The Bodleian First Folio

A digital facsimile of the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays, Bodleian Arch. G c.7.



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Reference: tt1v - Tragedies, p. 318

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The Tragedie of Othello Othe. Come: let vs to the Castle.
[960]
Newes (Friends) our Warres are done: The urkes are drown'd. How do's my old Acquaintance of this Isle ? (Hony) you shall be well desir'd in Cyprus, I haue found great loue among'st them. Oh my Sweet,
[965]
I prattle out of fashion, and I doate In mine owne comforts. I prythee, good Iago, Go to the Bay, and disimbarke my Coffers: Bring thou the Master to the Cittadell, He is a good one, and his worthynesse
[970]
Do's challenge much respect. Come Desdemona, Once more well met at Cyprus.
Exit Othello and Desdemona. Iago.

Do thou meet me presently at the Harbour.

Come thither, if thou be'st Valiant, (as they say base men

being in Loue, haue then a Nobilitie in their Natures,

[975]

more then is natiue to them) list‑me; the Lieutenant to

night watches on the Court of Guard. First, I must tell

thee this: Desdemona, is directly in loue with him.

Rod.

With him? Why, 'tis not possible.

Iago.

Lay thy finger thus: and let thy soule be in­

[980]

structed. Marke me with what violence she first lou'd

the Moore, but for bragging, and telling her fantasticall

lies. To loue him still for prating, let not thy discreet

heart thinke it. Her eye must be fed. And what delight

shall she haue to looke on the diuell? When the Blood

[985]

is made dull with the Act of Sport, there should be a

game to enflame it, and to giue Satiety a fresh appetite.

Louelinesse in fauour, simpathy in yeares, Manners,

and Beauties: all which the Moore is defectiue in. Now

for want of these requir'd Conueniences, her delicate

[990]

tendernesse wil finde it selfe abus'd, begin to heaue the,

gorge, disrellish and abhorre the Moore, very Nature wil

instruct her in it, and compell her to some second choice.

Now Sir, this granted (as it is a most pregnant and vn­

forc'd position) who stands so eminent in the degree of

[995]

this Forune, as Cassio do's: a knaue very voluble: no

further conscionable, then in putting on the meere forme

of Ciuill, and Humaine seeming, for the better compasse

of his salt, and most hidden loose Affection? Why none,

why none: A slipper, and subtle knaue, a finder of occa­

[1000]

sion: that he's an eye can stampe, and counterfeit Ad­

uantages, though true Aduantage neuer present it selfe.

A diuelish knaue: besides, the knaue is handsome, young:

and hath all those requisites in him, that folly and greene

mindes looke after. A pestilent compleat knaue, and the

[1005]

woman hath found him already.

Rodo.

I cannot beleeue that in her, she's full of most

bless'd condition.

Iago.

Bless'd figges‑end. The Wine she drinkes is

made of grapes. If shee had beene bless'd, shee would

[1010]

neuer haue lou'd the Moore: Bless'd pudding. Didst thou

not see her paddle with the palme of his hand? Didst not

marke that?

Rod.

Yes, that I did: but that was but curtesie.

Iago.

Leacherie by this hand: an Index, and obscure

[1015]

prologue to the History of Lust and foule Thoughts.

They met so neere with their lippes, that their breathes

embrac'd together. Villanous thoughts Rodorigo, when

these mutabilities so marshall the way, hard at hand

comes the Master, and maine exercise, th'incorporate

[1020]

conclusion: Pish. But Sir, be you rul'd by me. I haue

brought you from Venice. Watch you to night: for

the Command, Ile lay't vpon you. Cassio knowes you

not: Ile not be farre from you. Do you finde some oc­

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casion to anger Cassio, either by speaking too loud, or

[1025]

tainting his discipline, or from what other course

you please, which the time shall more fauorably mi­

nister.

Rod.

Well.

Iago.

Sir, he's rash, and very sodaine in Choller: and

[1030]

happely may strike at you, prouoke him that he may: for

euen out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to Mutiny.

Whose qualification shall come into no true taste a­

gaine, but by the displanting of Cassio. So shall you

haue a shorter iourney to your desires, by the meanes I

[1035]

shall then haue to preferre them. And the impediment

most profitably remoued, without the which there were

no expectation of our prosperitie.

Rodo.

I will do this, if you can bring it to any oppor­

tunity.

Iago.
[1040]

I warrant thee. Meete me by and by at the

Cittadell. I must fetch his Necessaries a Shore. Fare­

well.

Exit. Rodo.

Adieu.

Iago. That Cassio loues her, I do well beleeu't:
[1045]
That she loues him, 'tis apt, and of great Credite. The Moore (howbeit that I endure him not) Is of a constant, louing, Noble Nature, And I dare thinke, he'le proue to Desdemona A most deere husband. Now I do loue her too,
[1050]
Not out of absolute Lust, (though peraduenture I stand accomptant for as great a sin) But partely led to dyet my Reuenge, For that I do suspect the lustie Moore Hath leap'd into my Seate. The thought whereof,
[1055]
Doth (like a poysonous Minerall) gnaw my Inwardes: And nothing can, or shall content my Soule Till I am eeuen'd with him, wife, for wift. Or fayling so, yet that I put the Moore, At least into a Ielouzie so strong
[1060]
That iudgement cannot cure. Which thing to do, If this poore Trash of Venice, whom I trace For his quicke hunting, stand the putting on, Ile haue our Michael Cassio on the hip, Abuse him to the Moore, in the right garbe
[1065]
(For I feare Cassio with my Night‑Cape too) Make the Moore thanke me, loue me, and reward me, For making him egregiously an Asse, And practising vpon his peace, and quiet, Euen to madnesse. 'Tis heere: but yet confus'd,
[1070]
Knaueries plaine face, is neuer seene, till vs'd.
Exit.
Scena Secunda. [Act 2, Scene 2] Enter Othello's, Herald with a Proclamation. Herald.

It is Othello's pleasure, our Noble and Vali­

ant Generall. That vpon certaine tydings now arriu'd,

importing the meere perdition of the Turkish Fleete:

euery man put himselfe into Triumph. Some to daunce,

[1075]

some to make Bonfires, each man, to what Sport and

Reuels his addition leads him. For besides these bene­

ficiall Newes, it is the Celebration of his Nuptiall. So

much was his pleasure should be proclaimed. All offi­

ces are open, & there is full libertie of Feasting from this pre­

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Scena Secunda. [Act 2, Scene 2] Enter Othello's, Herald with a Proclamation. Herald.

It is Othello's pleasure, our Noble and Vali­

ant Generall. That vpon certaine tydings now arriu'd,

importing the meere perdition of the Turkish Fleete:

euery man put himselfe into Triumph. Some to daunce,

[1075]

some to make Bonfires, each man, to what Sport and

Reuels his addition leads him. For besides these bene­

ficiall Newes, it is the Celebration of his Nuptiall. So

much was his pleasure should be proclaimed. All offi­

ces are open, & there is full libertie of Feasting from this

[1080]

presenr present houre of fiue, till the Bell haue told eleuen.

Blesse the Isle of Cyprus, and our Noble Generall Othel­ lo .

Exit.
 

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<div type="scene" n="2">
   <head rend="italic center">Scena Secunda.</head>
   <head type="supplied">[Act 2, Scene 2]</head>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Othello's, Herald with a Proclamation.</stage>
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      <speaker rend="italic">Herald.</speaker>
      <p n="1071">It is<hi rend="italic">Othello's</hi>pleasure, our Noble and Vali­
      <lb n="1072"/>ant Generall. That vpon certaine tydings now arriu'd,
      <lb n="1073"/>importing the meere perdition of the Turkish Fleete:
      <lb n="1074"/>euery man put himselfe into Triumph. Some to daunce,
      <lb n="1075"/>some to make Bonfires, each man, to what Sport and
      <lb n="1076"/>Reuels his addition leads him. For besides these bene­
      <lb n="1077"/>ficiall Newes, it is the Celebration of his Nuptiall. So
      <lb n="1078"/>much was his pleasure should be proclaimed. All offi­
      <lb n="1079"/>ces are open, &amp; there is full libertie of Feasting from this<pb facs="FFimg:axc0829-0.jpg" n="319"/>
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         </choice>houre of fiue, till the Bell haue told eleuen.
      <lb n="1081"/>Blesse the Isle of Cyprus, and our Noble Generall<hi rend="italic">Othel­
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   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit.</stage>
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