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Othello - Act 2, scene 1
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Othello - Act 2, scene 1Act 2, scene 1
Scene 1
Synopsis:
The Turkish fleet is destroyed in a storm, while Cassio and then Desdemona, Emilia, and Iago arrive safely at Cyprus. Desdemona anxiously waits for Othello. When his ship arrives, he and Desdemona joyfully greet each other. Iago, putting his plot into action, persuades Roderigo that Desdemona is in love with Cassio and that Roderigo should help get Cassio dismissed from the lieutenancy.
Enter Montano and two Gentlemen.MONTANO
0777 What from the cape can you discern at sea?
FIRST GENTLEMAN
0778 Nothing at all. It is a high-wrought flood.
0779 I cannot ’twixt the heaven and the main
0780 Descry a sail.
MONTANO
0781 5 Methinks the wind hath spoke aloud at land.
0782 A fuller blast ne’er shook our battlements.
0783 If it hath ruffianed so upon the sea,
0784 What ribs of oak, when mountains melt on them,
0785 Can hold the mortise? What shall we hear of this?
SECOND GENTLEMAN
0786 10 A segregation of the Turkish fleet.
0787 For do but stand upon the foaming shore,
0788 The chidden billow seems to pelt the clouds,
0789 The wind-shaked surge, with high and monstrous
0790 mane,
0791 15 Seems to cast water on the burning Bear
0792 And quench the guards of th’ ever-fixèd pole.
0793 I never did like molestation view
0794 On the enchafèd flood.
MONTANO 0795 If that the Turkish fleet
0796 20 Be not ensheltered and embayed, they are drowned.
0797 It is impossible to bear it out.
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Enter a ⟨third⟩ Gentleman.THIRD GENTLEMAN 0798 News, lads! Our wars are done.
0799 The desperate tempest hath so banged the Turks
0800 That their designment halts. A noble ship of Venice
0801 25 Hath seen a grievous wrack and sufferance
0802 On most part of their fleet.
MONTANO
0803 How? Is this true?
THIRD GENTLEMAN 0804 The ship is here put in,
0805 A Veronesa. Michael Cassio,
0806 30 Lieutenant to the warlike Moor Othello,
0807 Is come on shore; the Moor himself at sea,
0808 And is in full commission here for Cyprus.
MONTANO
0809 I am glad on ’t. ’Tis a worthy governor.
THIRD GENTLEMAN
0810 But this same Cassio, though he speak of comfort
0811 35 Touching the Turkish loss, yet he looks sadly
0812 And ⟨prays⟩ the Moor be safe, for they were parted
0813 With foul and violent tempest.
MONTANO 0814 Pray ⟨heaven⟩ he be;
0815 For I have served him, and the man commands
0816 40 Like a full soldier. Let’s to the seaside, ho!
0817 As well to see the vessel that’s come in
0818 As to throw out our eyes for brave Othello,
0819 [Even till we make the main and th’ aerial blue
0820 An indistinct regard.]
⟨THIRD⟩ GENTLEMAN 0821 45 Come, let’s do so;
0822 For every minute is expectancy
0823 Of more ⟨arrivance.⟩
Enter Cassio.
CASSIO
0824 Thanks, you the valiant of ⟨this⟩ warlike isle,
0825 That so approve the Moor! O, let the heavens
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0826
50 Give him defense against the elements,0827 For I have lost him on a dangerous sea.
MONTANO 0828 Is he well shipped?
CASSIO
0829 His bark is stoutly timbered, and his pilot
0830 Of very expert and approved allowance;
0831 55 Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death,
0832 Stand in bold cure.
⌜Voices cry⌝ within. “A sail, a sail, a sail!”
⟨Enter a Messenger.⟩
CASSIO 0833 What noise?
⟨MESSENGER⟩
0834 The town is empty; on the brow o’ th’ sea
0835 Stand ranks of people, and they cry “A sail!”
CASSIO
0836 60 My hopes do shape him for the Governor.
⟨A shot.⟩
⟨SECOND⟩ GENTLEMAN
0837 They do discharge their shot of courtesy.
0838 Our friends, at least.
CASSIO 0839 I pray you, sir, go forth,
0840 And give us truth who ’tis that is arrived.
⟨SECOND⟩ GENTLEMAN 0841 65I shall.He exits.
MONTANO
0842 But, good lieutenant, is your general wived?
CASSIO
0843 Most fortunately. He hath achieved a maid
0844 That paragons description and wild fame,
0845 One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens,
0846 70 And in th’ essential vesture of creation
0847 Does tire the ⌜ingener.⌝
Enter ⟨Second⟩ Gentleman.
0848 How now? Who has put in?
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⟨SECOND⟩ GENTLEMAN 0849 ’Tis one Iago, ancient to the General.
CASSIO
0850 ’Has had most favorable and happy speed!
0851 75 Tempests themselves, high seas, and howling winds,
0852 The guttered rocks and congregated sands
0853 (Traitors ensteeped to ⟨clog⟩ the guiltless keel),
0854 As having sense of beauty, do omit
0855 Their mortal natures, letting go safely by
0856 80 The divine Desdemona.
MONTANO 0857 What is she?
CASSIO
0858 She that I spake of, our great captain’s captain,
0859 Left in the conduct of the bold Iago,
0860 Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts
0861 85 A sennight’s speed. Great Jove, Othello guard,
0862 And swell his sail with thine own powerful breath,
0863 That he may bless this bay with his tall ship,
0864 Make love’s quick pants in Desdemona’s arms,
0865 Give renewed fire to our extincted spirits,
0866 90 ⟨And bring all Cyprus comfort!⟩
Enter Desdemona, Iago, Roderigo, and Emilia.
0867 O, behold,
0868 The riches of the ship is come on shore!
0869 You men of Cyprus, let her have your knees.
⌜He kneels.⌝
0870 Hail to thee, lady, and the grace of heaven,
0871 95 Before, behind thee, and on every hand
0872 Enwheel thee round.⌜He rises.⌝
DESDEMONA 0873 I thank you, valiant Cassio.
0874 What tidings can you tell of my lord?
CASSIO
0875 He is not yet arrived, nor know I aught
0876 100 But that he’s well and will be shortly here.
DESDEMONA
0877 O, but I fear—How lost you company?
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CASSIO 0878 The great contention of sea and skies
0879 Parted our fellowship.
Within “A sail, a sail!” ⌜A shot.⌝
0880 But hark, a sail!
⟨SECOND⟩ GENTLEMAN
0881 105 They give ⟨their⟩ greeting to the citadel.
0882 This likewise is a friend.
CASSIO 0883 See for the news.
⌜Second Gentleman exits.⌝
0884 Good ancient, you are welcome. Welcome, mistress.
⌜He kisses Emilia.⌝
0885 Let it not gall your patience, good Iago,
0886 110 That I extend my manners. ’Tis my breeding
0887 That gives me this bold show of courtesy.
IAGO
0888 Sir, would she give you so much of her lips
0889 As of her tongue she oft bestows on me,
0890 You would have enough.
DESDEMONA
0891 115 Alas, she has no speech!
IAGO 0892 In faith, too much.
0893 I find it still when I have ⟨list⟩ to sleep.
0894 Marry, before your Ladyship, I grant,
0895 She puts her tongue a little in her heart
0896 120 And chides with thinking.
EMILIA 0897 You have little cause to say so.
IAGO 0898 Come on, come on! You are pictures out of door,
0899 bells in your parlors, wildcats in your kitchens,
0900 saints in your injuries, devils being offended, players
0901 125 in your huswifery, and huswives in your beds.
DESDEMONA 0902 Oh, fie upon thee, slanderer.
IAGO
0903 Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk.
0904 You rise to play, and go to bed to work.
EMILIA
0905 You shall not write my praise.
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IAGO
0906
130 No, let me not.DESDEMONA
0907 What wouldst write of me if thou shouldst praise
0908 me?
IAGO
0909 O, gentle lady, do not put me to ’t,
0910 For I am nothing if not critical.
DESDEMONA
0911 135 Come on, assay.—There’s one gone to the harbor?
IAGO 0912 Ay, madam.
DESDEMONA, ⌜aside⌝
0913 I am not merry, but I do beguile
0914 The thing I am by seeming otherwise.—
0915 Come, how wouldst thou praise me?
IAGO 0916 140I am about it, but indeed my invention comes
0917 from my pate as birdlime does from frieze: it
0918 plucks out brains and all. But my muse labors, and
0919 thus she is delivered:
0920 If she be fair and wise, fairness and wit,
0921 145 The one’s for use, the other useth it.
DESDEMONA
0922 Well praised! How if she be black and witty?
IAGO
0923 If she be black, and thereto have a wit,
0924 She’ll find a white that shall her blackness ⟨hit.⟩
DESDEMONA
0925 Worse and worse.
EMILIA 0926 150 How if fair and foolish?
IAGO
0927 She never yet was foolish that was fair,
0928 For even her folly helped her to an heir.
DESDEMONA 0929 These are old fond paradoxes to make
0930 fools laugh i’ th’ alehouse. What miserable praise
0931 155 hast thou for her that’s foul and foolish?
IAGO
0932 There’s none so foul and foolish thereunto,
0933 But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do.
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DESDEMONA
0934
O heavy ignorance! Thou praisest the0935 worst best. But what praise couldst thou bestow on
0936 160 a deserving woman indeed, one that in the authority
0937 of her merit did justly put on the vouch of very
0938 malice itself?
IAGO
0939 She that was ever fair and never proud,
0940 Had tongue at will and yet was never loud,
0941 165 Never lacked gold and yet went never gay,
0942 Fled from her wish, and yet said “Now I may,”
0943 She that being angered, her revenge being nigh,
0944 Bade her wrong stay and her displeasure fly,
0945 She that in wisdom never was so frail
0946 170 To change the cod’s head for the salmon’s tail,
0947 She that could think and ne’er disclose her mind,
0948 [See suitors following and not look behind,]
0949 She was a wight, if ever such ⟨wight⟩ were—
DESDEMONA 0950 To do what?
IAGO
0951 175 To suckle fools and chronicle small beer.
DESDEMONA 0952 O, most lame and impotent conclusion!
0953 —Do not learn of him, Emilia, though he be thy
0954 husband.—How say you, Cassio? Is he not a most
0955 profane and liberal counselor?
CASSIO 0956 180He speaks home, madam. You may relish him
0957 more in the soldier than in the scholar.
⌜Cassio takes Desdemona’s hand.⌝
IAGO, ⌜aside⌝ 0958 He takes her by the palm. Ay, well said,
0959 whisper. With as little a web as this will I ensnare as
0960 great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do. I will
0961 185 ⌜gyve⌝ thee in thine own courtship. You say true, ’tis
0962 so indeed. If such tricks as these strip you out of
0963 your lieutenantry, it had been better you had not
0964 kissed your three fingers so oft, which now again
0965 you are most apt to play the sir in. Very good; well
0966 190 kissed; ⟨an⟩ excellent courtesy! ’Tis so, indeed. Yet
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0967
again your fingers to your lips? Would they were0968 ⟨clyster⟩ pipes for your sake!⟨Trumpets within.⟩
0969 The Moor. I know his trumpet.
CASSIO 0970 ’Tis truly so.
DESDEMONA 0971 195Let’s meet him and receive him.
CASSIO 0972 Lo, where he comes!
Enter Othello and Attendants.
OTHELLO
0973 O, my fair warrior!
DESDEMONA 0974 My dear Othello!
OTHELLO
0975 It gives me wonder great as my content
0976 200 To see you here before me. O my soul’s joy!
0977 If after every tempest come such calms,
0978 May the winds blow till they have wakened death,
0979 And let the laboring bark climb hills of seas
0980 Olympus high, and duck again as low
0981 205 As hell’s from heaven! If it were now to die,
0982 ’Twere now to be most happy, for I fear
0983 My soul hath her content so absolute
0984 That not another comfort like to this
0985 Succeeds in unknown fate.
DESDEMONA 0986 210 The heavens forbid
0987 But that our loves and comforts should increase
0988 Even as our days do grow!
OTHELLO 0989 Amen to that, sweet powers!
0990 I cannot speak enough of this content.
0991 215 It stops me here; it is too much of joy.⟨They kiss.⟩
0992 And this, and this, the greatest discords be
0993 That e’er our hearts shall make!
IAGO, ⌜aside⌝ 0994 O, you are well tuned now,
0995 But I’ll set down the pegs that make this music,
0996 220 As honest as I am.
OTHELLO 0997 Come. Let us to the castle.—
0998 News, friends! Our wars are done. The Turks are
0999 drowned.
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1000
How does my old acquaintance of this isle?—1001 225 Honey, you shall be well desired in Cyprus.
1002 I have found great love amongst them. O, my sweet,
1003 I prattle out of fashion, and I dote
1004 In mine own comforts.—I prithee, good Iago,
1005 Go to the bay and disembark my coffers.
1006 230 Bring thou the master to the citadel.
1007 He is a good one, and his worthiness
1008 Does challenge much respect.—Come, Desdemona.
1009 Once more, well met at Cyprus.
⌜All but Iago and Roderigo⌝ exit.
IAGO, ⌜to a departing Attendant⌝ 1010 Do thou meet me presently
1011 235 at the harbor. ⌜To Roderigo.⌝ Come ⟨hither.⟩ If
1012 thou be’st valiant—as they say base men being in
1013 love have then a nobility in their natures more than
1014 is native to them—list me. The Lieutenant tonight
1015 watches on the court of guard. First, I must tell thee
1016 240 this: Desdemona is directly in love with him.
RODERIGO 1017 With him? Why, ’tis not possible.
IAGO 1018 Lay thy finger thus, and let thy soul be instructed.
1019 Mark me with what violence she first loved the
1020 Moor but for bragging and telling her fantastical
1021 245 lies. ⟨And will she⟩ love him still for prating? Let not
1022 thy discreet heart think it. Her eye must be fed. And
1023 what delight shall she have to look on the devil?
1024 When the blood is made dull with the act of sport,
1025 there should be, ⟨again⟩ to inflame it and to give
1026 250 satiety a fresh appetite, loveliness in favor, sympathy
1027 in years, manners, and beauties, all which the Moor
1028 is defective in. Now, for want of these required
1029 conveniences, her delicate tenderness will find itself
1030 abused, begin to heave the gorge, disrelish and
1031 255 abhor the Moor. Very nature will instruct her in it
1032 and compel her to some second choice. Now, sir,
1033 this granted—as it is a most pregnant and unforced
1034 position—who stands so eminent in the degree of
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1035
this fortune as Cassio does? A knave very voluble, no1036 260 further conscionable than in putting on the mere
1037 form of civil and humane seeming for the better
1038 ⟨compassing⟩ of his salt and most hidden loose
1039 affection. Why, none, why, none! A slipper and
1040 subtle knave, a ⟨finder-out of occasions,⟩ that ⟨has⟩ an
1041 265 eye can stamp and counterfeit advantages, though
1042 true advantage never present itself; a devilish knave!
1043 Besides, the knave is handsome, young, and hath all
1044 those requisites in him that folly and green minds
1045 look after. A pestilent complete knave, and the
1046 270 woman hath found him already.
RODERIGO 1047 I cannot believe that in her. She’s full of
1048 most blessed condition.
IAGO 1049 Blessed fig’s end! The wine she drinks is made of
1050 grapes. If she had been blessed, she would never
1051 275 have loved the Moor. Blessed pudding! Didst thou
1052 not see her paddle with the palm of his hand? Didst
1053 not mark that?
RODERIGO 1054 Yes, that I did. But that was but courtesy.
IAGO 1055 Lechery, by this hand! An index and obscure
1056 280 prologue to the history of lust and foul thoughts.
1057 They met so near with their lips that their breaths
1058 embraced together. Villainous thoughts, Roderigo!
1059 When these ⟨mutualities⟩ so marshal the way, hard
1060 at hand comes the master and main exercise, th’
1061 285 incorporate conclusion. Pish! But, sir, be you ruled
1062 by me. I have brought you from Venice. Watch you
1063 tonight. For the command, I’ll lay ’t upon you.
1064 Cassio knows you not. I’ll not be far from you. Do
1065 you find some occasion to anger Cassio, either by
1066 290 speaking too loud, or tainting his discipline, or from
1067 what other course you please, which the time shall
1068 more favorably minister.
RODERIGO 1069 Well.
IAGO 1070 Sir, he’s rash and very sudden in choler, and
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1071
295 haply may strike at you. Provoke him that he may,1072 for even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to
1073 mutiny, whose qualification shall come into no
1074 true taste again but by the displanting of Cassio. So
1075 shall you have a shorter journey to your desires by
1076 300 the means I shall then have to prefer them, and the
1077 impediment most profitably removed, without the
1078 which there were no expectation of our prosperity.
RODERIGO 1079 I will do this, if you can bring it to any
1080 opportunity.
IAGO 1081 305I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the citadel. I
1082 must fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewell.
RODERIGO 1083 Adieu.He exits.
IAGO
1084 That Cassio loves her, I do well believe ’t.
1085 That she loves him, ’tis apt and of great credit.
1086 310 The Moor, howbeit that I endure him not,
1087 Is of a constant, loving, noble nature,
1088 And I dare think he’ll prove to Desdemona
1089 A most dear husband. Now, I do love her too,
1090 Not out of absolute lust (though peradventure
1091 315 I stand accountant for as great a sin)
1092 But partly led to diet my revenge
1093 For that I do suspect the lusty Moor
1094 Hath leaped into my seat—the thought whereof
1095 Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards,
1096 320 And nothing can or shall content my soul
1097 Till I am evened with him, wife for wife,
1098 Or, failing so, yet that I put the Moor
1099 At least into a jealousy so strong
1100 That judgment cannot cure. Which thing to do,
1101 325 If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trace
1102 For his quick hunting, stand the putting on,
1103 I’ll have our Michael Cassio on the hip,
1104 Abuse him to the Moor in the ⟨rank⟩ garb
1105 (For I fear Cassio with my ⟨nightcap⟩ too),
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1106
330 Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me1107 For making him egregiously an ass
1108 And practicing upon his peace and quiet
1109 Even to madness. ’Tis here, but yet confused.
1110 Knavery’s plain face is never seen till used.
He exits.