Rod. Yes, that I did; but that was but courtesy. Lugo. Lechery, by this hand; an index and obscure prologue to the history of lust and foul thoughts. They met so near with their lips that their breaths embraced each other. Villanous thoughts, Roderigo! When these mutualities so marshal the way, hard at hand comes the master and main exercise, the incorporate conclusion. Pish!-But, sir, be you ruled by me: I have brought you from Venice. Watch you to-night; for the command, I'll lay 't upon you. 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 discipline, or from what other course you please which the time shall more favourably minister. Rod. Well.

Iago. Sir, he is rash and very sudden in choler; and haply with his truncheon may strike at you. Provoke him that he may for even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny; whose qualification shall come into no true taste again but by the displanting of Cassio. So shall you have a shorter journey to your desires, by the means I shall then have to prefer them; and the impediment most profitably removed, without the which there were no expectation of our prosperity.

Rod. I will do this, if I can bring it to any opportunity.

lago. I warrant thee. Meet me by-and-by at the citadel. I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewell.

Iago. That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it; That she loves him, 't is apt and of great credit: The Moor, howbeit that I endure him not, Is of a constant, loving, noble nature, And I dare think he 'll prove to Desdemona A most dear husband. Now I do love her too; Not out of absolute lust (though peradventure I stand accountant for as great a sin), But partly led to diet my revenge, For that I do suspect the lusty Moor Hath leaped into my seat: the thought whereof Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards; And nothing can or shall content my soul Till I am even with him, wife for wife: Or, failing so, yet that I put the Moor At least into a jealousy so strong That judgment cannot cure. Which thing to do,If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trash For his quick hunting, stand the putting on, I'll have our Michael Cassio on the hip; Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb,For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too: Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me,

For making him egregiously an ass,
And practising upon his peace and quiet
Even to madness.-"T is here, but yet confused:
Knavery's plain face is never seen till used. [Exit.

SCENE II-A Street.

Enter a Herald, with a proclamation: People following.

Her. It is Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant general, that, upon certain tidings now arrived, importing the mere perdition of the Turkish fleet, every man put himself into triumph: some to dance, some to make bonfires, each man to what sport and revels his addiction leads him for, besides these beneficial news, it is the celebration of his nuptials. So much was his pleasure should be proclaimed.—All offices are open, and there is full liberty of feasting from this present hour of five till the bell hath told eleven.-Heaven bless the Isle of Cyprus, and our noble general, Othello! [Exeunt.

SCENE III-A Hall in the Castle.
Enter OTHELLO, DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and
Attendants.

Oth. Good Michael, look you to the guard tonight:

Let's teach ourselves that honourable stop,
Not to outsport discretion.

Cas. Iago hath direction what to do:
But, notwithstanding, with my personal eye
Will I look to 't.

Oth. Iago is most honest.

Michael, good night: to-morrow with your earliest, Let me have speech with you.-Come, my dear love: The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue;

[TO DESDEMONA.

That profit's yet to come 'twixt me and you.-
Good night.
[Exeunt OTHELLO, DESDEMONA, and Attendants.
Enter IAGO.

Cas. Welcome, Iago. We must to the watch. Iago. Not this hour, lieutenant: 't is not yet ten o'clock. Our general cast us thus early, for the love of his Desdemona; whom let us not therefore blame: he hath not yet made wanton the night with her; and she is sport for Jove. Cas. She's a most exquisite lady. Iago. And, I'll warrant her, full of game. Cas. Indeed she is a most fresh and delicate creature.

Iago. What an eye she has! methinks it sounds a parley of provocation.

Cas. An inviting eye; and yet methinks right modest.

Iago. And when she speaks, is it not an alarum to love?

Cas. She is indeed perfection.

Iago. Well, happiness to their sheets!-Come, lieutenant, I have a stoop of wine: and here without are a brace of Cyprus gallants, that would fain have a measure to the health of the black Othello.

Cas. Not to-night, good Iago: I have very poor and unhappy 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.

Cas. I have drunk but one cup to-night, and that was craftily qualified too; and behold what innovation it makes here! I am unfortunate in the infirmity, and dare not task my weakness with any more.

Iago. What, man! 't is a night of revels: the gallants desire it.

Cas. Where are they?

Iago. Here at the door: I pray you, call them in. Cas. I'll do it; but it dislikes me. [Exit. Iago. If I can fasten but one cup upon him, With that which he hath drunk to-night already, He'll be as full of quarrel and offence As my young mistress' dog. Now, my sick fool, Roderigo,

Whom love has turned almost the wrong side outward,

:

To Desdemona hath to-night caroused
Potations pottle deep and he's to watch.
Three lads of Cyprus,-noble swelling spirits,
That hold their honours in a wary distance,
The very elements of this warlike isle,—
Have I to-night flustered with flowing cups:
And they watch too. Now, 'mongst this flock
of drunkards,

Am I to put our Cassio in some action

That
may offend the isle.-But here they come :
If consequence do but approve my dream,
My boat sails freely, both with wind and stream.

Re-enter CASSIO; with him MONTANO and Gentlemen.

Cas. 'Fore heaven, they have given me a rouse already.

Mon. Good faith, a little one: not past a pint, as I am a soldier.

Cas. 'Fore heaven, an excellent song. Iago. I learned it in England, where indeed they are most potent in potting: your Dane, your German, and your swag-bellied Hollander,Drink, ho!—are nothing to your English.

Cas. Is your Englishman so expert in his drinking?

Iago. Why, he drinks you with facility your Dane dead drunk; he sweats not to overthrow your Almain; he gives your Hollander a vomit ere the next pottle can be filled.

Cas. To the health of our general.

Mon. I am for it, lieutenant; and I'll do you justice. Iago. O sweet England!

Sings.

King Stephen was a worthy peer,

His breeches cost him but a crown:
He held them sixpence all too dear;
With that he called 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!

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

Iago. 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 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 th' other: 't is pity of him.

I fear the trust Othello puts him in,
On some odd time of his infirmity,
Will shake this island.

[Striking RODERIGO.

Nay, good lieutenant: [Staying him.
hand.
your
Let me go, sir,

Or I'll knock you o'er the mazzard.
Come, come, you're drunk.

Mon.

Cas. Drunk! [They fight. Iago. Away, I say! go out, and cry, "A mutiny." [Aside to RODERIGO, 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!-Diablo, ho! The town will rise.-God's will, lieutenant, hold: You will be shamed for ever.

Oth. Why, how now, ho!-from whence ariseth this?

Are we turned 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, mas-

ters?

Honest Iago, that look'st dead with grieving, Speak, who began this? on thy love I charge thee. Iago. I do not know:-friends all but now,

even now,

In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom
Divesting them for bed: and then, but now
(As if 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 unlance 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, Iago, 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.

My blood begins my safer guides to rule;
And passion, having my best judgment collied,
Assays 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 rout began, who set it on;
And he that is approved in this offence,
Though he had twinned 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 affined, or leagued in office,
Thou dost deliver more or less than truth,
Thou art no soldier.

The town might fall in fright: he, swift of foot,
Outran my purpose; and I returned 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, received
From him that fled some strange indignity,
Which patience could not pass.

Come, Desdemona: 'tis the soldiers' life
To have their balmy slumbers waked with strife,
[Exeunt all but IAGO and CASSIO.
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, Iago; my reputation! 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 your's. 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!-0 thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee devil!

lago. 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 imperfectness shews me another, to make me frankly despise myself.

Iago. 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, mend 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.

Iago. 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.

Iago. I protest, in the sincerity of love and

When this advice is free I give, and honest,
Probal to thinking, and, indeed, the course
To win the Moor again? For 't is most easy
The inclining Desdemona to subdue
In any honest suit: she's framed as fruitful
As the free elements. And then, for her
To win the Moor,-were 't to renounce his baptism,
All seals and symbols of redeeméd sin,—
His soul is so enfettered to her love
That she may make, unmake, do what she list,
Even as her appetite shall play the god
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 the 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 body 's lust:
And by how much she strives to do him good,