Othello by William Shakespeare

Act 2 - Scene 1

A Sea-port in Cyprus. An open place near the quay.

Montano : What from the cape can you discern at sea?

First Gentleman : Nothing at all: it is a highwrought flood; [p]I cannot, 'twixt the
heaven and the main, [p]Descry a sail.

Montano : Methinks the wind hath spoke aloud at land; [p]A fuller blast ne'er
shook our battlements: [p]If it hath ruffian'd so upon the
sea, [p]What ribs of oak, when mountains melt on them, [p]Can hold the
mortise? What shall we hear of this?

Second Gentleman : A segregation of the Turkish fleet: [p]For do but stand upon the
foaming shore, [p]The chidden billow seems to pelt the clouds; [p]The
wind-shaked surge, with high and monstrous mane, [p]seems to cast
water on the burning bear, [p]And quench the guards of the ever-fixed
pole: [p]I never did like molestation view [p]On the enchafed flood.

Montano : If that the Turkish fleet [p]Be not enshelter'd and embay'd, they are
drown'd: [p]It is impossible they bear it out.

Third Gentleman : News, lads! our wars are done. [p]The desperate tempest hath so bang'd
the Turks, [p]That their designment halts: a noble ship of
Venice [p]Hath seen a grievous wreck and sufferance [p]On most part of
their fleet.

Montano : How! is this true?

Third Gentleman : The ship is here put in, [p]A Veronesa; Michael Cassio, [p]Lieutenant
to the warlike Moor Othello, [p]Is come on shore: the Moor himself at
sea, [p]And is in full commission here for Cyprus.

Montano : I am glad on't; 'tis a worthy governor.

Third Gentleman : But this same Cassio, though he speak of comfort [p]Touching the
Turkish loss, yet he looks sadly, [p]And prays the Moor be safe; for
they were parted [p]With foul and violent tempest.

Montano : Pray heavens he be; [p]For I have served him, and the man
commands [p]Like a full soldier. Let's to the seaside, ho! [p]As well
to see the vessel that's come in [p]As to throw out our eyes for brave
Othello, [p]Even till we make the main and the aerial blue [p]An
indistinct regard.

Third Gentleman : Come, let's do so: [p]For every minute is expectancy [p]Of more
arrivance.

Cassio : Thanks, you the valiant of this warlike isle, [p]That so approve the
Moor! O, let the heavens [p]Give him defence against the
elements, [p]For I have lost us him on a dangerous sea.

Montano : Is he well shipp'd?

Cassio : His bark is stoutly timber'd, his pilot [p]Of very expert and approved
allowance; [p]Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death, [p]Stand in
bold cure.

Cassio : What noise?

Fourth Gentleman : The town is empty; on the brow o' the sea [p]Stand ranks of people,
and they cry 'A sail!'

Cassio : My hopes do shape him for the governor.

Second Gentleman : They do discharge their shot of courtesy: [p]Our friends at least.

Cassio : I pray you, sir, go forth, [p]And give us truth who 'tis that is
arrived.

Second Gentleman : I shall.

Montano : But, good lieutenant, is your general wived?

Cassio : Most fortunately: he hath achieved a maid [p]That paragons description
and wild fame; [p]One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens, [p]And
in the essential vesture of creation [p]Does tire the
ingener. [p][Re-enter second Gentleman] [p]How now! who has put in?

Second Gentleman : 'Tis one Iago, ancient to the general.

Cassio : Has had most favourable and happy speed: [p]Tempests themselves, high
seas, and howling winds, [p]The gutter'd rocks and congregated
sands-- [p]Traitors ensteep'd to clog the guiltless keel,-- [p]As
having sense of beauty, do omit [p]Their mortal natures, letting go
safely by [p]The divine Desdemona.

Montano : What is she?

Cassio : She that I spake of, our great captain's captain, [p]Left in the
conduct of the bold Iago, [p]Whose footing here anticipates our
thoughts [p]A se'nnight's speed. Great Jove, Othello guard, [p]And
swell his sail with thine own powerful breath, [p]That he may bless
this bay with his tall ship, [p]Make love's quick pants in Desdemona's
arms, [p]Give renew'd fire to our extincted spirits [p]And bring all
Cyprus comfort! [p][Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA, IAGO, RODERIGO, and
Attendants] [p]O, behold, [p]The riches of the ship is come on
shore! [p]Ye men of Cyprus, let her have your knees. [p]Hail to thee,
lady! and the grace of heaven, [p]Before, behind thee, and on every
hand, [p]Enwheel thee round!

Desdemona : I thank you, valiant Cassio. [p]What tidings can you tell me of my
lord?

Cassio : He is not yet arrived: nor know I aught [p]But that he's well and will
be shortly here.

Desdemona : O, but I fear--How lost you company?

Cassio : The great contention of the sea and skies [p]Parted our
fellowship--But, hark! a sail.

Second Gentleman : They give their greeting to the citadel; [p]This likewise is a
friend.

Cassio : See for the news. [p][Exit Gentleman] [p]Good ancient, you are
welcome. [p][To EMILIA] [p]Welcome, mistress. [p]Let it not gall your
patience, good Iago, [p]That I extend my manners; 'tis my
breeding [p]That gives me this bold show of courtesy.

Iago : Sir, would she give you so much of her lips [p]As of her tongue she
oft bestows on me, [p]You'll have enough.

Desdemona : Alas, she has no speech.

Iago : In faith, too much; [p]I find it still, when I have list to
sleep: [p]Marry, before your ladyship, I grant, [p]She puts her tongue
a little in her heart, [p]And chides with thinking.

Emilia : You have little cause to say so.

Iago : Come on, come on; you are pictures out of doors, [p]Bells in your
parlors, wild-cats in your kitchens, [p]Saints m your injuries, devils
being offended, [p]Players in your housewifery, and housewives' in
your beds.

Desdemona : O, fie upon thee, slanderer!

Iago : Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk: [p]You rise to play and go to
bed to work.

Emilia : You shall not write my praise.

Iago : No, let me not.

Desdemona : What wouldst thou write of me, if thou shouldst [p]praise me?

Iago : O gentle lady, do not put me to't; [p]For I am nothing, if not
critical.

Desdemona : Come on assay. There's one gone to the harbour?

Iago : Ay, madam.

Desdemona : I am not merry; but I do beguile [p]The thing I am, by seeming
otherwise. [p]Come, how wouldst thou praise me?

Iago : I am about it; but indeed my invention [p]Comes from my pate as
birdlime does from frize; [p]It plucks out brains and all: but my Muse
labours, [p]And thus she is deliver'd. [p]If she be fair and wise,
fairness and wit, [p]The one's for use, the other useth it.

Desdemona : Well praised! How if she be black and witty?

Iago : If she be black, and thereto have a wit, [p]She'll find a white that
shall her blackness fit.

Desdemona : Worse and worse.

Emilia : How if fair and foolish?

Iago : She never yet was foolish that was fair; [p]For even her folly help'd
her to an heir.

Desdemona : These are old fond paradoxes to make fools laugh i' [p]the alehouse.
What miserable praise hast thou for [p]her that's foul and foolish?

Iago : There's none so foul and foolish thereunto, [p]But does foul pranks
which fair and wise ones do.

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

Iago : She that was ever fair and never proud, [p]Had tongue at will and yet
was never loud, [p]Never lack'd gold and yet went never gay, [p]Fled
from her wish and yet said 'Now I may,' [p]She that being anger'd, her
revenge being nigh, [p]Bade her wrong stay and her displeasure
fly, [p]She that in wisdom never was so frail [p]To change the cod's
head for the salmon's tail; [p]She that could think and ne'er disclose
her mind, [p]See suitors following and not look behind, [p]She was a
wight, if ever such wight were,--

Desdemona : To do what?

Iago : To suckle fools and chronicle small beer.

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

Cassio : He speaks home, madam: You may relish him more in [p]the soldier than
in the scholar.

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

Cassio : 'Tis truly so.

Desdemona : Let's meet him and receive him.

Cassio : Lo, where he comes!

Othello : O my fair warrior!

Desdemona : My dear Othello!

Othello : It gives me wonder great as my content [p]To see you here before me. O
my soul's joy! [p]If after every tempest come such calms, [p]May the
winds blow till they have waken'd death! [p]And let the labouring bark
climb hills of seas [p]Olympus-high and duck again as low [p]As hell's
from heaven! If it were now to die, [p]'Twere now to be most happy;
for, I fear, [p]My soul hath her content so absolute [p]That not
another comfort like to this [p]Succeeds in unknown fate.

Desdemona : The heavens forbid [p]But that our loves and comforts should
increase, [p]Even as our days do grow!

Othello : Amen to that, sweet powers! [p]I cannot speak enough of this
content; [p]It stops me here; it is too much of joy: [p]And this, and
this, the greatest discords be [p][Kissing her] [p]That e'er our
hearts shall make!

Iago : [Aside] O, you are well tuned now! [p]But I'll set down the pegs that
make this music, [p]As honest as I am.

Othello : Come, let us to the castle. [p]News, friends; our wars are done, the
Turks [p]are drown'd. [p]How does my old acquaintance of this
isle? [p]Honey, you shall be well desired in Cyprus; [p]I have found
great love amongst them. O my sweet, [p]I prattle out of fashion, and
I dote [p]In mine own comforts. I prithee, good Iago, [p]Go to the bay
and disembark my coffers: [p]Bring thou the master to the
citadel; [p]He is a good one, and his worthiness [p]Does challenge
much respect. Come, Desdemona, [p]Once more, well met at Cyprus.

Iago : Do thou meet me presently at the harbour. Come [p]hither. If thou
be'st valiant,-- as, they say, base [p]men being in love have then a
nobility in their [p]natures more than is native to them--list me.
The [p]lieutenant tonight watches on the court of [p]guard:--first, I
must tell thee this--Desdemona is [p]directly in love with him.

Roderigo : With him! why, 'tis not possible.

Iago : Lay thy finger thus, and let thy soul be instructed. [p]Mark me with
what violence she first loved the Moor, [p]but for bragging and
telling her fantastical lies: [p]and will she love him still for
prating? let not [p]thy discreet heart think it. Her eye must be
fed; [p]and what delight shall she have to look on the [p]devil? When
the blood is made dull with the act of [p]sport, there should be,
again to inflame it and to [p]give satiety a fresh appetite,
loveliness in favour, [p]sympathy in years, manners and beauties; all
which [p]the Moor is defective in: now, for want of these [p]required
conveniences, her delicate tenderness will [p]find itself abused,
begin to heave the gorge, [p]disrelish and abhor the Moor; very nature
will [p]instruct her in it and compel her to some second [p]choice.
Now, sir, this granted,--as it is a most [p]pregnant and unforced
position--who stands so [p]eminent in the degree of this fortune as
Cassio [p]does? a knave very voluble; no further [p]conscionable than
in putting on the mere form of [p]civil and humane seeming, for the
better compassing [p]of his salt and most hidden loose affection?
why, [p]none; why, none: a slipper and subtle knave, a [p]finder of
occasions, that has an eye can stamp and [p]counterfeit advantages,
though true advantage never [p]present itself; a devilish knave.
Besides, the [p]knave is handsome, young, and hath all
those [p]requisites in him that folly and green minds look [p]after: a
pestilent complete knave; and the woman [p]hath found him already.

Roderigo : I cannot believe that in her; she's full of [p]most blessed
condition.

Iago : Blessed fig's-end! the wine she drinks is made of [p]grapes: if she
had been blessed, she would never [p]have loved the Moor. Blessed
pudding! Didst thou [p]not see her paddle with the palm of his hand?
didst [p]not mark that?

Roderigo : Yes, that I did; but that was but courtesy.

Iago : Lechery, by this hand; an index and obscure prologue [p]to the history
of lust and foul thoughts. They met [p]so near with their lips that
their breaths embraced [p]together. Villanous thoughts, Roderigo! when
these [p]mutualities so marshal the way, hard at hand comes [p]the
master and main exercise, the incorporate [p]conclusion, Pish! But,
sir, be you ruled by me: I [p]have brought you from Venice. Watch you
to-night; [p]for the command, I'll lay't upon you. Cassio knows [p]you
not. I'll not be far from you: do you find [p]some occasion to anger
Cassio, either by speaking [p]too loud, or tainting his discipline; or
from what [p]other course you please, which the time shall
more [p]favourably minister.

Roderigo : Well.

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

Roderigo : I will do this, if I can bring it to any [p]opportunity.

Iago : I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the citadel: [p]I must fetch his
necessaries ashore. Farewell.

Roderigo : Adieu.

Iago : That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it; [p]That she loves him,
'tis apt and of great credit: [p]The Moor, howbeit that I endure him
not, [p]Is of a constant, loving, noble nature, [p]And I dare think
he'll prove to Desdemona [p]A most dear husband. Now, I do love her
too; [p]Not out of absolute lust, though peradventure [p]I stand
accountant for as great a sin, [p]But partly led to diet my
revenge, [p]For that I do suspect the lusty Moor [p]Hath leap'd into
my seat; the thought whereof [p]Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw
my inwards; [p]And nothing can or shall content my soul [p]Till I am
even'd with him, wife for wife, [p]Or failing so, yet that I put the
Moor [p]At least into a jealousy so strong [p]That judgment cannot
cure. Which thing to do, [p]If this poor trash of Venice, whom I
trash [p]For his quick hunting, stand the putting on, [p]I'll have our
Michael Cassio on the hip, [p]Abuse him to the Moor in the rank
garb-- [p]For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too-- [p]Make the Moor
thank me, love me and reward me. [p]For making him egregiously an
ass [p]And practising upon his peace and quiet [p]Even to madness.
'Tis here, but yet confused: [p]Knavery's plain face is never seen tin
used.

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Next: Act 2 - Scene 2

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