Othello, William Shakespeare [best books for students to read .TXT] 📗

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. ’Tis 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. Herald 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 nuptial. 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 have 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. Othello

Good Michael, look you to the guard to-night:
Let’s teach ourselves that honourable stop,
Not to outsport discretion.

Cassio

Iago hath direction what to do;
But, notwithstanding, with my personal eye
Will I look to’t.

Othello

Iago is most honest.
Michael, good night: to-morrow with your earliest
Let me have speech with you. To Desdemona. Come, my dear love,
The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue;
That profit’s yet to come ’tween me and you.
Good night. Exeunt Othello, Desdemona, and Attendants.

Enter Iago. Cassio Welcome, Iago; we must to the watch. Iago Not this hour, lieutenant; ’tis not yet ten o’ the clock. Our general cast us thus early for the love of his Desdemona; who let us not therefore blame: he hath not yet made wanton the night with her; and she is sport for Jove. Cassio She’s a most exquisite lady. Iago And, I’ll warrant her, full of game. Cassio Indeed, she’s a most fresh and delicate creature. Iago What an eye she has! methinks it sounds a parley of provocation. Cassio An inviting eye; and yet methinks right modest. Iago And when she speaks, is it not an alarum to love? Cassio She is indeed perfection. Iago Well, happiness to their sheets! Come, lieutenant, I have a stoup of wine; and here without are a brace of Cyprus gallants that would fain have a measure to the health of black Othello. Cassio 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. Cassio 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! ’tis a night of revels: the gallants desire it. Cassio Where are they? Iago Here at the door; I pray you, call them in. Cassio I’ll do’t; 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 hath turn’d almost the wrong side out,
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 fluster’d 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; servants following with wine. Cassio ’Fore God, they have given me a rouse already. Montano Good faith, a little one; not past a pint, as I am a soldier. Iago

Some wine, ho!

Sings. And let me the canakin clink, clink;
And let me the canakin clink
A soldier’s a man;
A life’s but a span;
Why, then, let a soldier drink.

Some wine, boys!

Cassio ’Fore God, 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. Cassio 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. Cassio To the health of our general! Montano I am for it, lieutenant; and I’ll do you justice. Iago

O sweet England!
King Stephen was a worthy peer,
His breeches cost him but a crown;
He held them sixpence all too dear,
With that he call’d 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!

Cassio Why, this is a more exquisite song than the other. Iago Will you hear’t again? Cassio No; for I hold him to be unworthy of his place that does those things. Well, God’s above all; and there be souls must be saved, and there be souls must not be saved. Iago It’s true, good lieutenant. Cassio 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. Cassio 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: I am not drunk now; I can stand well enough, and speak well enough. All Excellent well. Cassio Why, very well then; you must not think then