Othello (William Shakespeare)



Othello (William Shakespeare)/Elizabethan and Modern English Text

Othello | Act I, Scene 1

Bottom of Form

|Venice. A street. |Venice. A street. |

| | |

|[Enter Roderigo and Iago.] |[Enter Roderigo and Iago.] |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Tush, never tell me; I take it much unkindly |Rubbish! Don’t tell me; I don’t like it at all |

|That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse |That you, Iago, who has used my purse |

|As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this,-- |As if the strings were yours, should know about this. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|'Sblood, but you will not hear me:-- |God’s blood! but you’re not listening to me. |

|If ever I did dream of such a matter, |If I ever dreamt about such a matter, |

|Abhor me. |Hate me. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Thou told'st me thou didst hold him in thy hate. |You told me you hated him. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Despise me, if I do not. Three great ones of the city, |Despise me, if I don’t. Three major people of the city |

|In personal suit to make me his lieutenant, |Personally ask him to make me his lieutenant, |

|Off-capp'd to him:--and, by the faith of man, |Take off their hats to him. and, by the faith of man, |

|I know my price, I am worth no worse a place:-- |I know my price, I am worth that promotion. |

|But he, as loving his own pride and purposes, |But he, loving his own pride and purposes, |

|Evades them, with a bumbast circumstance |Evades them, beating around the bush proudly, |

|Horribly stuff'd with epithets of war: |Horribly stuffed with his usual talk of war. |

|And, in conclusion, nonsuits |And, in conclusion, tells |

|My mediators: for, "Certes," says he, |My mediators, “No,” because, "Certainly," he says, |

|"I have already chose my officer." |"I have already chosen my officer." |

|And what was he? |And who was he? |

|Forsooth, a great arithmetician, |Truly, a great arithmetician, |

|One Michael Cassio, a Florentine, |One Michael Cassio, a Florentine, |

|A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife; |A fellow almost damned in a having a beautiful wife; |

|That never set a squadron in the field, |That has never led a squadron in the field, |

|Nor the division of a battle knows |And doesn’t know the division of a battle any |

|More than a spinster; unless the bookish theoric, |More than a spinster does, unless the theory books, |

|Wherein the toged consuls can propose |In which the consuls wearing togas can propose a plan |

|As masterly as he: mere prattle, without practice, |As masterly as he can. His war skills are only talk, |

|Is all his soldiership. But he, sir, had the election: |Without practice. But he, sir, got the promotion. |

|And I,--of whom his eyes had seen the proof |And I, who saw what he had done |

|At Rhodes, at Cyprus, and on other grounds, |At Rhodes, at Cyprus, and on other battlegrounds, |

|Christian and heathen,--must be be-lee'd and calm'd |Christian and heathen, must be spoken to and calmed |

|By debitor and creditor, this counter-caster; |Down by debtor and creditor, this bean counter. |

|He, in good time, must his lieutenant be, |He must be his lieutenant in good time, |

|And I--God bless the mark! his Moorship's ancient. |And I, God bless the mark! his Moorship's ensign. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|By heaven, I rather would have been his hangman. |By heaven, I would rather have been his hangman. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Why, there's no remedy; 'tis the curse of service, |Why, there's no remedy; it is the curse of the military. |

|Preferment goes by letter and affection, |Preference goes by who you know and who likes you, |

|And not by old gradation, where each second |And not by old system, where each second person |

|Stood heir to the first. Now, sir, be judge yourself |Took the first’s place. Now, sir, judge it for yourself |

|Whether I in any just term am affin'd |Whether or I am better suited in any beautiful terms |

|To love the Moor. |To love the Moor. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|I would not follow him, then. |I wouldn’t follow him then. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|O, sir, content you; |O, sir, content you; |

|I follow him to serve my turn upon him: |I follow him to serve my turn on him. |

|We cannot all be masters, nor all masters |We all cannot be masters, nor can all masters |

|Cannot be truly follow'd. You shall mark |Be truly followed. You shall see |

|Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave |Many a duteous and knee-bending rogue |

|That, doting on his own obsequious bondage, |That, doting on his own obedient slavery, |

|Wears out his time, much like his master's ass, |Wears himself out, much like his master's ass, |

|For nought but provender; and when he's old, cashier'd: |For nothing but dry oats; and when he's old, dismissed |

|Whip me such honest knaves. Others there are |From the service. I would whip such honest rogues. |

|Who, trimm'd in forms and visages of duty, |There are others who, dressed in uniforms and faces of |

|Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves; |duty, that keep their hearts attending on themselves; |

|And, throwing but shows of service on their lords, |And, throwing only shows of service to their lords, |

|Do well thrive by them, and when they have lin'd their coats, |Thrive well by them, and when they have lined their coats, |

|Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul; |Do themselves homage. These fellows have some soul; |

|And such a one do I profess myself. |And someone like that is how I am. |

|For, sir, |Because, sir, |

|It is as sure as you are Roderigo, |It is as sure as you are Roderigo, |

|Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago: |Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago. |

|In following him, I follow but myself; |In following him, I follow only myself; |

|Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty, |Heaven is my judge for love and duty, not I. |

|But seeming so for my peculiar end: |I only seem so for my own peculiar end, |

|For when my outward action doth demonstrate |Because when my outward action demonstrates |

|The native act and figure of my heart |The native act and figure of my heart |

|In complement extern, 'tis not long after |In external complement, it is not long after |

|But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve |That I will only I wear my heart on my sleeve |

|For daws to peck at: I am not what I am. |For crows to peck at. I am not what I am. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|What a full fortune does the thick lips owe, |What great luck the thick lips have, |

|If he can carry't thus! |If he can get away with this! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Call up her father, |Call her father, |

|Rouse him:--make after him, poison his delight, |Wake him up. annoy him, poison his joy, |

|Proclaim him in the streets; incense her kinsmen, |Yell for him in the streets; fire up her relatives, |

|And, though he in a fertile climate dwell, |And, although he may live in a pleasant climate, |

|Plague him with flies: though that his joy be joy, |Plague him with flies. even if his joy is joy, |

|Yet throw such changes of vexation on't |Still throw such aggravation on it |

|As it may lose some color. |That he won’t stay happy for long. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Here is her father's house: I'll call aloud. |Here is her father's house. I'll call loudly. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Do; with like timorous accent and dire yell |Go ahead; yell with frightening accent and distress |

|As when, by night and negligence, the fire |As when a fire |

|Is spied in populous cities. |Is seen in big cities at night and by accident. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|What, ho, Brabantio! Signior Brabantio, ho! |What, ho, Brabantio! Signior Brabantio, ho! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Awake! what, ho, Brabantio! thieves! thieves! thieves! |Awake! what, ho, Brabantio! Thieves! Thieves! Thieves! |

|Look to your house, your daughter, and your bags! |Look at your house, your daughter, and your bags! |

|Thieves! thieves! |Thieves! Thieves! |

| | |

|[Brabantio appears above at a window.] |[Brabantio appears above at a window.] |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|What is the reason of this terrible summons? |What is the reason for this terrible summons? |

|What is the matter there? |What’s the matter there? |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Signior, is all your family within? |Signior, is your family all inside? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Are your doors locked? |Are your doors locked? |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|Why, wherefore ask you this? |Why, why ask you this? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Zounds, sir, you're robb'd; for shame, put on your gown; |Zounds, sir, you're robbed; for shame, put on |

|Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul; |your nightgown; Your heart has burst; you have lost half your soul; |

|Even now, now, very now, an old black ram |Even now, now, very now, an old black ram |

|Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise; |Is screwing your white lamb. Get up, get up; |

|Awake the snorting citizens with the bell, |Wake the snoring citizens with the bell, |

|Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you: |Or else the devil will make you a grandfather. |

|Arise, I say. |Get up, I say. |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|What, have you lost your wits? |What, have you lost your wits? |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Most reverend signior, do you know my voice? |Very reverend Signior, do you know my voice? |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|Not I; what are you? |No, who are you? |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|My name is Roderigo. |My name is Roderigo. |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|The worser welcome: |The worst welcome. |

|I have charged thee not to haunt about my doors; |I have ordered you not to hang around my doors; |

|In honest plainness thou hast heard me say |In honest plainness, you have heard me say |

|My daughter is not for thee; and now, in madness, |My daughter is not for you, and now, in madness, |

|Being full of supper and distempering draughts, |Being full of supper and drunk, |

|Upon malicious bravery dost thou come |You come, out of maliciousness |

|To start my quiet. |To interrupt my sleep. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Sir, sir, sir,-- |Sir, sir, sir, |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|But thou must needs be sure |But you must certainly be sure that |

|My spirit and my place have in them power |My spirit and my place have power in them |

|To make this bitter to thee. |To make this bitter to you. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Patience, good sir. |Patience, good sir. |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|What tell'st thou me of robbing? this is Venice; |Why are you telling me about robbing? this is Venice; |

|My house is not a grange. |My house is not a farm. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Most grave Brabantio, |Very grave Brabantio, |

|In simple and pure soul I come to you. |I come to you in simple and pure soul. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Zounds, sir, you are one of those that will not serve |Zounds, sir, you are one of those who wouldn’t serve |

|God if the devil bid you. Because we come to do you |God if the devil asked you to. Because we are servants, |

|service, and you think we are ruffians, you'll have your |and you think we are ruffians, you'd have your daughter |

|daughter covered with a Barbary horse; you'll have your |covered with a African horse; you'd have your nephews |

|nephews neigh to you; you'll have coursers for cousins |neigh to you; you'd have chargers for cousins and small |

|and gennets for germans. |Spanish horses for Germans. |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|What profane wretch art thou? |Who the hell are you? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter and the |I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter and |

|Moor are now making the beast with two backs. |the Moor are now making a Satan. |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|Thou are a villain. |You are a villain. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|You are--a senator. |You are a senator. |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|This thou shalt answer; I know thee, Roderigo. |You’ll answer for this. I know you, Roderigo. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Sir, I will answer anything. But, I beseech you, |Sir, I will answer anything. But, I beg you, |

|If't be your pleasure and most wise consent,-- |If it is your pleasure and very wise consent, |

|As partly I find it is,--that your fair daughter, |As I find partly it is, know that your beautiful daughter, |

|At this odd-even and dull watch o' the night, |At this odd-even and dull hour of the night, |

|Transported with no worse nor better guard |Has been transported with no worse or no better guard |

|But with a knave of common hire, a gondolier, |Than a rogue of common hire, a gondolier, |

|To the gross clasps of a lascivious Moor,-- |To the gross embraces of a lewd Moor. |

|If this be known to you, and your allowance, |If this is known to you, and you permit it, |

|We then have done you bold and saucy wrongs; |Then we then have done you bold and impudent wrongs; |

|But if you know not this, my manners tell me |But if you don’t know this, my manners tell me |

|We have your wrong rebuke. Do not believe |You scold us unfairly. Don’t believe |

|That, from the sense of all civility, |That, from the sense of all manners, |

|I thus would play and trifle with your reverence: |I would play like this and trifle with you; |

|Your daughter,--if you have not given her leave,-- |Your daughter, if you have not given her permission, |

|I say again, hath made a gross revolt; |I say again, has made a disgusting rebellion against you; |

|Tying her duty, beauty, wit, and fortunes |Tying her duty, beauty, wit, and fortunes |

|In an extravagant and wheeling stranger |To an extravagant and a wheeling-dealing stranger |

|Of here and everywhere. Straight satisfy yourself: |From here and everywhere. Satisfy yourself right away. |

|If she be in her chamber or your house |If she is in her bedroom or in your house |

|Let loose on me the justice of the state |Let the justice of the state arrest me |

|For thus deluding you. |For deluding you like this. |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|Strike on the tinder, ho! |Light the lights, ho! |

|Give me a taper!--Call up all my people!-- |Give me a candle! Wake up all my servants! |

|This accident is not unlike my dream: |This accident is not different from my dream. |

|Belief of it oppresses me already.-- |Believing of it makes me nervous already. |

|Light, I say! light! |Light, I say! light! |

| | |

|[Exit from above.] |[Exit from above.] |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Farewell; for I must leave you: |Farewell; because I must leave you. |

|It seems not meet nor wholesome to my place |It doesn’t seem right or suitable to my position |

|To be produc'd,--as if I stay I shall,-- |To be a witness (which I will be if I stay), |

|Against the Moor: for I do know the state,-- |Against the Moor. because I know the government, |

|However this may gall him with some check,-- |No matter how angry this makes Brabantio with some |

|Cannot with safety cast him; for he's embark'd |Argument, cannot arrest him safely; because he's |

|With such loud reason to the Cyprus wars,-- |Embarked with such loud reason to the Cyprus wars, |

|Which even now stands in act,--that, for their souls, |Which is being discussed even now, that, to save their |

|Another of his fathom they have none |Souls, they have no one of his depth |

|To lead their business: in which regard, |To lead their armies, in which regard, |

|Though I do hate him as I do hell pains, |Although I hate him as I hate hell pains, |

|Yet, for necessity of present life, |I must still show a flag and sign of love, |

|I must show out a flag and sign of love, |To preserve my present life, |

|Which is indeed but sign. That you shall surely find him, |Which is indeed only sign. So that you shall surely find |

|Lead to the Sagittary the raised search; |him, lead these searchers to the Sagittary Inn, |

|And there will I be with him. So, farewell. |And I will be there with him. So, farewell. |

| | |

|[Exit.] |[Exit.] |

| | |

|[Enter, below, Brabantio, and Servants with torches.] |[Enter, below, Brabantio, and Servants with torches.] |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|It is too true an evil: gone she is; |It is too true an evil. she is gone; |

|And what's to come of my despised time |And what's to come of my life that’s left |

|Is naught but bitterness.--Now, Roderigo, |Is nothing but bitterness. Now, Roderigo, |

|Where didst thou see her?--O unhappy girl!-- |Where did you see her? O unhappy girl! |

|With the Moor, say'st thou?--Who would be a father! |With the Moor, you say? Who would become a father! |

|How didst thou know 'twas she?--O, she deceives me |How did you know it was she? O, she deceives me |

|Past thought.--What said she to you?--Get more tapers; |Beyond thought. What did she say to you? Get more |

|Raise all my kindred.--Are they married, think you? |Candles; Wake up all my relatives. Do you think they’re |

| |married? |

|RODERIGO. | |

|Truly, I think they are. |RODERIGO. |

| |Truly, I think they are. |

|BRABANTIO. | |

|O heaven!--How got she out?--O treason of the blood!-- |BRABANTIO. |

|Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters' minds |O heaven! How did she get out? O treason of the blood! |

|By what you see them act.--Are there not charms |Fathers, from now on don’t believe you can know your |

|By which the property of youth and maidhood |daughters' minds from the way you see them act. Aren’t |

|May be abused? Have you not read, Roderigo, |there magic spells which change the natural qualities of |

|Of some such thing? |young maids? Haven’t you read, Roderigo, |

| |Of some such thing? |

|RODERIGO. | |

|Yes, sir, I have indeed. |RODERIGO. |

| |Yes, sir, I have indeed. |

|BRABANTIO. | |

|Call up my brother.--O, would you had had her!-- |BRABANTIO. |

|Some one way, some another.--Do you know |Call my brother. O, I wish you had had her! |

|Where we may apprehend her and the Moor? |Some one way, some another. Do you know |

| |Where we may catch her and the Moor? |

|RODERIGO. | |

|I think I can discover him, if you please |RODERIGO. |

|To get good guard, and go along with me. |I think I can find him, if you’d please |

| |Get a good guard, and go along with me. |

|BRABANTIO. | |

|Pray you, lead on. At every house I'll call; |BRABANTIO. |

|I may command at most.--Get weapons, ho! |I beg you, lead on. I’ll call at every house that |

|And raise some special officers of night.-- |Will give me the most help most. Get weapons, ho! |

|On, good Roderigo:--I'll deserve your pains. |And wake up some special officers of night. |

| |Onward, good Roderigo, I'll reward your pains. |

|[Exeunt.] | |

| |[Exeunt.] |

Act I, Scene 2

|Venice. Another street. |Venice. Another street. |

| | |

|[Enter Othello, Iago, and Attendants with torches.] |[Enter Othello, Iago, and Attendants with torches.] |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Though in the trade of war I have slain men, |Although I have slain men during a war, |

|Yet do I hold it very stuff o' the conscience |I believe it is a grave matter of the conscience |

|To do no contriv'd murder: I lack iniquity |To do a premeditated murder. I don’t have evil in me |

|Sometimes to do me service: nine or ten times |Sometimes to do me service. Nine or ten times |

|I had thought to have yerk'd him here under the ribs. |I had thought to have stabbed him here under the ribs. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|'Tis better as it is. |It is better as it is. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Nay, but he prated, |No, but he chattered on, |

|And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms |And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms |

|Against your honor, |Against your honor, |

|That, with the little godliness I have, |That, with the little godliness I have, |

|I did full hard forbear him. But, I pray you, sir, |I worked hard to tolerate him. But, I beg you, sir, |

|Are you fast married? Be assured of this, |Are you really married? Be assured of this, |

|That the magnifico is much beloved; |That the magnifico is very popular; |

|And hath, in his effect, a voice potential |And has, in his office, a voice equal |

|As double as the duke's: he will divorce you; |To twice the duke's. he will divorce you; |

|Or put upon you what restraint and grievance |Or apply to you what restraint and grievance |

|The law,--with all his might to enforce it on,-- |The law will allow him to do, |

|Will give him cable. |With all his might to do it. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Let him do his spite: |Let him do his worse. |

|My services which I have done the signiory |My services that I have done for the signiory |

|Shall out-tongue his complaints. 'Tis yet to know,-- |Shall out-shout his complaints. It is still to know, |

|Which, when I know that boasting is an honor, |Which one I shall proclaim, when I know that boasting is |

|I shall promulgate,--I fetch my life and being |An honor, I earn my living and being |

|From men of royal siege; and my demerits |From men of royal battle; and my demerits |

|May speak unbonneted to as proud a fortune |May speak publicly to as proud a fortune |

|As this that I have reach'd: for know, Iago, |As this that I have reached, because know, Iago, |

|But that I love the gentle Desdemona, |Except that I love the gentle Desdemona, |

|I would not my unhoused free condition |I would not have my absolutely free condition |

|Put into circumscription and confine |Limited and confined |

|For the sea's worth. But, look! what lights come yond? |For the sea's worth. But, look! what lights are coming? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Those are the raised father and his friends: |Those are the awakened father and his friends. |

|You were best go in. |You had better go in. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Not I; I must be found; |Not I; I must be found; |

|My parts, my title, and my perfect soul |My parts, my title, and my perfect soul |

|Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they? |Shall show me truthfully. Is it they? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|By Janus, I think no. |By Janus, I don’t think so. |

| | |

|[Enter Cassio and certain Officers with torches.] |[Enter Cassio and certain Officers with torches.] |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|The servants of the duke and my lieutenant.-- |The servants of the duke and my lieutenant. |

|The goodness of the night upon you, friends! |The goodness of the night on you, friends! |

|What is the news? |What’s the news? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|The duke does greet you, general; |The duke greets you, general; |

|And he requires your haste-post-haste appearance |And he requires your super-speedy appearance |

|Even on the instant. |This instant. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|What is the matter, think you? |What’s the matter, do you think? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Something from Cyprus, as I may divine: |Something from Cyprus, as I may guess. |

|It is a business of some heat: the galleys |It is a business of some heat. The galleys |

|Have sent a dozen sequent messengers |Have sent a dozen sequential messengers |

|This very night at one another's heels; |This very night at one another's heels; |

|And many of the consuls, rais'd and met, |And many of the consuls, awakened and meeting, |

|Are at the duke's already: you have been hotly call'd for; |Are at the duke's already. You have been hotly called for; |

|When, being not at your lodging to be found, |When, you weren’t found at your lodging, |

|The senate hath sent about three several quests |The senate sent about three different requests |

|To search you out. |To search for you. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|'Tis well I am found by you. |It is good that you found me. |

|I will but spend a word here in the house, |I will only say one more word here in the house, |

|And go with you. |And I’ll go with you. |

| | |

|[Exit.] |[Exit.] |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Ancient, what makes he here? |Ensign, what is he doing here? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land carack: |Faith, he has boarded a land warship tonight. |

|If it prove lawful prize, he's made forever. |If it turns out to be a legal prize, he's made forever. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|I do not understand. |I don’t understand. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|He's married. |He's married. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|To who? |To whom? |

| | |

|[Re-enter Othello.] |[Re-enter Othello.] |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Marry, to--Come, captain, will you go? |By Mary, to… Come, captain, will you go? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Have with you. |Let’s go. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Here comes another troop to seek for you. |Here comes another group to see for you. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|It is Brabantio.--General, be advis'd; |It is Brabantio. General, be careful; |

|He comes to bad intent. |He comes with bad intentions. |

| | |

|[Enter Brabantio, Roderigo, and Officers with torches and |[Enter Brabantio, Roderigo, and Officers with torches and |

|weapons.] |weapons.] |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Holla! stand there! |Stop! Stop there! |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Signior, it is the Moor. |Signior, it is the Moor. |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|Down with him, thief! |Down with him. Thief! |

| | |

|[They draw on both sides.] |[They draw on both sides.] |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|You, Roderigo! come, sir, I am for you. |You, Roderigo! Come, sir, I will fight you. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.-- |Put your bright swords away, because the dew will rust |

|Good signior, you shall more command with years |Them. Good Signior, you shall order more from me with |

|Than with your weapons. |Years than with your weapons. |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|O thou foul thief, where hast thou stow'd my daughter? |O you foul thief, where have you hidden my daughter? |

|Damn'd as thou art, thou hast enchanted her; |Damned as you are, you have cast a spell on her; |

|For I'll refer me to all things of sense, |Because I'll restore myself to all things of sense, |

|If she in chains of magic were not bound, |If she wasn’t bound in chains of magic, |

|Whether a maid so tender, fair, and happy, |Would a maid so tender, beautiful, and happy, |

|So opposite to marriage that she shunn'd |So opposed to marriage that she shunned |

|The wealthy curled darlings of our nation, |The wealthy, curled darlings of our country, |

|Would ever have, to incur a general mock, |Would she ever have, to merit a public joke, |

|Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom |Run from her father to the black bosom |

|Of such a thing as thou,--to fear, not to delight. |Of a thing such as you, to fear, not to delight in? |

|Judge me the world, if 'tis not gross in sense |The world will judge me, if it is not evil in feeling |

|That thou hast practis'd on her with foul charms; |That you have cast disgusting spells on her, |

|Abus'd her delicate youth with drugs or minerals |Abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals |

|That weaken motion:--I'll have't disputed on; |That knocked her out. I'll have it judged; |

|'Tis probable, and palpable to thinking. |It is probable and tangible to thinking. |

|I therefore apprehend and do attach thee |I therefore arrest and attack you |

|For an abuser of the world, a practiser |As an abuser of the world, a practitioner |

|Of arts inhibited and out of warrant.-- |Of the forbidden and illegal arts. |

|Lay hold upon him: if he do resist, |Seize him! If he resists, |

|Subdue him at his peril. |Subdue him at his peril. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Hold your hands, |Stop, |

|Both you of my inclining and the rest: |Both you my friends, and the rest. |

|Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it |Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it |

|Without a prompter.--Where will you that I go |Without a prompter. Where will you take me so that I can |

|To answer this your charge? |Answer this your charge? |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|To prison; till fit time |To prison until the right time |

|Of law and course of direct session |Of law and course of justice |

|Call thee to answer. |Call you to answer. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|What if I do obey? |What if I obey? |

|How may the duke be therewith satisfied, |How may the duke be satisfied with that, |

|Whose messengers are here about my side, |Whose messengers are here by my side, |

|Upon some present business of the state, |On some urgent business of the state, |

|To bring me to him? |To bring me to him? |

| | |

|FIRST OFFICER. |FIRST OFFICER. |

|'Tis true, most worthy signior; |It is true, very worthy Signior; |

|The duke's in council, and your noble self, |The duke's in council, and your noble self, |

|I am sure, is sent for. |I am sure, is sent for. |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|How! the duke in council! |What! The duke in council! |

|In this time of the night!--Bring him away: |AT this time of the night! Take him away. |

|Mine's not an idle cause: the duke himself, |Mine's not an trivial matter. The duke himself, |

|Or any of my brothers of the state, |Or any of my brothers of the state, |

|Cannot but feel this wrong as 'twere their own; |Can only feel this wrong as if it were their own; |

|For if such actions may have passage free, |Because if such actions may have passage free, |

|Bond slaves and pagans shall our statesmen be. |Bond slaves and pagans shall be our statesmen. |

| | |

|[Exeunt.] |[Exeunt.] |

Act I, Scene 3

|Venice. A council chamber. |Venice. A council chamber. |

| | |

|[The Duke and Senators sitting at a table; Officers attending.] |[The Duke and Senators sitting at a table; Officers attending.] |

| | |

|DUKE. |DUKE. |

|There is no composition in these news |There is no written in this news |

|That gives them credit. |That makes them believable. |

| | |

|FIRST SENATOR. |FIRST SENATOR. |

|Indeed, they are disproportion'd; |Indeed, they are out of proportion; |

|My letters say a hundred and seven galleys. |My letters say a hundred and seven galleys. |

| | |

|DUKE. |DUKE. |

|And mine a hundred and forty. |And mine a hundred and forty. |

| | |

|SECOND SENATOR. |SECOND SENATOR. |

|And mine two hundred: |And mine two hundred. |

|But though they jump not on a just account,-- |But although they don’t give a true account, |

|As in these cases, where the aim reports, |As in these cases, where the goal tells the story, |

|'Tis oft with difference,--yet do they all confirm |It is often with differences. Still they all confirm |

|A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus. |A Turkish fleet, and sailing to Cyprus. |

| | |

|DUKE. |DUKE. |

|Nay, it is possible enough to judgement: |No, it is accurate enough to judge. |

|I do not so secure me in the error, |I’m not so convinced of the error, |

|But the main article I do approve |But I do believe the report’s intentions |

|In fearful sense. |In fearful sense. |

| | |

|SAILOR. |SAILOR. |

|[Within.] What, ho! what, ho! what, ho! |[Within.] What, ho! what, ho! what, ho! |

| | |

|FIRST OFFICER. |FIRST OFFICER. |

|A messenger from the galleys. |A messenger from the galleys. |

| | |

|[Enter a Sailor.] |[Enter a Sailor.] |

| | |

|DUKE. |DUKE. |

|Now,--what's the business? |Now, what's the latest? |

| | |

|SAILOR. |SAILOR. |

|The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes; |The Turkish armies are headed for Rhodes; |

|So was I bid report here to the state |So I was asked to report here to the state |

|By Signior Angelo. |By Signior Angelo. |

| | |

|DUKE. |DUKE. |

|How say you by this change? |What do you say about this change? |

| | |

|FIRST SENATOR. |SENATOR. |

|This cannot be, |This cannot be, |

|By no assay of reason: 'tis a pageant |By any test of reason. It is a parade |

|To keep us in false gaze. When we consider |To trick us into false vision. When we consider |

|The importancy of Cyprus to the Turk; |The importance of Cyprus to the Turks, |

|And let ourselves again but understand |And let ourselves again only understand |

|That, as it more concerns the Turk than Rhodes, |That, as it more concerns the Turks than Rhodes, |

|So may he with more facile question bear it, |The Turks may bear it with easier question, |

|For that it stands not in such warlike brace, |Because it is not in such warlike position, |

|But altogether lacks the abilities |But altogether lacks the abilities |

|That Rhodes is dress'd in. If we make thought of this, |That Rhodes is dressed in. If we think about this, |

|We must not think the Turk is so unskilful |We must not think the Turks are so unskillful |

|To leave that latest which concerns him first; |To leave which concerns them first to the last, |

|Neglecting an attempt of ease and gain, |Neglecting a try for ease and gain, |

|To wake and wage a danger profitless. |To wake and wage a profitless danger. |

| | |

|DUKE. |DUKE. |

|Nay, in all confidence, he's not for Rhodes. |No, in all confidence, the Turks are not going to Rhodes. |

| | |

|FIRST OFFICER. |FIRST OFFICER. |

|Here is more news. |Here is more news. |

| | |

|[Enter a Messenger.] |[Enter a Messenger.] |

| | |

|MESSENGER. |MESSENGER. |

|The Ottomites, reverend and gracious, |The Ottoman, reverend and gracious, |

|Steering with due course toward the isle of Rhodes, |Steering with due course toward the isle of Rhodes, |

|Have there injointed them with an after fleet. |Have joined a later fleet there with them. |

| | |

|FIRST SENATOR. |FIRST SENATOR. |

|Ay, so I thought.--How many, as you guess? |Yes, so I thought. How many, do you guess? |

| | |

|MESSENGER. |MESSENGER. |

|Of thirty sail: and now they do re-stem |About thirty ships. And now they returned via |

|Their backward course, bearing with frank appearance |Their backward course, bearing, with frank appearance, |

|Their purposes toward Cyprus.--Signior Montano, |Toward Cyprus. Signior Montano, |

|Your trusty and most valiant servitor, |Your trusty and very valiant servant, |

|With his free duty recommends you thus, |Salutes you like this, with his free duty, |

|And prays you to believe him. |And begs you to believe him. |

| | |

|DUKE. |DUKE. |

|'Tis certain, then, for Cyprus.-- |It is certain, then, for Cyprus. |

|Marcus Luccicos, is not he in town? |Marcus Luccicos, isn’t he in town? |

| | |

|FIRST SENATOR. |FIRST SENATOR. |

|He's now in Florence. |He's now in Florence. |

| | |

|DUKE. |DUKE. |

|Write from us to him; post-post-haste despatch. |Write to him from us; send it very, very quickly. |

| | |

|FIRST SENATOR. |FIRST SENATOR. |

|Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor. |Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor. |

| | |

|[Enter Brabantio, Othello, Iago, Roderigo, and Officers.] |[Enter Brabantio, Othello, Iago, Roderigo, and Officers.] |

| | |

|DUKE. |DUKE. |

|Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you |Valiant Othello, we must straight send you |

|Against the general enemy Ottoman.-- |Against the general enemy Ottoman. |

| | |

|[To Brabantio.] |[To Brabantio.] |

| | |

|I did not see you; welcome, gentle signior; |I didn’t see you; welcome, gentle Signior; |

|We lack'd your counsel and your help to-night. |We missed your advice and your help tonight. |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRAABANTIO. |

|So did I yours. Good your grace, pardon me; |And I missed yours. Your good grace, pardon me; |

|Neither my place, nor aught I heard of business |Neither my place or anything I have heard of business |

|Hath rais'd me from my bed; nor doth the general care |Has gotten me out of bed. Nor does public safety |

|Take hold on me; for my particular grief |Concern me, because my particular grief |

|Is of so flood-gate and o'erbearing nature |Is of so massive and overbearing nature |

|That it engluts and swallows other sorrows, |That it engulfs and swallows other sorrows, |

|And it is still itself. |And it is still itself. |

| | |

|DUKE. |DUKE. |

|Why, what's the matter? |Why, what's the matter? |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|My daughter! O, my daughter! |My daughter! O, my daughter! |

| | |

|DUKE and SENATORS. |DUKE and SENATORS. |

|Dead? |Dead? |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|Ay, to me; |Yes, to me; |

|She is abused, stol'n from me, and corrupted |She is abused, stolen from me, and corrupted |

|By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks; |By spells and medicines bought of false medicine men |

|For nature so preposterously to err, |Because, in order for nature to make such a |

|Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense, |preposterous Mistake, being not deficient, blind, or crazy, |

|Sans witchcraft could not. |It couldn’t be done without witchcraft. |

| | |

|DUKE. |DUKE. |

|Whoe'er he be that, in this foul proceeding, |Whoever he is that, in this disgusting event, |

|Hath thus beguiled your daughter of herself, |Has tricked your daughter of herself like this, |

|And you of her, the bloody book of law |And you of her, the bloody book of law |

|You shall yourself read in the bitter letter |You shall read yourself to the bitter letter of it |

|After your own sense; yea, though our proper son |As you see fit. Yes, although our own son |

|Stood in your action. |Stood before you. |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|Humbly I thank your grace. |Humbly I thank your grace. |

|Here is the man, this Moor; whom now, it seems, |Here is the man, this Moor; who now, it seems, |

|Your special mandate for the state affairs |Has been brought here by |

|Hath hither brought. |Your special mandate for the state affairs. |

| | |

|DUKE and SENATORS. |DUKE and SENATORS. |

|We are very sorry for't. |We are very sorry for it . |

| | |

|DUKE. |DUKE. |

|[To Othello.] What, in your own part, can you say to this? |[To Othello.] What, in your own part, can you say to this? |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|Nothing, but this is so. |Nothing, but that this is so. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, |Very potent, grave, and reverend signiors, |

|My very noble and approv'd good masters,-- |My very noble and approved good masters, |

|That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter, |That I have taken away this old man's daughter, |

|It is most true; true, I have married her: |Is very true; true, I have married her. |

|The very head and front of my offending |The very top and bottom of my crime |

|Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech, |Is this big, no more. I don’t speak well, |

|And little bless'd with the soft phrase of peace; |And I am little blessed with the soft phrase of peace |

|For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith, |Because, since these arms of mine were seven years' |

|Till now some nine moons wasted, they have us'd |old, until now some nine months past, they have used |

|Their dearest action in the tented field; |Their dearest actions on the battlefield; |

|And little of this great world can I speak, |And I can speak little of this great world, |

|More than pertains to feats of broil and battle; |Only what relates to feats of war and battle; |

|And therefore little shall I grace my cause |And therefore I shall grace my cause little |

|In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience, |By speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience, |

|I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver |I will deliver a round truthful tale |

|Of my whole course of love: what drugs, what charms, |Of my whole course of love, by what drugs, what charms, |

|What conjuration, and what mighty magic,-- |What invocation, and what mighty magic, |

|For such proceeding I am charged withal,-- |Because I am charged with such crimes, |

|I won his daughter. |I won his daughter. |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|A maiden never bold: |A maiden never bold, |

|Of spirit so still and quiet that her motion |Of a spirit so still and quiet that she blushed at her own |

|Blush'd at herself; and she,--in spite of nature, |Movements; and she, in spite of nature, |

|Of years, of country, credit, everything,-- |Of years, of country, reputation, everything, |

|To fall in love with what she fear'd to look on! |To fall in love with what she feared to look at! |

|It is judgement maim'd and most imperfect |It is a judgment maimed and very imperfect |

|That will confess perfection so could err |That will confess perfection could be so wrong, |

|Against all rules of nature; and must be driven |Against all rules of nature; and it must be driven |

|To find out practices of cunning hell, |To find out practices of cunning hell, |

|Why this should be. I therefore vouch again, |Why this should be. I therefore testify again, |

|That with some mixtures powerful o'er the blood, |That he worked on her with some mixtures powerful over |

|Or with some dram conjur'd to this effect, |the blood, |

|He wrought upon her. |Or with some dram that produced this effect. |

| | |

|DUKE. |DUKE. |

|To vouch this is no proof; |To testify is not proof, |

|Without more wider and more overt test |Without wider and more open tests |

|Than these thin habits and poor likelihoods |Than these thin habits and poor probabilities |

|Of modern seeming do prefer against him. |Of modern liking prefer against him. |

| | |

|FIRST SENATOR. |FIRST SENATOR. |

|But, Othello, speak: |But, Othello, speak. |

|Did you by indirect and forced courses |Did you, by indirect and forced methods, |

|Subdue and poison this young maid's affections? |Subdue and poison this young maid's affections? |

|Or came it by request, and such fair question |Or did she ask for them, with such a beautiful question |

|As soul to soul affordeth? |As soul to soul allows? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I do beseech you, |I beg you, |

|Send for the lady to the Sagittary, |Send to the Sagittary Inn for the lady, |

|And let her speak of me before her father. |And let her speak of me before her father. |

|If you do find me foul in her report, |If you find me evil after hearing her, |

|The trust, the office I do hold of you, |The trust, the office I hold of you, |

|Not only take away, but let your sentence |Not only take away, but also let your sentence |

|Even fall upon my life. |Fall even on my life. |

| | |

|DUKE. |DUKE. |

|Fetch Desdemona hither. |Fetch Desdemona here. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Ancient, conduct them; you best know the place.-- |Ensign, go with them; you know the place best. |

| | |

|[Exeunt Iago and Attendants.] |[Exeunt Iago and Attendants.] |

| | |

|And, till she come, as truly as to heaven |And, until she comes, as truly as |

|I do confess the vices of my blood, |I confess the vices of my blood to heaven, |

|So justly to your grave ears I'll present |So I'll present truthfully, to your hearing, |

|How I did thrive in this fair lady's love, |How I thrived in this beautiful lady's love, |

|And she in mine. |And she in mine. |

| | |

|DUKE. |DUKE. |

|Say it, Othello. |Tell it, Othello. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Her father lov'd me; oft invited me; |Her father loved me, often invited me; |

|Still question'd me the story of my life, |Still questioned me the story of my life, |

|From year to year,--the battles, sieges, fortunes, |From year to year, the battles, sieges, fortunes, |

|That I have pass'd. |That I have been in. |

|I ran it through, even from my boyish days |I ran through it, even from my childhood days |

|To the very moment that he bade me tell it: |To the very moment that he asked me tell it. |

|Wherein I spake of most disastrous chances, |I spoke of very disastrous bad luck, |

|Of moving accidents by flood and field; |Of moving accidents by flood and field; |

|Of hair-breadth scapes i' the imminent deadly breach; |Of hair-breadth escapes in the imminent deadly battle; |

|Of being taken by the insolent foe, |Of being taken prisoner by the strange enemy, |

|And sold to slavery; of my redemption thence, |And sold into slavery; of my redemption then, |

|And portance in my travels' history: |And behavior in the story of my travels. |

|Wherein of antres vast and deserts idle, |It was my habit to speak about vast caves and idle |

|Rough quarries, rocks, and hills whose heads touch heaven, |Deserts, rough quarries, rocks, and hills whose heads |

|It was my hint to speak,--such was the process; |Touch heaven. That was the way it went; |

|And of the Cannibals that each other eat, |And about the Cannibals that eat each other, |

|The Anthropophagi, and men whose heads |The Man-Eaters, and men whose heads |

|Do grow beneath their shoulders. This to hear |Grow beneath their shoulders. To hear this, |

|Would Desdemona seriously incline: |Desdemona would seriously listen, |

|But still the house affairs would draw her thence; |But still the house affairs would draw her away, |

|Which ever as she could with haste despatch, |Which she would finish in a great hurry, and |

|She'd come again, and with a greedy ear |She’d come again, and eat up my stories |

|Devour up my discourse; which I observing, |With a greedy ear, which I observing, |

|Took once a pliant hour; and found good means |Once I took a rare hour; and found good ways |

|To draw from her a prayer of earnest heart |To draw a prayer of earnest enthusiasm from her |

|That I would all my pilgrimage dilate, |So that I would lengthen all my stories, |

|Whereof by parcels she had something heard, |Which she had already heard bits and pieces of, |

|But not intentively; I did consent; |But not all of them. I agreed |

|And often did beguile her of her tears, |And often I cheated her of her tears, |

|When I did speak of some distressful stroke |When I spoke of some distressful event |

|That my youth suffer'd. My story being done, |I had suffered in my youth. My story being done, |

|She gave me for my pains a world of sighs: |She gave me a world of sighs for my pains. |

|She swore,--in faith, 'twas strange, 'twas passing strange; |She swore, really, it was strange, it was passing strange; |

|'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful: |It was pitiful, it was wondrously pitiful. |

|She wish'd she had not heard it, yet she wish'd |She wished she had not heard it, still she wished |

|That heaven had made her such a man: she thank'd me; |That heaven made her such a man. She thanked me; |

|And bade me, if I had a friend that lov'd her, |And begged me, that if I had a friend that loved her, |

|I should but teach him how to tell my story, |I should only teach him how to tell my story, |

|And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake: |And that would court her. On this hint I spoke. |

|She lov'd me for the dangers I had pass'd; |She loved me for the dangers I had passed; |

|And I lov'd her that she did pity them. |And I loved her that she pitied them. |

|This only is the witchcraft I have us'd:-- |This is the only witchcraft I have used. |

|Here comes the lady; let her witness it. |Here comes the lady; let her verify it. |

| | |

|[Enter Desdemona, Iago, and Attendants.] |[Enter Desdemona, Iago, and Attendants.] |

| | |

|DUKE. |DUKE. |

|I think this tale would win my daughter too.-- |I think this tale would win my daughter too. |

|Good Brabantio, |Good Brabantio, |

|Take up this mangled matter at the best. |Consider this mess at its best. |

|Men do their broken weapons rather use |Men would rather use their broken weapons |

|Than their bare hands. |Than their bare hands. |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|I pray you, hear her speak: |I beg you, hear her speak. |

|If she confess that she was half the wooer, |If she confesses that she was half the lover, |

|Destruction on my head, if my bad blame |Destruction on my head, if I falsely |

|Light on the man!--Come hither, gentle mistress: |Accuse the man! Come here, gentle mistress. |

|Do you perceive in all this noble company |Do you see in all this noble company |

|Where most you owe obedience? |To whom you owe the very obedience? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|My noble father, |My noble father, |

|I do perceive here a divided duty: |I see a divided duty here. |

|To you I am bound for life and education; |To you I am bound for my life and education; |

|My life and education both do learn me |My life and education both teach me |

|How to respect you; you are the lord of duty,-- |How to respect you; you are the lord of duty, |

|I am hitherto your daughter: but here's my husband; |I am therefore your daughter. But here's my husband; |

|And so much duty as my mother show'd |And as much duty as my mother showed |

|To you, preferring you before her father, |To you, preferring you before her father, |

|So much I challenge that I may profess |So much I dispute that I may profess |

|Due to the Moor, my lord. |Due to the Moor, my lord. |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|God be with you!--I have done.-- |God be with you! I’m done. |

|Please it your grace, on to the state affairs: |Please your grace, go on with state affairs. |

|I had rather to adopt a child than get it.-- |I’d rather to adopt a child than father it. |

|Come hither, Moor: |Come here, Moor. |

|I here do give thee that with all my heart |I here give you that with all my heart |

|Which, but thou hast already, with all my heart |That, except you already have it, I would keep from you |

|I would keep from thee.--For your sake, jewel, |With all my heart . For your sake, jewel, |

|I am glad at soul I have no other child; |I am glad at soul I have no other child, |

|For thy escape would teach me tyranny, |Because your escape would teach me tyranny, |

|To hang clogs on them.--I have done, my lord. |To hang logs on them. I’m done, my lord. |

| | |

|DUKE. |DUKE. |

|Let me speak like yourself; and lay a sentence |Let me speak as you would; and lay a sentence |

|Which, as a grise or step, may help these lovers |Which, as a grace or step, may help these lovers |

|Into your favour. |Into your favor. |

|When remedies are past, the griefs are ended |When remedies are too late, griefs are ended |

|By seeing the worst, which late on hopes depended. |By seeing the worst, which hopes lately depended on. |

|To mourn a mischief that is past and gone |To mourn mischief that is over and gone |

|Is the next way to draw new mischief on. |Is the next way to create new mischief. |

|What cannot be preserved when fortune takes, |What cannot be preserved when fortune takes it, |

|Patience her injury a mockery makes. |Patience makes a mockery of her injury. |

|The robb'd that smiles steals something from the thief; |The victim that smiles steals something from the thief; |

|He robs himself that spends a bootless grief. |He robs himself that spends a unprofitable grief. |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|So let the Turk of Cyprus us beguile; |So let the Turk of Cyprus cheat us; |

|We lose it not so long as we can smile; |We don’t lose it as long as we can smile; |

|He bears the sentence well, that nothing bears |He takes the sentence well, that shows nothing |

|But the free comfort which from thence he hears; |But the free comfort which he hears from it; |

|But he bears both the sentence and the sorrow |Only he bears both the sentence and the sorrow |

|That, to pay grief, must of poor patience borrow. |That must be borrowed from poor patience to pay grief. |

|These sentences, to sugar or to gall, |These sentences, to sweetness or to bitterness, |

|Being strong on both sides, are equivocal: |Being strong on both sides, are equal. |

|But words are words; I never yet did hear |But words are words. I haven’t yet heard |

|That the bruis'd heart was pierced through the ear.-- |That the bruised heart was pierced through the ear. |

|I humbly beseech you, proceed to the affairs of state. |I humbly beg you, proceed to the affairs of state. |

| | |

|DUKE. |DUKE. |

|The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for Cyprus.-- |The Turk with very mighty preparation makes for Cyprus. |

|Othello, the fortitude of the place is best known to you; and |Othello, the strength of the place is best known to you; |

|though we have there a substitute of most allowed sufficiency, |and although we have there a force that is more than |

|yet opinion, a sovereign mistress of effects, throws a more safer |adequate, yet public opinion, a sovereign mistress of |

|voice on you: you must therefore be content to slubber the gloss |effects, say we need a safer voice, like you. You must |

|of your new fortunes with this more stubborn and boisterous |therefore be content to conceal the gloss of your new |

|expedition. |fortunes with this more stubborn and violent expedition. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|The tyrant custom, most grave senators, |The dictator, custom, very grave senators, |

|Hath made the flinty and steel couch of war |Has made the stone and steel couch of war |

|My thrice-driven bed of down: I do agnize |My feather bed three times. I recognize |

|A natural and prompt alacrity |A natural and prompt speed that |

|I find in hardness; and do undertake |I find in hardness, and undertake |

|These present wars against the Ottomites. |These present wars against the Ottoman. |

|Most humbly, therefore, bending to your state, |Very humbly, therefore, bowing to your state, |

|I crave fit disposition for my wife; |I’d like proper provisions for my wife, |

|Due reference of place and exhibition; |Proper respect for housing and subsidy, |

|With such accommodation and besort |With such accommodation and suitable company |

|As levels with her breeding. |As is equal with her breeding. |

| | |

|DUKE. |DUKE. |

|If you please, |If you please, |

|Be't at her father's. |Let it be at her father's. |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|I'll not have it so. |I won’t have it. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Nor I. |Nor I. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Nor I. I would not there reside, |Nor I. I would not live there, |

|To put my father in impatient thoughts, |To put my father into violent thoughts, |

|By being in his eye. Most gracious duke, |By being always in his sight. Very gracious duke, |

|To my unfolding lend a gracious ear; |Listen with a gracious ear to my request, |

|And let me find a charter in your voice |And let me find a contract in your voice |

|To assist my simpleness. |To assist my simpleness. |

| | |

|DUKE. |DUKE. |

|What would you, Desdemona? |What would you have, Desdemona? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|That I did love the Moor to live with him, |That I loved the Moor to live with him, |

|My downright violence and storm of fortunes |My downright violence and storm of fortunes |

|May trumpet to the world: my heart's subdu'd |May shout to the world. My heart's overcome, |

|Even to the very quality of my lord: |Even to the very quality of my lord. |

|I saw Othello's visage in his mind; |I saw Othello's face in his mind, |

|And to his honors and his valiant parts |And I consecrated my soul and fortunes |

|Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate. |To his honors and his valiant parts. |

|So that, dear lords, if I be left behind, |So much so, dear lords, if I am left behind, |

|A moth of peace, and he go to the war, |A moth of peace, and he goes to the war, |

|The rites for which I love him are bereft me, |The rites for which I love him I am deprived of, |

|And I a heavy interim shall support |And I shall endure a sad interval caused |

|By his dear absence. Let me go with him. |By his dear absence. Let me go with him. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Let her have your voices. |Let her have your votes. |

|Vouch with me, heaven, I therefore beg it not |Be my witness, heaven, I do not beg it |

|To please the palate of my appetite; |To please the palate of my appetite, |

|Nor to comply with heat,--the young affects |Or to comply with passion, the young effects of it |

|In me defunct,--and proper satisfaction; |Dead in me, and proper satisfaction; |

|But to be free and bounteous to her mind: |But to be free and generous to her mind. |

|And heaven defend your good souls, that you think |And heaven defend your good souls, that you think |

|I will your serious and great business scant |I will neglect your serious and great business |

|For she is with me: no, when light-wing'd toys |Because she is with me. No, when light-winged toys |

|Of feather'd Cupid seel with wanton dullness |Of feathered Cupid blind my knowing and |

|My speculative and offic'd instruments, |Usual instruments of sight with unruly dullness, |

|That my disports corrupt and taint my business, |That if my games corrupt and stain my work, |

|Let housewives make a skillet of my helm, |Let housewives make a skillet of my helmet, |

|And all indign and base adversities |And all indignities and base adversities |

|Make head against my estimation! |Make a boil of my reputation! |

| | |

|DUKE. |DUKE. |

|Be it as you shall privately determine, |Let it be as you shall determine privately, |

|Either for her stay or going: the affair cries haste, |Either for her staying or going. The affair cries for haste, |

|And speed must answer it. |And speed must answer it. |

| | |

|FIRST SENATOR. |FIRST SENATOR. |

|You must away to-night. |You must go away tonight. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|With all my heart. |With all my heart. |

| | |

|DUKE. |DUKE. |

|At nine i' the morning here we'll meet again.-- |At nine in the morning, we'll meet here again. |

|Othello, leave some officer behind, |Othello, leave some officer behind, |

|And he shall our commission bring to you; |And he shall bring our commission to you, |

|With such things else of quality and respect |With such things of quality and respect |

|As doth import you. |As are important to you. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|So please your grace, my ancient,-- |So please your grace, I assign my wife |

|A man he is of honesty and trust,-- |To the care of my ensign, |

|To his conveyance I assign my wife, |A man of honesty and trust, |

|With what else needful your good grace shall think |With whatever else your good grace shall think is |

|To be sent after me. |necessary to be sent after me. |

| | |

|DUKE. |DUKE. |

|Let it be so.-- |Let it be so. |

|Good night to everyone.--[To Brabantio.] And, noble signior, |Good night to everyone. [To Brabantio.] And, noble Signior, |

|If virtue no delighted beauty lack, |If virtue is missing delightful beauty , |

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

| | |

|FIRST SENATOR. |FIRST SENATOR. |

|Adieu, brave Moor; use Desdemona well. |Goodbye, brave Moor; be kind to Desdemona. |

| | |

|BRABANTIO. |BRABANTIO. |

|Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see: |Watch her, Moor, if you have eyes to see. |

|She has deceiv'd her father, and may thee. |She has deceived her father, and may deceive you. |

| | |

|[Exeunt Duke, Senators, Officers. &c.] |[Exeunt Duke, Senators, Officers, etc.] |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|My life upon her faith!--Honest Iago, |My life on her faith in me! Honest Iago, |

|My Desdemona must I leave to thee: |I must leave my Desdemona to you. |

|I pr'ythee, let thy wife attend on her; |I beg you, let your wife attend on her; |

|And bring them after in the best advantage.-- |And bring them in the best way after I leave. |

|Come, Desdemona, I have but an hour |Come, Desdemona, I have only an hour |

|Of love, of worldly matters and direction, |Of love, of worldly matters and direction, |

|To spend with thee: we must obey the time. |To spend with you. We must obey the time. |

| | |

|[Exeunt Othello and Desdemona.] |[Exeunt Othello and Desdemona.] |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Iago,-- |Iago? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|What say'st thou, noble heart? |What do you say, noble heart? |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|What will I do, thinkest thou? |What will I do, do you think? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Why, go to bed and sleep. |Why, go to bed and sleep. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|I will incontinently drown myself. |I will drown myself immediately. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|If thou dost, I shall never love thee after. Why, thou silly |If you do, I shall never love you after. Why, you silly |

|gentleman! |gentleman! |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|It is silliness to live when to live is torment; and |It is silliness to live when to live is torment; and then we |

|then have we a prescription to die when death is our physician. |have a prescription to die when death is our physician. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|O villainous! I have looked upon the world for four times |O villainous! I have looked on the world for twenty eight |

|seven years, and since I could distinguish betwixt a |years, and since I could distinguish between a benefit |

|benefit and an injury, I never found man that knew how to |and a disadvantage, I’ve never found man that knew how |

|love himself. Ere I would say I would drown myself for the |to love himself. Before I would say I would drown myself |

|love of a Guinea-hen, I would change my humanity with a |for the love of a chicken, I would exchange my humanity |

|baboon. |with a baboon. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|What should I do? I confess it is my shame to be so fond, |What should I do? I confess it is my shame to be so |

|but it is not in my virtue to amend it. |crazy in love, but it is not in my virtue to fix it. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Virtue! a fig! 'Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus. |Virtue! A fig! It is in ourselves that we are like this or like |

|Our bodies are gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners; |that. Our bodies are gardens, to the which our wills are |

|so that if we will plant nettles or sow lettuce, |gardeners. If we will plant stinging plants or sow lettuce, |

|set hyssop and weed up thyme, supply it with one gender |plant hyssop and dig up thyme, supply it with only one |

|of herbs or distract it with many, either to have it sterile |kind of herbs or plant it with many, either to have it |

|with idleness or manured with industry; why, the power |wild with inattention or manured with hard work— why, the |

|and corrigible authority of this lies in our wills. If the |power and weak authority of this lies in our wills. If the |

|balance of our lives had not one scale of reason to poise |balance of our lives had not one scale of reason to |

|another of sensuality, the blood and baseness of our |balance another of sensuality, the blood and baseness of |

|natures would conduct us to most preposterous |our natures would lead us to very preposterous |

|conclusions: But we have reason to cool our raging |conclusions. But we have reason to cool our raging |

|motions, our carnal stings, our unbitted lusts; whereof I |motions, our sexual stings, our forbidden lusts, which as I |

|take this, that you call love, to be a sect or scion. |take this thing that you call love, to be a class or father. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|It cannot be. |It cannot be. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission of the |It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission of the |

|will. Come, be a man: drown thyself! drown cats and |will. Come, be a man. drown yourself! Drown cats and |

|blind puppies. I have professed me thy friend, and I |blind puppies. I have professed myself to be your friend, |

|confess me knit to thy deserving with cables of |and I confess I knit with cables of lasting toughness to |

|perdurable toughness; I could never better stead thee |your merit. I could never be a better friend to you than |

|than now. Put money in thy purse; follow thou the wars; |now. Put money in your purse; follow the wars; defeat |

|defeat thy favour with an usurped beard; I say, put |your mood with an false beard; I say, put |

|money in thy purse. It cannot be that Desdemona should |money in your purse. It can’t be that Desdemona should |

|long continue her love to the Moor,--put money in thy |continue her love to the Moor for long— put money in |

|purse,--nor he his to her: it was a violent commencement, |your purse— nor he his love to her. It had a violent |

|and thou shalt see an answerable sequestration;--put but |beginning, and you shall see an answerable separation— |

|money in thy purse.--These Moors are changeable in |put only money in your purse.—These Moors are |

|their wills:--fill thy purse with money: the food that to him |changeable in their wills. Fill your purse with money. The |

|now is as luscious as locusts shall be to him shortly as |food that is now as luscious as locusts to him shall be |

|acerb as the coloquintida. She must change for youth: |shortly be as bitter as the bitter apple drug. She must |

|when she is sated with his body, she will find the error of |change for youth. When she is full with his body, |

|her choice: she must have change, she must: therefore |she will see the error of her choice. She must have change, she |

|put money in thy purse.--If thou wilt needs damn thyself, |must. Therefore, put money in your purse. If you must |

|do it a more delicate way than drowning. Make all the |damn yourself, do it a more delicate way than drowning. |

|money thou canst; if sanctimony and a frail vow betwixt |Make all the money you can; if holiness and a frail vow |

|an erring barbarian and a supersubtle Venetian be not |between an erring barbarian and a super-subtle Venetian |

|too hard for my wits and all the tribe of hell, thou shalt |are not too hard for my wits and all the tribe of hell, you |

|enjoy her; therefore make money. A pox of drowning |shall enjoy her. Therefore make money. A pox on |

|thyself! it is clean out of the way: seek thou rather to be |drowning yourself! It is clean out of the way. Rather seek |

|hanged in compassing thy joy than to be drowned and go |to be hanged in planning your joy than to be drowned |

|without her. |and go without her. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Wilt thou be fast to my hopes, if I depend on the issue? |Will you be committed to my hopes, if I depend on you? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Thou art sure of me:--go, make money:--I have told thee |You are sure of me. Go, make money. I have told you |

|often, and I re-tell thee again and again, I hate the Moor: |often, and I’ll tell you again and again, I hate the Moor. |

|my cause is hearted; thine hath no less reason. Let us be |My cause is fixed in my heart; yours has no less reason. |

|conjunctive in our revenge against him: if thou canst |Let us be united in our revenge against him. If you can |

|cuckold him, thou dost thyself a pleasure, me a sport. |get his wife, you do yourself a pleasure, me a sport. |

|There are many events in the womb of time which will be |There are many events in the womb of time which will be |

|delivered. Traverse; go; provide thy money. We will have |delivered. Go ahead; go; provide your money. We will |

|more of this to-morrow. Adieu. |talk about this more of this tomorrow. Goodbye. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Where shall we meet i' the morning? |Where shall we meet in the morning? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|At my lodging. |At my lodging. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|I'll be with thee betimes. |I'll be with you soon. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Go to; farewell. Do you hear, Roderigo? |Go to; farewell. Do you hear me, Roderigo? |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|What say you? |What did you say? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|No more of drowning, do you hear? |No more about drowning, do you hear? |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|I am changed: I'll go sell all my land. |I am changed. I'll go sell all my land. |

| | |

|[Exit.] |[Exit.] |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Thus do I ever make my fool my purse; |This is the way I ever make my fool my purse; |

|For I mine own gain'd knowledge should profane |Because I should abuse my own gained knowledge |

|If I would time expend with such a snipe |If I would waste time with such a fool |

|But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor; |Only for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor; |

|And it is thought abroad that 'twixt my sheets |And it is widely thought that he has done my job |

|He has done my office: I know not if't be true; |Between my sheets. I don’t know if it is true; |

|But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, |But I will take it as a certainty just because of mere |

|Will do as if for surety. He holds me well, |Suspicion in that way. He trusts me well, |

|The better shall my purpose work on him. |The better my plan will work on him. |

|Cassio's a proper man: let me see now; |Cassio's a proper man. Let me see now, |

|To get his place, and to plume up my will |To get his place, and to congratulate myself |

|In double knavery,--How, how?--Let's see:-- |In double trickery, How, how? Let's see. |

|After some time, to abuse Othello's ear |After some time, to whisper into Othello's ear |

|That he is too familiar with his wife:-- |That Cassio is too familiar with his wife. |

|He hath a person, and a smooth dispose, |He has a person, and a smooth disposition, |

|To be suspected; fram'd to make women false. |To be suspected, framed to make women lie. |

|The Moor is of a free and open nature, |The Moor is of a free and open nature, |

|That thinks men honest that but seem to be so; |That thinks men are honest that only seem to be so; |

|And will as tenderly be led by the nose |And will as tenderly be led by the nose |

|As asses are. |As asses are. |

|I have't;--it is engender'd:--hell and night |I have it! It is born. Hell and night |

|Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light. |Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light. |

| | |

|[Exit.] |[Exit.] |

Othello | Act 2, Scene 1

|A seaport in Cyprus. A Platform. |A seaport in Cyprus. A Platform. |

| | |

|[Enter Montano and two Gentlemen.] |[Enter Montano and two Gentlemen.] |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|What from the cape can you discern at sea? |What can you discern at sea from the cape? |

| | |

|FIRST GENTLEMAN. |FIRST GENTLEMAN. |

|Nothing at all: it is a high-wrought flood; |Nothing at all. It is a very excited flood; |

|I cannot, 'twixt the heaven and the main, |I cannot, between the sky and the land, |

|Descry a sail. |See a sail. |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|Methinks the wind hath spoke aloud at land; |I think the wind has spoken aloud to the land; |

|A fuller blast ne'er shook our battlements: |A fuller blast never shook our battlements. |

|If it hath ruffian'd so upon the sea, |If it has so blustered on the sea, |

|What ribs of oak, when mountains melt on them, |That what ribs of oak, when mountains melt on them, |

|Can hold the mortise? What shall we hear of this? |Can hold together? What shall we hear of this? |

| | |

|SECOND GENTLEMAN. |SECOND GENTLEMAN. |

|A segregation of the Turkish fleet: |A separation of the Turkish fleet. |

|For do but stand upon the foaming shore, |Because if you only stand on the foaming shore, |

|The chidden billow seems to pelt the clouds; |The scolded waves seem to hit the clouds; |

|The wind-shak'd surge, with high and monstrous main, |The wind-shaken surge, with high and monstrous open |

|Seems to cast water on the burning Bear, |sea, seems to cast water on the burning Bear-shaped |

|And quench the guards of the ever-fixed pole; |star, and quench the guards of the permanent North |

|I never did like molestation view |Pole. I never did like assaulting view |

|On the enchafed flood. |Of the irritated flood. |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|If that the Turkish fleet |If the Turkish fleet is not |

|Be not enshelter'd and embay'd, they are drown'd; |Sheltered and in a bay, they are drowned; |

|It is impossible to bear it out. |It is impossible to wait it out. |

| | |

|[Enter a third Gentleman.] |[Enter a third Gentleman.] |

| | |

|THIRD GENTLEMAN. |THIRD GENTLEMAN. |

|News, lads! our wars are done. |News, lads! Our wars are over. |

|The desperate tempest hath so bang'd the Turks |The desperate tempest has so banged the Turks |

|That their designment halts; a noble ship of Venice |That their undertaking is stopped. A noble ship of Venice |

|Hath seen a grievous wreck and sufferance |Has seen a terrible wreck and suffering |

|On most part of their fleet. |On the biggest part of their fleet. |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|How! is this true? |How! Is this true? |

| | |

|THIRD GENTLEMAN. |THIRD GENTLEMAN. |

|The ship is here put in, |The ship is put in here, |

|A Veronessa; Michael Cassio, |A Veronessa. Michael Cassio, |

|Lieutenant to the warlike Moor Othello, |Lieutenant to the warlike Moor Othello, |

|Is come on shore: the Moor himself's at sea, |Hass come on shore. The Moor himself is at sea, |

|And is in full commission here for Cyprus. |And has full orders here for Cyprus. |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|I am glad on't; 'tis a worthy governor. |I am glad of it. He is a worthy governor |

| | |

|THIRD GENTLEMAN. |THIRD GENTLEMAN. |

|But this same Cassio,--though he speak of comfort |But this same Cassio, although he speaks of comfort |

|Touching the Turkish loss,--yet he looks sadly, |Touching the Turkish loss, he still looks sad, |

|And prays the Moor be safe; for they were parted |And prays the Moor is safe, because they were parted |

|With foul and violent tempest. |With an evil and violent tempest. |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|Pray heavens he be; |Pray heavens he is, |

|For I have serv'd him, and the man commands |Because I have served him, and the man commands |

|Like a full soldier. Let's to the sea-side, ho! |Like a full soldier. Let's to the sea-side ho, |

|As well to see the vessel that's come in |As well to see the vessel that's come in |

|As to throw out our eyes for brave Othello, |As to search for brave Othello, |

|Even till we make the main and the aerial blue |Even until we make the open sea and the sky blue |

|An indistinct regard. |A dull care. |

| | |

|THIRD GENTLEMAN. |THIRD GENTLEMAN. |

|Come, let's do so; |Come, let's do so, |

|For every minute is expectancy |Because every minute is to expect |

|Of more arrivance. |More arrival. |

| | |

|[Enter Cassio.] |[Enter Cassio.] |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Thanks you, the valiant of this warlike isle, |Thank you, the valiant of this warlike isle, |

|That so approve the Moor! O, let the heavens |That so approve the Moor! O, let the heavens |

|Give him defence against the elements, |Give him defense against the elements, |

|For I have lost him on a dangerous sea! |Because I have lost him on a dangerous sea! |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|Is he well shipp'd? |Does he have a good ship? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|His bark is stoutly timber'd, and his pilot |His ship is heavily timbered, and his captain is |

|Of very expert and approv'd allowance; |Very experienced and has a good reputation; |

|Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death, |Therefore my hopes, not excessively fed to death, |

|Stand in bold cure. |Stand in heavy anxiety. |

| | |

|[Within.] A sail, a sail, a sail! |[Within.] A sail, a sail, a sail! |

| | |

|[Enter a fourth Gentleman.] |[Enter a fourth Gentleman.] |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|What noise? |What noise? |

| | |

|FOURTH GENTLEMAN. |FOURTH GENTLEMAN. |

|The town is empty; on the brow o' the sea |The town is empty; on the seashore |

|Stand ranks of people, and they cry, "A sail!" |Ranks of people stand, and they cry, "A sail!" |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|My hopes do shape him for the governor. |My hopes think it looks like the governor. |

| | |

|[Guns within.] |[Guns within.] |

| | |

|SECOND GENTLEMAN. |SECOND GENTLEMAN. |

|They do discharge their shot of courtesy: |They sound their shots out of courtesy. |

|Our friends at least. |Our friends at least. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|I pray you, sir, go forth, |I beg you, sir, go outside, |

|And give us truth who 'tis that is arriv'd. |And give us truth about who it is that has arrived. |

| | |

|SECOND GENTLEMAN. |SECOND GENTLEMAN. |

|I shall. |I shall. |

| | |

|[Exit.] |[Exit.] |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|But, good lieutenant, is your general wiv'd? |But, good lieutenant, is your general married? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Most fortunately: he hath achiev'd a maid |Very fortunately. He has married a maid |

|That paragons description and wild fame, |That defies description and wild reputation, |

|One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens, |One that surpasses the skills of fiery pens, |

|And in the essential vesture of creation |And in the essential show of creation |

|Does tire the ingener.-- |Tires the creator. |

| | |

|[Re-enter second Gentleman.] |[Re-enter second Gentleman.] |

| | |

|How now! who has put in? |How now! Who has put in? |

| | |

|SECOND GENTLEMAN. |SECOND GENTLEMAN. |

|'Tis one Iago, ancient to the general. |It is one Iago, ensign to the general. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Has had most favourable and happy speed: |He’s had very favorable and happy speed. |

|Tempests themselves, high seas, and howling winds, |Tempests themselves, high seas, and howling winds, |

|The gutter'd rocks, and congregated sands,-- |The guttered rocks, and congregated sands, |

|Traitors ensteep'd to clog the guiltless keel,-- |Traitors set on clogging up the innocent foundation, |

|As having sense of beauty, do omit |As having sense of beauty, omit |

|Their mortal natures, letting go safely by |Their mortal natures, letting go safely by |

|The divine Desdemona. |The divine Desdemona. |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|What is she? |Who is she? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|She that I spake of, our great captain's captain, |She that I spoke of, our great captain's captain, |

|Left in the conduct of the bold Iago; |Left in the company of the bold Iago, |

|Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts |Whose footing here occurs earlier than the seven nights |

|A se'nnight's speed.--Great Jove, Othello guard, |We thought it would take. Great Jove, guard Othello, |

|And swell his sail with thine own powerful breath, |And swell his sail with your own powerful breath, |

|That he may bless this bay with his tall ship, |That he may bless this bay with his tall ship, |

|Make love's quick pants in Desdemona's arms, |Make love's quick breaths in Desdemona's arms, |

|Give renew'd fire to our extincted spirits, |Give renewed fire to our dead spirits, |

|And bring all Cyprus comfort! O, behold, |And bring all Cyprus comfort! O, behold, |

| | |

|[Enter Desdemona, Emilia, Iago, Roderigo, and Attendants.] |[Enter Desdemona, Emilia, Iago, Roderigo, and Attendants.] |

| | |

|The riches of the ship is come on shore! |The riches of the ship is come on shore! |

|Ye men of Cyprus, let her have your knees.-- |You men of Cyprus, bend your knees. |

|Hall to thee, lady! and the grace of heaven, |Hall to you, lady! and the grace of heaven, |

|Before, behind thee, and on every hand, |Before you, behind you, and on every hand, |

|Enwheel thee round! |Surround you! |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|I thank you, valiant Cassio. |I thank you, valiant Cassio. |

|What tidings can you tell me of my lord? |What news can you tell me of my lord? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|He is not yet arrived nor know I aught |He is not yet arrived and I don’t know anything |

|But that he's well, and will be shortly here. |Only that he's well, and will be here shortly. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|O, but I fear--How lost you company? |O, but I fear how lost you each other? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|The great contention of the sea and skies |The great fight of the sea and skies |

|Parted our fellowship:--but, hark! a sail. |Separated our fellowship. Only, look! a sail. |

| | |

|[Within.] A sail, a sail! |[Within.] A sail, a sail! |

| | |

|[Guns within.] |[Guns within.] |

| | |

|SECOND GENTLEMAN. |SECOND GENTLEMAN. |

|They give their greeting to the citadel: |They give their greeting to the fortress. |

|This likewise is a friend. |This is also a friend. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|See for the news. |Look for the news. |

| | |

|[Exit Gentleman.] |[Exit Gentleman.] |

| | |

|Good ancient, you are welcome:--Welcome, mistress:-- |Good ensign, you are welcome. Welcome, mistress. |

|[To Emilia.] |[To Emilia.] |

|Let it not gall your patience, good Iago, |Don’t let it try your patience, good Iago, |

|That I extend my manners; 'tis my breeding |That I extend my manners. It is my breeding |

|That gives me this bold show of courtesy. |That gives me this bold show of courtesy. |

| | |

|[Kissing her.] |[Kissing her.] |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Sir, would she give you so much of her lips |Sir, I wish she would give you as much of her lips |

|As of her tongue she oft bestows on me, |As she often gives me of her tongu., |

|You'd have enough. |You'd have enough. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Alas, she has no speech. |Alas, she has nothing to say. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|In faith, too much; |In faith, too much to say; |

|I find it still when I have list to sleep: |I find she’s still talking when I am almost asleep. |

|Marry, before your ladyship, I grant, |By Mary, before your ladyship, I grant, |

|She puts her tongue a little in her heart, |She puts her voice a little in her heart, |

|And chides with thinking. |And scolds by thinking. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|You have little cause to say so. |You don’t have reasonto say so. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Come on, come on; you are pictures out of doors, |Come on, come on; you are pictures outdoors, bells in |

|Bells in your parlours, wild cats in your kitchens, |your parlors, wild cats in your kitchens, saints in your |

|Saints in your injuries, devils being offended, |injuries, devils being offended, players in your |

|Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds. |housewifery, and housewives in your beds. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|O, fie upon thee, slanderer! |O, damn you, slanderer! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk: |No, it’s true, or else I am a Turk. |

|You rise to play, and go to bed to work. |You wake up to play, and go to bed to work. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|You shall not write my praise. |You shall not write my praise. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|No, let me not. |No, don’t let me. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|What wouldst thou write of me, if thou shouldst praise me? |What would you write about me, if you should praise me? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|O gentle lady, do not put me to't; |O gentle lady, don’t ask me, |

|For I am nothing if not critical. |Because I am nothing if not critical. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Come on, assay--There's one gone to the harbor? |Come on, try it. There's one gone to the harbor? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Ay, madam. |Yes, madam. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|I am not merry; but I do beguile |I am not merry; but I cheat |

|The thing I am, by seeming otherwise.-- |The thing I am by seeming otherwise. |

|Come, how wouldst thou praise me? |Come, how would you praise me? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I am about it; but, indeed, my invention |I am about it; but, indeed, my imagination |

|Comes from my pate as birdlime does from frize,-- |Comes from my head as bird trap does from cloth, |

|It plucks out brains and all: but my Muse labours, |It plucks out brains and all. But my inspiration works, |

|And thus she is deliver'd. |And she is delivered like this. |

|If she be fair and wise,--fairness and wit, |If she is beautiful and wise, beauty and wit, |

|The one's for use, the other useth it. |The one's for use, the other uses it. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Well prais'd! How if she be black and witty? |Well praised! What if she is black and witty? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|If she be black, and thereto have a wit, |If she is black and also has a wit, |

|She'll find a white that shall her blackness fit. |She'll find a white that will her blackness fit. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Worse and worse. |Worse and worse. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|How if fair and foolish? |What if she is beautiful and foolish? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|She never yet was foolish that was fair; |She never was still foolish that was beautiful, |

|For even her folly help'd her to an heir. |Because even her folly helped her have an heir. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|These are old fond paradoxes to make fools laugh i' the |These are old wives’ tales to make fools laugh in the |

|alehouse. What miserable praise hast thou for her that's foul |alehouse. What miserable praise have you for her that's |

|and foolish? |ugly and foolish? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|There's none so foul and foolish thereunto, |There's no one so ugly and foolish, except the one |

|But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do. |That does ugly pranks that beautiful and wise ones do |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|O heavy ignorance!--thou praisest the worst best. But what |O heavy ignorance! You praise the worst best. But what |

|praise couldst thou bestow on a deserving woman indeed,--one |praise could you bestow on a deserving woman indeed, |

|that, in the authority of her merit, did justly put on the vouch |one that, in the authority of her merit, rightly wore the |

|of very malice itself? |witnessing of very malice itself? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|She that was ever fair and never proud; |She who was always beautiful and never proud |

|Had tongue at will and yet was never loud; |Said what she wanted to say and yet was never loud, |

|Never lack'd gold and yet went never gay; |Never needed money and still was unhappy; |

|Fled from her wish, and yet said, "Now I may"; |Ran from her wish, and still said, "Now I can," |

|She that, being anger'd, her revenge being nigh, |She who, being angry and her revenge being near, |

|Bade her wrong stay and her displeasure fly; |Asked her mistake to stay and her revenge to leave; |

|She that in wisdom never was so frail |She who was, wisely, never was so delicate that she |

|To change the cod's head for the salmon's tail; |Would change the cod's head for the salmon's tail, |

|She that could think and ne'er disclose her mind; |She who could think and never say what was on her |

|See suitors following and not look behind; |mind, see suitors following her and did not look back, |

|She was a wight, if ever such wight were;-- |She was an angel if there was an angel. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|To do what? |To do what? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|To suckle fools and chronicle small beer. |To breastfeed fools and make a record of a little beer. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|O most lame and impotent conclusion!--Do not learn of him, |O very lame and powerless conclusion! Don’t learn from |

|Emilia, though he be thy husband.--How say you, Cassio? is he |him, Emilia, although he is your husband. What do you |

|not a most profane and liberal counsellor? |think, Cassio? Isn’t he a very unholy and rude counselor? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|He speaks home, madam: you may relish him more in the |He speaks freely, madam. You may appreciate him more |

|soldier than in the scholar. |as a soldier than as a scholar. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|[Aside.] He takes her by the palm: ay, well said, whisper: |[Aside.] He takes her by the hand. Yes, well said whisper. |

|with as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as |With a web as little as this, I’ll catch as big a fly as |

|Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do; I will gyve thee in thine |Cassio. Yes, go ahead and smile on her; I will trap you in |

|own courtship. You say true; 'tis so, indeed: if such tricks |your own courtship. You speak truly; it is so, indeed. If |

|as these strip you out of your lieutenantry, it had been |such tricks as these strip you of your lieutenantry, it |

|better you had not kissed your three fingers so oft, which |would’ve been better you hadn’t kissed your three fingers |

|now again you are most apt to play the sir in. Very good; |so often, with which you are again very ready to play the |

|well kissed! an excellent courtesy! 'tis so, indeed. Yet |gent. Very good; well kissed! an excellent courtesy! it is |

|again your fingers to your lips? |so, indeed. Still your fingers to your lips again? I wish |

|Would they were clyster-pipes for your sake! |they were hypodermics for your sake! |

| | |

|[Trumpet within.]-- |[Trumpet within.] |

|The Moor! I know his trumpet. |The Moor! I know his trumpet. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|'Tis truly so. |It is truly so. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Let's meet him, and receive him. |Let's meet him and greet him. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Lo, where he comes! |Look, where he is coming! |

| | |

|[Enter Othello and Attendants.] |[Enter Othello and Attendants.] |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|O my fair warrior! |O my beautiful warrior! |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|My dear Othello! |My dear Othello! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|It gives me wonder great as my content |It surprises me as much as my joy |

|To see you here before me. O my soul's joy! |To see you here before me. O my soul's joy! |

|If after every tempest come such calms, |If, after every storm such calms come, |

|May the winds blow till they have waken'd death! |May the winds blow until they have awakened death! |

|And let the laboring bark climb hills of seas |And let the laboring ship climb hills of oceans |

|Olympus-high, and duck again as low |As high as Olympus, and duck down again as low |

|As hell's from heaven! If it were now to die, |As hell is from heaven! If I were to die now, |

|'Twere now to be most happy; for, I fear, |I could die very happy; because, I’m afraid, |

|My soul hath her content so absolute |My soul is so absolutely content, |

|That not another comfort like to this |That no other comfort like this one |

|Succeeds in unknown fate. |Can follow unknown death. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|The heavens forbid |The heavens forbid anything |

|But that our loves and comforts should increase |But our loves and comforts should increase |

|Even as our days do grow! |Even as our days grow long! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Amen to that, sweet powers!-- |Amen to that, sweet powers! |

|I cannot speak enough of this content; |I cannot speak enough of this contentment; |

|It stops me here; it is too much of joy: |It stops me here; it is too joyful. |

|And this, and this, the greatest discords be |And this, and this, are the greatest upsets |

| | |

|[Kissing her.] |[Kissing her.] |

| | |

|That e'er our hearts shall make! |That our hearts shall ever make! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|[Aside.] O, you are well tun'd now! |[Aside.] O, you are well tuned now! |

|But I'll set down the pegs that make this music, |But I'll tighten the strings that make this music, |

|As honest as I am. |Until it’s as honest as I am. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Come, let us to the castle.-- |Come, let’s go to the castle. |

|News, friends; our wars are done, the Turks are drown'd. |News, friends; our wars are done, the Turks are |

|How does my old acquaintance of this isle? |drowned. How does my old acquaintance like this isle? |

|Honey, you shall be well desir'd in Cyprus; |Honey, Cyprus will be very glad to see you; |

|I have found great love amongst them. O my sweet, |I have found great love among them. O my sweet, |

|I prattle out of fashion, and I dote |I chit-chat unfashionably, and I talk foolishly |

|In mine own comforts.--I pry'thee, good Iago, |About my own comforts. I beg you, good Iago, |

|Go to the bay and disembark my coffers: |Go to the bay and take my bags off the ship. |

|Bring thou the master to the citadel; |Bring the captain to the fortress. |

|He is a good one, and his worthiness |He is a good one, and his worthiness |

|Does challenge much respect.--Come, Desdemona, |Deserves much respect. Come, Desdemona, |

|Once more well met at Cyprus. |Once more happily brought to Cyprus. |

| | |

|[Exeunt Othello, Desdemona, and Attendants.] |[Exeunt Othello, Desdemona, and Attendants.] |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Do thou meet me presently at the harbour. Come hither. |Meet me right away at the harbor. Come here. |

|If thou be'st valiant,--as, they say, base men being in love |If you are valiant, as, they say, corrupt men being in love |

|have then a nobility in their natures more than is native to |have a nobility in their natures that is more than natural to |

|them,--list me. The lieutenant to-night watches on the court |them, listen to me. The lieutenant is part of the court’s |

|of guard: first, I must tell thee this--Desdemona is directly |guard tonight. First, I must tell you this Desdemona is |

|in love with him. |directly in love with him. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|With him! why, 'tis not possible. |With him! Why, it is not possible. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Lay thy finger thus, and let thy soul be instructed. Mark |Lay your finger like this, and let your soul be instructed. |

|me with what violence she first loved the Moor, but for |Watch with what violence she first loved the Moor, but |

|bragging, and telling her fantastical lies: and will she love |with his bragging, and telling her fantastic lies. will she |

|him still for prating? let not thy discreet heart think it. Her |still love him for chattering? Don’t your discreet heart |

|eye must be fed; and what delight shall she have to look |think it. Her eye must be fed, and what joy will she have |

|on the devil? When the blood is made dull with the act of |to look on the devil? When the blood is made calm with |

|sport, there should be,--again to inflame it and to give |playing, there should be something to fire it up again and |

|satiety a fresh appetite,-- loveliness in favour; sympathy in |to satisfy a fresh appetite, loveliness in favor; sympathy |

|years, manners, and beauties; all which the Moor is |in years, manners, and beauties, all which the Moor |

|defective in: now, for want of these required |lacks. Now, because of wanting these required things, |

|conveniences, her delicate tenderness will find itself |her delicate tenderness will find itself abused, begin to |

|abused, begin to heave the gorge, disrelish and abhor |vomit, to dislike and hate the Moor. Her very nature will |

|the Moor; very nature will instruct her in it, and compel |instruct her in it, and force her to make some second |

|her to some second choice. Now sir, this granted;--as it is |choice. Now sir, this done, as it is a very compelling and |

|a most pregnant and unforced position,--who stands so |natural position, who is outstanding and first in the |

|eminently in the degree of this fortune as Cassio does? a |degree of this luck as Cassio is? A |

|knave very voluble; no further conscionable than in |very changeable rogue, having no further conscience |

|putting on the mere form of civil and humane seeming, |than assuming the mere form of civil and humane |

|for the better compass of his salt and most hidden loose |behavior, for the better measure of his worth and very |

|affection? why, none; why, none;--a slipper and subtle |hidden loose affections? Why, no one, why, no one, a |

|knave; a finder out of occasions; that has an eye can |slippery and subtle rogue, a finder of opportunities, |

|stamp and counterfeit advantages, though true |whose eye can print and fake advantages, although true |

|advantage never present itself: a devilish knave! besides, |advantage never shows itself. a devilish rogue! besides, |

|the knave is handsome, young, and hath all those |the rogue is handsome, young, and has all those |

|requisites in him that folly and green minds look after: a |requirements in him that evil and jealous minds look for. |

|pestilent complete knave; and the woman hath found him |A deadly complete rogue, and the woman has found him |

|already. |already. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|I cannot believe that in her; she is full of most blessed |I cannot believe that in her; she is full of very blessed |

|condition. |qualities. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Blest fig's end! the wine she drinks is made of grapes: if |Blessed my foot! She drinks wine just like everyone else. |

|she had been blessed, she would never have loved the |If she had been blessed, she would never have loved the |

|Moor: blessed pudding! Didst thou not see her paddle |Moor. Blessed pudding! Didn’t you see her play with the |

|with the palm of his hand? didst not mark that? |palm of his hand? Didn’t you see that? |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Yes, that I did; but that was but courtesy. |Yes, I did; but she was only being polite. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Lechery, by this hand; an index and obscure prologue to |I swear it’s a habitual lust, a list and hidden opening to |

|the history of lust and foul thoughts. They met so near |the history of lust and evil thoughts. They came so close |

|with their lips that their breaths embraced together. |with their lips that their breaths hugged each other. |

|Villainous thoughts, Roderigo! when these mutualities so |Villainous thoughts, Roderigo! When these mutual things |

|marshal the way, hard at hand comes the master and |lead the way, the teacher and the main exercise follow |

|main exercise, the incorporate conclusion: pish!-- |close behind, to the obvious conclusion. Piss off! But, sir, |

|But, sir, be you ruled by me: I have brought you from Venice. |Take my advice. I have brought you from Venice. Watch |

|Watch you to-night: for the command, I'll lay't upon you: |tonight. I’ll give you the order. Cassio doesn’t know you. I |

|Cassio knows you not:--I'll not be far from you: do you find |won’t be far from you. Find some occasion to make |

|some occasion to anger Cassio, either by speaking too |Cassio angry, either by speaking too loud, or insulting his |

|loud, or tainting his discipline, or from what other course |discipline, or from whatever reason you please, which |

|you please, which the time shall more favourably minister. |might be suggested by what’s happening at the time. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Well. |OK. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Sir, he is rash, and very sudden in choler, and haply with |Sir, he is impulsive, and hot under the collar, and might |

|his truncheon may strike at you: provoke him, that he |strike at you with his club. Provoke him so that he will; |

|may; for even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to |because even out of that, I will make these men of |

|mutiny, whose qualification shall come into no true taste |Cyprus rebel, whose character won’t come back to their |

|again but by the displanting of Cassio. So shall you have |original calmness unless Cassio is replaced. So you shall |

|a shorter journey to your desires by the means I shall |have a shorter journey to your desires by the means I |

|then have to prefer them; and the impediment most |would now have to advance them; and the impediment |

|profitably removed, without the which there were no |very profitably removed, without which we couldn’t expect |

|expectation of our prosperity. |to succeed. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|I will do this, if I can bring it to any opportunity. |I will do this. If I can bring it to any advantage. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the citadel: I must |I guarantee you. Meet me later at the fortress. I must get |

|fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewell. |his belongings ashore. Farewell. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Adieu. |Goodbye. |

| | |

|[Exit.] |[Exit.] |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it; |I really believe it; that Cassio likes her, |

|That she loves him, 'tis apt, and of great credit: |That she likes him, it is proper and of great credit. |

|The Moor,--howbeit that I endure him not,-- |The Moor, be that as it may that I can’t stand him, |

|Is of a constant, loving, noble nature; |Is of a constant, loving, noble nature; |

|And, I dare think, he'll prove to Desdemona |And, I dare think, he'll prove to be a very dear husband |

|A most dear husband. Now, I do love her too; |To Desdemona. Now, I love her too, |

|Not out of absolute lust,--though, peradventure, |Not out of absolute lust, although, maybe, |

|I stand accountant for as great a sin,- |I have committed as great a sin, |

|But partly led to diet my revenge, |But partly given to regulating my revenge, |

|For that I do suspect the lusty Moor |Because that I suspect the lusty Moor |

|Hath leap'd into my seat: the thought whereof |Has slept with my wife, which the thought of, |

|Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards; |Like a poisonous mineral, eats my insides, |

|And nothing can or shall content my soul |And nothing can or shall content my soul |

|Till I am even'd with him, wife for wife; |Until I get even with him, wife for wife, |

|Or, failing so, yet that I put the Moor |Or, failing that, until I put the Moor |

|At least into a jealousy so strong |At least into a fit of jealousy so strong |

|That judgement cannot cure. Which thing to do,-- |That judgment cannot cure him, which in order to do, |

|If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trash |If this poor trash of Venice (Roderigo), whom I trash |

|For his quick hunting, stand the putting on, |Because of his quick chase, puts up with the plan, |

|I'll have our Michael Cassio on the hip; |I'll have our Michael Cassio at a disadvantage, and |

|Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb,-- |Talk about him in the worst terms to the Moor, |

|For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too;-- |Because I fear Cassio with my nightly thoughts too. |

|Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me |Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me |

|For making him egregiously an ass |For making him an ass so excellently. |

|And practicing upon his peace and quiet |And disrupting on his peace and quiet |

|Even to madness. 'Tis here, but yet confus'd: |Even to madness. It’s all here, but still unorganized. |

|Knavery's plain face is never seen till us'd. |Trickery's plain face is never seen until it is used. |

| | |

|[Exit.] |[Exit.] |

Bottom of Form

Act 2, Scene 2

|A street. |A street. |

| | |

|[Enter a Herald with a proclamation; People following.] |[Enter a Herald with a proclamation; People following.] |

| | |

|HERALD. |HERALD. |

|It is Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant general, |It is Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant general, that |

|that upon certain tidings now arrived, importing the mere |on certain news now arrived, concerning the mere total |

|perdition of the Turkish fleet, every man put himself into |destruction of the Turkish fleet, every man rejoice, some |

|triumph; some to dance, some to make bonfires, each man to |to dance, some to make bonfires, each man to whatever |

|what sport and revels his addiction leads him: for, besides these |sport and revels his disposition leads him, because, |

|beneficial news, it is the celebration of his nuptial:--so |besides this good news, it is the celebration of his |

|much was his pleasure should be proclaimed. All offices are open; |wedding. His pleasure should be proclaimed this much. |

|and there is full liberty of feasting from this present hour of |All offices are open, and there is full liberty of feasting |

|five till the bell have told eleven. Heaven bless the isle of |from this present hour of five until the clock rings eleven. |

|Cyprus and our noble general |Heaven bless the isle of Cyprus and our noble general |

|Othello! |Othello! |

| | |

|[Exeunt.] |[Exeunt.] |

Act 2, Scene 3

|SCENE III. A Hall in the Castle. |SCENE III. A Hall in the Castle. |

| | |

|[Enter Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, and Attendants.] |[Enter Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, and Attendants.] |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Good Michael, look you to the guard to-night: |Good Michael, look to the guard tonight. |

|Let's teach ourselves that honourable stop, |Let's teach ourselves limits to celebrate, |

|Not to out-sport discretion. |Not overdoing it. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Iago hath direction what to do; |Iago has orders on what to do; |

|But, notwithstanding, with my personal eye |But, nevertheless, with my own eyes |

|Will I look to't. |I will look to it myself . |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Iago is most honest. |Iago is very honest. |

|Michael, good night: to-morrow with your earliest |Michael, good night. Tomorrow ,at your earliest, |

|Let me have speech with you.--Come, my dear love,-- |Let me speak with you. Come, my dear love, |

| | |

|[To Desdemona] |[To Desdemona] |

| | |

|The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue; |The purchase made, the fruits are to follow, |

|That profit's yet to come 'tween me and you.-- |That profit is still to come between me and you. |

|Good-night. |Good-night. |

| | |

|[Exeunt Othello, Desdemona, and Attendants.] |[Exeunt Othello, Desdemona, and Attendants.] |

| | |

|[Enter Iago.] |[Enter Iago.] |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Welcome, Iago; we must to the watch. |Welcome, Iago; we must go to the guard. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Not this hour, lieutenant; 'tis not yet ten o' the clock. |Not this hour, lieutenant; it is not yet ten of the clock. Our |

|Our general cast us thus early for the love of his Desdemona; who |general put us early like this for the love of his |

|let us not therefore blame: he hath not yet made wanton the night |Desdemona, whom we won’t blame. He hasn’t yet spent |

|with her; and she is sport for Jove. |the wedding night with her; and she is joy for the gods. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|She's a most exquisite lady. |She's a very exquisite lady. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|And, I'll warrant her, full of game. |And, I'll guarantee that she is full of game. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Indeed, she is a most fresh and delicate creature. |Indeed, she is a very fresh and delicate creature. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|What an eye she has! methinks it sounds a parley to provocation. |What an eye she has! I think it looks like an invitation to excitement. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|An inviting eye; and yet methinks right modest. |An inviting eye, and still I think it is properly modest. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|And when she speaks, is it not an alarm to love? |And when she speaks, isn’t it a call to love? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|She is, indeed, perfection. |She is, indeed, perfection. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Well, happiness to their sheets! Come, lieutenant, I have |Well, happiness to their sheets! Come, lieutenant, I have |

|a stoup of wine; and here without are a brace of Cyprus |a bottle of wine; and here outside are a number of |

|gallants that would fain have a measure to the health of |Cyprus gents that would happily drink a round to the |

|black Othello. |health of black Othello. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Not to-night, good Iago: I have very poor and unhappy |Not tonight, good Iago. I have very poor and unhappy |

|brains for drinking: I could well wish courtesy would |brains for drinking. I could really wish manners would |

|invent some other custom of entertainment. |invent some other kind of entertainment. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|O, they are our friends; but one cup: I'll drink for you. |O, they are our friends, only one cup. I'll drink for you. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|I have drunk but one cup to-night, and that was craftily |I have drunk but one cup tonight, and that was craftily |

|qualified too, and behold, what innovation it makes here: |diluted too, and behold, what changes it makes here. I |

|I am unfortunate in the infirmity, and dare not task my |am unfortunate in the handicap, and dare not tempt my |

|weakness with any more. |weakness with any more wine. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|What, man! 'tis a night of revels: the gallants desire it. |What, man! It is a night of partying. The gents desire it. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Where are they? |Where are they? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Here at the door; I pray you, call them in. |Here at the door; I beg you, call them in. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|I'll do't; but it dislikes me. |I'll do it, but it doesn’t like me. |

| | |

|[Exit.] |[Exit.] |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|If I can fasten but one cup upon him, |If I can get him to drink only one cup, |

|With that which he hath drunk to-night already, |With the one he’s already drunk tonight, |

|He'll be as full of quarrel and offense |He'll be as full of fighting and insults |

|As my young mistress' dog. Now, my sick fool Roderigo, |As my young mistress' dog. Now, my sick fool Roderigo, |

|Whom love hath turn'd almost the wrong side out, |Whom love has almost turned inside out, |

|To Desdemona hath to-night carous'd |Has toasted Desdemona tonight with |

|Potations pottle-deep; and he's to watch: |Half gallon drinks, and he's supposed to watch. |

|Three lads of Cyprus,--noble swelling spirits, |Three lads of Cyprus, noble swelling spirits, |

|That hold their honours in a wary distance, |That hold their honors at a careful distance, |

|The very elements of this warlike isle,-- |The very elements of this warlike isle, |

|Have I to-night fluster'd with flowing cups, |I have made half-drunk tonight with overflowing cups, |

|And they watch too. Now, 'mongst this flock of drunkards, |And they watch too. Now, among this flock of drunkards, |

|Am I to put our Cassio in some action |I am make our Cassio do some action |

|That may offend the isle:--but here they come: |That may offend the isle. but here they come. |

|If consequence do but approve my dream, |If the results confirm my dream, |

|My boat sails freely, both with wind and stream. |My boat sails freely, with both wind and stream. |

| | |

|[Re-enter Cassio; with him Montano and Gentlemen; followed by |[Re-enter Cassio; with him Montano and Gentlemen; |

|Servant with wine.] |followed by Servant with wine.] |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|'Fore heaven, they have given me a rouse already. |Before heaven, they have given me a toast already |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|Good faith, a little one; not past a pint, as I am a soldier. |Good faith, a little one; not past a pint, as I am a soldier. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Some wine, ho! |Some wine, ho! |

| | |

|[Sings.] |[Sings.] |

|"And let me the canakin clink, clink; |"And let me the small drink clink, clink; |

|And let me the canakin clink. |And let me the small drink clink. |

|A soldier's a man; |A soldier's a man; |

|O, man's life's but a span; |O, man's life's only a span; |

|Why then let a soldier drink." |Why then let a soldier drink." |

|Some wine, boys! |Some wine, boys! |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|'Fore God, an excellent song. |Before God, an excellent song. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I learned it in England, where, indeed, they are most |I learned it in England, where, indeed, they are very |

|potent in potting: your Dane, your German, and your |powerful drinkers. Your Dane, your German, and your |

|swag-bellied Hollander,--Drink, ho!--are nothing to your |swag-bellied Hollander, Drink, ho! are nothing to your |

|English. |English. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Is your Englishman so expert in his drinking? |Is your Englishman so expert in his drinking? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Why, he drinks you, with facility, your Dane dead drunk; he |Why, he drinks your Dane dead drunk easily; he doesn’t |

|sweats not to overthrow your Almain; he gives your Hollander |even sweat to defeat your German; he makes your |

|a vomit ere the next pottle can be filled. |Hollander vomit before the next round can be poured. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|To the health of our general! |To the health of our general! |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|I am for it, lieutenant; and I'll do you justice. |Good faith, a little one; not past a pint, as I am a soldier. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|O sweet England! |Some wine, ho! |

| | |

|[Sings.] |[Sings.] |

|"King Stephen was and a worthy peer, |"King Stephen was a worthy peer, |

|His breeches cost him but a crown; |His breeches only cost him a dollar; |

|He held them sixpence all too dear, |He held them six cents all too expensive, |

|With that he call'd the tailor lown. |With that he called the calm tailor. |

|He was a wight of high renown, |He was an angel of high renown, |

|And thou art but of low degree: |And you are only of low degree. |

|'Tis pride that pulls the country down; |It is pride that pulls the country down; |

|Then take thine auld cloak about thee." |Then take your old cloak about you." |

| | |

|Some wine, ho! |Some wine, ho! |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Why, this is a more exquisite song than the other. |Before God, an excellent song. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Will you hear it again? |Will you hear it again? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|No; for I hold him to be unworthy of his place that does |No; for I hold him to be unworthy of his place that does |

|those things.--Well,--God's above all, and there be souls |those things.--Well,--God's above all, and there be souls |

|must be saved, and there be souls must not be saved. |must be saved, and there be souls must not be saved. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|It's true, good lieutenant. |It's true, good lieutenant. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|For mine own part,--no offence to the general, nor any |For my own part, no offense to the general, nor any |

|man of quality,--I hope to be saved. |man of quality, I hope to be saved. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|And so do I too, lieutenant. |And so do I too, lieutenant. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Ay, but, by your leave, not before me; the lieutenant is to |Yes, but, with your permission, not before me. The |

|be saved before the ancient. Let's have no more of this; |lieutenant is to be saved before the ensign. Let's have no |

|let's to our affairs.--Forgive us our sins!--Gentlemen, let's |more of this; let's to our affairs. Forgive us our sins! |

|look to our business. Do not think, gentlemen, I am |Gentlemen, let's look to our business. Don’t think, |

|drunk: this is my ancient; this is my right hand, and this is |gentlemen, I am drunk. This is my ensign; this is my right |

|my left:--I am not drunk now; I can stand well enough, and |hand, and this is my left. I am not drunk now; I can stand |

|I speak well enough. |well enough, and I speak well enough. |

| | |

|ALL. |ALL. |

|Excellent well. |Excellent well. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Why, very well then: you must not think, then, that I am |Why, very well then. you must not think, then, that I am |

|drunk. |drunk. |

| | |

|[Exit.] |[Exit.] |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|To the platform, masters; come, let's set the watch. |To the watchtower, gents. Come, let's start the watch. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|You see this fellow that is gone before;-- |You see this fellow that went before? |

|He is a soldier fit to stand by Caesar |He is a soldier fit to stand by Caesar |

|And give direction: and do but see his vice; |And give direction. and don’t only see his vice; |

|'Tis to his virtue a just equinox, |It is a proper contradiction to his virtue, |

|The one as long as the other: 'tis pity of him. |The one is as long as the other. It ‘s a pity of him. |

|I fear the trust Othello puts him in, |I fear the trust Othello puts him in, because |

|On some odd time of his infirmity, |At some odd time of his infirmity, he |

|Will shake this island. |Will shake this island. |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|But is he often thus? |But is he often like this? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|'Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep: |It is always the beginning to his going to bed. |

|He'll watch the horologe a double set |He'll watch the clock all night |

|If drink rock not his cradle. |If drink doesn’t rock his cradle. |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|It were well |It would be good |

|The general were put in mind of it. |To let the general know about it. |

|Perhaps he sees it not, or his good nature |Perhaps he doesn’t see it, or his good nature |

|Prizes the virtue that appears in Cassio, |Values the virtue that seems to be in Cassio, |

|And looks not on his evils: is not this true? |And doesn’t look on his evils. Isn’t this true? |

| | |

|[Enter Roderigo.] |[Enter Roderigo.] |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|[Aside to him.] How now, Roderigo! |[Aside to him.] Hey, Roderigo! |

|I pray you, after the lieutenant; go. |I pray you, go after the lieutenant. |

| | |

|[Exit Roderigo.] |[Exit Roderigo.] |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|And 'tis great pity that the noble Moor |And it’s a great pity that the noble Moor |

|Should hazard such a place as his own second |Should risk such a position as his own second in |

|With one of an ingraft infirmity: |Command with one of an inborn handicap. |

|It were an honest action to say |It would be an honest action to say |

|So to the Moor. |So to the Moor. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Not I, for this fair island; |Not I, for this whole beautiful island; |

|I do love Cassio well; and would do much |I love Cassio well, and would do a lot |

|To cure him of this evil.--But, hark! What noise? |To cure him of this evil. But, listen! What’s that noise? |

| | |

|[Cry within,--"Help! help!"] |[Cry within, "Help! help!"] |

| | |

|[Re-enter Cassio, driving in Roderigo.] |[Re-enter Cassio, driving in Roderigo.] |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|You rogue! you rascal! |You rogue! You rascal! |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|What's the matter, lieutenant? |What's the matter, lieutenant? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|A knave teach me my duty! I'll beat the knave into |A rogue teaching me my duty! I'll beat the rogue into |

|a twiggen bottle. |a wicker bottle. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Beat me! |Beat me! |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Dost thou prate, rogue? |Do you chatter on, rogue? |

| | |

|[Striking Roderigo.} |[Striking Roderigo.} |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|Nay, good lieutenant; I pray you, sir, hold your hand. |No, good lieutenant; I beg you, sir, stop. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Let me go, sir, or I'll knock you o'er the mazard. |Let me go, sir, or I'll knock you over the head. |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|Come, come, you're drunk. |Come on , come on, you're drunk. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Drunk! |Drunk! |

| | |

|[They fight.] |[They fight.] |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Away, I say! go out and cry a mutiny. |Away, I say! go out and cry a mutiny. |

| | |

|[Aside to Roderigo, who goes out.] |[Aside to Roderigo, who goes out.] |

| | |

|Nay, good lieutenant,--alas,, gentlemen:-- |Nay, good lieutenant,--alas,, gentlemen:-- |

|Help, ho!--Lieutenant,--sir,--Montano,--sir:-- |Help, ho!--Lieutenant,--sir,--Montano,--sir:-- |

|Help, masters!--Here's a goodly watch indeed! |Help, masters!--Here's a goodly watch indeed! |

| | |

|[Bell rings.] |[Bell rings.] |

|Who's that that rings the bell?--Diablo, ho! |Who's that that rings the bell?--Diablo, ho! |

|The town will rise: God's will, lieutenant, hold; |The town will rise: God's will, lieutenant, hold; |

|You will be sham'd forever. |You will be sham'd forever. |

| | |

|[Re-enter Othello and Attendants.] |[Re-enter Othello and Attendants.] |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|What is the matter here? |What is the matter here? |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|Zounds, I bleed still; I am hurt to the death. |Zounds, I bleed still; I am hurt to the death. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Hold, for your lives! |Hold, for your lives! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Hold, ho! lieutenant,--sir,--Montano,--gentlemen,-- |Hold, ho! lieutenant,--sir,--Montano,--gentlemen,-- |

|Have you forgot all place of sense and duty? |Have you forgot all place of sense and duty? |

|Hold! the general speaks to you; hold, hold, for shame! |Hold! the general speaks to you; hold, hold, for shame! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Why, how now, ho! from whence ariseth this? |Why, how now, ho! What started this? |

|Are we turn'd Turks, and to ourselves do that |Have we turned to Turks, and do to ourselves |

|Which Heaven hath forbid the Ottomites? |What Heaven has forbidden the Ottoman? |

|For Christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl: |Because of Christian shame, stop this barbarous brawl. |

|He that stirs next to carve for his own rage |He moves next to carve out his own rage |

|Holds his soul light; he dies upon his motion.-- |Values his soul lightly; he dies on his motion. |

|Silence that dreadful bell; it frights the isle |Silence that dreadful bell. It frightens the isle |

|From her propriety.--What is the matter, masters?-- |From her sleep. What is the matter, gentlemen? |

|Honest Iago, that look'st dead with grieving, |Honest Iago, looking dead with grieving, |

|Speak, who began this? on thy love, I charge thee. |Speak, who began this? On your love, I order you. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I do not know:--friends all but now, even now, |I don’t know. Everyone were friends until now, even now, |

|In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom |In quarters, and in terms like a bride and groom |

|Devesting them for bed; and then, but now-- |Getting ready for bed; and then, but now |

|As if some planet had unwitted men,-- |As if some planet had stolen their wits, |

|Swords out, and tilting one at other's breast |Swords out, and aiming at one another's breasts |

|In opposition bloody. I cannot speak |In a bloody fight. I can’t tell you |

|Any beginning to this peevish odds; |How it started with these very small things, |

|And would in action glorious I had lost |And I would have lost |

|Those legs that brought me to a part of it! |Those legs that brought me to be a part of it! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot? |How is it, Michael, that you have forgotten yourself? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|I pray you, pardon me; I cannot speak. |I beg you, pardon me; I cannot speak. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Worthy Montano, you were wont be civil; |Worthy Montano, you were inclined to be civil; |

|The gravity and stillness of your youth |The world has marked he gravity and stillness of your |

|The world hath noted, and your name is great |youth and your name is great |

|In mouths of wisest censure: what's the matter, |In mouths of wisest respect. What's the matter, |

|That you unlace your reputation thus, |That you destroy your reputation like this, |

|And spend your rich opinion for the name |And waste your reputation for the name |

|Of a night-brawler? give me answer to it. |Of a night-brawler? Answer me. |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger: |Worthy Othello, I am dangerously wounded. |

|Your officer, Iago, can inform you,-- |Your officer, Iago, can tell you, |

|While I spare speech, which something now offends me,-- |While I save speech, which somewhat now offends me, |

|Of all that I do know: nor know I aught |Of all that I know. I don’t know anything |

|By me that's said or done amiss this night: |That I said or did wrong this night, |

|Unless self-charity be sometimes a vice, |Unless self-love is sometimes a vice, |

|And to defend ourselves it be a sin |And to defend ourselves is a sin |

|When violence assails us. |When we are attacked violently. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Now, by heaven, |Now, by heaven, |

|My blood begins my safer guides to rule; |My blood begins to rule my safer sense, |

|And passion, having my best judgement collied, |And passion, having influenced my better judgment |

|Assays to lead the way. If I once stir, |Tries to lead the way. If I once get angry, |

|Or do but lift this arm, the best of you |And only lift this arm, the best of you |

|Shall sink in my rebuke. Give me to know |Shall sink in my scolding. Let me know |

|How this foul rout began, who set it on; |How this nasty fight began, who started it, |

|And he that is approv'd in this offensc, |And he that is guilty of this offense, |

|Though he had twinn'd with me, both at a birth, |Even if he is my twin brother, both born at the same time, |

|Shall lose me.--What! in a town of war |He’ll be finished with me. What! In a town of war |

|Yet wild, the people's hearts brimful of fear, |Still waging, the people's hearts brimful of fear, |

|To manage private and domestic quarrel, |To control private and domestic quarrels, |

|In night, and on the court and guard of safety! |At night, and on the court and guard of safety! |

|'Tis monstrous.--Iago, who began't? |It is monstrous. Iago, who started it ? |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|If partially affin'd, or leagu'd in office, |If partially connected or together in office, |

|Thou dost deliver more or less than truth, |You deliver more or less than truth, |

|Thou art no soldier. |You are no soldier. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Touch me not so near: |Don’t talk about me as if I’m not here. |

|I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth |I’d rather have this tongue cut from my mouth |

|Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio; |Than it should do offense to Michael Cassio; |

|Yet, I persuade myself, to speak the truth |Still, I convince myself, speaking the truth |

|Shall nothing wrong him.--Thus it is, general. |Shall not wrong him. It’s like this, general. |

|Montano and myself being in speech, |Montano and myself were talking, and |

|There comes a fellow crying out for help; |There comes a fellow crying out for help, |

|And Cassio following him with determin'd sword, |With Cassio following him with determined sword, |

|To execute upon him. Sir, this gentleman |To kill him. Sir, this gentleman |

|Steps in to Cassio and entreats his pause: |Turns around to Cassio and begs him to stop. |

|Myself the crying fellow did pursue, |I pursued the crying fellow myself, |

|Lest by his clamour,--as it so fell out,-- |So that by his clamor, as it so came out, |

|The town might fall in fright: he, swift of foot, |The town might not fall into fright. He, fast of foot, |

|Outran my purpose; and I return'd the rather |Outran me; and I returned |

|For that I heard the clink and fall of swords, |Because that I heard the clink and fall of swords, |

|And Cassio high in oath; which till to-night |And Cassio swearing loudly; which, until tonight, |

|I ne'er might say before. When I came back,-- |I never saw him do before. When I came back, |

|For this was brief,--I found them close together, |For this was brief,--I found them close together, |

|At blow and thrust; even as again they were |Everyone was fighting, even as again they were |

|When you yourself did part them. |When you yourself parted them. |

|More of this matter cannot I report;-- |I can’t report more of this matter, |

|But men are men; the best sometimes forget:-- |But men are men; the best sometimes forget themselves. |

|Though Cassio did some little wrong to him,-- |Though Cassio did only little wrong to him, |

|As men in rage strike those that wish them best,-- |As men in rage strike those that wish them best, |

|Yet surely Cassio, I believe, receiv'd |Yet surely Cassio, I believe, received |

|From him that fled some strange indignity, |Some strange insult From him that fled, |

|Which patience could not pass. |Which patience could not let him get away with. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I know, Iago, |I know, Iago, |

|Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter, |Your honesty and love minimize this matter, |

|Making it light to Cassio. Cassio, I love thee; |Making it easier for Cassio. Cassio, I love you; |

|But never more be officer of mine.-- |But never more be an officer of mine. |

| | |

|[Renter Desdemona, attended.] |[Renter Desdemona, attended.] |

| | |

|Look, if my gentle love be not rais'd up!-- |Look, my gentle love is awakened! |

|I'll make thee an example. |I'll make you an example. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|What's the matter? |What's the matter? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|All's well now, sweeting; come away to bed. |All's well now, sweetheart; come away to bed. |

|Sir, for your hurts, myself will be your surgeon: |Sir, for your hurts, I myself will be your surgeon. |

|Lead him off. |Take him away. |

| | |

|[To Montano, who is lead off.] |[To Montano, who is lead off.] |

| | |

|Iago, look with care about the town, |Iago, look carefully about the town, |

|And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted.-- |And silence those whom this vile brawl has upset. |

|Come, Desdemona: 'tis the soldiers' life. |Come, Desdemona. it is the soldiers' life. |

|To have their balmy slumbers wak'd with strife. |To have their balmy slumbers awakened with strife. |

| | |

|[Exeunt all but Iago and Cassio.] |[Exeunt all but Iago and Cassio.] |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|What, are you hurt, lieutenant? |What, are you hurt, lieutenant? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Ay, past all surgery. |Yes, beyond all cures. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Marry, heaven forbid! |By Mary, heaven forbid! |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my |Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my |

|reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and |reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and |

|what remains is bestial.--My reputation, Iago, my |what remains is beastly. My reputation, Iago, my |

|reputation! |reputation! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|As I am an honest man, I thought you had received some |As I am an honest man, I thought you had received some |

|bodily wound; there is more sense in that than in reputation. |bodily wound; there is more sense in that than in |

|Reputation is an idle and most false |reputation. Reputation is an idle and very false burden, |

|imposition; oft got without merit and lost without |often got without merit and lost without being deserved. |

|deserving: you have lost no reputation at all, unless you |You have lost no reputation at all, unless you believe |

|repute yourself such a loser. What, man! there are ways |yourself to be such a loser. What, man! There are ways |

|to recover the general again: you are but now cast in his |to regain the general again. You are now only fallen in his |

|mood, a punishment more in policy than in malice; even |mood, a punishment more in policy than in malice; even |

|so as one would beat his offenceless dog to affright an |as some one would beat his defenseless dog to scare an |

|imperious lion: sue to him again, and he is yours. |imperious lion. Talk to him again, and he’ll like you again. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|I will rather sue to be despised than to deceive so good a |I will rather seek to be despised than to deceive so good |

|commander with so slight, so drunken, and so indiscreet |a commander with so slight, so drunken, and so |

|an officer. Drunk? and speak parrot? and squabble? |indiscreet an officer. Drunk? and talk like a parrot? and |

|swagger? swear? and discourse fustian with one's own |squabble? swagger? swear? and pick a fight with my |

|shadow?--O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no |own shadow? O you invisible spirit of wine, if you don’t |

|name to be known by, let us call thee devil! |have a name to be known by, let’s call you devil! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|What was he that you followed with your sword? |Who were you following with your sword? |

|What had he done to you? |What had he done to you? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|I know not. |I don’t know. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Is't possible? |Is it possible? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly; a |I remember a lot, but nothing clearly, a quarrel, but not |

|quarrel, but nothing wherefore.--O God, that men should |why. O God, that men should put an enemy in their |

|put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains! |mouths to steal away their brains! That we should, with |

|that we should, with joy, pleasance, revel, and applause, |joy, pleasure, partying, and applause, transform |

|transform ourselves into beasts! |ourselves into beasts! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Why, but you are now well enough: how came you thus |Why, you’re sober enough now. How did you get this |

|recovered? |sober? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|It hath pleased the devil drunkenness to give place to the |It has pleased the devil drunkenness to give place to the |

|devil wrath: one unperfectness shows me another, to make me |devil anger. One imperfection shows me another, to |

|frankly despise myself. |make me frankly hate myself. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Come, you are too severe a moraler: as the time, the |Come, you are too moral. As the time, the place, and the |

|place, and the condition of this country stands, I could |condition of this country stands, I could heartily wish this |

|heartily wish this had not befallen; but since it is as it is, |had not happen, but since it is what it is, fix it for your |

|mend it for your own good. |own good. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|I will ask him for my place again;--he shall tell me I am a |I’ll ask him for my job back; he’ll tell me I am a drunkard! |

|drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an |If I had as many mouths as a seven-headed goddess, |

|answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, |such an answer would shut them all. Now I’m a sensible |

|by and by a fool, and presently a beast! O strange!--Every |man, soon a fool, and now a beast! O strange! Every |

|inordinate cup is unbless'd, and the ingredient is a devil. |uncontrolled cup is evil, and the ingredient is a devil. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be |Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it is |

|well used: exclaim no more against it. And, good lieutenant, |well used. Say no more against it. And, good lieutenant, I |

|I think you think I love you. |think you think I love you. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|I have well approved it, sir.--I drunk! |I have well proven it, sir. I got drunk! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|You, or any man living, may be drunk at a time, man. I'll |You, or any man living, may be drunk at a time, man. I'll |

|tell you what you shall do. Our general's wife is now the |tell you what you shall do. Our general's wife is now the |

|general;--I may say so in this respect, for that he hath |general; I may say so in this respect, because that he |

|devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, |has devoted and given up himself to the idea, listen, and |

|and denotement of her parts and graces:--confess |the list of her parts and graces. freely tell her the truth; |

|yourself freely to her; importune her help to put |beg her help to put you in your place again. She is so |

|you in your place again: she is of so free, so kind, so apt, so |free, so kind, so proper, so blessed a disposition, she |

|blessed a disposition, she holds it a vice in her goodness |holds it a sin in her goodness not to do more than she is |

|not to do more than she is requested: this broken joint |asked. Beg her to fix this broken joint between you and |

|between you and her husband entreat her to splinter; |her husband, and, I’ll bet against any thing worth naming, |

|and, my fortunes against any lay worth naming, this crack |this crack in your love shall grow stronger than it was |

|of your love shall grow stronger than it was before. |before. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|You advise me well. |You advise me well. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I protest, in the sincerity of love and honest kindness. |No, only in the sincerity of love and honest kindness. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|I think it freely; and betimes in the morning I will |I think it is noble, and early in the morning, I will beg the |

|beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me; I am |virtuous Desdemona to help me; I am desperately out of |

|desperate of my fortunes if they check me here. |luck if it stops me here. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|You are in the right. Good-night, lieutenant; I must to the |You are right. Good-night, lieutenant; I must get going to |

|watch. |the guard. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Good night, honest Iago. |Good night, honest Iago. |

| | |

|[Exit.] |[Exit.] |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|And what's he, then, that says I play the villain? |And who’s he, then, that says I play the villain? |

|When this advice is free I give and honest, |When this advice I give is free and honest, |

|Probal to thinking, and, indeed, the course |Calculated to his thinking, and, indeed, the way |

|To win the Moor again? For 'tis most easy |To win the Moor again? Because it is very easy |

|The inclining Desdemona to subdue |To involve the listening Desdemona |

|In any honest suit: she's fram'd as fruitful |In any honest pursuit. She's been made as fruitful |

|As the free elements. And then for her |As the free elements. And then for her |

|To win the Moor,--were't to renounce his baptism, |To win the Moor, if it meant renouncing his own baptism, |

|All seals and symbols of redeemed sin,-- |All seals and symbols of forgiveness, |

|His soul is so enfetter'd to her love |His soul is so chained to her love |

|That she may make, unmake, do what she list, |That she may make, unmake, do whatever she wants, |

|Even as her appetite shall play the god |Even as her wishes shall play the god |

|With his weak function. How am I, then, a villain |With his weak ability to think. How am I, then, a villain |

|To counsel Cassio to this parallel course, |To advise Cassio to this parallel course, |

|Directly to his good? Divinity of hell! |Directly to his good? Divinity of hell! |

|When devils will the blackest sins put on, |When devils put on the blackest sins, |

|They do suggest at first with heavenly shows, |At first, they suggest things that look heavenly, |

|As I do now: for whiles this honest fool |As I do now, because, while this honest fool |

|Plies Desdemona to repair his fortune, |Begs Desdemona to repair his bad luck, |

|And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor, |And she pleads strongly to the Moor for him, |

|I'll pour this pestilence into his ear,-- |I'll pour this evil thought into his ear, |

|That she repeals him for her body's lust; |That she rejects him for her body's sexual desires, |

|And by how much she strives to do him good, |And, by how much she begs to do Cassio good, |

|She shall undo her credit with the Moor. |She shall undo her credit with the Moor. |

|So will I turn her virtue into pitch; |So I will turn her virtue into black tar, |

|And out of her own goodness make the net |And out of her own goodness make the net |

|That shall enmesh them all. |That shall tangle them all up. |

| | |

|[Enter Roderigo.] |[Enter Roderigo.] |

| | |

|How now, Roderigo! |What’s up, Roderigo! |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|I do follow here in the chase, not like a hound that |I followed you here in the chase, not like a hound that |

|hunts, but one that fills up the cry. My money is almost spent; I |hunts, but like the hunted by the hound. My money is |

|have been to-night exceedingly well cudgelled; and I think |almost spent, I have been exceedingly well beaten |

|the issue will be--I shall have so much experience for my |tonight, and I think the result will be that I’ll only wind up |

|pains: and so, with no money at all and a little more wit, |with experience for my pains. and so, with no money at |

|return again to Venice. |all and a little bit smarter, I’m going back to Venice. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|How poor are they that have not patience! |How poor are they who have no patience! |

|What wound did ever heal but by degrees? |What wound ever healed except bit by bit? |

|Thou know'st we work by wit, and not by witchcraft; |You know we work by wit and not by witchcraft; |

|And wit depends on dilatory time. |And wit depends on slow time. |

|Does't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee, |Doesn’t it go well? Cassio has beaten you, and you, by |

|And thou, by that small hurt, hast cashier'd Cassio; |That small hurt, have had Cassio kicked out of the |

|Though other things grow fair against the sun, |Service. Although other things grow beautiful against the |

|Yet fruits that blossom first will first be ripe: |Sun, yet fruits that blossom first will ripen first. |

|Content thyself awhile.--By the mass, 'tis morning; |Be satisfied a while. By the mass, it is morning; |

|Pleasure and action make the hours seem short.-- |Pleasure and work make the hours seem short. |

|Retire thee; go where thou art billeted: |Go get some sleep; go where you are staying. |

|Away, I say; thou shalt know more hereafter; |Get going, I say; you shall know more later; |

|Nay, get thee gone. |No, get going. |

| | |

|[Exit Roderigo.] |[Exit Roderigo.] |

| | |

|Two things are to be done,-- |Two things must be done, |

|My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress; |My wife must talk to her mistress about Cassio; |

|I'll set her on; |I'll tell her to; |

|Myself the while to draw the Moor apart, |In the meantime, I have to draw the Moor aside, |

|And bring him jump when he may Cassio find |And bring him quickly so that he may Cassio find |

|Soliciting his wife. Ay, that's the way; |Soliciting his wife. Yes, that's the way; |

|Dull not device by coldness and delay. |Don’t lose this plan by coldness and delay. |

| | |

|[Exit.] |[Exit.] |

Othello | Act 3, Scene 1

|Cyprus. Before the Castle. |Cyprus. Before the Castle. |

| | |

|[Enter Cassio and some Musicians.] |[Enter Cassio and some Musicians.] |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Masters, play here,--I will content your pains, |Gentlemen, play here, I will reward your pains, |

|Something that's brief; and bid good-morrow, general. |Something that's brief and say, “Good morning, General.” |

| | |

|[Music.] |[Music.] |

| | |

|[Enter Clown.] |[Enter Clown.] |

| | |

|CLOWN. |CLOWN. |

|Why, masters, have your instruments been in Naples, that |Hey, fellows, have your instruments been in Naples, that |

|they speak i' the nose thus? |they sound as horrible as like this? |

| | |

|FIRST MUSICIAN. |FIRST MUSICIAN. |

|How, sir, how! |What, sir, how! |

| | |

|CLOWN. |CLOWN. |

|Are these, I pray you, wind instruments? |Are these, I beg you, wind instruments? |

| | |

|FIRST MUSICIAN. |FIRST MUSICIAN. |

|Ay, marry, are they, sir. |Yes, by Mary, they are, sir. |

| | |

|CLOWN. |CLOWN. |

|O, thereby hangs a tale. |O, knowing that is not even half the story. |

| | |

|FIRST MUSICIAN. |FIRST MUSICIAN. |

|Whereby hangs a tale, sir? |What “half the story,” sir? |

| | |

|CLOWN. |CLOWN. |

|Marry, sir, by many a wind instrument that I know. But, |By Mary, sir, by many a wind instrument that I know. But, |

|masters, here's money for you: and the general so likes your |gents, here's money for you. and the general so likes |

|music, that he desires you, for love's sake, to make no more |your music, that he desires you, for love's sake, to make |

|noise with it. |no more noise with it. |

| | |

|FIRST MUSICIAN. |FIRST MUSICIAN. |

|Well, sir, we will not. |Well, sir, we won’t. |

| | |

|CLOWN. |CLOWN. |

|If you have any music that may not be heard, to't again: |If you have any music that may not be heard, try it again. |

|but, as they say, to hear music the general does not greatly |but, as they say, the general does not greatly care to |

|care. |hear music. |

| | |

|FIRST MUSICIAN. |FIRST MUSICIAN. |

|We have none such, sir. |We don’t have any, sir. |

| | |

|CLOWN. |CLOWN. |

|Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll away: |Then put your pipes away in your bag, because I'm |

|go, vanish into air, away! |leaving. Go, vanish into air, go away! |

| | |

|[Exeunt Musicians.] |[Exeunt Musicians.] |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Dost thou hear, mine honest friend? |Did you hear, my honest friend? |

| | |

|CLOWN. |CLOWN. |

|No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear you. |No, I don’t hear your honest friend; I hear you. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Pr'ythee, keep up thy quillets. There's a poor piece of |I beg you, keep up your jokes. There's a poor piece of |

|gold for thee: if the gentlewoman that attends the general's wife |gold for you. If the gentlewoman that attends the |

|be stirring, tell her there's one Cassio entreats her a little |general's wife is awake, tell her there's one Cassio begs |

|favour of speech: wilt thou do this? |a little favor of speaking with her. Will you do this? |

| | |

|CLOWN. |CLOWN. |

|She is stirring, sir; if she will stir hither I shall |She is awake, sir; if she will get up, I shall seem to notify |

|seem to notify unto her. |her. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Do, good my friend. |Do, my good friend. |

| | |

|[Exit Clown.] |[Exit Clown.] |

| | |

|[Enter Iago.] |[Enter Iago.] |

| | |

|In happy time, Iago. |Good to see you, Iago. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|You have not been a-bed, then? |You have not been to bed then? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Why, no; the day had broke |Why, no; the day dawned |

|Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago, |Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago, |

|To send in to your wife: my suit to her |To send for your wife. My request to her |

|Is, that she will to virtuous Desdemona |Is, that she will manage to get me access |

|Procure me some access. |To virtuous Desdemona. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I'll send her to you presently; |I'll send her to you right away, |

|And I'll devise a mean to draw the Moor |And I'll devise a plan to get the Moor |

|Out of the way, that your converse and business |Out of the way, that your conversation and business |

|May be more free. |May be more free. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|I humbly thank you for't. |I humbly thank you for it . |

| | |

|[Exit Iago.] |[Exit Iago.] |

| | |

|I never knew |I never knew |

|A Florentine more kind and honest. |A Florentine more kind and honest. |

| | |

|[Enter Emilia.] |[Enter Emilia.] |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Good-morrow, good lieutenant; I am sorry |Good morning, good lieutenant; I am sorry |

|For your displeasure; but all will sure be well. |For your misfortune, but all will surely be okay. |

|The general and his wife are talking of it; |The general and his wife are talking about it; |

|And she speaks for you stoutly: the Moor replies |And she strongly speaks up for you. The Moor replies |

|That he you hurt is of great fame in Cyprus |That the man you hurt is very famous in Cyprus |

|And great affinity, and that, in wholesome wisdom, |And has a great reputation, and that, in pure wisdom, |

|He might not but refuse you; but he protests he loves you |He might not refuse you, but he protests he loves you |

|And needs no other suitor but his likings |And needs no other person begging than his own opinion |

|To take the safest occasion by the front |To take the safest public occasion |

|To bring you in again. |To bring you back again. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Yet, I beseech you,-- |Still, I beg you, |

|If you think fit, or that it may be done,-- |If you think it’s okay, or that it may be done, |

|Give me advantage of some brief discourse |Get me a chance to speak briefly |

|With Desdemona alone. |With Desdemona alone. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Pray you, come in: |I beg you, come in. |

|I will bestow you where you shall have time |I will hide you where you shall have time |

|To speak your bosom freely. |To speak your heart freely. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|I am much bound to you. |Thank you so much. |

| | |

|[Exeunt.] |[Exeunt.] |

Bottom of Form

Act 3, Scene 2

|Cyprus. A Room in the Castle. |Cyprus. A Room in the Castle. |

| | |

|[Enter Othello, Iago, and Gentlemen.] |[Enter Othello, Iago, and Gentlemen.] |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|These letters give, Iago, to the pilot; |Iago, give these letters to the ship’s captain, |

|And by him do my duties to the senate: |And by him pay my respects to the senate. |

|That done, I will be walking on the works; |That done, I will be walking on the battlements; |

|Repair there to me. |Come to me there. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Well, my good lord, I'll do't. |Well, my good lord, I'll do it. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|This fortification, gentlemen,--shall we see't? |This fortification, gentlemen, shall we see it? |

| | |

|GENTLEMEN. |GENTLEMEN. |

|We'll wait upon your lordship. |We'll wait for your lordship. |

| | |

|[Exeunt.] |[Exeunt.] |

Act 3, Scene 3

|Cyprus. The Garden of the Castle. |Cyprus. The Garden of the Castle. |

| | |

|[Enter Desdemona, Cassio, and Emilia.] |[Enter Desdemona, Cassio, and Emilia.] |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do |Be assured, good Cassio, I will do |

|All my abilities in thy behalf. |All I can in your behalf. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Good madam, do: I warrant it grieves my husband |Good madam, please do. I guarantee you that it grieves |

|As if the cause were his. |My husband as if the cause were his. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|O, that's an honest fellow.--Do not doubt, Cassio, |O, that's an honest fellow. Don’t doubt it, Cassio, |

|But I will have my lord and you again |That I will have my lord and you |

|As friendly as you were. |As friendly again as you were. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Bounteous madam, |Generous madam, |

|Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio, |Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio, |

|He's never anything but your true servant. |He'll never be anything but your true servant. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|I know't,--I thank you. You do love my lord: |I know it. I thank you. You love my lord. |

|You have known him long; and be you well assur'd |You have known him a long time; and be assured |

|He shall in strangeness stand no farther off |He shall stand no farther off in strangeness |

|Than in a politic distance. |Than in a distance dictated by policy. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Ay, but, lady, |Yes, but, lady, |

|That policy may either last so long, |That policy may either last so long, |

|Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet, |Or feed on such nice and light diet, |

|Or breed itself so out of circumstance, |Or take itself so out of circumstance, |

|That, I being absent, and my place supplied, |That, with my absence and my place filled, |

|My general will forget my love and service. |My general will forget my love and service. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Do not doubt that; before Emilia here |Don’t doubt that; before Emilia here |

|I give thee warrant of thy place: assure thee, |I guarantee your place. I assure you, |

|If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it |That, If I promise a friendship, I'll deliver it |

|To the last article: my lord shall never rest; |To the very last point. My lord shall never rest; |

|I'll watch him tame, and talk him out of patience; |I'll watch him calmly, and talk him out of patience; |

|His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift; |His bed shall seem like a school, his meals a |

|I'll intermingle everything he does |confessional; I'll intermingle everything he does |

|With Cassio's suit: therefore be merry, Cassio; |With Cassio's suit. Therefore be happy, Cassio; |

|For thy solicitor shall rather die |Because your lawyer would rather die |

|Than give thy cause away. |Than lose your case. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Madam, here comes |Madam, here comes |

|My lord. |My lord. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Madam, I'll take my leave. |Madam, I'll leave. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Why, stay, |Why, stay, |

|And hear me speak. |And listen to me speak. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Madam, not now. I am very ill at ease, |Madam, not now. I am very uncomfortable, |

|Unfit for mine own purposes. |Unfit for my own intentions. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Well, do your discretion. |Well, have it your way. |

| | |

|[Exit Cassio.] |[Exit Cassio.] |

| | |

|[Enter Othello and Iago.] |[Enter Othello and Iago.] |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Ha! I like not that. |Ha! I don’t like that. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|What dost thou say? |What did you say? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Nothing, my lord: or if--I know not what. |Nothing, my lord. or if I don’t know what. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Was not that Cassio parted from my wife? |Wasn’t that Cassio leaving my wife? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it, |Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot believe |

|That he would steal away so guilty-like, |That he would steal away so guiltily, |

|Seeing you coming. |Seeing you coming. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I do believe 'twas he. |I do believe it was he. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|How now, my lord! |How now, my lord! |

|I have been talking with a suitor here, |I have been talking with a petitioner here, |

|A man that languishes in your displeasure. |A man that suffers greatly in your displeasure. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Who is't you mean? |Who is it you mean? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord, |Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. My good lord, |

|If I have any grace or power to move you, |If I have any grace or power to move you, |

|His present reconciliation take; |Take his present efforts to reconcile, |

|For if he be not one that truly loves you, |Because if he isn’t one that truly loves you, |

|That errs in ignorance and not in cunning, |That made a mistake by accident, not on purpose |

|I have no judgement in an honest face: |I cannot judge an honest face. |

|I pr'ythee, call him back. |I beg you, call him back. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Went he hence now? |Didn’t he just leave? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Ay, sooth; so humbled |Yes, truly, so humbled |

|That he hath left part of his grief with me |That he has left part of his grief with me |

|To suffer with him. Good love, call him back. |To suffer with him. Good love, call him back. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Not now, sweet Desdemon; some other time. |Not now, sweet Desdemon; some other time. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|But shall't be shortly? |But shall it be soon? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|The sooner, sweet, for you. |The sooner, sweet, for you. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Shall't be to-night at supper? |Shall it be tonight at supper? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|No, not to-night. |No, not tonight. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|To-morrow dinner then? |Tomorrow night at dinner then? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I shall not dine at home; |I won’t be eating at home; |

|I meet the captains at the citadel. |I have to meet the captains at the fortress. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Why then to-morrow night; or Tuesday morn; |Why then tomorrow night; or Tuesday morning; |

|On Tuesday noon, or night; on Wednesday morn:-- |On Tuesday noon, or night; on Wednesday morning. |

|I pr'ythee, name the time; but let it not |I beg you, name the time, but let it be |

|Exceed three days: in faith, he's penitent; |More than three days. in faith, he's very sorry; |

|And yet his trespass, in our common reason,-- |And yet his crime, in our common reason, |

|Save that, they say, the wars must make examples |Except that, they say, the wars must make examples |

|Out of their best,--is not almost a fault |Out of their best, is not almost a fault |

|To incur a private check. When shall he come? |To incur a private punishment. When shall he come? |

|Tell me, Othello: I wonder in my soul, |Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul |

|What you would ask me, that I should deny, |What you would ask me to do that I should deny, |

|Or stand so mammering on. What! Michael Cassio, |Or stand so hesitant about. What! Michael Cassio, |

|That came awooing with you; and so many a time, |That came with you to court me, and so many times, |

|When I have spoke of you dispraisingly, |When I have spoken about you insultingly, |

|Hath ta'en your part;--to have so much to do |Has taken your side. To have so much to do |

|To bring him in! Trust me, I could do much,-- |To bring him back! Trust me, I could do a lot. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Pr'ythee, no more; let him come when he will; |I beg you, no more. Let him come when he wants to. |

|I will deny thee nothing. |I will deny you nothing. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Why, this is not a boon; |Why, this is not a favor. |

|'Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves, |It’s as if I should beg you to wear your gloves, |

|Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm, |Or to eat better, or to keep yourself warm, |

|Or sue to you to do a peculiar profit |Or beg you to do a peculiar thing |

|To your own person: nay, when I have a suit |To yourself. No, when I have a favor to ask |

|Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed, |Where I mean to touch your love indeed, |

|It shall be full of poise and difficult weight, |It shall be full of confidence and heavy, |

|And fearful to be granted. |And fearful to be granted. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I will deny thee nothing: |I will deny you nothing. |

|Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this, |Where, I beg you, grant me this, |

|To leave me but a little to myself. |To leave me just a little to myself. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Shall I deny you? no: farewell, my lord. |Shall I deny you? No. farewell, my lord. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Farewell, my Desdemona: I'll come to thee straight. |Farewell, my Desdemona. I'll come to you right away. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Emilia, come.--Be as your fancies teach you; |Emilia, come. Be as your thoughts teach you; |

|Whate'er you be, I am obedient. |Whatever you are, I am obedient. |

| | |

|[Exit with Emilia.] |[Exit with Emilia.] |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul, |Excellent wretch! Destruction take my soul, |

|But I do love thee! and when I love thee not, |But I do love you! and when I don’t love you, |

|Chaos is come again. |Chaos comes back. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|My noble lord,-- |My noble lord. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|What dost thou say, Iago? |What do you say, Iago? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my lady, |Did Michael Cassio, when you courted my lady, |

|Know of your love? |Know about your love? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|He did, from first to last: why dost thou ask? |He did, from first to last. Why do you ask? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|But for a satisfaction of my thought; |Only to satisfy my thought, |

|No further harm. |No further harm. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Why of thy thought, Iago? |What bout your thought, Iago? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I did not think he had been acquainted with her. |I didn’t think he had been acquainted with her. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|O, yes; and went between us very oft. |O, yes; and went between us very often. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Indeed! |Indeed! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Indeed! ay, indeed:--discern'st thou aught in that? |Indeed! Yes, indeed. Do you see anything in that? |

|Is he not honest? |Isn’t he honest? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Honest, my lord! |Honest, my lord! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Honest! ay, honest. |Honest! Yes, honest. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|My lord, for aught I know. |My lord, for all I know. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|What dost thou think? |What do you think? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Think, my lord! |Think, my lord! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Think, my lord! |Think, my lord! |

|By heaven, he echoes me, |By heaven, he echoes me, |

|As if there were some monster in his thought |As if there were some monster in his thoughts |

|Too hideous to be shown.--Thou dost mean something: |Too hideous to be shown. You do mean something. |

|I heard thee say even now,--thou lik'dst not that, |I heard you say just now, you didn’t like that, |

|When Cassio left my wife. What didst not like? |When Cassio left my wife. What didn’t you like? |

|And when I told thee he was of my counsel |And when I told you he knew everything |

|In my whole course of wooing, thou criedst, "Indeed!" |In my whole time of courting, you cried, "Indeed!" |

|And didst contract and purse thy brow together, |And contracted and wrinkled your eyebrows together, |

|As if thou then hadst shut up in thy brain |As if you then had shut up some horrible lie |

|Some horrible conceit: if thou dost love me, |In your brain. If you do love me, |

|Show me thy thought. |Tell me what you were thinking. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|My lord, you know I love you. |My lord, you know I love you. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I think thou dost; |I think you do; |

|And,--for I know thou'rt full of love and honesty |And, because I know you are full of love and honesty |

|And weigh'st thy words before thou giv'st them breath,-- |And weigh your words carefully before saying them, |

|Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more: |These stops of yours frighten me even more, |

|For such things in a false disloyal knave |Because such things in a false, disloyal rogue |

|Are tricks of custom; but in a man that's just |Are tricks of custom, but in a man that's just |

|They're close delations, working from the heart, |They're hidden delays, working from the heart, |

|That passion cannot rule. |That passion cannot control. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|For Michael Cassio, |For Michael Cassio, |

|I dare be sworn I think that he is honest. |I would swear I think that he is honest. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I think so too. |I think so too. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Men should be what they seem; |Men should be what they seem; |

|Or those that be not, would they might seem none! |Or those that are not, I wish wouldn’t seem so! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Certain, men should be what they seem. |Certainly, men should be what they seem. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Why, then, I think Cassio's an honest man. |Why, then, I think Cassio's an honest man. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Nay, yet there's more in this: |No, there's still more in this. |

|I pr'ythee, speak to me as to thy thinkings, |I beg you, tell me what you’re thinking, |

|As thou dost ruminate; and give thy worst of thoughts |Because you are thinking something and give your worst |

|The worst of words. |of thoughts the worst of words. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Good my lord, pardon me: |My good lord, pardon me. |

|Though I am bound to every act of duty, |Although I am bound to every act of duty, |

|I am not bound to that all slaves are free to. |I’m not bound to that that even all slaves are free to. |

|Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile and false;-- |Speak my thoughts? Why, what if they are vile and false, |

|As where's that palace whereinto foul things |Where's that palace that foul things sometimes intrude? |

|Sometimes intrude not? who has a breast so pure |Who has a breast so pure |

|But some uncleanly apprehensions |That some unclean thoughts |

|Keep leets and law-days, and in session sit |Keep court records and legal holidays, and sit in session |

|With meditations lawful? |With lawful deliberations? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago, |You conspire against your friend, Iago, |

|If thou but think'st him wrong'd and mak'st his ear |If you only think him wronged and won’t let him be |

|A stranger to thy thoughts. |Anything but a stranger to your thoughts. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I do beseech you,-- |I do beg you, |

|Though I perchance am vicious in my guess, |Although I am, perhaps, vicious in my guess, |

|As, I confess, it is my nature's plague |As I confess it is a bad habit of mine |

|To spy into abuses, and of my jealousy |To look deeply into wrongs, and to find faults that aren’t |

|Shape faults that are not,--that your wisdom yet, |By my jealousy, that your wisdom still would take no |

|From one that so imperfectly conceits, |Notice from one that so imperfectly imagines things, |

|Would take no notice; nor build yourself a trouble |Or create a problem for yourself |

|Out of his scattering and unsure observance:-- |Out of his scattered and unsure observations. |

|It were not for your quiet nor your good, |It’s not good for your peace or your wellbeing, |

|Nor for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom, |Or for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom |

|To let you know my thoughts. |To let you know my thoughts. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|What dost thou mean? |What do you mean? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Good name in man and woman, dear my lord, |A good name in man and woman, my dear lord, |

|Is the immediate jewel of their souls: |Is the most precious jewel of their souls. |

|Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing; |Who steals my purse steals trash; it is something, |

|'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands; |nothing; it was mine, it’s his, and has been slave to |

|But he that filches from me my good name |thousands; But he that steals my good name from me |

|Robs me of that which not enriches him |Robs me of something that can’t possibly make him rich |

|And makes me poor indeed. |And which makes me poor indeed. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|By heaven, I'll know thy thoughts. |By heaven, I'll know you’re thinking. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|You cannot, if my heart were in your hand; |You cannot, unless my heart were in your hand, |

|Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody. |And that won’t happen while it is in my custody. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Ha! |Ha! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; |O, beware, my lord, jealousy; |

|It is the green-ey'd monster which doth mock |It is the green-eyed monster which makes a joke of |

|The meat it feeds on: that cuckold lives in bliss |The meat it feeds on. That deceived man lives in bliss |

|Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger; |Who, certain of his fate, doesn’t love who wronged him; |

|But O, what damned minutes tells he o'er |But O, what damned stories he tells about |

|Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves! |Who loves, but doubts, suspects, but strongly loves! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|O misery! |O misery! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Poor and content is rich, and rich enough; |To be poor and content is to be rich, and rich enough; |

|But riches fineless is as poor as winter |But endless riches are as poor as winter |

|To him that ever fears he shall be poor;-- |To him that always fears he shall be poor; |

|Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend |Good heaven, the souls of all my family defend me |

|From jealousy! |From jealousy! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Why, why is this? |Why, why is this? |

|Think'st thou I'd make a life of jealousy, |Do you think I'd make a life of jealousy |

|To follow still the changes of the moon |To follow still the changes of the moon |

|With fresh suspicions? No; to be once in doubt |With fresh suspicions? No, to be in doubt once |

|Is once to be resolv'd: exchange me for a goat |Is to be resolved once. Trade me for a goat |

|When I shall turn the business of my soul |When I shall turn the business of my soul |

|To such exsufflicate and blown surmises, |To such puffed up and blown suspicions, |

|Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me jealous, |Matching your suggestion. It won’t make me jealous, |

|To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company, |To say my wife is beautiful, cooks well, loves company, |

|Is free of speech, sings, plays, and dances well; |Is free of speech, sings, plays, and dances well; |

|Where virtue is, these are more virtuous: |Where virtue is, these are more virtuous. |

|Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw |And I won’t draw from my own weak merits |

|The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt; |The smallest fear or doubt of her turning against me, |

|For she had eyes and chose me. No, Iago; |Because she had eyes and chose me. No, Iago, |

|I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; |I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, I’ll need proof; |

|And on the proof, there is no more but this,-- |And on the proof, there is no more but this, |

|Away at once with love or jealousy! |To hell with love or jealousy at once! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I am glad of it; for now I shall have reason |I’m glad to hear it; because now I shall have reason |

|To show the love and duty that I bear you |To show the love and duty that I bear you |

|With franker spirit: therefore, as I am bound, |With a more open spirit. Therefore, as I am supposed to, |

|Receive it from me:--I speak not yet of proof. |Receive it from me. I don’t speak yet of proof. |

|Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio; |Look at your wife; observe her well with Cassio; |

|Wear your eye thus, not jealous nor secure: |Wear your eye like this, not jealous or secure. |

|I would not have your free and noble nature, |I would not have your free and noble nature, |

|Out of self-bounty, be abus'd; look to't. |Out of my own generosity, be abused; see it . |

|I know our country disposition well; |I know our country’s disposition well; |

|In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks |In Venice they let heaven see the pranks |

|They dare not show their husbands; their best conscience |They wouldn’t dare show their husbands; their best conscience |

|Is not to leave undone, but keep unknown. |Isn’t to leave it unfinished, but to keep it unknown. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Dost thou say so? |You say so? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|She did deceive her father, marrying you; |She deceived her father by marrying you; |

|And when she seem'd to shake and fear your looks, |And when she seemed to shake and fear your looks, |

|She loved them most. |She loved them most. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|And so she did. |And so she did. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Why, go to then; |Why, think about it then; |

|She that, so young, could give out such a seeming, |She that, so young, could give out such an appearance, |

|To seal her father's eyes up close as oak,-- |To seal her father's eyes up like oak. |

|He thought 'twas witchcraft,--but I am much to blame; |He thought it was witchcraft, but I am much to blame; |

|I humbly do beseech you of your pardon |I humbly beg your pardon |

|For too much loving you. |Because I was loving you too much. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I am bound to thee for ever. |I am bound to you forever. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I see this hath a little dash'd your spirits. |I see this has dashed your spirits a little. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Not a jot, not a jot. |Not a jot, not a jot. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Trust me, I fear it has. |Trust me, I fear it has. |

|I hope you will consider what is spoke |I hope you will consider that what I have spoken |

|Comes from my love; but I do see you're mov'd:-- |Comes from my love; but I see you're upset. |

|I am to pray you not to strain my speech |I beg you not to push my speech |

|To grosser issues nor to larger reach |To grosser issues or to reach beyond |

|Than to suspicion. |Mere suspicion. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I will not. |I will not. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Should you do so, my lord, |Should you do so, my lord, |

|My speech should fall into such vile success |My speech should fall into such vile things |

|Which my thoughts aim'd not. Cassio's my worthy friend:-- |That my thoughts are not aimed at. Cassio's my worthy |

|My lord, I see you're mov'd. |friend. My lord, I see you're upset. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|No, not much mov'd. |No, not too upset. |

|I do not think but Desdemona's honest. |I can only think that Desdemona's honest. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Long live she so! and long live you to think so! |Long live she so! and long live you to think so! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|And yet, how nature erring from itself,-- |And yet, how nature can wander from itself. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Ay, there's the point:--as,--to be bold with you,-- |Yes, there's the point. As, to be bold with you, |

|Not to affect many proposed matches, |Not to affect many promised engagements |

|Of her own clime, complexion, and degree, |Of her own kind, complexion, and degree, |

|Whereto we see in all things nature tends,-- |Where we see in all things nature tends to do, |

|Foh! one may smell in such a will most rank, |Damn! One may smell in such a will very rotten, |

|Foul disproportion, thoughts unnatural:-- |Dirty intentions, unnatural thoughts. |

|But pardon me: I do not in position |But pardon me. I don’t have the position |

|Distinctly speak of her; though I may fear, |To speak knowingly of her; although I may fear, |

|Her will, recoiling to her better judgement, |Her will, rebelling against her better judgment, |

|May fall to match you with her country forms, |May decide to match you with her countrymen, |

|And happily repent. |And happily repent her ways. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Farewell, farewell: |Farewell, farewell. |

|If more thou dost perceive, let me know more; |If more you see more, let me know more; |

|Set on thy wife to observe: leave me, Iago. |Ask your wife to observe her. Leave me, Iago. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|[Going.] My lord, I take my leave. |[Going.] My lord, I’m leaving. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Why did I marry?--This honest creature doubtless |Why did I get married? This honest creature undoubtedly |

|Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds. |Sees and knows more, much more, than he reveals. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|[Returning.] My lord, I would I might entreat your honour |[Returning.] My lord, I wish I might be your honor |

|To scan this thing no further; leave it to time: |To think about this thing no further; leave it to time. |

|Though it be fit that Cassio have his place,-- |Although it is proper that Cassio have his place, |

|For sure he fills it up with great ability,-- |Because he surely fills the job with great ability, |

|Yet, if you please to hold him off awhile, |Yet, if it would please you to hold him off a while, |

|You shall by that perceive him and his means: |You shall see him and his plans, |

|Note if your lady strain his entertainment |Note if your lady encourages you to consider his plea |

|With any strong or vehement importunity; |With any strong or violent persistence; |

|Much will be seen in that. In the meantime, |Much will be seen in that. In the meantime, |

|Let me be thought too busy in my fears,-- |Please think I am too occupied with my fears, |

|As worthy cause I have to fear I am,-- |As there are strong reasons to fear I am, |

|And hold her free, I do beseech your honour. |And consider her innocent, I beg your honor. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Fear not my government. |Don’t be afraid of what I think. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I once more take my leave. |Once more, I’m leaving. |

| | |

|[Exit.] |[Exit.] |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|This fellow's of exceeding honesty, |This fellow's exceedingly honesty, |

|And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit, |And knows all qualities, with an educated spirit, |

|Of human dealings. If I do prove her haggard, |Of human dealings. If I prove her unfaithful, |

|Though that her jesses were my dear heartstrings, |Although that her leashes were my dear heartstrings, |

|I'd whistle her off, and let her down the wind |I'd suddenly go away, and let her follow the wind |

|To prey at fortune. Haply, for I am black, |To plunder fortune. Maybe, because I am black, |

|And have not those soft parts of conversation |And don’t have those soft parts of conversation |

|That chamberers have; or for I am declin'd |That gentlemen have; or because I am getting |

|Into the vale of years,--yet that's not much,-- |Much older, still that's not much, |

|She's gone; I am abus'd, and my relief |She's already unfaithful; I am abused, and my relief |

|Must be to loathe her. O curse of marriage, |Must be to hate her. O curses on marriage, |

|That we can call these delicate creatures ours, |That we can call these delicate creatures ours, |

|And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad, |And not control their appetites! I had rather be a toad, |

|And live upon the vapor of a dungeon, |And live on the air of a dungeon, |

|Than keep a corner in the thing I love |Than keep a piece of the thing I love |

|For others' uses. Yet, 'tis the plague of great ones: |For others' uses. Still, it is the plague of great men, |

|Prerogativ'd are they less than the base; |They have fewer choices than common men; |

|'Tis destiny unshunnable, like death: |It is an unshakeable destiny, like death. |

|Even then this forked plague is fated to us |Even then, this double-edged disease is our fate |

|When we do quicken. Desdemona comes: |Before we are born. Desdemona comes. |

|If she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself!-- |If she is false, O, then heaven mocks itself! |

|I'll not believe't. |I'll not believe it . |

| | |

|[Re-enter Desdemona and Emilia.] |[Re-enter Desdemona and Emilia.] |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|How now, my dear Othello! |How are you, my dear Othello! |

|Your dinner, and the generous islanders |Your dinner and the generous islanders |

|By you invited, do attend your presence. |You invited, wait for your presence. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I am to blame. |I am to blame. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Why do you speak so faintly? |Why do you speak so softly? |

|Are you not well? |Are you unwell? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I have a pain upon my forehead here. |I have a pain on my forehead here. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Faith, that's with watching; 'twill away again; |Faith, that's because of watching; it will go away again; |

|Let me but bind it hard, within this hour |Just let me tie it hard with my napkin. Within this hour, |

|It will be well. |It will be well. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Your napkin is too little; |Your napkin is too little. |

| | |

|[He puts the handkerchief from him, and she drops it.] |[He puts the handkerchief from him, and she drops it.] |

| | |

|Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you. |Leave it alone. Come, I'll go in with you. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|I am very sorry that you are not well. |I am very sorry that you are not well. |

| | |

|[Exeunt Othello and Desdemona.] |[Exeunt Othello and Desdemona.] |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|I am glad I have found this napkin; |I am glad I have found this napkin. |

|This was her first remembrance from the Moor. |This was her first gift from the Moor. |

|My wayward husband hath a hundred times |My wayward husband has a hundred times |

|Woo'd me to steal it; but she so loves the token,-- |Begged me to steal it; but she so loves the token, |

|For he conjur'd her she should ever keep it,-- |Because he ordered her to keep it forever, |

|That she reserves it evermore about her |She keeps it always with her |

|To kiss and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out, |To kiss and talk to. I'll have the embroidery taken out, |

|And give't Iago: |And give it Iago. |

|What he will do with it heaven knows, not I; |What he will do with it heaven knows, I don’t; |

|I nothing but to please his fantasy. |I only give it to him to please him. |

| | |

|[Re-enter Iago.] |[Re-enter Iago.] |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|How now! what do you here alone? |What! Why are you here alone? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Do not you chide; I have a thing for you. |Don’t scold; I have something for you. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|A thing for me!--it is a common thing. |A thing for me! It is a common thing… |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Ha! |Ha! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|To have a foolish wife. |To have a foolish wife. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|O, is that all? What will you give me now |O, is that all? What will you give me now |

|For that same handkerchief? |For that same handkerchief? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|What handkerchief? |What handkerchief? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|What handkerchief! |What handkerchief! |

|Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona; |Why, the one that the Moor first gave to Desdemona; |

|That which so often you did bid me steal. |The one that you asked me so often to steal. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Hast stol'n it from her? |Have you stolen it from her? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|No, faith; she let it drop by negligence, |No, faith; she carelessly dropped it. |

|And, to the advantage, I being here, took't up. |And, to my advantage, since I was here, I picked it up. |

|Look, here it is. |Look, here it is. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|A good wench; give it me. |A good wench; give it to me. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|What will you do with't, that you have been so earnest |What will you do with it, that you have been so eager |

|To have me filch it? |For me to steal it? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|[Snatching it.] Why, what's that to you? |[Snatching it.] Why, what's that to you? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|If it be not for some purpose of import, |If it’s not for an important purpose, |

|Give't me again: poor lady, she'll run mad |Give it back to me again. Poor lady, she'll run mad |

|When she shall lack it. |When she misses it. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Be not acknown on't; I have use for it. |Mind your own business ; I have use for it. |

|Go, leave me. |Go, leave me. |

| | |

|[Exit Emilia.] |[Exit Emilia.] |

| | |

|I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin, |I will put this napkin in Cassio's room, |

|And let him find it. Trifles light as air |And let him find it. Trifles light as air |

|Are to the jealous confirmations strong |Are as strong a confirmation to the jealous |

|As proofs of holy writ: this may do something. |As proofs of the Bible. This may do something. |

|The Moor already changes with my poison: |The Moor already changes with my poison. |

|Dangerous conceits are in their natures poisons, |Dangerous ideas are poisons in their natures, |

|Which at the first are scarce found to distaste, |Which at the first are scarcely found to dislike, |

|But, with a little act upon the blood, |But, with a little action on the blood, |

|Burn like the mines of sulphur.--I did say so:-- |Burn like the mines of sulphur. I did say so. |

|Look, where he comes! |Look, here he comes! |

|Not poppy, nor mandragora, |Not poppy, nor mandragora, |

|Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world, |Nor all the drowsy drugs of the world, |

|Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep |Shall ever bring you that sweet sleep |

|Which thou ow'dst yesterday. |Which you had yesterday. |

| | |

|[Re-enter Othello.] |[Re-enter Othello.] |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Ha! ha! false to me? |Ha! ha! False to me? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Why, how now, general! no more of that. |Why, how are you, general! No more of that. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Avaunt! be gone! thou hast set me on the rack:-- |Go away! Be gone! You have put me on the rack of |

|I swear 'tis better to be much abus'd |Torture. I swear it is better to be much abused |

|Than but to know't a little. |Than only know it a little. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|How now, my lord! |What, my lord! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

| | |

|What sense had I of her stol'n hours of lust? |What sense did I have of her stolen hours of lust? |

|I saw't not, thought it not, it harm'd not me: |I didn’t see it, didn’t think it, it didn’t harm me. |

|I slept the next night well, was free and merry; |I slept well the next night, was free and merry; |

|I found not Cassio's kisses on her lips: |I didn’t find Cassio's kisses on her lips. |

|He that is robb'd, not wanting what is stol'n, |He that is robbed, not wanting what is stolen, |

|Let him not know't and he's not robb'd at all. |Don’t let him know it and he's not robbed at all. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I am sorry to hear this. |I am sorry to hear this. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I had been happy if the general camp, |I would’ve been happy if the entire camp, |

|Pioners and all, had tasted her sweet body, |Pioneers and all, had tasted her sweet body, |

|So I had nothing known. O, now, for ever |As long as I didn’t know about it. O, now, forever |

|Farewell the tranquil mind! farewell content! |Farewell to the peaceful mind! Farewell happiness! |

|Farewell the plumed troop and the big wars |Farewell to the plumed forces and the big wars |

|That make ambition virtue! O, farewell, |That make ambition a virtue! O, farewell, |

|Farewell the neighing steed and the shrill trump, |Farewell the neighing horse and the shrill trumpet, |

|The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife, |The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife, |

|The royal banner, and all quality, |The royal banner, and all goodness, |

|Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war! |Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war! |

|And, O you mortal engines, whose rude throats |And, O you mortal device, whose rude throats |

|The immortal Jove's dread clamors counterfeit, |Pretend to be the immortal Jove's dread clamors, |

|Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone! |Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Is't possible, my lord?-- |Is it possible, my lord? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore;-- |Villain, be sure you prove my love a whore; |

|[Taking him by the throat.] |[Taking him by the throat.] |

|Be sure of it. Give me the ocular proof; |Be sure of it. Give me the proof I can see; |

|Or, by the worth of man's eternal soul, |Or, by the worth of man's eternal soul, |

|Thou hadst been better have been born a dog |You would’ve been better born a dog |

|Than answer my wak'd wrath! |Than answer my aroused anger! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Is't come to this? |Has it come to this? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Make me to see't; or at the least so prove it, |Make me see it ; or at the least prove it so |

|That the probation bear no hinge nor loop |That the accusation has no hinges or loops |

|To hang a doubt on; or woe upon thy life! |To hang a doubt on, or woe on your life! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|My noble lord,-- |My noble lord… |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|If thou dost slander her and torture me, |If you slander her and torture me, |

|Never pray more; abandon all remorse; |Never pray again; abandon all sorrow; |

|On horror's head horrors accumulate; |On your horrible head horrors will accumulate; |

|Do deeds to make heaven weep, all earth amaz'd; |Do deeds to make heaven weep, amaze all earth, |

|For nothing canst thou to damnation add |Because nothing you can add to damnation |

|Greater than that. |Will be greater than that. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|O grace! O heaven defend me! |O grace! O heaven defend me! |

|Are you a man? have you a soul or sense?-- |Are you a man? Have you got a soul or sense? |

|God be wi' you; take mine office.--O wretched fool, |God be with you; take my job. O wretched fool, |

|That liv'st to make thine honesty a vice!-- |That lives to make your honesty a vice! |

|O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O world, |O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O world, |

|To be direct and honest is not safe.-- |To be direct and honest is not safe. |

|I thank you for this profit; and from hence |I thank you for this lesson; and from this point forward, |

|I'll love no friend, sith love breeds such offense. |I'll love no friend, since love breeds such contempt. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Nay, stay:--thou shouldst be honest. |No, stay. you should be honest. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I should be wise; for honesty's a fool, |I should be wise, because honesty's a fool, |

|And loses that it works for. |And loses what it works for. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|By the world, |By the world, |

|I think my wife be honest, and think she is not; |I think my wife is honest, and think she is not; |

|I think that thou art just, and think thou art not: |I think that you are just, and think you are not. |

|I'll have some proof: her name, that was as fresh |I'll have some proof. Her name, that was as fresh |

|As Dian's visage, is now begrim'd and black |As Diana's face, is now as grimy and black |

|As mine own face.--If there be cords or knives, |As my own face. If there are ropes or knives, |

|Poison or fire, or suffocating streams, |Poison or fire, or suffocating streams, |

|I'll not endure 't.--Would I were satisfied! |I'll not endure it. I wish I were satisfied! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I see, sir, you are eaten up with passion: |I see, sir, you are eaten up with passion. |

|I do repent me that I put it to you. |I am sorry that I told you. |

|You would be satisfied? |You would be satisfied? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Would! nay, I will. |Would? No, I will. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|And may: but how? how satisfied, my lord? |And may. But how? How satisfied, my lord? |

|Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on,-- |Would you, the planner, grossly look on, |

|Behold her tupp'd? |See her being screwed? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Death and damnation! O! |Death and damnation! O! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|It were a tedious difficulty, I think, |It’s a lengthy problem, I think, |

|To bring them to that prospect: damn them then, |To bring them to that event. Damn them then, |

|If ever mortal eyes do see them bolster |If ever mortal eyes see them in any bed |

|More than their own! What then? how then? |Other than their own! What then? How then? |

|What shall I say? Where's satisfaction? |What shall I say? Where's satisfaction? |

|It is impossible you should see this |It is impossible that you should see this |

|Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys, |If they were as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys, |

|As salt as wolves in pride, and fools as gross |As salty as wolves in a pride, and fools as disgusting |

|As ignorance made drunk. But yet, I say, |As ignorance made drunk. But still, I say, |

|If imputation and strong circumstances,-- |If suggestion and strong circumstances |

|Which lead directly to the door of truth,-- |Which lead directly to the door of truth, |

|Will give you satisfaction, you may have't. |Will give you satisfaction, you may have it. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Give me a living reason she's disloyal. |Give me a living reason why she's unfaithful. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I do not like the office; |I don’t like the job; |

|But, sith I am enter'd in this cause so far,-- |But, since I am entered already so far into this cause, |

|Prick'd to it by foolish honesty and love,-- |Encouraged to it by foolish honesty and love, |

|I will go on. I lay with Cassio lately; |I will go on. I slept with Cassio lately, |

|And, being troubled with a raging tooth, |And, being troubled with a raging tooth, |

|I could not sleep. |I could not sleep. |

|There are a kind of men so loose of soul, |There are a kind of men so loose of soul, |

|That in their sleeps will mutter their affairs: |That in their sleeps will speak about their affairs. |

|One of this kind is Cassio: |Cassio is one of this kind. |

|In sleep I heard him say, "Sweet Desdemona, |In his sleep, I heard him say, "Sweet Desdemona, |

|Let us be wary, let us hide our loves"; |Let’s be careful, let’s hide our loves," |

|And then, sir, would he gripe and wring my hand, |And then, sir, he griped and wrung my hand, |

|Cry, "O sweet creature!" and then kiss me hard, |Crying, "O sweet creature!" and then kissed me hard, |

|As if he pluck'd up kisses by the roots, |As if he pulled up kisses by their roots |

|That grew upon my lips: then laid his leg |That grew on my lips. Then he laid his leg |

|Over my thigh, and sigh'd and kiss'd; and then |Over my thigh, and sighed and kissed; and then |

|Cried, "Cursed fate that gave thee to the Moor!" |Cried, "Cursed fate that gave you to the Moor!" |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|O monstrous! monstrous! |O monstrous! Monstrous! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Nay, this was but his dream. |No, this was only his dream. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|But this denoted a foregone conclusion: |But this indicated a foregone conclusion. |

|'Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream. |It is a evil doubt, although it is only a dream. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|And this may help to thicken other proofs |And this may help to support other proofs |

|That do demonstrate thinly. |That look questionable. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I'll tear her all to pieces. |I'll tear her all to pieces. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Nay, but be wise: yet we see nothing done; |No, only be wise. We see nothing done yet. |

|She may be honest yet. Tell me but this,-- |She may be honest yet. Tell me but this, |

|Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief |Haven’t you sometimes seen a handkerchief |

|Spotted with strawberries in your wife's hand? |Spotted with strawberries in your wife's hand? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I gave her such a one; 'twas my first gift. |I gave her such a one; it was my first gift. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I know not that: but such a handkerchief,-- |I don’t know that. but such a handkerchief, |

|I am sure it was your wife's,--did I today |I am sure it was your wife's, did I today |

|See Cassio wipe his beard with. |See Cassio wipe his beard with. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|If it be that,-- |If it is that,,, |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|If it be that, or any that was hers, |If it is that, or any that was hers, |

|It speaks against her with the other proofs. |It speaks against her with the other proofs. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|O, that the slave had forty thousand lives,-- |O, that that slave had forty thousand lives, |

|One is too poor, too weak for my revenge! |One is too poor, too weak for my revenge! |

|Now do I see 'tis true.--Look here, Iago; |Now I see it is true. Look here, Iago; |

|All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven: |All my fond love like this do I blow to heaven. |

|'Tis gone.-- |It is gone. |

|Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow hell! |Arise, black vengeance, from your hollow hell! |

|Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne |Yield up, O love, your crown and hearted throne |

|To tyrannous hate! swell, bosom, with thy fraught, |To tyrannous hate! Swell, bosom, with your fury, |

|For 'tis of aspics' tongues! |Because it is from lavender’s tongues! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Yet be content. |Yet calm down. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|O, blood, Iago, blood! |O, blood, Iago, blood! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Patience, I say; your mind perhaps may change. |Patience, I say; your mind may perhaps change. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Never, Iago. Like to the Pontic Sea, |Never, Iago. Like the Pontic Sea, |

|Whose icy current and compulsive course |Whose icy current and compulsive course |

|Ne'er feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on |Never feels a low ebb but keeps straight on |

|To the Propontic and the Hellespont; |To the Propontic and the Hellespont Oceans, |

|Even so my bloody thoughts, with violent pace, |Even so my bloody thoughts, with violent pace, |

|Shall ne'er look back, ne'er ebb to humble love, |Shall never look back, never ebb to humble love, |

|Till that a capable and wide revenge |Unless a capable and wide revenge |

|Swallow them up.--Now, by yond marble heaven, |Swallow them up. Now, by marble heaven above, |

|In the due reverence of a sacred vow |In the reverence due a sacred vow |

|[Kneels.] |[Kneels.] |

|I here engage my words. |I here engage my words |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Do not rise yet.-- |Don’t rise yet. |

|[Kneels.] |[Kneels.] |

|Witness, you ever-burning lights above, |Witness, you ever-burning lights above, |

|You elements that clip us round about,-- |You elements that hit us round about, |

|Witness that here Iago doth give up |Witness that here Iago does give up |

|The execution of his wit, hands, heart, |The execution of his wit, hands, heart, |

|To wrong'd Othello's service! Let him command, |To wronged Othello's service! Let him command, |

|And to obey shall be in me remorse, |And it shall be penance for me to obey, |

|What bloody business ever. |Whatever the bloody business is. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I greet thy love, |I welcome your love, |

|Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance bounteous, |Not with empty thanks, but with generous acceptance, |

|And will upon the instant put thee to't: |And will put you to it instantly. |

|Within these three days let me hear thee say |Within these three days let me hear you say |

|That Cassio's not alive. |That Cassio's not alive. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|My friend is dead; 'tis done at your request: |My friend is dead; it is done at your request. |

|But let her live. |But let her live. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her! |Damn her, lewd cat! O, damn her! |

|Come, go with me apart; I will withdraw |Come, go aside with me; I will leave so I can |

|To furnish me with some swift means of death |Equip me with some swift means of death |

|For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant. |For the beautiful devil. Now you are my lieutenant. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I am your own for ever. |I am your own forever. |

| | |

|[Exeunt.] |[Exeunt.] |

Act 3, Scene 4

|Cyprus. Before the Castle. |Cyprus. Before the Castle. |

| | |

|[Enter Desdemona, Emilia, and Clown.] |[Enter Desdemona, Emilia, and Clown.] |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Do you know, sirrah, where Lieutenant Cassio lies? |Do you know, servant, where Lieutenant Cassio lies? |

| | |

|CLOWN. |CLOWN. |

|I dare not say he lies anywhere. |I dare not say he lies anywhere. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Why, man? |Why, man? |

| | |

|CLOWN. |CLOWN. |

|He's a soldier; and for one to say a soldier lies is |He's a soldier; and for one to say a soldier lies is |

|stabbing. |stabbing him. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Go to: where lodges he? |OK. Where doe he live? |

| | |

|CLOWN. |CLOWN. |

|To tell you where he lodges is to tell you where I lie. |To tell you where he lives is to tell you where I lie. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Can anything be made of this? |Can anything be made out of this? |

| | |

|CLOWN. |CLOWN. |

|I know not where he lodges; and for me to devise a |I don’t know where he lives; and for me to make up a |

|lodging, and say he lies here or he lies there were to lie in |lodging, and say he lies here or he lies there is to lie in |

|mine own throat. |my own throat. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Can you inquire him out, and be edified by report? |Can you ask about him and be satisfied by the reports? |

| | |

|CLOWN. |CLOWN. |

|I will catechize the world for him; that is, make |I will preach to the world for him; that is, make |

|questions and by them answer. |questions and answer them. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Seek him, bid him come hither: tell him I have moved |Seek him, bid him come here. Tell him I have moved |

|my lord on his behalf, and hope all will be well. |my lord on his behalf, and hope all will be well. |

| | |

|CLOWN. |CLOWN. |

|To do this is within the compass of man's wit; and |To do this is within the scope of man's wit, and |

|therefore I will attempt the doing it. |therefore, I will attempt to do it. |

| | |

|[Exit.] |[Exit.] |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia? |Where should I have lost that handkerchief, Emilia? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|I know not, madam. |I don’t know, madam. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Believe me, I had rather have lost my purse |Believe me, I would rather have lost my purse |

|Full of crusadoes: and, but my noble Moor |Full of money, and, except that my noble Moor |

|Is true of mind and made of no such baseness |Is true of mind and made of no such lowness |

|As jealous creatures are, it were enough |As jealous creatures are, it would be enough |

|To put him to ill thinking. |To put him to ill thinking. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Is he not jealous? |Isn’t he jealous? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Who, he? I think the sun where he was born |Who, he? I think the sun where he was born |

|Drew all such humours from him. |Took all such humors out of him. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Look, where he comes. |Look, here he comes. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|I will not leave him now till Cassio |I will not leave him now until Cassio |

|Be call'd to him. |Is called to him. |

| | |

|[Enter Othello.] |[Enter Othello.] |

| | |

|How is't with you, my lord? |How is it with you, my lord? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Well, my good lady.--[Aside.] O, hardness to dissemble!-- |Well, my good lady. [Aside.] O, hardness to lie! |

|How do you, Desdemona? |How are you, Desdemona? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Well, my good lord. |Well, my good lord. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Give me your hand: this hand is moist, my lady. |Give me your hand. This hand is moist, my lady. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|It yet hath felt no age nor known no sorrow. |It still hasn’t felt age or known any sorrow. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|This argues fruitfulness and liberal heart:-- |This indicates fruitfulness and a liberal heart. |

|Hot, hot, and moist: this hand of yours requires |Hot, hot, and moist. This hand of yours requires |

|A sequester from liberty, fasting, and prayer, |A vacation from liberty, fasting, and prayer, |

|Much castigation, exercise devout; |Much punishment, holy exercise, |

|For here's a young and sweating devil here |Because here's a young and sweating devil here |

|That commonly rebels. 'Tis a good hand, |That commonly rebels. It is a good hand, |

|A frank one. |An open one. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|You may, indeed, say so; |You may, indeed, say so, |

|For 'twas that hand that gave away my heart. |Because it was that hand that gave away my heart. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|A liberal hand: the hearts of old gave hands; |A liberal hand. The hearts of old gave hands, |

|But our new heraldry is hands, not hearts. |But our new code of behavior is hands, not hearts. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|I cannot speak of this. Come now, your promise. |I cannot speak about this. Come now, your promise. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|What promise, chuck? |What promise, dear? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|I have sent to bid Cassio come speak with you. |I have sent to bid Cassio to come and speak with you. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I have a salt and sorry rheum offends me; |I have salty and sorry tears that bother me; |

|Lend me thy handkerchief. |Lend me your handkerchief. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Here, my lord. |Here, my lord. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|That which I gave you. |The one I gave you. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|I have it not about me. |I don’t have it with me. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Not? |No? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|No, faith, my lord. |No, faith, my lord. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|That is a fault. |That is a mistake. |

|That handkerchief |An Egyptian |

|Did an Egyptian to my mother give; |Gave that handkerchief to my mother; |

|She was a charmer, and could almost read |She cast charms and could almost read |

|The thoughts of people: she told her, while she kept it, |The thoughts of people. She told her, that, while she kept |

|'Twould make her amiable and subdue my father |It, it would make her sweet and soften my father |

|Entirely to her love; but if she lost it |Entirely to her love; but if she lost it |

|Or made a gift of it, my father's eye |Or made a gift of it, my father's eye |

|Should hold her loathed, and his spirits should hunt |Should see her as hateful, and his spirits should hunt |

|After new fancies: she, dying, gave it me; |After new loves. My mother, dying, gave it to me, |

|And bid me, when my fate would have me wive, |And asked me, when my fate would have me marry, |

|To give it her. I did so: and take heed on't; |To give it to my wife. I did so. And take heed about it. |

|Make it a darling like your precious eye; |Make it as darling as your precious eye. |

|To lose't or give't away were such perdition |To lose it or give it away is such complete destruction |

|As nothing else could match. |That nothing else could match it. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Is't possible? |Is it possible? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|'Tis true: there's magic in the web of it: |It is true. There's magic in the weave of it. |

|A sibyl, that had number'd in the world |A witch who had been in the world |

|The sun to course two hundred compasses, |About two hundred years, |

|In her prophetic fury sew'd the work; |Did the embroidery work in her prophetic fury. |

|The worms were hallow'd that did breed the silk; |The worms were sacred that made the silk; |

|And it was dy'd in mummy which the skillful |And it was dyed in a liquid which the skillful |

|Conserv'd of maiden's hearts. |Had saved from maiden's hearts. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Indeed! is't true? |Indeed! Is it true? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Most veritable; therefore look to't well. |Very true; therefore look well for it. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Then would to God that I had never seen't! |Then I wish to God that I had never seen it! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Ha! wherefore? |Ha! Why? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Why do you speak so startingly and rash? |Why do you speak so haltingly and angrily? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Is't lost? is't gone? speak, is it out of the way? |Is it lost? Is it gone? Speak, is it missing? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Heaven bless us! |Heaven bless us! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Say you? |What do you say? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|It is not lost; but what an if it were? |It is not lost; but what if it were? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|How! |How! |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|I say, it is not lost. |I say, it is not lost. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Fetch't, let me see't. |Go get it, let me see it . |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Why, so I can, sir, but I will not now. |Why, so I can, sir, but I won’t now. |

|This is a trick to put me from my suit: |This is a trick to distract me from my request. |

|Pray you, let Cassio be receiv'd again. |I beg you, let Cassio be welcomed again. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Fetch me the handkerchief: my mind misgives. |Get me the handkerchief. My mind senses doubt. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Come, come; |Come, come; |

|You'll never meet a more sufficient man. |You'll never meet a more capable man. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|The handkerchief! |The handkerchief! |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|I pray, talk me of Cassio. |I beg you, talk to me about Cassio. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|The handkerchief! |The handkerchief! |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|A man that all his time |A man that all his life |

|Hath founded his good fortunes on your love, |Has founded his good fortunes on your love, |

|Shar'd dangers with you,-- |Shared dangers with you, |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|The handkerchief! |The handkerchief! |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|In sooth, you are to blame. |In truth, you are to blame. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Away! |Go away! |

| | |

|[Exit.] |[Exit.] |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Is not this man jealous? |This man isn’t jealous? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|I ne'er saw this before. |I never saw this before. |

|Sure there's some wonder in this handkerchief; |Surely there's some magic in this handkerchief; |

|I am most unhappy in the loss of it. |I am very unhappy at the loss of it. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|'Tis not a year or two shows us a man: |It’s not a year or two shows us a man. |

|They are all but stomachs and we all but food: |They are all only stomachs and we all only food. |

|They eat us hungerly, and when they are full, |They eat us hungrily, and when they are full, |

|They belch us.--Look you,--Cassio and my husband. |They belch us. Look, Cassio and my husband. |

| | |

|[Enter Cassio and Iago.] |[Enter Cassio and Iago.] |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|There is no other way; 'tis she must do't: |There is no other way. She must do it . |

|And, lo, the happiness! go and importune her. |And, behold, the happiness! Go and beg her. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|How now, good Cassio! what's the news with you? |Hello, good Cassio! what's the news with you? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Madam, my former suit: I do beseech you |Madam, my former favor. I beg you |

|That by your virtuous means I may again |That I may again exist, |

|Exist, and be a member of his love, |By your virtuous means, and be a member of his love, |

|Whom I, with all the office of my heart, |Whom I, with all the duty of my heart, |

|Entirely honour: I would not be delay'd. |Entirely honor. I would not be delayed. |

|If my offence be of such mortal kind |If my offense is of such mortal kind |

|That nor my service past, nor present sorrows, |That my past service or present sorrows, |

|Nor purpos'd merit in futurity, |Or something I can do in the future, |

|Can ransom me into his love again, |Can restore his love to me again, |

|But to know so must be my benefit; |My benefit must be only to know it. |

|So shall I clothe me in a forc'd content, |So I shall dress in a forced happiness, |

|And shut myself up in some other course, |And put myself to some other work, |

|To fortune's alms. |To fortune's charity. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Alas, thrice-gentle Cassio! |Alas, thrice-gentle Cassio! |

|My advocation is not now in tune; |My pleading is out of tune right now; |

|My lord is not my lord; nor should I know him |My lord is not my lord; and I wouldn’t know him |

|Were he in favour as in humour alter'd. |If he were he in favor as changed in disposition. |

|So help me every spirit sanctified, |So every holy spirit help me, |

|As I have spoken for you all my best, |As I have spoken all my best for you, |

|And stood within the blank of his displeasure |And stood shocked at his displeasure |

|For my free speech! You must awhile be patient: |Over my free speech! You must be patient a while. |

|What I can do I will; and more I will |What I can do, I will; and I will do as much more |

|Than for myself I dare: let that suffice you. |Than I dare do for myself. Let that satisfy you. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Is my lord angry? |Is my lord angry? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|He went hence but now, |He went just left, |

|And certainly in strange unquietness. |And certainly in a strange state of upset. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon, |Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon, |

|When it hath blown his ranks into the air |Blow up his own brother when it has blown his ranks into |

|And, like the devil, from his very arm |The air and, like the devil, from his very arm; |

|Puff'd his own brother;--and can he be angry? |And can he be angry? |

|Something of moment, then: I will go meet him: |Something of the moment, then. I will go meet him. |

|There's matter in't indeed if he be angry. |There's something to it indeed if he’s angry. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|I pr'ythee, do so. |I beg you, do so. |

| | |

|[Exit Iago.] |[Exit Iago.] |

| | |

|Something sure of state,-- |Surely it’s some matter of state, |

|Either from Venice or some unhatch'd practice |Either from Venice or some minor problem |

|Made demonstrable here in Cyprus to him,-- |Shown to him here in Cyprus, |

|Hath puddled his clear spirit, and in such cases |That has muddied his clear spirit, and in such cases |

|Men's natures wrangle with inferior things, |Men's natures fight with inferior things, |

|Though great ones are their object. 'Tis even so; |Although their object is great ones. It’s even so true |

|For let our finger ache, and it indues |That we let our finger ache and it infects |

|Our other healthful members even to that sense |Our other healthful members, even to the point |

|Of pain: nay, we must think men are not gods, |Of pain. No, we must not think men are gods, |

|Nor of them look for such observancy |Or look to them for such observations |

|As fits the bridal.--Beshrew me much, Emilia, |As suit a bride. Scold me a lot, Emilia, |

|I was,--unhandsome warrior as I am,-- |I was, unhandsome warrior as I am, |

|Arraigning his unkindness with my soul; |Charging his unkindness with a crime of my soul; |

|But now I find I had suborn'd the witness, |But now I find I had falsely testified, |

|And he's indicted falsely. |And he's falsely accused. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Pray heaven it be state matters, as you think, |Pray heaven it is state matters, as you think, |

|And no conception nor no jealous toy |And no plot or no jealous reason |

|Concerning you. |Concerning you. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Alas the day, I never gave him cause! |Alas the day, I never gave him reason! |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|But jealous souls will not be answer'd so; |But jealous souls will not be answered that way; |

|They are not ever jealous for the cause, |They are not ever jealous for a reason, |

|But jealous for they are jealous: 'tis a monster |But jealous because they are jealous. it is a monster |

|Begot upon itself, born on itself. |Fathered by itself, born of itself. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Heaven keep that monster from Othello's mind! |Heaven keep that monster from Othello's mind! |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Lady, amen. |Lady, amen. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|I will go seek him.--Cassio, walk hereabout: |I’ll go find him. Cassio, walk around here. |

|If I do find him fit, I'll move your suit, |If I do find him fit, I'll ask for your favor, |

|And seek to effect it to my uttermost. |And try to get it done the best way I can. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|I humbly thank your ladyship. |I humbly thank your ladyship. |

| | |

|[Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia.] |[Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia.] |

| | |

|[Enter Bianca.] |[Enter Bianca.] |

| | |

|BIANCA. |BIANCA. |

|Save you, friend Cassio! |Save you, friend Cassio! |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|What make you from home? |What are doing away from home? |

|How is it with you, my most fair Bianca? |How are you, my very beautiful Bianca? |

|I'faith, sweet love, I was coming to your house. |Actually, sweet love, I was just coming to your house. |

| | |

|BIANCA. |BIANCA. |

|And I was going to your lodging, Cassio. |And I was going to your room, Cassio. |

|What, keep a week away? seven days and nights? |What, keep a week away? Seven days and nights? |

|Eight score eight hours? and lovers' absent hours, |One hundred sixty-eight hours? and lovers' absent hours |

|More tedious than the dial eight score times? |Being more tedious than the clock one hundred sixty |

|O weary reckoning! |times? O weary calculations! |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Pardon me, Bianca: |Pardon me, Bianca. |

|I have this while with leaden thoughts been press'd; |I have been pressed with leaden thoughts all this time, |

|But I shall in a more continuate time |But I shall wipe off this score of absence at a better time, |

|Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca, |Sweet Bianca, |

| | |

|[Giving her Desdemona's handkerchief.] |[Giving her Desdemona's handkerchief.] |

| | |

|Take me this work out. |Take this work out for me. |

| | |

|BIANCA. |BIANCA. |

|O Cassio, whence came this? |O Cassio, where did you get this? |

|This is some token from a newer friend. |This is some gift from a newer girlfriend. |

|To the felt absence now I feel a cause: |Now I feel a reason to this long absence. |

|Is't come to this? Well, well. |Has it come to this? Well, well. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Go to, woman! |Come one, woman! |

|Throw your vile guesses in the devil's teeth, |Throw your vile guesses into the devil's teeth, |

|From whence you have them. You are jealous now |From where you got them. You are jealous now |

|That this is from some mistress, some remembrance: |That this is from some mistress, some gift. |

|No, in good troth, Bianca. |No, in good truth, Bianca. |

| | |

|BIANCA. |BIANCA. |

|Why, whose is it? |Why, whose is it? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|I know not neither: I found it in my chamber. |I don’t know either. I found it in my bedroom. |

|I like the work well: ere it be demanded,-- |I really like the work. Before it has to be given back, |

|As like enough it will,--I'd have it copied: |As it’s likely it will be, I’d like to have it copied. |

|Take it, and do't; and leave me for this time. |Take it, and do it, and leave me for this time. |

| | |

|BIANCA. |BIANCA. |

|Leave you! wherefore? |Leave you! Why? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|I do attend here on the general; |I’m waiting here for the general, |

|And think it no addition, nor my wish, |And I don’t think it would help, and it’s not my wish, |

|To have him see me woman'd. |To have him see me talking with a woman. |

| | |

|BIANCA. |BIANCA. |

|Why, I pray you? |Why, I beg you ? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Not that I love you not. |Not that I don’t love you. |

| | |

|BIANCA. |BIANCA. |

|But that you do not love me. |But it’s that you don’t love me. |

|I pray you, bring me on the way a little; |I beg you, walk with me on the way a little; |

|And say if I shall see you soon at night. |And say if I shall see you later tonight. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|'Tis but a little way that I can bring you, |I can only walk with you a little way, |

|For I attend here: but I'll see you soon. |Because I’m waiting here. but I'll see you soon. |

| | |

|BIANCA. |BIANCA. |

|'Tis very good; I must be circumstanc'd. |That’s very good; I must be patient. |

| | |

|[Exeunt.] |[Exeunt.] |

Othello | Act 4, Scene 1

|Cyprus. Before the Castle. |Cyprus. Before the Castle. |

| | |

|[Enter Othello and Iago.] |[Enter Othello and Iago.] |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Will you think so? |Will you think so? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Think so, Iago? |Think so, Iago? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|What, |What, |

|To kiss in private? |To kiss in private? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|An unauthoriz'd kiss. |An unauthorized kiss. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Or to be naked with her friend in bed |Or to be naked with her friend in bed |

|An hour or more, not meaning any harm? |An hour or more, not meaning any harm? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Naked in bed, Iago, and not mean harm! |Naked in bed, Iago, and not mean harm! |

|It is hypocrisy against the devil: |It is hypocrisy against the devil. |

|They that mean virtuously and yet do so, |They that mean it virtuously and still do so, |

|The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt heaven. |The devil tempts their virtue, and they tempt heaven. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|So they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip: |So they do nothing, It is a minor slip. |

|But if I give my wife a handkerchief,-- |But if I give my wife a handkerchief… |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|What then? |What then? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Why, then, 'tis hers, my lord, and being hers, |Why, then, it is hers, my lord, and being hers, |

|She may, I think, bestow't on any man. |She may, I think, give it to any man. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|She is protectress of her honour too: |She is protectress of her honor too. |

|May she give that? |May she give that? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Her honour is an essence that's not seen; |Her honor is an essence that's not seen; |

|They have it very oft that have it not: |They that don’t have it, have it very often. |

|But, for the handkerchief,-- |But, for the handkerchief… |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it:-- |By heaven, I would have very gladly forgotten it. |

|Thou said'st,--O, it comes o'er my memory, |You said, O, it comes over my memory, |

|As doth the raven o'er the infected house, |As the raven flies over the infected house, |

|Boding to all,--he had my handkerchief. |Announcing to all, he had my handkerchief. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Ay, what of that? |Yes, what of that? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|That's not so good now. |That's not so good now. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|What, |What, |

|If I had said I had seen him do you wrong? |If I had said I had seen him do you wrong? |

|Or heard him say,--as knaves be such abroad, |Or heard him say, as rogues abroad do, |

|Who having, by their own importunate suit, |Who having convinced or supplied them, |

|Or voluntary dotage of some mistress, |By their own pressing suit, |

|Convinced or supplied them, cannot choose |Or voluntary love of some Mistress, cannot choose |

|But they must blab,-- |But to blab. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Hath he said anything? |Has he said anything? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|He hath, my lord; but be you well assur'd, |He has, my lord; but be well assured, |

|No more than he'll unswear. |No more than he'll deny. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|What hath he said? |What has he said? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Faith, that he did,--I know not what he did. |Faith, that he did, I don’t know what he did. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|What? what? |What? what? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Lie,-- |Lie. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|With her? |With her? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|With her, on her, what you will. |With her, on her, whatever you want to think. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Lie with her! lie on her!--We say lie on her when they |Lie with her! Lie on her! We say lie on her when they |

|belie her.--Lie with her! that's fulsome.--Handkerchief- |belie her. Lie with her! that's sickening. Handkerchief, |

|-confessions--handkerchief!--To confess, and be hanged |Confessions, handkerchief! To confess, and be hanged |

|for his labour,--first, to be hanged, and then to confess.--I |for his labor, first, to be hanged, and then to confess.—I |

|tremble at it. Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing |tremble at it. Nature would not invest herself in such |

|passion without some instruction. It is not words that shake me |shadowing passion without some reason. It is not words |

|thus:--pish!--noses, ears, and lips.--Is't possible?--Confess,-- |that shake me like this. Rubbish! Noses, ears, and lips. Is |

|handkerchief!--O devil!-- |it possible? Confess, handkerchief! O devil! |

| | |

|[Falls in a trance.] |[Falls in a trance.] |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Work on, |Work on, |

|My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught; |My medicine, work! Believing fools are caught like this; |

|And many worthy and chaste dames even thus, |And many worthy and chaste dames just like this, All |

|All guiltless, meet reproach.--What, ho! my lord! |innocent, meet punishment. What, ho! my lord! my lord, I |

|My lord, I say! Othello! |say! Othello! |

| | |

|[Enter Cassio.] |[Enter Cassio.] |

| | |

|How now, Cassio! |How are you, Cassio! |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|What's the matter? |What's the matter? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|My lord is fallen into an epilepsy: |My lord is fallen into an epileptic fit. |

|This is his second fit; he had one yesterday. |This is his second fit; he had one yesterday. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Rub him about the temples. |Rub him around the temples. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|No, forbear; |No, don’t; |

|The lethargy must have his quiet course: |The disease must run its quiet course. |

|If not, he foams at mouth, and by and by |If not, he foams at mouth, and by and by |

|Breaks out to savage madness. Look, he stirs: |Breaks out to savage madness. Look, he’s coming to. |

|Do you withdraw yourself a little while, |Step aside and hide yourself a little while, |

|He will recover straight: when he is gone, |He will recover right away. When he is gone, |

|I would on great occasion speak with you. |I would like to speak with you urgently. |

| | |

|[Exit Cassio.] |[Exit Cassio.] |

| | |

|How is it, general? have you not hurt your head? |How is it, general? Haven’t hurt your head? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Dost thou mock me? |Do you make fun of me? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I mock you! no, by heaven. |I make fun of you! No, by heaven. |

|Would you would bear your fortune like a man! |I wish you would bear your luck like a man! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|A horned man's a monster and a beast. |An adulterer's a monster and a beast |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|There's many a beast, then, in a populous city, |There's many a beast, then, in a crowded city, |

|And many a civil monster. |And many a civil monster. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Did he confess it? |Did he confess it? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Good sir, be a man; |Good sir, be a man; |

|Think every bearded fellow that's but yok'd |Do you think every bearded fellow that wears a harness |

|May draw with you: there's millions now alive |May be driven by you? There's millions now alive |

|That nightly lie in those unproper beds |That nightly lie in those adulterous beds which they dare |

|Which they dare swear peculiar: your case is better. |To swear is the first time. Your case is better. |

|O, 'tis the spite of hell, the fiend's arch-mock, |O, it is the spite of hell, the fiend's high mockery, |

|To lip a wanton in a secure couch, |To kiss a whore on a safe couch, |

|And to suppose her chaste! No, let me know; |And to suppose her to be chaste! No, let me know; |

|And knowing what I am, I know what she shall be. |And knowing what I am, I know what she shall be. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|O, thou art wise; 'tis certain. |O, you are wise; that is certain. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Stand you awhile apart; |Stand you aside a while; |

|Confine yourself but in a patient list. |Restrict yourself only in patient way. |

|Whilst you were here o'erwhelmed with your grief,-- |While you were being overwhelmed here by your grief, |

|A passion most unsuiting such a man,-- |A passion very unsuitable to such a man, |

|Cassio came hither: I shifted him away, |Cassio came here. I sent him away, |

|And laid good 'scuse upon your ecstasy; |And gave him a good excuse for your fit; |

|Bade him anon return, and here speak with me; |I told him to come back soon and speak here with me; |

|The which he promis'd. Do but encave yourself, |Which he promised to do. Only hide yourself, |

|And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorns, |And mark the sneers, the taunts, and outstanding scorns, |

|That dwell in every region of his face; |That dwell in every region of his face, |

|For I will make him tell the tale anew,-- |Because I will make him tell the story as if it were new, |

|Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when |About where, how, how often, how long ago, and when |

|He hath, and is again to cope your wife: |He has had, and is again to have, sex with your wife. |

|I say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience; |I say only notice his gestures. By Mary, have patience; |

|Or I shall say you are all in all in spleen, |Or I shall say you are totally in a temper, |

|And nothing of a man. |And not a man. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Dost thou hear, Iago? |Do you hear me, Iago? |

|I will be found most cunning in my patience; |I will be found very cunning in my patience; |

|But,--dost thou hear?--most bloody. |But, do you hear me? Very bloody. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|That's not amiss; |There’s nothing wrong with that, |

|But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw? |But still be patient in all. Will you leave and hide? |

| | |

|[Othello withdraws.] |[Othello withdraws.] |

| | |

|Now will I question Cassio of Bianca, |Now I will question Cassio about Bianca, |

|A housewife that, by selling her desires, |A housewife that, by selling her desires, |

|Buys herself bread and clothes: it is a creature |Buys herself bread and clothes. It is a creature |

|That dotes on Cassio,--as 'tis the strumpet's plague |That dotes on Cassio, as it is the whore's disease |

|To beguile many and be beguil'd by one:-- |To trick many and be tricked by one. |

|He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain |He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain |

|From the excess of laughter:--here he comes:-- |From excessive laughter. Here he comes. |

|As he shall smile Othello shall go mad; |As he smiles, Othello shall go crazy; |

|And his unbookish jealousy must construe |And his ignorant jealousy must interpret |

|Poor Cassio's smiles, gestures, and light behavior |Poor Cassio's smiles, gestures, and happy behavior |

|Quite in the wrong. |All wrong. |

| | |

|[Re-enter Cassio.] |[Re-enter Cassio.] |

| | |

|How do you now, lieutenant? |How are you now, lieutenant? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|The worser that you give me the addition |The worse that you give me the additional information |

|Whose want even kills me. |Whose lack of information even kills me. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Ply Desdemona well, and you are sure on't. |Persist with Desdemona well, and you are sure of it . |

|Now, if this suit lay in Bianca's power, [Speaking lower.] |Now, if this promise was in Bianca's power, [Speaking |

|How quickly should you speed! |lower.] How quickly you would you succeed! |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Alas, poor caitiff! |Alas, poor wretch! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|[Aside.] Look, how he laughs already! |[Aside.] Look, how he laughs already! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I never knew a woman love man so. |I never knew a woman could love man so. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Alas, poor rogue! I think, i'faith, she loves me. |Alas, poor rogue! I think, in faith, she loves me. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|[Aside.] Now he denies it faintly and laughs it out. |[Aside.] Now he denies it faintly and laughs it out. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Do you hear, Cassio? |Do you hear me, Cassio? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|[Aside.] Now he importunes him |[Aside.] Now he urges him |

|To tell it o'er: go to; well said, well said. |To tell it again. Do it, it’s well said, well said. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|She gives it out that you shall marry her: |She’s telling everyone that you shall marry her. |

|Do you intend it? |Do you intend to? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Ha, ha, ha! |Ha, ha, ha! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|[Aside.] Do you triumph, Roman? do you triumph? |[Aside.] Do you win, Roman? Do you win? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|I marry her!--what? A customer! I pr'ythee, bear some |Me marry her! What? A customer! I beg you, have some |

|charity to my wit; do not think it so unwholesome:--ha, ha, ha! |charity for my wit; don’t think it is so unwholesome. ha, ha, ha! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|[Aside.] So, so, so, so: they laugh that win. |[Aside.] So, so, so, so. They laugh that win. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Faith, the cry goes that you shall marry her. |Faith, the rumor goes that you shall marry her. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Pr'ythee, say true. |I beg you, tell the truth. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I am a very villain else. |I am a very villain if I don’t. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|[Aside.] Have you scored me? Well. |[Aside.] Have you played me? Well. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|This is the monkey's own giving out: she is persuaded I |This is the monkey's own rumor. She is persuaded I |

|will marry her, out of her own love and flattery, not out of |will marry her, out of her own love and flattery, not out |

|my promise. |because of my promise. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|[Aside.] Iago beckons me; now he begins the story. |[Aside.] Iago beckons me; now he begins the story. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|She was here even now; she haunts me in every place. I |She was here even now; she haunts me in every place. I |

|was the other day talking on the sea bank with certain |was talking on the sea bank with certain Venetians the |

|Venetians, and thither comes the bauble, and falls thus |other day, and here comes the little gem, and falls like |

|about my neck,-- |this around my neck |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|[Aside.] Crying, "O dear Cassio!" as it were: his gesture imports |[Aside.] Crying, "O dear Cassio!" as it were. His gestures |

|it. |suggest it. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|So hangs, and lolls, and weeps upon me; so hales and |So hangs, and lolls, and weeps on me; so hales and pulls |

|pulls me: ha, ha, ha! |me. Ha, ha, ha! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|[Aside.] Now he tells how she plucked him to my chamber. |[Aside.] Now he tells how she brought him to my |

|O, I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I |bedroom. O, I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I |

|shall throw it to. |shall throw it to. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Well, I must leave her company. |Well, I must leave her company. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Before me! look where she comes. |Before me! Look, here she comes. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|'Tis such another fitchew! marry, a perfumed one. |It’s another such polecat! By Mary, a perfumed one. |

| | |

|[Enter Bianca.] |[Enter Bianca.] |

| | |

|What do you mean by this haunting of me? |What do you mean by this haunting of me? |

| | |

|BIANCA. |BIANCA. |

|Let the devil and his dam haunt you! What did you mean |Let the devil and his dam haunt you! What did you mean |

|by that same handkerchief you gave me even now? I was a fine |by that same handkerchief you just gave me? I was a fine |

|fool to take it. I must take out the work?--A likely piece of |fool to take it. I must take out the embroidery? A likely |

|work that you should find it in your chamber and not know who |piece of work that you should find it in your bedroom and |

|left it there! This is some minx's token, and I must take out the |not know who left it there! This is some cat's gift, and I |

|work? There,--give it your hobby-horse: wheresoever you had it, |must take out the work? There, give it to your whore. |

|I'll take out no work on't. |Wherever you had it, I won’t take out any embroidery. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|How now, my sweet Bianca! how now! how now! |Come now, my sweet Bianca! Come now! Come now! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|[Aside.] By heaven, that should be my handkerchief! |[Aside.] By heaven, that’s my handkerchief! |

| | |

|BIANCA. |BIANCA. |

|An you'll come to supper to-night, you may; an you will |If you'll come to supper tonight, you may; if you will not, |

|not, come when you are next prepared for. |come when you are next ready to. |

| | |

|[Exit.] |[Exit.] |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|After her, after her. |After her, after her. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Faith, I must; she'll rail in the street else. |Faith, I must, or else she'll raise a ruckus in the street. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Will you sup there? |Will you have dinner there? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Faith, I intend so. |Faith, I intend to. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Well, I may chance to see you; for I would very fain |Well, I maybe I’ll see you; because I would very gladly |

|speak with you. |speak with you. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Pr'ythee, come; will you? |I beg you, come; will you? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Go to; say no more. |OK, say no more. |

| | |

|[Exit Cassio.] |[Exit Cassio.] |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|[Coming forward.] How shall I murder him, Iago? |[Coming forward.] How shall I murder him, Iago? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice? |Did you see how he laughed at his sin? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|O Iago! |O Iago! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|And did you see the handkerchief? |And did you see the handkerchief? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Was that mine? |Was that mine? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Yours, by this hand: and to see how he prizes the foolish |Yours, I swear. And to see how he prizes the foolish |

|woman your wife! she gave it him, and he hath given it |woman, your wife! She gave it him, and he has given it |

|his whore. |his whore. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I would have him nine years a-killing.--A fine woman! a fair |I would take nine years to kill him. A fine woman! A |

|woman! a sweet woman! |beautiful woman! A sweet woman! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Nay, you must forget that. |No, you must forget that. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damned to-night; for |Yes, let her rot, and die, and be damned tonight; because |

|she shall not live: no, my heart is turned to stone; I strike |she shall not live. No, my heart is turned to stone; I hit |

|it, and it hurts my hand.--O, the world hath not a sweeter |it, and it hurts my hand. O, the world has not a sweeter |

|creature: she might lie by an emperor's side, and command him |creature. She might lie by an emperor's side and order |

|tasks. |him to work. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Nay, that's not your way. |No, that's not your way. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Hang her! I do but say what she is:--so delicate with her |Hang her! I only say what she is. So delicate with her |

|needle!--an admirable musician! O, she will sing the |needle! An admirable musician! O, she will sing the |

|savageness out of a bear!--Of so high and plenteous wit |savageness out of a bear! Of so high and full intelligence |

|and invention!-- |and imagination! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|She's the worse for all this. |She's the worse for all this. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|O, a thousand, a thousand times:--and then, of so gentle a |O, a thousand, a thousand times. and then, of so gentle a |

|condition! |disposition! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Ay, too gentle. |Yes, too gentle. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Nay, that's certain:--but yet the pity of it, Iago! |No, that's certain. but yet the pity of it, Iago! |

|O Iago, the pity of it, Iago! |O Iago, the pity of it, Iago! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her patent to |If you’re so fond of her sin, give her permission to offend; |

|offend; for, if it touch not you, it comes near nobody. |because, if it doesn’t affect you, it affects nobody. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I will chop her into messes.--Cuckold me! |I will chop her into pieces. Unfaithful to me! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|O, 'tis foul in her. |O, it is evil in her. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|With mine officer! |With my officer! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|That's fouler. |That's even more evil. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Get me some poison, Iago; this night.--I'll not expostulate |Get me some poison, Iago; this night. I'll not argue with |

|with her, lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again:-- |her, should her body and beauty change my mind again. |

|this night, Iago. |this night, Iago. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Do it not with poison; strangle her in her bed, even the |Don’t do it with poison. Strangle her in her bed, even the |

|bed she hath contaminated. |bed she has contaminated. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Good, good: the justice of it pleases: very good. |Good, good. The justice of it pleases me. Very good. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|And for Cassio,--let me be his undertaker:--you shall hear |And for Cassio, let me be his undertaker. You shall hear |

|more by midnight. |more by midnight. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Excellent good. [A trumpet within.] What trumpet is that same? |Excellent good. [A trumpet within.] What trumpet is that one? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Something from Venice, sure. 'Tis Lodovico |Something from Venice, surely. It is Lodovico |

|Come from the duke: and, see, your wife is with him. |Come from the duke. And, see, your wife is with him. |

| | |

|[Enter Lodovico, Desdemona, and Attendants.] |[Enter Lodovico, Desdemona, and Attendants.] |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|Save you, worthy general! |God save you, worthy general! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|With all my heart, sir. |With all my heart, sir. |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|The duke and senators of Venice greet you. |The duke and senators of Venice greet you. |

| | |

|[Gives him a packet.] |[Gives him a packet.] |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I kiss the instrument of their pleasures. |I kiss the instrument of their desires. |

| | |

|[Opens the packet and reads.] |[Opens the packet and reads.] |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|And what's the news, good cousin Lodovico? |And what's the news, good cousin Lodovico? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I am very glad to see you, signior; |I am very glad to see you, Signior; |

|Welcome to Cyprus. |Welcome to Cyprus. |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|I thank you. How does Lieutenant Cassio? |I thank you. How does Lieutenant Cassio? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Lives, sir. |He lives, sir. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Cousin, there's fall'n between him and my lord |Cousin, there's an angry break up that’s fallen between |

|An unkind breach: but you shall make all well. |him and my lord, but you shall make all well. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Are you sure of that? |Are you sure of that? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|My lord? |My lord? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|[Reads.] "This fail you not to do, as you will,--" |[Reads.] "Don’t fail to do this, as you will. " |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|He did not call; he's busy in the paper. |He didn’t call; he's busy with the paper. |

|Is there division 'twixt my lord and Cassio? |Is there division between my lord and Cassio? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|A most unhappy one: I would do much |A very unhappy one. I would do a lot |

|To atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio. |To reconcile them, for the love I bear to Cassio. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Fire and brimstone! |Fire and brimstone! |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|My lord? |My lord? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Are you wise? |Are you wise? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|What, is he angry? |What, is he angry? |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|May be the letter mov'd him; |May be the letter upset him; |

|For, as I think, they do command him home, |Because, I think, they command him to come home, |

|Deputing Cassio in his government. |Making Cassio governor in his place. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Trust me, I am glad on't. |Trust me, I am glad about it . |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Indeed! |Indeed! |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|My lord? |My lord? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I am glad to see you mad. |I am glad to see you angry. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Why, sweet Othello,-- |Why, sweet Othello… |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Devil! [Striking her.] |Devil! [Striking her.] |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|I have not deserv'd this. |I have not deserved this. |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|My lord, this would not be believ'd in Venice, |My lord, this would not be believed in Venice, |

|Though I should swear I saw't: 'tis very much: |Although I could swear I saw it. It is too much. |

|Make her amends; she weeps. |Apologize to her; she weeps. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|O devil, devil! |O devil, devil! |

|If that the earth could teem with woman's tears, |If the earth could be flooded with woman's tears, |

|Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile.-- |Each drop she lets fall would prove to be a crocodile. |

|Out of my sight! |Out of my sight! |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|[Going.] I will not stay to offend you. |[Going.] I will not stay to offend you. |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|Truly, an obedient lady:-- |Truly, an obedient lady. |

|I do beseech your lordship, call her back. |I beg your lordship, call her back. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Mistress! |Mistress! |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|My lord? |My lord? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|What would you with her, sir? |What do you want with her, sir? |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|Who, I, my lord? |Who, I, my lord? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Ay; you did wish that I would make her turn: |Yes; you wished that I would make her return. |

|Sir, she can turn, and turn, and yet go on, |Sir, she can turn, and turn, and yet go on, |

|And turn again; and she can weep, sir, weep; |And turn again; and she can weep, sir, weep; |

|And she's obedient, as you say,--obedient,-- |And she's obedient, as you say, obedient, |

|Very obedient.--Proceed you in your tears.-- |Very obedient. Proceed with your tears. |

|Concerning this, sir,--O well-painted passion! |Concerning this, sir, O well-painted passion! |

|I am commanded home.--Get you away; |I am commanded home. Go away; |

|I'll send for you anon.--Sir, I obey the mandate, |I'll send for you soon. Sir, I obey the mandate, |

|And will return to Venice.--Hence, avaunt! |And will return to Venice. Away, get going! |

| | |

|[Exit Desdemona.] |[Exit Desdemona.] |

| | |

|Cassio shall have my place. And, sir, to-night, |Cassio shall take my place. And, sir, tonight, |

|I do entreat that we may sup together: |I beg you that we may dine together. |

|You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus.--Goats and monkeys! |You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus. Goats and monkeys! |

| | |

|[Exit.] |[Exit.] |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate |Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate |

|Call all-in-all sufficient? Is this the nature |Said had it all? Is this the nature |

|Whom passion could not shake? whose solid virtue |That passion could not shake? Whose solid virtue |

|The shot of accident nor dart of chance |Could be neither grazed nor pierced by |

|Could neither graze nor pierce? |The shot of accident or dart of fate? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|He is much chang'd. |He is very changed. |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|Are his wits safe? is he not light of brain? |Is he sane? He’s not sick in the brain? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|He's that he is: I may not breathe my censure |He's what he is. I may not breathe my criticism of |

|What he might be,--if what he might he is not,-- |What he might be. If what he might he is not, |

|I would to heaven he were! |I wish to heaven he were! |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|What, strike his wife! |What, strike his wife! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Faith, that was not so well; yet would I knew |Faith, that was not good; still I wish I knew if |

|That stroke would prove the worst! |That stroke would prove to be the worst! |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|Is it his use? |Is it his habit? |

|Or did the letters work upon his blood, |Or did the letters work on his blood, |

|And new-create this fault? |And newly create this fault? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Alas, alas! |Alas, alas! |

|It is not honesty in me to speak |It is not honesty in me to discuss |

|What I have seen and known. You shall observe him; |What I have seen and known. You shall observe him, |

|And his own courses will denote him so |And his own actions will so show him |

|That I may save my speech: do but go after, |That I may save my speech. But follow him, |

|And mark how he continues. |And watch how he goes on. |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|I am sorry that I am deceiv'd in him. |I am sorry that I was wrong about him. |

| | |

|[Exeunt.] |[Exeunt.] |

Bottom of Form

Act 4, Scene 2

|Cyprus. A Room in the Castle. |Cyprus. A Room in the Castle. |

| | |

|[Enter Othello and Emilia.] |[Enter Othello and Emilia.] |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|You have seen nothing, then? |You have seen nothing, then? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Nor ever heard, nor ever did suspect. |Not ever heard, or ever suspected. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Yes, you have seen Cassio and she together. |Yes, you have seen Cassio and her together. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|But then I saw no harm, and then I heard |But then I saw no harm, and then I heard |

|Each syllable that breath made up between them. |Each syllable that was exchanged between them. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|What, did they never whisper? |What, did they never whisper? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Never, my lord. |Never, my lord. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Nor send you out o' the way? |Nor send you out of the way? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Never. |Never. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor nothing? |To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, or anything? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Never, my lord. |Never, my lord. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|That's strange. |That's strange. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest, |I dare, my lord, to bet that she is honest, |

|Lay down my soul at stake: if you think other, |Burn me at the stake. If you think otherwise, |

|Remove your thought,--it doth abuse your bosom. |Remove your thought. It abuses your heart. |

|If any wretch have put this in your head, |If any wretch has put this in your head, |

|Let heaven requite it with the serpent's curse! |Let heaven repay them with the serpent's curse! |

|For if she be not honest, chaste, and true, |Because if she is not honest, chaste, and true, |

|There's no man happy; the purest of their wives |There's no man happy; the purest of their wives |

|Is foul as slander. |Is wicked as the leis about them. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Bid her come hither.--Go. |Bid her come here. Go. |

| | |

|[Exit Emilia.] |[Exit Emilia.] |

| | |

|She says enough; yet she's a simple bawd |She says enough; yet she's a simple rabbit |

|That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore, |That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore, |

|A closet-lock-and-key of villainous secrets: |A closet-lock-and-key of villainous secrets. |

|And yet she'll kneel and pray; I have seen her do't. |And yet she'll kneel and pray; I’ve seen her do it . |

| | |

|[Enter Emilia with Desdemona.] |[Enter Emilia with Desdemona.] |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|My lord, what is your will? |My lord, what is your will? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Pray, chuck, come hither. |Please, dear, come here. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|What is your pleasure? |What is your pleasure? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Let me see your eyes; |Let me see your eyes; |

|Look in my face. |Look into my face. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|What horrible fancy's this? |What horrible desire is this? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Some of your function, mistress, [To Emilia.] |Some of your function, mistress, [To Emilia.] |

|Leave procreants alone and shut the door; |Leave procreators alone and shut the door; |

|Cough, or cry hem, if anybody come. |Cough, or cry, “a- hem,” if anybody comes. |

|Your mystery, your mystery;--nay, despatch. |Your mystery, your mystery; no, leave. |

| | |

|[Exit Emilia.] |[Exit Emilia.] |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Upon my knees, what doth your speech import? |On my knees, what does your speech mean? |

|I understand a fury in your words, |I understand a fury in your words, |

|But not the words. |But not the words. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Why, what art thou? |Why, what are you? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Your wife, my lord; your true and loyal wife. |Your wife, my lord; Your true and loyal wife. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Come, swear it, damn thyself; |Come, swear it, damn yourself; |

|Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves |Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves |

|Should fear to seize thee: yherefore be double-damn'd.-- |Should fear to seize you. Therefore be double-damned, |

|Swear thou art honest. |Swear you are honest. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Heaven doth truly know it. |Heaven does truly know it. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell. |Heaven truly knows that you are as false as hell. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|To whom, my lord? with whom? how am I false? |To whom, my lord? With whom? How am I false? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|O Desdemona!--away! away! away! |O Desdemona! Away! Away! Away! |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Alas the heavy day!--Why do you weep? |Alas the heavy day! Why do you cry? |

|Am I the motive of these tears, my lord? |Am I the motive for these tears, my lord? |

|If haply you my father do suspect |If you maybe suspect my father is |

|An instrument of this your calling back, |An instrument of this calling you back, |

|Lay not your blame on me: if you have lost him, |Don’t lay your blame on me. If you have lost him, |

|Why, I have lost him too. |Why, I have lost him too. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Had it pleas'd heaven |Had it pleased heaven |

|To try me with affliction; had they rain'd |To test me with troubles, had they rained |

|All kinds of sores and shames on my bare head; |All kinds of sores and shames on my bare head, |

|Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips; |Soaked me in poverty to my very lips, |

|Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes; |Enslaved me and my utmost ambitions, |

|I should have found in some place of my soul |I should have found in some place of my soul |

|A drop of patience: but, alas, to make me |A drop of patience. But, alas, to make me |

|A fixed figure for the time, for scorn |A figure of example to the age, for scorn |

|To point his slow unmoving finger at!-- |To point his slow unmoving finger at! |

|Yet could I bear that too; well, very well: |Yet I could bear that too, well, very well. |

|But there, where I have garner'd up my heart; |But there, where I have put my heart away, |

|Where either I must live or bear no life,-- |Where I must either live or have no life. |

|The fountain from the which my current runs, |The fountain from the which my current runs, |

|Or else dries up; to be discarded thence! |Dries up otherwise; to be discarded like this! |

|Or keep it as a cistern for foul toads |Or keep it as a jug to hold dirty toads |

|To knot and gender in!--turn thy complexion there, |To knot and give birth in! Turn your face there, |

|Patience, thou young and rose-lipp'd cherubin,-- |Patience, you young and rose-lipped archangel, |

|Ay, there, look grim as hell! |Yes, there, look as grim as hell! |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|I hope my noble lord esteems me honest. |I hope my noble lord believes I am faithful. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|O, ay; as summer flies are in the shambles, |O, yes; as summer flies are in the swamps, |

|That quicken even with blowing. O thou weed, |That move quickly even with blowing. O you weed, |

|Who art so lovely fair, and smell'st so sweet, |Who are so lovely beautiful, and smell so sweet, |

|That the sense aches at thee,--would thou hadst ne'er been |That the sense aches at you, I wish you had never been |

|born! |born! |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed? |Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Was this fair paper, this most goodly book, |Was this beautiful paper, this very excellent book, |

|Made to write whore upon? What committed! |Made to write “whore” on? What sin committed! |

|Committed!--O thou public commoner! |Committed! O you public commoner! |

|I should make very forges of my cheeks, |I should make very fires of my cheeks |

|That would to cinders burn up modesty, |Burn modesty into ashes, |

|Did I but speak thy deeds.--What committed! |If I only spoke your deeds. What committed! |

|Heaven stops the nose at it, and the moon winks; |Heaven thumbs its nose at it, and the moon winks; |

|The bawdy wind, that kisses all it meets, |The obscene wind that kisses all it meets |

|Is hush'd within the hollow mine of earth, |Is quiet within the hollow tunnels of earth, |

|And will not hear it.--What committed!-- |And will not hear it. What committed! |

|Impudent strumpet! |Impudent prostitute! |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|By heaven, you do me wrong. |By heaven, you do me wrong. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Are not you a strumpet? |Aren’t you a prostitute? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|No, as I am a Christian: |No, as I am a Christian. |

|If to preserve this vessel for my lord |If to preserve this body for my lord |

|From any other foul unlawful touch |From any other evil unlawful touch |

|Be not to be a strumpet, I am none. |Is not to be a prostitute, I am none. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|What, not a whore? |What, not a whore? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|No, as I shall be sav'd. |No, as I shall be saved. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Is't possible? |Is it possible? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|O, heaven forgive us! |O, heaven forgive us! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I cry you mercy then: |I beg your mercy then. |

|I took you for that cunning whore of Venice |I took you for that cunning whore of Venice |

|That married with Othello.--You, mistress, |That married with Othello. You, mistress, |

|That have the office opposite to Saint Peter, |That have the office next to Saint Peter, |

|And keep the gate of hell! |And keep the gate of hell! |

| | |

|[Re-enter Emilia.] |[Re-enter Emilia.] |

| | |

|You, you, ay, you! |You, you, yes, you! |

|We have done our course; there's money for your pains: |We have done our business; there's money for your |

|I pray you, turn the key, and keep our counsel. |pains. I beg you, turn the key, and keep our secrets. |

| | |

|[Exit.] |[Exit.] |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Alas, what does this gentleman conceive?-- |Alas, what does this gentleman mean? |

|How do you, madam? how do you, my good lady? |How are you, madam? How are you, my good lady? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Faith, half asleep. |Faith, half asleep. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Good madam, what's the matter with my lord? |Good madam, what's the matter with my lord? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|With who? |With who? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Why, with my lord, madam. |Why, with my lord, madam. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Who is thy lord? |Who is your lord? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|He that is yours, sweet lady. |He that is yours, sweet lady. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|I have none: do not talk to me, Emilia; |I have none. Don’t talk to me, Emilia; |

|I cannot weep; nor answer have I none |I cannot weep, and I don’t have any answers, |

|But what should go by water. Pr'ythee, to-night |Except what should go by water. I beg you, tonight |

|Lay on my bed my wedding sheets,--remember;-- |Lay my wedding sheets on my bed, remember? |

|And call thy husband hither. |And I’ll call your husband here. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Here's a change indeed! |Here's a change indeed! |

| | |

|[Exit.] |[Exit.] |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|'Tis meet I should be us'd so, very meet. |It’s right I should be used this way, very right. |

|How have I been behav'd, that he might stick |How have I behaved, that he might put |

|The small'st opinion on my least misuse? |The smallest opinion on my least misconduct? |

| | |

|[Re-enter Emilia with Iago.] |[Re-enter Emilia with Iago.] |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|What is your pleasure, madam? How is't with you? |What is your pleasure, madam? How is it with you? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|I cannot tell. Those that do teach young babes |I cannot tell. Those that teach young babies |

|Do it with gentle means and easy tasks: |Do it with gentle ways and easy tasks. |

|He might have chid me so; for in good faith, |He might have scolded me that way, because, in good |

|I am a child to chiding. |faith, I am a child to scolding. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|What's the matter, lady? |What's the matter, lady? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Alas, Iago, my lord hath so bewhor'd her, |Alas, Iago, my lord has accused her of being a prostitute, |

|Thrown such despite and heavy terms upon her, |Thrown such angry and horrible words at her, |

|As true hearts cannot bear. |As true hearts cannot bear. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Am I that name, Iago? |Am I that name, Iago? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|What name, fair lady? |What name, beautiful lady? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Such as she says my lord did say I was. |Such as she says my lord said I was. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|He call'd her whore: a beggar in his drink |He called her whore. A drunken beggar |

|Could not have laid such terms upon his callet. |Could not have laid such terms on his prostitute. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Why did he so? |Why did he do it? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|I do not know; I am sure I am none such. |I don’t know; I am sure I am no one like that. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Do not weep, do not weep:--alas the day! |Don’t weep, don’t weep. alas the day! |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Hath she forsook so many noble matches, |She has abandoned so many noble matches, |

|Her father, and her country, and her friends, |Her father, and her country, and her friends, |

|To be call'd whore? would it not make one weep? |To be called whore? Wouldn’t it make one weep? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|It is my wretched fortune. |It is my wretched luck. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Beshrew him for't! |Curse him for it ! |

|How comes this trick upon him? |How did this trick come on him? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Nay, heaven doth know. |No, only heaven knows. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|I will be hang'd, if some eternal villain, |I will be hanged, if some eternal villain, |

|Some busy and insinuating rogue, |Some busy and insinuating rogue, |

|Some cogging, cozening slave, to get some office, |Some scheming, lying slave, to get some job, |

|Have not devis'd this slander; I'll be hang'd else. |Hasn’t made up this slander, or else, I'll be hanged. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Fie, there is no such man; it is impossible. |Damn, there is no such man; it is impossible. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|If any such there be, heaven pardon him! |If there is a man like that, heaven pardon him! |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|A halter pardon him! and hell gnaw his bones! |A noose pardon him! And hell chew on his bones! |

|Why should he call her whore? who keeps her company? |Why should he call her whore? who keeps her company? |

|What place? what time? what form? what likelihood? |What place? what time? what form? what likelihood? |

|The Moor's abused by some most villainous knave, |The Moor's abused by some very villainous rogue, |

|Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow:-- |Some base notorious rogue, some scurvy fellow. |

|O heaven, that such companions thou'dst unfold, |O heaven, that you would expose such companions, |

|And put in every honest hand a whip |And put a whip in every honest hand |

|To lash the rascals naked through the world |To whip the rascals naked throughout the world, |

|Even from the east to the west! |Even from the east to the west! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Speak within door. |Speak behind the door. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|O, fie upon them! some such squire he was |O, damn on them! He was some such squire |

|That turn'd your wit the seamy side without, |That turned your wit inside out, |

|And made you to suspect me with the Moor. |And made you to suspect me of sleeping with the Moor. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|You are a fool; go to. |You are a fool; be quiet. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Alas, Iago, |Alas, Iago, |

|What shall I do to win my lord again? |What shall I do to win my lord again? |

|Good friend, go to him; for by this light of heaven, |Good friend, go to him; because, by this light of heaven, |

|I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel:-- |I don’t know how I lost him. Here I kneel. |

|If e'er my will did trespass 'gainst his love, |If ever my will did sin against his love, |

|Either in discourse of thought or actual deed; |Either in thinking or by actual deed; |

|Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense, |Or that my eyes, my ears, or any sense, |

|Delighted them in any other form; |Delighted themselves in any other man, |

|Or that I do not yet, and ever did, |Or that I don’t yet, or ever did, |

|And ever will, though he do shake me off |Or ever will, although he shakes me off |

|To beggarly divorcement,--love him dearly, |To a beggarly divorce, love him dearly, |

|Comfort forswear me! Unkindness may do much; |Comfort perjure me! Unkindness may do much, |

|And his unkindness may defeat my life, |And his unkindness may kill my life, |

|But never taint my love. I cannot say whore,-- |But never taint my love. I cannot say “whore,” |

|It does abhor me now I speak the word; |It shocks me now that I speak the word; |

|To do the act that might the addition earn |To do the act? Earning the addition of |

|Not the world's mass of vanity could make me. |The world's mass of vanity couldn’t make me.. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I pray you, be content; 'tis but his humour: |I beg you, be content; it is only his mood. |

|The business of the state does him offence, |The business of the state upsets him, |

|And he does chide with you. |And he takes it out on you. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|If 'twere no other,-- |If it were any other… |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|'Tis but so, I warrant. |It’s only that, I guarantee it. |

| | |

|[Trumpets within.] |[Trumpets within.] |

| | |

|Hark, how these instruments summon to supper! |Listen how these instruments summon us to supper! |

|The messengers of Venice stay the meat: |The messengers of Venice wait for the meat. |

|Go in, and weep not; all things shall be well. |Go in, and don’t cry; all things shall be well. |

| | |

|[Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia.] |[Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia.] |

| | |

|[Enter Roderigo.] |[Enter Roderigo.] |

| | |

|How now, Roderigo! |What now, Roderigo! |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|I do not find that thou dealest justly with me. |I don’t believe that you deal justly with me. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|What in the contrary? |On the contrary. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Every day thou daffest me with some device, Iago; and |Every day you get me out of the way with some plan, |

|rather, as it seems to me now, keepest from me all |Iago; and rather, as it seems to me now, keep from me |

|conveniency than suppliest me with the least advantage |all convenience than supplies me with the least |

|of hope. I will indeed no longer endure it; nor am I yet |advantage of hope. I will indeed no longer endure it. Nor |

|persuaded to put up in peace what already I have |am I yet persuaded to put up with in peace what already I |

|foolishly suffered. |have foolishly suffered. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Will you hear me, Roderigo? |Will you listen to me, Roderigo? |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Faith, I have heard too much; for your words and |I’ve heard too much already, because your words and |

|performances are no kin together. |actions don’t agree with each other. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|You charge me most unjustly. |You accuse me most unjustly. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|With naught but truth. I have wasted myself out of my |With nothing but truth. I have wasted myself out of my |

|means. The jewels you have had from me to deliver to |money. The jewels you have had from me to |

|Desdemona would half have corrupted a votarist: you have told |deliver to Desdemona would half have corrupted a nun. You have |

|me she hath received them, and returned me expectations and |told me she has received them, and returned to me |

|comforts of sudden respect and acquaintance; |expectations and comforts of sudden respect and |

|but I find none. |acquaintance. But I don’t have any. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Well; go to; very well. |Well; OK; very well. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Very well! go to! I cannot go to, man; nor 'tis not |Very well! OK! I cannot “OK,” man and it is not very well. |

|very well: nay, I say 'tis very scurvy, and begin to |No, I say it is very contemptible, and begin to find myself |

|find myself fobbed in it. |fooled by it. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Very well. |Very well. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|I tell you 'tis not very well. I will make myself |I tell you it is not very well. I will make myself known to |

|known to Desdemona: if she will return me my jewels, I will give |Desdemona. If she will return my jewels to me, I will stop |

|over my suit and repent my unlawful solicitation; if not, assure |my courting and repent my unlawful offers. If not, assure |

|yourself I will seek satisfaction of you. |yourself I will seek satisfaction of you. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|You have said now. |You have said so. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Ay, and said nothing but what I protest intendment of |Yes, and said nothing except that which I have every |

|doing. |intention of doing. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Why, now I see there's mettle in thee; and even from this |Why, now I see there's spirit in you; and even from this |

|instant do build on thee a better opinion than ever before. |instant, you build a better opinion of yourself than ever |

|Give me thy hand, Roderigo. Thou hast taken against me a most |before. Give me your hand, Roderigo. You have taken a |

|just exception; but yet, I protest, have dealt most directly in |very just exception against me; but still, I protest, I have |

|thy affair. |dealt very directly concerning your affair. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|It hath not appeared. |It doesn’t seem so. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I grant indeed it hath not appeared, and your suspicion |I grant indeed it hasn’t seemed so, and your suspicion is |

|is not without wit and judgement. But, Roderigo, if thou |not without wit and judgment. But, Roderigo, if you have |

|hast that in thee indeed, which I have greater reason to |that spirit in you indeed, which I have greater reason to |

|believe now than ever,--I mean purpose, courage, and |believe now than ever, I mean purpose, courage, and |

|valour,--this night show it: if thou the next night following |valor, show it tonight. If you are not enjoying Desdemona |

|enjoy not Desdemona, take me from this world with treachery |the following night, take me from this world with treachery |

|and devise engines for my life. |and devise plans for my life. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Well, what is it? is it within reason and compass? |Well, what is it? Is it within reason and can be done? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Sir, there is especial commission come from Venice to depute |Sir, there is special commission come from Venice to put |

|Cassio in Othello's place. |Cassio in Othello's place. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Is that true? why then Othello and Desdemona return again |Is that true? Why, then Othello and Desdemona return again |

|to Venice. |to Venice. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|O, no; he goes into Mauritania, and takes away with him the |O, no; He goes into Mauritania, and takes the beautiful |

|fair Desdemona, unless his abode be lingered here by some |Desdemona away with him, unless his living here can be |

|accident: wherein none can be so determinate as the removing |delayed by some accident which no one can be so |

|of Cassio. |determined about removing of Cassio. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|How do you mean removing of him? |How do you mean removing of him? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Why, by making him uncapable of Othello's place;--knocking |Why, by making him incapable of Othello's place; |

|out his brains. |knocking his brains out. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|And that you would have me to do? |And you would have me do that? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Ay, if you dare do yourself a profit and a right. He sups |Yes, if you dare to do yourself a profit and a right. He |

|to-night with a harlotry, and thither will I go to him:--he |eats tonight with a harlot, and I will go there to him. He |

|knows not yet of his honourable fortune. If you will |doesn’t know yet about his honorable fortune. If you will |

|watch his going thence,--which his will fashion to fall out |watch his going there, which according to his habit will be |

|between twelve and one,--you may take him at your |between twelve and one, you may attack him at your |

|pleasure: I will be near to second your attempt, and he |pleasure. I will be near to back up your attempt, and he |

|shall fall between us. Come, stand not amazed at it, but |shall fall between us. Come, stand not amazed at it, but |

|go along with me; I will show you such a necessity in his |go along with me; I will show you such a necessity in his |

|death that you shall think yourself bound to put it on him. |death that you shall think yourself bound to kill him. It is |

|It is now high supper-time, and the night grows to waste: |now high dinner time, and the night is being wasted. Let’s |

|about it. |go. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|I will hear further reason for this. |I will hear further reason for this. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|And you shall be satisfied. |And you shall be satisfied. |

| | |

|[Exeunt.] |[Exeunt.] |

Act 4, Scene 3

|Cyprus. Another Room in the Castle. |Cyprus. Another Room in the Castle. |

| | |

|[Enter Othello, Lodovico, Desdemona, Emilia, and Attendants.] |[Enter Othello, Lodovico, Desdemona, Emilia, and Attendants.] |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|I do beseech you, sir, trouble yourself no further. |I do beg you, sir, trouble yourself no further. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|O, pardon me; 'twill do me good to walk. |O, pardon me; it will do me good to walk. |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|Madam, good night; I humbly thank your ladyship. |Madam, good night; I humbly thank your ladyship. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Your honour is most welcome. |Your honor is very welcome. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Will you walk, sir?-- |Will you walk, sir? |

|O,--Desdemona,-- |O, Desdemona. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|My lord? |My lord? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Get you to bed on the instant; I will be returned |Get you to bed instantly. I’ll be back soon. |

|forthwith: dismiss your attendant there: look't be done. |Dismiss your attendant there. See that it’s done. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|I will, my lord. |I will, my lord. |

| | |

|[Exeunt Othello, Lodovico, and Attendants.] |[Exeunt Othello, Lodovico, and Attendants.] |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|How goes it now? he looks gentler than he did. |How goes it now? He looks gentler than he did. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|He says he will return incontinent: |He says he will return soon. |

|He hath commanded me to go to bed, |He has commanded me to go to bed, |

|And bade me to dismiss you. |And told me to dismiss you. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Dismiss me! |Dismiss me? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|It was his bidding; therefore, good Emilia, |It was his bidding; therefore, good Emilia, |

|Give me my nightly wearing, and adieu: |Give me my nightgown, and goodbye. |

|We must not now displease him. |We must not now displease him. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|I would you had never seen him! |I wish you had never seen him! |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|So would not I: my love doth so approve him, |So do I. My love forgives him so, |

|That even his stubbornness, his checks, his frowns,-- |That even his stubbornness, his checks, his frowns, |

|Pr'ythee, unpin me,--have grace and favour in them. |I beg you, unpin my hair, have grace and favor in them. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|I have laid those sheets you bade me on the bed. |I have put on those sheets you asked me to. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|All's one.--Good faith, how foolish are our minds!-- |Makes no difference. Good faith, how foolish are our |

|If I do die before thee, pr'ythee, shroud me |minds! If I die before you, I beg you, shroud me |

|In one of those same sheets. |In one of those same sheets. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Come, come, you talk. |Come, come, how you talk. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|My mother had a maid call'd Barbara; |My mother had a maid called Barbara; |

|She was in love; and he she lov'd prov'd mad |She was in love; and the man she loved went crazy |

|And did forsake her: she had a song of "willow"; |And left her. She had a song of "willow," |

|An old thing 'twas, but it express'd her fortune, |It was an old thing but it expressed her fortune, |

|And she died singing it: that song to-night |And she died singing it. I can’t get that song out of my |

|Will not go from my mind; I have much to do |Head tonight. I have a lot to do |

|But to go hang my head all at one side, |Besides going to hang my head all at one side, |

|And sing it like poor Barbara. Pr'ythee, despatch. |And sing it like poor Barbara. I beg you, leave. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Shall I go fetch your night-gown? |Shall I go get your nightgown? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|No, unpin me here.-- |No, unpin my hair. |

|This Lodovico is a proper man. |This Lodovico is a proper man |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|A very handsome man. |A very handsome man. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|He speaks well. |He speaks well. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|I know a lady in Venice would have walked barefoot to |I know a lady in Venice would have walked barefoot to |

|Palestine for a touch of his nether lip. |Palestine for a touch of his lower lip. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|[Sings.] |[Sings.] |

|"The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree, |"The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree, |

|Sing all a green willow; |Sing all a green willow; |

|Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee, |Her hand on her breast, her head on her knee, |

|Sing willow, willow, willow: |Sing willow, willow, willow. |

|The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur'd her moans; |The fresh streams ran by her, and murmured her moans; |

|Sing willow, willow, willow; |Sing willow, willow, willow; |

|Her salt tears fell from her, and soften'd the stones;--" |Her salt tears fell from her, and softened the stones; " |

| | |

|Lay be these:-- |Let these be. |

| | |

|[Sings.] |[Sings.] |

|"Sing willow, willow, willow;--" |"Sing willow, willow, willow; " |

| | |

|Pr'ythee, hie thee; he'll come anon:-- |Pr'ythee, hie thee; he'll come anon:-- |

|[Sings.] |[Sings.] |

|"Sing all a green willow must be my garland. |"Sing all a green willow must be my garland. |

|Let nobody blame him; his scorn I approve,--" |Let nobody blame him; I earned his scorn. " |

| | |

|Nay, that's not next.--Hark! who is't that knocks? |No, that's not next. Listen! Who is it ? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|It's the wind. |It's the wind. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|[Sings.] |[Sings.] |

|"I call'd my love false love; but what said he then? |"I called my love false love; but what said he then? |

|Sing willow, willow, willow: |Sing willow, willow, willow. |

|If I court mo women, you'll couch with mo men.--" |If I court more women, you'll couch with more men. " |

| | |

|So get thee gone; good night. Mine eyes do itch; |So get going; good night. My eyes itch; |

|Doth that bode weeping? |Does that predict tears? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|'Tis neither here nor there. |it is neither here nor there. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|I have heard it said so.--O, these men, these men!-- |I have heard it said so. O, these men, these men! |

|Dost thou in conscience think,--tell me, Emilia,-- |Do you in conscience think, tell me, Emilia, |

|That there be women do abuse their husbands |That there are women who abuse their husbands |

|In such gross kind? |In such a disgusting way? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|There be some such, no question. |There are some such, no doubt. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world? |Would you do such a deed for all the world? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Why, would not you? |Why, wouldn’t you? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|No, by this heavenly light! |No, by this heavenly light! |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Nor I neither by this heavenly light; I might do't as |Nor I neither by this heavenly light; I might do it as |

|well i' the dark. |well in the dark. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world? |Would you do such a deed for all the world? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|The world's a huge thing; it is a great price |The world's a huge thing; it is a great price to pay |

|For a small vice. |For a small sin. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|In troth, I think thou wouldst not. |In truth, I think you wouldn’t. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|In troth, I think I should; and undo't when I had done. |In truth, I think I should; and undo it when I had done. By |

|Marry, I would not do such a thing for a joint-ring, nor for |Mary, I wouldn’t do such a thing for a gold ring, or for |

|measures of lawn, nor for gowns, petticoats, nor caps, nor |measures of soft cotton, or for gowns, petticoats, or caps, |

|any petty exhibition; but, for the whole world---why, who would |or any little show; but, for the whole world -why, who |

|not make her husband a cuckold to make him a monarch? I should |wouldn’t unfaithful to her husband to make him a king? I |

|venture purgatory for't. |would risk purgatory for it . |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong for the whole world. |Curse me, if I would do such a wrong thing for the whole world. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Why, the wrong is but a wrong i' the world; and having the |Why, the wrong is but a wrong in the world; and having |

|world for your labour, 'tis a wrong in your own world, and you |the world for your work, it is a wrong in your own world, |

|might quickly make it right. |and you might quickly make it right. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|I do not think there is any such woman. |I don’t think there is any such woman. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Yes, a dozen; and as many to the vantage as would store |Yes, a dozen; and as many to profit as would store |

|the world they play'd for. |the world they played for. |

|But I do think it is their husbands' faults |But I do think it is their husbands' faults |

|If wives do fall: say that they slack their duties |If wives do fall. Say that they are lazy about their duties |

|And pour our treasures into foreign laps; |and pour our treasures into foreign laps, |

|Or else break out in peevish jealousies, |or else break out in little jealousies, |

|Throwing restraint upon us; or say they strike us, |throwing restraint on us, or say they strike us, |

|Or scant our former having in despite; |or cut back our allowance in spite; |

|Why, we have galls; and though we have some grace, |Why, we have nerves, and although we have some grace, |

|Yet have we some revenge. Let husbands know |still we have some revenge. |

|Their wives have sense like them: they see and smell |Let husbands know their wives have senses like them. |

|And have their palates both for sweet and sour, |They see and smell And have their taste both for sweet and sour, |

|As husbands have. What is it that they do |as husbands have. What is it that they |

|When they change us for others? Is it sport? |do when they exchange us for others? |

|I think it is: and doth affection breed it? |Is it sport? I think it is, and does it breed affection? |

|I think it doth : is't frailty that thus errs? |I think it does. Is it frailty makes mistakes like this? |

|It is so too. And have not we affections, |It’s so too. And haven’t we got affections, |

|Desires for sport, and frailty, as men have? |desires for sport, and frailty, as men have? |

|Then let them use us well: else let them know |Then let them use us well. Or else let them know |

|The ills we do their ills instruct us so. |Their mistakes teach us what mistakes we make. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Good-night, good-night: heaven me such usage send, |Good-night, good-night. heaven me send such usage, |

|Not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend! |Not to pick bad from bad, but to change my ways by bad! |

| | |

|[Exeunt.] |[Exeunt.] |

Othello | Act 5, Scene 1

|Cyprus. A Street. |Cyprus. A Street. |

| | |

|[Enter Iago and Roderigo.] |[Enter Iago and Roderigo.] |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Here, stand behind this bulk; straight will he come: |Here, stand behind this pillar; he will come right away. |

|Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home: |Pull your good sword out, and drive it home. |

|Quick, quick; fear nothing; I'll be at thy elbow: |Quickly, quickly; fear nothing; I'll be at your elbow. |

|It makes us, or it mars us; think on that, |It makes us or it ruins us; think on that, |

|And fix most firm thy resolution. |And make your resolution very firm. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Be near at hand; I may miscarry in't. |Be near at hand; I mess it up. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Here, at thy hand: be bold, and take thy stand. |I’m here, at your hand. Be bold, and make your stand. |

| | |

|[Retires to a little distance.] |[Retires to a little distance.] |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|I have no great devotion to the deed; |I have no great devotion to the deed; |

|And yet he hath given me satisfying reasons:-- |And yet he has given me satisfying reasons. |

|'Tis but a man gone.--Forth, my sword; he dies. |It’s only a man gone. Go forth, my sword; he dies. |

| | |

|[Goes to his stand.] |[Goes to his stand.] |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I have rubb'd this young quat almost to the sense, |I have rubbed this young pimple almost to the purpose, |

|And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio, |And he grows angry. Now, whether or not he kills Cassio, |

|Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other, |Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other, |

|Every way makes my gain: live Roderigo, |I gain in every way. Live, Roderigo, |

|He calls me to a restitution large |He calls me to give back all |

|Of gold and jewels that I bobb'd from him, |Of gold and jewels that I robbed from him, |

|As gifts to Desdemona; |As gifts to Desdemona; |

|It must not be: if Cassio do remain, |It can’t happen. If Cassio lives, |

|He hath a daily beauty in his life |He has a daily beauty in his life |

|That makes me ugly; and besides, the Moor |That makes me ugly; and besides, the Moor |

|May unfold me to him; there stand I in much peril; |May disclose me to him; I stand there in great danger; |

|No, he must die.--But, so, I hear him coming. |No, he must die. But, so, I hear him coming. |

| | |

|[Enter Cassio.] |[Enter Cassio.] |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|I know his gait; 'tis he.--Villain, thou diest! |I know his walk; it is he. Villain, you die! |

| | |

|[Rushes out, and makes a pass at Cassio.] |[Rushes out, and makes a pass at Cassio.] |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|That thrust had been mine enemy indeed, |That thrust would’ve been my enemy indeed, |

|But that my coat is better than thou know'st: |But my coat is better than you know. |

|I will make proof of thine. |I will make sure of yours. |

| | |

|[Draws, and wounds Roderigo.] |[Draws, and wounds Roderigo.] |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|O, I am slain! |O, I am slain! |

| | |

|[Iago rushes from his post, cuts Cassio behind in the leg, and |[Iago rushes from his post, cuts Cassio behind in the leg, and |

|exit.] |exits.] |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|I am maim'd forever.--Help, ho! murder! murder! |I am maimed forever. Help, ho! murder! murder! |

| | |

|[Falls.] |[Falls.] |

| | |

|[Enter Othello at a distance.] |[Enter Othello at a distance.] |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|The voice of Cassio: Iago keeps his word. |The voice of Cassio. Iago keeps his word. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|O, villain that I am! |O, villain that I am! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|It is even so. |It is even so. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|O, help, ho! light! a surgeon! |O, help, ho! light! a surgeon! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|'Tis he:--O brave Iago, honest and just, |It is he. O brave Iago, honest and just, |

|That hast such noble sense of thy friend's wrong! |That have such noble sense of your friend's wrong! |

|Thou teachest me,--minion, your dear lies dead, |You teach me, you devil, your dear is dead, |

|And your unbless'd fate hies. Strumpet, I come! |And your own unholy fate hurries. Prostitute, I’m coming! |

|Forth of my heart those charms, thine eyes, are blotted; |Those charms, your eyes, are erased from my heart; |

|Thy bed, lust-stain'd, shall with lust's blood be spotted. |Your bed, lust-stained, shall be spotted with lust's blood. |

| | |

|[Exit.] |[Exit.] |

| | |

|[Enter Lodovico and Gratiano at a distance.] |[Enter Lodovico and Gratiano at a distance.] |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|What, ho! no watch? no passage? murder! murder! |What, ho! no guard? no safety? murder! murder! |

| | |

|GRATIANO. |GRATIANO. |

|'Tis some mischance; the cry is very direful. |It is some misfortune; the cry is very sorrowful. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|O, help! |O, help! |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|Hark! |Listen! |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|O wretched villain! |O wretched villain! |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|Two or three groan:--it is a heavy night: |Two or three groan. It is a heavy night. |

|These may be counterfeits: let's think't unsafe |These may be fakers. Let's think it’s unsafe |

|To come in to the cry without more help. |To come in answer to the cry without back up. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|Nobody come? then shall I bleed to death. |Nobody comes? Then I shall bleed to death. |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|Hark! |Listen! |

| | |

|GRATIANO. |GRATIANO. |

|Here's one comes in his shirt, with light and |Here's someone comes in his shirt, with light and |

|weapons. |weapons. |

| | |

|[Re-enter Iago, with a light.] |[Re-enter Iago, with a light.] |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Who's there? whose noise is this that cries on murder? |Who's there? Whose noise is this that cries, “murder?” |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|We do not know. |We don’t know. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Did not you hear a cry? |Didn’t you hear a cry? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Here, here! for heaven's sake, help me! |Here, here! For heaven's sake, help me! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|What's the matter? |What's the matter? |

| | |

|GRATIANO. |GRATIANO. |

|This is Othello's ancient, as I take it. |This is Othello's ensign, as I take it. |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|The same indeed; a very valiant fellow. |The same indeed; a very valiant fellow. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|What are you here that cry so grievously? |Who are you here that cry so grievously? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Iago? O, I am spoil'd, undone by villains! |Iago? O, I am attacked, undone by villains! |

|Give me some help. |Give me some help. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|O me, lieutenant! what villains have done this? |O me, lieutenant! What villains have done this? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|I think that one of them is hereabout, |I think that one of them is still around here, |

|And cannot make away. |And cannot make a getaway. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|O treacherous villains!-- |O treacherous villains! |

|[To Lodovico and Gratiano.] What are you there? |[To Lodovico and Gratiano.] Who are you there? |

|Come in and give some help. |Come in and give some help. |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|O, help me here! |O, help me here! |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|That's one of them. |That's one of them. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|O murderous slave! O villain! |O murderous slave! O villain! |

| | |

|[Stabs Roderigo.] |[Stabs Roderigo.] |

| | |

|RODERIGO. |RODERIGO. |

|O damn'd Iago! O inhuman dog! |O damned Iago! O inhuman dog! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Kill men i' the dark!--Where be these bloody thieves?-- |Kill men in the dark! Where are these bloody thieves? |

|How silent is this town!--Ho! murder! murder!-- |How silent is this town! Ho! murder! murder! |

|What may you be? are you of good or evil? |What are you? are you of good or evil? |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|As you shall prove us, praise us. |As you shall prove us to be, praise us. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Signior Lodovico? |Signior Lodovico? |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|He, sir. |He, sir. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I cry you mercy. Here's Cassio hurt by villains. |I be your mercy. Here's Cassio, hurt by villains. |

| | |

|GRATIANO. |GRATIANO. |

|Cassio! |Cassio! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|How is't, brother? |How is it, brother? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|My leg is cut in two. |My leg is cut in two. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Marry, heaven forbid!-- |By Mary, heaven forbid! |

|Light, gentlemen:--I'll bind it with my shirt. |Light, gentlemen. I'll bind it with my shirt. |

| | |

|[Enter Bianca.] |[Enter Bianca.] |

| | |

|BIANCA. |BIANCA. |

|What is the matter, ho? who is't that cried? |What is the matter, ho? Who is it that cried? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Who is't that cried! |Who is it that cried! |

| | |

|BIANCA. |BIANCA. |

|O my dear Cassio, my sweet Cassio! O Cassio, Cassio, |O my dear Cassio, my sweet Cassio! O Cassio, Cassio, |

|Cassio! |Cassio! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|O notable strumpet!--Cassio, may you suspect |O notable prostitute! Cassio, do you any idea |

|Who they should be that have thus mangled you? |Who they are that have mangled you like this? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|No. |No. |

| | |

|GRATIANO. |GRATIANO. |

|I am sorry to find you thus: I have been to seek you. |I am sorry to find you like this. I have been to see you. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Lend me a garter:--so.--O, for a chair, |Lend me a garter. So. O, for a chair, |

|To bear him easily hence! |To carry him easily from here! |

| | |

|BIANCA. |BIANCA. |

|Alas, he faints!--O Cassio, Cassio, Cassio! |Alas, he faints! O Cassio, Cassio, Cassio! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash |Gentlemen all, I suspect this trash |

|To be a party in this injury.-- |To be a party to this injury. |

|Patience awhile, good Cassio.--Come, come; |Patience awhile, good Cassio. Come, come; |

|Lend me a light.--Know we this face or no? |Lend me a light. Do we know this face or not? |

|Alas, my friend and my dear countryman |Alas, my friend and my dear countryman |

|Roderigo? no:--yes, sure; O heaven! Roderigo. |Roderigo? No. Yes, surely; O heaven! Roderigo. |

| | |

|GRATIANO. |GRATIANO. |

|What, of Venice? |What, of Venice? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Even he, sir: did you know him? |Even he, sir. did you know him? |

| | |

|GRATIANO. |GRATIANO. |

|Know him! ay. |Know him! Yes. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Signior Gratiano? I cry you gentle pardon; |Signior Gratiano? I beg your gentle pardon; |

|These bloody accidents must excuse my manners, |These bloody accidents must excuse my manners, |

|That so neglected you. |That so neglected you. |

| | |

|GRATIANO. |GRATIANO. |

|I am glad to see you. |I am glad to see you |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|How do you, Cassio?--O, a chair, a chair! |How are you, Cassio? O, a chair, a chair! |

| | |

|GRATIANO. |GRATIANO. |

|Roderigo! |Roderigo! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|He, he, 'tis he.--O, that's well |He, he, it is he. O, that's well said; [A chair brought in.] |

|said; [A chair brought in.]--the chair:-- |the chair. Some good men carry him carefully from here; |

|Some good man bear him carefully from hence; |I'll fetch the general's surgeon. [To Bianca.] For you, |

|I'll fetch the general's surgeon. [To Bianca.]--For you, mistress, |mistress, save you your labor. He that lies slain here, |

|Save you your labour.--He that lies slain here, Cassio, |Cassio, was my dear friend. What malice was between |

|Was my dear friend: what malice was between you? |you? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|None in the world; nor do I know the man. |None in the world; I don’t know the man. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|[To Bianca.] What, look you pale?--O, bear him out o' the air. |[To Bianca.] What, do you look pale? O, carry him out of the air. |

| | |

|[Cassio and Roderigo are borne off.] |[Cassio and Roderigo are borne off.] |

| | |

|Stay you, good gentlemen.--Look you pale, mistress?-- |Stay you, good gentlemen. Do you Look pale, mistress? |

|Do you perceive the gastness of her eye?-- |Do you see the ghastliness of her eye? |

|Nay, if you stare, we shall hear more anon.-- |No, if you stare, we shall hear more soon. |

|Behold her well; I pray you, look upon her: |Watch her well; I beg you, look after her. |

|Do you see, gentlemen? nay, guiltiness will speak |Do you see, gentlemen? No, guiltiness will speak |

|Though tongues were out of use. |Even if tongues are out of use. |

| | |

|[Enter Emilia.] |[Enter Emilia.] |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|'Las, what's the matter? what's the matter, husband? |Alas, what's the matter? What's the matter, husband? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Cassio hath here been set on in the dark |Cassio has here been attacked in the dark |

|By Roderigo, and fellows that are 'scap'd: |By Roderigo and fellows that have escaped. |

|He's almost slain, and Roderigo dead. |He's almost slain, and Roderigo is dead. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Alas, good gentleman! alas, good Cassio! |Alas, good gentleman! Alas, good Cassio! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|This is the fruit of whoring.--Pr'ythee, Emilia, |This is the fruit of whoring. I beg you, Emilia, |

|Go know of Cassio where he supp'd to-night.-- |Go find out about Cassio, where he had dinner tonight. |

|What, do you shake at that? |What, you shake at that? |

| | |

|BIANCA. |BIANCA. |

|He supp'd at my house; but I therefore shake not. |He dined at my house; but I don’t shake because of that. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|O, did he so? I charge you, go with me. |O, did he? I charge you, go with me. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Fie, fie upon thee, strumpet! |Damn, damn you, prostitute! |

| | |

|BIANCA. |BIANCA. |

|I am no strumpet, but of life as honest |I am no prostitute, but have life as honest |

|As you that thus abuse me. |As you that abuse me like this. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|As I! foh! fie upon thee! |As I! damn! damn you! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Kind gentlemen, let's go see poor Cassio dress'd.-- |Kind gentlemen, let's go see poor Cassio bandaged. |

|Come, mistress, you must tell's another tale.-- |Come, mistress, you must tell us another tale. |

|Emilia, run you to the citadel, |Emilia, run to the fortress, |

|And tell my lord and lady what hath happ'd.-- |And tell my lord and lady what has happened. |

|Will you go on? [Aside.] This is the night |Will you go ahead? [Aside.] This is the night |

|That either makes me or fordoes me quite. |That either makes me or breaks me. |

| | |

|[Exeunt.] |[Exeunt.] |

Bottom of Form

Act 5, Scene 2

|Cyprus. A Bedchamber in the castle: Desdemona in bed |Cyprus. A Bedchamber in the castle. Desdemona in bed |

|asleep; a light burning. |asleep; a light burning. |

| | |

|[Enter Othello.] |[Enter Othello.] |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul,-- |It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul, |

|Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars!-- |Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars! |

|It is the cause.--Yet I'll not shed her blood; |It is the cause. Still I won’t shed her blood; |

|Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow, |Or scar that skin of hers whiter than snow, |

|And smooth as monumental alabaster. |And as smooth as the marble that makes monuments. |

| | |

|[Takes off his sword.] |[Takes off his sword.] |

| | |

|Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men. |Yet she must die, or else she'll betray more men. |

|Put out the light, and then put out the light: |Put out the light, and then put out the light. |

|If I quench thee, thou flaming minister, |If I put you out, you flaming minister, |

|I can again thy former light restore, |I can again restore your former light, |

|Should I repent me:--but once put out thy light, |If I change my mind. But once I put out your light, |

|Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature, |You cunning pattern of excelling nature, |

|I know not where is that Promethean heat |I don’t know where the stolen fire from Olympus is |

|That can thy light relume. When I have pluck'd thy rose, |That can relight your fire. When I have plucked your rose, |

|I cannot give it vital growth again, |I cannot give it vital growth again, |

|It must needs wither:--I'll smell it on the tree.-- |It has to wither. I'll smell it on the tree. |

| | |

|[Kissing her.] |[Kissing her.] |

| | |

|O, balmy breath, that dost almost persuade |O, balmy breath, that almost persuades |

|Justice to break her sword!--One more, one more;-- |Justice to break her sword! One more, one more; |

|Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee, |Be like this when you are dead, and I will kill you, |

|And love thee after.--One more, and this the last; |And love you after. One more, and this is the last; |

|So sweet was ne'er so fatal. I must weep, |So sweet was never so fatal. I must weep, |

|But they are cruel tears: this sorrow's heavenly; |But they are cruel tears. This sorrow's heavenly; |

|It strikes where it doth love.--She wakes. |It strikes where it loves. She awakes. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Who's there? Othello? |Who's there? Othello? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Ay, Desdemona. |Yes, Desdemona. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Will you come to bed, my lord? |Will you come to bed, my lord? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Have you pray'd to-night, Desdemona? |Have you prayed tonight, Desdemona? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Ay, my lord. |Yes, my lord. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|If you bethink yourself of any crime |If you can think of any crime |

|Unreconcil'd as yet to heaven and grace, |Not yet confessed to heaven and grace, |

|Solicit for it straight. |Do it right away. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Alack, my lord, what may you mean by that? |Alas, my lord, what do you mean by that? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Well, do it, and be brief; I will walk by. |Well, do it, and be brief; I will walk over here. |

|I would not kill thy unprepared spirit; |I would not kill your unprepared spirit; |

|No,--heaven forfend!--I would not kill thy soul. |No, heaven forbid! I would not kill your soul. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Talk you of killing? |You talk about killing? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Ay, I do. |Yes, I do. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Then heaven |Then heaven |

|Have mercy on me! |Have mercy on me! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Amen, with all my heart! |Amen, with all my heart! |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|If you say so, I hope you will not kill me. |If you say so, I hope you will not kill me. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Hum! |Hum! |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|And yet I fear you; for you are fatal then |And yet I fear you; because you are deadly |

|When your eyes roll so: why I should fear I know not, |When your eyes roll so. Why I should fear, I don’t know, |

|Since guiltiness I know not; but yet I feel I fear. |Since I don’t know guiltiness, but yet I feel I fear. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Think on thy sins. |Think on your sins. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|They are loves I bear to you. |They are loves I bear to you. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Ay, and for that thou diest. |Yes, and for that you die. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|That death's unnatural that kills for loving.-- |That death is unnatural that kills for loving. |

|Alas, why gnaw you so your nether lip? |Alas, why do you chew your nether lip so? |

|Some bloody passion shakes your very frame: |Some bloody passion shakes your very frame. |

|These are portents; but yet I hope, I hope, |These are omens, but yet I hope, I hope, |

|They do not point on me. |They don’t point to me. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Peace, and be still! |Peace, and be quiet! |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|I will so. What's the matter? |I will do so. What's the matter? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|That handkerchief which I so loved and gave thee |That handkerchief which I so loved and gave you, |

|Thou gav'st to Cassio. |You gave to Cassio. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|No, by my life and soul! |No, by my life and soul! |

|Send for the man, and ask him. |Send for the man and ask him. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Sweet soul, take heed, |Sweet soul, take care, |

|Take heed of perjury; thou'rt on thy death-bed. |Take care of perjury; you are on your death-bed. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Ay, but not yet to die. |Yes, but not to die yet. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Yes, presently: |Yes, soon. |

|Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin; |Therefore confess your sin freely; |

|For to deny each article with oath |Because to deny each article with swearing it is true |

|Cannot remove nor choke the strong conception |Cannot remove nor kill the strong ideas |

|That I do groan withal. Thou art to die. |That I groan with besides. You are to die. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Then, Lord have mercy on me! |Then, Lord have mercy on me! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I say, amen. |I say, amen. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|And have you mercy too!--I never did |And you have mercy too! I never |

|Offend you in my life; never lov'd Cassio |Offended you in my life; never loved Cassio |

|But with such general warranty of heaven |Except with such general lawfulness of heaven |

|As I might love: I never gave him token. |As I might love. I never gave him gifts. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in 's hand. |By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in his hand. |

|O perjur'd woman! thou dost stone my heart, |O lying woman! You stone my heart, |

|And mak'st me call what I intend to do |And make me call what I intend to do |

|A murder, which I thought a sacrifice: |A murder, which I thought was a sacrifice. |

|I saw the handkerchief. |I saw the handkerchief. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|He found it then; |He found it then; |

|I never gave it him:--send for him hither; |I never gave it to him. Send for him t come here. |

|Let him confess a truth. |Let him confess the truth. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|He hath confess'd. |He has confessed. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|What, my lord? |What, my lord? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|That he hath us'd thee. |That he has used you. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|How? unlawfully? |How? Unlawfully? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Ay. |Yes. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|He will not say so. |He will not say so. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|No, his mouth is stopp'd; |No, his mouth is stopped; |

|Honest Iago hath ta'en order for't. |Honest Iago has taken orders for it . |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|O, my fear interprets!--What, is he dead? |O, my fear interprets! What, is he dead? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge |Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge |

|Had stomach for them all. |Had stomach for them all. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Alas, he is betray'd, and I undone! |Alas, he is betrayed, and I have no hope! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Out, strumpet! Weep'st thou for him to my face? |Out, prostitute! You weep for him to my face? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|O, banish me, my lord, but kill me not! |O, banish me, my lord, but don’t kill me! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Down, strumpet! |Down, prostitute! |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Kill me to-morrow; let me live to-night! |Kill me tomorrow; let me live tonight! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Nay, if you strive,-- |No, if you strive… |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|But half an hour! |But half an hour! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Being done, there is no pause. |Being done, there is no pause. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|But while I say one prayer! |But while I say one prayer! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|It is too late. |It is too late. |

| | |

|[Smothers her.] |[Smothers her.] |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|[Within.] My lord, my lord! what, ho! my lord, my lord! |[Within.] My lord, my lord! what, ho! my lord, my lord! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|What noise is this?--Not dead? not yet quite dead? |What noise is this? Not dead? Not yet quite dead? |

|I that am cruel am yet merciful; |I who is cruel am yet merciful; |

|I would not have thee linger in thy pain:-- |I would not have you linger in your pain. |

|So, so. |So, so. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|[Within.] What, ho! my lord, my lord! |[Within.] What, ho! my lord, my lord! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Who's there? |Who's there? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|[Within.] O, good my lord, I would speak a word with you! |[Within.] O, my good lord, I would speak with you! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Yes:--'tis Emilia:--by and by.--She's dead.-- |Yes. It is Emilia. By and by. She's dead. |

|'Tis like she comes to speak of Cassio's death; |It’s likely she comes to speak about Cassio's death; |

|The noise was high.--Ha! no more moving? |The noise was great. Ha! no more moving? |

|Still as the grave.--Shall she come in?--Were't good?-- |As still as the grave. Shall she come in? Were it good? |

|I think she stirs again:--no.--What's best to do? |I think she moves again. No. What's best to do? |

|If she come in, she'll sure speak to my wife: |If she comes in, she'll surely speak to my wife. |

|My wife! my wife! what wife? I have no wife. |My wife! my wife! what wife? I have no wife. |

|O, insupportable! O heavy hour! |O, unbelievable! O heavy hour! |

|Methinks it should be now a huge eclipse |I think there should now be a huge eclipse |

|Of sun and moon, and that the affrighted globe |Of sun and moon, and that the frightened globe |

|Should yawn at alteration. |Should yawn at changes. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|[Within.] I do beseech you |[Within.] I beg you |

|That I may speak with you, O, good my lord! |To let me speak with you, O, my good lord! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I had forgot thee: O, come in, Emilia:-- |I had forgotten about you. O, come in, Emilia. |

|Soft,--by and by:--let me the curtains draw.-- |Softly, by and by. Let me draw the curtains. |

|Where art thou? |Where are you? |

| | |

|[Unlocks the door.] |[Unlocks the door.] |

| | |

|[Enter Emilia.] |[Enter Emilia.] |

| | |

|What's the matter with thee now? |What's the matter with you now? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|O, my good lord, yonder's foul murders done! |O, my good lord, there's foul murders done over there! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|What, now? |What, now? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|But now, my lord. |Just now, my lord. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|It is the very error of the moon; |It is the very mistake of the moon; |

|She comes more nearer earth than she was wont |She comes more nearer earth than she usually does |

|And makes men mad. |And makes men mad. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Cassio, my lord, hath kill'd a young Venetian |Cassio, my lord, has killed a young Venetian |

|Call'd Roderigo. |Called Roderigo. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Roderigo kill'd? |Roderigo killed? |

|And Cassio kill'd? |And Cassio killed? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|No, Cassio is not kill'd. |No, Cassio is not killed. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Not Cassio kill'd! then murder's out of tune, |Cassio not killed! Then murder's out of tune, |

|And sweet revenge grows harsh. |And sweet revenge grows harsh. |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|O, falsely, falsely murder'd! |O, falsely, falsely murdered! |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Alas, what cry is that? |Alas, what cry is that? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|That! what? |That! what? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Out, and alas! That was my lady's voice.-- |Out, and alas! That was my lady's voice. |

|Help! help, ho! help!--O lady, speak again! |Help! help, ho! help! O lady, speak again! |

|Sweet Desdemona! O sweet mistress, speak! |Sweet Desdemona! O sweet mistress, speak! |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|A guiltless death I die. |I die an innocent death. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|O, who hath done this deed? |O, who has done this deed? |

| | |

|DESDEMONA. |DESDEMONA. |

|Nobody; I myself. Farewell: |Nobody; I myself. Farewell. |

|Commend me to my kind lord: O, farewell! |Commend me to my kind lord. O, farewell! |

| | |

|[Dies.] |[Dies.] |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Why, how should she be murder'd? |Why should she be murdered? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Alas, who knows? |Alas, who knows? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|You heard her say herself it was not I. |You heard her say it herself it wasn’t I. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|She said so: I must needs report the truth. |She said so. I must report the truth. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|She's like a liar, gone to burning hell: |She's a liar, gone to burning hell. |

|'Twas I that kill'd her. |It was I that killed her. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|O, the more angel she, |O, she is more the angel, |

|And you the blacker devil! |And you the blacker devil! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|She turn'd to folly, and she was a whore. |She turned to folly, and she was a whore. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Thou dost belie her, and thou art a devil. |You lie about her, and you are a devil. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|She was false as water. |She was false as water. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Thou art rash as fire, to say |You are impatient as fire, to say |

|That she was false: O, she was heavenly true! |That she was false. O, she was heavenly true! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Cassio did tup her; ask thy husband else. |Cassio screwed her; ask your husband otherwise. |

|O, I were damn'd beneath all depth in hell, |O, I was damned beneath all the depths of hell, |

|But that I did proceed upon just grounds |And I proceeded on just grounds |

|To this extremity. Thy husband knew it all. |To this extremity. Your husband knew it all. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|My husband! |My husband! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Thy husband. |Your husband. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|That she was false to wedlock? |That she was unfaithful in marriage? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Ay, with Cassio. Nay, had she been true, |Yes, with Cassio. No, had she been true, |

|If heaven would make me such another world |If heaven would make me such another world |

|Of one entire and perfect chrysolite, |Of one entire and perfect crystal, |

|I'd not have sold her for it. |I wouldn’t have sold her for it. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|My husband! |My husband! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Ay, 'twas he that told me first: |Yes, it was he that told me first. |

|An honest man he is, and hates the slime |He is an honest man, and hates the slime |

|That sticks on filthy deeds. |That sticks on filthy deeds. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|My husband! |My husband! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|What needs this iterance, woman? I say thy husband. |Why do you repeat it, woman? I said your husband. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|O mistress, villainy hath made mocks with love!-- |O mistress, villainy has made fun with love! |

|My husband say that she was false! |My husband said that she was unfaithful! |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|He, woman; |He, woman; |

|I say thy husband: dost understand the word? |I say your husband. Do you understand the word? |

|My friend, thy husband, honest, honest Iago. |My friend, your husband, honest, honest Iago. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|If he say so, may his pernicious soul |If he said so, may his evil soul |

|Rot half a grain a day! he lies to the heart: |Rot half a grain a day! He lies to the heart. |

|She was too fond of her most filthy bargain. |She was too fond of her very filthy bargain. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Ha! |Ha! |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Do thy worst: |Do your worst. |

|This deed of thine is no more worthy heaven |This deed of yours is no more worthy of heaven |

|Than thou wast worthy her. |Than you were worthy of her. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Peace, you were best. |Peace, you’d better stop. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Thou hast not half that power to do me harm |You have not half that power to do me harm |

|As I have to be hurt. O gull! O dolt! |As I have to be hurt. O fool! O idiot! |

|As ignorant as dirt! thou hast done a deed,-- |As stupid as dirt! You have done a deed, |

|I care not for thy sword; I'll make thee known, |I don’t care about your sword; I'll make you famous, |

|Though I lost twenty lives.--Help! help, ho! help! |Although I lose twenty lives. Help! help, ho! help! |

|The Moor hath kill'd my mistress! murder, murder! |The Moor has killed my mistress! murder, murder! |

| | |

|[Enter Montano, Gratiano, and Iago.] |[Enter Montano, Gratiano, and Iago.] |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|What is the matter?--How now, general! |What is the matter? What’s wrong, general! |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|O, are you come, Iago? you have done well, |O, are you here, Iago? You have done well, |

|That men must lay their murders on your neck. |That men must lay their murders on your neck. |

| | |

|GRATIANO. |GRATIANO. |

|What is the matter? |What is the matter? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Disprove this villain, if thou be'st a man: |Arrest this villain, if you are a man. |

|He says thou told'st him that his wife was false: |He says you told him that his wife was unfaithful. |

|I know thou didst not, thou'rt not such a villain: |I know you didn’t, you aren’t such a villain. |

|Speak, for my heart is full. |Speak, because my heart is full. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I told him what I thought; and told no more |I told him what I thought; and told no more |

|Than what he found himself was apt and true. |Than what he himself discovered was right and true. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|But did you ever tell him she was false? |But did you ever tell him she was unfaithful? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I did. |I did. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|You told a lie; an odious, damned lie; |You told a lie; an stinking, damned lie; |

|Upon my soul, a lie; a wicked lie:-- |On my soul, a lie; a wicked lie. |

|She false with Cassio!--Did you say with Cassio? |She unfaithful with Cassio! Did you say with Cassio? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|With Cassio, mistress. Go to, charm your tongue. |With Cassio, mistress. Watch it, control your tongue. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to speak: |I will not control my tongue; I have to speak. |

|My mistress here lies murder'd in her bed,-- |My mistress lies here murdered in her bed. |

| | |

|ALL. |ALL. |

|O heavens forfend! |O heavens forbid! |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|And your reports have set the murder on. |And your stories have egged the murder on. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Nay, stare not, masters: it is true, indeed. |No, don’t stare, gentlemen. It is true, indeed. |

| | |

|GRATIANO. |GRATIANO. |

|'Tis a strange truth. |It is a strange truth. |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|O monstrous act! |O monstrous act! |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Villany, villany, villany! |Villainy, villainy, villainy! |

|I think upon't,--I think,--I smell't;--O villany!-- |I think about it, I think, I smell it ; O villainy! |

|I thought so then;--I'll kill myself for grief:-- |I thought so then; I'll kill myself for grief. |

|O villany, villany! |O villainy, villainy! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|What, are you mad? I charge you, get you home. |What, are you crazy? I order you, go home. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Good gentlemen, let me have leave to speak: |Good gentlemen, let me have permission to speak. |

|'Tis proper I obey him, but not now.-- |It is proper I obey him, but not now. |

|Perchance, Iago, I will ne'er go home. |Maybe, Iago, I will never go home. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|O! O! O! |O! O! O! |

| | |

|[Hanging over his wife.] |[Hanging over his wife.] |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Nay, lay thee down and roar; |No, lay down and roar; |

|For thou hast kill'd the sweetest innocent |Because you have killed the sweetest innocent |

|That e'er did lift up eye. |That ever lifted open eyes. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|[Rising.] O, she was foul!-- |[Rising.] O, she was evil! |

|I scarce did know you, uncle; there lies your niece, |I scarcely knew you, uncle; there lies your niece, |

|Whose breath, indeed, these hands have newly stopp'd: |Whose breath, indeed, these hands have just stopped. |

|I know this act shows horrible and grim. |I know this act looks horrible and grim. |

| | |

|GRATIANO. |GRATIANO. |

|Poor Desdemona! I am glad thy father's dead: |Poor Desdemona! I am glad your father's dead. |

|Thy match was mortal to him, and pure grief |Your match was death to him, and pure grief |

|Shore his old thread in twain: did he live now, |Cut his old threads in two. If he were alive now, |

|This sight would make him do a desperate turn, |This sight would make him do a desperate act, |

|Yea, curse his better angel from his side, |Yes, drive his better angel from his side, |

|And fall to reprobance. |And fall to sin. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|'Tis pitiful; but yet Iago knows |It is pitiful; but yet Iago knows |

|That she with Cassio hath the act of shame |That she has committed the act of shame |

|A thousand times committed; Cassio confess'd it: |With Cassio a thousand times; Cassio confessed |

|And she did gratify his amorous works |And she did gratify his amorous desires |

|With that recognizance and pledge of love |With that recognition and pledge of love |

|Which I first gave her; I saw it in his hand: |Which I first gave her; I saw it in his hand. |

|It was a handkerchief, an antique token |It was a handkerchief, an antique token |

|My father gave my mother. |My father gave my mother. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|O heaven! O heavenly powers! |O heaven! O heavenly powers! |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Come, hold your peace. |Come, hold your peace. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|'Twill out, 'twill out:--I peace! |It will be out, it will be out. Me quiet! |

|No, I will speak as liberal as the north: |No, I will speak as loudly as the north. |

|Let heaven and men and devils, let them all, |Let heaven and men and devils, let them all, |

|All, all, cry shame against me, yet I'll speak. |All, all, cry shame against me, yet I'll speak. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Be wise, and get you home. |Be wise, and go home. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|I will not. |I will not. |

| | |

|[Iago offers to stab his wife.] |[Iago offers to stab his wife.] |

| | |

|GRATIANO. |GRATIANO. |

|Fie! |Damn! |

|Your sword upon a woman? |Your sword on a woman? |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|O thou dull Moor! that handkerchief thou speak'st of |O you stupid Moor! That handkerchief you speak of |

|I found by fortune and did give my husband; |I found by luck and gave it to my husband; |

|For often with a solemn earnestness,-- |Because, he begged me to steal it |

|More than, indeed, belong'd to such a trifle,-- |Often with a solemn earnestness, |

|He begg'd of me to steal it. |More than, indeed, belonged to such a trifle. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Villanous whore! |Villainous whore! |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|She give it Cassio! no, alas, I found it, |She give it Cassio! No, alas, I found it, |

|And I did give't my husband. |And I gave it to my husband. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Filth, thou liest! |Filth, you lie! |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|By heaven, I do not, I do not, gentlemen.-- |By heaven, I don’t, I don’t, gentlemen. |

|O murderous coxcomb! What should such a fool |O murderous simpleton! What should such a fool |

|Do with so good a wife? |Do with so good a wife? |

| | |

|[Iago stabs Emilia, and then runs out.] |[Iago stabs Emilia, and then runs out.] |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Are there not stones in heaven |Are there no stones in heaven |

|But what serve for thunder?--Precious villain! |To serve as thunder? Precious villain! |

| | |

|GRATIANO. |GRATIANO. |

|The woman falls; sure, he hath kill'd his wife. |The woman falls; surely, he has killed his wife. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|Ay, ay:--O, lay me by my mistress' side. |Yes, yes. O, lay me by my mistress' side. |

| | |

|GRATIANO. |GRATIANO. |

|He's gone, but his wife's kill'd. |He's gone, but his wife's killed. |

| | |

|MONTANO. |MONTANO. |

|'Tis a notorious villain. Take you this weapon, |He is a notorious villain. Take this weapon, |

|Which I have here recover'd from the Moor: |Which I have here recovered from the Moor. |

|Come, guard the door without; let him not pass, |Come, guard the door outside; don’t let him pass, |

|But kill him rather. I'll after that same villain, |But rather kill him. I'll go after that same villain, |

|For 'tis a damned slave. |Because he is a damned slave. |

| | |

|[Exit Montano and Gratiano.] |[Exit Montano and Gratiano.] |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I am not valiant neither, |I am not valiant either, |

|But every puny whipster gets my sword:-- |But every puny man with a whip gets my sword. |

|But why should honour outlive honesty? |But why should honor outlive honesty? |

|Let it go all. |Let it all go. |

| | |

|EMILIA. |EMILIA. |

|What did thy song bode, lady? |What did your song predict, lady? |

|Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the swan, |Listen, can you hear me? I will play the swan, |

|And die in music:-- [Sings.] "Willow, willow, willow." |And die in music. [Sings.] "Willow, willow, willow." |

|Moor, she was chaste; she lov'd thee, cruel Moor; |Moor, she was chaste; she loved you, cruel Moor; |

|So come my soul to bliss, as I speak true; |So my soul goes to heaven, because I tell the truth; |

|So speaking as I think, I die,--I die. |So speaking as I think, I die, I die. |

| | |

|[Dies.] |[Dies.] |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I have another weapon in this chamber; |I have another weapon in this chamber; |

|It is a sword of Spain, the ice-brook's temper:-- |It is a sword of Spain, made by the ice-breaker. |

|O, here it is.--Uncle, I must come forth. |O, here it is. Uncle, I must come out. |

| | |

|GRATIANO. |GRATIANO. |

|[Within.] If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear: |[Within.] If you try it, it will be a costly mistake. |

|Thou hast no weapon, and perforce must suffer. |You have no weapon, and must be forced to suffer. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Look in upon me then, and speak with me, |Look in on me then, and speak with me, |

|Or, naked as I am, I will assault thee. |Or, naked as I am, I will attack you. |

| | |

|[Re-enter Gratiano.] |[Re-enter Gratiano.] |

| | |

|GRATIANO. |GRATIANO. |

|What is the matter? |What’s the matter? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Behold, I have a weapon; |Behold, I have a weapon; |

|A better never did itself sustain |A better one never sustained itself |

|Upon a soldier's thigh: I have seen the day |On a soldier's thigh. I have seen the day |

|That with this little arm and this good sword |That I have made my way through more impediments |

|I have made my way through more impediments |With this little arm and this good sword |

|Than twenty times your stop:--but, O vain boast! |Than you could stop twenty times. But, O vain boast! |

|Who can control his fate? 'tis not so now.-- |Who can control his fate? It is not so now. |

|Be not afraid, though you do see me weapon'd; |Don’t be afraid although you see me armed, |

|Here is my journey's end, here is my butt, |Here is my journey's end, here is my bottom |

|And very sea-mark of my utmost sail. |And very sea-mark of my last ship. |

|Do you go back dismay'd? 'tis a lost fear; |Do you go back dismayed? It is a lost fear; |

|Man but a rush against Othello's breast, |Man can only rush against Othello's breast, |

|And he retires:--where should Othello go?-- |And he retires. Where should Othello go? |

|Now, how dost thou look now? O ill-starr'd wench! |Now, how do you look now? O ill-starred wench! |

|Pale as thy smock! When we shall meet at compt, |Pale as your smock! When we shall meet at elegance, |

|This look of thine will hurl my soul from heaven, |This look of yours will hurl my soul from heaven, |

|And fiends will snatch at it. Cold, cold, my girl! |And devil will scratch at it. Cold, cold, my girl! |

|Even like thy chastity.-- |Even like your chastity. |

|O cursed, cursed slave!--Whip me, ye devils, |O cursed, cursed slave! Whip me, you devils, |

|From the possession of this heavenly sight! |From the possession of this heavenly sight! |

|Blow me about in winds! roast me in sulphur! |Blow me about in winds! Roast me in fires of sulphur! |

|Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire!-- |Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire! |

|O Desdemon! dead, Desdemon! dead! O! |O Desdemon! dead, Desdemon! dead! O! |

| | |

|[Enter Lodovico, Montano, Cassio carried in a chair, |[Enter Lodovico, Montano, Cassio carried in a chair, |

|and Officers with Iago prisoner.] |and Officers with Iago prisoner.] |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|Where is this rash and most unfortunate man? |Where is this impatient and very unfortunate man? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|That's he that was Othello;--here I am. |That would be Othello; here I am. |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|Where is that viper? bring the villain forth. |Where is that snake? Bring the villain out. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I look down towards his feet;--but that's a fable.-- |I look down towards his feet; but that's a fable. |

|If that thou be'st a devil, I cannot kill thee. |If you are a devil, I cannot kill you. |

| | |

|[Wounds Iago.] |[Wounds Iago.] |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|Wrench his sword from him. |Grab his sword from him. |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|I bleed, sir, but not kill'd. |I bleed, sir, but I am not killed. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I am not sorry neither: I'd have thee live; |I am not sorry either. I'd have you live; |

|For, in my sense, 'tis happiness to die. |Because, in my thinking, it is happiness to die. |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|O thou Othello, that wert once so good, |O you Othello, that was once so good, |

|Fall'n in the practice of a damned slave, |Fallen in the plan of a damned slave, |

|What shall be said to thee? |What shall be said to you? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Why, anything; |Why, anything; |

|An honourable murderer, if you will; |An honorable murderer, if you will; |

|For naught did I in hate, but all in honour. |Because nothing I did was in hate, but done all in honor. |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|This wretch hath part confess'd his villany: |This wretch has part confessed his villainy. |

|Did you and he consent in Cassio's death? |Did you and he agree to Cassio's death? |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Ay. |Yes. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Dear general, I never gave you cause. |Dear general, I never gave you any reason. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I do believe it, and I ask your pardon. |I do believe it, and I ask your pardon. |

|Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devil |Will you, I beg you, demand that demi-devil |

|Why he hath thus ensnar'd my soul and body? |To tell why he has trapped my soul and body like this? |

| | |

|IAGO. |IAGO. |

|Demand me nothing: what you know, you know: |Demand me nothing. What you know, you know. |

|From this time forth I never will speak word. |From this time forward, I’ll never speak word. |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|What, not to pray? |What, not even to pray? |

| | |

|GRATIANO. |GRATIANO. |

|Torments will ope your lips. |Torture will open your lips. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Well, thou dost best. |Well, you do what’s best. |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|Sir, you shall understand what hath befall'n, |Sir, you shall understand what has happened, |

|Which, as I think, you know not. Here is a letter |Which, as I think, you don’t know. Here is a letter |

|Found in the pocket of the slain Roderigo, |Found in the pocket of the murdered Roderigo, |

|And here another: the one of them imports |And here another. One of them shows that |

|The death of Cassio to be undertook |The death of Cassio was to be undertaken |

|By Roderigo. |By Roderigo. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|O villain! |O villain! |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|Most heathenish and most gross! |Very heathenish and very gross! |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|Now here's another discontented paper, |Now here's another unhappy document, |

|Found in his pocket too; and this, it seems, |Found in his pocket too; and this, it seems, |

|Roderigo meant to have sent this damned villain; |That Roderigo meant to have sent this damned villain; |

|But that, belike, Iago in the interim |But that, very likely, Iago in the meantime |

|Came in and satisfied him. |Came in and satisfied him. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|O the pernicious caitiff!-- |O the pernicious wretch! |

|How came you, Cassio, by that handkerchief |Cassio, how did you come by that handkerchief |

|That was my wife's? |That was my wife's? |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|I found it in my chamber; |I found it in my bedroom; |

|And he himself confess'd but even now |And he himself confessed just now |

|That there he dropp'd it for a special purpose |That he dropped it there for a special purpose |

|Which wrought to his desire. |Which would be bent to his desires. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|O fool! fool! fool! |O fool! fool! fool! |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|There is besides in Roderigo's letter,-- |There is besides in Roderigo's letter, |

|How he upbraids Iago, that he made him |How he scolds Iago, that he made him |

|Brave me upon the watch; whereon it came |Fight with me on the watch, where it happened |

|That I was cast: and even but now he spake, |That I was thrown out, and even just now he spoke, |

|After long seeming dead,--Iago hurt him, |After seeming dead a long time, Iago hurt him, |

|Iago set him on. |Iago set him up. |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|You must forsake this room, and go with us: |You must leave this room, and go with us. |

|Your power and your command is taken off, |Your power and your command is removed, |

|And Cassio rules in Cyprus. For this slave,-- |And Cassio rules in Cyprus. For this slave, |

|If there be any cunning cruelty |If there be any cunning cruelty |

|That can torment him much and hold him long, |That can torment him a lot and stop him a long time, |

|It shall be his. You shall close prisoner rest, |It shall be his. You shall remain a prisoner, |

|Till that the nature of your fault be known |Until the nature of your crime is known |

|To the Venetian state.--Come, bring away. |To the Venetian state. Come, bring him away. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|Soft you; a word or two before you go. |Pardon me, a word or two before you go. |

|I have done the state some service, and they know't.-- |I have done the state some service, and they know it . |

|No more of that.--I pray you, in your letters, |No more of that. I beg you, in your letters, |

|When you shall these unlucky deeds relate, |When you shall tell about these unlucky deeds, |

|Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate, |Speak of me as I am; nothing farfetched, |

|Nor set down aught in malice: then must you speak |And don’t write anything in malice. Then you must speak |

|Of one that loved not wisely, but too well; |Of one that loved not wisely, but too well; |

|Of one not easily jealous, but, being wrought, |Of one not easily jealous, but, being aggravated, |

|Perplex'd in the extreme; of one whose hand, |Confused in the extreme; of one whose hand, |

|Like the base Judean, threw a pearl away |Like the low Judas, threw a pearl away |

|Richer than all his tribe; of one whose subdu'd eyes, |That was richer than all his tribe; of one whose sad eyes, |

|Albeit unused to the melting mood, |Albeit unused to a crying spell, |

|Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees |Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees drop |

|Their medicinal gum. Set you down this; |Their medicinal gum. Write this down; |

|And say besides,--that in Aleppo once, |And say besides, that in Aleppo once, |

|Where a malignant and a turban'd Turk |Where a malignant and a turbaned Turk |

|Beat a Venetian and traduc'd the state, |Beat a Venetian and double-crossed the state, |

|I took by the throat the circumcised dog |I took the circumcised dog by the throat |

|And smote him--thus. |And killed him like this. |

| | |

|[Stabs himself.] |[Stabs himself.] |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|O bloody period! |O bloody period! |

| | |

|GRATIANO. |GRATIANO. |

|All that's spoke is marr'd. |All that's spoken is marred. |

| | |

|OTHELLO. |OTHELLO. |

|I kiss'd thee ere I kill'd thee:--no way but this, |I kissed you before I killed you. No way but this, |

|[Falling upom Desdemona.] |[Falling on Desdemona.] |

|Killing myself, to die upon a kiss. |Killing myself, to die on a kiss. |

| | |

|CASSIO. |CASSIO. |

|This did I fear, but thought he had no weapon; |I was afraid of this, but I thought he had no weapon; |

|For he was great of heart. |He was great of heart. |

| | |

|LODOVICO. |LODOVICO. |

|[To Iago.] O Spartan dog, |[To Iago.] O Spartan dog, |

|More fell than anguish, hunger, or the sea! |More evil than anguish, hunger, or the sea! |

|Look on the tragic loading of this bed; |Look on the tragic load on this bed; |

|This is thy work:--the object poisons sight; |This is your work. The object of poison’s sight; |

|Let it be hid.--Gratiano, keep the house, |Let it be hidden. Gratiano, keep the house, |

|And seize upon the fortunes of the Moor, |And seize on the fortunes of the Moor, |

|For they succeed on you.--To you, lord governor, |Because they fall on you. To you, lord governor, |

|Remains the censure of this hellish villain; |Remains the sentencing of this hellish villain; |

|The time, the place, the torture,--O, enforce it! |The time, the place, the torture, O, enforce it! |

|Myself will straight aboard; and to the state |I myself will board the ship right away and go to the state |

|This heavy act with heavy heart relate. |To relate his heavy act with heavy heart. |

| | |

|[Exeunt.] |[Exeunt.] |

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