And will as tenderly be led by the nose As asses are. I have 't; it is engender'd: Hell and night Must bring this monstrous birth to the World's light. [exit. ACT I ACT II SCENE I. A Seaport in Cyprus. An Open Place near the Quay. Enter MONTANO and two Gentlemen. MON. What from the cape can you discern at sea? MON. Methinks the wind hath spoke aloud at land; A fuller blast ne'er shook our battlements: If it hath ruffian'd so upon the sea, What ribs of oak, when mountains melt on them, For, do but stand upon the foaming shore, ΤΟ The wind-shak'd surge, with high and monstrous mane, And quench the guards of the ever-fixed Pole: I never did like molestation view On the enchafed flood. MON. If that the Turkish fleet Be not enshelter'd and embay'd, they are drown'd; It is impossible they bear it out. Enter a third Gentleman. THIRD GENT. News, Lads! our wars are done. 20 ACT II MON. How! is this true? Sc. I THIRD GENT. The ship is here put in, A Veronesa; Michael Cassio, Lieutenant to the warlike Moor Othello, Touching the Turkish loss, yet he looks sadly, MON. 30 Pray Heavens he be; For I have serv'd him, and the man commands As well to see the vessel that's come in As to throw out our eyes for brave Othello, CAS. Thanks, you the valiant of this warlike Isle, Give him defence against the elements, For I have lost him on a dangerous sea! MON. Is he well shipp'd? CAS. His bark is stoutly timber'd, and his pilot Of very expert and approv'd allowance; 40 50 Stand in bold cure. [A cry within: A sail, a sail, a sail! Enter a fourth Gentleman. CAS. What noise? FOURTH GENT. The Town is empty; on the brow o' the sea Stand ranks of people, and they cry A sail! 1 the idea is that hope feeds on hope till it dies of surfeit. CAS. My hopes do shape him for the Governor. ACT II SEC. GENT. They do discharge their shot of courtesy: 60 MON. But, good Lieutenant, is your General wiv'd? That paragons description and wild fame; Does tire the ingener. Re-enter second Gentleman. How now! who has put in? SEC. GENT. "Tis one Iago, Ancient to the General. Their mortal natures, letting go safely by The divine Desdemona. CAS. She that I spake of, our great Captain's captain, Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts A se'nnight's speed. Great Jove, Othello guard, Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA, IAGO, RODERIGO, The riches of the ship is come on shore! 1 submerged in the water. 70 80 ACT II Before, behind thee, and on every hand, Enwheel thee round! DES. I thank you, valiant Cassio. 90 [Within: A sail, a sail! Guns heard. SEC. GENT. They give their greeting to the citadel : This likewise is a friend. CAS. See for the news. [Exit Gentleman. Good Ancient, you are welcome; [to EMILIA.] wel come, Mistress. Let it not gall your patience, good Iago, That I extend my manners; 'tis my breeding That gives me this bold show of courtesy. [kissing her. You'ld have enough. DES. IAGO. In faith, too much; Alas, she has no speech. I find it still, when I have list to sleep: Marry, before your Ladyship, I grant, She puts her tongue a little in her heart, And chides with thinking. EMIL. You have little cause to say so. 100 IAGO. Come on, come on; you are pictures out of doors, Bells in your parlours, wild-cats in your kitchens, IIO Players in your huswifery, and huswives in your beds. DES. O, fie upon thee, Slanderer! IAGO. Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk : You rise to play, and go to bed to work. IAGO. No, let me not. DES. What would'st thou write of me, if thou should'st ACT II praise me? IAGO. O gentle Lady, do not put me to❜t; For I am nothing, if not critical. DES. Come on, assay. There's one gone to the harbour? IAGO. Ay, Madam. DES. I am not merry; but I do beguile The thing I am, by seeming otherwise. Come, how would'st thou praise me? IAGO. I am about it; but, indeed, my invention If she be fair and wise—fairness and wit, The one's for use, the other useth it. DES. Well prais'd! How if she be black and witty? She'll find a white that shall her blackness fit. DES. Worse and worse. EMIL. How if fair and foolish? IAGO. She never yet was foolish that was fair ; For even her folly help'd her to an heir. 121 130 DES. These are old fond paradoxes to make fools laugh i' the ale-house. What miserable praise hast thou for her that's foul and foolish? IAGO. There's none so foul, and foolish thereunto, 140 But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do. To change the cod's head for the salmon's tail; 1 i.e. call for the testimony. 150 Sc. I |