SCENE III.
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 your earliest,
Let me have speech with you.—Come, my dear love;
The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue;
[To Desd.
That profit's yet to come 'twixt me and you.—
Good night.
[Exeunt Othello, and Desdemona.
Enter Iago.
Cas.
Welcome, Iago: We must to the watch.
Iago.
Not this hour, lieutenant; 'tis not yet ten
o' clock: 5 note
Our general cast us thus early, for the
-- 499 --
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 provocation.
Cas.
An inviting eye; and yet, methinks, right
modest.
Iago.
And, when she speaks, is it not 6 notean alarum
to love7 note?
Cas.
She is, indeed, perfection.
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 8 notecraftily qualified 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,
-- 500 --
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 hath turn'd almost the wrong side outward,
To Desdemona hath to-night carouz'd
Potations pottle deep; and he's to watch:
Three lads of Cyprus9 note,—noble swelling spirits,
That hold their honours in a wary distance,
1 noteThe very elements 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:
2 note
If consequence do but approve my dream,
My boat sails freely, both with wind and stream.
Enter Cassio, Montano, and Gentlemen.
Cas.
'Fore heaven, they have 3 note
given me a rouse
already.
-- 501 --
Mont.
Good faith, a little one; not past a pint,
As I am a soldier.
Iago.
Some wine, ho!
[Iago sings.
And let me the canakin clink, clink;
And let me the canakin clink:
A soldier's a man;
A life's but a span4 note
;
Why then, let a soldier drink.
Some wine, boys!
Cas.
'Fore heaven, an excellent song.
Iago.
I learn'd 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.
Cas.
Is your Englishman 5 note
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 fill'd.
Cas.
To the health of our general.
Mon.
I am for it, lieutenant; and I'll do you
justice.
Iago.
O sweet England!
-- 502 --
6 note
King Stephen was a worthy peer7 note,
His breeches cost him but a crown;
He held them six-pence all too dear,
With that he call'd the taylor—8 notelown.
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;9Q1238 and there be souls that must be saved, and there
be souls must not be saved.
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 I do 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
-- 503 --
hand:—I am not drunk now; I can stand well
enough, and I speak well enough.
All.
Excellent well.
Cas.
Why, very well then: you must not think
then that I am drunk.
[Exit.
Mont.
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.
Mont.
But is he often thus?
Iago.
'Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep:
9 note
He'll watch the horologe a double set,
If drink rock not his cradle.
Mont.
It were well,
The general were put in mind of it.
Perhaps, he sees it not; or his good nature
-- 504 --
Prizes the virtue that appears in Cassio,
And looks not on his evils; Is not this true?
Enter Roderigo.
Iago.
How now, Roderigo?
I pray you, after the lieutenant; go.
[Exit Rod.
Mont.
And 'tis great pity, that the noble Moor
Should hazard such a place, as his own second,
With one of an 1 noteingraft infirmity:
It were an honest action, to say so
Unto 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!
Re-enter Cassio, driving in Roderigo.
Cas.
You rogue! you rascal!
Mont.
What's the matter, lieutenant?
Cas.
A knave!—teach me my duty!
I'll beat the knave 2 noteinto a twiggen bottle.
Rod.
Beat me!
Cas.
Dost thou prate, rogue?
Mont.
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.
Mont.
Come, come, you're drunk.
Cas.
Drunk?
[They fight.
Iago.
Away, I say! go out, and cry—a mutiny.
[Aside to Rod.
[Exit Roderigo.
-- 505 --
Nay, good lieutenant,—alas, gentlemen,—
Help, ho!—Lieutenant,—sir,—Montano,—sir;—
Help, masters! Here's a goodly watch, indeed!—
Who's that that rings the bell?—Diablo3 note, ho!
[Bell rings.
The town will rise: Fie, fie, lieutenant! hold;
You will be sham'd for ever.
Enter Othello, and Attendants.
Oth.
What is the matter here?
Mont.
I bleed still, 4 note
I am hurt to the death;—he dies.
Oth.
Hold, for your lives.
Iago.
Hold, hold, lieutenant,—sir,—Montano,—gentlemen,—
Have you forgot 5 note
all sense of place and duty?
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 rage,
Holds his soul light; he dies upon his motion.—
-- 506 --
Silence that dreadful bell, 6 note
it frights the isle
From her propriety.—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,
7 noteIn quarter and in terms like bride and groom
Divesting 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 forgot8 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,
9 noteThat you unlace your reputation thus,
And 1 notespend your rich opinion, 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,
-- 507 --
By me that's said or done amiss this night;
Unless 2 noteself-charity 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;
3 note
And passion, having my best judgment collied,
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 4 notehe that is approv'd in this offence,
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 brim-full of fear,
To manage private and domestic quarrel,
In night, and on the court and guard of safety! 9Q1240
'Tis monsterous.—Iago, who began't?
Mon.
If partially affin'd5 note
, or leagu'd in office,
-- 508 --
Thou dost deliver more or less than truth,
Thou art no soldier.
Iago.
Touch me not so near:
I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth,
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 him 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,
Out-ran 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, receiv'd,
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.—
Enter Desdemona, attended.
Look, if my gentle love be not rais'd up;—
-- 509 --
I'll make thee an example.
Des.
What is the matter, dear?
Oth.
All's well now sweeting: Come away to bed.
Sir, for your hurts, myself will be your surgeon:—
Lead him off.—
[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.
[Exit &c. Manent 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 had thought you
had receiv'd some bodily wound; there is more offence5 note
in that, than in reputation. Reputation is
an idle 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 6 notecast in his mood,
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 despis'd, than to deceive
so good a commander, with so slight, so drunken,
and so indiscreet an officer. Drunk? 7 note
and speak
-- 510 --
parrot? 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 follow'd 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,
revel, pleasure, and applause, transform ourselves
into beasts!
Iago.
Why, but you are now well enough; How
came you thus recover'd?
Cas.
It hath pleas'd the devil, drunkenness, to give
place to the devil, wrath: one unperfectness shews 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 unbless'd, 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
-- 511 --
it. And, good lieutenant, I think, you think I love
you.
Cas.
I have well approv'd it, sir.—I drunk!
Iago.
You, or any man living, may be drunk at
some time, man. I tell you what you shall do. Our
general's wife is now the general;—I may say so in
this respect, 8 note
for that he hath devoted and given up
himself to the contemplation, mark, and denotement,
of her parts and graces:—confess 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 joint, between you and her husband,
intreat her to splinter; and, my fortunes against any
lay 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.
-- 512 --
Cas.
Good night, honest Iago.
[Exit Cassio.
Iago.
And what's he then, that says—I play the villain?
When 9 notethis advice is free I give, and honest,
Probable to thinking1 note, and (indeed) the course
To win the Moor again? For 'tis most easy
The inclining Desdemona to subdue
In any honest suit; she's fram'd as fruitful
As the 2 notefree elements: 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 3 note
to this parallel course,
Directly to his good? Divinity of hell!
When devils will their blackest sins put on, 9Q1242
They do suggest at first with heavenly shews,
As I do now: For, while this honest fool
Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes,
And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor,
4 noteI'll pour this pestilence into his ear,—
5 noteThat she repeals him for her body's lust;
And, by how much she strives to do him good,
-- 513 --
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
6 noteThat shall enmesh them all.—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 cudgell'd; 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 wit7 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:
8 note
Though other things grow fair against the sun,
Yet fruits, that blossom first, will first be ripe:
Content thyself a while.—By the mass, 'tis morning;
-- 514 --
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 Roderigo.
Two things are to be done,—
My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress;
I'll set her on;
Myself, the while, will draw9 note the Moor apart,
And bring him jump when he may Cassio find
Soliciting his wife:—Ay, that's the way;
Dull not device by coldness and delay.
[Exit.
Samuel Johnson [1778], The plays of William Shakspeare. In ten volumes. With the corrections and illustrations of various commentators; to which are added notes by Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. The second edition, Revised and Augmented (Printed for C. Bathurst [and] W. Strahan [etc.], London) [word count] [S10901].
