Othello. William Shakespeare
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IAGO
It’s true, good lieutenant.
CASSIO
For mine own part,—no offence to the general, nor any man of quality,—I hope to be saved.
IAGO
And so do I too, lieutenant.
CASSIO
Ay, but, by your leave, not before me; the lieutenant is to be saved before the ancient. Let’s have no more of this; let’s to our affairs.—Forgive us our sins!—Gentlemen, let’s look to our business. Do not think, gentlemen, I am drunk: this is my ancient; this is my right hand, and this is my left:—I am not drunk now; I can stand well enough, and I speak well enough.
ALL
Excellent well.
CASSIO
Why, very well then: you must not think, then, that I am drunk.
[Exit.]
MONTANO
To the platform, masters; come, let’s set the watch.
IAGO
You see this fellow that is gone before;—
He is a soldier fit to stand by Caesar
And give direction: and do but see his vice;
‘Tis to his virtue a just equinox,
The one as long as the other: ‘tis pity of him.
I fear the trust Othello puts him in,
On some odd time of his infirmity,
Will shake this island.
MONTANO
But is he often thus?
IAGO
‘Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep:
He’ll watch the horologe a double set
If drink rock not his cradle.
MONTANO
It were well
The general were put in mind of it.
Perhaps he sees it not, or his good nature
Prizes the virtue that appears in Cassio,
And looks not on his evils: is not this true?
[Enter Roderigo.]
IAGO
[Aside to him.] How now, Roderigo!
I pray you, after the lieutenant; go.
[Exit Roderigo.]
MONTANO
And ‘tis great pity that the noble Moor
Should hazard such a place as his own second
With one of an ingraft infirmity:
It were an honest action to say
So to the Moor.
IAGO
Not I, for this fair island;
I do love Cassio well; and would do much
To cure him of this evil.—But, hark! What noise?
[Cry within,—“Help! help!”]
[Re-enter Cassio, driving in Roderigo.]
CASSIO
You rogue! you rascal!
MONTANO
What’s the matter, lieutenant?
CASSIO
A knave teach me my duty! I’ll beat the knave into a twiggen bottle.
RODERIGO
Beat me!
CASSIO
Dost thou prate, rogue? [Striking Roderigo.]
MONTANO
Nay, good lieutenant;
I pray you, sir, hold your hand.
CASSIO
Let me go, sir,
Or I’ll knock you o’er the mazard.
MONTANO
Come, come, you’re drunk.
CASSIO
Drunk!
[They fight.]
IAGO
[Aside to Roderigo.] Away, I say! go out and cry a mutiny.
[Exit Roderigo.]
Nay, good lieutenant,—alas,, gentlemen:—
Help, ho!—Lieutenant,—sir,—Montano,—sir:—
Help, masters!—Here’s a goodly watch indeed!
[Bell rings.]
Who’s that that rings the bell?—Diablo, ho!
The town will rise: God’s will, lieutenant, hold;
You will be sham’d forever.
[Re-enter Othello and Attendants.]
OTHELLO
What is the matter here?
MONTANO
Zounds, I bleed still; I am hurt to the death.
OTHELLO
Hold, for your lives!
IAGO
Hold, ho! lieutenant,—sir,—Montano,—gentlemen,—
Have you forgot all sense of place and duty?
Hold! the general speaks to you; hold, hold, for shame!
OTHELLO
Why, how now, ho! from whence ariseth this?
Are we turn’d Turks, and to ourselves do that
Which Heaven hath forbid the Ottomites?
For Christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl:
He that stirs next to carve for his own rage
Holds his soul light; he dies upon his motion.—
Silence that dreadful bell; it frights the isle
From her propriety.—What is the matter, masters?—
Honest Iago, that look’st dead with grieving,
Speak, who began this? on thy love, I charge thee.
IAGO
I do not know:—friends all but now, even now,
In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom
Devesting them for bed; and then, but now—
As if some planet had unwitted men,—
Swords out, and tilting one at other’s breast
In opposition bloody. I cannot speak
Any beginning to this peevish odds;
And would in action glorious I had lost
Those legs that brought me to a part of it!
OTHELLO
How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot?
CASSIO
I pray you, pardon me; I cannot speak.
OTHELLO
Worthy Montano, you were wont be civil;
The gravity and stillness of your youth
The world hath noted, and your name is great
In mouths of wisest censure: what’s the matter,
That you unlace your reputation thus,
And spend your rich opinion for the name
Of a night-brawler? give me answer