Othello, the Moor of Venice

ACT I Scene I. Venice. A street. Scene II. Venice. Another street. Scene III. Venice. A council chamber. ACT II Scene I. A seaport in Cyprus. A Platform. Scene II. A street. Scene III. A Hall in the Castle. ACT III Scene I. Cyprus. Before the Castle. Scene II. Cyprus. A Room in the Castle. Scene III. Cyprus. The Garden of the Castle. Scene IV. Cyprus. Before the Castle. ACT IV Scene I. Cyprus. Before the Castle. Scene II. Cyprus. A Room in the Castle. Scene III. Cyprus. Another Room in the Castle. ACT V Scene I. Cyprus. A Street. Scene II. Cyprus. A Bedchamber in the castle.

Enter Roderigo and Iago.RODERIGO. Tush, never tell me, I take it much unkindly That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse, As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this.IAGO. ’Sblood, but you will not hear me. If ever I did dream of such a matter, Abhor me.RODERIGO. Thou told’st me, thou didst hold him in thy hate.IAGO. Despise me if I do not. Three great ones of the city, In personal suit to make me his lieutenant, Off-capp’d to him; and by the faith of man, I know my price, I am worth no worse a place. But he, as loving his own pride and purposes, Evades them, with a bombast circumstance, Horribly stuff’d with epithets of war: And in conclusion, Nonsuits my mediators: for “Certes,” says he, “I have already chose my officer.” And what was he? Forsooth, a great arithmetician, One Michael Cassio, a Florentine, A fellow almost damn’d in a fair wife, That never set a squadron in the field, Nor the division of a battle knows More than a spinster, unless the bookish theoric, Where

The Duke and Senators sitting at a table; Officers attending.DUKE. There is no composition in these news That gives them credit.FIRST SENATOR. Indeed, they are disproportion’d; My letters say a hundred and seven galleys.DUKE. And mine a hundred and forty.SECOND SENATOR And mine two hundred: But though they jump not on a just account, (As in these cases, where the aim reports, ’Tis oft with difference,) yet do they all confirm A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus.DUKE. Nay, it is possible enough to judgement: I do not so secure me in the error, But the main article I do approve In fearful sense.SAILOR. [Within.] What, ho! what, ho! what, ho!OFFICER. A messenger from the galleys.Enter Sailor.DUKE. Now,—what’s the business?SAILOR. The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes, So was I bid report here to the state By Signior Angelo.DUKE. How say you by this change?FIRST SENATOR. This cannot be By no assay of reason. ’Tis a pageant To keep us in false gaze. When we

Enter Othello’s Herald with 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 addition 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.]

Enter Cassio and some Musicians.CASSIO. Masters, play here, I will content your pains, Something that’s brief; and bid “Good morrow, general.”[Music.]Enter Clown.CLOWN. Why, masters, have your instruments been in Naples, that they speak i’ the nose thus?FIRST MUSICIAN. How, sir, how?CLOWN. Are these, I pray you, wind instruments?FIRST MUSICIAN. Ay, marry, are they, sir.CLOWN. O, thereby hangs a tail.FIRST MUSICIAN. Whereby hangs a tale, sir?CLOWN. Marry, sir, by many a wind instrument that I know. But, masters, here’s money for you: and the general so likes your music, that he desires you, for love’s sake, to make no more noise with it.FIRST MUSICIAN. Well, sir, we will not.CLOWN. If you have any music that may not be heard, to’t again. But, as they say, to hear music the general does not greatly care.FIRST MUSICIAN. We have none such, sir.CLOWN. Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I’ll away. Go, vanish into air, away![Exeunt Musicians.]CASSIO. Dost