The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works

by William Shakespeare

  And passion, having my best judgement collied,

  Essays to lead the way. ‘Swounds, if I stir,

  Or do but lift this arm, the best of you

  Shall sink in my rebuke. Give me to know

  How this foul rout began, who set it on,

  And he that is approved in this offence,

  Though he had twinned with me, both at a birth,

  Shall lose me. What, in a town of war

  Yet wild, the people’s hearts brimful of fear,

  To manage private and domestic quarrel

  In night, and on the court and guard of safety!

  ’Tis monstrous. Iago, who began’t?

  MONTANO (to Iago)

  If partially affined or leagued in office

  Thou dost deliver more or less than truth,

  Thou art no soldier.

  IAGO Touch me not so near.

  I had rather ha’ this tongue cut from my mouth

  Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio.

  Yet I persuade myself to speak the truth

  Shall nothing wrong him. This it is, general.

  Montano and myself being in speech,

  There comes a fellow crying out for help,

  And Cassio following him with determined sword

  To execute upon him. Sir, this gentleman

  Steps in to Cassio, and entreats his pause.

  Myself the crying fellow did pursue,

  Lest by his clamour, as it so fell out,

  The town might fall in fright. He, swift of foot,

  Outran my purpose, and I returned, the rather

  For that I heard the clink and fall of swords

  And Cassio high in oath, which till tonight

  I ne’er might say before. When I came back—

  For this was brief—I found them close together

  At blow and thrust, even as again they were

  When you yourself did part them.

  More of this matter cannot I report,

  But men are men. The best sometimes forget.

  Though Cassio did some little wrong to him,

  As men in rage strike those that wish them best,

  Yet surely Cassio, I believe, received

  From him that fled some strange indignity

  Which patience could not pass.

  OTHELLO I know, Iago,

  Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter,

  Making it light to Cassio. Cassio, I love thee,

  But never more be officer of mine.

  Enter Desdemona, attended

  Look if my gentle love be not raised up.

  I’ll make thee an example.

  DESDEMONA What is the matter, dear?

  OTHELLO All’s well now, sweeting.

  Come away to bed. (To Montano) Sir, for your hurts

  Myself will be your surgeon. (To attendants) Lead him

  off.

  Exeunt attendants with Montano

  Iago, look with care about the town,

  And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted.

  Come, Desdemona. ’Tis the soldier’s life

  To have their balmy slumbers waked with strife.

  Exeunt all but Iago and Cassio

  IAGO What, are you hurt, lieutenant?

  CASSIO Ay, past all surgery.

  IAGO Marry, God forbid.

  CASSIO Reputation, reputation, reputation—O, I ha’ lost my reputation, I ha’ lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial! My reputation, Iago, my reputation.

  IAGO As I am an honest man, I thought you had received some bodily wound. There is more sense in that than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition, oft got without merit and lost without deserving. You have lost no reputation at all unless you repute yourself such a loser. What, man, there are more ways to recover the general again. You are but now cast in his mood—a punishment more in policy than in malice, even so as one would beat his offenceless dog to affright an imperious lion. Sue to him again, and he’s yours.

  CASSIO I will rather sue to be despised than to deceive so good a commander with so slight, so drunken, and so indiscreet an officer. Drunk, and speak parrot, and squabble? Swagger, swear, and discourse fustian with one’s own shadow? O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee devil.

  IAGO What was he that you followed with your sword? What had he done to you?

  CASSIO I know not.

  IAGO Is’t possible?

  CASSIO I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly; a quarrel, but nothing wherefore. O God, that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains! That we should with joy, pleasance, revel, and applause transform ourselves into beasts!

  IAGO Why, but you are now well enough. How came you thus recovered?

  CASSIO It hath pleased the devil drunkenness to give place to the devil wrath. One unperfectness shows me another, to make me frankly despise myself.

  IAGO Come, you are too severe a moraller. As the time, the place, and the condition of this country stands, I could heartily wish this had not befallen; but since it is as it is, mend it for your own good.

  CASSIO I will ask him for my place again. He shall tell me I am a drunkard. Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast! O, strange! Every inordinate cup is unblessed, and the ingredient is a devil.

  IAGO Come, come. Good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well used. Exclaim no more against it. And, good lieutenant, I think you think I love you.

  CASSIO I have well approved it, sir—I drunk?

  IAGO You or any man living may be drunk at a time, man. I’ll tell you what you shall do. Our general’s wife is now the general. I may say so in this respect, for that he hath devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, and denotement of her parts and graces. Confess yourself freely to her. Importune her help to put you in your place again. She is of so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed a disposition, she holds it a vice in her goodness not to do more than she is requested. This broken joint between you and her husband entreat her to splinter, and, my fortunes against any lay worth naming, this crack of your love shall grow stronger than it was before.

  CASSIO You advise me well.

  IAGO I protest, in the sincerity of love and honest kindness.

  CASSIO I think it freely, and betimes in the morning I will beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me. I am desperate of my fortunes if they check me here.

  IAGO You are in the right. Good night, lieutenant. I must to the watch.

  CASSIO Good night, honest Iago.

  Exit

  IAGO

  And what’s he then that says I play the villain,

  When this advice is free I give, and honest,

  Probal to thinking, and indeed the course

  To win the Moor again? For ‘tis most easy

  Th’inclining Desdemona to subdue

  In any honest suit. She’s framed as fruitful

  As the free elements; and then for her

  To win the Moor, were’t to renounce his baptism,

  All seals and symbols of redeemed sin,

  His soul is so enfettered to her love

  That she may make, unmake, do what she list,

  Even as her appetite shall play the god

  With his weak function. How am I then a villain,

  To counsel Cassio to this parallel course

  Directly to his good? Divinity of hell:

  When devils will the blackest sins put on,

  They do suggest at first with heavenly shows,

  As I do now; for whiles this honest fool

  Plies Desdemona to repair his fortune,

  And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor,

  I’ll pour this pestilence into his ear:

  That she repeals him for her body’s lust,

  And by how much she strives to do him good

/>   She shall undo her credit with the Moor.

  So will I turn her virtue into pitch,

  And out of her own goodness make the net

  That shall enmesh them all.

  Enter Roderigo

  How now, Roderigo?

  RODERIGO I do follow here in the chase, not like a hound that hunts, but one that fills up the cry. My money is almost spent, I ha’ been tonight exceedingly well cudgelled, and I think the issue will be I shall have so much experience for my pains: and so, with no money at all and a little more wit, return again to Venice.

  IAGO

  How poor are they that ha’ not patience!

  What wound did ever heal but by degrees?

  Thou know‘st we work by wit and not by witchcraft,

  And wit depends on dilatory time.

  Does’t not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee,

  And thou by that small hurt hast cashiered Cassio.

  Though other things grow fair against the sun,

  Yet fruits that blossom first will first be ripe.

  Content thyself a while. By the mass, ’tis morning.

  Pleasure and action make the hours seem short.

  Retire thee. Go where thou art billeted.

  Away, I say. Thou shalt know more hereafter.

  Nay, get thee gone.

  Exit Roderigo

  Two things are to be done.

  My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress.

  I’ll set her on.

  Myself a while to draw the Moor apart,

  And bring him jump when he may Cassio find

  Soliciting his wife. Ay, that’s the way.

  Dull not device by coldness and delay.

  Exit

  3.1 Enter Cassio with Musicians

  CASSIO

  Masters, play here—I will content your pains—

  Something that’s brief, and bid ‘Good morrow, general’.

  Music. Enter Clown

  CLOWN Why, masters, ha’ your instruments been in Naples, that they speak i’th’ nose thus?

  MUSICIAN HOW, sir, how?

  CLOWN Are these, I pray you, wind instruments?

  MUSICIAN Ay, marry are they, sir.

  CLOWN O, thereby hangs a tail.

  MUSICIAN Whereby hangs a tale, sir?

  CLOWN Marry, sir, by many a wind instrument that I know. But masters, here’s money for you, and the general so likes your music that he desires you, for love’s sake, to make no more noise with it.

  MUSICIAN Well, sir, we will not.

  CLOWN If you have any music that may not be heard, to’t again; but, as they say, to hear music the general does not greatly care.

  MUSICIAN We ha’ none such, sir.

  CLOWN Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I’ll away. Go, vanish into air, away. Exeunt Musicians

  CASSIO Dost thou hear, my honest friend?

  CLOWN No, I hear not your honest friend, I hear you.

  CASSIO Prithee, keep up thy quillets. There’s a poor piece of gold for thee. If the gentlewoman that attends the general’s wife be stirring, tell her there’s one Cassio entreats her a little favour of speech. Wilt thou do this?

  CLOWN She is stirring, sir. If she will stir hither, I shall seem to notify unto her.

  CASSIO

  Do, good my friend. Exit Clown

  Enter Iago

  In happy time, Iago.

  IAGO

  You ha’ not been abed, then.

  CASSIO Why, no. The day had broke

  Before we parted. I ha’ made bold, Iago,

  To send in to your wife. My suit to her

  Is that she will to virtuous Desdemona

  Procure me some access.

  IAGO

  I’ll send her to you presently,

  And I’ll devise a mean to draw the Moor

  Out of the way, that your converse and business

  May be more free.

  CASSIO I humbly thank you for’t.

  Exit Iago

  I never knew a Florentine more kind and honest.

  Enter Emilia

  EMILIA

  Good morrow, good lieutenant. I am sorry

  For your displeasure, but all will sure be well.

  The general and his wife are talking of it,

  And she speaks for you stoutly. The Moor replies

  That he you hurt is of great fame in Cyprus,

  And great affinity, and that in wholesome wisdom

  He might not but refuse you. But he protests he loves

  you,

  And needs no other suitor but his likings

  To take the saf’st occasion by the front

  To bring you in again.

  CASSIO Yet I beseech you,

  If you think fit, or that it may be done,

  Give me advantage of some brief discourse

  With Desdemon alone.

  EMILIA Pray you come in.

  I will bestow you where you shall have time

  To speak your bosom freely.

  CASSIO I am much bound to you.

  Exeunt

  3.2 Enter Othello, Iago, and Gentlemen

  OTHELLO

  These letters give, Iago, to the pilot,

  And by him do my duties to the senate.

  That done, I will be walking on the works.

  Repair there to me.

  IAGO Well, my good lord, I’ll do’t.

  Exit

  OTHELLO

  This fortification, gentlemen—shall we see’t?

  A GENTLEMAN We’ll wait upon your lordship.

  Exeunt

  3.3 Enter Desdemona, Cassio, and Emilia

  DESDEMONA

  Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do

  All my abilities in thy behalf.

  EMILIA

  Good madam, do. I warrant it grieves my husband

  As if the cause were his.

  DESDEMONA

  O, that’s an honest fellow. Do not doubt, Cassio,

  But I will have my lord and you again

  As friendly as you were.

  CASSIO Bounteous madam,

  Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio

  He’s never anything but your true servant.

  DESDEMONA

  I know’t. I thank you. You do love my lord.

  You have known him long, and be you well assured

  He shall in strangeness stand no farther off

  Than in a politic distance.

  CASSIO Ay, but, lady,

  That policy may either last so long,

  Or feed upon such nice and wat’rish diet,

  Or breed itself so out of circumstance,

  That, I being absent and my place supplied,

  My general will forget my love and service.

  DESDEMONA

  Do not doubt that. Before Emilia here

  I give thee warrant of thy place. Assure thee,

  If I do vow a friendship I’ll perform it

  To the last article. My lord shall never rest.

  I’ll watch him tame, and talk him out of patience.

  His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift.

  I’ll intermingle everything he does

  With Cassio’s suit. Therefore be merry, Cassio,

  For thy solicitor shall rather die

  Than give thy cause away.

  Enter Othello and Iago

  EMILIA Madam, here comes my lord.

  CASSIO

  Madam, I’ll take my leave.

  DESDEMONA Why, stay, and hear me speak.

  CASSIO

  Madam, not now. I am very ill at ease,

  Unfit for mine own purposes.

  DESDEMONA Well, do your discretion.

  Exit Cassio

  IAGO Ha! I like not that.

  OTHELLO What dost thou say?

  IAGO

  Nothing, my lord. Or if, I know not what.

  OTHELLO

  Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?

  IAGO

  Cassio, my lord?
No, sure, I cannot think it,

  That he would steal away so guilty-like

  Seeing your coming.

  OTHELLO I do believe ’twas he.

  DESDEMONA How now, my lord?

  I have been talking with a suitor here,

  A man that languishes in your displeasure.

  OTHELLO Who is’t you mean?

  DESDEMONA

  Why, your lieutenant, Cassio; good my lord,

  If I have any grace or power to move you,

  His present reconciliation take;

  For if he be not one that truly loves you,

  That errs in ignorance and not in cunning,

  I have no judgement in an honest face.

  I prithee call him back.

  OTHELLO Went he hence now?

  DESDEMONA Yes, faith, so humbled

  That he hath left part of his grief with me

  To suffer with him. Good love, call him back.

  OTHELLO

  Not now, sweet Desdemon. Some other time.

  DESDEMONA

  But shall’t be shortly?

  OTHELLO The sooner, sweet, for you.

  DESDEMONA

  Shall’t be tonight at supper?

  OTHELLO No, not tonight.

  DESDEMONA

  Tomorrow dinner, then?

  OTHELLO I shall not dine at home.

  I meet the captains at the citadel.

  DESDEMONA

  Why then, tomorrow night, or Tuesday morn,

  On Tuesday noon, or night, on Wednesday morn—

  I prithee name the time, but let it not

  Exceed three days. In faith, he’s penitent,

  And yet his trespass, in our common reason—

  Save that, they say, the wars must make example

  Out of her best—is not almost a fault

  T‘incur a private check. When shall he come?

  Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul

  What you would ask me that I should deny,

  Or stand so mamm’ring on? What, Michael Cassio,

  That came a-wooing with you, and so many a time

  When I have spoke of you dispraisingly

  Hath ta‘en your part—to have so much to-do

  To bring him in? By’r Lady, I could do much.

  OTHELLO

  Prithee, no more. Let him come when he will.

  I will deny thee nothing.

  DESDEMONA Why, this is not a boon.

  ’Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves,

  Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm,

  Or sue to you to do a peculiar profit

  To your own person. Nay, when I have a suit