little bless’d with the soft phrase of peace;
And little of this great world can I speak,
More than pertains to feats of broil and battle;
I won his daughter.
BRABANTIO
To fall in love with what she fear’d to look on!
It is a judgment maim’d and most imperfect.
FIRST SENATOR
But, Othello, speak:
Did you subdue and poison this young maid’s
affections?
OTHELLO
I do beseech you,
Send for the lady to the Sagittary,
And let her speak of me before her father.
DUKE
Fetch Desdemona hither.
Exit IAGO and MESSENGER stage right. They re-enter immediately with DESDEMONA. DESDEMONA moves to BRABANTIO’S right side; OTHELLO stands to his left.
BRABANTIO
Come hither, gentle mistress.
Do you perceive in all this noble company
Where most you owe obedience?
DESDEMONA
My noble father,
I do perceive here a divided duty:
I am hitherto your daughter: but here’s my husband;
(moves to OTHELLO’S side)
That I did love the Moor to live with him
My downright violence and storm of fortunes
May trumpet to the world. My heart’s subdued
Even to the very quality of my Lord.
(turns to BRABANTIO)
Let me go with him.
BRABANTIO
Come hither, Moor:
I here do give thee that with all my heart
I would keep from thee. For your sake, jewel,
I am glad at soul I have no other child.
BRABANTIO turns away from DESDEMONA.
DUKE
To mourn a mischief that is past and gone
Is the next way to draw new mischief on.
The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes
for Cyprus.
FIRST SENATOR
You must away to-night.
OTHELLO
With all my heart.
DUKE
Good night to every one. (to BRABANTIO)
And, noble signior,
If virtue no delighted beauty lack,
Your son-in-law is far more fair than black.
BRABANTIO (to OTHELLO)
Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see:
She has deceived her father, and may thee.
Exit DUKE and FIRST SENATOR stage right.
OTHELLO (to BRABANTIO)
My life upon her faith! (to IAGO)
Honest Iago,
My Desdemona must I leave to thee:
Come, Desdemona; I have but an hour
Of love, of worldly matters and direction,
To spend with thee.
Exit ALL, except for IAGO, stage right.
IAGO (moves downstage center; addresses audience)
I hate the Moor;
And it is thought abroad, that ’twixt my sheets
He has done my office: I know not if’t be true;
But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
Will do as if for surety.
Cassio’s a proper man: let me see now;
After some time, to abuse Othello’s ear
That he is too familiar with his wife:
I have’t; it is engender’d: hell and night
Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light.
Exit IAGO stage right.
Cyprus. A hall in the castle.
Enter NARRATOR from stage rear, coming downstage center.
NARRATOR
We are now in Cyprus. Iago persuades Cassio to
drink too much, which is part of Iago’s devious plan
of action.
Exit NARRATOR stage left.
Enter OTHELLO and DESDEMONA from stage rear. Enter CASSIO from stage right.
OTHELLO (to CASSIO)
Good Michael, look you to the guard to-night:
Good night.
Exit OTHELLO and DESDEMONA stage rear.
Enter IAGO from stage right, carrying a flask.
CASSIO
Welcome, Iago; we must to the watch.
IAGO
Come, lieutenant, I have a stoup of wine; to the
health of black Othello.
CASSIO
Not to-night, good Iago: I have very poor and
unhappy brains for drinking.
IAGO
What, man! ’Tis a night of revels: the gallants
desire it.
CASSIO
I’ll do’t; but it