Friends all but now, even now,
     In quarter170 and in terms like bride and groom
     Devesting them171 for bed: and then, but now —
     As if some planet had unwitted men172 —
     Swords out, and tilting173 one at other’s breasts
     In opposition bloody. I cannot speak
     Any beginning to this peevish odds175,
     And would176 in action glorious I had lost
     Those legs that brought me to a part of it!

OTHELLO   How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot178?

CASSIO   I pray you pardon me: I cannot speak.

OTHELLO   Worthy Montano, you were wont180 to be civil:
     The gravity and stillness181 of your youth
     The world hath noted, and your name is great
     In mouths of wisest censure183. What’s the matter
     That you unlace184 your reputation thus
     And spend your rich opinion185 for the name
     Of a night-brawler? Give me answer to it.

MONTANO   Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger:
     Your officer, Iago, can inform you —
     While I spare speech, which something now offends189 me —
     Of all that I do know, nor know I aught190
     By me that’s said or done amiss this night,
     Unless self-charity be sometimes a vice,
     And to defend ourselves it be a sin
     When violence assails us.

OTHELLO   Now, by heaven,
     My blood196 begins my safer guides to rule,
     And passion — having my best judgement collied197 —
     Assays198 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 rout201 began, who set it on,
     And he that is approved202 in this offence,
     Though he had twinned with me, both at a birth203,
     Shall lose me. What, in a town of war204
     Yet wild205, the people’s hearts brim-full of fear,
     To manage206 private and domestic quarrel?
     In night, and on the court and guard of safety207?
     ’Tis monstrous208. Iago, who began’t?

MONTANO   If partially affined, or leagued in office209,

To Iago

     Thou dost deliver more or less than truth,
     Thou art no soldier.

IAGO   Touch212 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. This it is, general:
     Montano and myself being in speech,
     There comes a fellow crying out for help,
     And Cassio following him with determined sword219
     To execute upon him. Sir, this gentleman

Indicates Montano

     Steps in to Cassio and entreats his pause221:
     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 returned then rather225
     For that I heard the clink and fall of swords
     And Cassio high in oath227, which till tonight
     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 cannot I report.
     But men are men: the best sometimes forget233:
     Though Cassio did some little wrong to him234,
     As men in rage strike those that wish them best,
     Yet surely Cassio, I believe, received
     From him that fled some strange indignity237,
     Which patience could not pass238.

OTHELLO   I know, Iago,
     Thy honesty and love doth mince240 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 raised up.
     I’ll make thee an example.

DESDEMONA   What is the matter, dear?

OTHELLO   All’s well, sweeting246:

Come away to bed.— Sir, for your hurts,

To Montano

Myself will be your surgeon248.— Lead him off.

[Exeunt some with Montano]

     Iago, look with care about the town
     And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted250.—
     Come, Desdemona: ’tis the soldiers’ life
     To have their balmy252 slumbers waked with strife.

          Exeunt[all but Iago and Cassio]

IAGO   What, are you hurt, lieutenant?

CASSIO   Ay, past all surgery.

IAGO   Marry, heaven forbid!

CASSIO   Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost
     my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and
     what remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation!

IAGO   As I am an honest man, I had thought you had
     received some bodily wound; there is more sense260 in that
     than in reputation. Reputation is an idle261 and most false
     imposition262: 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 more ways to recover264
     the general again: you are but now cast in his mood265 — a
     punishment more in policy than in malice — even so as one
     would beat his offenceless dog to affright an imperious lion.
     Sue to268 him again and he’s yours.

CASSIO   I will rather sue to be despised than to deceive
     so good a commander with so slight270, so drunken and
     so indiscreet271 an officer. Drunk? And speak parrot? And
     squabble? Swagger? Swear? And discourse fustian272 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   What275 was he that you followed with your sword?
     What had he done to you?

CASSIO   I know not.

IAGO   Is’t possible?

CASSIO   I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly:
     a quarrel, but nothing wherefore280. O, that men should put an
     enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains! That we
     should, with joy, pleasance282, revel and applause transform
     ourselves into beasts!

IAGO   Why, but you are now well enough: how came you
     thus recovered?

CASSIO   It hath pleased the devil drunkenness to give place
     to the devil wrath: one unperfectness shows me another, to
     make me frankly288 despise myself.

IAGO   Come, you are too severe a moraler289. 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 it292 for your own good.

CASSIO   I will ask him for my place again: he shall tell me I
     am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra294, such an
     answer would stop295 them all. To be now a sensible man, by
     and by a fool, and presently a beast! O, strange! Every
     inordinate297 cup is unblessed, and the ingredient is a devil.

IAGO   Come, come, good wine is a good familiar298 creature,
     if it be well used: exclaim no more against it. And, good
     lieutenant, I think you think I love you.

CASSIO   I have well approved it301, sir. I drunk?

IAGO   You or any man living may be drunk at a time302,
     man. I tell you what you shall do. Our general’s wife is now
     the general: I may say so in this respect, for that304 he hath
     devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, 305
     and denotement of her parts306 and graces: confess yourself
     freely to her, importune307 her help to put you in your place
     again. She is of so free308, so kind, so apt, so blessed a
     disposition, 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 splinter311, and, my fortunes against
     any lay312 worth naming, this crack of your love shall grow
     stronger than it was before.

CASSIO   You advise me well.

IAGO   I protest315, in the sincerity of love and honest
      kindness.

CASSIO   I think it freely317, and betimes in the morning I will
     beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake318 for me: I am
     desperate of319 my fortunes if they check me.

IAGO  
     You are in the right. Goodnight, lieutenant: I must
     to the watch.

CASSIO   Goodnight, honest Iago.

Exit Cassio

IAGO   And what’s he then that says I play the villain?
     When this advice is free324 I give, and honest,
     Probal325 to thinking, and indeed the course
     To win the Moor again? For ’tis most easy
     Th’inclining327 Desdemona to subdue
     In any honest suit: she’s framed as fruitful328
     As the free elements. And then for her
     To win the Moor — were’t to renounce his baptism,
     All seals331 and symbols of redeemèd sin —
     His soul is so enfettered332 to her love
     That she may make, unmake, do what she list333,
     Even as her appetite334 shall play the god
     With his weak function335. How am I then a villain
     To counsel Cassio to this parallel336 course
     Directly to his good? Divinity337 of hell!
     When devils will the blackest sins put on338,
     They do suggest339 at first with heavenly shows,
     As I do now. For whiles this honest fool
     Plies341 Desdemona to repair his fortune,
     And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor,
     I’ll pour this pestilence343 into his ear,
     That she repeals him344 for her body’s lust,
     And by how much she strives to do him good,
     She shall undo her credit346 with the Moor.
     So will I turn her virtue into pitch347,
     And out of her own goodness make the net
     That shall enmesh them all.—

Enter Rodorigo

How now, Rodorigo?

RODORIGO   I do follow here in the chase350, not like a hound that
     hunts, but one that fills up the cry351. My money is almost
     spent; I have been tonight exceedingly well cudgelled352, and I
     think the issue353 will be I shall have so much experience for my
     pains, and so, wit354h no money at all and a little more wit,
     return again 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 dilatory359 time.
     Does’t not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee,
     And thou, by that small hurt, hath cashiered361 Cassio.
     Though other things grow fair against362 the sun,
     Yet fruits that blossom first will first be ripe363.
     Content thyself awhile. In troth364, ’tis morning;
     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 Rodorigo

     Two things are to be done:
     My wife must move370 for Cassio to her mistress:
     I’ll set her on:
     Myself the while372 to draw the Moor apart
     And bring him jump373 when he may Cassio find
     Soliciting his wife: ay, that’s the way.
     Dull not device375 by coldness and delay.

Exit

Act 3 Scene 1

running scene 7

Location: Cyprus (governor’s residence/citadel)

Enter Cassio, Musicians, Clown

CASSIO   Masters, play here: I will content your pains1:
     Something that’s brief, and bid ‘Good morrow,

Music

general.’

CLOWN   Why masters, have your instruments been in
     Naples4, that they speak i’th’nose thus?

MUSICIAN   How5, sir? How?

CLOWN   Are these, I pray you, wind instruments?

MUSICIAN   Ay, marry, are they, sir.

CLOWN   O, thereby hangs a tail8.

MUSICIAN   Whereby hangs a tale, sir?

CLOWN   Marry, sir, by many a wind instrument10 that I know.
     But, masters, here’s money for you: and the

Gives money

     general so likes your music that he desires you, for love’s12
     sake, to make no more noise13 with it.

MUSICIAN   Well, sir, we will not.

CLOWN   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.

MUSICIAN   We have none such, sir.

CLOWN   Then put up19 your pipes in your bag, for I’ll away: go,
     vanish into air, away!

Exeunt Musicians

CASSIO   Dost thou hear me, mine honest friend?

CLOWN   No, I hear not your honest friend: I hear you.

CASSIO   Prithee keep up thy quillets23.