ACT II. SCENE I. A Sea-port in Cyprus. An open place near the quay. Enter MONTANO and two Gentlemen. Mon. What from the cape can you discern at sea? First Gent. Nothing at all: it is a high-wrought flood; I cannot, 'twixt the heaven and the main, Descry a sail. Mon. Methinks the wind hath spoke aloud at land; A fuller blast ne'er shook our battlements: If it hath ruffian'd so upon the sea, What ribs of oak, when mountains melt on them, For do but stand upon the foaming shore, The wind-shaked surge, with high and monstrous mane, And quench the guards of the ever-fix'd pole: I never did like molestation view On the enchafed flood. Mon. If that the Turkish fleet Be not enshelter'd and embay'd, they are drown'd; Enter a third Gentleman. Third Gent. News, lads! our wars are done. On most part of their fleet. Mon. How is this true? The ship is here put in, A Veronesa; Michael Cassio, Is come on shore: the Moor himself at sea, And is in full commission here for Cyprus. Mon. I am glad on't; 'tis a worthy governor. 10 20 30 Third Gent. But this same Cassio, though he speak of comfort Touching the Turkish loss, yet he looks sadly, And prays the Moor be safe; for they were parted With foul and violent tempest. Mon. Pray heavens he be; For I have served him, and the man commands Even till we make the main and the aerial blue Third Gent. Come, let's do so: For every minute is expectancy Of more arrivance. Enter CASSIO. Cas. Thanks, you the valiant of this warlike isle, That so approve the Moor! O, let the heavens Give him defence against the elements, For I have lost him on a dangerous sea. Mon. Is he well shipp'd? Cas. His bark is stoutly timber'd, and his pilot Of very expert and approved allowance; Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death, Stand in bold cure. 40 50 [A cry within "A sail, a sail, a sail!” Enter a fourth Gentleman. Cas. What noise? Fourth Gent. The town is empty; on the brow o' the sea Stand ranks of people, and they cry "A sail!" Cas. My hopes do shape him for the governor. [Guns heard Sec. Gent. They do discharge their shot of courtesy: Our friends at least. Cas. I pray you, sir, go forth, Sec. Gent. I shall. Mon. But, good lieutenant, is your general wived? That paragons description and wild fame; Does tire the ingener. Re-enter second Gentleman. How now! who has put in? Sec. Gent. 'Tis one lago, ancient to the general. - [Exit. 60 As having sense of beauty, do omit Their mortal natures, letting go safely by Cas. She that I spake of, our great captain's captain, Left in the conduct of the bold lago, Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts And bring all Cyprus comfort! 79 Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA, IAGO, RODERIGO, and Atten dants. O, behold, The riches of the ship is come on shore! Des. Des. O, but I fear-How lost you company? 90 [Within "A sail, a sail!" Guns heard Sec. Gent. They give their greeting to the citadel: This likewise is a friend. Cas. See for the news. [Exit 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. 100 [Kissing her. Iago. Sir, would she give you so much of her lips As of her tongue she oft bestows on me, You'ld have enough. Des. Alas, she has no speech. lago. In faith, too much; I find it still, when I have list to sleep: She puts her tongue a little in her heart, Emil. You have little cause to say so. 111 Iago. Come on, come on; you are pictures out of doors, Bells in your parlours, wild-cats in your kitchens, Saints in your injuries, devils being offended, Players in your housewifery, and housewives 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 thou 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. 120 Des. Come on, assay. There's one gone to the harbour? 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 frize; It plucks out brains and all: but my Muse labours, If she be fair and wise, fairness and wit, The one's for use, the other useth it. Des. Well praised! How if she be black and witty? She'll find a white that shall her blackness fit. Des. Worse and worse. Emil. How if fair and for ish? Iago. She never yet was foolish that was fair; For even her folly helped her to an heir. 130 Des. These are old fond paradoxes to make fools laugh i' the alehouse. What miserable praise hast thou for her that's foul and foolish? Lago. There's none so foul and foolish thereunto, But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do. 141 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? lago. 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," 150 She that being anger'd, her revenge being nigh, To change the cod's head for the salmon's tail, She that could think and ne'er disclose her mind, 160 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 kissed your three fingers so oft, which now again you are most apt to play the sir in. Very good; well kissed! an excellent courtesy! 'tis so, indeed. Yet again your fingers to your lips? would they were clyster-pipes for your sake! [Trumpet 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 May the winds blow till they have waken'd death! As hell's from heaven! If it were now to die, That not another comfort like to this Succeeds in unknown fate. Des. The heavens forbid But that our loves and comforts should increase, 180 190 |