Pish! But, sir, be you
     ruled by me: I have brought you from Venice. Watch you272
     tonight: for the command, I’ll lay’t upon you273. 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 275
     discipline, or from what other course you please, which the
     time shall more favourably minister277.

RODORIGO   Well.

IAGO   Sir, he’s rash and very sudden in choler279, and haply
     may strike at you: provoke him that he may, for even out
     of that will I cause these281 of Cyprus to mutiny, whose
     qualification shall come into no true taste again but by the
     displanting283 of Cassio. So shall you have a shorter journey to
     your desires by the means I shall then have to prefer284 them,
     and the impediment most profitably removed, without the
     which there were no expectation of our prosperity286.

RODORIGO   I will do this, if you can bring it to any opportunity287.

IAGO   I warrant288 thee. Meet me by and by at the citadel: I
     must fetch his289 necessaries ashore. Farewell.

RODORIGO   Adieu.

Exit

IAGO   That Cassio loves her, I do well believe’t:
     That she loves him, ’tis apt292 and of great credit.
     The Moor — howbeit that I endure him not293 —
     Is of a constant, loving, noble nature,
     And I dare think he’ll prove to Desdemona
     A most dear296 husband. Now, I do love her too,
     Not out of absolute lust — though peradventure297
     I stand accountant298 for as great a sin —
     But partly led to diet299 my revenge,
     For that300 I do suspect the lusty Moor
     Hath leaped into301 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 Venice308, whom I trace
     For309 his quick hunting, stand the putting on,
     I’ll have our Michael Cassio on the hip310,
     Abuse him to the Moor in the right garb311 —
     For I fear Cassio with my night-cap312 too —
     Make the Moor thank me, love me and reward me
     For making him egregiously314 an ass
     And practising upon315 his peace and quiet
     Even to madness. ’Tis here316, but yet confused:
     Knavery’s plain face is never seen till used.

Exit

Act 2 Scene 2

running scene 5

Location: Cyprus

Enter Othello’s Herald with a proclamation

HERALD   It is Othello’s pleasure, our noble and valiant
     general, that upon certain tidings now arrived, importing
     the mere perdition3 of the Turkish fleet, every man put
     himself into triumph4: some to dance, some to make bonfires,
     each man to what sport and revels his addition5 leads him, for
     besides these beneficial news, it is the celebration of his
     nuptial. So much was his pleasure should be proclaimed. All
     offices8 are open, and there is full liberty of feasting from this
     present hour of five till the bell have told9 eleven. Bless the isle
     of Cyprus and our noble general Othello!

Exit

[Act 2 Scene 3]

running scene 6

Location: Cyprus (the citadel)

Enter Othello, Desdemona, Cassio and Attendants

OTHELLO   Good Michael, look you to the guard tonight:
     Let’s teach ourselves that honourable stop2
     Not to outsport discretion3.

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

OTHELLO   Iago is most honest.
     Michael, goodnight: tomorrow with your earliest8
     Let me have speech with you.—
          Come, my dear love,

To Desdemona

     The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue10:
     That profit’s yet to come ’tween me and you.—
     Goodnight.

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 cast15 us thus early for the love of his Desdemona,
     who let us not therefore blame: he hath not yet made
     wanton17 the night with her, and she is sport for Jove.

CASSIO   She’s a most exquisite18 lady.

IAGO   And, I’ll warrant her, full of game19.

CASSIO   Indeed, she’s a most fresh and delicate20 creature.

IAGO   What an eye she has! Methinks it sounds a parley21 to
     provocation.

CASSIO   An inviting eye, and yet methinks right modest.

IAGO   And when she speaks, is it not an alarum23 to love?

CASSIO   She is indeed perfection.

IAGO   Well, happiness to their sheets! Come, lieutenant, I
     have a stoup26 of wine, and here without are a brace of Cyprus
     gallants27 that would fain have a measure to the health of
     black Othello.

CASSIO   Not tonight, good Iago: I have very poor and
     unhappy30 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 have drunk but one cup tonight, and that was
     craftily qualified34 too, and behold what innovation it makes
     here: I am infortunate35 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 me40.

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 offence43
     As my young mistress’ dog44. Now, my sick fool Rodorigo,
     Whom love hath turned almost the wrong side out,
     To Desdemona hath tonight caroused46
     Potations pottle-deep47; and he’s to watch:
     Three else of Cyprus, noble swelling48 spirits —
     That hold their honours in a wary distance49,
     The very elements50 of this warlike isle —
     Have I tonight flustered51 with flowing cups,
     And they watch52 too. Now, ’mongst this flock of drunkards
     Am I to put our Cassio in some action53
     That may offend the isle.— But here they come:

Enter Cassio, Montano and Gentlemen

Servants following with wine

     If consequence do but approve55 my dream,
     My boat sails freely, both with wind and stream56.

CASSIO   ’Fore heaven, they have given me a rouse57 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 cannikin60 clink, clink,

     And let me the cannikin clink.
     A soldier’s a man,
     O, man’s life’s but a span63:

Why, then, let a soldier drink.
     Some wine, boys!

CASSIO   ’Fore heaven, an excellent song.

IAGO   I learned it in England, where indeed they are most potent 67
     in potting: your Dane, your German, and
     your swag-bellied68 Hollander— Drink, ho!— are nothing to your
     English.

CASSIO   Is your Englishman so exquisite in his drinking?

IAGO   Why, he drinks72
      you with facility, your Dane dead drunk: he sweats not to overthrow your Almain73: he gives
     your Hollander a vomit ere the next pottle74 can be filled.

CASSIO   To the health of our general!

MONTANO   I am for it, lieutenant, and I’ll do you justice76.

IAGO   O sweet England!

Sings

King Stephen78 was and-a worthy peer,

His breeches cost him but a crown79:

He held80 them sixpence all too dear,

With that he called the tailor lown81.

He was a wight of high renown,

And thou art but of low degree:

’Tis pride that pulls the country down:
     Then take thy auld85 cloak about thee.
     Some wine, ho!

CASSIO   Why, 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, heav’n’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 quality94 — 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 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. 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’platform106, masters. Come, let’s set the watch.

Starts to leave

[Exeunt Gentlemen?]

IAGO   You see this fellow that is gone before:

To Montano

     He’s a soldier fit to stand by Caesar
     And give direction. And do but see his vice:
     ’Tis to his virtue a just equinox110,
     The one as long as th’other. ’Tis pity of111 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 set117,
     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 Rodorigo

IAGO   How now, Rodorigo?

Aside to Rodorigo

     I pray you, after the lieutenant, go.

[Exit Rodorigo]

MONTANO   And ’tis great pity that the noble Moor
     Should hazard such a place as his own second127
     With one of an ingraft128 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.—

Cry within

          But, hark! What noise?

Enter Cassio pursuing Rodorigo

CASSIO   You rogue! You rascal!

MONTANO   What’s the matter, lieutenant?

CASSIO   A knave136 teach me my duty?
     I’ll beat the knave into a twiggen bottle137.

RODORIGO   Beat me?

CASSIO   Dost thou prate, rogue?

Strikes Rodorigo

MONTANO   Nay, good lieutenant:

Stops him

     I pray you, sir, hold141 your hand.

CASSIO   Let me go, sir,
     Or I’ll knock you o’er the mazzard143.

MONTANO   Come, come, you’re drunk.

CASSIO   Drunk?

They fight

IAGO   Away, I say: go out and cry a

Aside to Rodorigo

     mutiny.—

[Exit Rodorigo]

     Nay, good lieutenant— Alas, gentlemen—
     Help, ho!— Lieutenant— Sir Montano— Sir—
     Help, masters149!— Here’s a goodly watch indeed!

Bell rings

     Who’s that which rings the bell150?— Diablo, ho!
     The town will rise151. Fie, fie, lieutenant!
     You’ll be ashamed152 for ever.

Enter Othello and Attendants

With weapons

OTHELLO   What is the matter here?

MONTANO   I bleed still: I am hurt to th’death. He dies!

Attacks Cassio?

OTHELLO   Hold, for your lives!

IAGO   Hold, ho! Lieutenant— Sir Montano— Gentlemen,
     Have you forgot all sense of place157 and duty?
     Hold! The general speaks to you. Hold, for shame!

OTHELLO   Why, how now, ho! From whence ariseth this?
     Are we turned Turks160, and to ourselves do that
     Which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites?
     For Christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl!
     He that stirs next to carve163 for his own rage
     Holds his soul light164: he dies upon his motion.—
     Silence that dreadful165 bell: it frights the isle
     From her propriety166.— What is the matter, masters?
     Honest Iago, that looks dead with grieving167,
     Speak: who began this? On thy love168, I charge thee.

IAGO   I do not know.