Great Jove, Othello guard,

And swell his sail with thine own pow'rful breath,

That he may bless this bay with his tall ship,

Make love's quick pants in Desdemona's arms,

Give renew'd fire to our extincted spirits,

[And bring all Cyprus comfort!]

 

Enter Desdemona, Iago, Roderigo, and Emilia, [with Attendants].

 

O, behold,

The riches of the ship is come on shore!

You men of Cyprus, let her have your knees.

Hail to thee, lady! and the grace of heaven,

Before, behind thee, and on every hand,

Enwheel thee round!

DES.

I thank you, valiant Cassio.

What tidings can you tell [me] of my lord?

CAS.

He is not yet arriv'd, nor know I aught

But that he's well and will be shortly here.

DES.

O, but I fear – How lost you company?

CAS.

The great contention of [the] sea and skies

Parted our fellowship.

 

Within,

 

»A sail, a sail!«

 

[A shot.]

But hark! a sail.

 

[2.] GENT.

They give [their] greeting to the citadel.

This likewise is a friend.

CAS.

See for the news.

 

[Exit Second Gentleman.]

 

Good ancient, you are welcome.

 

[To Emilia.]

 

Welcome, mistress.

Let it not gall your patience, good Iago,

That I extend my manners; 'tis my breeding

That gives me this bold show of courtesy.

 

[Kissing her.]

 

IAGO.

Sir, would she give you so much of her lips

As of her tongue she oft bestows on me,

You would have enough.

DES.

Alas! she has no speech.

IAGO.

In faith, too much;

I find it still, when I have [list] to sleep.

Marry, before your ladyship, I grant,

She puts her tongue a little in her heart,

And chides with thinking.

EMIL.

You have little cause to say so.

IAGO.

Come on, come on; you are pictures out [a' doors],

Bells in your parlors, wild-cats in your kitchens,

Saints in your injuries, devils being offended,

Players in your huswifery, and huswives in your beds.

DES.

O, fie upon thee, slanderer!

IAGO.

Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk:

You rise to play, and go to bed to work.

EMIL.

You shall not write my praise.

IAGO.

No, let me not.

DES.

What wouldst write of me, if thou shouldst praise me?

IAGO.

O gentle lady, do not put me to't,

For I am nothing if not critical.

DES.

Come on, assay. – There's one gone to the harbor?

IAGO.

Ay, madam.

DES.

I am not merry; but I do beguile

The thing I am by seeming otherwise. –

Come, how wouldst thou praise me?

IAGO.

I am about it, but indeed my invention

Comes from my pate as birdlime does from frieze,

It plucks out brains and all. But my Muse labors,

And thus she is deliver'd:

If she be fair and wise, fairness and wit,

The one's for use, the other useth it.

DES.

Well prais'd! How if she be black and witty?

IAGO.

If she be black, and thereto have a wit,

She'll find a white that shall her blackness [hit].

DES.

Worse and worse.

EMIL.

How if fair and foolish?

IAGO.

She never yet was foolish that was fair,

For even her folly help'd her to an heir.

DES. These are old fond paradoxes to make fools laugh i' th' alehouse. What miserable praise hast thou for her that's foul and foolish?

IAGO.

There's none so foul and foolish thereunto,

But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do.

DES. O heavy ignorance! thou praisest the worst best. But what praise couldst thou bestow on a deserving woman indeed – one that in the authority of her merit, did justly put on the vouch of very malice itself?

IAGO.

She that was ever fair, and never proud,

Had tongue at will, and yet was never loud,

Never lack'd gold, and yet went never gay,

Fled from her wish, and yet said, »Now I may«;

She that being ang'red, her revenge being nigh,

Bade her wrong stay, and her displeasure fly;

She that in wisdom never was so frail

To change the cod's head for the salmon's tail;

She that could think, and nev'r disclose her mind,

See suitors following, and not look behind:

She was a wight (if ever such [wight] were) –

DES.

To do what?

IAGO.

To suckle fools and chronicle small beer.

DES. O most lame and impotent conclusion! Do not learn of him, Emilia, though he be thy husband. How say you, Cassio? is he not a most profane and liberal counsellor?

CAS. He speaks home, madam. You may relish him more in the soldier than in the scholar.

IAGO [Aside.] He takes her by the palm; ay, well said, whisper. With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do; I will gyve thee in thine own courtship. You say true, 'tis so indeed. If such tricks as these strip you out of your lieutenantry, it had been better you had not kiss'd your three fingers so oft, which now again you are most apt to play the sir in. Very good; well kiss'd! [an] excellent [courtesy]! 'Tis so indeed. Yet again, your fingers to your lips? Would they were clyster-pipes for your sake! [Trumpets within.] – The Moor! I know his trumpet.

CAS.

'Tis truly so.

DES.

Let's meet him and receive him.

CAS.

Lo, where he comes!

 

Enter Othello and Attendants.

 

OTH.

O my fair warrior!

DES.

My dear Othello!

OTH.

It gives me wonder great as my content

To see you here before me. O my soul's joy!

If after every tempest come such calms,

May the winds blow till they have waken'd death!

And let the laboring bark climb hills of seas

Olympus-high, and duck again as low

As hell's from heaven! If it were now to die,

'Twere now to be most happy; for I fear

My soul hath her content so absolute

That not another comfort like to this

Succeeds in unknown fate.

DES.

The heavens forbid

But that our loves and comforts should increase

Even as our days do grow!

OTH.

Amen to that, sweet powers!

I cannot speak enough of this content,

It stops me here; it is too much of joy.

And this, and this, the greatest discords be

 

[They kiss.]

 

That e'er our hearts shall make!

IAGO [Aside.]

O, you are well tun'd now!

But I'll set down the pegs that make this music,

As honest as I am.

OTH.

Come; let us to the castle.

News, friends: our wars are done; the Turks are drown'd.

How does my old acquaintance of this isle?

Honey, you shall be well desir'd in Cyprus,

I have found great love amongst them. O my sweet,

I prattle out of fashion, and I dote

In mine own comforts. I prithee, good Iago,

Go to the bay and disembark my coffers.

Bring thou the master to the citadel;

He is a good one, and his worthiness

Does challenge much respect. Come, Desdemona,

Once more, well met at Cyprus.

 

Exeunt Othello and Desdemona [with all but Iago and Roderigo].

 

IAGO [To an Attendant, as he is going out.] Do thou meet me presently at the harbor. – Come [hither].