The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (980 page)

Enter a Herald with a proclamation; People following

Herald

It is Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant

It is the order of Othelle, the brave and noble

general, that, upon certain tidings now arrived,

general, that since we now have new

importing the mere perdition of the Turkish fleet,

of the destruction of the Turkish fleet,

every man put himself into triumph; some to dance,

everyone should celebrate, and dance,

some to make bonfires, each man to what sport and

and make bonfires, each person to whatever fun

revels his addiction leads him: for, besides these

and partying he wants. On top of this

beneficial news, it is the celebration of his

great news, we will celebrate Othello’s

nuptial. So much was his pleasure should be

wedding. That was the entirety of his

proclaimed. All offices are open, and there is full

announcement.  There will be a full

liberty of feasting from this present hour of five

feast from now, five o’clock,

till the bell have told eleven. Heaven bless the

until the bell tolls eleven. God bless the

isle of Cyprus and our noble general Othello!

island of Cyprus and our brave general Othello!

Exeunt

Enter OTHELLO, DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and Attendants

OTHELLO

Good Michael, look you to the guard to-night:

Good Michael Cassio, keep the guard tonight

Let's teach ourselves that honourable stop,

And help the festivities show restraint,

Not to outsport discretion.

And not get out of control.

CASSIO

Iago hath direction what to do;

Iago has instructions on what to do.

But, notwithstanding, with my personal eye

But, regardless, I will personally

Will I look to't.

Look after it.

OTHELLO

Iago is most honest.

Iago is very honest.

Michael, good night: to-morrow with your earliest

Michael, goodnight. Early tomorrow

Let me have speech with you.

I would like to talk with you.

To DESDEMONA

Come, my dear love,

Come, my love,

The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue;

The purchase of marrying you has been made, the fruits of sex are to come next.

That profit's yet to come 'tween me and you.

That pleasure hasn’t happened yet, but is next for us.

Good night.

Goodnight.

Exeunt OTHELLO, DESDEMONA, and Attendants

Enter IAGO

CASSIO

Welcome, Iago; we must to the watch.

Welcome, Iago, let’s go to keep watch.

IAGO

Not this hour, lieutenant; 'tis not yet ten o' the

Not yet, lieutenant. It’s not yet ten o’ clock.

clock. Our general cast us thus early for the love

Our general mades us leave early because of his love

of his Desdemona; who let us not therefore blame:

for Desdemona. We can’t blame him though:

he hath not yet made wanton the night with her; and

he hasn’t yet slept with her, and

she is sport for Jove.

she is beautiful enough for Jove to love her.

CASSIO

She's a most exquisite lady.

She is a beautiful lady.

IAGO

And, I'll warrant her, fun of game.

And, I’ll bet, very good in bed.

CASSIO

Indeed, she's a most fresh and delicate creature.

Yes, she’s very young and delicate.

IAGO

What an eye she has! methinks it sounds a parley of

And what beautiful eyes! They are almost

provocation.

provocatively inviting.

CASSIO

An inviting eye; and yet methinks right modest.

Inviting, yes, but I think she is still appropriately modest.

IAGO

And when she speaks, is it not an alarum to love?

And isn’t her voice a beautiful bell?

CASSIO

She is indeed perfection.

She is quite perfect.

IAGO

Well, happiness to their sheets! Come, lieutenant, I

Well, I wish their marriage bed happiness! Come, lieutenant, I

have a stoup of wine; and here without are a brace

have a bottle of wine, and here is a group

of Cyprus gallants that would fain have a measure to

of Cyprus gentlemen who would love to drink to

the health of black Othello.

black Othello’s health.

CASSIO

Not to-night, good Iago: I have very poor and

Not tonight, good Iago: I have very poor

unhappy brains for drinking: I could well wish

tolerance for alcohol. I wish

courtesy would invent some other custom of

that society would invent some other way

entertainment.

to celebrate.

IAGO

O, they are our friends; but one cup: I'll drink for

But these are friends. Drink one cup, I’ll drink the rest

you.

for you.

CASSIO

I have drunk but one cup to-night, and that was

I have already had a cup tonight, and even that

craftily qualified too, and, behold, what innovation

was watered down, and yet look at how drunk

it makes here: I am unfortunate in the infirmity,

it has made me. I have an unfortunately weak tolerance,  

and dare not task my weakness with any more.

and wouldn’t want to test my weakness by drinking more.

IAGO

What, man! 'tis a night of revels: the gallants

You can’t be serious! Tonight is a night of partying, and the gentlemen

desire it.

want you to drink.

CASSIO

Where are they?

Where are they?

IAGO

Here at the door; I pray you, call them in.

Just outside the door. Please, ask them to come in.

CASSIO

I'll do't; but it dislikes me.

I’ll do it, but I don’t want to.

Exit

IAGO

If I can fasten but one cup upon him,

If I can make him drink only one cup more

With that which he hath drunk to-night already,

On top of what he has already drunk tonight,

He'll be as full of quarrel and offence

Then he will be as aggressive and ready to fight

As my young mistress' dog. Now, my sick fool Roderigo,

As my mistress’s dog. Now, my lovesick fool Roderigo,

Whom love hath turn'd almost the wrong side out,

Whom love has twisted up and confused,

To Desdemona hath to-night caroused

Has drunk tonight to Desdemona

Potations pottle-deep; and he's to watch:

In a number of toasts, and he’s on guard duty as well.

Three lads of Cyprus, noble swelling spirits,

Three Cyprus men, brave spirits

That hold their honours in a wary distance,

That have a good notion of their honor

The very elements of this warlike isle,

Like everyone on this warring island,

Have I to-night fluster'd with flowing cups,

I have also gotten drunk,

And they watch too. Now, 'mongst this flock of drunkards,

And they are on duty as well. Now, with this group of drunkards –

Am I to put our Cassio in some action

I need to get Cassio to do something

That may offend the isle.--But here they come:

To offend their island. Here they come:

If consequence do but approve my dream,

If I can engineer this situation to match my plans,

My boat sails freely, both with wind and stream.

Then I will get what I want.

Re-enter CASSIO; with him MONTANO and Gentlemen; servants following with wine

CASSIO

'Fore God, they have given me a rouse already.

By God, they have already given me quite a lot to drink.

MONTANO

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

Truly, only a small cup. It wasn’t even a pint, I promise

a soldier.

as a soldier.

IAGO

Some wine, ho!

More wine!

Sings

And let me the canakin clink, clink;

And clink your glasses together

And let me the canakin clink

And clink your glasses together

A soldier's a man;

A soldier is a man,

A life's but a span;

And a life is only so long,

Why, then, let a soldier drink.

So let the soldier drink!

Some wine, boys!

More wine, boys!

CASSIO

'Fore God, an excellent song.

By God, a great song.

IAGO

I learned it in England, where, indeed, they are

I learned it in England, where they are

most potent in potting: your Dane, your German, and

very good at drinking. The Dane, or German, or

your swag-bellied Hollander--Drink, ho!--are nothing

fat Dutchman – Drink! – they are no match

to your English.

to the English.

CASSIO

Is your Englishman so expert in his drinking?

Is the Englishman truly an expert at drinking?

IAGO

Why, he drinks you, with facility, your Dane dead

Why, he will easily drink a Dane into a stupor,

drunk; he sweats not to overthrow your Almain; he

he has no problem outdrinking the German, and he

gives your Hollander a vomit, ere the next pottle

will make a Dutchman pute before the next glass

can be filled.

can be filled.

CASSIO

To the health of our general!

To the health of Othello!

MONTANO

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

I will drink to that, lieutenant, as much as you will.