1.3.0.1324Enter Duke [and] Senators [at a table, with lights] and officers. There is no composition in this news
That gives them credit. Indeed, they are disproportioned;
1.3.3328My letters say a hundred and seven galleys.
And mine a hundred forty.
And mine a hundred forty. And mine two hundred.
1.3.5331But though they jump not on a just account--
1.3.6332As in these cases where the aim reports
1.3.7333'Tis oft with difference--yet do they all confirm
1.3.8334A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus.
Nay, it is possible enough to judgment;
(Within) What ho, what ho, what ho!
A messenger from the galleys.
Now, what's the business?
The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes,
1.3.18344So was I bid report here to the state
How say you by this change?
How say you by this change? This cannot be,
1.3.21348By no assay of reason. 'Tis a pageant
1.3.22349To keep us in false gaze. When we consider
1.3.23350Th'importancy of Cyprus to the Turk,
1.3.24351And let ourselves again but understand
1.3.25352That as it more concerns the Turk than Rhodes,
1.3.26353So may he with more facile question bear it,
1.3.27354For that it stands not in such warlike brace,
1.3.29356That Rhodes is dressed in. If we make thought of this,
1.3.30357We must not think the Turk is so unskillful
1.3.31358To leave that latest which concerns him first,
1.3.32359Neglecting an attempt of ease and gain
1.3.33360To wake and wage a danger profitless.
Nay, in all confidence he's not for Rhodes.
Here is more news.
The Ottomites, reverend and gracious,
1.3.38365Steering with due course toward the isle of Rhodes,
1.3.39366Have there injointed them with an after fleet.
Ay, so I thought. How many, as you guess?
Of thirty sail; and now they do restem
1.3.42369Their backward course, bearing with frank appearance
1.3.43370Their purposes toward Cyprus. Signor Montano,
1.3.44371Your trusty and most valiant servitor,
1.3.45372With his free duty, recommends you thus
'Tis certain then for Cyprus.
He's now in Florence.
Write from us
378to him; post-post-haste, dispatch.
Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor.
1.3.52380Enter Brabantio, Othello, Cassio, Iago, Roderigo, 381and officers. Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you
1.3.55384[To Brabantio] I did not see you. Welcome, gentle signor.
1.3.56385We lacked your counsel and your help tonight.
So did I yours. Good your grace, pardon me.
1.3.58387Neither my place nor aught I heard of business
1.3.59388Hath raised me from my bed; nor doth the general care
1.3.60389Take hold on me, for my particular grief
1.3.61390Is of so floodgate and o'erbearing nature
1.3.62391That it engluts and swallows other sorrows
And it is still itself. Why? What's the matter?
My daughter! Oh, my daughter!
My daughter! Oh, my daughter! Dead?
My daughter! Oh, my daughter! Dead? Ay, to me.
1.3.65397She is abused, stolen from me, and corrupted
1.3.66398By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks;
1.3.67399For nature so preposterously to err--
1.3.68400Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense--
Whoe'er he be that in this foul proceeding
1.3.71403Hath thus beguiled your daughter of herself,
1.3.72404And you of her, the bloody book of law
1.3.73405You shall yourself read in the bitter letter
1.3.74406After your own sense, yea, though our proper son
Stood in your action. Humbly I thank your grace.
1.3.76409Here is the man--this Moor, whom now it seems
1.3.77410Your special mandate for the state affairs
Hath hither brought. We are very sorry for't.
[to Othello] What, in your own part, can you say to this?
Nothing but "This is so."
Most potent, grave, and reverend signors,
1.3.82416My very noble and approved good masters,
1.3.83417That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter,
1.3.84418It is most true; true, I have married her.
1.3.85419The very head and front of my offending
1.3.86420Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech,
1.3.87421And little blessed with the soft phrase of peace--
1.3.88422For since these arms of mine had seven year's pith,
1.3.89423Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used
1.3.90424Their dearest action in the tented field--
1.3.91425And little of this great world can I speak
1.3.92426More than pertains to feats of broils and battle,
1.3.93427And therefore little shall I grace my cause
1.3.94428In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience,
1.3.95429I will a round, unvarnished tale deliver
1.3.96430Of my whole course of love--
431what drugs, what charms,
1.3.97432What conjuration, and what mighty magic--
1.3.98433For such proceeding I am charged withal--
I won his daughter. A maiden never bold,
1.3.100436Of spirit so still and quiet that her motion
1.3.101437Blushed at herself, and she--in spite of nature,
1.3.102438Of years, of country, credit, everything--
1.3.103439To fall in love with what she feared to look on?
1.3.104440It is a judgment maimed and most imperfect
1.3.105441That will confess perfection so could err
1.3.106442Against all rules of nature, and must be driven
1.3.108444Why this should be. I therefore vouch again
1.3.109445That with some mixtures powerful o'er the blood,
1.3.110446Or with some dram conjured to this effect,
He wrought upon her. To vouch this is no proof
1.3.113450Than these thin habits and poor likelihoods
1.3.114451Of modern seeming do prefer against him.
But, Othello, speak:
1.3.117454Subdue and poison this young maid's affections?
1.3.118455Or came it by request and such fair question
As soul to soul affordeth? I do beseech you,
1.3.121459And let her speak of me before her father;
1.3.124462Not only take away, but let your sentence
Even fall upon my life. Fetch Desdemona hither.
Ancient, conduct them;
466you best know the place.
1.3.127467And till she come, as truly as to heaven
1.3.129469So justly to your grave ears I'll present
1.3.130470How I did thrive in this fair lady's love,
And she in mine. Say it, Othello.
Her father loved me, oft invited me,
1.3.133474Still questioned me the story of my life
1.3.134475From year to year--the battle, sieges, fortune
1.3.136477I ran it through, even from my boyish days
1.3.137478To th'very moment that he bade me tell it,
1.3.138479Wherein I spoke of most disastrous chances,
1.3.140481Of hairbreadth scapes i'th'imminent deadly breach;
1.3.142483And sold to slavery, of my redemption thence
1.3.144485Wherein of antars vast and deserts idle,
1.3.145486Rough quarries, rocks, hills whose heads touch heaven,
1.3.146487It was my hint to speak--such was my process--
1.3.147488And of the cannibals that each other eat,
1.3.149490Do grow beneath their shoulders. These things to hear
1.3.151492But still the house affairs would draw her thence,
1.3.152493Which ever as she could with haste dispatch,
1.3.154495Devour up my discourse; which I, observing,
1.3.155496Took once a pliant hour and found good means
1.3.156497To draw from her a prayer of earnest heart
1.3.158499Whereof by parcels she had something heard,
1.3.161502When I did speak of some distressful stroke
1.3.162503That my youth suffered. My story being done,
1.3.163504She gave me for my pains a world of kisses;
1.3.164505She swore in faith 'twas strange, 'twas passing strange;
1.3.166507She wished she had not heard it, yet she wished
1.3.167508That heaven had made her such a man. She thanked me,
1.3.168509And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her,
1.3.169510I should but teach him how to tell my story
1.3.170511And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake.
1.3.171512She loved me for the dangers I had passed,
1.3.173514This only is the witchcraft I have used.
1.3.174515Here comes the lady; let her witness it.
1.3.175516Enter Desdemona, Iago, [and] attendants. I think this tale would win my daughter too.
1.3.177518Good Brabantio, take up this mangled matter at the best.
Than their bare hands. I pray you hear her speak.
1.3.180522If she confess that she was half the wooer,
1.3.182524Light on the man. Come hither, gentle mistress.
1.3.183525Do you perceive in all this noble company
Where most you owe obedience? My noble father,
1.3.186529To you I am bound for life and education;
1.3.188531How to respect you. You are the lord of duty;
1.3.189532I am hitherto your daughter. But here's my husband,
1.3.191534To you, preferring you before her father,
God be with you! I have done.
1.3.195538Please it your grace, on to the state affairs.
1.3.196539I had rather to adopt a child than get it.
1.3.198541[To Othello] I here do give thee that with all my heart
1.3.199542Which, but thou hast already, with all my heart
1.3.200543I would keep from thee.
[To Desdemona] For your sake, jewel,
1.3.201544I am glad at soul I have no other child,
1.3.203546To hang clogs on them.
[To the Duke] I have done, my lord.
Let me speak like yourself
548and lay a sentence,
1.3.205549Which as a grise or step may help these lovers
1.3.207550When remedies are past, the griefs are ended
1.3.208551By seeing the worst, which late on hopes depended.
1.3.209552To mourn a mischief that is past and gone
1.3.210553Is the next way to draw new mischief on.
1.3.211554What cannot be preserved when fortune takes,
1.3.213556The robbed that smiles steals something from the thief;
1.3.214557He robs himself that spends a bootless grief.
So let the Turk of Cyprus us beguile;
1.3.217560He bears the sentence well that nothing bears,
1.3.218561But the free comfort which from thence he hears;
1.3.219562But he bears both the sentence and the sorrow
1.3.220563That, to pay grief, must of poor patience borrow.
1.3.222565Being strong on both sides, are equivocal.
1.3.223566But words are words; I never yet did hear
1.3.224567That the bruised heart was piercèd through the ears.
1.3.225568I humbly beseech you proceed to th'affairs of state.
The Turk with a most mighty preparation
570makes for Cyprus. Othello, the fortitude of the place is
571best known to you, and though we have there a
572substitute of most allowed sufficiency, yet opinion, a more
573sovereign mistress of effects, throws a more safer
574voice on you. You must therefore be content to slubber
575the gloss of your new fortunes with this more
576stubborn and boisterous expedition.
The tyrant custom, most grave senators,
1.3.228578Hath made the flinty and steel couch of war
1.3.229579My thrice-driven bed of down. I do agnize
1.3.233583Most humbly therefore bending to your state,
Why, at her father's.
Why, at her father's. I will not have it so.
Nor I.
Nor would I there reside
1.3.242593By being in his eye. Most gracious duke,
1.3.243594To my unfolding lend your prosperous ear,
T'assist my simpleness. What would you, Desdemona?
That I did love the Moor to live with him,
1.3.247599My downright violence and storm of fortunes
1.3.248600May trumpet to the world. My heart's subdued
1.3.253605So that, dear lords, if I be left behind,
1.3.255607The rites for why I love him are bereft me,
1.3.257609By his dear absence. Let me go with him.
Let her have your voice.
1.3.259611Vouch with me, heaven; I therefore beg it not
1.3.261613Nor to comply with heat the young affects
1.3.263615But to be free and bounteous to her mind;
1.3.264616And heaven defend your good souls that you think
1.3.265617I will your serious and great business scant
1.3.266618When she is with me. No, when light-winged toys
1.3.267619Of feathered Cupid seel with wanton dullness
1.3.269621That my disports corrupt and taint my business,
1.3.270622Let housewives make a skillet of my helm
Be it as you shall privately determine,
1.3.274626Either for her stay or going. Th'affair cries haste,
And speed must answer it. You must away tonight.
Tonight, my lord?
Tonight, my lord? This night.
Tonight, my lord? This night. With all my heart.
At nine i'th'morning here we'll meet again.
1.3.279632And he shall our commission bring to you,
1.3.280633And such things else of quality and respect
As doth import you. So please your grace, my ancient--
1.3.284638With what else needful your good grace shall think
To be sent after me. Let it be so.
1.3.286641Goodnight to everyone--and, noble signor,
1.3.288643Your son-in-law is far more fair than black.
Adieu, brave Moor, use Desdemona well.
Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see;
1.3.291646She has deceived her father, and may thee.
1.3.291.1Exeunt [Duke, Senators, Brabantio, Cassio, Sailor, Messenger, officers, and attendants]. My life upon her faith! Honest Iago,
1.3.295650And bring them after in the best advantage.
1.3.297652Of love, of worldly matter and direction
1.3.298653To spend with thee. We must obey the time.
Iago.
What sayst thou, noble heart?
What will I do, think'st thou?
Why, go to bed and sleep.
I will incontinently drown myself.
If thou dost, I shall never love thee after. Why,
660thou silly gentleman?
It is silliness to live when to live is torment;
662and then have we a prescription to die, when death is
663our physician.
Oh, villainous! I have looked upon the world
665for four times seven years, and, since I could distinguish
666betwixt a benefit and an injury, I never found man that
667knew how to love himself. Ere I would say I would
668drown myself for the love of a guinea-hen, I would
669change my humanity with a baboon.
What should I do? I confess it is my shame
671to be so fond, but it is not in my virtue to amend it.
Virtue? A fig! 'Tis in ourselves that we are
673thus or thus. Our bodies are our gardens to the which
674our wills are gardeners, so that if we will plant
675nettles or sow lettuce, set hyssop and weed up thyme,
676supply it with one gender of herbs or distract it with
677many, either to have it sterile with idleness or
678manured with industry--why, the power and corrigible
679authority of this lies in our wills. If the beam of our lives
680had not one scale of reason to poise another of
681sensuality, the blood and baseness of our natures would
682conduct us to most preposterous conclusions. But we
683have reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal
684stings, our unbitted lusts--whereof I take this that you
685call love to be a sect or scion.
It cannot be.
It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission
688of the will. Come, be a man! Drown thyself? Drown
689cats and blind puppies. I have professed me thy friend,
690and I confess me knit to thy deserving with cables of
691perdurable toughness. I could never better stead thee
692than now. Put money in thy purse. Follow thou the
693wars; defeat thy favor with an usurped beard. I say,
694put money in thy purse. It cannot be long that Desdemona
695should continue her love to the Moor--put money in
696thy purse--nor he his to her. It was a violent
697commencement in her, and thou shalt see an answerable
698sequestration--put but money in thy purse. These Moors
699are changeable in their wills--fill thy purse with money.
700The food that to him now is as luscious as locusts
701shall be to him shortly as acerb as coloquintida. She
702must change for youth; when she is sated with his body,
703she will find the errors of her choice. Therefore, put
704money in thy purse. If thou wilt needs damn thyself, do
705it a more delicate way than drowning. Make all the
706money thou canst. If sanctimony and a frail vow
707betwixt an erring barbarian and a super-subtle Venetian be
708not too hard for my wits and all the tribe of hell, thou
709shalt enjoy her. Therefore make money. A pox of
710drowning thyself. It is clean out of the way. Seek thou
711rather to be hanged in compassing thy joy than to be
712drowned and go without her.
Wilt thou be fast to my hopes, if I depend on
714the issue?
Thou art sure of me--go, make money--I have
716told thee often, and I retell thee again and again: I
717hate the Moor. My cause is hearted; thine hath no less
718reason. Let us be conjunctive in our revenge against
719him. If thou canst cuckold him, thou dost thyself a
720pleasure, me a sport. There are many events in the
721womb of time which will be delivered. Traverse, go,
722provide thy money. We will have more of this
723tomorrow. Adieu.
Where shall we meet i'th'morning?
At my lodging.
I'll be with thee betimes.
Go to, farewell. Do you hear, Roderigo?
What say you?
No more of drowning, do you hear?
I am changed.
Go to, farewell. Put money enough in your purse.
I'll sell all my land.
Thus do I ever make my fool my purse;
1.3.323730For I mine own gained knowledge should profane
1.3.324731If I would time expend with such a snipe
1.3.325732But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor,
1.3.326733And it is thought abroad that 'twixt my sheets
1.3.327734He's done my office. I know not if't be true,
1.3.329736Will do as if for surety. He holds me well;
1.3.330737The better shall my purpose work on him.
1.3.332739To get his place and to plume up my will
1.3.337744To be suspected, framed to make women false.
1.3.339746That thinks men honest that but seem to be so,
1.3.340747And will as tenderly be led by'th'nose
748as asses are.
1.3.341749I have't. It is engendered. Hell and night
1.3.342750Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light.