The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (977 page)

The desperate tempest hath so bang'd the Turks,

The storm has injured the Turks so much

That their designment halts: a noble ship of Venice

That they have stopped their plans. A ship from Venice

Hath seen a grievous wreck and sufferance

Has seen an awful wreck of theirs and the sufferings

On most part of their fleet.

Of most of their fleet.

MONTANO

How! is this true?

What! Is this true!

Third Gentleman

The ship is here put in,

The ship has just landed,

A Veronesa; Michael Cassio,

From Verona. Michael Cassio,

Lieutenant to the warlike Moor Othello,

Lieutenant to the Moor general Othello,

Is come on shore: the Moor himself at sea,

Is on the shore. The Moor himself  is at sea

And is in full commission here for Cyprus.

And is coming with full commission to Cyprus.

MONTANO

I am glad on't; 'tis a worthy governor.

I am glad, he is a worthy leader.

Third Gentleman

But this same Cassio, though he speak of comfort

But this Cassio fellow, though he has good news

Touching the Turkish loss, yet he looks sadly,

About the Turkish losses, is sad

And prays the Moor be safe; for they were parted

And prays for the Moor’s safety. They were separated

With foul and violent tempest.

In the storm.

MONTANO

Pray heavens he be;

Yes, I pray he is safe.

For I have served him, and the man commands

I have served under him and he leads

Like a full soldier. Let's to the seaside, ho!

Like a great soldier. Let us go to the shore.

As well to see the vessel that's come in

See to the vessel that has arrived and

As to throw out our eyes for brave Othello,

Look for brave Othello

Even till we make the main and the aerial blue

Until the sea and sky blur together

An indistinct regard.

And are indistinguishable.

Third Gentleman

Come, let's do so:

Come, let’s go.

For every minute is expectancy

Every minute we can expect

Of more arrivance.

Their arrival.

Enter CASSIO

CASSIO

Thanks, you the valiant of this warlike isle,

Thank you, you brave men who defend the island

That so approve the Moor! O, let the heavens

And respect the Moor! O, I pray that the heavens

Give him defence against the elements,

Defend him against the storm,

For I have lost us him on a dangerous sea.

For we were separated on the dangerous sea.

MONTANO

Is he well shipp'd?

Is his ship strong?

CASSIO

His bark is stoutly timber'd, his pilot

The wood is good and strong, and his pilot

Of very expert and approved allowance;

Is experienced – a true expert.

Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death,

Therefore, I hope for his safety, though

Stand in bold cure.

They are not without their fears.

A cry within 'A sail, a sail, a sail!'

Enter a fourth Gentleman

CASSIO

What noise?

What is that sound?

Fourth Gentleman

The town is empty; on the brow o' the sea

The whole town is at the shore

Stand ranks of people, and they cry 'A sail!'

Standing in lines and shouting that they see a sail!

CASSIO

My hopes do shape him for the governor.

I hope it is Othello.

Guns heard

Second Gentlemen

They do discharge their shot of courtesy:

They have fired a friendly shot,

Our friends at least.

So they are at least our allies.

CASSIO

I pray you, sir, go forth,

Please, sir, go

And give us truth who 'tis that is arrived.

And tell us who it is who is arriving.

Second Gentleman

I shall.

I will.

Exit

MONTANO

But, good lieutenant, is your general wived?

Good lieutenant, does the general have a wife?

CASSIO

Most fortunately: he hath achieved a maid

Yes, and he is very lucky. His wife’s virtues

That paragons description and wild fame;

Cannot be described or become famous enough to match them.

One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens,

She is no match for a writer who,

And in the essential vesture of creation

In trying to capture her, God’s special creation,

Does tire the ingener.

Will become tired.

Re-enter second Gentleman

How now! who has put in?

Hello, who is it that has arrive?

Second Gentleman

'Tis one Iago, ancient to the general.

It is one named Iago, ensign to the general.

CASSIO

Has had most favourable and happy speed:

He has come very quickly.

Tempests themselves, high seas, and howling winds,

Storms and high seas and howling winds,

The gutter'd rocks and congregated sands--

And the dangerous rocks and swirling sands – 

Traitors ensteep'd to clog the guiltless keel,--

Everything that will slow and stop a ship –

As having sense of beauty, do omit

Must have a sense of beauty, for they

Their mortal natures, letting go safely by

Have acted against their natures and allowed

The divine Desdemona.

The beautiful Desdemona to travel safely.

MONTANO

What is she?

Who is Desdemona?

CASSIO

She that I spake of, our great captain's captain,

She is whom I spoke of, the wife of Othello,

Left in the conduct of the bold Iago,

Given to brave Iago’s care,

Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts

And he has arrive here

A se'nnight's speed. Great Jove, Othello guard,

A week earlier than expected. Dear God, protect Othello

And swell his sail with thine own powerful breath,

And make his ship sail faster with your breath pushing it

That he may bless this bay with his tall ship,

That he might arrive here in his great ship,

Make love's quick pants in Desdemona's arms,

Be joined in love with Desdemona,

Give renew'd fire to our extincted spirits

Replenish the fire of our spirits,

And bring all Cyprus comfort!

And bring all of Cyprus comfort!

Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA, IAGO, RODERIGO, and Attendants

O, behold,

Behold,

The riches of the ship is come on shore!

The riches from the ship have come onto the shore!

Ye men of Cyprus, let her have your knees.

Men of Cyprus, bow to her.

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

Hello, lady! May the grace of heaven

Before, behind thee, and on every hand,

Be before you, behind you, on each side,

Enwheel thee round!

All around you!

DESDEMONA

I thank you, valiant Cassio.

Thank you, brave Cassio.

What tidings can you tell me of my lord?

How is Othello doing?

CASSIO

He is not yet arrived: nor know I aught

He has not arrived yet, so I don’t know anything

But that he's well and will be shortly here.

Except that he is fine and will soon be here.

DESDEMONA

O, but I fear--How lost you company?

O, but I am scared. How did you get separated?

CASSIO

The great contention of the sea and skies

The great storm of the sea and skies

Parted our fellowship--But, hark! a sail.

Parted us. But wait! a sail.

Within 'A sail, a sail!' Guns heard

Second Gentleman

They give their greeting to the citadel;

Another greeting shot to the city:

This likewise is a friend.

This is also an ally.

CASSIO

See for the news.

See who it is.

Exit Gentleman

Good ancient, you are welcome.

Good ensign, you are welcome here.

To EMILIA

Welcome, mistress.

And mistress, welcome.

Let it not gall your patience, good Iago,

I hope this does not offend you, good Iago,

That I extend my manners; 'tis my breeding

That I greet your wife like this. I have been raised

That gives me this bold show of courtesy.

To give such a bold custom of greeting.

Kissing her

IAGO

Sir, would she give you so much of her lips

Sir, if she gives you as much of her lips

As of her tongue she oft bestows on me,

As she gives me by berating me,

You'll have enough.

You’ll be sick of her.

DESDEMONA

Alas, she has no speech.

No, she seems to say nothing.

IAGO

In faith, too much;

Truly, she says too much,

I find it still, when I have list to sleep:

Even when I am trying to sleep.

Marry, before your ladyship, I grant,

Yes, in front of you, I agree

She puts her tongue a little in her heart,

She says very little, but in her heart

And chides with thinking.

She is speaking scornfully to me.

EMILIA

You have little cause to say so.

You have no reason to say that.

IAGO

Come on, come on; you are pictures out of doors,

Come on now. Out in public you women are pretty as a picture,

Bells in your parlors, wild-cats in your kitchens,

But you are loud bells at home, wildcats in the kitchen,

Saints in your injuries, devils being offended,

Saints when injured,  devils when offended,

Players in your housewifery, and housewives' in your beds.

Idle actresses in your housewife duties, and hussies in your bed.

DESDEMONA

O, fie upon thee, slanderer!

O, a curse on you, you slanderer.

IAGO

Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk:

No, I would be a Turk if what I say is not true.

You rise to play and go to bed to work.

You get up in order to enjoy yourselves, and you go to bed in order to work.

EMILIA

You shall not write my praise.