Уильям Шекспир - Othello

Location: a port in Cyprus

Enter Montano and two Gentlemen MONTANO What from the cape 1can you discern at sea?FIRST GENTLEMAN Nothing at all: it is a high-wrought flood 2:

I cannot, ’twixt the heaven and the main 3,

Descry 4a sail.MONTANO Methinks the wind hath spoke aloud at land:

A fuller blast ne’er shook our battlements.

If it hath ruffianed 7so upon the sea,

What ribs 8of oak, when mountains melt on them,

Can hold the mortise 9? What shall we hear of this?SECOND GENTLEMAN A segregation 10of the Turkish fleet:

For do but stand upon the foaming shore,

The chidden 12billow seems to pelt the clouds:

The wind-shaked surge, with high and monstrous mane 13,

Seems to cast water on the burning bear 14

And quench the guards 15of th’ever-fixèd pole.

I never did like molestation 16view

On the enchafèd 17flood.MONTANO If that the Turkish fleet

Be not ensheltered and embayed 19, they are drowned:

It is impossible to bear it out.

Enter a [Third] Gentleman THIRD GENTLEMAN News, lads! Our wars are done:

The desperate tempest hath so banged the Turks

That their designment 23halts. A noble ship of Venice

Hath seen a grievous wreck and sufferance 24

On most part of their fleet.MONTANO How? Is this true?THIRD GENTLEMAN The ship is here put in,

A Veronesa 28. Michael Cassio,

Lieutenant to the warlike Moor Othello,

Is come on shore: the Moor himself at sea,

And is in full commission here 31for Cyprus.MONTANO I am glad on’t: ’tis a worthy governor.THIRD GENTLEMAN But this same Cassio, though he speak of comfort

Touching 34the Turkish loss, yet he looks sadly

And pray 35the Moor be safe; for they were parted

With foul and violent tempest.MONTANO Pray heavens he be,

For I have served him, and the man commands

Like a full 39soldier. 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 th’aerial blue 42

An indistinct regard.THIRD GENTLEMAN Come, let’s do so;

For every minute is expectancy

Of more arrivancy 46.

Enter Cassio CASSIO Thanks, you the valiant of the warlike isle,

That so approve 48the Moor. O, let the heavens

Give him defence against the elements,

For I have lost him on a dangerous sea.MONTANO Is he well shipped?CASSIO His bark 52is stoutly timbered, and his pilot

Of very expert and approved allowance 53;

Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death, 54

Stand in bold cure.[VOICES] A sail, a sail, a sail! Within

CASSIO What noise?GENTLEMAN The town is empty: on the brow o’th’sea 58

Stand ranks of people, and they cry ‘A sail!’CASSIO My hopes do shape him for 60the

governor. A shot is heard

GENTLEMAN They do discharge their shot of courtesy 61:

Our friends at least.CASSIO I pray you, sir, go forth

And give us truth who ’tis that is arrived.GENTLEMAN I shall. Exit

MONTANO But, good lieutenant, is your general wived?CASSIO Most fortunately: he hath achieved 67a maid

That paragons 68description and wild fame,

One that excels the quirks 69of blazoning pens,

And in th’essential vesture of creation 70

Does tire the engineer 71.

Enter Gentleman How now? Who has put in 72?GENTLEMAN ’Tis one Iago, ancient to the general.CASSIO He’s had most favourable and happy speed 74:

Tempests themselves, high seas and howling winds,

The guttered 76rocks and congregated sands,

Traitors ensteeped 77to enclog the guiltless keel,

As 78having sense of beauty, do omit

Their mortal 79natures, letting go safely by

The divine Desdemona.MONTANO What is she?CASSIO She that I spake of, our great captain’s captain,

Left in the conduct of 83the bold Iago,

Whose footing 84here anticipates our thoughts

A sennight’s 85speed. Great Jove, Othello guard,

And swell his sail with thine own powerful breath,

That he may bless this bay with his tall 87ship,

Make love’s quick 88pants in Desdemona’s arms,

Give renewed fire to our extincted 89spirits—

Enter Desdemona, Iago, Rodorigo and Emilia [with Attendants ] O, behold,

The riches of the ship is come on shore! Kneels

You 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 95thee round! Rises

DESDEMONA I thank you, valiant Cassio.

What tidings can you tell of my lord?CASSIO He is not yet arrived, nor know I aught

But that he’s well and will be shortly here.DESDEMONA O, but I fear. How lost you company?CASSIO The great contention of sea and skies

Parted our fellowship 102.— But, hark! A sail.[VOICES] A sail, a sail! Within

A shot is heard

GENTLEMAN They give this greeting to the citadel 104:

This likewise is a friend.CASSIO See for the news. [Exit Gentleman]

Good ancient, you are welcome.— Welcome, mistress.—

Let it not gall 108your patience, good Iago,

That I extend my manners: ’tis my breeding 109

That gives me this bold show of courtesy. Kisses Emilia

IAGO Sir, would she give you so much of her lips

As of her tongue 112she oft bestows on me,

You would have enough.DESDEMONA Alas, she has no speech 114.IAGO In faith, too much:

I find it still 116, when I have leave to sleep.

Marry, before 117your ladyship, I grant,

She puts her tongue a little in her heart

And chides 119with thinking.EMILIA You have little cause to say so.IAGO Come on, come on: you are pictures 121out of door,

bells 122in your parlours, wild-cats in your kitchens, saints in

your injuries, devils being offended, players 123in your

housewifery 124, and housewives in your beds.DESDEMONA O, fie upon thee, slanderer!IAGO Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk 126:

You rise to play 127and go to bed to work.EMILIA You shall not write my praise.IAGO No, let me not.DESDEMONA What wouldst 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.DESDEMONA Come on assay 133. There’s one gone to the harbour?IAGO Ay, madam.DESDEMONA I am not merry, but I do beguile 135

The thing I am by seeming otherwise.

Come, how wouldst thou praise me?IAGO I am about it, but indeed my invention 138

Comes from my pate 139as birdlime does from frieze,

It plucks out brains and all. But my muse 140labours,

And thus she is delivered:

‘If she be fair 142and wise, fairness and wit,

The one’s for use, the other useth it 143.’DESDEMONA Well praised! How if she be black 144and witty?IAGO ‘If she be black, and thereto 145have a wit,

She’ll find a white 146that shall her blackness fit.’DESDEMONA Worse and worse.EMILIA How if fair and foolish?IAGO ‘She never yet was foolish that was fair,

For even her folly 150helped her to an heir.’DESDEMONA These are old fond 151paradoxes to make fools laugh

i’th’ale-house. What miserable praise hast thou for her

that’s foul 153and foolish?IAGO ‘There’s none so foul and foolish thereunto 154,

But does foul pranks 155which fair and wise ones do.’DESDEMONA O heavy 156ignorance! 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 158

on the vouch of very malice itself?IAGO ‘She that was ever fair and never proud,

Had tongue 161at will and yet was never loud,

Never lacked gold and yet went never gay 162,