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unfortunate in the infirmity； and dare not task my weakness with any more。
IAGO。 What； man！ 'Tis a night of revels； the gallants desire it。 CASSIO。
Where are they？ IAGO。 Here at the door； I pray you； call them in。
CASSIO。 I'll do't； but it dislikes me。 Exit。 IAGO。 If I can fasten but one
cup upon him； With that which he hath drunk tonight already； He'll be as
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THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO； MOOR OF VENICE
full of quarrel and offense As my young mistress' dog。 Now my sick fool
Roderigo； Whom love hath turn'd almost the wrong side out； To
Desdemona hath tonight caroused Potations pottle…deep； and he's to watch。
Three lads of Cyprus； noble swelling spirits； That hold their honors in a
wary distance； The very elements of this warlike isle； Have I tonight
fluster'd with flowing cups； And they watch too。 Now； 'mongst this flock
of drunkards； Am I to put our Cassio in some action That may offend the
isle。 But here they come。 If consequence do but approve my dream； My
boat sails freely； both with wind and stream。
Re…enter Cassio； with him Montano and Gentlemen； Servants
following with wine。
CASSIO。 'Fore God； they have given me a rouse already。
MONTANO。 Good faith； a little one； not past a pint； as I am a soldier。
IAGO。 Some wine； ho！
＇Sings。＇ 〃And let me the canakin clink； clink； And let me the canakin
clink。 A soldier's a man； O； man's life's but a span； Why then let a soldier
drink。〃
Some wine； boys！ CASSIO。 'Fore God； an excellent song。 IAGO。 I
learned it in England； where indeed they are most potent in potting。 Your
Dane； your German； and your swag…bellied Hollander Drink； ho！are
nothing to your English。 CASSIO。 Is your Englishman so expert in his
drinking？ IAGO。 Why； he drinks you with facility your Dane dead drunk；
he sweats not to overthrow your Almain； he gives your Hollander a vomit
ere the next pottle can be filled。 CASSIO。 To the health of our general！
MONTANO。 I am for it； lieutenant； and I'll do you justice。 IAGO。 O sweet
England！
＇Sings。＇ 〃King Stephen was anda worthy peer； His breeches cost
him but a crown； He held them sixpence all too dear； With that he call'd
the tailor lown。
〃He was a wight of high renown； And thou art but of low degree。 'Tis
pride that pulls the country down； Then take thine auld cloak about thee。〃
Some wine； ho！ CASSIO。 Why； this is a more exquisite song than the
other。 IAGO。 Will you hear't again？ CASSIO。 No； for I hold him to be
unworthy of his place that does those things。 Well； God's above all； and
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THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO； MOOR OF VENICE
there be souls must be saved； and there be souls must not be saved。 IAGO。
It's true； good lieutenant。 CASSIO。 For mine own partno offense to the
general； nor any man of qualityI 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。 God 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 evilBut； hark！ What noise？ A cry within； 〃Help； help！〃
Re…enter Cassio； driving in Roderigo。
CASSIO。 'Zounds！ You rogue！ You rascal！ MONTANO。 What's the
matter； lieutenant？ CASSIO。 A knave teach me my duty！ But I'll beat the
knave into a twiggen bottle。 RODERIGO。 Beat me！ CASSIO。 Dost thou
prate； rogue？ Strikes 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
mazzard。 MONTANO。 Come； come； you're drunk。 CASSIO。 Drunk？ They
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THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO； MOOR OF VENICE
fight。 IAGO。 ＇Aside to Roderigo。＇ Away； I say； go out and cry a mutiny。
Exit Roderigo。 Nay； good lieutenant！ God's will； gentlemen！ Help； ho！
LieutenantsirMontanosir Help； masters！Here's a goodly watch
indeed！ A bell rings。 Who's that that rings the bell？Diablo； ho！ The town
will rise。 God's will； lieutenant； hold！ You will be shamed forever。
Re…enter Othello and Attendants。
OTHELLO。 What is the matter here？ MONTANO。 'Zounds； I bleed
still； I am hurt to the death。 Faints。 OTHELLO。 Hold； for your lives！
IAGO。 Hold； ho！ LieutenantsirMontanogentlemen Have you forgot
all place of sense 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 to it。 MONTANO。
Worthy Othello； I am hurt to danger。 Your officer； Iago； can inform you
While I spare speech； which something now offends me Of all that I do
know。 Nor know I aught By me that's said or done amiss this night； Unless
self…charity be sometimes a vice； And to defend ourselves it be a sin When
violence assails us。 OTHELLO。 Now； by heaven； My blood begins my
safer guides to rule； And passion； having my best judgement collied；
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THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO； MOOR OF VENICE
Assays to lead the way。 If I once stir； Or do but lift this arm； the best of
you Shall sink in my rebuke。 Give me to know How this foul rout began；
who set it on； And he that is approved in this offense； Though he had
twinn'd with me； both at a birth； Shall lose me。 What！ in a town of war； Yet
wild； the people's hearts brimful of fear； To manage private and domestic
quarrel； In ni