SCENE III.
A Hall in the Castle.
Enter Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, and Attendants.
Oth.
Good Michael, look you to the guard to-night:
Let's teach ourselves that honourable stop,
Not to out-sport discretion.
Cas.
Iago hath direction what to do;
But, notwithstanding, with my personal eye
Will I look to't.
Oth.
Iago is most honest.
Michael, good night: To-morrow, with our earliest,
Let me have speech with you.—Come, my dear love,
The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue;
[To Desdemona.
-- 319 --
That profit's yet to come 'twixt me and you.—
Good night.
[Exeunt Oth. Des. and Attend.
Enter Iago.
Cas.
Welcome, Iago: We must to the watch.
Iago.
Not this hour, lieutenant; 'Tis not yet ten
o'clock: Our general cast us9 note
thus early, for the
love of his Desdemona; whom let us not therefore
blame; he hath not yet made wanton the night
with her: and she is sport for Jove.
Cas.
She's a most exquisite lady.
Iago.
And, I'll warrant her, full of game.
Cas.
Indeed, she is a most fresh and delicate
creature.
Iago.
What an eye she has! methinks it sounds
a parley of provocation1 note.
Cas.
An inviting eye; and yet methinks right
modest.
Iago.
And, when she speaks, is it not an alarm2 note
to love3 note?
-- 320 --
Cas.
She is, indeed, perfection4 note.
Iago.
Well, happiness to their sheets! Come,
lieutenant, I have a stoop of wine; and here without
are a brace of Cyprus gallants, that would fain
have a measure to the health of the black Othello.
Cas.
Not to-night, 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.
Cas.
I have drunk but one cup to-night, and
that was craftily qualified5 note too, and, behold, what
innovation it makes here: I am unfortunate in the
infirmity, and dare not task my weakness with any
more.
Iago.
What, man! 'tis a night of revels; the
gallants desire it.
Cas.
Where are they?
Iago.
Here at the door; I pray you, call them in.
Cas.
I'll do't; but it dislikes me.
[Exit Cassio.
Iago.
If I can fasten but one cup upon him,
With that which he hath drunk to-night already,
He'll be as full of quarrel and offence
As my young mistress' dog. Now, my sick fool, Roderigo,
Whom love has turn'd almost the wrong side outward,
To Desdemona hath to-night carous'd
-- 321 --
Potations pottle deep; and he's to watch:
Three lads of Cyprus6 note,—noble swelling spirits,
That hold their honours in a wary distance,
The very elements7 note of this warlike isle,—
Have I to-night fluster'd 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:—But here they come:
If consequence do but approve my dream8 note,
My boat sails freely, both with wind and stream.
Re-enter Cassio, with him Montano, and Gentlemen.
Cas.
'Fore heaven, they have given me a rouse
already9 note
.
Mon.
Good faith, a little one; not past a pint,
as I am a soldier1 note.
Iago.
Some wine, ho!
-- 322 --
And let me the canakin2 note clink, clink;
[Sings.
And let me the canakin clink:
A soldier's a man;
A life's but a span3 note
;
Why then let a soldier drink.
Some wine, boys!
[Wine brought in.
Cas.
'Fore heaven, an excellent song.
Iago.
I learned it in England, where (indeed)
they are most potent in potting4 note; your Dane, your
German5 note
, and your swag-bellied Hollander,—
Drink, ho!—are nothing to your English.
Cas.
Is your Englishman so expert in his drinking6 note
?
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.
Cas.
To the health of our general.
-- 323 --
Mon.
I am for it, lieutenant; and I'll do you
justice7 note.
Iago.
O sweet England!
King Stephen8 note
was a worthy peer9 note
,
His breeches cost him but a crown;
He held them sixpence all too dear,
With that he call'd the tailor—lown1 note.
He was a wight of high renown,
And thou art but of low degree:
'Tis pride that pulls the country down,
Then take thine auld cloak about thee.
Some wine, ho!
Cas.
Why, this is a more exquisite song than the
other.
Iago.
Will you hear it again?
Cas.
No; for I hold him to be unworthy of his
place, that does those things.—Well,—Heaven's
above all; and there be souls that must be saved,
and there be souls must not be saved.
-- 324 --
Iago.
It's true, good lieutenant.
Cas.
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.
Cas.
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
hand:—I am not drunk now; I can stand well
enough, and speak well enough.
All.
Excellent well.
Cas.
Why, very well, then: you must not think
then that I am drunk.
[Exit.
Mon.
To the platform, masters; come, let's set
the watch.
Iago.
You see this fellow, that is gone before;—
He is a soldier, fit to stand by Cæsar
And give direction: and do but see his vice;
'Tis to his virtue a just equinox,
The one as long as the other: 'tis pity of him.
I fear, the trust Othello puts him in,
On some odd time of his infirmity,
Will shake this island.
Mon.
But is he often thus?
Iago.
'Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep:
He'll watch the horologe a double set2 note
,
If drink rock not his cradle.
-- 325 --
Mon.
It were well,
The general were put in mind of it.
Perhaps, he sees it not; or his good nature
Prizes* note the virtue that appears in Cassio,
And looks not on his evils; Is not this true?
Enter Roderigo.
Iago.
How now, Roderigo?
[Aside.
I pray you, after the lieutenant; go.
[Exit Roderigo.
Mon.
And 'tis great pity, that the noble Moor
Should hazard such a place, as his own second,
With one of an ingraft infirmity3 note
:
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. But hark! what noise?
[Cry within,—Help! help!
-- 326 --
Re-enter Cassio, driving in Roderigo.
Cas.
You rogue! you rascal!
Mon.
What's the matter, lieutenant?
Cas.
A knave!—teach me my duty!
I'll beat the knave into a twiggen bottle4 note.
Rod.
Beat me!
Cas.
Dost thou prate, rogue?
[Striking Roderigo.
Mon.
Nay, good lieutenant;
[Staying him.
I pray you, sir, hold your hand.
Cas.
Let me go, sir,
Or I'll knock you o'er the mazzard.
Mon.
Come, come, you're drunk.
Cas.
Drunk!
[They fight.
Iago.
Away, I say! go out, and cry—a mutiny.
[Aside to Rod. who goes out.
Nay, good lieutenant,—alas, gentlemen,—
Help, ho!—Lieutenant,—sir,—Montano,—sir;—
Help, masters!—Here's a goodly watch, indeed!
[Bell rings.
Who's that that rings the bell?—Diablo5 note
, ho!
The town will rise: God's will, lieutenant! hold;
You will be sham'd for ever.
Enter Othello, and Attendants.
Oth.
What is the matter here?
Mon.
'Zounds, I bleed still, I am hurt to the death6 note
.
-- 327 --
Oth.
Hold, for your lives.
Iago.
Hold, hold, lieutenant7 note,—sir, Montano,—gentlemen,—
Have you forgot all sense of place and duty8 note
?
Hold, hold! the general speaks to you; hold, for shame!
Oth.
Why, how now, ho! from whence ariseth this?
Are we turn'd Turks; and to ourselves do that,
Which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites?
For christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl:
He that stirs next to carve forth his own rage9 note
,
-- 328 --
Holds his soul light; he dies upon his motion.—
Silence that dreadful bell1 note
, it frights the isle
From her propriety2 note
.—What is the matter, masters?—
Honest Iago, that look'st dead with grieving,
Speak, who began this? on thy love, I charge thee.
Iago.
I do not know;—friends all but now, even now,
In quarter3 note
, and in terms like bride and groom
-- 329 --
Devesting them for bed: and then, but now,
(As if some planet had unwitted men,)
Swords out, and tilting one at other's breast,
In opposition bloody. I cannot speak
Any beginning to this peevish odds;
And 'would in action glorious I had lost
These legs, that brought me to a part of it!
Oth.
How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot4 note?
Cas.
I pray you, pardon me, I cannot speak.
Oth.
Worthy Montano, you were wont be civil;
The gravity and stillness of your youth
The world hath noted, and your name is great
In mouths of wisest censure; What's the matter,
-- 330 --
That you unlace5 note
your reputation thus,
And spend your rich opinion6 note, for the name
Of a night-brawler? give me answer to it.
Mon.
Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger;
Your officer, Iago, can inform you—
While I spare speech, which something now offends me;—
Of all that I do know: nor know I aught
By me that's said or done amiss this night;
Unless self-charity7 note be sometime a vice;
And to defend ourselves it be a sin,
When violence assails us.
Oth.
Now, by heaven,
My blood begins my safer guides to rule;
And passion, having my best judgment collied8 note
,
-- 331 --
Assays to lead the way: If I once stir,
Or do but lift this arm, the best of you
Shall sink in my rebuke. Give me to know
How this foul rout began, who set it on;
And he that is approv'd in this offence9 note,
Though he had twinn'd with me, both at a birth,
Shall lose me.—What! in a town of war,
Yet wild, the people's hearts brimful of fear,
To manage private and domestick quarrel,
In night, and on the court of guard and safety1 note
!
-- 332 --
'Tis monstrous2 note
.—Iago, who began it?
Mon.
If partially affin'd3 note
, or leagu'd in office4 note,
Thou dost deliver more or less than truth,
Thou art no soldier.
Iago.
Touch me not so near:
-- 333 --
I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth5 note,
Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio;
Yet, I persuade myself, to speak the truth
Shall nothing wrong him.—Thus it is, general.
Montano and myself being in speech,
There comes a fellow, crying out for help;
And Cassio following him6 note with determin'd sword,
To execute upon him: Sir, this gentleman
Steps in to Cassio, and entreats his pause;
Myself the crying fellow did pursue,
Lest, by his clamour, (as it so fell out,)
The town might fall in fright: he, swift of foot,
Outran my purpose; and I return'd the rather
For that I heard the clink and fall of swords,
And Cassio high in oath; which, till to-night,
I ne'er might say before: When I came back,
(For this was brief,) I found them close together,
At blow, and thrust; even as again they were,
When you yourself did part them.
More of this matter can I not report:—
But men are men; the best sometimes forget:—
Though Cassio did some little wrong to him,—
As men in rage strike those that wish them best,—
Yet, surely, Cassio, I believe, received,
From him that fled, some strange indignity,
Which patience could not pass.
Oth.
I know, Iago,
Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter,
Making it light to Cassio:—Cassio, I love thee;
But never more be officer of mine.—
-- 334 --
Enter Desdemona, attended.
Look, if my gentle love be not rais'd up;—
I'll make thee an example.
Des.
What's the matter, dear?
Oth.
All's well now, sweeting7 note
; Come away to bed.
Sir, for your hurts,
Myself will be your surgeon: Lead him off8 note.
[To Montano, who is led off.
Iago, look with care about the town;
And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted.—
Come, Desdemona; 'tis the soldiers' life,
To have their balmy slumbers wak'd with strife.
[Exeunt all but Iago and Cassio.
Iago.
What, are you hurt, lieutenant?
Cas.
Ay, past all surgery.
Iago.
Marry, heaven forbid!
Cas.
Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I
have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal
part, sir, of myself, and what remains is bestial.—
My reputation, Iago, my reputation.
Iago.
As I am an honest man, I thought you had
received some bodily wound; there is more offence
in that, than in reputation9 note. Reputation is an idle
-- 335 --
and most false imposition; oft got without merit,
and lost without deserving: You have lost no reputation
at all, unless you repute yourself such a
loser. What, man! there are ways to recover the
general again: You are but now cast in his mood1 note,
a punishment more in policy than in malice; even
so as one would beat his offenceless dog, to affright
an imperious lion: sue to him again, and he's
yours.
Cas.
I will rather sue to be despised, than to deceive
so good a commander, with so slight2 note, so
drunken, and so indiscreet an officer. Drunk? and
speak parrot3 note
? and squabble? swagger? swear?
and discourse fustian with one's own shadow?—O
thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name
to be known by, let us call thee—devil!
Iago.
What was he that you followed with your
sword? What had he done to you?
Cas.
I know not.
Iago.
Is it possible?
Cas.
I remember a mass of things, but nothing
distinctly; a quarrel, but nothing wherefore.—O,
that men should put an enemy in their mouths, to
steal away their brains! that we should, with joy,
-- 336 --
revel, pleasure, and applause, transform ourselves
into beasts!
Iago.
Why, but you are now well enough: How
came you thus recovered?
Cas.
It hath pleased the devil, drunkenness, to
give place to the devil, wrath: one unperfectness
shows me another, to make me frankly despise myself.
Iago.
Come, you are too severe a moraler: As
the time, the place, and the condition of this country
stands, I could heartily wish this had not befallen;
but, since it is as it is, mend it for your own
good.
Cas.
I will ask him for my place again; he shall
tell me, I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths
as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all.
To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and
presently a beast! O strange!—Every inordinate
cup is unblessed, and the ingredient is a devil.
Iago.
Come, come, good wine is a good familiar
creature, if it be well used; exclaim no more
against it. And, good lieutenant, I think, you think
I love you.
Cas.
I have well approved it, sir.—I drunk!
Iago.
You, or any man living, may be drunk
at some time, man. I'll tell you what you shall do.
Our general's wife is now the general;—I may say
so in this respect, for that he hath devoted and
given up himself to the contemplation, mark, and
denotement of her parts and graces4 note
:—confess
-- 337 --
yourself freely to her; importune her; she'll help
to put you in your place again: she is of so free,
so kind, so apt, so blessed a disposition, that she
holds it a vice in her goodness, not to do more than
she is requested: This broken joint5 note, between you
and her husband, entreat her to splinter; and, my
fortunes against any lay6 note
worth naming, this crack
of your love shall grow stronger than it was before.
Cas.
You advise me well.
Iago.
I protest, in the sincerity of love, and honest
kindness.
Cas.
I think it freely; and, betimes in the morning,
I will beseech the virtuous Desdemona to
undertake for me: I am desperate of my fortunes,
if they check me here.
Iago.
You are in the right. Good night, lieutenant;
I must to the watch.
Cas.
Good night, honest Iago.
[Exit Cassio.
Iago.
And what's he then, that says,—I play the villain?
When this advice is free7 note
I give, and honest,
Probal8 note to thinking, and (indeed) the course
-- 338 --
To win the Moor again? For 'tis most easy
The inclining Desdemona9 note to subdue
In any honest suit; she's fram'd as fruitful1 note
As the free elements2 note
. And then for her
To win the Moor,—were't to renounce his baptism,
All seals and symbols of redeemed sin,—
His soul is so enfetter'd to her love,
That she may make, unmake, do what she list,
Even as her appetite shall play the god
With his weak function. How am I then a villain,
To counsel Cassio to this parallel course3 note
,
Directly to his good? Divinity of hell!
When devils will their blackest sins put on,
They do suggest4 note
at first with heavenly shows,
As I do now: For while this honest fool
Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes,
And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor,
-- 339 --
I'll pour this pestilence5 note into his ear,—
That she repeals him6 note
for her body's lust;
And, by how much she strives to do him good,
She shall undo her credit with the Moor.
So will I turn her virtue into pitch:
And out of her own goodness make the net,
That shall enmesh them all7 note
.—How now, Roderigo?
Enter Roderigo.
Rod.
I do follow here in the chace, not like a
hound that hunts, but one that fills up the cry.
My money is almost spent; I have been to-night
exceedingly well cudgelled; and, I think, the issue
will be—I shall have so much experience for my
pains: and so, with no money at all, and a little
more wit8 note, return to Venice.
Iago.
How poor are they, that have not patience!—
What wound did ever heal, but by degrees?
Thou know'st, we work by wit, and not by witchcraft;
And wit depends on dilatory time.
Does't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee,
And thou, by that small hurt, hast cashier'd Cassio:
Though other things grow fair against the sun,
Yet fruits, that blossom first, will first be ripe9 note
:
-- 340 --
Content thyself a while.—By the mass, 'tis morning1 note;
Pleasure, and action, make the hours seem short.—
Retire thee; go where thou art billeted:
Away, I say; thou shalt know more hereafter:
Nay, get thee gone. [Exit Rod.] Two things are to be done,—
My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress;
I'll set her on;
Myself, the while, to draw2 note
the Moor apart,
And bring him jump when3 note
he may Cassio find
-- 341 --
Soliciting his wife:—Ay, that's the way;
Dull not device by coldness and delay.
[Exit.
James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
