A Sea-port in Cyprus. An
open place near the quay.[Enter MONTANO
and two Gentlemen]
MONTANO
What from the cape can you discern at sea?
First Gentleman Nothing at all.
MONTANO If that the Turkish fleet
Be not enshelter’d and embay’d, they are drown’d:
It is impossible they bear it out.
[Enter a third Gentleman]
Gentleman My lord Montano, a noble ship of Venice
Hath seen a grievous wreck and sufferance
On most part of their fleet.
MONTANO How! is this true?
Gentleman The ship is here put in,
Michael Cassio, Lieutenant to the warlike Moor Othello,
Is come on shore: the Moor himself at sea,
And is in full commission here for Cyprus.
MONTANO I am glad on’t; ’tis a worthy governor.
For I have served him, and the man commands
Like a full soldier.
[Enter CASSIO]
CASSIO Thanks, you the valiant of this warlike isle,
That so approve the Moor! O, let the heavens
Give him defence against the elements,
[A cry within ‘A sail, a sail, a sail!’]
[Enter another Gentleman]
CASSIO What noise?
Gentleman The town is empty; on the brow o’ the sea
Stand ranks of people, and they cry ‘A sail!’
CASSIO My hopes do shape him for the governor.
[Guns heard]
Gentlemen They do discharge their shot of courtesy:
Our friends at least.
MONTANO But, good lieutenant, is your general wived?
CASSIO Most fortunately: he hath achieved a maid
That paragons description and wild fame;
And in the essential vesture of creation
Does tire the ingener.
[Re-enter Gentleman]
How now! who has put in?
Second Gentleman ‘Tis one Iago, ancient to the general.
CASSIO Has had most favourable and happy speed:
Tempests themselves, high seas, and howling winds,
As having sense of beauty, do omit
Their mortal natures, letting go safely by
The divine Desdemona.
MONTANO What is she?
CASSIO She that I spake of,
our great captain’s captain,
Left in the conduct of the bold Iago,
[Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA,
IAGO, RODERIGO, and Attendants]
But here he comes!
The riches of the ship is come on shore!
Hail to thee, lady!
DESDEMONA I thank you, valiant Cassio.
What tidings can you tell me of my lord?
CASSIO He is not yet arrived: nor know I aught
But that he’s well and will be shortly here.
DESDEMONA O, but I fear…
[Within ‘A sail, a sail!’ Guns heard]
CASSIO But, hark! a sail.
Gentleman They give their greeting to the citadel;
This likewise is a friend.
CASSIO Good Iago, you are welcome.
[To EMILIA]
And to you, mistress Emilia
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’ll have enough.
EMILIA You have little cause to say so.
IAGO Come on, come on;
you are pictures out of doors,
Saints m your injuries, devils being offended,
and housewives’ in your beds.
DESDEMONA 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.
DESDEMONA Do not learn
of him, Emilia, though he be thy husband. How say
you, Cassio? is he not a most profane and liberal
counsellor?
CASSIO 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.
If such tricks as these strip you out of your lieutenantry,
it had been better you had not kissed
your three fingers so oft.
[Trumpet within]
The Moor! I know his trumpet.
[Enter OTHELLO and Attendants]
OTHELLO O my fair warrior!
DESDEMONA My dear Othello!
OTHELLO 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!
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.
DESDEMONA The heavens forbid
But that our loves and comforts should increase,
Even as our days do grow!
OTHELLO 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
[Kissing her]
That e’er our hearts shall make!
IAGO [Aside] O, you are well tuned now!
But I’ll set down the pegs that make this music,
As honest as I am.
OTHELLO News, friends; our wars are done,
the Turks are drown’d.
Honey, you shall be well desired in Cyprus;
I have found great love amongst them.
Good Iago, Go to the bay and disembark my coffers:
Come, Desdemona, let us to the castle
Once more, well met at Cyprus.
[Exeunt OTHELLO, DESDEMONA,
and Attendants]
RODRIGO Iago…
IAGO Rodrigo, come hither.
The lieutenant tonight watches on the court of
guard:–first, I must tell thee this–Desdemona is
directly in love with him.
RODERIGO With him! why, ’tis not possible.
IAGO The knave is handsome, young, and hath all
those requisites in him that folly and green minds
look after: and the woman hath found him already.
RODERIGO I cannot believe that in her; she’s full of
most blessed condition.
IAGO If she had been blessed, she would never
have loved the Moor. Didst thou not see her
paddle with the palm of his hand? didst not mark that?
RODERIGO Yes, that I did; but that was but courtesy.
IAGO Lechery, an index and obscure prologue
to the history of lust and foul thoughts. They met
so near with their lips that their breaths embraced
together. But, sir, be you ruled by me: Cassio knows
you not: find some occasion to anger Cassio.
RODERIGO Well.
IAGO Sir, he is rash and very sudden in choler:
provoke him, that he may strike at you; for even
out of that will I cause the displanting of Cassio.
So shall you have a shorter journey to your desires..
RODERIGO I will do this.
IAGO Meet me by and by at the citadel:
I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewell.
RODERIGO Adieu.
[Exit]
IAGO That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it;
That she loves him, ’tis 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,
But partly led to diet my revenge,
For that I do suspect the lusty Moor
Hath leap’d 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’d 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 stand the putting on,
I’ll have our Michael Cassio on the hip,
Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb–
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. ‘Tis here, but yet confused:
Knavery’s plain face is never seen tin used.
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