Go to the bay and disembark my coffers.

Bring thou the master to the citadel.

He is a good one, and his worthiness

Does challenge much respect. Come, Desdemona.—

Once more, well met at Cyprus!

Exeunt Othello and Desdemona with all but lago and Roderigo

IAGO (to an attendant as he goes out) Do thou meet me presently at the harbour. (To Roderigo) Come hither. If thou beest valiant—as they say base men being in love have then a nobility in their natures more than is native to them—list me. The lieutenant tonight watches on the court of guard. First, I must tell thee this: Desdemona is directly in love with him.

RODERICO With him? Why, ’tis not possible!

IAGO Lay thy finger thus, and let thy soul be instructed. Mark me with what violence she first loved the Moor, but for bragging and telling her fantastical lies. To love him still for prating?—let not thy discreet heart think it. Her eye must be fed, and what delight shall she have to look on the devil? When the blood is made dull with the act of sport, there should be again to inflame it, and to give satiety a fresh appetite, loveliness in favour, sympathy in years, manners, and beauties, all which the Moor is defective in. Now, for want of these required conveniences, her delicate tenderness will find itself abused, begin to heave the gorge, disrelish and abhor the Moor. Very nature will instruct her in it and compel her to some second choice. Now, sir, this granted—as it is a most pregnant and unforced position—who stands so eminent in the degree of this fortune as Cassio does?—a knave very voluble, no further conscionable than in putting on the mere form of civil and humane seeming for the better compass of his salt and most hidden loose affection. Why, none; why, none—a slipper and subtle knave, a finder of occasion, that has an eye can stamp and counterfeit advantages, though true advantage never present itself, a devilish knave! Besides, the knave is handsome, young, and hath all those requisites in him that folly and green minds look after. A pestilent complete knave, and the woman hath found him already.

RODERIGO I cannot believe that in her. She’s full of most blessed condition.

IAGO Blessed fig’s end! The wine she drinks is made of grapes. If she had been blessed, she would never have loved the Moor. Blessed pudding! Didst thou not see her paddle with the palm of his hand? Didst not mark that? 255

RODERIGO Yes, that I did, but that was but courtesy.

IAGO Lechery, by this hand; an index and obscure prologue to the history of lust and foul thoughts. They met so near with their lips that their breaths embraced together. Villainous thoughts, Roderigo! When these mutualities so marshal the way, hard at hand comes the master and main exercise, th’incorporate conclusion. Pish! But, sir, be you ruled by me. I have brought you from Venice. Watch you tonight. For the command, I’ll lay’t upon you. Cassio knows you not; I’ll not be far from you. Do you find some occasion to anger Cassio, either by speaking too loud, or tainting his discipline, or from what other course you please, which the time shall more favourably minister.

RODERIGO Well.

IAGO Sir, he’s rash and very sudden in choler, and haply may strike at you. Provoke him that he may, for even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny, whose qualification shall come into no true taste again but by the displanting of Cassio. So shall you have a shorter journey to your desires by the means I shall then have to prefer them, and the impediment most profitably removed, without the which there were no expectation of our prosperity.

RODERIGO 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 necessaries ashore. Farewell.

RODERIGO Adieu.

Exit

IAGO

That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it.

That she loves him, ‘tis apt and of great credit.

The Moor—howbe’t that I endure him not—

Is of a constant, loving, noble nature,

And I dare think he’ll prove to Desdemona

A most dear husband. Now I do love her too,

Not out of absolute lust—though peradventure

I stand accountant for as great a sin—

But partly led to diet my revenge

For that I do suspect the lusty Moor

Hath leapt into my seat, the thought whereof

Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards;

And nothing can or shall content my soul

Till I am evened with him, wife for wife—

Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor

At least into a jealousy so strong

That judgement cannot cure, which thing to do,

If this poor trash of Venice whom I trace

For his quick hunting stand the putting on,

I’ll have our Michael Cassio on the hip,

Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb—

For I fear Cassio with my nightcap, 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 madness. ’Tis here, but yet confused.

Knavery’s plain face is never seen till used.

Exit

2.2 Enter Othello’s Herald reading a proclamation

HERALD It is Othello’s pleasure—our noble and valiant

general—that, upon certain tidings now arrived

importing the mere perdition of the Turkish fleet, every

man put himself into triumph: some to dance, some to

make bonfires, each man to what sport and revels his

addiction leads him; for besides these beneficial news,

it is the celebration of his nuptial. So much was his

pleasure should be proclaimed. All offices are open, and

there is full liberty of feasting from this present hour

of five till the bell have told eleven. Heaven bless the

isle of Cyprus and our noble general, Othello! Exit

2.3 Enter Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, and attendants

OTHELLO

Good Michael, look you to the guard tonight.

Let’s teach ourselves that honourable stop

Not to outsport discretion.

CASSIO

Iago hath direction what to do,

But notwithstanding, with my personal eye

Will I look to’t.

OTHELLO Iago is most honest.

Michael, good night. Tomorrow with your earliest