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Othello: Act II, Scene 3

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Othello
Act II, Scene 3

Cyprus. A castle hall.

Let me the canakin clink

Vincent Brooks, S.O. Beeton, John Gilbert, circa 1875

  1. Enter Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, and Attendants.

Othello

1 - 3
  1. Good Michael, look you to the guard tonight.
  2. Let’s teach ourselves that honorable stop,
  3. Not to outsport discretion.

Cassio

4 - 6
  1. Iago hath direction what to do;
  2. But notwithstanding with my personal eye
  3. Will I look to’t.

Othello

7 - 13
  1.                   Iago is most honest.
  2. Michael, good night. Tomorrow with your earliest
  3. Let me have speech with you.
  4. To Desdemona.
  5.                              Come, my dear love,
  6. The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue;
  7. That profit’s yet to come ’tween me and you.—
  8. Good night.
  1. Exit with Desdemona and Attendants.
  1. Enter Iago.

Cassio

14
  1. Welcome, Iago; we must to the watch.

Iago

15 - 18
  1. Not this hour, lieutenant; ’tis not yet ten o’ th’ clock.
  2. Our general cast us thus early for the love of his
  3. Desdemona; who let us not therefore blame. He hath not yet
  4. made wanton the night with her; and she is sport for Jove.

Cassio

19
  1. She’s a most exquisite lady.

Iago

20
  1. And I’ll warrant her, full of game.

Cassio

21
  1. Indeed she’s a most fresh and delicate creature.

Iago

22 - 23
  1. What an eye she has! Methinks it sounds a parley to
  2. provocation.

Cassio

24
  1. An inviting eye; and yet methinks right modest.

Iago

25
  1. And when she speaks, is it not an alarum to love?

Cassio

26
  1. She is indeed perfection.

Iago

27 - 30
  1. Well—happiness to their sheets! Come, lieutenant, I have a
  2. stoup of wine, and here without are a brace of Cyprus
  3. gallants that would fain have a measure to the health of
  4. black Othello.

Cassio

31 - 33
  1. Not tonight, good Iago, I have very poor and unhappy brains
  2. for drinking. I could well wish courtesy would invent some
  3. other custom of entertainment.

Iago

34
  1. O, they are our friends—but one cup, I’ll drink for you.

Cassio

35 - 38
  1. I have drunk but one cup tonight—and that was craftily
  2. qualified too—and behold what innovation it makes here. I am
  3. infortunate in the infirmity, and dare not task my weakness
  4. with any more.

Iago

39
  1. What, man? ’Tis a night of revels, the gallants desire it.

Cassio

40
  1. Where are they?

Iago

41
  1. Here, at the door; I pray you call them in.

Cassio

42
  1. I’ll do’t, but it dislikes me.
  1. Exit.

Iago

43 - 58
  1. If I can fasten but one cup upon him,
  2. With that which he hath drunk tonight already,
  3. He’ll be as full of quarrel and offense
  4. As my young mistress’ dog. Now, my sick fool Roderigo,
  5. Whom love hath turn’d almost the wrong side out,
  6. To Desdemona hath tonight carous’d
  7. Potations pottle-deep; and he’s to watch.
  8. Three else of Cyprus, noble swelling spirits
  9. That hold their honors in a wary distance,
  10. The very elements of this warlike isle,
  11. Have I tonight fluster’d with flowing cups,
  12. And they watch too. Now ’mongst this flock of drunkards
  13. Am I to put our Cassio in some action
  14. That may offend the isle. But here they come.
  15. Enter Cassio, Montano, and Gentlemen; Servants follow with
  16. wine.
  17. If consequence do but approve my dream,
  18. My boat sails freely, both with wind and stream.

Cassio

59
  1. ’Fore God, they have given me a rouse already.

Montano

60 - 61
  1. Good faith, a little one; not past a pint, as I am a
  2. soldier.

Iago

62 - 68
  1. Some wine ho!
  2. Sings.
  3. “And let me the canakin clink, clink;
  4. And let me the canakin clink.
  5. A soldier’s a man;
  6. O, man’s life’s but a span;
  7. Why then let a soldier drink.”
  8. Some wine, boys!

Good night, honest Iago

L. Marchetti, circa 1900

Cassio

69
  1. ’Fore God, an excellent song.

Iago

70 - 72
  1. I learn’d it in England, where indeed they are most potent
  2. in potting; your Dane, your German, and your swag-bellied
  3. Hollander—Drink ho!—are nothing to your English.

Cassio

73
  1. Is your Englishman so exquisite in his drinking?

Iago

74 - 76
  1. Why, he drinks you, with facility, your Dane dead drunk; he
  2. sweats not to overthrow your Almain; he gives your Hollander
  3. a vomit ere the next pottle can be fill’d.

Cassio

77
  1. To the health of our general!

Montano

78
  1. I am for it, lieutenant; and I’ll do you justice.

Iago

79 - 88
  1. O sweet England!
  2. Sings.
  3. “King Stephen was and—a worthy peer,
  4. His breeches cost him but a crown;
  5. He held them sixpence all too dear,
  6. With that he call’d the tailor lown;
  7. He was a wight of high renown,
  8. And thou art but of low degree.
  9. ’Tis pride that pulls the country down,
  10. Then take thy auld cloak about thee.”
  11. Some wine ho!

Cassio

89
  1. ’Fore God, this is a more exquisite song than the other.

Iago

90
  1. Will you hear’t again?

Cassio

91 - 93
  1. No; for I hold him to be unworthy of his place that does
  2. those things. Well, God’s above all; and there be souls must
  3. be sav’d, and there be souls must not be sav’d.

Iago

94
  1. It’s true, good lieutenant.

Cassio

95 - 96
  1. For mine own part—no offense to the general, nor any man of
  2. quality—I hope to be sav’d.

Iago

97
  1. And so do I too, lieutenant.

Cassio

98 - 104
  1. Ay; but by your leave, not before me; the lieutenant is to
  2. be sav’d before the ancient. Let’s have no more of this;
  3. let’s to our affairs.—God forgive us our sins!—Gentlemen,
  4. let’s look to our business. Do not think, gentlemen, I am
  5. drunk: this is my ancient, this is my right hand, and this
  6. is my left hand. I am not drunk now; I can stand well
  7. enough, and I speak well enough.

All

105
  1. Excellent well.

Cassio

106 - 107
  1. Why, very well then; you must not think then that I am
  2. drunk.
  1. Exit.

Montano

108
  1. To th’ platform, masters, come, let’s set the watch.
  1. The Gentlemen follow Cassio off.

Iago

109 - 116
  1. You see this fellow that is gone before:
  2. He’s a soldier fit to stand by Caesar
  3. And give direction; and do but see his vice,
  4. ’Tis to his virtue a just equinox,
  5. The one as long as th’ other. ’Tis pity of him.
  6. I fear the trust Othello puts him in,
  7. On some odd time of his infirmity,
  8. Will shake this island.

Montano

117
  1.                         But is he often thus?

Iago

118 - 120
  1. ’Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep.
  2. He’ll watch the horologe a double set
  3. If drink rock not his cradle.

Montano

121 - 125
  1.                               It were well
  2. The general were put in mind of it.
  3. Perhaps he sees it not, or his good nature
  4. Prizes the virtue that appears in Cassio,
  5. And looks not on his evils. Is not this true?
  1. Enter Roderigo.

Iago

126 - 127
  1. Aside to him.
  2. How now, Roderigo?
  3. I pray you, after the lieutenant, go.
  1. Exit Roderigo.

Montano

128 - 132
  1. And ’tis great pity that the noble Moor
  2. Should hazard such a place as his own second
  3. With one of an ingraft infirmity;
  4. It were an honest action to say
  5. So to the Moor.

Iago

133 - 137
  1.                 Not I, for this fair island.
  2. I do love Cassio well; and would do much
  3. To cure him of this evil.
  4. Cry within:
  5. “Help! Help!”
  6.               But hark, what noise?
  1. Enter Cassio pursuing Roderigo.
Johnston Forbes-Robertson as Othello, Herbert Waring as Iago, Ben Webster as Cassio

Johnston Forbes-Robertson as Othello, Herbert Waring as Iago, Ben Webster as Cassio

Performed at the Lyric theatre

Karl August Büchel, 1902

Cassio

138
  1. ’Zounds, you rogue! You rascal!

Montano

139
  1. What’s the matter, lieutenant?

Cassio

140 - 141
  1. A knave teach me my duty? I’ll beat the knave into a twiggen
  2. bottle.

Roderigo

142
  1. Beat me?

Cassio

143
  1. Dost thou prate, rogue?
  1. Striking Roderigo.

Montano

144
  1. Nay, good lieutenant; I pray you, sir, hold your hand.
  1. Staying him.

Cassio

145
  1. Let me go, sir, or I’ll knock you o’er the mazzard.

Montano

146
  1. Come, come—you’re drunk.

Cassio

147
  1. Drunk?
  1. They fight.

Iago

148 - 154
  1. Aside to Roderigo.
  2. Away, I say; go out and cry a mutiny.
  3. Exit Roderigo.
  4. Nay, good lieutenant—God’s will, gentlemen—
  5. Help ho!—lieutenant—sir—Montano—sir—
  6. Help, masters!—Here’s a goodly watch indeed!
  7. A bell rung.
  8. Who’s that which rings the bell? Diablo, ho!
  9. The town will rise. God’s will, lieutenant, hold!
  10. You’ll be asham’d forever.
  1. Enter Othello and Gentlemen with weapons.

Othello

155
  1. What is the matter here?

Montano

156 - 157
  1.                          ’Zounds, I bleed still,
  2. I am hurt to th’ death. He dies.
  1. Assailing Cassio again.

Othello

158
  1.                                  Hold, for your lives!

Iago

159 - 161
  1. Hold ho! Lieutenant—sir—Montano—gentlemen—
  2. Have you forgot all place of sense and duty?
  3. Hold! The general speaks to you; hold, for shame!

Othello

162 - 171
  1. Why, how now ho? From whence ariseth this?
  2. Are we turn’d Turks, and to ourselves do that
  3. Which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites?
  4. For Christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl.
  5. He that stirs next to carve for his own rage
  6. Holds his soul light; he dies upon his motion.
  7. Silence that dreadful bell, it frights the isle
  8. From her propriety. What is the matter, masters?
  9. Honest Iago, that looks dead with grieving,
  10. Speak: who began this? On thy love, I charge thee!

Iago

172 - 180
  1. I do not know. Friends all, but now, even now;
  2. In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom
  3. Devesting them for bed; and then, but now
  4. (As if some planet had unwitted men),
  5. Swords out, and tilting one at other’s breast,
  6. In opposition bloody. I cannot speak
  7. Any beginning to this peevish odds;
  8. And would in action glorious I had lost
  9. Those legs that brought me to a part of it.

Othello

181
  1. How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot?

Cassio

182
  1. I pray you pardon me, I cannot speak.

Othello

183 - 189
  1. Worthy Montano, you were wont to be civil;
  2. The gravity and stillness of your youth
  3. The world hath noted, and your name is great
  4. In mouths of wisest censure. What’s the matter
  5. That you unlace your reputation thus,
  6. And spend your rich opinion for the name
  7. Of a night-brawler? Give me answer to it.

Montano

190 - 197
  1. Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger.
  2. Your officer, Iago, can inform you—
  3. While I spare speech, which something now offends me—
  4. Of all that I do know, nor know I aught
  5. By me that’s said or done amiss this night,
  6. Unless self-charity be sometimes a vice,
  7. And to defend ourselves it be a sin
  8. When violence assails us.

Othello

198 - 211
  1.                           Now by heaven,
  2. My blood begins my safer guides to rule,
  3. And passion, having my best judgment collied,
  4. Assays to lead the way. ’Zounds, if I stir,
  5. Or do but lift this arm, the best of you
  6. Shall sink in my rebuke. Give me to know
  7. How this foul rout began; who set it on;
  8. And he that is approv’d in this offense,
  9. Though he had twinn’d with me, both at a birth,
  10. Shall lose me. What, in a town of war,
  11. Yet wild, the people’s hearts brimful of fear,
  12. To manage private and domestic quarrel?
  13. In night, and on the court and guard of safety?
  14. ’Tis monstrous. Iago, who began’t?

Some wine ho! And let me the canakin clink, clink... Why then let a soldier drink.

L. Marchetti, circa 1900

Montano

212 - 214
  1. If partially affin’d, or leagu’d in office,
  2. Thou dost deliver more or less than truth,
  3. Thou art no soldier.

Iago

215 - 241
  1.                      Touch me not so near;
  2. I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth
  3. Than it should do offense to Michael Cassio;
  4. Yet I persuade myself, to speak the truth
  5. Shall nothing wrong him. Thus it is, general:
  6. Montano and myself being in speech,
  7. There comes a fellow crying out for help,
  8. And Cassio following him with determin’d sword
  9. To execute upon him. Sir, this gentleman
  10. Steps in to Cassio and entreats his pause;
  11. Myself the crying fellow did pursue,
  12. Lest by his clamor (as it so fell out)
  13. The town might fall in fright. He, swift of foot,
  14. Outran my purpose; and I return’d the rather
  15. For that I heard the clink and fall of swords,
  16. And Cassio high in oath; which till tonight
  17. I ne’er might say before. When I came back
  18. (For this was brief), I found them close together
  19. At blow and thrust, even as again they were
  20. When you yourself did part them.
  21. More of this matter cannot I report.
  22. But men are men; the best sometimes forget.
  23. Though Cassio did some little wrong to him,
  24. As men in rage strike those that wish them best,
  25. Yet surely Cassio, I believe, receiv’d
  26. From him that fled some strange indignity
  27. Which patience could not pass.

Othello

242 - 247
  1.                                I know, Iago,
  2. Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter,
  3. Making it light to Cassio. Cassio, I love thee,
  4. But never more be officer of mine.
  5. Enter Desdemona attended.
  6. Look if my gentle love be not rais’d up!
  7. I’ll make thee an example.

Desdemona

248
  1. What is the matter, dear?

Othello

249 - 256
  1.                           All’s well now, sweeting;
  2. Come away to bed.
  3. To Montano.
  4.                   Sir, for your hurts,
  5. Myself will be your surgeon.—Lead him off.
  6. Some lead Montano off.
  7. Iago, look with care about the town,
  8. And silence those whom this vild brawl distracted.
  9. Come, Desdemona, ’tis the soldiers’ life
  10. To have their balmy slumbers wak’d with strife.
  1. Exit with Desdemona, Gentlemen, and Attendants.

Iago

257
  1. What, are you hurt, lieutenant?

Cassio

258
  1. Ay, past all surgery.

Iago

259
  1. Marry, God forbid!

Cassio

260 - 262
  1. Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my
  2. reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and
  3. what remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation!

Iago

263 - 272
  1. As I am an honest man, I had thought you had receiv’d some
  2. bodily wound; there is more sense in that than in
  3. reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition;
  4. oft got without merit, and lost without deserving. You have
  5. lost no reputation at all, unless you repute yourself such a
  6. loser. What, man, there are more ways to recover the general
  7. again. You are but now cast in his mood, a punishment more
  8. in policy than in malice, even so as one would beat his
  9. offenseless dog to affright an imperious lion. Sue to him
  10. again, and he’s yours.

Cassio

273 - 278
  1. I will rather sue to be despis’d than to deceive so good a
  2. commander with so slight, so drunken, and so indiscreet an
  3. officer. Drunk? And speak parrot? And squabble? Swagger?
  4. Swear? And discourse fustian with one’s own shadow? O thou
  5. invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known
  6. by, let us call thee devil!
Songs and sonnets, with tributes of three centuries written to commemorate the tercentenary of his death

From: Songs and sonnets, with tributes of three centuries written to commemorate the tercentenary of his death

1926

Iago

279 - 280
  1. What was he that you follow’d with your sword? What had he
  2. done to you?

Cassio

281
  1. I know not.

Iago

282
  1. Is’t possible?

Cassio

283 - 287
  1. I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly; a
  2. quarrel, but nothing wherefore. O God, that men should put
  3. an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains! That we
  4. should, with joy, pleasance, revel, and applause, transform
  5. ourselves into beasts!

Iago

288 - 289
  1. Why, but you are now well enough. How came you thus
  2. recover’d?

Cassio

290 - 292
  1. It hath pleas’d the devil drunkenness to give place to the
  2. devil wrath: one unperfectness shows me another, to make me
  3. frankly despise myself.

Iago

293 - 296
  1. Come, you are too severe a moraler. As the time, the place,
  2. and the condition of this country stands, I could heartily
  3. wish this had not befall’n; but since it is as it is, mend
  4. it for your own good.

Cassio

297 - 301
  1. I will ask him for my place again, he shall tell me I am a
  2. drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer
  3. would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by and by a
  4. fool, and presently a beast! O strange! Every inordinate cup
  5. is unbless’d, and the ingredient is a devil.

Iago

302 - 304
  1. Come, come; good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be
  2. well us’d; exclaim no more against it. And, good lieutenant,
  3. I think you think I love you.

Cassio

305
  1. I have well approv’d it, sir. I drunk!

Iago

306 - 317
  1. You, or any man living, may be drunk at a time, man. I’ll
  2. tell you what you shall do. Our general’s wife is now the
  3. general—I may say so in this respect, for that he hath
  4. devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, and
  5. denotement of her parts and graces. Confess yourself freely
  6. to her; importune her help to put you in your place again.
  7. She is of so free, so kind, so apt, so bless’d a
  8. disposition, she holds it a vice in her goodness not to do
  9. more than she is requested. This broken joint between you
  10. and her husband entreat her to splinter; and my fortunes
  11. against any lay worth naming, this crack of your love shall
  12. grow stronger than it was before.

Cassio

318
  1. You advise me well.

Iago

319
  1. I protest, in the sincerity of love and honest kindness.

Cassio

320 - 322
  1. I think it freely; and betimes in the morning I will beseech
  2. the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me. I am desperate
  3. of my fortunes if they check me here.

Iago

323 - 324
  1. You are in the right. Good night, lieutenant, I must to the
  2. watch.

Cassio

325
  1. Good night, honest Iago.
  1. Exit Cassio.

Iago

326 - 353
  1. And what’s he then that says I play the villain,
  2. When this advice is free I give, and honest,
  3. Probal to thinking, and indeed the course
  4. To win the Moor again? For ’tis most easy
  5. Th’ inclining Desdemona to subdue
  6. In any honest suit; she’s fram’d as fruitful
  7. As the free elements. And then for her
  8. To win the Moor, were’t to renounce his baptism,
  9. All seals and symbols of redeemed sin,
  10. His soul is so enfetter’d to her love,
  11. That she may make, unmake, do what she list,
  12. Even as her appetite shall play the god
  13. With his weak function. How am I then a villain,
  14. To counsel Cassio to this parallel course,
  15. Directly to his good? Divinity of hell!
  16. When devils will the blackest sins put on,
  17. They do suggest at first with heavenly shows,
  18. As I do now; for whiles this honest fool
  19. Plies Desdemona to repair his fortune,
  20. And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor,
  21. I’ll pour this pestilence into his ear—
  22. That she repeals him for her body’s lust,
  23. And by how much she strives to do him good,
  24. She shall undo her credit with the Moor.
  25. So will I turn her virtue into pitch,
  26. And out of her own goodness make the net
  27. That shall enmesh them all.
  28. Enter Roderigo.
  29. How now, Roderigo?
Charles Kemble as Cassio

Charles Kemble as Cassio

J. Mitchell; Richard James Lane, printmaker; 1838

Roderigo

354 - 359
  1. I do follow here in the chase, not like a hound that hunts,
  2. but one that fills up the cry. My money is almost spent; I
  3. have been tonight exceedingly well cudgell’d; and I think
  4. the issue will be, I shall have so much experience for my
  5. pains; and so, with no money at all and a little more wit,
  6. return again to Venice.

Iago

360 - 379
  1. How poor are they that have not patience!
  2. What wound did ever heal but by degrees?
  3. Thou know’st we work by wit, and not by witchcraft,
  4. And wit depends on dilatory time.
  5. Does’t not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee,
  6. And thou by that small hurt hast cashier’d Cassio.
  7. Though other things grow fair against the sun,
  8. Yet fruits that blossom first will first be ripe.
  9. Content thyself a while. By the mass, ’tis morning;
  10. Pleasure and action make the hours seem short.
  11. Retire thee, go where thou art billeted.
  12. Away, I say, thou shalt know more hereafter.
  13. Nay, get thee gone.
  14. Exit Roderigo.
  15.                     Two things are to be done:
  16. My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress—
  17. I’ll set her on—
  18. Myself a while to draw the Moor apart,
  19. And bring him jump when he may Cassio find
  20. Soliciting his wife. Ay, that’s the way;
  21. Dull not device by coldness and delay.
  1. Exit.
Charles Kemble as Othello

Charles Kemble as Othello

Colnaghi & Puckle; Richard James Lane, printmaker; 1840

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