Act I, Scene I (Ava, Des, Lauren, TJay)

ACT I

SCENE I. Venice. A street.

Enter RODERIGO and IAGO

RODERIGO

Iago, who hast had my purse

As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this.

Thou told'st me thou didst hold him in thy hate.

IAGO

In personal suit to make me his lieutenant,

I know my price, I am worth no worse a place:

But he; Evades them,

Horribly stuff'd with epithets of war;

for, 'Certes,' says he,

'I have already chose my officer.'

But he, sir, had the election:

this counter-caster,

He, in good time, must his lieutenant be,

And I--his Moorship's ancient.

Now, sir, be judge yourself,

To love the Moor.

RODERIGO

I would not follow him then.

IAGO

I follow him to serve my turn upon him:

We cannot all be masters, nor all masters

Cannot be truly follow'd.

In following him, I follow but myself;

not I for love and duty,

But seeming so, for my peculiar end:

But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve

For daws to peck at:

RODERIGO

What a full fortune does the thicklips owe

If he can carry't thus!

IAGO

Call up her father,

RODERIGO

What, ho, Brabantio! Signior Brabantio, ho!

BRABANTIO appears above, at a window

BRABANTIO

What is the reason of this terrible summons?

RODERIGO

Signior, is all your family within?

BRABANTIO

Why, wherefore ask you this?

IAGO

'Zounds, sir

Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul;

Even now an old black ram

Is topping your white ewe. Arise, arise;

BRABANTIO

What, have you lost your wits?

This is Venice;

My house is not a grange.

IAGO

Because we come to

do you service and you think we are ruffians, you'll

have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse;

BRABANTIO

What profane wretch art thou?

IAGO

I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter

and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs.

BRABANTIO

Thou art a villain.

RODERIGO

your fair daughter,

At this odd-even and dull watch o' the night,

We then have done you bold and saucy wrongs;

If she be in her chamber or your house,

Let loose on me the justice of the state

For thus deluding you.

BRABANTIO

Strike on the tinder, ho!

This accident is not unlike my dream:

Belief of it oppresses me already.

Exit above

IAGO

Farewell; It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place,

To be produced

Against the Moor: for, I do know, the state,

However this may gall him with some cheque,

Cannot with safety cast him, for he's embark'd

To lead their business: in which regard,

Though I do hate him as I do hell-pains.

Yet, for necessity of present life,

I must show out a flag and sign of love,

So, farewell.

Exit

Enter, below, BRABANTIO, and Servants with torches

BRABANTIO

It is too true an evil: gone she is;

And what's to come of my despised time

Roderigo,

Where didst thou see her? Are they married, think you?

RODERIGO

Truly, I think they are.

BRABANTIO

O heaven! How got she out? O treason of the blood!

Call up my brother.

Do you know

Where we may apprehend her and the Moor?

RODERIGO

I think I can discover him, if you please,

To get good guard and go along with me.

BRABANTIO

Get weapons, ho!

And raise some special officers of night.

On, good Roderigo: I'll deserve your pains.

Exeunt

SCENE II. Another street.

Enter OTHELLO, IAGO, and Attendants with torches

IAGO

I hold it very stuff o' the conscience

To do no contrived murder: I lack iniquity

Sometimes to do me service

I had thought to have yerk'd him here under the ribs.

OTHELLO

'Tis better as it is.

IAGO

Nay, but he prated,

And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms

Against your honour

And hath in his effect a voice potential

As double as the duke's: he will divorce you;

Or put upon you

The law, with all his might to enforce it on,

Will give him cable.

OTHELLO

Let him do his spite:

My services

Shall out-tongue his complaints.

But that I love the gentle Desdemona,

I would not

Put into circumscription and confine

For the sea's worth. But, look! What lights come yond?

IAGO

Those are the raised father and his friends:

You were best go in.

OTHELLO

Not I, I must be found:

my title and my perfect soul

Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they?

IAGO

By Janus, I think no.

Enter CASSIO, and certain Officers with torches

OTHELLO

What is the news?

CASSIO

The duke requires your haste-post-haste appearance,

When, being not at your lodging to be found,

The senate hath sent

To search you out.

OTHELLO

'Tis well I am found by you.

I will but spend a word here in the house,

And go with you.

Exit

CASSIO

Ancient, what makes he here?

IAGO

'Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land carack:

If it prove lawful prize, he's made for ever.

It is Brabantio.

He comes to bad intent.

Enter BRABANTIO, RODERIGO, and Officers with torches and weapons

OTHELLO

Holla! Stand there!

RODERIGO

Signior, it is the Moor.

BRABANTIO

Down with him, thief!

They draw on both sides

IAGO

You, Roderigo! Come, sir, I am for you.

OTHELLO

Good signior, you shall more command with years

Than with your weapons.

BRABANTIO

Where hast thou stow'd my daughter?

Thou hast enchanted her;

That thou hast practised on her with foul charms,

That weaken motion

I do attach thee

For an abuser of the world

Lay hold upon him: if he do resist,

Subdue him at his peril.

OTHELLO

How may the duke be therewith satisfied,

Whose messengers are here about my side,

Upon some present business of the state

To bring me to him?

BRABANTIO

The duke in council!

Bring him away:

Mine's not an idle cause: the duke himself,

Cannot but feel this wrong as 'twere their own;

Exeunt