|
2
[Enter RODERIGO and IAGO]
4
Tush! never tell me; I take it much unkindly
5
That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse
6
As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this.
8
'Sblood, but you will not hear me:
9
If ever I did dream of such a matter, Abhor me.
11
Thou told'st me thou didst hold him in thy hate.
13
Despise me, if I do not. Three great ones of the city,
14
In personal suit to make me his lieutenant,
15
Off-capp'd to him: and, by the faith of man,
16
I know my price, I am worth no worse a place:
17
But he; as loving his own pride and purposes,
18
Evades them, with a bombast circumstance
19
Horribly stuff'd with epithets of war;
21
Nonsuits my mediators; for, 'Certes,' says he,
22
'I have already chose my officer.'
24
Forsooth, a great arithmetician,
25
One Michael Cassio, a Florentine,
26
A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife;
27
That never set a squadron in the field,
28
Nor the division of a battle knows
29
More than a spinster; unless the bookish theoric,
30
Wherein the toged consuls can propose
31
As masterly as he: mere prattle, without practise,
32
Is all his soldiership. But he, sir, had the election:
33
And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof
34
At Rhodes, at Cyprus and on other grounds
35
Christian and heathen, must be be-lee'd and calm'd
36
By debitor and creditor: this counter-caster,
37
He, in good time, must his lieutenant be,
38
And I—God bless the mark!—his Moorship's ancient.
40
By heaven, I rather would have been his hangman.
42
Why, there's no remedy; 'tis the curse of service,
43
Preferment goes by letter and affection,
44
And not by old gradation, where each second
45
Stood heir to the first. Now, sir, be judge yourself,
46
Whether I in any just term am affined
49
I would not follow him then.
52
I follow him to serve my turn upon him:
53
We cannot all be masters, nor all masters
54
Cannot be truly follow'd. You shall mark
55
Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave,
56
That, doting on his own obsequious bondage,
57
Wears out his time, much like his master's ass,
58
For nought but provender, and when he's old, cashier'd:
59
Whip me such honest knaves. Others there are
60
Who, trimm'd in forms and visages of duty,
61
Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves,
62
And, throwing but shows of service on their lords,
63
Do well thrive by them and when they have lined
65
Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul;
66
And such a one do I profess myself. For, sir,
67
It is as sure as you are Roderigo,
68
Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago:
69
In following him, I follow but myself;
70
Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,
71
But seeming so, for my peculiar end:
72
For when my outward action doth demonstrate
73
The native act and figure of my heart
74
In compliment extern, 'tis not long after
75
But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve
76
For daws to peck at: I am not what I am.
78
What a full fortune does the thicklips owe
79
If he can carry't thus!
82
Rouse him: make after him, poison his delight,
83
Proclaim him in the streets; incense her kinsmen,
84
And, though he in a fertile climate dwell,
85
Plague him with flies: though that his joy be joy,
86
Yet throw such changes of vexation on't,
87
As it may lose some colour.
89
Here is her father's house; I'll call aloud.
91
Do, with like timorous accent and dire yell
92
As when, by night and negligence, the fire
93
Is spied in populous cities.
95
What, ho, Brabantio! Signior Brabantio, ho!
97
Awake! what, ho, Brabantio! thieves! thieves! thieves!
98
Look to your house, your daughter and your bags!
100
[BRABANTIO appears above, at a window]
102
What is the reason of this terrible summons?
103
What is the matter there?
105
Signior, is all your family within?
107
Are your doors lock'd?
109
Why, wherefore ask you this?
111
'Zounds, sir, you're robb'd; for shame, put on
113
Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul;
114
Even now, now, very now, an old black ram
115
Is topping your white ewe. Arise, arise;
116
Awake the snorting citizens with the bell,
117
Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you:
120
What, have you lost your wits?
122
Most reverend signior, do you know my voice?
129
I have charged thee not to haunt about my doors:
130
In honest plainness thou hast heard me say
131
My daughter is not for thee; and now, in madness,
132
Being full of supper and distempering draughts,
133
Upon malicious bravery, dost thou come
138
But thou must needs be sure
139
My spirit and my place have in them power
140
To make this bitter to thee.
144
What tell'st thou me of robbing? this is Venice;
145
My house is not a grange.
147
Most grave Brabantio,
148
In simple and pure soul I come to you.
150
'Zounds, sir, you are one of those that will not
151
serve God, if the devil bid you. Because we come to
152
do you service and you think we are ruffians, you'll
153
have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse;
154
you'll have your nephews neigh to you; you'll have
155
coursers for cousins and gennets for germans.
157
What profane wretch art thou?
159
I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter
160
and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs.
166
This thou shalt answer; I know thee, Roderigo.
168
Sir, I will answer any thing. But, I beseech you,
169
If't be your pleasure and most wise consent,
170
As partly I find it is, that your fair daughter,
171
At this odd-even and dull watch o' the night,
172
Transported, with no worse nor better guard
173
But with a knave of common hire, a gondolier,
174
To the gross clasps of a lascivious Moor—
175
If this be known to you and your allowance,
176
We then have done you bold and saucy wrongs;
177
But if you know not this, my manners tell me
178
We have your wrong rebuke. Do not believe
179
That, from the sense of all civility,
180
I thus would play and trifle with your reverence:
181
Your daughter, if you have not given her leave,
182
I say again, hath made a gross revolt;
183
Tying her duty, beauty, wit and fortunes
184
In an extravagant and wheeling stranger
185
Of here and every where. Straight satisfy yourself:
186
If she be in her chamber or your house,
187
Let loose on me the justice of the state
188
For thus deluding you.
190
Strike on the tinder, ho!
191
Give me a taper! call up all my people!
192
This accident is not unlike my dream:
193
Belief of it oppresses me already.
197
Farewell; for I must leave you:
198
It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place,
199
To be produced—as, if I stay, I shall—
200
Against the Moor: for, I do know, the state,
201
However this may gall him with some cheque,
202
Cannot with safety cast him, for he's embark'd
203
With such loud reason to the Cyprus wars,
204
Which even now stand in act, that, for their souls,
205
Another of his fathom they have none,
206
To lead their business: in which regard,
207
Though I do hate him as I do hell-pains.
208
Yet, for necessity of present life,
209
I must show out a flag and sign of love,
210
Which is indeed but sign. That you shall surely find him,
211
Lead to the Sagittary the raised search;
212
And there will I be with him. So, farewell.
214
[Enter, below, BRABANTIO, and Servants with torches]
216
It is too true an evil: gone she is;
217
And what's to come of my despised time
218
Is nought but bitterness. Now, Roderigo,
219
Where didst thou see her? O unhappy girl!
220
With the Moor, say'st thou? Who would be a father!
221
How didst thou know 'twas she? O she deceives me
222
Past thought! What said she to you? Get more tapers:
223
Raise all my kindred. Are they married, think you?
225
Truly, I think they are.
227
O heaven! How got she out? O treason of the blood!
228
Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters' minds
229
By what you see them act. Is there not charms
230
By which the property of youth and maidhood
231
May be abused? Have you not read, Roderigo,
234
Yes, sir, I have indeed.
236
Call up my brother. O, would you had had her!
237
Some one way, some another. Do you know
238
Where we may apprehend her and the Moor?
240
I think I can discover him, if you please,
241
To get good guard and go along with me.
243
Pray you, lead on. At every house I'll call;
244
I may command at most. Get weapons, ho!
245
And raise some special officers of night.
246
On, good Roderigo: I'll deserve your pains.
2
[Enter OTHELLO, IAGO, and Attendants with torches]
4
Though in the trade of war I have slain men,
5
Yet do I hold it very stuff o' the conscience
6
To do no contrived murder: I lack iniquity
7
Sometimes to do me service: nine or ten times
8
I had thought to have yerk'd him here under the ribs.
13
And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms
15
That, with the little godliness I have,
16
I did full hard forbear him. But, I pray you, sir,
17
Are you fast married? Be assured of this,
18
That the magnifico is much beloved,
19
And hath in his effect a voice potential
20
As double as the duke's: he will divorce you;
21
Or put upon you what restraint and grievance
22
The law, with all his might to enforce it on,
26
My services which I have done the signiory
27
Shall out-tongue his complaints. 'Tis yet to know,—
28
Which, when I know that boasting is an honour,
29
I shall promulgate—I fetch my life and being
30
From men of royal siege, and my demerits
31
May speak unbonneted to as proud a fortune
32
As this that I have reach'd: for know, Iago,
33
But that I love the gentle Desdemona,
34
I would not my unhoused free condition
35
Put into circumscription and confine
36
For the sea's worth. But, look! what lights come yond?
38
Those are the raised father and his friends:
41
Not I. I must be found:
42
My parts, my title and my perfect soul
43
Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they?
46
[Enter CASSIO, and certain Officers with torches]
48
The servants of the duke, and my lieutenant.
49
The goodness of the night upon you, friends!
52
The duke does greet you, general,
53
And he requires your haste-post-haste appearance,
56
What is the matter, think you?
58
Something from Cyprus as I may divine:
59
It is a business of some heat: the galleys
60
Have sent a dozen sequent messengers
61
This very night at one another's heels,
62
And many of the consuls, raised and met,
63
Are at the duke's already: you have been
65
When, being not at your lodging to be found,
66
The senate hath sent about three several guests
69
'Tis well I am found by you.
70
I will but spend a word here in the house,
74
Ancient, what makes he here?
76
'Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land carack:
77
If it prove lawful prize, he's made for ever.
86
Marry, to—Come, captain, will you go?
90
Here comes another troop to seek for you.
92
It is Brabantio. General, be advised;
93
He comes to bad intent.
94
[Enter BRABANTIO, RODERIGO, and Officers with torches and weapons]
98
Signior, it is the Moor.
100
Down with him, thief!
101
[They draw on both sides]
103
You, Roderigo! come, sir, I am for you.
105
Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.
106
Good signior, you shall more command with years
107
Than with your weapons.
109
O thou foul thief, where hast thou stow'd my daughter?
110
Damn'd as thou art, thou hast enchanted her;
111
For I'll refer me to all things of sense,
112
If she in chains of magic were not bound,
113
Whether a maid so tender, fair and happy,
114
So opposite to marriage that she shunned
115
The wealthy curled darlings of our nation,
116
Would ever have, to incur a general mock,
117
Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom
118
Of such a thing as thou, to fear, not to delight.
119
Judge me the world, if 'tis not gross in sense
120
That thou hast practised on her with foul charms,
121
Abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals
122
That weaken motion: I'll have't disputed on;
123
'Tis probable and palpable to thinking.
124
I therefore apprehend and do attach thee
125
For an abuser of the world, a practiser
126
Of arts inhibited and out of warrant.
127
Lay hold upon him: if he do resist,
128
Subdue him at his peril.
131
Both you of my inclining, and the rest:
132
Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it
133
Without a prompter. Where will you that I go
134
To answer this your charge?
136
To prison, till fit time
137
Of law and course of direct session
141
How may the duke be therewith satisfied,
142
Whose messengers are here about my side,
143
Upon some present business of the state
146
'Tis true, most worthy signior;
147
The duke's in council and your noble self,
148
I am sure, is sent for.
150
How! the duke in council!
151
In this time of the night! Bring him away:
152
Mine's not an idle cause: the duke himself,
153
Or any of my brothers of the state,
154
Cannot but feel this wrong as 'twere their own;
155
For if such actions may have passage free,
156
Bond-slaves and pagans shall our statesmen be.
2
[The DUKE and Senators sitting at a table; Officers attending]
4
There is no composition in these news
5
That gives them credit.
7
Indeed, they are disproportion'd;
8
My letters say a hundred and seven galleys.
10
And mine, a hundred and forty.
12
And mine, two hundred:
13
But though they jump not on a just account,—
14
As in these cases, where the aim reports,
15
'Tis oft with difference—yet do they all confirm
16
A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus.
18
Nay, it is possible enough to judgment:
19
I do not so secure me in the error,
20
But the main article I do approve
23
[Within]What, ho! what, ho! what, ho!
25
A messenger from the galleys.
28
Now, what's the business?
30
The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes;
31
So was I bid report here to the state
34
How say you by this change?
37
By no assay of reason: 'tis a pageant,
38
To keep us in false gaze. When we consider
39
The importancy of Cyprus to the Turk,
40
And let ourselves again but understand,
41
That as it more concerns the Turk than Rhodes,
42
So may he with more facile question bear it,
43
For that it stands not in such warlike brace,
44
But altogether lacks the abilities
45
That Rhodes is dress'd in: if we make thought of this,
46
We must not think the Turk is so unskilful
47
To leave that latest which concerns him first,
48
Neglecting an attempt of ease and gain,
49
To wake and wage a danger profitless.
51
Nay, in all confidence, he's not for Rhodes.
56
The Ottomites, reverend and gracious,
57
Steering with due course towards the isle of Rhodes,
58
Have there injointed them with an after fleet.
60
Ay, so I thought. How many, as you guess?
62
Of thirty sail: and now they do restem
63
Their backward course, bearing with frank appearance
64
Their purposes toward Cyprus. Signior Montano,
65
Your trusty and most valiant servitor,
66
With his free duty recommends you thus,
67
And prays you to believe him.
69
'Tis certain, then, for Cyprus.
70
Marcus Luccicos, is not he in town?
74
Write from us to him; post-post-haste dispatch.
76
Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor.
77
[Enter BRABANTIO, OTHELLO, IAGO, RODERIGO, and Officers]
79
Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you
80
Against the general enemy Ottoman.
82
I did not see you; welcome, gentle signior;
83
We lack'd your counsel and your help tonight.
85
So did I yours. Good your grace, pardon me;
86
Neither my place nor aught I heard of business
87
Hath raised me from my bed, nor doth the general care
88
Take hold on me, for my particular grief
89
Is of so flood-gate and o'erbearing nature
90
That it engluts and swallows other sorrows
91
And it is still itself.
93
Why, what's the matter?
95
My daughter! O, my daughter!
100
She is abused, stol'n from me, and corrupted
101
By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks;
102
For nature so preposterously to err,
103
Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense,
104
Sans witchcraft could not.
106
Whoe'er he be that in this foul proceeding
107
Hath thus beguiled your daughter of herself
108
And you of her, the bloody book of law
109
You shall yourself read in the bitter letter
110
After your own sense, yea, though our proper son
111
Stood in your action.
113
Humbly I thank your grace.
114
Here is the man, this Moor, whom now, it seems,
115
Your special mandate for the state-affairs
118
[with Senator]We are very sorry for't.
120
[To OTHELLO]What, in your own part, can you say to this?
122
Nothing, but this is so.
124
Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors,
125
My very noble and approved good masters,
126
That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter,
127
It is most true; true, I have married her:
128
The very head and front of my offending
129
Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech,
130
And little bless'd with the soft phrase of peace:
131
For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith,
132
Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used
133
Their dearest action in the tented field,
134
And little of this great world can I speak,
135
More than pertains to feats of broil and battle,
136
And therefore little shall I grace my cause
137
In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience,
138
I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver
139
Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what charms,
140
What conjuration and what mighty magic,
141
For such proceeding I am charged withal,
145
Of spirit so still and quiet, that her motion
146
Blush'd at herself; and she, in spite of nature,
147
Of years, of country, credit, every thing,
148
To fall in love with what she fear'd to look on!
149
It is a judgment maim'd and most imperfect
150
That will confess perfection so could err
151
Against all rules of nature, and must be driven
152
To find out practises of cunning hell,
153
Why this should be. I therefore vouch again
154
That with some mixtures powerful o'er the blood,
155
Or with some dram conjured to this effect,
158
To vouch this, is no proof,
159
Without more wider and more overt test
160
Than these thin habits and poor likelihoods
161
Of modern seeming do prefer against him.
164
Did you by indirect and forced courses
165
Subdue and poison this young maid's affections?
166
Or came it by request and such fair question
167
As soul to soul affordeth?
170
Send for the lady to the Sagittary,
171
And let her speak of me before her father:
172
If you do find me foul in her report,
173
The trust, the office I do hold of you,
174
Not only take away, but let your sentence
175
Even fall upon my life.
177
Fetch Desdemona hither.
179
Ancient, conduct them: you best know the place.
180
[Exeunt IAGO and Attendants]
181
And, till she come, as truly as to heaven
182
I do confess the vices of my blood,
183
So justly to your grave ears I'll present
184
How I did thrive in this fair lady's love,
189
Her father loved me; oft invited me;
190
Still question'd me the story of my life,
191
From year to year, the battles, sieges, fortunes,
193
I ran it through, even from my boyish days,
194
To the very moment that he bade me tell it;
195
Wherein I spake of most disastrous chances,
196
Of moving accidents by flood and field
197
Of hair-breadth scapes i' the imminent deadly breach,
198
Of being taken by the insolent foe
199
And sold to slavery, of my redemption thence
200
And portance in my travels' history:
201
Wherein of antres vast and deserts idle,
202
Rough quarries, rocks and hills whose heads touch heaven
203
It was my hint to speak,—such was the process;
204
And of the Cannibals that each other eat,
205
The Anthropophagi and men whose heads
206
Do grow beneath their shoulders. This to hear
207
Would Desdemona seriously incline:
208
But still the house-affairs would draw her thence:
209
Which ever as she could with haste dispatch,
210
She'ld come again, and with a greedy ear
211
Devour up my discourse: which I observing,
212
Took once a pliant hour, and found good means
213
To draw from her a prayer of earnest heart
214
That I would all my pilgrimage dilate,
215
Whereof by parcels she had something heard,
216
But not intentively: I did consent,
217
And often did beguile her of her tears,
218
When I did speak of some distressful stroke
219
That my youth suffer'd. My story being done,
220
She gave me for my pains a world of sighs:
221
She swore, in faith, twas strange, 'twas passing strange,
222
'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful:
223
She wish'd she had not heard it, yet she wish'd
224
That heaven had made her such a man: she thank'd me,
225
And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her,
226
I should but teach him how to tell my story.
227
And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake:
228
She loved me for the dangers I had pass'd,
229
And I loved her that she did pity them.
230
This only is the witchcraft I have used:
231
Here comes the lady; let her witness it.
232
[Enter DESDEMONA, IAGO, and Attendants]
234
I think this tale would win my daughter too.
236
Take up this mangled matter at the best:
237
Men do their broken weapons rather use
238
Than their bare hands.
240
I pray you, hear her speak:
241
If she confess that she was half the wooer,
242
Destruction on my head, if my bad blame
243
Light on the man! Come hither, gentle mistress:
244
Do you perceive in all this noble company
245
Where most you owe obedience?
248
I do perceive here a divided duty:
249
To you I am bound for life and education;
250
My life and education both do learn me
251
How to respect you; you are the lord of duty;
252
I am hitherto your daughter: but here's my husband,
253
And so much duty as my mother show'd
254
To you, preferring you before her father,
255
So much I challenge that I may profess
256
Due to the Moor my lord.
258
God be wi' you! I have done.
259
Please it your grace, on to the state-affairs:
260
I had rather to adopt a child than get it.
262
I here do give thee that with all my heart
263
Which, but thou hast already, with all my heart
264
I would keep from thee. For your sake, jewel,
265
I am glad at soul I have no other child:
266
For thy escape would teach me tyranny,
267
To hang clogs on them. I have done, my lord.
269
Let me speak like yourself, and lay a sentence,
270
Which, as a grise or step, may help these lovers
272
When remedies are past, the griefs are ended
273
By seeing the worst, which late on hopes depended.
274
To mourn a mischief that is past and gone
275
Is the next way to draw new mischief on.
276
What cannot be preserved when fortune takes
277
Patience her injury a mockery makes.
278
The robb'd that smiles steals something from the thief;
279
He robs himself that spends a bootless grief.
281
So let the Turk of Cyprus us beguile;
282
We lose it not, so long as we can smile.
283
He bears the sentence well that nothing bears
284
But the free comfort which from thence he hears,
285
But he bears both the sentence and the sorrow
286
That, to pay grief, must of poor patience borrow.
287
These sentences, to sugar, or to gall,
288
Being strong on both sides, are equivocal:
289
But words are words; I never yet did hear
290
That the bruised heart was pierced through the ear.
291
I humbly beseech you, proceed to the affairs of state.
293
The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for
294
Cyprus. Othello, the fortitude of the place is best
295
known to you; and though we have there a substitute
296
of most allowed sufficiency, yet opinion, a
297
sovereign mistress of effects, throws a more safer
298
voice on you: you must therefore be content to
299
slubber the gloss of your new fortunes with this
300
more stubborn and boisterous expedition.
302
The tyrant custom, most grave senators,
303
Hath made the flinty and steel couch of war
304
My thrice-driven bed of down: I do agnise
305
A natural and prompt alacrity
306
I find in hardness, and do undertake
307
These present wars against the Ottomites.
308
Most humbly therefore bending to your state,
309
I crave fit disposition for my wife.
310
Due reference of place and exhibition,
311
With such accommodation and besort
312
As levels with her breeding.
315
Be't at her father's.
321
Nor I; I would not there reside,
322
To put my father in impatient thoughts
323
By being in his eye. Most gracious duke,
324
To my unfolding lend your prosperous ear;
325
And let me find a charter in your voice,
326
To assist my simpleness.
328
What would You, Desdemona?
330
That I did love the Moor to live with him,
331
My downright violence and storm of fortunes
332
May trumpet to the world: my heart's subdued
333
Even to the very quality of my lord:
334
I saw Othello's visage in his mind,
335
And to his honour and his valiant parts
336
Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate.
337
So that, dear lords, if I be left behind,
338
A moth of peace, and he go to the war,
339
The rites for which I love him are bereft me,
340
And I a heavy interim shall support
341
By his dear absence. Let me go with him.
343
Let her have your voices.
344
Vouch with me, heaven, I therefore beg it not,
345
To please the palate of my appetite,
346
Nor to comply with heat—the young affects
347
In me defunct—and proper satisfaction.
348
But to be free and bounteous to her mind:
349
And heaven defend your good souls, that you think
350
I will your serious and great business scant
351
For she is with me: no, when light-wing'd toys
352
Of feather'd Cupid seal with wanton dullness
353
My speculative and officed instruments,
354
That my disports corrupt and taint my business,
355
Let housewives make a skillet of my helm,
356
And all indign and base adversities
357
Make head against my estimation!
359
Be it as you shall privately determine,
360
Either for her stay or going: the affair cries haste,
361
And speed must answer it.
363
You must away to-night.
367
At nine i' the morning here we'll meet again.
368
Othello, leave some officer behind,
369
And he shall our commission bring to you;
370
With such things else of quality and respect
373
So please your grace, my ancient;
374
A man he is of honest and trust:
375
To his conveyance I assign my wife,
376
With what else needful your good grace shall think
380
Good night to every one.
383
If virtue no delighted beauty lack,
384
Your son-in-law is far more fair than black.
386
Adieu, brave Moor, use Desdemona well.
388
Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see:
389
She has deceived her father, and may thee.
390
[Exeunt DUKE OF VENICE, Senators, Officers, &c]
392
My life upon her faith! Honest Iago,
393
My Desdemona must I leave to thee:
394
I prithee, let thy wife attend on her:
395
And bring them after in the best advantage.
396
Come, Desdemona: I have but an hour
397
Of love, of worldly matters and direction,
398
To spend with thee: we must obey the time.
399
[Exeunt OTHELLO and DESDEMONA]
403
What say'st thou, noble heart?
405
What will I do, thinkest thou?
407
Why, go to bed, and sleep.
409
I will incontinently drown myself.
411
If thou dost, I shall never love thee after. Why,
412
thou silly gentleman!
414
It is silliness to live when to live is torment; and
415
then have we a prescription to die when death is our physician.
417
O villainous! I have looked upon the world for four
418
times seven years; and since I could distinguish
419
betwixt a benefit and an injury, I never found man
420
that knew how to love himself. Ere I would say, I
421
would drown myself for the love of a guinea-hen, I
422
would change my humanity with a baboon.
424
What should I do? I confess it is my shame to be so
425
fond; but it is not in my virtue to amend it.
427
Virtue! a fig! 'tis in ourselves that we are thus
428
or thus. Our bodies are our gardens, to the which
429
our wills are gardeners: so that if we will plant
430
nettles, or sow lettuce, set hyssop and weed up
431
thyme, supply it with one gender of herbs, or
432
distract it with many, either to have it sterile
433
with idleness, or manured with industry, why, the
434
power and corrigible authority of this lies in our
435
wills. If the balance of our lives had not one
436
scale of reason to poise another of sensuality, the
437
blood and baseness of our natures would conduct us
438
to most preposterous conclusions: but we have
439
reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal
440
stings, our unbitted lusts, whereof I take this that
441
you call love to be a sect or scion.
445
It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission of
446
the will. Come, be a man. Drown thyself! drown
447
cats and blind puppies. I have professed me thy
448
friend and I confess me knit to thy deserving with
449
cables of perdurable toughness; I could never
450
better stead thee than now. Put money in thy
451
purse; follow thou the wars; defeat thy favour with
452
an usurped beard; I say, put money in thy purse. It
453
cannot be that Desdemona should long continue her
454
love to the Moor,— put money in thy purse,—nor he
455
his to her: it was a violent commencement, and thou
456
shalt see an answerable sequestration:—put but
457
money in thy purse. These Moors are changeable in
458
their wills: fill thy purse with money:—the food
459
that to him now is as luscious as locusts, shall be
460
to him shortly as bitter as coloquintida. She must
461
change for youth: when she is sated with his body,
462
she will find the error of her choice: she must
463
have change, she must: therefore put money in thy
464
purse. If thou wilt needs damn thyself, do it a
465
more delicate way than drowning. Make all the money
466
thou canst: if sanctimony and a frail vow betwixt
467
an erring barbarian and a supersubtle Venetian not
468
too hard for my wits and all the tribe of hell, thou
469
shalt enjoy her; therefore make money. A pox of
470
drowning thyself! it is clean out of the way: seek
471
thou rather to be hanged in compassing thy joy than
472
to be drowned and go without her.
474
Wilt thou be fast to my hopes, if I depend on
477
Thou art sure of me:—go, make money:—I have told
478
thee often, and I re-tell thee again and again, I
479
hate the Moor: my cause is hearted; thine hath no
480
less reason. Let us be conjunctive in our revenge
481
against him: if thou canst cuckold him, thou dost
482
thyself a pleasure, me a sport. There are many
483
events in the womb of time which will be delivered.
484
Traverse! go, provide thy money. We will have more
485
of this to-morrow. Adieu.
487
Where shall we meet i' the morning?
491
I'll be with thee betimes.
493
Go to; farewell. Do you hear, Roderigo?
497
No more of drowning, do you hear?
499
I am changed: I'll go sell all my land.
502
Thus do I ever make my fool my purse:
503
For I mine own gain'd knowledge should profane,
504
If I would time expend with such a snipe.
505
But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor:
506
And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets
507
He has done my office: I know not if't be true;
508
But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
509
Will do as if for surety. He holds me well;
510
The better shall my purpose work on him.
511
Cassio's a proper man: let me see now:
512
To get his place and to plume up my will
513
In double knavery—How, how? Let's see:—
514
After some time, to abuse Othello's ear
515
That he is too familiar with his wife.
516
He hath a person and a smooth dispose
517
To be suspected, framed to make women false.
518
The Moor is of a free and open nature,
519
That thinks men honest that but seem to be so,
520
And will as tenderly be led by the nose
522
I have't. It is engender'd. Hell and night
523
Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light.
|
