Touching the Turkish loss, yet he looks sadly
And prays the Moor be safe; for they were parted
With foul and
violenttempest.
MONTANO. Pray heavens he be,
For I have served him, and the man commands
Like a full soldier. Let's to the seaside, ho!
As well to see the
vessel that's come in
As to throw out our eyes for brave Othello,
Even till we make the main and the
aerial blue
An indistinct regard.
THIRD GENTLEMAN. Come, let's do so,
For every minute is expectancy
Of more arrivance.
Enter Cassio.
CASSIO. Thanks, you the
valiant of this
warlike isle,
That so
approve the Moor! O, let the heavens
Give him defense against the elements,
For I have lost him on a dangerous sea.
MONTANO. I she well shipp'd?
CASSIO. His bark is stoutly timber'd, and his pilot
Of very
expert and
approved allowance;
Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death,
Stand in bold cure.
A cry within, "A sail, a sail, a sail!"
Enter a fourth Gentleman.
What noise?
FOURTH GENTLEMAN. The town is empty; on the brow o' the sea
Stand ranks of people, and they cry, "A sail!"
CASSIO. My hopes do shape him for the governor.
Guns heard.
SECOND GENTLEMAN. They do
discharge their shot of
courtesy-
Our friends at least.
CASSIO. I pray you, sir, go forth,
And give us truth who 'tis that is arrived.
SECOND GENTLEMAN. I shall. Exit.
MONTANO. But, good
lieutenant, is your general wived?
CASSIO. Most
fortunately: he hath achieved a maid
That paragons
description and wild fame,
One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens,
And in the
essential vesture of creation
Does tire the ingener.
Re-enter second Gentleman.
How now! who has put in?
SECOND GENTLEMAN. 'Tis one Iago, ancient to the general.
CASSIO. He has had 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.
MONTANO. What is she?
CASSIO. She that I spoke of, our great captain's captain,
Left in the conduct of the bold Iago,
Whose
footing here anticipates our thoughts
A se'nnight's speed. Great Jove, Othello guard,
And swell his sail with thine own powerful breath,
That he may bless this bay with his tall ship,
Make love's quick pants in Desdemona's arms,
Give renew'd fire to our extincted spirits,
And bring all Cyprus comfort.
Enter Desdemona, Emilia Iago, Roderigo, and Attendants.
O, behold,
The
riches of the ship is come on shore!
Ye men of Cyprus, let her have your knees.
Hall to thee, lady! And the grace of heaven,
Before, behind thee, and on every hand,
Enwheel thee round!
DESDEMONA. I thank you,
valiant Cassio.
What
tidings can you tell me of my lord?
CASSIO. He is not yet arrived, nor know I aught
But that he's well and will be
shortly here.
DESDEMONA. O, but I fear- How lost you company?
CASSIO. The great
contention of the sea and skies
Parted our fellowship- But, hark! a sail.
A cry within, "A sail, a sail!" Guns heard.
SECOND GENTLEMAN. They give their greeting to the citadel;
This
likewise is a friend.
CASSIO. See for the news.
Exit Gentleman.
Good ancient, you are
welcome. [To Emilia.] Welcome, mistress.
Let it not gall your
patience, good Iago,
That I extend my manners; 'tis my breeding
That gives me this bold show of
courtesy. Kisses her.
IAGO. Sir, would she give you so much of her lips
As of her tongue she oft
bestows on me,
You'ld have enough.
DESDEMONA. Alas, she has no speech.
IAGO. In faith, too much;
I find it still when I have list to sleep.
Marry, before your ladyship I grant,
She puts her tongue a little in her heart
And chides with thinking.
EMILIA. You have little cause to say so.
IAGO. Come on, come on. You are pictures out of doors,
Bells in your parlors, wildcats in your kitchens,
Saints in your injuries, devils being offended,
Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds.
DESDEMONA. O, fie upon thee, slanderer!
IAGO. Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk:
You rise to play, and go to bed to work.
EMILIA. You shall not write my praise.
IAGO. No, let me not.
DESDEMONA. What wouldst thou write of me, if thou shouldst praise
me?
IAGO. O gentle lady, do not put me to't,
For I am nothing if not critical.
DESDEMONA. Come on, assay- There's one gone to the harbor?
IAGO. Ay, madam.
DESDEMONA. I am not merry, but I do beguile
The thing I am by
seeming otherwise.
Come, how wouldst thou praise me?
IAGO. I am about it, but indeed my invention
Comes from my pate as birdlime does from frieze;
It plucks out brains and all. But my Muse labors,
And thus she is deliver'd.
If she be fair and wise,
fairness and wit,
The one's for use, the other useth it.
DESDEMONA. Well praised! How if she be black and witty?
IAGO. If she be black, and
thereto have a wit,
She'll find a white that shall her
blackness fit.
DESDEMONA. Worse and worse.
EMILIA. How if fair and foolish?
IAGO. She never yet was foolish that was fair,
For even her folly help'd her to an heir.
DESDEMONA. These are old fond paradoxes to make fools laugh i' the
alehouse. What
miserable praise hast thou for her that's foul and
foolish?
IAGO. There's none so foul and foolish thereunto,
But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do.
DESDEMONA O heavy ignorance! Thou praisest the worst best. But what
praise
couldst thou
bestow on a deserving woman indeed, one that
in the authority of her merit did
justly put on the vouch of very
malice itself?
IAGO. She that was ever fair and never proud,
Had tongue at will and yet was never loud,
Never lack'd gold and yet went never gay,
Fled from her wish and yet said, "Now I may";
She that, being anger'd, her
revenge being nigh,
Bade her wrong stay and her
displeasure fly;
She that in
wisdom never was so frail
To change the cod's head for the salmon's tall;
She that could think and ne'er
disclose her mind,
See suitors following and not look behind;
She was a wight, if ever such wight were-
DESDEMONA To do what?
IAGO. To suckle fools and
chronicle small beer.
DESDEMONA 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 counselor?
CASSIO. 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 her, 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
lieutenantry, 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?
Would they were clyster-pipes for your sake! [Trumpet within.]
The Moor! I know his trumpet.
CASSIO. 'Tis truly so.
DESDEMONA. Let's meet him and receive him.
CASSIO. Lo, where he comes!
Enter Othello and Attendants.
OTHELLO. O my fair warrior!
DESDEMONA. My dear Othello!
OTHELLO. It gives me wonder great as my content
To see you here before me. O my soul's joy!
If after every
tempest come such calms,
May the winds blow till they have waken'd death!
And let the laboring bark climb hills of seas
Olympus-high, and duck again as low
As hell's from heaven! 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.
DESDEMONA. The heavens forbid
But that our loves and comforts should increase,
Even as our days do grow!
OTHELLO. Amen to that, sweet powers!
I cannot speak enough of this content;
It stops me here; it is too much of joy.
And this, and this, the greatest discords be Kisses her.
That e'er our hearts shall make!
IAGO. [Aside.] O, you are well tuned now!
But I'll set down the pegs that make this music,
As honest as I am.
OTHELLO. Come, let us to the castle.
News, friends: our wars are done, the Turks are drown'd.
How does my old
acquaintance of this isle?
Honey, you shall be well desired in Cyprus;
I have found great love
amongst them. O my sweet,
I prattle out of fashion, and I dote
In mine own comforts. I prithee, good Iago,
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,