ACT II Sc. I See suitors following, and not look behind ; She was a wight, if ever such wight were— 159 IAGO. To suckle fools and chronicle small beer. CAS. He speaks home, Madam: you may relish him more in the soldier than in the scholar. your IAGO [aside.] He takes her by the palm: ay, well said, whisper with as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do; I will gyve thee in thine own courtship. You say true; 'tis so, indeed: if such tricks as these strip you out of lieutenantry, it had been better you had not kiss'd your three fingers so oft, which now again you are most apt to play the Sir in. Very good; well kiss'd! an excellent courtesy! 'tis so, indeed. Yet again your fingers to your lips? would they were clyster-pipes for your sake! [Trumpet within.] The Moor! I know his trumpet. CAS. 'Tis truly so. DES. Let's meet him and receive him. CAS. Lo, where he comes! Enter OTHELLO and Attendants. ОTн. O my fair Warrior! As Hell's from Heaven! If it were now to die, 1 licentious. 180 190 DES. The Heavens forbid But that our loves and comforts should increase, I cannot speak enough of this content; Amen to that, sweet Powers! And this, and this, the greatest discords be [kissing her. That e'er our hearts shall make! IAGO [aside.] O, you are well tun'd now! Отн. Come, let us to the castle. How does my old acquaintance of this Isle? In mine own comforts. I pr'ythee, good Iago, Bring thou the master to the citadel; He is a good one, and his worthiness 200 O my Sweet, Does challenge much respect. Come, Desdemona, 210 Exeunt OTHELLO, DESDEMONA, and Attendants. IAGO. Do thou meet me presently at the harbour. Come hither. If thou be'st valiant (as, they say, base men being in love have then a nobility in their natures more than is native to them) list me. The Lieutenant to-night watches on the court-of-guard. First, I must tell thee this, Desdemona is directly him. in love with ROD. With him! why, 'tis not possible. there should be, 219 ACT II ACT II again to inflame it, and to give satiety a fresh appetite, loveliness in favour, sympathy in years, manners, and beauties; all which the Moor is defective in. Now, for want of these requir'd conveniences, her delicate tenderness will find itself abus'd, begin to heave the gorge, disrelish and abhor the Moor; very nature will instruct her in it, and compel her to some second choice. Now, Sir, this granted (as it is a most pregnant and unforc'd position) who stands so eminent in the degree of this fortune as Cassio does? a knave very voluble; no further conscionable than in putting on the mere form of civil and humane seeming, for the better compassing of his salt and most hidden loose affection? why, none; why, none: a slipper and subtle knave; a finder of occasions; that has an eye can stamp and counterfeit advantages, though true advantage never present itself; a devilish knave! Besides, the knave is handsome, young, and hath all those requisites in him that folly and green minds look after a pestilent complete knave; and the woman hath found him already. ROD. I cannot believe that in her; she's full of most blessed condition. 249 IAGO. Blessed fig's-end! the wine she drinks is made of grapes: if she had been blessed, she would never have lov'd the Moor. Blessed pudding! Didst thou not see her paddle with the palm of his hand? didst not mark that? ROD. Yes, that I did; but that was but courtesy. tainting his discipline; or from what other course you please, which the time shall more favourably minister. ROD. Well. 269 IAGO. Sir, he is rash, and very sudden in choler, and haply may strike at you: provoke him, that he may; for even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny; whose qualification shall come into no true taste again but by the displanting of Cassio.1 So shall you have a shorter journey to your desires, by the means I shall then have to prefer them; and the impediment most profitably remov'd, without the which there were no expectation of our prosperity. ROD. I will do this, if I can bring it to any opportunity. 280 IAGO. I warrant thee. Meet me by-and-by at the citadel: [exit. IAGO. That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it; But partly led to diet my revenge, Till I am even'd with him, wife for wife; Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor At least into a jealousy so strong That judgment cannot cure. Which thing to do, If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trace 2 For his quick hunting, stand the putting on, 290 300 1 i.e. their professional repute shall not savour well again unless Cassio be condemned. 2 i.e. If this poor creature, whom I follow in order to quicken his pursuit. 3 fashion. ACT II ACT II Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me, Even to madness. 'Tis here, but yet confus'd: [exit. SCENE II. The Same. A Street. Enter a Herald with a Proclamation; People following. HER. It is Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant General, that, upon certain tidings now arriv'd, importing the mere perdition of the Turkish fleet, every man put himself into triumph; some to dance, some to make bonfires, each man to what sport and revels his addiction leads him: for, besides these beneficial news, it is the celebration of his nuptial. So much was his pleasure should be proclaim'd. All offices are open; and there is full liberty of feasting from this present hour of five till the bell have told eleven. Heaven bless the Isle of Cyprus and our noble General Othello! [exeunt. SCENE III. The Same. A Hall in the Castle. CAS. Iago hath direction what to do; But, notwithstanding, with my personal eye Отн. Iago is most honest. Michael, good night: to-morrow with your earliest The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue ; you. IO [Exeunt OTHELLO, DESDEMONA, and Attendants. |