Mon.

If that the Turkish fleet

Be not enshelter'd and embay'd, they are drown'd;
It is impossible to bear it out.

Enter a third Gentleman.

Third Gent. News, lads! our wars are done.

20

The desperate tempest hath so bang'd the Turks,
That their designment halts: a noble ship of Venice

Hath seen a grievous wreck and sufferance

On most part of their fleet.

Mon. How! is this true?

Third Gent.

The ship is here put in,

A Veronesa; Michael Cassio,

Lieutenant to the warlike Moor Othello,

Is come on shore: the Moor himself at sea,

And is in full commission here for Cyprus. Mon. I am glad on 't; 'tis a worthy governor. Third Gent. But this same Cassio, though he speak of

Mon.

comfort

Touching the Turkish loss, yet he looks sadly
And prays the Moor be safe; for they were parted
With foul and violent tempest.

Pray heavens he be;

For I have served him, and the man commands
Like a full soldier. Let's to the seaside, ho!
As well to see the vessel that's come in

As to throw out our eyes for brave Othello,
Even till we make the main and the aerial blue

An indistinct regard.

Third Gent.

Come, let's do so;

For every minute is expectancy

Of more arrivance.

30

40 Enter Cassio.

Cas. Thanks, you the valiant of this warlike isle,
That so approve the Moor! O, let the heavens
Give him defence against the elements,
For I have lost him on a dangerous sea.

Mon. Is he well shipp'd?

Cas. His bark is stoutly timber'd, and his pilot
Of very expert and approved allowance;
Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death,
Stand in bold cure.

Cas. What noise ?

50

[A cry within : ' A sail, a sail, a sail!'

Enter a fourth Gentleman.

Fourth Gent. The town is empty; on the brow o' the sea

Stand ranks of people, and they cry ' A sail!'

Cas. My hopes do shape him for the governor.

[Guns heard.

Sec. Gent. They do discharge their shot of courtesy :
Our friends at least.

Cas.

I pray you, sir, go forth,

And give us truth who 'tis that is arrived.
Sec. Gent. I shall.

Mon. But, good lieutenant, is your general wived?
Cas. Most fortunately: he hath achieved a maid
That paragons description and wild fame;
One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens,
And in the essential vesture of creation

Does tire the ingener.

Re-enter second Gentleman.

[Exit.

60

How now! who has put in?

Sec. Gent. 'Tis one lago, ancient to the general.
Cas. He has had most favourable and happy speed:

Mon.

70

Tempests themselves, high seas, and howling winds,
The gutter'd rocks, and congregated sands,
Traitors ensteep'd to clog the guiltless keel,
As having sense of beauty, do omit
Their mortal natures, letting go safely by
The divine Desdemona.

What is she?

Cas. She that I spake of, our great captain's captain,

Left in the conduct of the bold Iago;
Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts
A se'nnight's speed. Great Jove, Othello guard,
And swell his sail with thine own powerful breath,

That he may bless this bay with his tall ship,

Make love's quick pants in Desdemona's arms,

80

Give renew'd fire to our extincted spirits,

And bring all Cyprus comfort.

Enter Desdemona, Emilia, Iago, Roderigo, and Attendants.

Des.

O, behold,

The riches of the ship is come on shore!

Ye men of Cyprus, let her have your knees.
Hail to thee, lady! and the grace of heaven,
Before, behind thee, and on every hand,

Enwheel thee round!

I thank you, valiant Cassio.

What tidings can you tell me of my lord? Cas. He is not yet arrived: nor know I aught But that he's well and will be shortly here. Des. O, but I fear-How lost you company? Cas. The great contention of the sea and skies

90

Parted our fellowship-But, hark! a sail.

[A cry within: 'A sail, a sail!' Guns heard.

Sec. Gent. They give their greeting to the citadel:

Cas.

This likewise is a friend.

See for the news. [Exit Gentleman.

Good ancient, you are welcome. [To Emilia] Welcome,
mistress:

Let it not gall your patience, good Iago,
That I extend my manners; 'tis my breeding

That gives me this bold show of courtesy.

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[Kissing her.

Iago. Sir, would she give you so much of her lips
As of her tongue she oft bestows on me,
You'ld have enough.

Des.

lago. In faith, too much;

Alas, she has no speech.

I find it still when I have list to sleep:
Marry, before your ladyship, I grant,
She puts her tongue a little in her heart
And chides with thinking.

Emil. You have little cause to say so.

lago. Come on, come on; you are pictures out of

doors,

Bells in your parlours, wild-cats in your kitchens,
Saints in your injuries, devils being offended,

Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your

beds.

Des. O, fie upon thee, slanderer!

Iago. Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk:

You rise to play, and go to bed to work.

Emil. You shall not write my praise.

Iago.

No, let me not.

Des. What wouldst thou write of me, if thou shouldst

praise me?

Iago. O gentle lady, do not put me to't;
For I am nothing if not critical.

120

Des. Come on, assay-There's one gone to the harbour ? lago. Ay, madam.

Des. I am not merry; but I do beguile

The thing I am by seeming otherwise. Come, how wouldst thou praise me? lago. I am about it; but indeed my invention

Comes from my pate as birdlime does from frize;
It plucks out brains and all: but my Muse labours,
And thus she is deliver'd.

If she be fair and wise, fairness and wit,

130

The one's for use, the other useth it.

Des. Well praised! How if she be black and witty? lago. If she be black, and thereto have a wit,

She'll find a white that shall her blackness fit.

Des. Worse and worse.
Emil. How if fair and foolish ?

lago. She never yet was foolish that was fair;
For even her folly help'd her to an heir.

Des. These are old fond paradoxes to make fools laugh i' the alehouse. What miserable praise hast thou 140 for her that's foul and foolish ?

lago. There's none so foul, and foolish thereunto,

But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do. Des. O heavy ignorance! thou praisest the worst best. But what praise couldst thou bestow on a deserving woman indeed, one that in the authority of her merit did justly put on the vouch of very malice itself?