William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (400 page)

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Authors: William Shakespeare

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BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition

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RODERIGO I cannot believe that in her. She’s full of most blessed condition.

IAGO Blessed fig’s end! The wine she drinks is made of grapes. If she had been blessed, she would never have loved the Moor. Blessed pudding! Didst thou not see her paddle with the palm of his hand? Didst not mark that? 255

RODERIGO Yes, that I did, but that was but courtesy.

IAGO Lechery, by this hand; an index 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, Roderigo! When these mutualities so marshal the way, hard at hand comes the master and main exercise, th’incorporate conclusion. Pish! But, sir, be you ruled by me. I have brought you from Venice. Watch you tonight. For the command, I’ll lay’t upon you. 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 discipline, or from what other course you please, which the time shall more favourably minister.

RODERIGO Well.

IAGO Sir, he’s rash and very sudden in choler, and haply may strike at you. Provoke him that he may, for even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny, whose qualification shall come into no true taste again but by the displanting of Cassio. So shall you have a shorter journey to your desires by the means I shall then have to prefer them, and the impediment most profitably removed, without the which there were no expectation of our prosperity.

RODERIGO I will do this, if you can bring it to any opportunity.

IAGO I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the citadel. I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewell.

RODERIGO Adieu.

Exit

IAGO

That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it.
That she loves him, ‘tis apt and of great credit.
The Moor—howbe’t that I endure him not—
Is of a constant, loving, noble nature,
And I dare think he’ll prove to Desdemona
A most dear husband. Now I do love her too,
Not out of absolute lust—though peradventure
I stand accountant for as great a sin—
But partly led to diet my revenge
For that I do suspect the lusty Moor
Hath leapt into 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 Venice whom I trace
For his quick hunting stand the putting on,
I’ll have our Michael Cassio on the hip,
Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb—
For I fear Cassio with my nightcap, too—
Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me
For making him egregiously an ass,
And practising upon his peace and quiet
Even to madness. ’Tis here, but yet confused.
Knavery’s plain face is never seen till used.

Exit

2.2
Enter Othello’s Herald reading a proclamation

HERALD It is Othello’s pleasure—our noble and valiant
general—that, upon certain tidings now arrived
importing the mere perdition of the Turkish fleet, every
man put himself into triumph: some to dance, some to
make bonfires, each man to what sport and revels his
addiction leads him; for besides these beneficial news,
it is the celebration of his nuptial. So much was his
pleasure should be proclaimed. All offices are open, and
there is full liberty of feasting from this present hour
of five till the bell have told eleven. Heaven bless the
isle of Cyprus and our noble general, Othello! Exit

2.3
Enter Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, and attendants

OTHELLO

Good Michael, look you to the guard tonight.
Let’s teach ourselves that honourable stop
Not to outsport discretion.

CASSIO

Iago hath direction what to do,
But notwithstanding, with my personal eye
Will I look to’t.

OTHELLO Iago is most honest.

Michael, good night. Tomorrow with your earliest
Let me have speech with you. (
To Desdemona
) Come,
my dear love,
The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue.
That profit’s yet to come ’tween me and you.
(
To Cassio
) Good night.

Exeunt Othello, Desdemona, and attendants

Enter Iago

CASSIO

Welcome, Iago. We must to the watch.

IAGO Not this hour, lieutenant; ‘tis not yet ten o’th’ clock. Our general cast us thus early for the love of his Desdemona, who let us not therefore blame. He hath not yet made wanton the night with her, and she is sport for Jove.

CASSIO She’s a most exquisite lady.

IAGO And I’ll warrant her full of game.

CASSIO Indeed, she’s a most fresh and delicate creature.

IAGO What an eye she has! Methinks it sounds a parley to provocation.

CASSIO An inviting eye, and yet, methinks, right modest.

IAGO And when she speaks, is it not an alarum to love?

CASSIO She is indeed perfection.

IAGO Well, happiness to their sheets. Come, lieutenant. I have a stoup of wine, and here without are a brace of Cyprus gallants that would fain have a measure to the health of black Othello.

CASSIO Not tonight, good Iago. I have very poor and unhappy 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 ha’ drunk but one cup tonight, and that was craftily qualified, too, and behold what innovation it makes here! I am infortunate 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 me.

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 offence
As my young mistress’ dog. Now my sick fool Roderigo,
Whom love hath turned almost the wrong side out,
To Desdemona hath tonight caroused
Potations pottle-deep, and he’s to watch.
Three else of Cyprus—noble swelling spirits
That hold their honours in a wary distance,
The very elements of this warlike isle—
Have I tonight flustered with flowing cups,
And they watch too. Now ’mongst this flock of
drunkards
Am I to put our Cassio in some action
That may offend the isle.

Enter Montano, Cassio, Gentlemen,
[and servants]
with wine

But here they come.
If consequence do but approve my dream,
My boat sails freely both with wind and stream.

CASSIO

Fore God, they have given me a rouse 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 cannikin clink, clink, And let me the cannikin clink.
A soldier’s a man,
O, man’s life’s but a span,
Why then, let a soldier drink.

Some wine, boys!

CASSIO Fore God, an excellent song.

IAGO I learned it in England, where indeed they are most potent in potting. Your Dane, your German, and your swag-bellied Hollander—drink, ho!—are nothing to your English.

CASSIO Is your Englishman so exquisite in his drinking?

IAGO Why, he drinks you with facility your Dane dead drunk. He sweats not to overthrow your Almain. He gives your Hollander a vomit ere the next pottle can be filled.

CASSIO To the health of our general!

MONTANO I am for it, lieutenant, and I’ll do you justice.

IAGO O sweet England!

(
Sings
)

King Stephen was and a worthy peer, His breeches cost him but a crown;
He held them sixpence all too dear,
With that he called the tailor lown.
He was a wight of high renown,
And thou art but of low degree.
’Tis pride that pulls the country down,
Then take thy auld cloak about thee.

Some wine, ho!

CASSIO Fore God, 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, God’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 quality—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 ensign. Let’s ha’ no more of this. Let’s to our affairs. God forgive us our sins. Gentlemen, let’s look to our business. Do not think, gentlemen, I am drunk. This is my ensign, 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’ platform, masters. Come, let’s set the watch.

Exeunt Gentlemen

IAGO

You see this fellow that is gone before—
He’s a soldier fit to stand by Caesar
And give direction; and do but see his vice.
‘Tis to his virtue a just equinox,
The one as long as th’other. ’Tis pity of 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 set
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 Roderigo

IAGO [
aside
] How now, Roderigo!

I pray you after the lieutenant, go.

Exit Roderigo

MONTANO

And ’tis great pity that the noble Moor
Should hazard such a place as his own second
With one of an engraffed 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.

VOICES (
within
) Help, help!

IAGO But hark, what noise?

Enter Cassio, driving in Roderigo

CASSIO ’Swounds, you rogue, you rascal!

MONTANO What’s the matter, lieutenant?

CASSIO A knave teach me my duty?—I’ll beat the knave into a twiggen bottle.

RODERIGO Beat me?

CASSIO Dost thou prate, rogue?

MONTANO Nay, good lieutenant, I pray you, sir, hold your hand.

CASSIO Let me go, sir, or I’ll knock you o’er the mazard.

MONTANO Come, come, you’re drunk.

CASSIO Drunk?

They fight

IAGO (
to Roderigo
)

Away, I say. Go out and cry a mutiny.

Exit Roderigo

Nay, good lieutenant. God’s will, gentlemen!
Help, ho! Lieutenant! Sir! Montano! Sir!
Help, masters. Here’s a goodly watch indeed.
A bell rung
Who’s that which rings the bell? Diablo, ho!
The town will rise. God’s will, lieutenant, hold.
You’ll be ashamed for ever.
Enter Othello and attendants, with weapons

OTHELLO What is the matter here?

MONTANO

’Swounds, I bleed still. I am hurt to th’ death.
(
Attacking Cassio)
He dies.

OTHELLO Hold, for your lives!

IAGO

Hold, ho, lieutenant, sir, Montano, gentlemen!
Have you forgot all place of sense and duty?
Hold, the general speaks to you. Hold, hold, for shame.