26       THE PLAYWRIGHT OF LONDON     ACT I

And thus, decided on their course,
They headed swiftly, with post haste,
To drama, full of pained remorse
And comedy that were oft laced
With aforementioned sad sorrow
That kept one’s gloom til the morrow. 180
The play that these two went to see,
However, was no misery.
They visited the famous Globe,
Shakespeare’s metaphorical robe,
Where they watched the tortured fellow
Of Venice, the moor Othello.           [Exeunt.

SCENE II. LONDON. THE GLOBE THEATRE

Enter DANIEL and JEREMY

DANIEL.   Here! We arrive at the famous Globe.
                I cannot wait to see the great work of Shakespeare
                in all its glory.
JEREMY.   Indeed, it shall be superb. And in this
                theatre of theatres. Now where are we seated?
DANIEL.   We are in the gentleman’s rooms,
                which I hear are the worst seats in the theatre. But
                they are the most comfortable and out of the rain,
                unlike the pit where those poor groundlings sit.
JEREMY.   Poor? Poor, nothing. We had paid our                           10
                money, and here we are in our deserved seats.
                Poor! Huh. May they be soaked from head to toe,
                while we enjoy our well deserved comforts.
DANIEL.   You are quite the gentleman I must
                say Jeremy, though not the slightest bit
                gentlemanly.
JEREMY.   I’ll pay your words no heed. Had I
                been born a gentleman I should come here every
                day and -
DANIEL.   Shh! The play begins.                                                    20

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SCENE II     THE PLAYWRIGHT OF LONDON     27

Enter ACTORS - RODERIGO AND IAGO

RODERIGO.   [Below, on stage] Tush, never tell me! I
                     take it much unkindly that thou, Iago, who hast had my
                     purse as if the strings were thine, should’st know of
                     this.
IAGO.   ’Sblood, but you will not hear me! If ever I did
             dream of such a matter, abhor me.
JEREMY.   [Aside to Daniel] This Iago is the villain of
                the play, but he has charm and wit, and so persuades the
                others of his affability. Roderigo is described here [looks
                down at script] as a ’gulled gentleman’, easily persuaded       30
                and used by Iago.
DANIEL.   May I see? What happens in this starting
                scene?
JEREMY.   It would appear that they speak of
                Roderigo’s unrequited love for Desdemona then rouse
                her father, telling him of Othello, the moor, who has
                ’kidnapped’ Desdemona to marry her. They are both
                jealous of Othello because he is Iago’s superior in war,
                and Roderigo’s in love.
IAGO.   For, sir, it is as sure as you are Roderigo, were                           40
            I the Moor, I would not be Iago. In following him, I follow
            but myself; heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,
            but seeming so for my peculiar end.
DANIEL.   These actors are quite good. Roderigo seems
               shy and abashed, and so is very funny, while Iago’s great
               wit and pretence  provides more unabated humour.
JEREMY.   I agree, and what more could we expect
               here, among all places. It is useful indeed that I brought
               the script for though their speech is easily heard, the
               text itself is the masterpiece.
DANIEL.   Speak no more for a moment. They call for
                Brabantio, Desdemona’s father...