Othello: Act 2, Scene 1
Enter MONTANO and two
GENTLEMEN.
MONTANO
1 What from the cape can you discern at sea?
First Gentleman
2 Nothing at all: it is a highwrought flood;
3 I cannot, 'twixt the heaven and the main,
3. main: open sea.
4 Descry a sail.
4. Descry: catch sight of.
MONTANO
5 Methinks the wind hath spoke aloud at land;
6 A fuller blast ne'er shook our battlements:
7 If it hath ruffian'd so upon the sea,
7. ruffian'd: raged.
8 What ribs of oak, when mountains melt on them,
8. ribs of oak: i.e., ship. mountains: huge waves.
9 Can hold the mortise? What shall we hear of this?
9. hold the mortise: hold their joints together. . . . more What shall we hear of this?: i.e., What is going to happen because of this storm?
Second Gentleman
10 A segregation of the Turkish fleet:
10. segregation of the Turkish fleet: i.e., the Turkish fleet will be broken up and scattered.
11 For do but stand upon the foaming shore,
12 The chidden billow seems to pelt the clouds;
13 The wind-shaked surge, with high and monstrous main,
14 seems to cast water on the burning bear,
14. burning bear: i.e., the starry bear; the constellation Ursa Major.
15 And quench the guards of the ever-fixed pole:
15. guards: the two stars Dubhe and Merak. . . . more
16 I never did like molestation view
16. like molestation: comparable uproar.
17 On the enchafed flood.
17. enchafed: angry.
MONTANO
If that the Turkish fleet
18 Be not enshelter'd and embay'd, they are drown'd:
19 It is impossible they bear it out.
Enter a [third] GENTLEMAN.
Third Gentleman
20 News, lads! our wars are done.
21 The desperate tempest hath so bang'd the Turks,
22 That their designment halts: a noble ship of Venice
22. designment: plan. halts: is crippled.
23 Hath seen a grievous wreck and sufferance
23. sufferance: disaster, damage.
24 On most part of their fleet.
MONTANO
25 How! is this true?
Third Gentleman
The ship is here put in,
26 A Veronesa; Michael Cassio,
26. Veronesa: a type of ship associated with Verona.
27 Lieutenant to the warlike Moor Othello,
28 Is come on shore: the Moor himself at sea,
29 And is in full commission here for Cyprus.
28. is in full commission here for Cyprus: i.e., has full authority from the Venetian Senate to govern Cyprus.
MONTANO
30 I am glad on't; 'tis a worthy governor.
Third Gentleman
31 But this same Cassio, though he speak of comfort
32 Touching the Turkish loss, yet he looks sadly,
33 And prays the Moor be safe; for they were parted
34 With foul and violent tempest.
MONTANO
Pray heavens he be;
35 For I have served him, and the man commands
36 Like a full soldier. Let's to the seaside, ho!
36. full: perfect.
37 As well to see the vessel that's come in
38 As to throw out our eyes for brave Othello,
39 Even till we make the main and the aerial blue
40 An indistinct regard.
40. An indistinct regard: indistinguishable to the sight.
Third Gentleman
Come, let's do so:
41 For every minute is expectancy
42 Of more arrivance.
41-42. every minute is expectancy / Of more arrivance: i.e., every minute we expect another arrival of a ship.
Enter CASSIO.
CASSIO
43 Thanks, you the valiant of this warlike isle,
44 That so approve the Moor! O, let the heavens
44. approve: commend, admire.
45 Give him defence against the elements,
46 For I have lost him on a dangerous sea.
MONTANO
47 Is he well shipp'd?
CASSIO
48 His bark is stoutly timber'd, his pilot
49 Of very expert and approved allowance;
49. Of very expert and approved allowance: i.e., of acknowledged and proved skill.
50 Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death,
51 Stand in bold cure.
50-51. my hopes, not surfeited to death, / Stand in bold cure: my hopes, not fatally over-fed, are very healthy.
[A cry] within, "A sail, a sail, a sail!"
[Enter a fourth Gentleman.]
CASSIO
52 What noise?
Fourth Gentleman
53 The town is empty; on the brow o' the sea
54 Stand ranks of people, and they cry "A sail!"
CASSIO
55 My hopes do shape him for the governor.
55. My hopes do shape him for the governor: i.e., My hopes make me think I see the new governor (Othello) coming.
[Guns heard.]
Second Gentlemen
56 They do discharge their shot of courtesy:
57 Our friends at least.
CASSIO
I pray you, sir, go forth,
58 And give us truth who 'tis that is arrived.
Second Gentleman
59 I shall.
Exit.
MONTANO
60 But, good lieutenant, is your general wived?
CASSIO
61 Most fortunately: he hath achieved a maid
62 That paragons description and wild fame;
62. paragons . . . fame: surpasses whatever praise is uttered of her.
63 One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens,
63. quirks: poetic flourishes. blazoning pens: i.e., writers who list her beauties.
64 And in the essential vesture of creation
65 Does tire the ingener.
64-65. in the essential . . . ingener: i.e., just the fact that she lives in her natural beauty defeats all attempts of the inventive poet to praise her adequately.
Enter [second] GENTLEMAN.
65. put in: come into the harbor.
How now! who has put in?
Second Gentleman
66 'Tis one Iago, ancient to the general.
CASSIO
67 H'as had most favorable and happy speed:
67. favorable and happy speed: excellent good fortune.
68 Tempests themselves, high seas, and howling winds,
69 The gutter'd rocks and congregated sands—
69. gutter'd: jagged. congregated sands: sand bars.
70 Traitors ensteep'd to clog the guiltless keel,—
70. ensteep'd: submerged. clog: encumber, obstruct.
71 As having sense of beauty, do omit
72 Their mortal natures, letting go safely by
71-72. do omit / Their mortal natures: do not act in accordance with their deadly natures.
73 The divine Desdemona.
MONTANO
What is she?
CASSIO
74 She that I spake of, our great captain's captain,
75 Left in the conduct of the bold Iago,
76 Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts
76. footing: landing, arrival. anticipates our thoughts: runs ahead of our expectations.
77 A se'nnight's speed. Great Jove, Othello guard,
77. se'nnight's: week's.
78 And swell his sail with thine own powerful breath,
79 That he may bless this bay with his tall ship,
80 Make love's quick pants in Desdemona's arms,
81 Give renew'd fire to our extincted spirits
82 And bring all Cyprus comfort!
Enter DESDEMONA, IAGO,
RODERIGO, and EMILIA.
O, behold,
83 The riches of the ship is come on shore!
84 Ye men of Cyprus, let her have your knees.
85 Hail to thee, lady! and the grace of heaven,
86 Before, behind thee, and on every hand,
87 Enwheel thee round!
DESDEMONA
I thank you, valiant Cassio.
88 What tidings can you tell me of my lord?
88. my lord: my husband (Othello).
CASSIO
89 He is not yet arrived: nor know I aught
90 But that he's well and will be shortly here.
DESDEMONA
91 O, but I fear—How lost you company?
91. How lost you company?: how did you lose contact with Othello's ship?
CASSIO
92 The great contention of the sea and skies
93 Parted our fellowship.
For Nebraska Shakespeare's
production of Othello
(Shakespeare On Tour 2019)
Cassio was portrayed by Sam Cheeseman.
Within "A sail, a sail!"
93 But, hark! a sail.
Second Gentleman
94 They give their greeting to the citadel;
95 This likewise is a friend.
CASSIO
95 See for the news.
[Exit Second Gentleman.]
96 Good ancient, you are welcome.
[To Emilia.]
96 Welcome, mistress.
97 Let it not gall your patience, good Iago,
98 That I extend my manners; 'tis my breeding
98. extend: show.
99 That gives me this bold show of courtesy.
98-99. 'tis . . . courtesy: i.e., the way I was brought up makes me believe that kissing your wife is the courteous thing to do.
[Kissing her.]
"Kissing her"
IAGO
100 Sir, would she give you so much of her lips
101 As of her tongue she oft bestows on me,
102 You would have enough.
DESDEMONA
Alas, she has no speech.
IAGO
103 In faith, too much;
104 I find it still, when I have list to sleep:
104. list: inclination.
105 Marry, before your ladyship, I grant,
105. before your ladyship: in your ladyship's presence.
106 She puts her tongue a little in her heart,
106. She . . . heart: i.e., she doesn't say as much as she usually does.
107 And chides with thinking.
107. chides with thinking: i.e., scolds with thoughts.
EMILIA
108 You have little cause to say so.
IAGO
109 Come on, come on; you are pictures out of doors,
109. pictures out of doors: picture-perfect in public.
110 Bells in your parlors, wild-cats in your kitchens,
110. Bells: belles, gracious ladies.
111 Saints in your injuries, devils being offended,
111. Saints in your injuries: [hypocritically] saintly when you injure others.
112 Players in your huswifery, and huswives in your beds.
112. Players: actors, fakers. huswifery: housekeeping. huswives: hussies. A moment later Iago sums up his opinion about the way housewives earn their living: "You rise to play and go to bed to work"; in other words, housewives are actually hussies. Of course, he says it with a smile and makes everyone laugh.
DESDEMONA
113 O, fie upon thee, slanderer!
IAGO
114 Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk:
115 You rise to play and go to bed to work.
Mark Rylance as Iago
Shakespeare's Globe, 2018
EMILIA
116 You shall not write my praise.
IAGO
No, let me not.
DESDEMONA
117 What wouldst thou write of me, if thou shouldst
praise me?
IAGO
118 O gentle lady, do not put me to't;
119 For I am nothing, if not critical.
DESDEMONA
120 Come on, assay. —There's one gone to the harbor?
120. assay: try.
IAGO
121 Ay, madam.
DESDEMONA
122 I am not merry; but I do beguile
123 The thing I am, by seeming otherwise.—
123. The thing I am: i.e., my anxious self. Remember that she still doesn't know where Othello's ship is.
124 Come, how wouldst thou praise me?
IAGO
125 I am about it; but indeed my invention
126 Comes from my pate as birdlime does from frieze;
126. birdlime: sticky substance used to catch small birds. frieze: coarse woolen cloth
127 It plucks out brains and all: but my Muse labors,
128 And thus she is deliver'd.
129 If she be fair and wise, fairness and wit,
130 The one's for use, the other useth it.
130. The one's for use, the other useth it: i.e., her cleverness will make use of her beauty.
DESDEMONA
131 Well praised! How if she be black and witty?
131. black: dark complexioned, unattractive.
IAGO
132 If she be black, and thereto have a wit,
133 She'll find a white that shall her blackness fit.
133. a white: a fair, attractive person. Iago could also be punning on "wight," which means "person."
DESDEMONA
134 Worse and worse.
EMILIA
135 How if fair and foolish?
IAGO
136 She never yet was foolish that was fair;
137 For even her folly help'd her to an heir.
137. folly: 1) foolishness; 2) "wantonness" or "lechery." to an heir: i.e., to bear a child.
DESDEMONA
138 These are old fond paradoxes to make fools laugh i'
138. fond: foolish.
139 the alehouse. What miserable praise hast thou for
140 her that's foul and foolish?
140. foul: ugly.
IAGO
141 There's none so foul and foolish thereunto,
142 But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do.
DESDEMONA
143 O heavy ignorance! thou praisest the worst
144 best. But what praise couldst thou bestow on a
145 deserving woman indeed,—one that, in the authority
145-146. in the authority of: by virtue of. put on the vouch of: compel favorable testimony from.
146 of her merit, did justly put on the vouch of very
147 malice itself?
IAGO
148 She that was ever fair and never proud,
149 Had tongue at will and yet was never loud,
150 Never lack'd gold and yet went never gay,
150. gay: extravagantly dressed.
151 Fled from her wish and yet said "Now I may,"
151. Fled from her wish and yet said "Now I may": i.e., knew when to exercise restraint and when to let loose.
152 She that being anger'd, her revenge being nigh,
153 Bade her wrong stay and her displeasure fly,
153. Bade her wrong stay: Commanded her justified anger to stop short.
154 She that in wisdom never was so frail
155 To change the cod's head for the salmon's tail;
155. change the cod's head for the salmon's tail: Obscure. Perhaps "give up something common but valuable in exchange for something showy but worthless."
156 She that could think and ne'er disclose her mind,
157 See suitors following and not look behind,
158 She was a wight, if ever such wight were,—
DESDEMONA
159 To do what?
IAGO
160 To suckle fools and chronicle small beer.
160. suckle fools and chronicle small beer: nurse babies and keep petty household accounts.
DESDEMONA
161 O most lame and impotent conclusion! Do not learn
162 of him, Emilia, though he be thy husband. How say
163 you, Cassio? is he not a most profane and liberal
163. liberal: licentious, free-spoken.
164 counsellor?
CASSIO
165 He speaks home, madam: You may relish him more
165. home: bluntly.
166 in the soldier than in the scholar.
166. in: in the character of.
IAGO [Aside.]
167 He takes her by the palm: ay, well said,
168 whisper: with as little a web as this will I
169 ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon
170 her, do; I will gyve thee in thine own courtship.
170. gyve: entangle, shackle. courtship: courtesy, display of courtly manners.
171 You say true; 'tis so, indeed: if such tricks as
172 these strip you out of your lieutenantry, it had
173 been better you had not kissed your three fingers so
174 oft, which now again you are most apt to play the
174. sir: fine gentleman, gallant.
175 sir in. Very good; well kissed! an excellent
176 courtesy! 'tis so, indeed. Yet again your fingers
176. courtesy: bow? air kiss?
177 to your lips? would they were clyster-pipes for your sake!
177. clyster-pipes: enema tubes.
[Trumpet within.]
178 The Moor! I know his trumpet.
CASSIO
179 'Tis truly so.
DESDEMONA
180 Let's meet him and receive him.
CASSIO
181 Lo, where he comes!
Enter OTHELLO and Attendants.
OTHELLO
182 O my fair warrior!
DESDEMONA
My dear Othello!
OTHELLO
183 It gives me wonder great as my content
184 To see you here before me. O my soul's joy!
185 If after every tempest come such calms,
186 May the winds blow till they have waken'd death!
187 And let the laboring bark climb hills of seas
188 Olympus-high and duck again as low
189 As hell's from heaven! If it were now to die,
190 'Twere now to be most happy; for, I fear,
191 My soul hath her content so absolute
192 That not another comfort like to this
193 Succeeds in unknown fate.
193. Succeeds in unknown fate: i.e., can follow in the unknown future.
DESDEMONA
The heavens forbid
194 But that our loves and comforts should increase,
195 Even as our days do grow!
Eamonn Walker as Othello and Zoe Tapper as Desdemona
Shakespeare's Globe, London, 2007
OTHELLO
Amen to that, sweet powers!
196 I cannot speak enough of this content;
197 It stops me here; it is too much of joy:
198 And this, and this, the greatest discords be
[They kiss.]
199 That e'er our hearts shall make!
IAGO [Aside.]
199 O, you are well tuned now!
200 But I'll set down the pegs that make this music,
200. set down the pegs: i.e., untune the instrument (and so produce discords).
201 As honest as I am.
OTHELLO
Come, let us to the castle.
202 News, friends; our wars are done, the Turks are drown'd.
203 How does my old acquaintance of this isle?
204 Honey, you shall be well desir'd in Cyprus;
204. desir'd: welcomed, loved.
205 I have found great love amongst them. O my sweet,
206 I prattle out of fashion, and I dote
206. out of fashion: irrelevantly or unconventionally.
207 In mine own comforts. I prithee, good Iago,
208 Go to the bay and disembark my coffers:
208. coffers: official baggage.
209 Bring thou the master to the citadel;
209. master: ship's captain.
210 He is a good one, and his worthiness
211 Does challenge much respect. Come, Desdemona,
211. challenge: claim, deserve.
212 Once more, well met at Cyprus.
Exeunt Othello and Desdemona [with all but
Iago and Roderigo].
IAGO [To an attendant.]
213 Do thou meet me presently at the harbour.
[To Roderigo.]
214 Come hither. If thou be'st valiant,— as, they say, base
214-215. base men: men of low birth.
215 men being in love have then a nobility in their
216 natures more than is native to them—list me. The
216. native: natural. list me: listen to me.
217 lieutenant tonight watches on the court of
218 guard. First, I must tell thee this—Desdemona is
217-218. watches on the court of guard: has charge of the soldiers on night watch.
219 directly in love with him.
RODERIGO
220 With him! why, 'tis not possible.
IAGO
221 Lay thy finger thus, and let thy soul be instructed.
221. thus: i.e., on your lips.
222 Mark me with what violence she first loved the Moor,
223 but for bragging and telling her fantastical lies: To
224 love him still for prating—let not thy discreet heart
224. still: always.
225 think it. Her eye must be fed; and what delight shall
226 she have to look on the devil? When the blood is
226. the devil: In Shakespeare's time, devils are always black and grotesque. . . . more
227 made dull with the act of sport, there should be, again
228 to inflame it and to give satiety a fresh appetite,
229 loveliness in favor, sympathy in years, manners and
229. favor: face, appearance. sympathy: similarity.
230 beauties; all which the Moor is defective in: now, for
231 want of these required conveniences, her delicate
231. conveniences: compatibilities.
232 tenderness will find itself abused, begin to heave the
233 gorge, disrelish and abhor the Moor; very nature will
232-233. heave the gorge: vomit.
234 instruct her in it and compel her to some second choice.
234. instruct . . . choice: i.e. teach her a lesson and make take make her choose a different man for her lover.
235 Now, sir, this granted,—as it is a most pregnant and
235. pregnant: evident, readily believable, obvious.
236 unforced position—who stands so eminent in the degree
237 of this fortune as Cassio does? a knave very voluble;
238. conscionable: bound by considerations of conscience.
238 no further conscionable than in putting on the mere
239 form of civil and humane seeming, for the better
239. civil and humane: polite and courteous.
240 compassing of his salt and most hidden loose affection?
240. salt: licentious, lewd. affection: passion.
241 why, none; why, none: a slipper and subtle knave, a
241. slipper: slippery.
242 finder of occasions, that has an eye can stamp and
242. stamp: coin, manufacture.
243 counterfeit advantages, though true advantage never
243. counterfeit advantages: counterfeit opportunities.
244 present itself; a devilish knave. Besides, the knave
245 is handsome, young, and hath all those requisites in
246 him that folly and green minds look after: a pestilent
246. folly: wantonness. green: youthful, lusty.
247 complete knave; and the woman hath found him
247. found him: sized him up.
248 already.
RODERIGO
249 I cannot believe that in her; she's full of
250 most blessed condition.
250. condition: disposition. character.
IAGO
251 Blessed fig's-end! the wine she drinks is made of
252 grapes: if she had been blessed, she would never
253 have loved the Moor. Blessed pudding! Didst thou
254 not see her paddle with the palm of his hand? didst
255 not mark that?
RODERIGO
256 Yes, that I did; but that was but courtesy.
IAGO
257 Lechery, by this hand; an index and obscure prologue
257. index: table of contents at the beginning of a book.
258 to the history of lust and foul thoughts. They met
259 so near with their lips that their breaths embraced
260 together. Villainous thoughts, Roderigo! when these
261 mutualities so marshal the way, hard at hand comes
261. mutualities: exchanges, intimacies. hard at hand: very soon after.
262 the master and main exercise, the incorporate
262. incorporate: carnal.
263 conclusion, Pish! But, sir, be you ruled by me: I
264. Watch you: serve as a member of the watch.
264 have brought you from Venice. Watch you tonight;
265. lay't upon you: arrange for your orders.
265 for the command, I'll lay't upon you. Cassio knows
266 you not. I'll not be far from you: do you find
267 some occasion to anger Cassio, either by speaking
268 too loud, or tainting his discipline; or from what
268. tainting: disparaging, discrediting. his discipline: his conduct as an officer.
269 other course you please, which the time shall more
270 favorably minister.
RODERIGO
271 Well.
IAGO
272 Sir, he is rash and very sudden in choler, and haply
272. rash: impetuous. choler: anger. haply: perchance.
273 may strike at you: provoke him, that he may; for
274 even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to
275 mutiny; whose qualification shall come into no true
275. mutiny: riot.hello
276 taste again but by the displanting of Cassio. So
275-276. whose . . Cassio: i.e., only the firing of Cassio will calm the riot and restore normalcy.
277 shall you have a shorter journey to your desires by
278 the means I shall then have to prefer them; and the
278. prefer them: i.e., give your desires advantages.
279 impediment most profitably removed, without the
280 which there were no expectation of our prosperity.
RODERIGO
281 I will do this, if I can bring it to any
282 opportunity.
IAGO
283. I warrant thee: I guarantee you'll have opportunity. by and by: immediately.
283 I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the citadel:
284 I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewell.
RODERIGO
285 Adieu.
Exit.
IAGO
286 That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it;
287 That she loves him, 'tis apt and of great credit.
287. apt and of great credit: likely and credible.
288 The Moor, howbeit that I endure him not,
289 Is of a constant, loving, noble nature,
290 And I dare think he'll prove to Desdemona
291 A most dear husband. Now, I do love her too;
292 Not out of absolute lust, though peradventure
293 I stand accountant for as great a sin,
293. accountant: accountable.
294 But partly led to diet my revenge,
294. diet: feed.
295 For that I do suspect the lusty Moor
296 Hath leap'd into my seat; the thought whereof
297 Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards;
298 And nothing can or shall content my soul
299 Till I am even'd with him, wife for wife,
300 Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor
301 At least into a jealousy so strong
302 That judgment cannot cure. Which thing to do,
303 If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trace
303. trace: put in harness; i.e., use for my own purposes.
304 For his quick hunting, stand the putting on,
304. stand . . . on: be effective when the moment comes.
305 I'll have our Michael Cassio on the hip,
305. on the hip: in a position where I can throw him (wrestling term).
306 Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb—
306. rank garb: coarse fashion.
307 For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too—
307. with my night-cap: i.e., as a sexual rival. Iago apparently believes that his wife might be having affairs with both Othello and Cassio.
308 Make the Moor thank me, love me and reward me.
309 For making him egregiously an ass
310 And practising upon his peace and quiet
311 Even to madness. 'Tis here, but yet confused:
312 Knavery's plain face is never seen till used.
Exit.