2 Celebration in Cyprus

Chapter 2 Celebration in Cyprus Huge waves and wild winde later the shore of Cyprus. Most of the ships from Venice had arrived safely- but Othello's was missing, delayed by the storm. Desdemona waited anxiously. When Othello finally appeared, she rushed into his arms.

Othello turned to his troops. "Good news," he announced. "All the Turkish ships sank in the storm, and I am married! Let there be dancing and feasting and bonfires tonight, to celebrate." "Time to make trouble," thought lago slyly. "Now, where's Cassio?"

lago found Cassio on his way to the fort. "Have some wine with me," he said. "Not tonight," replied Cassio. "I'll a poor head for drink." "Nonsense," persisted lago. "It's a special occasion." "Just one then," agreed Cassio, allowing lago to pull him into a nearby tavern.

Each time Cassio tried to put down his glass, lago filled it for another toast. "To General Othello!" Eventually Cassio staggered off in the direction of the fort. "Cassio would be a great officer," lago remarked loudly to everyone around him. "If only he wasn't such a drunkard." There were shouts in the street outside. On lago's instructions, Roderigo had insulted Cassio. Then Roderigo ran into the tavern, with Cassio in hot pursuit. "Stop," laughed a soldier, catching Cassio's arm. "You're drunk." "Drunk?" roared Cassio, waving his fists. "I'll give you drunk!" lago smiled as they began to fight. "Time to fetch Othello," he thought. Othello was furious to find his soldiers brawling in public. "Stop!" he bellowed. "Iago, tell me- who started this?" Iago pretended to hesitate.

"I won't blame Cassio... he must have been provoked." Othello nodded curtly. "Cassio, you are no longer my officer!" And with that, he left.

Cassio bowed his head in despair. lago put an arm around him. "Othello will forgive you if you ask." "I couldn't," sighed Cassio. "Then get Desdemona to ask," suggested lago. "Othello would do anything for her." "I will," nodded Cassio. "Thank you, honest lago."