Act 2 Scene 3

Othello and Desdemona withdraw from the general revelry, but Iago persuades Cassio that there is time for one more drink. Another drink proves too much for Cassio, who has already declared his inability to cope with liquor# and when Roderigo (on Iago’s instructions) offends him, Cassio starts a fight. Montano, the governor of Cyprus is hurt. Othello is roused, and when he hears Iago’s version of the affair, he dismisses Cassio from his military post. Cassio confides his grief to Iago, and is advised to seek Desdemona’s assistance. Roderigo is angry about the way he has been beaten, and he threatens to return to Venice. But Iago convinces him that everything is under control.
1	Michael: Othello’s tone is relaxed, and he uses Cassio’s forename as a sign of friendship.
look you: you take care of.
2	stop: restraint.
3	outsport discretion: enjoy ourselves more than is wise.
4	hath . . . to do: knows what to do.
5, 6	Although Iago knows the job, he still needs the supervision of a senior officer# these lines are a reminder that Cassio is in fact Iago’s superior.
6	honest: This word, which is capable of a variety of meanings, is always associated with Iago: eventually it has a deadly irony. Here it is used simply to mean “reliable”.
7	with your earliest: as soon as you can.
9, 10	The marriage has been celebrated, but not yet consummated.
12	to: go to.
13	this hour: for another hour.
14	cast: dismissed.
15	who . . . blame: and who can blame him.
16	made wanton the night: enjoyed the pleasure of the night.
17	sport for Jove: Jove, king of the classical gods was famous for his sexual adventures.
19	full of game: sexually responsive.
21	sounds a parley: sends out a summons (as a trumpet might call military commanders to come together).
23	right: very.
24	alarum: waking call (sounded on the trumpet for soldiers).
27	stoup: jug.
here without: just outside.
brace: pair.
28	gallants: good chaps.
fain: like to.
have a measure: drink a toast.
30, 31	poor . . . brains: a very poor head (i.e. he is quickly intoxicated).
33	I’ll . . . you: I’ll drink in your place (to distract attention from the fact that Cassio is not drinking).
36	craftily qualified: cunningly mixed.
innovation: alteration.
37	here: in his head.
43	it dislikes me: I don’t like it.
44	fasten . . . him: get him to have just one more drink# Iago moves into verse for this moment of self-revelation.
46	full . . . offence: ready to take and give offence.
47	my . . . dog: any girl’s pet dog# no specific “mistress” is intended.
sick: stupid.
48	turned . . . out: almost transformed.
49	To Desdemona: To Desdemona’s health.
caroused: drunk.
50	Potations: drinks.
pottle-deep: whole pottles full (a “pottle” held about two litres).
to watch: to go on guard (although Roderigo is a civilian).
51	else: others.
noble swelling spirits: high-spirited.
52	Who are quick to take offence when they suspect an insult to their honour.
53	very elements: truly typical.
warlike: prepared for war.
54	flustered: confused.
flowing: over-flowing.
55	watch: are on guard.
56	action: quarrel.
57	offend the isle: cause some disturbance to the island.
58	consequence: what happens next.
approve: bear out, confirm.
dream: scheme.
59	Everything is going well.
60	Fore God: I swear before God.
rouse: drink.
61	past: more than.
63	canikin: little can.
66	span: short time.
67	let a soldier drink: Iago chose his song wisely.
71	potent in potting: heavy drinkers.
Your: This word is used simply for colloquial emphasis — and so is “you” in line 75–6.
72	swag-bellied: with a sagging belly.
drink, ho: Iago calls for more wine.
75	with facility: easily.
76	sweats not: finds it no effort.
Almaine: German.
77	gives . . . vomit: makes the Dutchman sick.
82	and: added to the line for rhythm, not sense.
83	a crown: a unit of money# the coin was so called because a crown was stamped on it.
84	He thought that was sixpence too much.
85	lown: rascal.
89	auld: old (the form of the word probably indicates that the ballad comes from the north of England).
94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108	Cassio’s words merely indicate the state of his drunkenness.
103	before the ensign: Cassio’s drunken remark will heighten Iago’s jealousy.
112	platform: a level place for mounting artillery.
set the watch: mount the guard. Montano gives the instruction because Cassio — now very drunk — has forgotten to do so.
113	before: ahead# Iago loses no opportunity for slandering Cassio.
114	Caesar: The great Roman conqueror.
116	just equinox: exact equivalent.
119	odd time: occasion.
120	shake: ruin.
121	He’s always like this before he goes to sleep.
122	He’ll stay awake while the clock (“horologe”) goes round a couple of times (a “double set”).
123	rock not his cradle: doesn’t put him to sleep.
124	put in mind: made aware# Montano is worried about the island’s security.
131	hazard: risk.
132	engraffed: rooted.
142	twiggen bottle: a bottle encased with wicker-work# Cassio probably threatens to beat Roderigo until he goes through the basketwork and into the bottle.
147	mazard: head.
150	cry a mutiny: tell everyone that there is a riot.
151	God’s will: let God’s will be done# Iago calls for peace.
154	Diablo: Iago uses the Spanish exclamation (= the devil).
155	town: all the citizens.
157	hurt to th’death: fatally wounded.
158	Hold: Stop.
163	Are we turned: Have we become?
164	forbid: heaven refused to let the Ottomites fight the Venetians by sending the storm to wreck the Turkish fleet.
165	put by: cease.
barbarous: i.e. fighting as though they were barbarians (like the Turks).
166	stirs: moves.
to carve: to cut meat — i.e. to stab someone.
for his own rage: to satisfy his anger (one might “carve” meat to satisfy hunger).
167	Holds . . . light: Has little care for his life.
upon his motion: as soon as he moves.
169	propriety: normal peaceful state.
170	grieving: distress.
171	On thy love: On your loyalty.
I charge thee: I order you to speak.
172	Friends all but now: Just now we were all friends.
even now: only just now.
173	quarter: closeness.
terms: friendship.
174	Devesting them: Undressing themselves.
175	unwitted men: driven them insane# it was thought that planets (especially the moon) had influence over men’s mind.
176	tilting: striking.
177	opposition bloody: fighting with bloodshed.
177	I cannot . . . beginning: I cannot tell you how it started.
178	peevish odds: nasty quarrel.
179	would: I wish.
action: battle.
181	are thus forgot: have forgotten yourself like this.
183	you . . . civil: you used to be law-abiding.
184	stillness: peacefulness.
186	censure: judgement.
187	unlace: unloosen.
188	spend your rich opinion: exchange your good reputation.
for the name: to be called.
189	night-brawler: night-fighter.
190	hurt to danger: seriously injured.
192	spare: save.
which . . . me: which now hurts a bit.
194	amiss: wrong.
195	self-charity: self-protection.
197	assails: attacks.
198	blood: temper.
safer guides: i.e. reason.
199	collied: blackened.
200	Essays: Attempts.
203	rout: uproar.
set it on: started it.
204	approved: found guilty.
205	Though . . . me: Even if he were my twin-brother.
206	a town . . . wild: a town still in a state of panic because of the war.
208	manage: conduct.
211	partially affined: taking sides.
leagued in office: loyalty to a superior.
213	Touch . . . near: Don’t make things more difficult.
220	determined: drawn.
221	To . . . him: To strike him.
this gentleman: i.e. Montano.
222	Steps in: Goes up to.
entreats his pause: begs him to stop.
223	Myself: I myself.
the crying fellow: i.e. Roderigo.
224	as it so fell out: which was what happened.
225	fall in fright: be alarmed.
226	Outran my purpose: Ran faster than I thought.
226	I returned . . . For that: I thought it better to come back because.
228	high in oath: swearing loudly.
230	close: fighting.
231	At: With.
238	indignity: insult.
239	pass: ignore.
240	mince: tone down.
241	Making . . . Cassio: Making light of Cassio’s part in the fight.
243	raised up: disturbed.
244	The dismissal of Cassio will show the rest of the army, and the islanders, that Othello will not tolerate disorderly conduct.
247	hurts: wounds.
248	Myself . . . surgeon: I will pay for your surgeon myself.
248	distracted: disturbed.
254	past all surgery: beyond medical help# the change from verse to prose signals a change in the mood and pace of the scene.
261	sense: feeling.
263	imposition: burden.
265	repute: consider.
266	recover the general: win back Othello’s friendship.
266	You . . . mood: You have only been dismissed because of his temper.
267	in policy: for political reasons.
268	malice: ill-will.
268	Just as one might punish the innocent as a deterrent to the real criminal# the expression is proverbial.
269	Sue: Appeal.
273	speak parrot: talk nonsense.
274	fustian: rubbish.
283	nothing wherefore: not what it was about.
285	pleasance: pleasure.
286	applause: i.e. the desire for applause.
290	unperfectness: imperfection.
291	frankly: completely.
292	moraller: moralist.
294	heartily: with all my heart.
befallen: happened.
297	Hydra: In classical mythology, this was a snake with many heads# it was killed by Hercules.
298	stop: silence.
now: at one moment.
299	sensible: Here the word has its modern meaning.
by and by: very soon.
presently: now.
300	Every inordinate cup: every drink too many.
unblessed: cursed.
300	the ingredient is: it contains.
302	familiar creature: friendly spirit# animals used by witches for black magic were commonly called “familiars”.
303	Exclaim . . . it: stop grumbling at it.
305	approved it: put it to the test.
306	at a time: at some time.
310	mark: observation.
parts: qualities.
312	put you . . . again: get your job back.
free: generous.
316	splinter: mend (by putting on a splint).
317	lay: bet.
317	this crack . . . before: i.e. as a mended bone is said to be stronger than before it was broken.
321	I think it freely: I well believe it.
betimes: early.
322	undertake: take up the matter.
323	am desperate: despair.
check: stop.
327	Verse returns as Iago voices his intimate thoughts, apparently addressing the audience.
329	Probal: Reasonable.
331	inclining: sympathetic.
subdue: persuade.
332	framed as fruitful: naturally as generous.
333	free elements: the four elements out of which all things are created# although this should be praise of Desdemona’s sympathetic generosity, Iago makes it sound as though he despises these qualities.
334	win: persuade# Iago believes that Desdemona has such influence over Othello that for her sake he would even change his religion.
his baptism: i.e. his Christian faith.
335	All signs and symbols (such as the sign of the cross) that belong to the Christian religion, which believes that man’s sin has been paid for (“redeemed”) by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
336	enfettered to: bound by.
337	list: wishes.
338	To such an extent (“Even as”) that his desire for her (“her appetite”) is like a god controlling his reason (“function”).
340	parallel: i.e. to Iago’s plot.
341	Divinity: Theology.
342	put on: encourage.
343	suggest: tempt.
345	Plies: Pleads with.
348	repeals: wants to have him reinstated.
349	By however much effort she tries to help Cassio, she will lose favour (“undo her credit”) with Othello.
351	virtue into pitch: virtue is usually depicted as white, whereas pitch is a sticky, foul-smelling, black substance.
354	chase: hunt.
355	fills up the cry: makes up the number of the pack and adds its voice to the sound of the hunt# Roderigo has, unwittingly, adopted the imagery used by Iago at the end of Act 2, Scene 2.
357	cudgelled: beaten.
359	wit: sense.
362	wit: cunning.
363	dilatory: dawdling.
365	cashiered Cassio: got Cassio dismissed (Iago seems to enjoy the alliteration of these words).
366	Another one of Iago’s cryptic remarks: most things grow well in the sunshine, but the fruits that are the first to blossom are also the earliest to ripen. Cassio’s dismissal is the first sign of success — the “blossom” — for Roderigo.
368	’tis morning: The time has passed quickly# it was not ten o’clock at night when the scene started (line 13).
370	Retire thee: Get out of the way.
where thou art billeted: to your lodgings.
371	hereafter: later.
373	move: plead.
374	set her on: urge her.
375	apart: aside.
376	jump: at the precise moment.
377	Soliciting: Asking favours.
378	device: scheme.