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Othello (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Donald L. Bailey
Not Peer Reviewed
322
The Tragedie of Othello
1495will bee, I shall haue so much experience for my paines;
And so, with no money at all, and a little more Wit, re-
turne againe to Venice.
Iago.How poore are they that haue not Patience?
What wound did euer heale but by degrees?
1500Thou know'st we worke by Wit, and not by Witchcraft
And Wit depends on dilatory time:
Dos't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee,
And thou by that small hurt hath casheer'd Cassio:
Though other things grow faire against the Sun,
1505Yet Fruites that blossome first, will first be ripe:
Content thy selfe, a-while. Introth 'tis Morning;
Pleasure, and Action, make the houres seeme short.
Retire thee, go where thou art Billited:
Away, I say, thou shalt know more heereafter:
1510Nay get thee gone.
Exit Roderigo.
Two things are to be done:
My Wife must moue for Cassio to her Mistris:
Ile set her on my selfe, a while, to draw the Moor apart,
And bring him iumpe, when he may Cassio finde
1515Soliciting his wife: I, that's the way:
Dull not Deuice, by coldnesse, and delay.
Exit.


Actus Tertius. Scena Prima.


Enter Cassio, Musitians, and Clowne.

Cassio. Masters, play heere, I wil content your paines,
1520Something that's briefe: and bid, goodmorrow General.
Clo. Why Masters, haue your Instruments bin in Na-
ples, that they speake i'th'Nose thus?
Mus. How Sir? how?
Clo. Are these I pray you, winde Instruments?
1525Mus. I marry are they sir.
Clo. Oh, thereby hangs a tale.
Mus. Whereby hangs a tale, sir?
Clow. Marry sir, by many a winde Instrument that I
know. But Masters, heere's money for you: and the Ge-
1530nerall so likes your Musick, that he desires you for loues
sake to make no more noise with it.
Mus. Well Sir, we will not.
Clo. If you haue any Musicke that may not be heard,
too't againe. But (as they say) to heare Musicke, the Ge-
1535nerall do's not greatly care.
Mus. We haue none such, sir.
Clow. Then put vp your Pipes in your bagge, for Ile
away. Go, vanish into ayre, away.
Exit Mu.
Cassio Dost thou heare me, mine honest Friend?
1540Clo. No, I heare not your honest Friend:
I heare you.
Cassio. Prythee keepe vp thy Quillets, ther's a poore
peece of Gold for thee: if the Gentlewoman that attends
the Generall be stirring, tell her, there's one Cassio en-
1545treats her a little fauour of Speech. Wilt thou do this?
Clo. She is stirring sir: if she will stirre hither, I shall
seeme to notifie vnto her.
Exit Clo.
Enter Iago.
In happy time, Iago.
1550Iago. You haue not bin a-bed then?
Cassio. Why no: the day had broke before we parted.
I haue made bold (Iago) to send in to your wife:
My suite to her is, that she will to vertuous Desdemona

Procure me some accesse.
1555Iago. Ile send her to you presently:
And Ile deuise a meane to draw the Moore
Out of the way, that your conuerse and businesse
May be more free.
Exit
Cassio. I humbly thanke you for't. I neuer knew
1560A Florentine more kinde, and honest.
Enter Æmilia.
Æmil. Goodmorrow (good Lieutenant) I am sorrie
For your displeasure: but all will sure be well.
The Generall and his wife are talking of it,
1565And she speakes for you stoutly. The Moore replies,
That he you hurt is of great Fame in Cyprus,
And great Affinitie: and that in wholsome Wisedome
He might not but refuse you. But he protests he loues you
And needs no other Suitor, but his likings
1570To bring you in againe.
Cassio. Yet I beseech you,
If you thinke fit, or that it may be done,
Giue me aduantage of some breefe Discourse
With Desdemon alone.
1575Æmil. Pray you come in:
I will bestow you where you shall haue time
To speake your bosome freely.
Cassio. I am much bound to you.

Scœna Secunda.

1580
Enter Othello, Iago, and Gentlemen.
Othe. These Letters giue (Iago) to the Pylot,
And by him do my duties to the Senate:
That done, I will be walking on the Workes,
Repaire there to mee.
1585Iago. Well, my good Lord, Ile doo't.
Oth. This Fortification (Gentlemen) shall we see't?
Gent. Well waite vpon your Lordship.
Exeunt


Scœna Tertia.

Enter Desdemona, Cassio, and Æmilia.
1590Des. Be thou assur'd (good Cassio) I will do
All my abilities in thy behalfe.
Æmil. Good Madam do:
I warrant it greeues my Husband,
As if the cause were his.
1595Des. Oh that's an honest Fellow, Do not doubt Cassio
But I will haue my Lord, and you againe
As friendly as you were.
Cassio. Bounteous Madam,
What euer shall become of Michael Cassio,
1600He's neuer any thing but your true Seruant.
Des. I know't: I thanke you: you do loue my Lord:
You haue knowne him long, and be you well assur'd
He shall in strangenesse stand no farther off,
Then in a politique distance.
1605Cassio. I, but Lady,
That policie may either last so long,
Or feede vpon such nice and waterish diet,
Or breede it selfe so out of Circumstances,
That I being absent, and my place supply'd,
1610My Generall will forget my Loue, and Seruice.
Des. Do not doubt that: before Æmilia here,
I