet again your
fingers to your lips? Would they were
clyster-pipes
186
for your
sake!—The Moor! I know his trumpet.
