THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO THE MOOR OF VENICE ACT I SCENE I. Venice. A Street. Enter RODERIGO and IAGO. ROD. Tush, never tell me; I take it much unkindly As if the strings were thine, should'st know of this. If ever I did dream of such a matter, Abhor me. ROD. Thou told'st me thou didst hold him in thy IAGO. Despise me, if I do not. the City, Three great ones of In personal suit to make me his Lieutenant, I know my price, I am worth no worse a place : More than a spinster; unless the bookish theoric, 1 i.e. very near being married. IO 20 + ACT I As masterly as he mere prattle, without practice, 30 And I (God bless the mark!) his Moorship's Ancient.1 And not by old gradation, where each second To love the Moor. ROD. I would not follow him, then. IAGO. O, Sir, content you; 40 I follow him to serve my turn upon him: 50 Whip me such honest knaves. Others there are, Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul; It is as sure as you are Roderigo, Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago: In following him, I follow but myself; Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty, For, when my outward action doth demonstrate my heart 1 Ensign, Standard-bearer. 60 In complement extern, 'tis not long after For daws to peck at. I am not what I am. Rouse him. Make after him, poison his delight, As it may lose some colour. ROD. Here is her father's house; I'll call aloud. Is spied in populous cities. ROD. What, ho, Brabantio! Signior Brabantio, ho! 70 IAGO. Awake! what ho, Brabantio! thieves! thieves ! Look to your house, your daughter, and your bags! BRABANTIO appears above, at a window. BRA. What is the reason of this terrible summons? What is the matter there? ROD. Signior, is all your family within? IAGO. Are your doors lock'd? BRA. 80 Why, wherefore ask you this? IAGO. 'Zounds, Sir, you're robb'd! for shame, put on your gown! Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul: Even now, now, very now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise! BRA. you know my voice? 90 ACT I Sc. I ROD. My name is Roderigo. ACT I BRA. The worser welcome: BRA. What tell'st thou me of robbing? this is Venice ; ROD. Most grave Brabantio, In simple and pure soul I come to you. IAGO. 'Zounds, Sir, you are one of those that will not serve God, if the Devil bid you. Because we come to do you service, and you think we are ruffians, you '11 have your daughter cover'd with a Barbary horse; you'll have your nephews neigh to you; you'll have coursers for cousins, and gennets for germans. BRA. What profane wretch art thou? IAGO. I am one, Sir, that comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs. BRA. Thou art a villain. IAGO. You are a Senator. BRA. This thou shalt answer: I know thee, Roderigo. 112 120 That, from the sense of all civility, I thus would play and trifle with your Reverence. Tying her duty, beauty, wit, and fortunes, In an extravagant and wheeling1 stranger Of here and every where. Straight satisfy yourself: Let loose on me the justice of the State BRA. Strike on the tinder, ho! Give me a taper! call up all my people! IAGO. 140 [exit above. Farewell; for I must leave you: It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place, Against the Moor: for, I do know, the State (However this may gall him with some check) Cannot with safety cast him; for he's embark'd With such loud reason to the Cyprus wars, Which even now stand in act, that, for their souls, 150 Another of his fathom they have none To lead their business: in which regard, I must shew out a flag and sign of love, Which is indeed but sign. That you shall surely find him, Lead to the Sagittary the raised search; And there will I be with him. So, farewell. [exit. Enter, below, BRABANTIO, and Servants with torches. BRA. It is too true an evil: gone she is ; And what's to come of my despised time Is nought but bitterness. Now, Roderigo, Where didst thou see her? O unhappy Girl! 160 With the Moor, say'st thou? Who would be a father! 1 vagrant and inconstant. |