[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.

Some wine, ho!

Cas. 'Fore Heaven, this is a more exquisite song than the other!

Iago. Will

you hear it again?

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

Jago. It's true, good lieutenant.

Cas. For mine own part,-no offence to the general, nor any man of quality,-I hope to be saved. Iago. And so do I, too, lieutenant.

Cas. Ay; but, by your leave, not before me; the lieutenant is to be saved before the ancient. Let's have no more of this: let's to our affairs. 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 hand. I am not drunk now; I can stand well enough, and speak well enough.

All. Excellent well.

Cas. Very well, then,-you must not think that I am drunk.

[Exeunt CASSIO, ANTONIO, JULIO, and LEONARDO. Iago. You see this fellow that is gone before ;— He is a soldier fit to stand by Cæsar

And give direction: and do but see his vice.
I fear, the trust Othello puts him in,

On some odd time of his infirmity,

Will shake this island.

Mont. But is he often thus?

Iago. 'Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep.

Mont. It were well

The general were put in mind of it:
Perhaps he sees it not; or his good-nature
Prizes the virtues that appear in Cassio,
And looks not on his evils:-Is not this true?
Enter RODERigo.

Iago. How now, Roderigo!

I pray you, after the lieutenant; go.

[Exit RODERIGO. Mont. And 'tis great pity, that the noble Moor Should hazard such a place, as his own second, With one of an ingraft infirmity:

It were 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
To cure him of this evil.

Rod. [Without.] Help! help!

Iago. But hark! what noise?

Enter CASSIO, driving in RODERIGO-ANTONIO and JULIO following them.

Cas. You rogue! you rascal!

Mont. What's the matter, lieutenant?

[Stops CASSIO.

Cas. A knave!-teach me my duty! I'll beat the knave into a wicker bottle.

Rod. Beat me!

Cas. Dost thou prate, rogue?

Mont. Nay, good lieutenant;

[Struggling to reach RODERIGO. [Staying him.

Pray, sir, hold your hand.

Cas. Let me go, sir,

Or I'll knock you o'er the mazzard.

Mont. Come, come, you're drunk.

Cas. Drunk!

[Strikes MONTANO.

[They draw, and fight.

Iago. Away, I say! go out, and cry-a mutiny.
[Aside to RODERIGO, who runs out.

Nay, good lieutenant,-alas, gentlemen,-
Help, ho!Lieutenant,-sir,-Montano,-sir;-
Help, masters!-Here's a goodly watch, indeed!–
[Bell rings.
Who's that that rings the bell? -Diablo, ho!
The town will rise:Heaven's will, lieutenant ! hold;
You will be shamed for ever.

[MONTANO is rounded,-ANTONIO and JULIO
support him.

Enter OTHELLO, MARCO, PAULO, GIOVANNI, LUCA, and SERVANTS with Torches.

Oth. Hold, for your lives.

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!
He that stirs next, to carve forth his own rage,
Holds his soul light; he dies upon his motion.
[Bell rings.
Silence that dreadful bell, it frights the isle
From her propriety.- [Exit MARCO, and returns.
Honest Iago, that look'st dead with grieving,

Speak, who began this?on thy love I charge thee.
Iago. I do not know ;-friends all but now, even

now

In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom
Divesting them for bed: and then, but now
(As if some planet had unwitted men,)
Swords out, and tilting one at other's breast,
In opposition bloody. I cannot speak
Any beginning to this peevish odds;
And would in action glorious I had lost
These legs, that brought me to a part of it!
2

Oth. How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot?
Cas. I pray you, pardon me, I cannot speak.
Oth. 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,

And spend your rich opinion, for the name
Of a night-brawler? Give me answer to it.
Mont. 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 sometime a vice;
And to defend ourselves it be a sin,
When violence assails us.

Oth. Now, by Heaven,

My blood begins my safer guides to rule;
And passion, having my best judgment 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 approved in this offence,
Though he had twinn'd with me, both at a birth,
Shall lose me :--What! and in a town of war,
Yet wild, the people's hearts brim-full of fear,
To manage private and domestic quarrel!—
In night, and on the court and guard of safety !-
'Tis monstrous.-Iago, who began't?

Mont. If partially affined, or leagued 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 with determined 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 to-night,
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 can I not 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,-received
From him that fled, some strange indignity,
Which patience could not pass.

Oth. 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.-

Sir, for your hurts, myself will be your surgeon :-
Lead him off.-

[MONTANO is led off by JULIO and ANTONIO. Iago, look with care about the town ;*

And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted.

[Exeunt all but Cassio and Iago.

Iago. What, are you hurt, lieutenant ?

Cas. Ay, past all surgery.

Iago. Marry, Heaven forbid!

Cas. Reputation, reputation, reputation! I have