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- Edition: Othello
Othello (Modern)
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7512.1
What from the cape can you discern at sea?
Nothing at all; it is a high-wrought flood.
Methinks the wind hath spoke aloud at land.
A segregation of the Turkish fleet--
770Montano
If that the Turkish fleet
News, lads! Our wars are done.
779Montano
How? Is this true?
The ship is here put in, a Veronnesa. Michael Cassio,
I am glad on't; 785'tis a worthy governor.
But this same Cassio, though he speak of comfort
790Montano
Pray heavens he be,
7973 Gentleman
Come, let's do so;
Thanks, you the valiant of this warlike isle
Is he well shipped?
His bark is stoutly timbered, and his pilot
811Cassio
What noise?
The town is empty; on the brow o'th'sea
My hopes do shape him for the governor.
2.1.55.1[A shot]
They do discharge their shot of courtesy;
I pray you sir, go forth
I shall.
2.1.60.1Exit [2 Gentleman].
But good lieutenant, is your general wived?
Most fortunately; he hath achieved a maid
827How now? Who has put in?
'Tis one Iago, ancient to the general.
He's had most favorable and happy speed.
836Montano
What is she?
She that I spake of, 838our great captain's captain,
2.1.84.1Enter Desdemona, Iago, Roderigo, and Emilia.
846Oh, behold,
853Desdemona
I thank you, valiant Cassio.
He is not yet arrived, nor know I aught
Oh, but I fear--858how lost you company?
The great contention of the sea and skies
Cassio
But hark, a sail.
[A shot]
They give this greeting to the citadel;
864Cassio
See for the news.
2.1.98.1[He kisses Emilia.]
Sir, would she give you so much of her lips
872Desdemona
Alas, she has no speech!
In faith, too much;
You have little cause to say so.
Come on, come on! You are pictures out of 880doors, bells in your parlors, wildcats in your 881kitchens, saints in your injuries, devils being offended, 882players in your housewifery, and housewives in your 883beds.
Oh, fie upon thee, slanderer!
Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk.
You shall not write my praise.
888Iago
No, let me not.
What wouldst write of me, if thou shouldst 890praise me?
Oh, gentle lady, do not put me to't,
Come on, assay--894there's one gone to the harbor?
Ay, madam.
I am not merry, but I do beguile
I am about it, but indeed my invention comes 900from my pate as birdlime does from frieze; it plucks 901out brains and all. But my muse labors, and thus she 902is delivered:
Well praised! 906How if she be black and witty?
Worse and worse.
910Emilia
How if fair and foolish?
These are old fond paradoxes to make fools 914laugh i'th'alehouse. What miserable praise hast thou 915for her that's foul and foolish?
There's none so foul and foolish thereunto,
O heavy ignorance! Thou praisest the worst 919best. But what praise couldst thou bestow on a 920deserving woman indeed? One that in the authority of her 921merit did justly put on the vouch of very malice 922itself.
She that was ever fair and never proud,
To do what?
To suckle fools and chronicle small beer.
O most lame and impotent conclusion! Do 937not learn of him Emilia, though he be thy husband. 938How say you, Cassio, is he not a most profane and 939liberal counselor?
He speaks home, madam. You may relish 941him more in the soldier than in the scholar.
2.1.151.1[Cassio takes Desdemona by the hand.]
[Aside] He takes her by the palm. Ay, well said, 943whisper! With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great 944a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do! I will gyve thee 945in thine own courtship. You say true; 'tis so indeed. 946If such tricks as these strip you out of your lieutenantry,947 it had been better you had not kissed your three 948fingers so oft, which now again you are most apt to play 949the sir in. Very good! Well kissed and excellent courtesy!950 'Tis so indeed. Yet again, your fingers to your 951lips? Would they were clysterpipes for your 952sake.
2.1.152.1[Trumpet within.]
'Tis truly so.
Let's meet him and receive him.
Lo, where he comes.
O my fair warrior!
959Desdemona
My dear Othello.
It gives me wonder great as my content
972Desdemona
The heavens forbid
976Othello
Amen to that, sweet powers.
2.1.180.1[They kiss.]
--the greatest discords be
[Aside] Oh, you are well tuned now! But I'll set down 982the pegs that make this music, as honest as I am.
Come, let us to the castle.
Do thou meet me presently at the harbor. 998Come thither, if thou be'st valiant--as they say base men 999being in love have then a nobility in their natures 1000more than is native to them--list me: the lieutenant 1001tonight watches on the court of guard. First, I must tell 1002thee this: Desdemona is directly in love with him.
With him? Why, 'tis not possible.
Lay thy finger thus, and let thy soul be 1005instructed. Mark me with what violence she first loved 1006the Moor, but for bragging and telling her fantastical 1007lies. To love him still for prating? Let not thy discreet 1008heart think it. Her eye must be fed. And what delight 1009shall she have to look on the devil? When the blood 1010is made dull with the act of sport, there should be a 1011game to enflame it, and, to give satiety a fresh appetite, 1012loveliness in favor, sympathy in years, manners, 1013and beauties--all which the Moor is defective in. Now, 1014for want of these required conveniences her delicate 1015tenderness will find itself abused, begin to heave the 1016gorge, disrelish and abhor the Moor. Very nature will 1017instruct her in it and compel her to some second choice. 1018Now sir, this granted (as it is a most pregnant and 1019unforced position) who stands so eminent in the degree of 1020this fortune as Cassio does--a knave very voluble, no 1021further conscionable than in putting on the mere form 1022of civil and humane seeming for the better compass 1023of his salt and most hidden loose affection? Why none, 1024why none! A slipper and subtle knave, a finder of 1025occasion that has an eye can stamp and counterfeit 1026advantages though true advantage never present itself. 1027A devilish knave! Besides, the knave is handsome, young, 1028and hath all those requisites in him that folly and green 1029minds look after--a pestilent complete knave, and the 1030woman hath found him already.
I cannot believe that in her; she's full of most 1032blessed condition.
Blessed fig's-end! The wine she drinks is 1034made of grapes. If she had been blessed, she would 1035never have loved the Moor. Blessed pudding! Didst thou 1036not see her paddle with the palm of his hand? Didst not 1037mark that?
Yes, that I did; but that was but courtesy.
Lechery, by this hand--an index and obscure 1040prologue to the history of lust and foul thoughts. 1041They met so near with their lips that their breaths 1042embraced together. Villainous thoughts, Roderigo, when 1043these mutualities so marshal the way, hard at hand 1044comes the master and main exercise, th'incorporate 1045conclusion--pish! But sir, be you ruled by me. I have 1046brought you from Venice. Watch you tonight; for 1047the command, I'll lay't upon you. Cassio knows you 1048not; I'll not be far from you. Do you find some 1049occasion to anger Cassio, either by speaking too loud, or 1050tainting his discipline, or from what other course 1051you please which the time shall more favorably 1052minister.
Well.
Sir, he's rash and very sudden in choler, and 1055haply may strike at you. Provoke him that he may, for 1056even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny, 1057whose qualification shall come into no true taste 1058again but by the displanting of Cassio. So shall you 1059have a shorter journey to your desires by the means I 1060shall then have to prefer them, and the impediment 1061most profitably removed without the which there were 1062no expectation of our prosperity.
I will do this, if you can bring it to any 1064opportunity.
I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the 1066citadel. I must fetch his necessaries ashore. 1067Farewell.
Adieu.
2.1.201.1Exit [Roderigo].
That Cassio loves her, I do well believ't;
2.1.228.1Exit [Iago].