Читать книгу Othello: The 30-Minute Shakespeare - William Shakespeare - Страница 10

Venice. A council-chamber.

Enter NARRATOR from stage rear, coming downstage center.

NARRATOR

The Duke, preparing for a Turkish invasion of Cyprus, welcomes the arrival of Othello and Brabantio. Brabantio announces his dismay at Desdemona’s marriage to Othello. Iago begins to outline his plot to use Cassio in order to make Othello jealous.

Enter DUKE and FIRST SENATOR from stage left. They move to the table and examine the maps.

Enter MESSENGER, with a letter, from stage right.

DUKE

Now, what’s the business?

MESSENGER

A Turkish fleet, of thirty sail:

Their purposes toward Cyprus.

Exit MESSENGER stage right.

FIRST SENATOR

Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor.

Enter BRABANTIO, OTHELLO, IAGO, and RODERIGO from stage right.

DUKE

Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you

Against the general enemy Ottoman. (to BRABANTIO)

Brabantio, why, what’s the matter?

BRABANTIO

My daughter! O, my daughter!

FIRST SENATOR

Dead?

BRABANTIO

Ay, to me;

She is abused, stol’n from me, and corrupted.

Here is the man, this Moor. (points to OTHELLO)

DUKE (to OTHELLO)

What, in your own part, can you say to this?

OTHELLO walks downstage center and stands left of DUKE.

My very noble and approved good masters,

Rude am I in my speech,

And little bless’d with the soft phrase of peace;

And little of this great world can I speak,

More than pertains to feats of broil and battle;

I won his daughter.

BRABANTIO

To fall in love with what she fear’d to look on!

It is a judgment maim’d and most imperfect.

FIRST SENATOR

But, Othello, speak:

Did you subdue and poison this young maid’s

affections?

OTHELLO

I do beseech you,

Send for the lady to the Sagittary,

And let her speak of me before her father.

DUKE

Fetch Desdemona hither.

Exit IAGO and MESSENGER stage right. They re-enter immediately with DESDEMONA. DESDEMONA moves to BRABANTIO’S right side; OTHELLO stands to his left.

BRABANTIO

Come hither, gentle mistress.

Do you perceive in all this noble company

Where most you owe obedience?

DESDEMONA

My noble father,

I do perceive here a divided duty:

I am hitherto your daughter: but here’s my husband;

(moves to OTHELLO’S side)

That I did love the Moor to live with him

My downright violence and storm of fortunes

May trumpet to the world. My heart’s subdued

Even to the very quality of my Lord.

(turns to BRABANTIO)

Let me go with him.

BRABANTIO

Come hither, Moor:

I here do give thee that with all my heart

I would keep from thee. For your sake, jewel,

I am glad at soul I have no other child.

BRABANTIO turns away from DESDEMONA.

DUKE

To mourn a mischief that is past and gone

Is the next way to draw new mischief on.

The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes

for Cyprus.

FIRST SENATOR

You must away to-night.

OTHELLO

With all my heart.

DUKE

Good night to every one. (to BRABANTIO)

And, noble signior,

If virtue no delighted beauty lack,

Your son-in-law is far more fair than black.

BRABANTIO (to OTHELLO)

Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see:

She has deceived her father, and may thee.

Exit DUKE and FIRST SENATOR stage right.

OTHELLO (to BRABANTIO)

My life upon her faith! (to IAGO)

Honest Iago,

My Desdemona must I leave to thee:

Come, Desdemona; I have but an hour

Of love, of worldly matters and direction,

To spend with thee.

Exit ALL, except for IAGO, stage right.

IAGO (moves downstage center; addresses audience)

I hate the Moor;

And it is thought abroad, that ’twixt my sheets

He has done my office: I know not if’t be true;

But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,

Will do as if for surety.

Cassio’s a proper man: let me see now;

After some time, to abuse Othello’s ear

That he is too familiar with his wife:

I have’t; it is engender’d: hell and night

Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light.

Exit IAGO stage right.