Othello by William Shakespeare

Act 1 - Scene 3

A council-chamber.

Duke of Venice : There is no composition in these news [p]That gives them credit.

First Senator : Indeed, they are disproportion'd; [p]My letters say a hundred and
seven galleys.

Duke of Venice : And mine, a hundred and forty.

Second Senator : And mine, two hundred: [p]But though they jump not on a just
account,-- [p]As in these cases, where the aim reports, [p]'Tis oft
with difference--yet do they all confirm [p]A Turkish fleet, and
bearing up to Cyprus.

Duke of Venice : Nay, it is possible enough to judgment: [p]I do not so secure me in
the error, [p]But the main article I do approve [p]In fearful sense.

Sailor : [Within] What, ho! what, ho! what, ho!

First Officer : A messenger from the galleys.

Duke of Venice : Now, what's the business?

Sailor : The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes; [p]So was I bid report here
to the state [p]By Signior Angelo.

Duke of Venice : How say you by this change?

First Senator : This cannot be, [p]By no assay of reason: 'tis a pageant, [p]To keep
us in false gaze. When we consider [p]The importancy of Cyprus to the
Turk, [p]And let ourselves again but understand, [p]That as it more
concerns the Turk than Rhodes, [p]So may he with more facile question
bear it, [p]For that it stands not in such warlike brace, [p]But
altogether lacks the abilities [p]That Rhodes is dress'd in: if we
make thought of this, [p]We must not think the Turk is so
unskilful [p]To leave that latest which concerns him
first, [p]Neglecting an attempt of ease and gain, [p]To wake and wage
a danger profitless.

Duke of Venice : Nay, in all confidence, he's not for Rhodes.

First Officer : Here is more news.

Messenger : The Ottomites, reverend and gracious, [p]Steering with due course
towards the isle of Rhodes, [p]Have there injointed them with an after
fleet.

First Senator : Ay, so I thought. How many, as you guess?

Messenger : Of thirty sail: and now they do restem [p]Their backward course,
bearing with frank appearance [p]Their purposes toward Cyprus. Signior
Montano, [p]Your trusty and most valiant servitor, [p]With his free
duty recommends you thus, [p]And prays you to believe him.

Duke of Venice : 'Tis certain, then, for Cyprus. [p]Marcus Luccicos, is not he in
town?

First Senator : He's now in Florence.

Duke of Venice : Write from us to him; post-post-haste dispatch.

First Senator : Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor.

Duke of Venice : Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you [p]Against the general
enemy Ottoman. [p][To BRABANTIO] [p]I did not see you; welcome, gentle
signior; [p]We lack'd your counsel and your help tonight.

Brabantio : So did I yours. Good your grace, pardon me; [p]Neither my place nor
aught I heard of business [p]Hath raised me from my bed, nor doth the
general care [p]Take hold on me, for my particular grief [p]Is of so
flood-gate and o'erbearing nature [p]That it engluts and swallows
other sorrows [p]And it is still itself.

Duke of Venice : Why, what's the matter?

Brabantio : My daughter! O, my daughter!

Duke of Venice : [with Senator] Dead?

Brabantio : Ay, to me; [p]She is abused, stol'n from me, and corrupted [p]By
spells and medicines bought of mountebanks; [p]For nature so
preposterously to err, [p]Being not deficient, blind, or lame of
sense, [p]Sans witchcraft could not.

Duke of Venice : Whoe'er he be that in this foul proceeding [p]Hath thus beguiled your
daughter of herself [p]And you of her, the bloody book of law [p]You
shall yourself read in the bitter letter [p]After your own sense, yea,
though our proper son [p]Stood in your action.

Brabantio : Humbly I thank your grace. [p]Here is the man, this Moor, whom now, it
seems, [p]Your special mandate for the state-affairs [p]Hath hither
brought.

Duke of Venice : [with Senator] We are very sorry for't.

Duke of Venice : [To OTHELLO] What, in your own part, can you say to this?

Brabantio : Nothing, but this is so.

Othello : Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, [p]My very noble and
approved good masters, [p]That I have ta'en away this old man's
daughter, [p]It is most true; true, I have married her: [p]The very
head and front of my offending [p]Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I
in my speech, [p]And little bless'd with the soft phrase of
peace: [p]For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith, [p]Till
now some nine moons wasted, they have used [p]Their dearest action in
the tented field, [p]And little of this great world can I
speak, [p]More than pertains to feats of broil and battle, [p]And
therefore little shall I grace my cause [p]In speaking for myself.
Yet, by your gracious patience, [p]I will a round unvarnish'd tale
deliver [p]Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what
charms, [p]What conjuration and what mighty magic, [p]For such
proceeding I am charged withal, [p]I won his daughter.

Brabantio : A maiden never bold; [p]Of spirit so still and quiet, that her
motion [p]Blush'd at herself; and she, in spite of nature, [p]Of
years, of country, credit, every thing, [p]To fall in love with what
she fear'd to look on! [p]It is a judgment maim'd and most
imperfect [p]That will confess perfection so could err [p]Against all
rules of nature, and must be driven [p]To find out practises of
cunning hell, [p]Why this should be. I therefore vouch again [p]That
with some mixtures powerful o'er the blood, [p]Or with some dram
conjured to this effect, [p]He wrought upon her.

Duke of Venice : To vouch this, is no proof, [p]Without more wider and more overt
test [p]Than these thin habits and poor likelihoods [p]Of modern
seeming do prefer against him.

First Senator : But, Othello, speak: [p]Did you by indirect and forced
courses [p]Subdue and poison this young maid's affections? [p]Or came
it by request and such fair question [p]As soul to soul affordeth?

Othello : I do beseech you, [p]Send for the lady to the Sagittary, [p]And let
her speak of me before her father: [p]If you do find me foul in her
report, [p]The trust, the office I do hold of you, [p]Not only take
away, but let your sentence [p]Even fall upon my life.

Duke of Venice : Fetch Desdemona hither.

Othello : Ancient, conduct them: you best know the place. [p][Exeunt IAGO and
Attendants] [p]And, till she come, as truly as to heaven [p]I do
confess the vices of my blood, [p]So justly to your grave ears I'll
present [p]How I did thrive in this fair lady's love, [p]And she in
mine.

Duke of Venice : Say it, Othello.

Othello : Her father loved me; oft invited me; [p]Still question'd me the story
of my life, [p]From year to year, the battles, sieges,
fortunes, [p]That I have passed. [p]I ran it through, even from my
boyish days, [p]To the very moment that he bade me tell it; [p]Wherein
I spake of most disastrous chances, [p]Of moving accidents by flood
and field [p]Of hair-breadth scapes i' the imminent deadly
breach, [p]Of being taken by the insolent foe [p]And sold to slavery,
of my redemption thence [p]And portance in my travels'
history: [p]Wherein of antres vast and deserts idle, [p]Rough
quarries, rocks and hills whose heads touch heaven [p]It was my hint
to speak,--such was the process; [p]And of the Cannibals that each
other eat, [p]The Anthropophagi and men whose heads [p]Do grow beneath
their shoulders. This to hear [p]Would Desdemona seriously
incline: [p]But still the house-affairs would draw her
thence: [p]Which ever as she could with haste dispatch, [p]She'ld come
again, and with a greedy ear [p]Devour up my discourse: which I
observing, [p]Took once a pliant hour, and found good means [p]To draw
from her a prayer of earnest heart [p]That I would all my pilgrimage
dilate, [p]Whereof by parcels she had something heard, [p]But not
intentively: I did consent, [p]And often did beguile her of her
tears, [p]When I did speak of some distressful stroke [p]That my youth
suffer'd. My story being done, [p]She gave me for my pains a world of
sighs: [p]She swore, in faith, twas strange, 'twas passing
strange, [p]'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful: [p]She wish'd she
had not heard it, yet she wish'd [p]That heaven had made her such a
man: she thank'd me, [p]And bade me, if I had a friend that loved
her, [p]I should but teach him how to tell my story. [p]And that would
woo her. Upon this hint I spake: [p]She loved me for the dangers I had
pass'd, [p]And I loved her that she did pity them. [p]This only is the
witchcraft I have used: [p]Here comes the lady; let her witness it.

Duke of Venice : I think this tale would win my daughter too. [p]Good
Brabantio, [p]Take up this mangled matter at the best: [p]Men do their
broken weapons rather use [p]Than their bare hands.

Brabantio : I pray you, hear her speak: [p]If she confess that she was half the
wooer, [p]Destruction on my head, if my bad blame [p]Light on the man!
Come hither, gentle mistress: [p]Do you perceive in all this noble
company [p]Where most you owe obedience?

Desdemona : My noble father, [p]I do perceive here a divided duty: [p]To you I am
bound for life and education; [p]My life and education both do learn
me [p]How to respect you; you are the lord of duty; [p]I am hitherto
your daughter: but here's my husband, [p]And so much duty as my mother
show'd [p]To you, preferring you before her father, [p]So much I
challenge that I may profess [p]Due to the Moor my lord.

Brabantio : God be wi' you! I have done. [p]Please it your grace, on to the
state-affairs: [p]I had rather to adopt a child than get it. [p]Come
hither, Moor: [p]I here do give thee that with all my heart [p]Which,
but thou hast already, with all my heart [p]I would keep from thee.
For your sake, jewel, [p]I am glad at soul I have no other
child: [p]For thy escape would teach me tyranny, [p]To hang clogs on
them. I have done, my lord.

Duke of Venice : Let me speak like yourself, and lay a sentence, [p]Which, as a grise
or step, may help these lovers [p]Into your favour. [p]When remedies
are past, the griefs are ended [p]By seeing the worst, which late on
hopes depended. [p]To mourn a mischief that is past and gone [p]Is the
next way to draw new mischief on. [p]What cannot be preserved when
fortune takes [p]Patience her injury a mockery makes. [p]The robb'd
that smiles steals something from the thief; [p]He robs himself that
spends a bootless grief.

Brabantio : So let the Turk of Cyprus us beguile; [p]We lose it not, so long as we
can smile. [p]He bears the sentence well that nothing bears [p]But the
free comfort which from thence he hears, [p]But he bears both the
sentence and the sorrow [p]That, to pay grief, must of poor patience
borrow. [p]These sentences, to sugar, or to gall, [p]Being strong on
both sides, are equivocal: [p]But words are words; I never yet did
hear [p]That the bruised heart was pierced through the ear. [p]I
humbly beseech you, proceed to the affairs of state.

Duke of Venice : The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for [p]Cyprus. Othello,
the fortitude of the place is best [p]known to you; and though we have
there a substitute [p]of most allowed sufficiency, yet opinion,
a [p]sovereign mistress of effects, throws a more safer [p]voice on
you: you must therefore be content to [p]slubber the gloss of your new
fortunes with this [p]more stubborn and boisterous expedition.

Othello : The tyrant custom, most grave senators, [p]Hath made the flinty and
steel couch of war [p]My thrice-driven bed of down: I do agnise [p]A
natural and prompt alacrity [p]I find in hardness, and do
undertake [p]These present wars against the Ottomites. [p]Most humbly
therefore bending to your state, [p]I crave fit disposition for my
wife. [p]Due reference of place and exhibition, [p]With such
accommodation and besort [p]As levels with her breeding.

Duke of Venice : If you please, [p]Be't at her father's.

Brabantio : I'll not have it so.

Othello : Nor I.

Desdemona : Nor I; I would not there reside, [p]To put my father in impatient
thoughts [p]By being in his eye. Most gracious duke, [p]To my
unfolding lend your prosperous ear; [p]And let me find a charter in
your voice, [p]To assist my simpleness.

Duke of Venice : What would You, Desdemona?

Desdemona : That I did love the Moor to live with him, [p]My downright violence
and storm of fortunes [p]May trumpet to the world: my heart's
subdued [p]Even to the very quality of my lord: [p]I saw Othello's
visage in his mind, [p]And to his honour and his valiant parts [p]Did
I my soul and fortunes consecrate. [p]So that, dear lords, if I be
left behind, [p]A moth of peace, and he go to the war, [p]The rites
for which I love him are bereft me, [p]And I a heavy interim shall
support [p]By his dear absence. Let me go with him.

Othello : Let her have your voices. [p]Vouch with me, heaven, I therefore beg it
not, [p]To please the palate of my appetite, [p]Nor to comply with
heat--the young affects [p]In me defunct--and proper
satisfaction. [p]But to be free and bounteous to her mind: [p]And
heaven defend your good souls, that you think [p]I will your serious
and great business scant [p]For she is with me: no, when light-wing'd
toys [p]Of feather'd Cupid seal with wanton dullness [p]My speculative
and officed instruments, [p]That my disports corrupt and taint my
business, [p]Let housewives make a skillet of my helm, [p]And all
indign and base adversities [p]Make head against my estimation!

Duke of Venice : Be it as you shall privately determine, [p]Either for her stay or
going: the affair cries haste, [p]And speed must answer it.

First Senator : You must away to-night.

Othello : With all my heart.

Duke of Venice : At nine i' the morning here we'll meet again. [p]Othello, leave some
officer behind, [p]And he shall our commission bring to you; [p]With
such things else of quality and respect [p]As doth import you.

Othello : So please your grace, my ancient; [p]A man he is of honest and
trust: [p]To his conveyance I assign my wife, [p]With what else
needful your good grace shall think [p]To be sent after me.

Duke of Venice : Let it be so. [p]Good night to every one. [p][To BRABANTIO] [p]And,
noble signior, [p]If virtue no delighted beauty lack, [p]Your
son-in-law is far more fair than black.

First Senator : Adieu, brave Moor, use Desdemona well.

Brabantio : Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see: [p]She has deceived her
father, and may thee.

Othello : My life upon her faith! Honest Iago, [p]My Desdemona must I leave to
thee: [p]I prithee, let thy wife attend on her: [p]And bring them
after in the best advantage. [p]Come, Desdemona: I have but an
hour [p]Of love, of worldly matters and direction, [p]To spend with
thee: we must obey the time.

Roderigo : Iago,--

Iago : What say'st thou, noble heart?

Roderigo : What will I do, thinkest thou?

Iago : Why, go to bed, and sleep.

Roderigo : I will incontinently drown myself.

Iago : If thou dost, I shall never love thee after. Why, [p]thou silly
gentleman!

Roderigo : It is silliness to live when to live is torment; and [p]then have we a
prescription to die when death is our physician.

Iago : O villainous! I have looked upon the world for four [p]times seven
years; and since I could distinguish [p]betwixt a benefit and an
injury, I never found man [p]that knew how to love himself. Ere I
would say, I [p]would drown myself for the love of a guinea-hen,
I [p]would change my humanity with a baboon.

Roderigo : What should I do? I confess it is my shame to be so [p]fond; but it is
not in my virtue to amend it.

Iago : Virtue! a fig! 'tis in ourselves that we are thus [p]or thus. Our
bodies are our gardens, to the which [p]our wills are gardeners: so
that if we will plant [p]nettles, or sow lettuce, set hyssop and weed
up [p]thyme, supply it with one gender of herbs, or [p]distract it
with many, either to have it sterile [p]with idleness, or manured with
industry, why, the [p]power and corrigible authority of this lies in
our [p]wills. If the balance of our lives had not one [p]scale of
reason to poise another of sensuality, the [p]blood and baseness of
our natures would conduct us [p]to most preposterous conclusions: but
we have [p]reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal [p]stings,
our unbitted lusts, whereof I take this that [p]you call love to be a
sect or scion.

Roderigo : It cannot be.

Iago : It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission of [p]the will.
Come, be a man. Drown thyself! drown [p]cats and blind puppies. I have
professed me thy [p]friend and I confess me knit to thy deserving
with [p]cables of perdurable toughness; I could never [p]better stead
thee than now. Put money in thy [p]purse; follow thou the wars; defeat
thy favour with [p]an usurped beard; I say, put money in thy purse.
It [p]cannot be that Desdemona should long continue her [p]love to the
Moor,-- put money in thy purse,--nor he [p]his to her: it was a
violent commencement, and thou [p]shalt see an answerable
sequestration:--put but [p]money in thy purse. These Moors are
changeable in [p]their wills: fill thy purse with money:--the
food [p]that to him now is as luscious as locusts, shall be [p]to him
shortly as bitter as coloquintida. She must [p]change for youth: when
she is sated with his body, [p]she will find the error of her choice:
she must [p]have change, she must: therefore put money in
thy [p]purse. If thou wilt needs damn thyself, do it a [p]more
delicate way than drowning. Make all the money [p]thou canst: if
sanctimony and a frail vow betwixt [p]an erring barbarian and a
supersubtle Venetian not [p]too hard for my wits and all the tribe of
hell, thou [p]shalt enjoy her; therefore make money. A pox
of [p]drowning thyself! it is clean out of the way: seek [p]thou
rather to be hanged in compassing thy joy than [p]to be drowned and go
without her.

Roderigo : Wilt thou be fast to my hopes, if I depend on [p]the issue?

Iago : Thou art sure of me:--go, make money:--I have told [p]thee often, and
I re-tell thee again and again, I [p]hate the Moor: my cause is
hearted; thine hath no [p]less reason. Let us be conjunctive in our
revenge [p]against him: if thou canst cuckold him, thou
dost [p]thyself a pleasure, me a sport. There are many [p]events in
the womb of time which will be delivered. [p]Traverse! go, provide thy
money. We will have more [p]of this to-morrow. Adieu.

Roderigo : Where shall we meet i' the morning?

Iago : At my lodging.

Roderigo : I'll be with thee betimes.

Iago : Go to; farewell. Do you hear, Roderigo?

Roderigo : What say you?

Iago : No more of drowning, do you hear?

Roderigo : I am changed: I'll go sell all my land.

Iago : Thus do I ever make my fool my purse: [p]For I mine own gain'd
knowledge should profane, [p]If I would time expend with such a
snipe. [p]But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor: [p]And it is
thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets [p]He has done my office: I know
not if't be true; [p]But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, [p]Will
do as if for surety. He holds me well; [p]The better shall my purpose
work on him. [p]Cassio's a proper man: let me see now: [p]To get his
place and to plume up my will [p]In double knavery--How, how? Let's
see:-- [p]After some time, to abuse Othello's ear [p]That he is too
familiar with his wife. [p]He hath a person and a smooth dispose [p]To
be suspected, framed to make women false. [p]The Moor is of a free and
open nature, [p]That thinks men honest that but seem to be so, [p]And
will as tenderly be led by the nose [p]As asses are. [p]I have't. It
is engender'd. Hell and night [p]Must bring this monstrous birth to
the world's light.

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Next: Act 2 - Scene 1

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