PERSONS REPRESENTED. Duke of Venice. Brabantio, a senator. T'wo other Senators. Gratiano, brother to Brabantio. Lodovico, kinsman to Brabantio. Othello, the Moor. Cassio, his lieutenant. Iago, his ancient. Roderigo, a Venetian gentleman. Montano, Othello's predecessor in the government of Cyprus. Clown, servant to Othello. Herald. Desdemona, daughter to Brabantio, and wife to Othello. Enilia, wife to Iago. Bianca, a courtezan, mistress to Cassio. Officers, Gentlemen, Messengers, Musicians, Sailors, Attendants, &c. Scene, for the first Act, in Venice; during the rest of the play, at a sea-port in Cyprus. OTHELLO, THE MOOR OF VENICE ACT I. SCENE I-Venice. A street. Enter Roderigo and lago. Roderigo. TUSH, never tell me, I take it much unkindly, Abhor me. Rod. Thou told'st me, thou didst hold him in thy nate. Jago. Despise me, if I do not. Three great ones of the city, In personal suit to make me his lieutenant, My mediators; for, certes,3 says he, (1) Suted. (2) cumlocution. (3) Certainly. I have already chose my officer. Forsooth, a great arithmetician, A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife ;1 More than a spinster; unless the bookish theoric, As masterly as he mere prattle, without practice, And (God bless the mark!) his Moorship's ancient. Rod. By heaven I rather would have been his hangman. Iago. But there's no remedy, 'tis the curse of service; Preferment goes by letter, and affection, Not by the old gradation, where each second Stood heir to the first. Now, sir, be judge yourself, Whether I in any just term am affin'd5 To love the Moor. Rod. I would not follow him then. lago. O, sir, content you; I follow him to serve my turn upon him: (1) For wife some read life, supposing it to allude to the denunciation in the Gospel, wo unto you when all men shall speak well of you. (2) Theory. (3) Rulers of the state. (4) It was anciently the practice to reckon up sums with counters. (5) Related. Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave, Whip me such honest knaves: Others there are, Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul; And such a one do I profess myself. 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, Call up her father, Iago. Plague him with flies: though that his joy be joy, Rod. Here is her father's house; I'll call aloud. lago. Do; with like timorous accent, and dire yell, As when, by night and negligence, the fire (1) Outward show of civility. (2) Own, possess. Is spied in populous cities. Rod. What, ho! Brabantio! signior Braoantio, ho! Iago. Awake! what, ho! Brabantio! thieves thieves thieves! Look to your house, your daughter, and your bags. Thieves thieves! Brabantio, 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. Why? wherefore ask you this? Iago. Zounds, sir, you are robb'd; for shame, put on your gown: Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul; Even now, very now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise; Awake the snorting citizens with the bell, Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you: Bra. What, have you lost your wits? Rod. Most reverend signior, do you know my voice? Bra. Not 1; What are you? The worse welcome: Rod. My name is-Roderigo. Bra. I have charg'd thee, not to haunt about my doors: In honest plainess thou hast heard me say, My daughter is not for thee; and now, in madness, Being full of supper, and distempering2 draughts, Upon malicious bravery, dost thou come To start my quiet. Rod. Sir, sir, sir, sir, Bra. But thou must needs be sure, My spirit, and my place, have in them power (1) i. e. Is broken. (2) Intoxicating. |