Home > Othello Text > Act II, Scene III - Page 2

MONTANO:

Good faith, a little one; not past a pint, as I am a(60)
soldier.

MONTANO:

Good faith, a little one; not past a pint, as I am a soldier.

IAGO:

Some wine, ho!
[Sings.] “And let me the canakin clink, clink;
And let me the canakin clink:
A soldier's a man;(65)
O, man's life's but a span;
Why then let a soldier drink.”
Some wine, boys!

IAGO:

Some wine, ho!

"And let me the small drink clink, clink;
And let me the small drink clink.
A soldier's a man;
O, man's life's only a span;
Why then let a soldier drink."
Some wine, boys!

CASSIO:

'Fore God, an excellent song.

CASSIO:

Before God, an excellent song.

IAGO:

I learned it in England, where indeed they are most(70)
potent in potting. Your Dane, your German, and your
swagbellied Hollander—Drink, ho!—are nothing to your
English.

IAGO:

I learned it in England, where, indeed, they are very
powerful drinkers. Your Dane, your German, and your
swag-bellied Hollander, Drink, ho! are nothing to your English.

CASSIO:

Is your Englishman so expert in his drinking?

CASSIO:

Is your Englishman so expert in his drinking?

IAGO:

Why, he drinks you with facility your Dane dead(75)
drunk; he sweats not to overthrow your Almain; he gives
your Hollander a vomit ere the next pottle can be filled.

IAGO:

Why, he drinks your Dane dead drunk easily; he doesn’t
even sweat to defeat your German; he makes your
Hollander vomit before the next round can be poured.

CASSIO:

To the health of our general!

CASSIO:

To the health of our general!

MONTANO:

I am for it, lieutenant, and I'll do you justice.

MONTANO:

Good faith, a little one; not past a pint, as I am a soldier.

IAGO:

O sweet England!(80)
[Sings.] “King Stephen was a worthy peer,
His breeches cost him but a crown;
He held them sixpence all too dear,
With that he call'd the tailor lown.
“He was a wight of high renown,(85)
And thou art but of low degree:
'Tis pride that pulls the country down;
Then take thine auld cloak about thee.”
Some wine, ho!

IAGO:

Some wine, ho!

"King Stephen was a worthy peer,
His breeches only cost him a dollar;
He held them six cents all too expensive,
With that he called the calm tailor.
He was an angel of high renown,
And you are only of low degree.
It is pride that pulls the country down;
Then take your old cloak about you."
Some wine, ho!

CASSIO:

Why, this is a more exquisite song than the other.(90)

CASSIO:

Before God, an excellent song.

IAGO:

Will you hear't again?

IAGO:

Will you hear it again?

CASSIO:

No, for I hold him to be unworthy of his place that
does those things. Well, God's above all, and there be souls
must be saved, and there be souls must not be saved.

CASSIO:

No; for I hold him to be unworthy of his place that does
those things.--Well,--God's above all, and there be souls
must be saved, and there be souls must not be saved.

IAGO:

It's true, good lieutenant.(95)

IAGO:

It's true, good lieutenant.

CASSIO:

For mine own part—no offense to the general, nor any
man of quality—I hope to be saved.

CASSIO:

For my own part, no offense to the general, nor any
man of quality, I hope to be saved.

IAGO:

And so do I too, lieutenant.

IAGO:

And so do I too, lieutenant.

CASSIO:

Ay, but, by your leave, not before me; the lieutenant is
to be saved before the ancient. Let's have no more of this;(100)
let's to our affairs. God forgive us our sins! Gentlemen, let's
look to our business. Do not think, gentlemen, I am drunk:
this is my ancient, this is my right hand, and this is my left.
I am not drunk now; I can stand well enough, and I speak
well enough.(105)

CASSIO:

Yes, but, with your permission, not before me. The
lieutenant is to be saved before the ensign. Let's have no
more of this; let's to our affairs. Forgive us our sins!
Gentlemen, let's look to our business. Don’t think,
gentlemen, I am drunk. This is my ensign; this is my right
hand, and this is my left. I am not drunk now; I can stand
well enough, and I speak well enough.

ALL:

Excellent well.

ALL:

Excellent well.

CASSIO:

Why, very well then; you must not think then that I am
drunk.

CASSIO:

Why, very well then. you must not think, then, that I am
drunk.

Exit.

MONTANO:

To the platform, masters; come, let's set the watch.

MONTANO:

To the watchtower, gents. Come, let's start the watch.

IAGO:

You see this fellow that is gone before;(110)
He is a soldier fit to stand by Caesar
And give direction. And do but see his vice;
'Tis to his virtue a just equinox,
The one as long as the other. 'Tis pity of him.
I fear the trust Othello puts him in(115)
On some odd time of his infirmity
Will shake this island.

IAGO:

You see this fellow that went before?
He is a soldier fit to stand by Caesar
And give direction. and don’t only see his vice;
It is a proper contradiction to his virtue,
The one is as long as the other. It ‘s a pity of him.
I fear the trust Othello puts him in, because
At some odd time of his infirmity, he
Will shake this island.

MONTANO:

But is he often thus?

MONTANO:

But is he often like this?

IAGO:

'Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep;
He'll watch the horologe a double set,(120)
If drink rock not his cradle.

IAGO:

It is always the beginning to his going to bed.
He'll watch the clock all night
If drink doesn’t rock his cradle.

MONTANO:

It were well
The general were put in mind of it.
Perhaps he sees it not, or his good nature
Prizes the virtue that appears in Cassio(125)
And looks not on his evils: Is not this true?

MONTANO:

It would be good
To let the general know about it.
Perhaps he doesn’t see it, or his good nature
Values the virtue that seems to be in Cassio,
And doesn’t look on his evils. Isn’t this true?

Enter Roderigo.

IAGO:

How now, Roderigo!
I pray you, after the lieutenant; go.

IAGO:

Hey, Roderigo! I pray you, go after the lieutenant.

Exit Roderigo.

MONTANO:

And 'tis great pity that the noble Moor
Should hazard such a place as his own second(130)
With one of an ingraft infirmity:
It were an honest action to say
So to the Moor.

MONTANO:

And it’s a great pity that the noble Moor
Should risk such a position as his own second in
Command with one of an inborn handicap.
It would be an honest action to say
So to the Moor.

IAGO:

Not I, for this fair island:
I do love Cassio well, and would do much(135)
To cure him of this evil:—But, hark! What noise?

IAGO:

Not I, for this whole beautiful island;
I love Cassio well, and would do a lot
To cure him of this evil. But, listen! What’s that noise?

(Without:) “Help, help!”

Enter Cassio, driving in Roderigo.

CASSIO:

'Zounds! You rogue! You rascal!

CASSIO:

You rogue! You rascal!

MONTANO:

What's the matter, lieutenant?

MONTANO:

What's the matter, lieutenant?

CASSIO:

A knave teach me my duty! But I'll beat the knave
into a twiggen bottle.(140)

CASSIO:

A rogue teaching me my duty! I'll beat the rogue into
a wicker bottle.

ROD:

Beat me!

ROD:

Beat me!

CASSIO:

Dost thou prate, rogue? Strikes Roderigo.

CASSIO:

Do you chatter on, rogue?

MONTANO:

Nay, good lieutenant; I pray you, sir, hold your
hand.

MONTANO:

No, good lieutenant; I beg you, sir, stop.

CASSIO:

Let me go, sir, or I'll knock you o'er the mazzard.(145)

CASSIO:

Let me go, sir, or I'll knock you over the head.

MONTANO:

Come, come, you're drunk.

MONTANO:

Come on, come on, you're drunk.

CASSIO:

Drunk! They fight.

CASSIO:

Drunk!

IAGO:

Away, I say; go out and cry a mutiny.

[Exit Roderigo.]

Nay, good lieutenant! God's will, gentlemen!(150)
Help, ho!—Lieutenant—sir—Montano sir—
Help, masters! Here's a goodly watch indeed! (A bell rings.)
Who's that that rings the bell?—Diablo, ho!
The town will rise. God's will, lieutenant, hold!
You will be shamed forever.(155)

IAGO:

Away, I say! go out and cry a mutiny.

Nay, good lieutenant,--alas,, gentlemen:--
Help, ho!--Lieutenant,--sir,--Montano,--sir:--
Help, masters!--Here's a goodly watch indeed!

Who's that that rings the bell?--Diablo, ho!
The town will rise: God's will, lieutenant, hold;
You will be sham'd forever.

Enter Othello, and Gentlemen with weapons.

OTHELLO:

What is the matter here?

OTHELLO:

What is the matter here?

MONTANO:

'Zounds, I bleed still; I am hurt to the death.

MONTANO:

Zounds, I bleed still; I am hurt to the death.

OTHELLO:

Hold, for your lives!

OTHELLO:

Hold, for your lives!

IAGO:

Hold, ho!—Lieutenant—sir—Montano—gentlemen—
Have you forgot all place of sense and duty?(160)
Hold! the general speaks to you! Hold, hold, for shame!

IAGO:

Hold, ho! lieutenant,--sir,--Montano,--gentlemen,--
Have you forgot all place of sense and duty?
Hold! the general speaks to you; hold, hold, for shame!

OTHELLO:

Why, how now, ho! from whence ariseth this? Are we
turn'd Turks, and to ourselves do that
Which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites?
For Christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl:(165)
He that stirs next to carve for his own rage
Holds his soul light; he dies upon his motion.
Silence that dreadful bell; it frights the isle
From her propriety. What is the matter, masters?
Honest Iago, that look'st dead with grieving,(170)
Speak, who began this? On thy love, I charge thee:

OTHELLO:

Why, how now, ho! What started this?
Have we turned to Turks, and do to ourselves
What Heaven has forbidden the Ottoman?
Because of Christian shame, stop this barbarous brawl.
He moves next to carve out his own rage
Values his soul lightly; he dies on his motion.
Silence that dreadful bell. It frightens the isle
From her sleep. What is the matter, gentlemen?
Honest Iago, looking dead with grieving,
Speak, who began this? On your love, I order you.

IAGO:

I do not know: Friends all but now, even now,
In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom
Devesting them for bed; and then, but now
As if some planet had unwitted men,(175)
Swords out, and tilting one at other's breast,
In opposition bloody. I cannot speak
Any beginning to this peevish odds.

IAGO:

I don’t know. Everyone were friends until now, even now,
In quarters, and in terms like a bride and groom
Getting ready for bed; and then, but now
As if some planet had stolen their wits,
Swords out, and aiming at one another's breasts
In a bloody fight. I can’t tell you
How it started with these very small things,
And I would have lost
Those legs that brought me to be a part of it!

OTHELLO:

How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot?

OTHELLO:

How is it, Michael, that you have forgotten yourself?

CASSIO:

I pray you, pardon me; I cannot speak.(180)

CASSIO:

I beg you, pardon me; I cannot speak.

OTHELLO:

Worthy Montano, you were wont be civil;
The gravity and stillness of your youth
The world hath noted, and your name is great
In mouths of wisest censure. What's the matter,
That you unlace your reputation thus,(185)
And spend your rich opinion for the name
Of a nightbrawler? Give me answer to it.

OTHELLO:

Worthy Montano, you were inclined to be civil;
The world has marked he gravity and stillness of your
youth and your name is great
In mouths of wisest respect. What's the matter,
That you destroy your reputation like this,
And waste your reputation for the name
Of a night-brawler? Answer me.

MONTANO:

Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger:
Your officer, Iago, can inform you—
While I spare speech, which something now offends me—(190)
Of all that I do know. Nor know I aught
By me that's said or done amiss this night;
Unless self-charity be sometimes a vice,
And to defend ourselves it be a sin
When violence assails us.(195)

MONTANO:

Worthy Othello, I am dangerously wounded.
Your officer, Iago, can tell you,
While I save speech, which somewhat now offends me,
Of all that I know. I don’t know anything
That I said or did wrong this night,
Unless self-love is sometimes a vice,
And to defend ourselves is a sin
When we are attacked violently.