Cas. That's an excellent song. Iago. I learned it in England, where (indeed) they are most potent in potting: your Dane, your German, and your Hollander,-Drink, ho!are nothing to your English. [ing? Cas. Is your Englishman so expert in his drinkIage. Why, he drinks you, with facility, your Dane dead drunk; and can overthrow both your Almain and your Hollander. Cas. To the health of our general. Mon. I am for it, lieutenant; and I'll do you Iago. O sweet England!

[justice.*

King Stephen was a worthy peer,†
His breeches cost him but a crown;
He held them sixpence all too dear,

With that he call'd 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 thine auld cloak about thee.

Some wine, ho!

[the other. Cas. Why, this is a more exquisite song than Fago. 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.

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.

But is he often thus?

Mon.
Iago. "Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep:
He'll watch the horologe a double set,?

If drink rock not his cradle.
Mon.

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. How now, Roderigo?

[Aside. I pray you, after the lieutenant; go. [Exit Ron. Mon. And 'tis great pity, that the noble Moor Should hazard such a place, as his own second,

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? the town will rise:
Lieutenant! hold; you will be sham'd for ever.
Enter OTHELLO, and Attendants.

Oth.
What is the matter here?
Mon. I bleed still, I am hurt to the death;-
he dies.

Oth. Hold, for your lives. [gentlemen,Iago. Hold, hold, lieutenant,-sir, Montano,Have you forgot all sense of place and duty? Hold, hold! the general speaks to you; hold,

for shame!

[this!

Oth. Why, how now, ho! from whence ariseth 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 for his own rage, Holds his soul light; he dies upon his motion.Silence that dreadful bell, 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. [even now,

Iago. I do not know;-friends all but now, In quarter, and in terms: and then, but now, (As it 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 forgot?

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, That you unlace your reputation thus, And spend 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, lago, 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-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; And passion, having my best judgment collied, Assays to lead the way: If once I stir, Or do but lift this armi, 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 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 brimful of fear, To manage private and domestic quarrel, In night, and on the court of guard and safety! 'Tis monstrous.-Iago, who began it?

Mon. If partially affin'd,‡ or leagu'd in office, Thou dost deliver more or less than truth, Thou art no soldier.

lago.

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,
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, 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 ;—
I'll make thee an example.

Des.

What's 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 MoN., who is led off.
Iago, look with care about the town;
And silence those whom this vile brawl dis-
tracted.-

Come, Desdemona; 'tis the soldier's life,
To have their balmy slumbers wak'd with strife.
[Exeunt all but IAGO and CAS.
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, lago, my reputation.

* Darkened. + Convicted by proof. Reiated by nearness of office.

Iago. As I am an honest man, I thought you had received some bodily wound; there is more offence 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 cast 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 despised, than to deceive so good a commander, with so slight, so drunken, and so indiscreet an officer. Drunk?

and speak 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 theedevil!

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, 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.

Tago. 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, inend 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.

lago. 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 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, entreat 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.

lago. 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

Iago. You are in the right. Good night, lieutenant; I must to the watch.

Cas. Good night, honest lago.

[Exit CAS. Iago. And what's he then, that says,--I play the villain?

When this advice is free, I give, and honest,
Probal to thinking, 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 free elements. And then for her [tism,
To win the Moor,-were 't to renounce his bap-
His soul is so enfetter'd to her love,

That she may make, unmake, do what she list, With his weak function. How am I then a villain,

To counsel Cassio to this parallel+ course,
Directly to his good? Divinity of hell!
When devils will their blackest sins put on,
They do suggest 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,
I'll pour this pestilence into his ear,-
That she repeals him for her love of him;
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, [rigo?
That shall enmesh them all.-How now, Rode-
Enter RODERIGO.

Rod. I do follow here in the chase, 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 wit, return to Venice. {tience!Iago. How poor are they that have not paWhat wound did ever heal, but by degrees? Thou know'st, we work by wit, and not by witchAnd wit depends on dilatory time. [craft; Does 't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee, And thou, by that small hurt, hast cashiered Cassio:

Though other things grow fair against the sun,
Yet fruits, that blossom first, will first be ripe :
Content thyself a while: 'tis almost morn;
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,-

general.

Enter Clown.

[ Music.

Clo. Masters, here's money for you: and the general so likes your music, that he desires you, of all loves, to make no more noise with it. 1 Mus. Well, sir, we will not.

Clo. If you have any music that may not be heard, to't again: but, as they say, to hear music, the general does not greatly care.

1 Mus. We have none such, sir.

Clo. Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll away: Go; vanish into air; away. [Exeunt Musicians. Cas. Dost thou hear, my honest friend? [you. Clo. No, I hear not your honest friend; l'hear Cas. Pr'ythee, keep up thy quillets. There's a poor piece of gold for thee: if the gentlewoman that attends the general's wife, be stirring, tell her, there's one Cassio entreats her a little favour of speech: Wilt thou do this?

Clo. She is stirring, sir; if she will stir hither, I shall seem to notify unto her. [Exit.

Enter IAGO.

Cas. Do, good my friend.-In happy time, Iago. You have not been a-bed then? [Iago. Cas. Why, no; the day had broke Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago, To send in to your wife: My suit to her Is, that she will to virtuous Desdemona Procure me some access.

Iago. I'll send her to you presently; And I'll devise a mean to draw the Moor Out of the way, that your converse and business May be more free. [Exit. Cas. I humbly thank you for 't. I never knew A Florentine more kind and honest.

Enter EMILIA.

Emil. Good morrow, good lieutenant: I am sorry

For your displeasure; but all will soon be well.
The general, and his wife, are talking of it;
And she speaks for you stoutly: The Moor re-
plies,

That he, you hurt, is of great fame in Cyprus, And great affinity; and that in wholesome wisdom,

He might not but refuse you: but he protests he loves you;

And needs no other suitor, but his likings,
To take the saf'st occasion by the front,
To bring you in again.

Cas.

Yet, I beseech you,-If you think fit, or that it may be done,Give me advantage of some brief discourse With Desdemona alone.

Emil.

Pray you, come in;
I will bestow you where you shall have time
To speak your bosom freely.
Cas.

I am much bound to you.
[Exeunt.

SCENE II-A Room in the Castle.
Enter OTHELLO, IAGO, and Gentlemen.
Oth. These letters give, Iago, to the pilot;
And, by him, do my duties to the state:
That done, I will be walking on the works,
Repair there to me.
Iago.

Well, my good lord, I'll do 't. Oth. This fortification, gentlemen,-shall we see 't?

Gent. We'll wait upon your lordship.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.-Before the Castle. Enter DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and EMILIA. Des. Be thou assur'd, good Cassio, I will do All my abilities in thy behalf. [my husband, Emil. Good madain, do; I know it grieves As if the case were his.

Des. O, that's an honest fellow. -Do not doubt, Cassio,

But I will have my lord and

As friendly as you were.
Cas.

you again

Bounteous madam,
Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,
He's never any thing but your true servant.
Des. O, sir, I thank you: You do love my lord:
You have known him long; and be you well
'assur'd,

He shall in strangeness stand no further off
Than in a politic distance.

Cas.
Ay, but, lady,
That policy may either last so long,
Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet,
Or breed itself so out of circumstance,
That, I being absent, and my place supplied,
My general will forget my love and service.

Des. Do not doubt that; before Emilia here,
I give thee warrant of thy place: assure thee,
If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it
To the last article: my lord shall never rest;
I'll watch him tame, and talk him out of patience;
His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;
I'll intermingle every thing he does

With Cassio's suit: Therefore be merry, Cassio;
For thy solicitor shall rather die,
Than give thy cause away.

Enter OTHELLO and IAGO, at a distance.
Emil.
Madam, here comes
Madam, I'll take my leave.

My lord.

Cas.

Des.

And hear me speak.

Why, stay,

Cas. Madam, not now; I am very ill at ease, Unfit for mine own purposes.

Des.

Do your discretion.

Jago.

Well, well,

[Exit CAS.

Ha! I like not that.

Oth. What dost thou say?

Iago. Nothing, my lord: or if I know not

what.

Oth. Was not that Cassio, parted from my wife?

Iago. Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it,

That he would steal away so guilty-like,
Seeing you coming.

Oth.

I do believe 'twas he. Des. How now, my lord?

I have been talking with a suitor here,
A man that languishes in your displeasure.
Oth. Who is 't you mean?

[lord,

Des. Why, your lieutenant Cassio. Good my
If I have any grace or power to move you,
His present reconciliation take;

For, if he be not one that truly loves you,
That errs in ignorance, and not in cunning,
I have no judgment in an honest face:
I pr'ythee, call him back.

Oth.

Went he hence now?

Des. Ay, sooth; so humbled,

That he hath left part of his grief with me;
I suffer with him, Good love, call him back.

Hawks are tamed by keeping them from sleep. + Best men. Weight.

+ Hesitating.

I pray thee, name the time; but let it not
Exceed three days: in faith, he's penitent;
And yet his trespass, in our common reason,
(Save that, they say, the wars must make ex-
amples

Out of their best,)+ is not almost a fault
To incur a private check: When shall he come?
Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul,
What you could ask me, that I should deny,
Or stand so mammering on. What! Michael
Cassio,

That came a wooing with you; and many a time,
When I have spoke of you dispraisingly,
Hath ta'en your part; to have so much to do
To bring him in! Trust me, I could do much,-
Oth. Pr'ythee, no more: let him come when
I will deny thee nothing.
[he will;
Des.
Why, this is not a boon
'Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves,
Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm;
Or sue to you to do peculiar profit

To your own person: Nay, when I have a suit,
Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed,
It shall be full of poize and difficulty,
And fearful to be granted.

Oth.
I will deny thee nothing:
Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this,
To leave me but a little to myself.
Des. Shall I deny you? no: Farewell, my lord.
Oth. Farewell, my Desdemona: I will come to
thee straight.
[you;
Des. Emilia, come :-Be it as your fancies teach
Whate'er you be, I am obedient.

[Exit, with EMIL. Oth. Excellent wench! Perdition catch my soul,

But I do love thee! and when I love thee no*
Chaos is come again.

Iago. My noble lord,-
Oth.

I dare be sworn, I think that he is honest.
Oth. I think so too.

Iago. Men should be what they seem; [none!
Or, those that be not, 'would they might seem
Oth. Certain, men should be what they seem.
Iago.
Why then,

I think Cassio's an honest man.

Oth. Nay, yet there's more in this : I pray thee, speak to me as to thy thinkings, As thou dost ruminate; and give thy worst of The worst of words. [thoughts Iago. Good my lord, pardon me; Though I am bound to every act of duty, I am not bound to that all slaves are free to. Utter my thoughts? Why, say, they are vile and false,

As where's that palace, whereinto foul things
Sometimes intrude not? who has a breast so pure,
But some uncleanly apprehensions

Keep leets, and law-days, and in session sit
With meditations lawful?

Oth. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago,
If thou but think'st him wrong'd, and mak'st his
A stranger to thy thoughts.
[ear
Iago.
I do beseech you,-
Though I, perchance, am vicious in my guess,
As, I confess, it is my nature's plague
To spy into abuses; and, oft, my jealousy
Shapes faults that are not,-I entreat you then,
From one that so imperfectly conjects,+
You'd take no notice; nor build yourself a trouble
Out of his scattering and unsure observance :-
It were not for your quiet, nor your good,
Nor for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom,
To let you know my thoughts.

What dost thou mean?

[lord,

Oth. Iago. Good name, in man and woman, dear my Is the immediate jewel of their souls: Who steals my purse, steals trash; 'tis something, nothing; [sands; 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thouBut he that filches fom me my good name, Robs me of that, which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed.

Oth. By heaven, I'll know thy thought. Iago. You cannot, if my heart were in your Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody. [hand; Oth. Ha! lago.

O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-ey'd monster, which doth make

The meat it feeds on: That cuckold lives in bliss,
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;
But, O, what dreadful minutes tells he o'er,
Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly
Oth. O misery!
[loves!
Iago. Poor, and content, is rich, and rich enough;
But riches, fineless, is as poor as winter,
To him that ever fears he shall be poor :-
Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend
From jealousy!

Oth.
Why! why is this?
Think'st thou, I'd make a life of jealousy,
To follow still the changes of the moon
With fresh suspicions? No: to be once in doubt,
Is-once to be resolv'd: Exchange me for a goat,
When I shall turn the business of my soul
To such exsufficate and blown surmises,
Matching thy inference. "Tis not to make me
jealous,

To say-my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company,
Is free of speech, sings, plays, and dances well;
Where virtue is, these are more virtuous:
Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw
The smallest fear, or doubt of her revolt;
For she had eyes, and chose me: No, lago;
I'll see, before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
And, on the proof, there is no more but this,-
Away at once with love, or jealousy. [reason

Iago. I am glad of this; for now I shall have
To show the love and duty that I bear you
With franker spirit: therefore, as I am bound,
Receive it from me :-I speak not yet of proof.
Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio;
Wear your eye-thus, not jealous, nor secure :
I would not have your free and noble nature,
Out of self-bounty, be abus'd; look to 't:
I know our country disposition well;
In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks
They dare not show their husbands; their best
conscience

Is-not to leave undone, but keep unknown.
Oth. Dost thou say so?

Oth. Iago.

Iago. She did deceive her father, marrying you;
And, when she seem'd to shake, and fear your
She lov'd them most.
[looks,
And so she did.
Why, go to, then;
She that, so young, could give out such a seeming,
To seal her father's eyes up, close as oak,—
He thought 'twas witchcraft :--But I am much
to blame;

I humbly do beseech you of your pardon,
For too much loving you.

Oth.

I am bound to thee for ever. Iago. I see this hath a little dash'd your spirits. Oth. Not a jot, not a jot.

Iago.

Trust me, I fear it has.
I hope you will consider what is spoke
Comes from my love;-But, I do see you are
mov'd:-

I am to pray you, not to strain my speech
To grosser issues,|| nor to larger reach,
Than to suspicion.

Oth. I will not. Iago.

Should you do so, my lord, My speech should fall into such vile success As my thoughts aim not at. Cassio's my worthy friend :

My lord, I see you are mov'd.

Oth.

No, not much mov'd:I do not think but Desdemona's honest. Iago. Long live she so! and long live you to think so!

Oth. And yet, how nature erring from itself,Iago. Ay, there's the point :-As,-to be bold

with you,