Othello. William Shakespeare

Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger:

       Your officer, Iago, can inform you,—

       While I spare speech, which something now offends me,—

       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.

       OTHELLO

       Now, by heaven,

       My blood begins my safer guides to rule;

       And passion, having my best judgement collied,

       Assays to lead the way. If I once stir,

       Or do but lift this arm, the best of you

       Shall sink in my rebuke. Give me to know

       How this foul rout began, who set it on;

       And he that is approv’d in this offense,

       Though he had twinn’d with me, both at a birth,

       Shall lose me.—What! in a town of war

       Yet wild, the people’s hearts brimful of fear,

       To manage private and domestic quarrel,

       In night, and on the court and guard of safety!

       ‘Tis monstrous.—Iago, who began’t?

       MONTANO

       If partially affin’d, or leagu’d in office,

       Thou dost deliver more or less than truth,

       Thou art no soldier.

       IAGO

       Touch me not so near:

       I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth

       Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio;

       Yet, I persuade myself, to speak the truth

       Shall nothing wrong him.—Thus it is, general.

       Montano and myself being in speech,

       There comes a fellow crying out for help;

       And Cassio following him with determin’d sword,

       To execute upon him. Sir, this gentleman

       Steps in to Cassio and entreats his pause:

       Myself the crying fellow did pursue,

       Lest by his clamour,—as it so fell out,—

       The town might fall in fright: he, swift of foot,

       Outran my purpose; and I return’d the rather

       For that I heard the clink and fall of swords,

       And Cassio high in oath; which till tonight

       I ne’er might say before. When I came back,—

       For this was brief,—I found them close together,

       At blow and thrust; even as again they were

       When you yourself did part them.

       More of this matter cannot I report;—

       But men are men; the best sometimes forget:—

       Though Cassio did some little wrong to him,—

       As men in rage strike those that wish them best,—

       Yet surely Cassio, I believe, receiv’d

       From him that fled some strange indignity,

       Which patience could not pass.

       OTHELLO

       I know, Iago,

       Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter,

       Making it light to Cassio. Cassio, I love thee;

       But never more be officer of mine.—

       [Re-enter Desdemona, attended.]

       Look, if my gentle love be not rais’d up!—

       I’ll make thee an example.

       DESDEMONA

       What’s the matter?

       OTHELLO

       All’s well now, sweeting; come away to bed.

       [To Montano, who is led off.]

       Sir, for your hurts, myself will be your surgeon:

       Lead him off.

       Iago, look with care about the town,

       And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted.—

       Come, Desdemona: ‘tis the soldiers’ life

       To have their balmy slumbers wak’d with strife.

       [Exeunt all but Iago and Cassio.]

       IAGO

       What, are you hurt, lieutenant?

       CASSIO

       Ay, past all surgery.

       IAGO

       Marry, heaven forbid!

       CASSIO

       Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial.—My reputation, Iago, my reputation!

       IAGO

       As I am an honest man, I thought you had received some bodily wound; there is more sense in that than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit and lost without deserving: you have lost no reputation at all, unless you repute yourself such a loser. What, man! there are ways to recover the general again: you are but now cast in his mood, a punishment more in policy than in malice; even so as one would beat his offenceless dog to affright an imperious lion: sue to him again, and he is yours.

       CASSIO

       I will rather sue to be despised than to deceive so good a commander with so slight, so drunken, and so indiscreet an officer. Drunk? and speak parrot? and squabble? swagger? swear? and discourse fustian with one’s own shadow?—O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee devil!

       IAGO

       What was he that you followed with your sword? What had he done to you?

       CASSIO

       I know not.

       IAGO

       Is’t possible?

       CASSIO

       I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly; a quarrel, but nothing wherefore.—O God, that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains! that we should, with joy, pleasance, revel, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts!

       IAGO

       Why, but you are now well enough: how came you thus recovered?

       CASSIO

       It hath pleased the devil drunkenness to give place to the devil wrath: one unperfectness shows me another, to make me frankly despise myself.

       IAGO

       Come, you are too severe a moraler: as the time, the place, and the condition of this country stands, I could heartily wish this had not befallen; but since it is as it is, mend it for your own good.

       CASSIO

       I will ask him for my place again;—he shall tell me I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast! O strange!—Every inordinate cup is unbless’d, and the ingredient is a devil.

       IAGO

       Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well used: exclaim no more against it. And, good lieutenant, I think you think I love you.