Destruction on my head, if my bad blame Light on the man!-Come hither, gentle mistress; Des. I do perceive here a divided duty: My noble father, To you, I am bound for life, and education; How to respect you; you are the lord of duty, I am hitherto your daughter: But here's my husband; To you, preferring you before her father, So much I challenge that I may profess Due to the Moor, my lord. Bra. Heaven be with you!-I have done :- I here do give thee that with all my heart, I would keep from thee. I have done, my lord. Proceed to the affairs of state. Duke. The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for Cy. prus -Othello, the fortitude of the place is best known to you: you must therefore be content to slubber the gloss of your new fortunes with this more stubborn and boisterous expedition. Oth. The tyrant custom, most grave senators, Hath made the flinty and steel couch of war My thrice-driven bed of down: I do agnize I find in hardness; and do undertake These present wars against the Ottomites. Most humbly therefore bending to your state, Duke. Be't at her father's. Bra. If you please, I'll not have it so. Oth. Nor I. Duke. What would you, Desdemona ? Des. That I did love the Moor to live with him, My downright violence and scorn of fortunes Even to the very quality of my lord: By his dear absence: Let me go with him. Oth. Your voices, lords :-'beseech you, et her will Have a free way. Duke. Be it as you shall privately determine, Either for her stay, or going: the affair cries-haste, And speed must answer it; you must hence to-night. Des. To-night, my lord? Duke. Oth. This night. With all my heart. Duke. At nine i' the morning here we'll meet again. And he shall our commission bring to you; Oth. Please your grace, my ancient; A man he is of honesty, and trust: To his conveyance I assign my wife, With what else needful your good grace shall think Good night to every one.-And, noble signior, Your son-in-law is far more fair than black. [TO BRABANTIO. Bra. Look to her, Moor: have a quick eye to see; She has deceiv'd her father, and may thee. [Exeunt DUKE, Senators, Officers, &c. Oth. My life upon her faith.-Honest Iago, [Exeunt OTHELLO, and DESDEMONA ACT II. SCENE I-A Sea-port Town in Cyprus. Desdemona, escorted by Iago, has proceeded to Cyprus, where she is anxiously await ing the arrival of Othello from his victorious expedition against the Ottomites. Cassio, the Moor's lieutenant, has just landed at Cyprus. Enter CASSIO, and MONTANO. Cas. Thanks to the valiant of this warlike isle For I have lost him on a dangerous sea! Cas. His bark is stoutly timber'd, and his pilot [Within.] Cas. What noise? A sail, a sail, a sail ! Enter a Gentleman. Gent. The town is empty; on the brow o' the sea Stand ranks of people, and they cry—a sail. Cas. My hopes do shape him for the governor. Gent. They do discharge their shot of courtesy. Our friends at least. Cas. I pray you, sir, go forth, And give us truth who 'tis that is arriv'd. Gent. I shall. Mon. But, good lieutenant, is your general wiv'd? That paragons description, and wild fame; One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens, And in the essential vesture of creation, [Guns heard. Does bear all excellency.-How now? who has put in? Re-enter Gentleman. Gent. 'Tis one Iago, ancient to the general. Cas. He has made most favorable and happy speed: Tempests themselves, high seas, and howling winds, The gutter'd rocks, and congregated sands, Traitors ensteep'd to clog the guiltless keel, As having sense of beauty, do omit Their mortal natures, letting go safely by The divine Desdemona. Cas. She that I spake of, our great captain's captain, Left in the conduct of the bold Iago; O, behold, [Exit. Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA, IAGO, RODERIGU, and Attendants. The riches of the ship is come on shore! Hail to thee, lady! and the grace of heaven, Before, behind thee, and on every hand, Enwheel thee round! I thank you, valiant Cassio. Des. Cas. He is not yet arriv'd; nor know I aught But that he's well, and will be shortly here. Des. O, but I fear;-How lost you company? Cas. The great contention of the sea and skies Parted our fellowship: But, hark! a sail. See for the news. [Exit Gentleman. Good ancient, you are welcome ;-Welcome, mistress: [To EMILIA. Let it not gall your patience, good Iago, That I extend my manners; 'tis my breeding That gives me this bold show of courtesy. Iago. Sir, would she give you so much of her lips, As of her tongue she oft bestows on me, You'd have enough. Des. Alas, she has no speech. Iago. In faith, too much; I find it still, when I have list to sleep: Emil. You have little cause to say so. No, let me no [Kissing her. Des. What would'st thou write of me, if thou should'st praise me? Iago. O gentle lady, do not put me to't; For I am nothing, if not critical. Des. Come on, assay :-There's one gone to the harbor? Iago. Ay, madam. Des. I am not merry; but I do beguile The thing I am, by seeming otherwise. Come, how would'st thou praise me? Iago. I am about it; but, indeed, my invention She that was ever fair, and never proud, Iago. To nurse young fools, and chronicle small beer. Des. O most lame and impotent conclusion !-Do not learn of him, Emilia, though he be thy husband.-How say you, Cassio? is he not a most profane and liberal counsellor ? Cas. He speaks home, madam; you may relish him more in the soldier, than in the scholar. 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 him, do; I will gyve thee in thine own courtship. You say true; 'tis so, indeed: if such tricks as these strip you out of your lieutenancy, it had been better you had not kissed your three fingers so oft, which now again you are most apt to play the sir in. Very good; well kissed! an excellent courtesy! 'tis so, indeed. Yet again your fingers to your lips ?—[Trumpet.] 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. Oth. O my fair warrior! Des. Oth. It gives me wonder To see you here before me. My dear Othello! great as my content, O my soul's joy! If after every tempest come such calms, May the winds blow till they have waken'd death! If it were now to die, "Twere now to be most happy; for, I fear, My soul hath her content so absolute, That not another comfort like to this Succeeds in unknown fate. Des. But that our loves and comforts should increase, Even as our days do grow! Oth. The heavens forbid, Amen to that, sweet powers!— [Kissing her O, you are well tun'd now! [Aside I cannot speak enough of this content, As honest as I am. Oth. Come's, let's to the castle. News, friends; our wars are done, the Turks are drown'd. How do our old acquaintance of this isle? Honey, you shall be well desir'd in Cyprus, I have found great love amongst them. I prattle out of fashion, and I dote O my sweet, In mine own comforts. I pr'ythee, good Iago, He is a good one, and his worthiness |