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Othello: Act I, Scene 2

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Othello
Act I, Scene 2

Venice. Another street.

Othello

Othello

Percy Anderson, 1906

  1. Enter Othello, Iago, Attendants with torches.

Iago

1 - 5
  1. Though in the trade of war I have slain men,
  2. Yet do I hold it very stuff o’ th’ conscience
  3. To do no contriv’d murder. I lack iniquity
  4. Sometime to do me service. Nine or ten times
  5. I had thought t’ have yerk’d him here under the ribs.

Othello

6
  1. ’Tis better as it is.

Iago

7 - 18
  1.                       Nay, but he prated,
  2. And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms
  3. Against your honor,
  4. That with the little godliness I have
  5. I did full hard forbear him. But I pray you, sir,
  6. Are you fast married? Be assur’d of this,
  7. That the magnifico is much belov’d,
  8. And hath in his effect a voice potential
  9. As double as the Duke’s. He will divorce you,
  10. Or put upon you what restraint or grievance
  11. The law (with all his might to enforce it on)
  12. Will give him cable.

Othello

19 - 30
  1.                      Let him do his spite;
  2. My services which I have done the signiory
  3. Shall out—tongue his complaints. ’Tis yet to know—
  4. Which, when I know that boasting is an honor,
  5. I shall provulgate—I fetch my life and being
  6. From men of royal siege, and my demerits
  7. May speak, unbonneted, to as proud a fortune
  8. As this that I have reach’d; for know, Iago,
  9. But that I love the gentle Desdemona,
  10. I would not my unhoused free condition
  11. Put into circumscription and confine
  12. For the sea’s worth. But look, what lights come yond?
  1. Enter Cassio with Officers and torches.

Iago

31 - 32
  1. Those are the raised father and his friends.
  2. You were best go in.

Othello

33 - 35
  1.                      Not I; I must be found.
  2. My parts, my title, and my perfect soul
  3. Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they?

Iago

36
  1. By Janus, I think no.

Othello

37 - 39
  1. The servants of the Duke? And my lieutenant?
  2. The goodness of the night upon you, friends!
  3. What is the news?

Cassio

40 - 42
  1.                   The Duke does greet you, general,
  2. And he requires your haste-post-haste appearance,
  3. Even on the instant.
Costume design for Paul Robeson as Othello

Costume design for Paul Robeson as Othello

Robert Edmund Jones, 1943

Othello

43
  1.                      What is the matter, think you?

Cassio

44 - 52
  1. Something from Cyprus, as I may divine;
  2. It is a business of some heat. The galleys
  3. Have sent a dozen sequent messengers
  4. This very night at one another’s heels;
  5. And many of the consuls, rais’d and met,
  6. Are at the Duke’s already. You have been hotly call’d for;
  7. When, being not at your lodging to be found,
  8. The Senate hath sent about three several quests
  9. To search you out.

Othello

53 - 55
  1.                    ’Tis well I am found by you.
  2. I will but spend a word here in the house,
  3. And go with you.
  1. Exit.

Cassio

56
  1.                  Ancient, what makes he here?

Iago

57 - 58
  1. Faith, he tonight hath boarded a land carrack.
  2. If it prove lawful prize, he’s made forever.

Cassio

59
  1. I do not understand.

Iago

60
  1.                      He’s married.

Cassio

61
  1.               To who?
  1. Enter Othello.

Iago

62
  1. Marry, to—Come, captain, will you go?

Othello

63
  1.                                       Have with you.

Cassio

64
  1. Here comes another troop to seek for you.
  1. Enter Brabantio, Roderigo, with Officers with torches and
  2. weapons.

Iago

65 - 66
  1. It is Brabantio. General, be advis’d,
  2. He comes to bad intent.

Othello

67
  1.                         Holla, stand there!

Roderigo

68
  1. Signior, it is the Moor.

Brabantio

69
  1.                          Down with him, thief!
  1. They draw on both sides.

Iago

70
  1. You, Roderigo! Come, sir, I am for you.

Othello

71 - 73
  1. Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.
  2. Good signior, you shall more command with years
  3. Than with your weapons.

Brabantio

74 - 93
  1. O thou foul thief, where hast thou stow’d my daughter?
  2. Damn’d as thou art, thou hast enchanted her,
  3. For I’ll refer me to all things of sense,
  4. If she in chains of magic were not bound,
  5. Whether a maid so tender, fair, and happy,
  6. So opposite to marriage that she shunn’d
  7. The wealthy curled darlings of our nation,
  8. Would ever have, t’ incur a general mock,
  9. Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom
  10. Of such a thing as thou—to fear, not to delight!
  11. Judge me the world, if ’tis not gross in sense,
  12. That thou hast practic’d on her with foul charms,
  13. Abus’d her delicate youth with drugs or minerals
  14. That weakens motion. I’ll have’t disputed on,
  15. ’Tis probable, and palpable to thinking.
  16. I therefore apprehend and do attach thee
  17. For an abuser of the world, a practicer
  18. Of arts inhibited and out of warrant.
  19. Lay hold upon him, if he do resist
  20. Subdue him at his peril.
Edmund Kean as Othello

Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it without a prompter.

Edmund Kean as Othello

John William Gear, circa 1825

Othello

94 - 98
  1.                          Hold your hands,
  2. Both you of my inclining, and the rest.
  3. Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it
  4. Without a prompter. Whither will you that I go
  5. To answer this your charge?

Brabantio

99 - 101
  1.                             To prison, till fit time
  2. Of law and course of direct session
  3. Call thee to answer.

Othello

102 - 106
  1.                      What if I do obey?
  2. How may the Duke be therewith satisfied,
  3. Whose messengers are here about my side,
  4. Upon some present business of the state,
  5. To bring me to him?

Officer

107 - 109
  1.                     ’Tis true, most worthy signior;
  2. The Duke’s in council, and your noble self
  3. I am sure is sent for.

Brabantio

110 - 116
  1.                        How? The Duke in council?
  2. In this time of the night? Bring him away;
  3. Mine’s not an idle cause. The Duke himself,
  4. Or any of my brothers of the state,
  5. Cannot but feel this wrong as ’twere their own;
  6. For if such actions may have passage free,
  7. Bond-slaves and pagans shall our statesmen be.
  1. Exeunt.
Costume design for Kote Marjanishvili's staging of Othello

Costume design for Kote Marjanishvili's staging of Othello

Petre Otskheli, 1933

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