Imatges de pàgina
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But I'll let down the pegs that make this musick,

As honeft as I am.

Oth. Come, let's to the caftle.

[Afide.

Now, friends, our wars are done; the Turks are drown'd

How do our old acquaintance of this ifle?

Honey, you fhall be well defir'd in Cyprus,

I've found great love amongst them. Oh my fweet,
I prattle out of fashion, and I dote

In mine own comfort. Pr'ythee, good Iago,

Go to the bay, and difeinbark my coffers:
Bring thou the mafter to the citadel,

He is a good one, and his worthiness

Does challenge much refpect. Come, Desdemona,
Once more well met at Cyprus.

[Exeunt Othello and Desdemona.

s c

CENE

Manent lago and Rodorigo.

VII.

Iago. Do you meet me prefently at the harbour. Come thither, if thou be'ft valiant; as they fay, bafe men being in love, have then a nobility in their natures, more than is native to them lift me; the lieutenant to-night watches on the court of guard. First, I must tell thee this: Desdemona is directly in love with him.

Rod. With him? why, 'tis not poffible.

Iago. Lay thy fingers thus; and let thy foul be inftructed. Mark me with what violence the first lov'd the Moor, but for bragging, and telling her fantastical lies. And will fhe love him ftill for prating? let not thy difcreet heart think it. Her eye muft be fed. And what delight fhall fhe have to look on the devil? When the blood is made dull with the act of fport, there should be, again to inflame it and to give fatiety a fresh appetite, loveliness in favour, fympathy in years, manners, and beauties all which the Moor is defective in. Now for want of thefe requir'd conveniences, her delicate tendernefs will find it felf abus'd, begin to heave the gorge,

difrelish

disrelish and abhor the Moor; very nature will inftruct her in it, and compel her to fome fecond choice. Now, Sir, this granted, (as it is a moft pregnant and unforc❜d. pofition) who ftands fo eminent in the degree of this fortune, as Caffio does? a knave very voluble; no further confcionable, than in putting on the meer form of civil and humane feeming, for the better compaffing of his falt and most hidden loofe affection; a flippery and fubtle knave, a finder of occafions, that has an eye can stamp and counterfeit advantages, tho' true advantage never prefent it felf. A devilish knave! befides, the knave is hand fome, young, and hath all thofe requifites in him, that folly and green minds look after. A peftilent compleat knave! and the woman hath found him already.

Rod. I cannot believe that of her, fhe's full of most blefs'd condition.

lago. Blefs'd figs end! the wine fhe drinks is made of grapes. If fhe had been blefs'd, fhe would never have lov'd the Moor: blefs'd pudding! didft thou not fee her paddle with the palm of his hand? didft not mark that?

Rod. Yes, that I did; but that was but courtefie.

lago. Letchery, by this hand; an index, and obscure prologue to the hiftory of luft, and foul thoughts. They met fo near with their lips, that their breaths embrac❜d together. Villainous thoughts, Rodorigo! when thefe mutualities fo marshal the way, hard at hand comes the mafter and main exercise, th' incorporate conclufion: pifh

But, Sir, be you rul'd by me. I have brought you from Venice. Watch you to-night; for the command, I'll lay't upon you. Caffio knows you not: I'll not be far from you. Do find fome occafion to anger Caffio, either by fpeaking too loud, or tainting his difcipline, or from what other courfe you please, which the time fhall more favourably minifter.

Rod. Well.

you

Iago. Sir, he's rafh, and happily may ftrike at you.

very fudden in choler: and Provoke him that he may; Gg 3

for

for even out of that will I cause those of Cyprus to mu tiny; whofe qualification fhall come into no true taste again, but by difplanting of Caffio. So fhall you have a horter journey to your defires, by the means I fhall then have to prefer them: and the impediments moft profita bly removed, without which there was no expectation of our profperity.

Red. I will do this, if you can bring it to any opportunity.

Iago. I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the citadel. I must fetch his neceffaries afhore. Farewel. Rod. Adieu.

SCEN N E VIII.

- Manet Iago.

Iago. That Caffio loves her, I do well believe:
That the loves him, 'tis apt, and of great credit.
The Moor, howbeit that I endure him not,
Is of a conftant, loving, noble nature,
And I dare think he'll prove to Defaemona
A moft dear husband. Now I love her too,
Not out of abfolute luft, (though peradventure
I ftand accountant for as great a fin,)
But partly led to diet my revenge,

[Exit,

For that I do fufpect the lufty Moor
Hath leapt into my feat: the thought whereof
Doth, like a poifonous mineral, gnaw my inwards;
And nothing can, or fhall content my foul,

'Till I am even'd with him, wife for wife;

Or failing fo, yet that I put the Moor

At leaft into a jealoufie fo ftrong,

That judgment cannot cure.

Which thing to do,

If this poor trafh of Venice, whom I trace
For his quick hunting, ftand the putting on;
I'll have our Michael Caffio on the hip,
Abuse him to the Moor in the

4 right

'rank` garb,

(FOF

(For I fear Caffio with my night-cap too,)

Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me,
For making him egregiously an ass,

And practising upon his peace and quiet,
Even to madnefs. 'Tis here-

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but yet confus'd;

Knavery's plain face is never feen, 'till us'd.

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[Exit.

Her.IT is Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant General, that upon certain tidings now arriv'd, importing the meer perdition of the Turkish fleet, every man put himself into triumph: Some to dance, fome to make bonefires, each man to what fport and revels his mind leads: him. For befides this beneficial news, it is the celebration of his nuptial. So much was his pleafure fhould be proclaimed. All offices are open, and there is full liberty of feafting, from this prefent hour of five, 'till the bell have toll'd eleven.

Blefs the ifle of Cyprus, and our noble General Othello! [Exit.

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Enter Othello, Defdemona, Caffio, and Attendants.
OOD Michael, look you to the guard to-night.
Let's teach ourselves that honourable stop,

Oth.

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Not to out-fport difcretion.

Caf. Iago hath direction what to do:

But notwithstanding, with my perfonal eye
Will I look to't.

.

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Oth.

Oth. lago is most honest:

Michael, good night. To-morrow with your earliest
Let me have speech with you. Come, my dear love,
The purchase made, the fruits are to enfue;

That profit's yet to come 'tween me and you.
Good night.

[Exeunt Othello and Defdemons Enter Iago.

Caf. Welcome, Iago; we must to the watch.

Jago. Not this hour, lieutenant: 'tis not yet ten o’th’ clock. Our General caft us thus early for the love of his Defdemona: whom let us not therefore blame; he hath not yet made the wanton night with her and she is sport for Jove.

Caf. She's a moft exquifite Lady.

lago. And I'll warrant her full of game.

Caf. Indeed fhe's a moft fresh and delicate creature. Iago. What an eye fhe has! methinks it founds a parley to provocation.

Caf. An inviting eye; and yet methinks right modest. Iago. And when the fpeaks, is it not an alarum to love? Caf. She is indeed perfection.

lago. Well, happiness to their fheets! come, lieutenant, I have a ftoop of wine, and here without are a brace of Cyprus gallants, that would fain have a measure to the health of black Othello.

Caf. Not to-night, good Iago: I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking. I could well with courtesie would invent fome other custom of entertainment.

Jago. Oh, they are our friends; but one cup; I'll drink for you.

Caf. I have drunk but one cup to-night, and that was craftily qualified too: and behold what innovation it makes here. I am unfortunate in the infirmity, and dare not task my weakness with any more.

Iago. What, man? 'tis a night of revels, the gallants defire it.

Caf. Where are they?

Jago. Here at the door; I pray you call them in.

Col.

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