243 thought that this inimitable tragedy is not sufficiently correct for family reading, I would advise the transferring it from the parlour to the cabinet, where the perusal will not only delight the poetic taste, but convey useful and important instruction both to the heart and the understanding of the reader. THOMAS Bowdler. PERSONS REPRESENTED. DUKE OF VENICE. Two other Senators. GRATIANO, brother to Brabantio. CASSIO, his lieutenant; RODERIGO, a Venetian gentleman. MONTANO, Othello's predecessor in the government of Cyprus. Clown, servant to Othello. DESDEMONA, daughter to Brabantio, and wife to Othello. EMILIA, wife to Iago. BIANCA, a courtezan, mistress to Cassio. Officers, Gentlemen, Messengers, Musicians, Sailors, Attendants, &c. SCENE, for the first Act, in Venice; during the rest of the Play, at a sea-port in Cyprus. OTHELLO, THE MOOR OF VENICE. ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I. Venice. A Street. Enter RODERIGO and IAGO. Rod. TUSH, never tell me, I take it much un kindly, That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse, As if the strings were thine, should'st know of this. Iago. But you will not hear me : If ever I did dream of such a matter, Abhor me. Rod. Thou told'st me, thou didst hold him in thy hate. Iago. Despise me, if I do not. of the city, Three great ones In personal suit to make me his lieutenant, Oft capp'd' to him; — and, by the faith of man, I know my price, I am worth no worse a place: But he, as loving his own pride and purposes, I Saluted. Evades them, with a bombast circumstance, My mediators; for, certes', says he, Forsooth, a great arithmetician, More than a spinster; unless the bookish theorick, As masterly as he: mere prattle, without practice, calm'd By debitor and creditor, this counter-caster *; And I, sir, (bless the mark!) his Moorship's ancient. Rod. By heaven, I rather would have been his hangman. Iago. But there's no remedy, 't is the curse of service; Preferment goes by letter, and affection, Not by the old gradation, where each second Stood heir to the first. Now, sir, be judge yourself, Whether I in any just term am affin'd To love the Moor. Rod. I would not follow him then. Iago. O, sir, content you; I follow him to serve my turn upon him: 2 Circumlocution. 3 Certainly. 4 It was anciently the practice to reckon up sums with 5 Related. counters. Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave, Whip me such honest knaves: Others there are, Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves ;. And, throwing but shows of service on their lords, Do well thrive by them, and, when they have lin'd their coats, Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul; And such a one do I profess myself. For, sir, It is as sure as you are Roderigo, Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago: If he can carry 't thus ! Iago. Call up her father, Rouse him: make after him, poison his delight, Proclaim him in the streets; incense her kinsmen, And, though he in a fertile climate dwell, Plague him with flies: though that his joy be joy, Yet throw such changes of vexation on 't, As it may lose some colour. Rod. Here is her father's house; I'll call aloud. |