I humbly beseech you, proceed to the affairs of state. Duke. The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for Cyprus : - Othello, the fortitude of the place is best known to you: And though we have there a substitute of most allowed sufficiency, yet opinion, a 'sovereign mistress of effects, throws a more safer voice on 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' A natural and prompt alacrity, I find in hardness, and do undertake Due reference of place, and exhibition ". Duke. Be 't at her father's. Bra. Oth. Nor I. If you please, I'll not have it so. Des. Nor I; I would not there reside, To put my father in impatient thoughts, By being in his eye. Most gracious duke, To my unfolding lend a gracious ear; And let me find a charter in your voice, To assist my simpleness. Duke. What would you, Desdemona ? Des. That I did love the Moor to live with him, My downright violence and storm of fortunes May trumpet to the world; my heart's subdued Even to the very quality of my lord: I saw Othello's visage in his mind; 4 Obscure. $ Acknowledge. 6 Allowance. And to his honours, and his valiant parts, will Have a free way. with him. 'beseech you, let her Vouch with me, heaven; I therefore beg it not But to be free and bounteous to her mind: Make head against my estimation! 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. This night. Oth. With all my heart. Duke. At nine i' the morning here we 'll meet again. Othello, leave some officer behind, And he shall our commission bring to you; Oth. Please your grace, my 7 Forbid. 8 Because. ancient ; 9 Blind. 2 Helmet. To his conveyance I assign my wife, With what else needful your good grace shall think To be sent after me. Duke. Let it be so. Good night to every one. - And, noble signior, - If virtue no delighted beauty lack, [TO BRABANTIO. Your son-in-law is far more fair than black. 1 Sen. Adieu, brave Moor! use Desdemona well. 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, My Desdemona must I leave to thee; I pr'y thee, let thy wife attend on her; Rod. Iago. Iago. What say'st thou, noble heart? Rod. I will incontinently drown myself. Iago. Well, if thou dost, I shall never love thee after it. Why, thou silly gentleman! Rod. It is silliness to live, when to live is a torment: and then have we a prescription to die, when death is our physician. Iago. O villainous! I have looked upon the world for four times seven years! and since I could distinguish between a benefit and an injury, I never found a man that knew how to love himself. Ere I would say, I would drown myself for the love of a Guinea-hen, I would change my humanity with a baboon. 3 Immediately. Rod. What should I do? I confess, it is my shame to be so fond; but it is not in my virtue to amend it. Iago. Virtue? a fig! 'tis in ourselves, that we are thus, or thus. We have reason to cool our raging passions; whereof I take this, that you call -love, to be one. Rod. It cannot be. 7 Iago. Come, be a man: Drown thyself? drown cats, and blind puppies. I have professed me thy friend, and I confess me knit to thy deserving with cables of perdurable toughness; I could never better stead thee than now. Put money in thy purse; follow these wars; defeat thy favour with an usurped beard; I say, put money in thy purse. It cannot be, that Desdemona should long continue her love to the Moor, put money in thy purse; nor he his to her: it was a violent commencement, and thou shalt see an answerable sequestration; put but money in thy purse.-These Moors are changeable in their wills; fill thy purse with money: drowning thyself is clean out of the way: seek thou rather to be hanged in compassing thy joy, than to be drowned and go without it. Rod. Wilt thou be fast to my hopes, if I depend on the issue? Iago. Thou art sure of me ;-Go, make money: -I have told thee often, and I re-tell thee again and again, I hate the Moor: My cause is hearted: thine hath no less reason: Let us be conjunctive in our revenge against him: go; provide thy money. We will have more of this to-morrow. Adieu. Rod. Where shall we meet i' the morning? Iago. At my lodging. Rod. I'll be with thee betimes. Iago. Go to; farewell. Do you hear, Roderigo? Iago. No more of drowning, do you hear. * Change your countenance with a false beard. [Exit RODERIGO. Iago. Go to; farewell: put money enough in But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor; Will do, as if for surety. He holds me well; That thinks men honest, that but seems to be so ; And will as tenderly be led by the nose, As asses are. I have 't;-it is engender'd: Hell and night [Exit. Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light. ACT THE SECOND. SCENE 1. A Sea-port Town in Cyprus. A Platform. Enter MONTANO and Two Gentlemen. Mon. What from the cape can you discern at sea? |