William Shakespeare - The Complete Works/William Shakespeare - The Complete Works on CD-ROM.iso/library/line/1h4/oth4.txt

Text File | 1994-05-22 | 12.8 KB | 393 lines

Act 2 Scene 1

In Cyprus, Montano and two gentlemen are
waiting for the arrival of Othello. There has been a
dreadful storm at sea; many of the ships belonging
to the Turkish enemy fleet have been wrecked, but
CassioÆs ship has landed safely. Cassio has no
sooner given the news of OthelloÆs marriage when
Desdemona, accompanied by Iago and his wife,
also arrives in Cyprus. There is a period of tension
until OthelloÆs ship comes to land; Desdemona
tries not to show her anxiety, joking with Iago to
distract her mind. Eventually, however, the Moor
and his wife are re-united, and Othello describes
his great joy. The scene ends as Iago gives further
instructions to Roderigo, and at last confides his
plans for the audience to hear ù although the
details are still unclear.
2    high-wrought flood: tempestuous sea.
4    Descry: Detect.
5    Methinks: It seems to me.
6    fuller: more violent.
7    ruffianed: raged.
8    ribs of oak: wooden sides of a ship.
mountains melt: mountainous waves cascade.
9    hold the mortise: hold together. A
ômortiseö is a socket or joint.
What . . . this: What will come of this?
10    segregation: scattering.
12    chidden billow: waves which have been
thrown back by the land.
pelt: throw water on.
13    wind-shaked surge: wind-blown sea.
mane: comparing the sea to a wild horse.
14    burning Bear: the constellation known as
the Little Bear, two of whose brightest stars are
called the ôGuardiansö or guards.
15    Pole: The pole star, much used in
navigation.
16    like molestation: such disturbance.
17    enchafaged flood: angry sea.
If that: If.
18    ensheltered and embayed: sheltered in a
bay.
19    bear it out: ride out the storm.
21    banged: beaten.
22    designment halts: their plans have been
stopped.
23    wrack: shipwreck.
sufferance: damage.
24    On: Of.
26    put in: anchored.
29    at sea: is on the seas (i.e. on his way to
Cyprus).
30    in full commission: in complete charge.
31    a worthy governor: this is high praise for
Othello, since it comes from the man whose
position he is taking.
33    Touching: With regard to.
sadly: worried.
36    served him: served under him.
37    full: excellent.
39    throw out our eyes: look out.
40    Even . . . regard: Until the sea and blue of
the sky become indistinct to us.
43    arrivance: arrivals.
45    so approve: speak so well.
48    Is . . . shipped: Does he have a good ship?
49    barque: vessel.
stoutly timbered: well built (of wood).
50    approved allowance: tested experience.
51    Therefore . . . cure: Cassio seems to be
saying that he has never worried too much about
OthelloÆs safety, and he is now hopeful that all will
be well.
52sd    within: offstage.
54    brow: edge.
55    ranks: crowds.
56    I hope it is the governor.
57    discharge . . . courtesy: fire a friendly
shot.
59    give us truth: find out for certain.
61    wived: married.
62    fortunately: happily.
achieved: won.
63    paragons: beats.
fame: rumour.
64    quirks: fantasies.
blazoning: describing; the word is particularly
used in heraldry.
65    essential . . . creation: in the perfect
beauty of her created being.
66    tire the engineer: exhaust the designer (he
has used up all his skill in perfecting Desdemona).
70    guttered: splintered.
congregated sands: sands heaped together (i.e.
sandbanks).
71    ensteeped: submerged.
guiltless: unwary.
keel: ship.
72    As having: As though they had.
sense: appreciation.
omit: forget.
73    mortal: deadly.
74    divine Desdemona: This speech, building
to a climax on the last line here, introduces
Desdemona to Cyprus, heralding her arrival with a
fanfare of verse just as the trumpet (at line 180)
gives notice of OthelloÆs arrival.
77    footing: landing.
anticipates our thoughts: is sooner than we had
expected.
78    A sennightÆs speed: A week (seven
nights) early; Desdemona was to have been
brought to Cyprus after Othello sailed from
Venice.
Jove: king of the gods of Roman mythology.
80    bless . . . ship: the arrival of Othello
would confer a blessing on the harbour.
tall: handsome; Othello is sailing in the biggest of
the three ships.
82    extincted: extinguished.
84    riches: i.e. Desdemona.
85    have your knees: bow to her ù but there
is the suggestion also of kneeling in prayer to the
ôdivine Desdemonaö.
88    Enwheel: Encircle.
89    tidings: news.
90    aught: anything.
93    contention: battle.
96    hark: Cassio calls attention to the shout
ôwithinö.
97    their greeting: the shots are being fired as
a salvo, or friendly salute to the island (represented
by its ôcitadelö).
98    likewise: the salute is friendly, so the ship
must also be a friend.
See for the news: Go to see what has happened.
100    gall: annoy.
101    extend my manners: show my respects (to
Emilia).
ÆTis my breeding: I was brought up this way.
103    so much . . . me: if she gave you her lips
(in kissing) as much as she lets me hear her tongue
(in talking).
106    has no speech: does not talk much.
108    still: always.
109    before your ladyship: in your ladyshipÆs
presence.
grant: admit.
110    She keeps her tongue to herself for a time,
and only nags in her thoughts.
112    The quick drop into prose assures a relief
of the audienceÆs tension as it waits for Othello.
112    pictures: i.e. silent, unspeaking images.
out of door: in public.
113    Bells: i.e. noisy, tongued instruments.
parlours: at home.
114    Saints in your injuries: sanctimonious
when giving offence.
being offended: when you are offended.
115    Players: actors, deceivers.
housewifery: housekeeping.
116    fie upon thee: shame on you.
118    rise to play: i.e. at being good
housekeepers.
to work: i.e. as prostitutes.
121    put me toÆt: give me the task.
123    essay: make an attempt.
one: someone; DesdemonaÆs thoughts are not with
IagoÆs foolery.
125    beguile: disguise.
126    The thing I am: i.e. worried.
129    pate: head.
as . . . frieze: i.e. a slow, sticky, process; lime was
used to trap birds, and if it got on to fabric
(ôfriezeö = a coarse woollen cloth) it was difficult
to pull it off.
130    my muse: inspiration; the classical Muses
were the goddesses responsible for artistic
creation.
labours: is struggling with it.
131    is delivered: has given birth.
134    black: brunette (as opposed to ôfairö =
blonde).
witty: clever.
136    white: Iago has a pun on ôwightö (= man).
139    folly: wantonness.
144    thereunto: as well.
148    authority of her merit: whose virtue
deserves so much.
149    put on the vouch: compel the approval.
151    The couplets emphasize the triviality of
IagoÆs thoughts.
151    ever: always.
fair: both ôbeautifulö and ôvirtuousö.
152    Had tongue at will: Could speak easily.
153    gay: garish.
154    Did not do as she wished, and yet knew
she had power.
155    her . . . nigh: when revenge was possible.
156    Accepted the injury and refused to be
angry.
157    frail: Shakespeare uses this word
frequently to refer to womanÆs sexual weakness;
its presence suggests that ôthe codÆs headö and
ôthe salmonÆs tailö are intended with sexual
overtones.
158    cod: a sea-fish; also a slang word for
ôpenisö.
salmonÆs tail: a fish found in some British rivers;
ôtailö is also a term for the sexual organs.
161    wight: person.
163    chronicle small beer: keep the household
accounts.
164    impotent: feeble.
167    liberal: licentious.
168    home: plainly.
relish: appreciate.
170    takes her by the palm: holds her hand.
well said: well done.
171    web: spiderÆs web.
173    gyve: fetter.
courtship: courtly behaviour.
174    strip you out of: lose your job for you.
175    kissed . . . fingers: an Italian courtly
gesture.
177    apt: ready.
play the sir in: act the courtly gentleman.
179    Would: I wish.
clyster-pipes: tubes for injecting an enema.
181    his trumpet: each commander had his own
trumpet-call; Iago recognizes OthelloÆs signal.
183    The greetings of Othello and Desdemona
initiate one of the great moments in the play; for a
few lines all the other characters, and the business
of war, are forgotten as the two lovers share in the
bliss of their reunion.
188    labouring barque: struggling ship.
189    Olympus-high: As high as Mount
Olympus, home of the gods in classical mythology.
duck: dive down.
190    it were now to die: I were to die now.
192    content: happiness.
absolute: perfect.
194    Succeeds: Follows.
unknown fate: the life to come.
196    as . . . grow: as long as our lives last.
Amen: Othello responds to DesdemonaÆs prayer.
198    stops me here: chokes me.
199    this: i.e. the kiss.
be: may be.
200    Iago picks up and continues OthelloÆs
musical imagery.
201    set down the pegs: loosen the screws
(thereby slackening the strings of a musical
instrument like the lute).
204    my old acquaintance: the people I used to
know; after the intense moment of joy, Othello
turns to the everyday world of common good
manners, recognizing the existence of other people
again.
205    Honey: A term of affection for
Desdemona.
well desired: well received.
207    I prattle . . . fashion: I shouldnÆt be talking
like this.
207    I dote . . . comforts: Othello has so much
good news to impart that he cannot speak sensibly.
209    disembark my coffers: unload my luggage.
210    master: i.e. of the ship.
212    challenge: demand.
215    presently: immediately.
217    is native to them: they are born with.
218    list: listen.
watches: keeps the night watch.
219    court of guard: guard-room.
220    directly: definitely.
222    Lay . . . thus: Put your finger on your lips:
i.e. keep quiet.
thy soul: yourself.
223    Mark me: Remember.
224    but: only.
224    love him still: continue to love him.
225    prating: boasting.
discreet heart: commonsense.
226    fed: satisfied.
227    the devil: OthelloÆs blackness identifies
him (for Iago) as the devil.
the blood: passion.
228    act of sport: sexual intercourse.
228    to inflame it: to arouse desire.
229    give . . . appetite: further stimulation to
desire that is already satisfied.
230    favour: appearance.
sympathy in years: agreement in age.
manners: culture.
232    required conveniences: necessary
qualifications.
233    heave the gorge: feel sick.
disrelish: lose her taste for.
234    Very nature: Her own nature.
236    pregnant . . . position: obvious and natural
assumption.
237    who stands . . . fortune: who is so well
placed to be next to receive this fortune.
238    voluble: smooth-tongued.
239    no further conscionable: with no more
conscience.
239    mere form . . . seeming: only the outward
appearance of good manners and sensitivity.
240    compass of: achievment of.
241    salt: lecherous.
loose affection: immoral desires.
242    slipper: slippery.
242    finder out of occasions: one who will take
every opportunity.
243    stamp and counterfeit advantages: forge
false advantage (as though he were forging coins).
247    green: young, unripe.
look after: want.
248    found: recognized his nature and
intentions.
250    blessed condition: innocence.
251    figÆs end: rubbish; the exclamation would
be accompanied with an obscene gesture.
251    The wine . . . grapes: i.e. sheÆs only
human.
253    pudding: nonsense.
254    paddle with: caress.
257    index . . . prologue: like the index to a
book, it shows what is to come, but the
introduction to the book cannot immediately be
understood.
259    near: close.
261    mutualities: intimacies.
marshal: lead.
hard at hand: close behind.
262    incorporate: bodily.
263    be . . . me: do as I shall tell you.
264    Watch: Keep guard (as Cassio will be
doing).
264    For . . . you: IÆll give you your
instructions.
267    tainting: questioning.
269    minister: provide.
271    sudden: quick to act.
in choler: when heÆs angry.
haply: perhaps.
272    even out of that: for that reason.
274    qualification: pacifying.
275    displanting: dismissal.
277    prefer: promote.
278    profitably: usefully.
279    prosperity: success.
282    warrant: promise.
by and by: shortly.
283    his necessaries: OthelloÆs luggage.
285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294,
295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301, 302, 303, 304,
305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311    IagoÆs
soliloquy, as usual, is in verse; he is thinking
aloud, and the audience is able to over-hear his
thoughts.
286    apt and of great credit: likely, and could
well be believed.
287    howbeÆt: although; even Iago must
confess OthelloÆs nobility.
290    dear: not only ôlovingö and ôbelovedö, but
also ôcostlyö.
291    Not . . . lust: not simply for lust.
peradventure: perhaps.
292    accountant: accountable.
293    diet: feed.
294    lusty: lustful.
295    leaped into my seat: i.e. made love to
Emilia.
296    inwards: guts.
298    evened: get even.
302    trash: rubbish.
303    stand . . . on: will do what I want.
304    on the hip: at my mercy; the hip, or
haunch, of the deer is the part usually grabbed by
the hunting hounds.
305    Abuse: Slander.
the rank garb: a foul manner ù by accusing him of
adultery.
306    with my nightcap: i.e. in bed with Emilia.
308    egregiously: extraordinarily.
309    practising upon: plotting against.
310    Even to madness: To drive him mad.
ÆTis here: i.e. the plot is in IagoÆs mind already.