Silencethatdreadfulbell:itfrightstheisleFromherpropriety。Whatisthematter,masters?
HonestIago,thatlook’stdeadwithgrieving,Speak,whobeganthis?onthylove,Ichargethee。IAGOIdonotknow:friendsallbutnow,evennow,Inquarter,andintermslikebrideandgroomDevestingthemforbed;andthen,butnow——
Asifsomeplanethadunwittedmen——
Swordsout,andtiltingoneatother’sbreast,Inoppositionbloody。IcannotspeakAnybeginningtothispeevishodds;
AndwouldinactiongloriousIhadlostThoselegsthatbroughtmetoapartofit!OTHELLOHowcomesit,Michael,youarethusforgot?CASSIOIprayyou,pardonme;Icannotspeak。OTHELLOWorthyMontano,youwerewontbecivil;
ThegravityandstillnessofyouryouthTheworldhathnoted,andyournameisgreatInmouthsofwisestcensure:what’sthematter,ThatyouunlaceyourreputationthusAndspendyourrichopinionforthenameOfanight—brawler?givemeanswertoit。MONTANOWorthyOthello,Iamhurttodanger:
Yourofficer,Iago,caninformyou,——
WhileIsparespeech,whichsomethingnowoffendsme,——
OfallthatIdoknow:norknowIaughtBymethat’ssaidordoneamissthisnight;
Unlessself—charitybesometimesavice,AndtodefendourselvesitbeasinWhenviolenceassailsus。OTHELLONow,byheaven,Mybloodbeginsmysaferguidestorule;
Andpassion,havingmybestjudgmentcollied,Assaystoleadtheway:ifIoncestir,Ordobutliftthisarm,thebestofyouShallsinkinmyrebuke。GivemetoknowHowthisfoulroutbegan,whosetiton;
Andhethatisapprovedinthisoffence,Thoughhehadtwinn’dwithme,bothatabirth,Shallloseme。What!inatownofwar,Yetwild,thepeople’sheartsbrimfuloffear,Tomanageprivateanddomesticquarrel,Innight,andonthecourtandguardofsafety!
’Tismonstrous。Iago,whobegan’t?MONTANOIfpartiallyaffined,orleaguedinoffice,Thoudostdelivermoreorlessthantruth,Thouartnosoldier。IAGOTouchmenotsonear:
IhadratherhavethistonguecutfrommymouthThanitshoulddooffencetoMichaelCassio;
Yet,Ipersuademyself,tospeakthetruthShallnothingwronghim。Thusitis,general。
Montanoandmyselfbeinginspeech,Therecomesafellowcryingoutforhelp:
AndCassiofollowinghimwithdeterminedsword,Toexecuteuponhim。Sir,thisgentlemanStepsintoCassio,andentreatshispause:
Myselfthecryingfellowdidpursue,Lestbyhisclamour——asitsofellout——
Thetownmightfallinfright:he,swiftoffoot,Outranmypurpose;andIreturn’dtheratherForthatIheardtheclinkandfallofswords,AndCassiohighinoath;whichtillto—nightIne’ermightsaybefore。WhenIcameback——
Forthiswasbrief——Ifoundthemclosetogether,Atblowandthrust;evenasagaintheywereWhenyouyourselfdidpartthem。
MoreofthismattercannotIreport:
Butmenaremen;thebestsometimesforget:
ThoughCassiodidsomelittlewrongtohim,Asmeninragestrikethosethatwishthembest,YetsurelyCassio,Ibelieve,receivedFromhimthatfledsomestrangeindignity,Whichpatiencecouldnotpass。OTHELLOIknow,Iago,Thyhonestyandlovedothmincethismatter,MakingitlighttoCassio。Cassio,IlovetheeButnevermorebeofficerofmine。
Re—enterDESDEMONA,attendedLook,ifmygentlelovebenotraisedup!
I’llmaketheeanexample。DESDEMONAWhat’sthematter?OTHELLOAll’swellnow,sweeting;comeawaytobed。
Sir,foryourhurts,myselfwillbeyoursurgeon:
Leadhimoff。
ToMONTANO,whoisledoffIago,lookwithcareaboutthetown,Andsilencethosewhomthisvilebrawldistracted。
Come,Desdemona:’tisthesoldiers’lifeTohavetheirbalmyslumberswakedwithstrife。
ExeuntallbutIAGOandCASSIOIAGOWhat,areyouhurt,lieutenant?CASSIOAy,pastallsurgery。IAGOMarry,heavenforbid!CASSIOReputation,reputation,reputation!O,Ihavelostmyreputation!Ihavelosttheimmortalpartofmyself,andwhatremainsisbestial。Myreputation,Iago,myreputation!IAGOAsIamanhonestman,Ithoughtyouhadreceivedsomebodilywound;thereismoresenseinthatthaninreputation。Reputationisanidleandmostfalseimposition:oftgotwithoutmerit,andlostwithoutdeserving:youhavelostnoreputationatall,unlessyoureputeyourselfsuchaloser。What,man!
therearewaystorecoverthegeneralagain:
youarebutnowcastinhismood,apunishmentmoreinpolicythaninmalice,evensoasonewouldbeathisoffencelessdogtoaffrightanimperiouslion:
suetohimagain,andhe’syours。CASSIOIwillrathersuetobedespisedthantodeceivesogoodacommanderwithsoslight,sodrunken,andsoindiscreetanofficer。Drunk?andspeakparrot?
andsquabble?swagger?swear?anddiscoursefustianwithone’sownshadow?Othouinvisiblespiritofwine,ifthouhastnonametobeknownby,letuscalltheedevil!IAGOWhatwashethatyoufollowedwithyoursword?Whathadhedonetoyou?CASSIOIknownot。IAGOIs’tpossible?CASSIOIrememberamassofthings,butnothingdistinctly;
aquarrel,butnothingwherefore。OGod,thatmenshouldputanenemyintheirmouthstostealawaytheirbrains!thatweshould,withjoy,pleasancerevelandapplause,transformourselvesintobeasts!IAGOWhy,butyouarenowwellenough:howcameyouthusrecovered?CASSIOIthathpleasedthedevildrunkennesstogiveplacetothedevilwrath;oneunperfectnessshowsmeanother,tomakemefranklydespisemyself。IAGOCome,youaretoosevereamoraler:asthetime,theplace,andtheconditionofthiscountrystands,Icouldheartilywishthishadnotbefallen;
but,sinceitisasitis,menditforyourowngood。CASSIOIwillaskhimformyplaceagain;heshalltellmeIamadrunkard!HadIasmanymouthsasHydra,suchananswerwouldstopthemall。Tobenowasensibleman,byandbyafool,andpresentlyabeast!Ostrange!Everyinordinatecupisunblessedandtheingredientisadevil。IAGOCome,come,goodwineisagoodfamiliarcreature,ifitbewellused:exclaimnomoreagainstit。
And,goodlieutenant,IthinkyouthinkIloveyou。CASSIOIhavewellapprovedit,sir。Idrunk!IAGOYouoranymanlivingmaybedrunk!atatime,man。
I’lltellyouwhatyoushalldo。Ourgeneral’swifeisnowthegeneral:maysaysointhisrespect,forthathehathdevotedandgivenuphimselftothecontemplation,mark,anddenotementofherpartsandgraces:confessyourselffreelytoher;importuneherhelptoputyouinyourplaceagain:sheisofsofree,sokind,soapt,soblessedadisposition,sheholdsitaviceinhergoodnessnottodomorethansheisrequested:thisbrokenjointbetweenyouandherhusbandentreathertosplinter;
and,myfortunesagainstanylayworthnaming,thiscrackofyourloveshallgrowstrongerthanitwasbefore。CASSIOYouadvisemewell。IAGOIprotest,inthesincerityofloveandhonestkindness。CASSIOIthinkitfreely;andbetimesinthemorningIwillbeseechthevirtuousDesdemonatoundertakeforme:
Iamdesperateofmyfortunesiftheychequemehere。IAGOYouareintheright。Goodnight,lieutenant;
I
musttothewatch。
CASSIO:Goodnight,honestIago。
ExitIAGOAndwhat’shethenthatsaysIplaythevillain?
WhenthisadviceisfreeIgiveandhonest,ProbaltothinkingandindeedthecourseTowintheMooragain?For’tismosteasyTheincliningDesdemonatosubdueInanyhonestsuit:she’sframedasfruitfulAsthefreeelements。AndthenforherTowintheMoor——were’ttorenouncehisbaptism,Allsealsandsymbolsofredeemedsin,Hissoulissoenfetter’dtoherlove,Thatshemaymake,unmake,dowhatshelist,EvenasherappetiteshallplaythegodWithhisweakfunction。HowamIthenavillainTocounselCassiotothisparallelcourse,Directlytohisgood?Divinityofhell!
Whendevilswilltheblackestsinsputon,Theydosuggestatfirstwithheavenlyshows,AsIdonow:forwhilesthishonestfoolPliesDesdemonatorepairhisfortunesAndsheforhimpleadsstronglytotheMoor,I’llpourthispestilenceintohisear,Thatsherepealshimforherbody’slust;
Andbyhowmuchshestrivestodohimgood,SheshallundohercreditwiththeMoor。
SowillIturnhervirtueintopitch,AndoutofherowngoodnessmakethenetThatshallenmeshthemall。
Re—enterRODERIGO
Hownow,Roderigo!RODERIGOIdofollowhereinthechase,notlikeahoundthathunts,butonethatfillsupthecry。Mymoneyisalmostspent;Ihavebeento—nightexceedinglywellcudgelled;andIthinktheissuewillbe,Ishallhavesomuchexperienceformypains,andso,withnomoneyatallandalittlemorewit,returnagaintoVenice。IAGOHowpooraretheythathavenotpatience!
Whatwounddideverhealbutbydegrees?
Thouknow’stweworkbywit,andnotbywitchcraft;
Andwitdependsondilatorytime。
Does’tnotgowell?Cassiohathbeatenthee。
Andthou,bythatsmallhurt,hastcashier’dCassio:
Thoughotherthingsgrowfairagainstthesun,Yetfruitsthatblossomfirstwillfirstberipe:
Contentthyselfawhile。Bythemass,’tismorning;
Pleasureandactionmakethehoursseemshort。
Retirethee;gowherethouartbilleted:
Away,Isay;thoushaltknowmorehereafter:
Nay,gettheegone。
ExitRODERIGO
Twothingsaretobedone:
MywifemustmoveforCassiotohermistress;
I’llsetheron;
MyselfthewhiletodrawtheMoorapart,AndbringhimjumpwhenhemayCassiofindSolicitinghiswife:ay,that’sthewayDullnotdevicebycoldnessanddelay。
ExitACTIIISCENEI。Beforethecastle。EnterCASSIOandsomeMusiciansCASSIOMasters,playhere;Iwillcontentyourpains;
Somethingthat’sbrief;andbid’Goodmorrow,general。’
MusicEnterClownClownWhymasters,haveyourinstrumentsbeeninNaples,thattheyspeaki’thenosethus?FirstMusicianHow,sir,how!ClownArethese,Iprayyou,wind—instruments?FirstMusicianAy,marry,arethey,sir。ClownO,therebyhangsatail。FirstMusicianWherebyhangsatale,sir?ClownMarry。sir,bymanyawind—instrumentthatIknow。
But,masters,here’smoneyforyou:andthegeneralsolikesyourmusic,thathedesiresyou,forlove’ssake,tomakenomorenoisewithit。FirstMusicianWell,sir,wewillnot。ClownIfyouhaveanymusicthatmaynotbeheard,to’tagain:but,astheysaytohearmusicthegeneraldoesnotgreatlycare。FirstMusicianWehavenonesuch,sir。ClownThenputupyourpipesinyourbag,forI’llaway:
go;vanishintoair;away!
ExeuntMusiciansCASSIODostthouhear,myhonestfriend?ClownNo,Ihearnotyourhonestfriend;Ihearyou。CASSIOPrithee,keepupthyquillets。There’sapoorpieceofgoldforthee:ifthegentlewomanthatattendsthegeneral’swifebestirring,tellherthere’soneCassioentreatsheralittlefavourofspeech:
wiltthoudothis?ClownSheisstirring,sir:ifshewillstirhither,I
shallseemtonotifyuntoher。CASSIODo,goodmyfriend。
ExitClownEnterIAGO
Inhappytime,Iago。IAGOYouhavenotbeena—bed,then?CASSIOWhy,no;thedayhadbrokeBeforeweparted。Ihavemadebold,Iago,Tosendintoyourwife:mysuittoherIs,thatshewilltovirtuousDesdemonaProcuremesomeaccess。IAGOI’llsendhertoyoupresently;
AndI’lldeviseameantodrawtheMoorOutoftheway,thatyourconverseandbusinessMaybemorefree。CASSIOIhumblythankyoufor’t。
ExitIAGO
IneverknewAFlorentinemorekindandhonest。
EnterEMILIAEMILIAGoodmorrow,goodLieutenant:IamsorryForyourdispleasure;butallwillsurebewell。
Thegeneralandhiswifearetalkingofit;
Andshespeaksforyoustoutly:theMoorreplies,ThatheyouhurtisofgreatfameinCyprus,Andgreataffinity,andthatinwholesomewisdomHemightnotbutrefuseyou;butheprotestshelovesyouAndneedsnoothersuitorbuthislikingsTotakethesafestoccasionbythefrontTobringyouinagain。CASSIOYet,Ibeseechyou,Ifyouthinkfit,orthatitmaybedone,GivemeadvantageofsomebriefdiscourseWithDesdemonaalone。EMILIAPrayyou,comein;
IwillbestowyouwhereyoushallhavetimeTospeakyourbosomfreely。CASSIOIammuchboundtoyou。
ExeuntSCENEII。Aroominthecastle。EnterOTHELLO,IAGO,andGentlemenOTHELLOTheselettersgive,Iago,tothepilot;
Andbyhimdomydutiestothesenate:
Thatdone,Iwillbewalkingontheworks;
Repairtheretome。IAGOWell,mygoodlord,I’lldo’t。OTHELLOThisfortification,gentlemen,shallwesee’t?GentlemanWe’llwaituponyourlordship。
ExeuntSCENEIII。Thegardenofthecastle。EnterDESDEMONA,CASSIO,andEMILIADESDEMONABethouassured,goodCassio,IwilldoAllmyabilitiesinthybehalf。EMILIAGoodmadam,do:Iwarrantitgrievesmyhusband,Asifthecasewerehis。DESDEMONAO,that’sanhonestfellow。Donotdoubt,Cassio,ButIwillhavemylordandyouagainAsfriendlyasyouwere。CASSIOBounteousmadam,WhatevershallbecomeofMichaelCassio,He’sneveranythingbutyourtrueservant。DESDEMONAIknow’t;Ithankyou。Youdolovemylord:
Youhaveknownhimlong;andbeyouwellassuredHeshallinstrangenessstandnofurtheroffThaninapolitedistance。CASSIOAy,but,lady,Thatpolicymayeitherlastsolong,Orfeeduponsuchniceandwaterishdiet,Orbreeditselfsooutofcircumstance,That,Ibeingabsentandmyplacesupplied,Mygeneralwillforgetmyloveandservice。DESDEMONADonotdoubtthat;beforeEmiliahereIgivetheewarrantofthyplace:assurethee,IfIdovowafriendship,I’llperformitTothelastarticle:mylordshallneverrest;
I’llwatchhimtameandtalkhimoutofpatience;
Hisbedshallseemaschool,hisboardashrift;
I’llintermingleeverythinghedoesWithCassio’ssuit:thereforebemerry,Cassio;
ForthysolicitorshallratherdieThangivethycauseaway。EMILIAMadam,herecomesmylord。CASSIOMadam,I’lltakemyleave。DESDEMONAWhy,stay,andhearmespeak。CASSIOMadam,notnow:Iamveryillatease,Unfitformineownpurposes。DESDEMONAWell,doyourdiscretion。
ExitCASSIO
EnterOTHELLOandIAGOIAGOHa!Ilikenotthat。OTHELLOWhatdostthousay?IAGONothing,mylord:orif——Iknownotwhat。OTHELLOWasnotthatCassiopartedfrommywife?IAGOCassio,mylord!No,sure,Icannotthinkit,Thathewouldstealawaysoguilty—like,Seeingyoucoming。OTHELLOIdobelieve’twashe。DESDEMONAHownow,mylord!
Ihavebeentalkingwithasuitorhere,Amanthatlanguishesinyourdispleasure。OTHELLOWhois’tyoumean?DESDEMONAWhy,yourlieutenant,Cassio。Goodmylord,IfIhaveanygraceorpowertomoveyou,Hispresentreconciliationtake;
Forifhebenotonethattrulylovesyou,Thaterrsinignoranceandnotincunning,Ihavenojudgmentinanhonestface:
Iprithee,callhimback。OTHELLOWenthehencenow?DESDEMONAAy,sooth;sohumbledThathehathleftpartofhisgriefwithme,Tosufferwithhim。Goodlove,callhimback。OTHELLONotnow,sweetDesdemona;someothertime。DESDEMONAButshall’tbeshortly?OTHELLOThesooner,sweet,foryou。DESDEMONAShall’tbeto—nightatsupper?OTHELLONo,notto—night。DESDEMONATo—morrowdinner,then?OTHELLOIshallnotdineathome;
Imeetthecaptainsatthecitadel。DESDEMONAWhy,then,to—morrownight;orTuesdaymorn;
OnTuesdaynoon,ornight;onWednesdaymorn:
Iprithee,namethetime,butletitnotExceedthreedays:infaith,he’spenitent;
Andyethistrespass,inourcommonreason——
Savethat,theysay,thewarsmustmakeexamplesOutoftheirbest——isnotalmostafaultToincuraprivatecheque。Whenshallhecome?
Tellme,Othello:Iwonderinmysoul,Whatyouwouldaskme,thatIshoulddeny,Orstandsomammeringon。What!MichaelCassio,Thatcamea—wooingwithyou,andsomanyatime,WhenIhavespokeofyoudispraisingly,Hathta’enyourpart;tohavesomuchtodoTobringhimin!Trustme,Icoulddomuch,——OTHELLOPrithee,nomore:lethimcomewhenhewill;
Iwilldenytheenothing。DESDEMONAWhy,thisisnotaboon;
’TisasIshouldentreatyouwearyourgloves,Orfeedonnourishingdishes,orkeepyouwarm,OrsuetoyoutodoapeculiarprofitToyourownperson:nay,whenIhaveasuitWhereinImeantotouchyourloveindeed,ItshallbefullofpoiseanddifficultweightAndfearfultobegranted。OTHELLOIwilldenytheenothing:
Whereon,Idobeseechthee,grantmethis,Toleavemebutalittletomyself。DESDEMONAShallIdenyyou?no:farewell,mylord。OTHELLOFarewell,myDesdemona:I’llcometotheestraight。DESDEMONAEmilia,come。Beasyourfanciesteachyou;
Whate’eryoube,Iamobedient。
ExeuntDESDEMONAandEMILIAOTHELLOExcellentwretch!Perditioncatchmysoul,ButIdolovethee!andwhenIlovetheenot,Chaosiscomeagain。IAGOMynoblelord——OTHELLOWhatdostthousay,Iago?IAGODidMichaelCassio,whenyouwoo’dmylady,Knowofyourlove?OTHELLOHedid,fromfirsttolast:whydostthouask?IAGOButforasatisfactionofmythought;
Nofurtherharm。OTHELLOWhyofthythought,Iago?IAGOIdidnotthinkhehadbeenacquaintedwithher。OTHELLOO,yes;andwentbetweenusveryoft。IAGOIndeed!OTHELLOIndeed!ay,indeed:discern’stthouaughtinthat?
Ishenothonest?IAGOHonest,mylord!OTHELLOHonest!ay,honest。IAGOMylord,foraughtIknow。OTHELLOWhatdostthouthink?IAGOThink,mylord!OTHELLOThink,mylord!
Byheaven,heechoesme,AsifthereweresomemonsterinhisthoughtToohideoustobeshown。Thoudostmeansomething:
Iheardtheesayevennow,thoulikedstnotthat,WhenCassioleftmywife:whatdidstnotlike?
AndwhenItoldtheehewasofmycounselInmywholecourseofwooing,thoucriedst’Indeed!’
Anddidstcontractandpursethybrowtogether,AsifthouthenhadstshutupinthybrainSomehorribleconceit:ifthoudostloveme,Showmethythought。IAGOMylord,youknowIloveyou。OTHELLOIthinkthoudost;
And,forIknowthou’rtfullofloveandhonesty,Andweigh’stthywordsbeforethougivestthembreath,Thereforethesestopsofthinefrightmethemore:
ForsuchthingsinafalsedisloyalknaveAretricksofcustom,butinamanthat’sjustTheyareclosedelations,workingfromtheheartThatpassioncannotrule。IAGOForMichaelCassio,IdarebeswornIthinkthatheishonest。OTHELLOIthinksotoo。IAGOMenshouldbewhattheyseem;
Orthosethatbenot,wouldtheymightseemnone!OTHELLOCertain,menshouldbewhattheyseem。IAGOWhy,then,IthinkCassio’sanhonestman。OTHELLONay,yetthere’smoreinthis:
Iprithee,speaktomeastothythinkings,Asthoudostruminate,andgivethyworstofthoughtsTheworstofwords。IAGOGoodmylord,pardonme:
ThoughIamboundtoeveryactofduty,Iamnotboundtothatallslavesarefreeto。
Uttermythoughts?Why,saytheyarevileandfalse;
Aswhere’sthatpalacewhereintofoulthingsSometimesintrudenot?whohasabreastsopure,ButsomeuncleanlyapprehensionsKeepleetsandlaw—daysandinsessionsitWithmeditationslawful?OTHELLOThoudostconspireagainstthyfriend,Iago,Ifthoubutthink’sthimwrong’dandmakesthisearAstrangertothythoughts。IAGOIdobeseechyou——
ThoughIperchanceamviciousinmyguess,As,Iconfess,itismynature’splagueTospyintoabuses,andoftmyjealousyShapesfaultsthatarenot——thatyourwisdomyet,Fromonethatsoimperfectlyconceits,Wouldtakenonotice,norbuildyourselfatroubleOutofhisscatteringandunsureobservance。
Itwerenotforyourquietnoryourgood,Norformymanhood,honesty,orwisdom,Toletyouknowmythoughts。OTHELLOWhatdostthoumean?IAGOGoodnameinmanandwoman,dearmylord,Istheimmediatejeweloftheirsouls:
Whostealsmypursestealstrash;’tissomething,nothing;
’Twasmine,’tishis,andhasbeenslavetothousands:
ButhethatfilchesfrommemygoodnameRobsmeofthatwhichnotenricheshimAndmakesmepoorindeed。OTHELLOByheaven,I’llknowthythoughts。IAGOYoucannot,ifmyheartwereinyourhand;
Norshallnot,whilst’tisinmycustody。OTHELLOHa!IAGOO,beware,mylord,ofjealousy;
Itisthegreen—eyedmonsterwhichdothmockThemeatitfeedson;thatcuckoldlivesinblissWho,certainofhisfate,lovesnothiswronger;
But,O,whatdamnedminutestellsheo’erWhodotes,yetdoubts,suspects,yetstronglyloves!OTHELLOOmisery!IAGOPoorandcontentisrichandrichenough,ButrichesfinelessisaspooraswinterTohimthateverfearsheshallbepoor。
Goodheaven,thesoulsofallmytribedefendFromjealousy!OTHELLOWhy,whyisthis?
Think’stthouI’ldmakealieofjealousy,TofollowstillthechangesofthemoonWithfreshsuspicions?No;tobeonceindoubtIsoncetoberesolved:exchangemeforagoat,WhenIshallturnthebusinessofmysoulTosuchexsufflicateandblownsurmises,Matchingthyinference。’TisnottomakemejealousTosaymywifeisfair,feedswell,lovescompany,Isfreeofspeech,sings,playsanddanceswell;
Wherevirtueis,thesearemorevirtuous:
NorfrommineownweakmeritswillIdrawThesmallestfearordoubtofherrevolt;
Forshehadeyes,andchoseme。No,Iago;
I’llseebeforeIdoubt;whenIdoubt,prove;
Andontheproof,thereisnomorebutthis,——
Awayatoncewithloveorjealousy!IAGOIamgladofit;fornowIshallhavereasonToshowtheloveanddutythatIbearyouWithfrankerspirit:therefore,asIambound,Receiveitfromme。Ispeaknotyetofproof。
Looktoyourwife;observeherwellwithCassio;
Wearyoureyethus,notjealousnorsecure:
Iwouldnothaveyourfreeandnoblenature,Outofself—bounty,beabused;lookto’t:
Iknowourcountrydispositionwell;
InVenicetheydoletheavenseethepranksTheydarenotshowtheirhusbands;theirbestconscienceIsnottoleave’tundone,butkeep’tunknown。OTHELLODostthousayso?IAGOShediddeceiveherfather,marryingyou;
Andwhensheseem’dtoshakeandfearyourlooks,Shelovedthemmost。OTHELLOAndsoshedid。IAGOWhy,gotothen;
Shethat,soyoung,couldgiveoutsuchaseeming,Tosealherfather’seyesupcloseasoak—
Hethought’twaswitchcraft——butIammuchtoblame;
IhumblydobeseechyouofyourpardonFortoomuchlovingyou。OTHELLOIamboundtotheeforever。IAGOIseethishathalittledash’dyourspirits。OTHELLONotajot,notajot。IAGOI’faith,Ifearithas。
IhopeyouwillconsiderwhatisspokeComesfrommylove。ButIdoseeyou’removed:
IamtoprayyounottostrainmyspeechTogrosserissuesnortolargerreachThantosuspicion。OTHELLOIwillnot。IAGOShouldyoudoso,mylord,MyspeechshouldfallintosuchvilesuccessAsmythoughtsaimnotat。Cassio’smyworthyfriend——
Mylord,Iseeyou’removed。OTHELLONo,notmuchmoved:
IdonotthinkbutDesdemona’shonest。IAGOLonglivesheso!andlongliveyoutothinkso!OTHELLOAndyet,hownatureerringfromitself,——IAGOAy,there’sthepoint:as——tobeboldwithyou——
NottoaffectmanyproposedmatchesOfherownclime,complexion,anddegree,Wheretoweseeinallthingsnaturetends——
Foh!onemaysmellinsuchawillmostrank,Fouldisproportionthoughtsunnatural。
Butpardonme;IdonotinpositionDistinctlyspeakofher;thoughImayfearHerwill,recoilingtoherbetterjudgment,MayfalltomatchyouwithhercountryformsAndhappilyrepent。OTHELLOFarewell,farewell:
Ifmorethoudostperceive,letmeknowmore;
Setonthywifetoobserve:leaveme,Iago:IAGO[Going]Mylord,Itakemyleave。OTHELLOWhydidImarry?ThishonestcreaturedoubtlessSeesandknowsmore,muchmore,thanheunfolds。IAGO[Returning]Mylord,IwouldImightentreatyourhonourToscanthisthingnofurther;leaveittotime:
ThoughitbefitthatCassiohavehisplace,Forsure,hefillsitupwithgreatability,Yet,ifyoupleasetoholdhimoffawhile,Youshallbythatperceivehimandhismeans:
Note,ifyourladystrainhisentertainmentWithanystrongorvehementimportunity;
Muchwillbeseeninthat。Inthemeantime,Letmebethoughttoobusyinmyfears——
AsworthycauseIhavetofearIam——
Andholdherfree,Idobeseechyourhonour。OTHELLOFearnotmygovernment。IAGOIoncemoretakemyleave。
ExitOTHELLOThisfellow’sofexceedinghonesty,Andknowsallqualities,withalearnedspirit,Ofhumandealings。IfIdoproveherhaggard,Thoughthatherjessesweremydearheartstrings,I’ldwhistleheroffandletherdownthewind,Toprayatfortune。Haply,forIamblackAndhavenotthosesoftpartsofconversationThatchamberershave,orforIamdeclinedIntothevaleofyears,——yetthat’snotmuch——
She’sgone。Iamabused;andmyreliefMustbetoloatheher。Ocurseofmarriage,Thatwecancallthesedelicatecreaturesours,Andnottheirappetites!Ihadratherbeatoad,Andliveuponthevapourofadungeon,ThankeepacornerinthethingIloveForothers’uses。Yet,’tistheplagueofgreatones;
Prerogativedaretheylessthanthebase;
’Tisdestinyunshunnable,likedeath:
EventhenthisforkedplagueisfatedtousWhenwedoquicken。Desdemonacomes:
Re—enterDESDEMONAandEMILIA
Ifshebefalse,O,thenheavenmocksitself!
I’llnotbelieve’t。DESDEMONAHownow,mydearOthello!
Yourdinner,andthegenerousislandersByyouinvited,doattendyourpresence。OTHELLOIamtoblame。DESDEMONAWhydoyouspeaksofaintly?
Areyounotwell?OTHELLOIhaveapainuponmyforeheadhere。DESDEMONA’Faith,that’swithwatching;’twillawayagain:
Letmebutbindithard,withinthishourItwillbewell。OTHELLOYournapkinistoolittle:
Heputsthehandkerchieffromhim;anditdropsLetitalone。Come,I’llgoinwithyou。DESDEMONAIamverysorrythatyouarenotwell。
ExeuntOTHELLOandDESDEMONAEMILIAIamgladIhavefoundthisnapkin:
ThiswasherfirstremembrancefromtheMoor:
MywaywardhusbandhathahundredtimesWoo’dmetostealit;butshesolovesthetoken,Forheconjuredhersheshouldeverkeepit,ThatshereservesitevermoreaboutherTokissandtalkto。I’llhavetheworkta’enout,Andgive’tIago:whathewilldowithitHeavenknows,notI;
Inothingbuttopleasehisfantasy。
Re—enterIagoIAGOHownow!whatdoyouherealone?EMILIADonotyouchide;Ihaveathingforyou。IAGOAthingforme?itisacommonthing——EMILIAHa!IAGOTohaveafoolishwife。EMILIAO,isthatall?WhatwillyougivemenowForthesamehandkerchief?IAGOWhathandkerchief?EMILIAWhathandkerchief?
Why,thattheMoorfirstgavetoDesdemona;
Thatwhichsooftenyoudidbidmesteal。IAGOHaststol’nitfromher?EMILIANo,’faith;sheletitdropbynegligence。
And,totheadvantage,I,beinghere,took’tup。
Look,hereitis。IAGOAgoodwench;giveitme。EMILIAWhatwillyoudowith’t,thatyouhavebeensoearnestTohavemefilchit?IAGO[Snatchingit]Why,what’sthattoyou?EMILIAIfitbenotforsomepurposeofimport,Give’tmeagain:poorlady,she’llrunmadWhensheshalllackit。IAGOBenotacknownon’t;Ihaveuseforit。
Go,leaveme。
ExitEMILIA
IwillinCassio’slodginglosethisnapkin,Andlethimfindit。TrifleslightasairAretothejealousconfirmationsstrongAsproofsofholywrit:thismaydosomething。
TheMooralreadychangeswithmypoison:
Dangerousconceitsare,intheirnatures,poisons。
Whichatthefirstarescarcefoundtodistaste,Butwithalittleactupontheblood。
BurnliketheminesofSulphur。Ididsayso:
Look,wherehecomes!
Re—enterOTHELLO
Notpoppy,normandragora,Norallthedrowsysyrupsoftheworld,ShallevermedicinetheetothatsweetsleepWhichthouowedstyesterday。OTHELLOHa!ha!falsetome?IAGOWhy,hownow,general!nomoreofthat。OTHELLOAvaunt!begone!thouhastsetmeontherack:
Iswear’tisbettertobemuchabusedThanbuttoknow’talittle。IAGOHownow,mylord!OTHELLOWhatsensehadIofherstol’nhoursoflust?
Isaw’tnot,thoughtitnot,itharm’dnotme:
Isleptthenextnightwell,wasfreeandmerry;
IfoundnotCassio’skissesonherlips:
Hethatisrobb’d,notwantingwhatisstol’n,Lethimnotknow’t,andhe’snotrobb’datall。IAGOIamsorrytohearthis。OTHELLOIhadbeenhappy,ifthegeneralcamp,Pionersandall,hadtastedhersweetbody,SoIhadnothingknown。O,now,foreverFarewellthetranquilmind!farewellcontent!
Farewelltheplumedtroop,andthebigwars,Thatmakeambitionvirtue!O,farewell!
Farewelltheneighingsteed,andtheshrilltrump,Thespirit—stirringdrum,theear—piercingfife,Theroyalbanner,andallquality,Pride,pompandcircumstanceofgloriouswar!
And,Oyoumortalengines,whoserudethroatsTheimmortalJove’sdeadclamourscounterfeit,Farewell!Othello’soccupation’sgone!IAGOIs’tpossible,mylord?OTHELLOVillain,besurethouprovemyloveawhore,Besureofit;givemetheocularproof:
Orbytheworthofman’seternalsoul,ThouhadstbeenbetterhavebeenbornadogThananswermywakedwrath!IAGOIs’tcometothis?OTHELLOMakemetosee’t;or,attheleast,soproveit,ThattheprobationbearnohingenorloopTohangadoubton;orwoeuponthylife!IAGOMynoblelord,——OTHELLOIfthoudostslanderherandtortureme,Neverpraymore;abandonallremorse;
Onhorror’sheadhorrorsaccumulate;
Dodeedstomakeheavenweep,allearthamazed;
FornothingcanstthoutodamnationaddGreaterthanthat。IAGOOgrace!Oheavenforgiveme!
Areyouaman?haveyouasoulorsense?
Godbewi’you;takemineoffice。Owretchedfool。
Thatlivesttomakethinehonestyavice!
Omonstrousworld!Takenote,takenote,Oworld,Tobedirectandhonestisnotsafe。
Ithankyouforthisprofit;andfromhenceI’lllovenofriend,sithlovebreedssuchoffence。OTHELLONay,stay:thoushouldstbehonest。IAGOIshouldbewise,forhonesty’safoolAndlosesthatitworksfor。OTHELLOBytheworld,Ithinkmywifebehonestandthinksheisnot;
Ithinkthatthouartjustandthinkthouartnot。
I’llhavesomeproof。Hername,thatwasasfreshAsDian’svisage,isnowbegrimedandblackAsmineownface。Iftherebecords,orknives,Poison,orfire,orsuffocatingstreams,I’llnotendureit。WouldIweresatisfied!IAGOIsee,sir,youareeatenupwithpassion:
IdorepentmethatIputittoyou。
Youwouldbesatisfied?OTHELLOWould!nay,Iwill。IAGOAndmay:but,how?howsatisfied,mylord?
Wouldyou,thesupervisor,grosslygapeon——
Beholdhertopp’d?OTHELLODeathanddamnation!O!IAGOItwereatediousdifficulty,Ithink,Tobringthemtothatprospect:damnthemthen,IfevermortaleyesdoseethembolsterMorethantheirown!Whatthen?howthen?
WhatshallIsay?Where’ssatisfaction?
Itisimpossibleyoushouldseethis,Weretheyasprimeasgoats,ashotasmonkeys,Assaltaswolvesinpride,andfoolsasgrossAsignorancemadedrunk。Butyet,Isay,Ifimputationandstrongcircumstances,Whichleaddirectlytothedooroftruth,Willgiveyousatisfaction,youmayhave’t。OTHELLOGivemealivingreasonshe’sdisloyal。IAGOIdonotliketheoffice:
But,sithIamenter’dinthiscausesofar,Prick’dto’tbyfoolishhonestyandlove,Iwillgoon。IlaywithCassiolately;
And,beingtroubledwitharagingtooth,Icouldnotsleep。
Thereareakindofmensolooseofsoul,Thatintheirsleepswillmuttertheiraffairs:
OneofthiskindisCassio:
InsleepIheardhimsay’SweetDesdemona,Letusbewary,letushideourloves;’
Andthen,sir,wouldhegripeandwringmyhand,Cry’Osweetcreature!’andthenkissmehard,Asifhepluck’dupkissesbytherootsThatgrewuponmylips:thenlaidhislegOvermythigh,andsigh’d,andkiss’d;andthenCried’CursedfatethatgavetheetotheMoor!’OTHELLOOmonstrous!monstrous!IAGONay,thiswasbuthisdream。OTHELLOButthisdenotedaforegoneconclusion:
’Tisashrewddoubt,thoughitbebutadream。IAGOAndthismayhelptothickenotherproofsThatdodemonstratethinly。OTHELLOI’lltearheralltopieces。IAGONay,butbewise:yetweseenothingdone;
Shemaybehonestyet。Tellmebutthis,HaveyounotsometimesseenahandkerchiefSpottedwithstrawberriesinyourwife’shand?OTHELLOIgavehersuchaone;’twasmyfirstgift。IAGOIknownotthat;butsuchahandkerchief——
Iamsureitwasyourwife’s——didIto—daySeeCassiowipehisbeardwith。OTHELLOIfitbethat——IAGOIfitbethat,oranythatwashers,Itspeaksagainstherwiththeotherproofs。OTHELLOO,thattheslavehadfortythousandlives!
Oneistoopoor,tooweakformyrevenge。
NowdoIsee’tistrue。Lookhere,Iago;
AllmyfondlovethusdoIblowtoheaven。
’Tisgone。
Arise,blackvengeance,fromthyhollowcell!
Yieldup,Olove,thycrownandheartedthroneTotyrannoushate!Swell,bosom,withthyfraught,For’tisofaspics’tongues!IAGOYetbecontent。OTHELLOO,blood,blood,blood!IAGOPatience,Isay;yourmindperhapsmaychange。OTHELLONever,Iago:LiketothePonticsea,WhoseicycurrentandcompulsivecourseNe’erfeelsretiringebb,butkeepsdueonTotheProponticandtheHellespont,Evensomybloodythoughts,withviolentpace,Shallne’erlookback,ne’erebbtohumblelove,TillthatacapableandwiderevengeSwallowthemup。Now,byyondmarbleheaven,KneelsIntheduereverenceofasacredvowIhereengagemywords。IAGODonotriseyet。
KneelsWitness,youever—burninglightsabove,Youelementsthatclipusroundabout,WitnessthathereIagodothgiveupTheexecutionofhiswit,hands,heart,Towrong’dOthello’sservice!Lethimcommand,Andtoobeyshallbeinmeremorse,Whatbloodybusinessever。
TheyriseOTHELLOIgreetthylove,Notwithvainthanks,butwithacceptancebounteous,Andwillupontheinstantputtheeto’t:
WithinthesethreedaysletmeheartheesayThatCassio’snotalive。IAGOMyfriendisdead;’tisdoneatyourrequest:
Butletherlive。OTHELLODamnher,lewdminx!O,damnher!
Come,gowithmeapart;Iwillwithdraw,TofurnishmewithsomeswiftmeansofdeathForthefairdevil。Nowartthoumylieutenant。IAGOIamyourownforever。
ExeuntSCENEIV。Beforethecastle。EnterDESDEMONA,EMILIA,andClownDESDEMONADoyouknow,sirrah,whereLieutenantCassiolies?ClownIdarenotsayheliesanywhere。DESDEMONAWhy,man?ClownHe’sasoldier,andforonetosayasoldierlies,isstabbing。DESDEMONAGoto:wherelodgeshe?ClownTotellyouwherehelodges,istotellyouwhereIlie。DESDEMONACananythingbemadeofthis?ClownIknownotwherehelodges,andformetodevisealodgingandsayhelieshereorheliesthere,weretolieinmineownthroat。DESDEMONACanyouinquirehimout,andbeedifiedbyreport?ClownIwillcatechisetheworldforhim;thatis,makequestions,andbythemanswer。DESDEMONASeekhim,bidhimcomehither:tellhimIhavemovedmylordonhisbehalf,andhopeallwillbewell。ClownTodothisiswithinthecompassofman’swit:andthereforeIwillattemptthedoingit。
ExitDESDEMONAWhereshouldIlosethathandkerchief,Emilia?EMILIAIknownot,madam。DESDEMONABelieveme,IhadratherhavelostmypurseFullofcrusadoes:and,butmynobleMoorIstrueofmindandmadeofnosuchbasenessAsjealouscreaturesare,itwereenoughToputhimtoillthinking。EMILIAIshenotjealous?DESDEMONAWho,he?IthinkthesunwherehewasbornDrewallsuchhumoursfromhim。EMILIALook,wherehecomes。DESDEMONAIwillnotleavehimnowtillCassioBecall’dtohim。
EnterOTHELLO
Howis’twithyou,mylordOTHELLOWell,mygoodlady。
AsideO,hardnesstodissemble!——
Howdoyou,Desdemona?DESDEMONAWell,mygoodlord。OTHELLOGivemeyourhand:thishandismoist,mylady。DESDEMONAItyethathfeltnoagenorknownnosorrow。OTHELLOThisarguesfruitfulnessandliberalheart:
Hot,hot,andmoist:thishandofyoursrequiresAsequesterfromliberty,fastingandprayer,Muchcastigation,exercisedevout;
Forhere’sayoungandsweatingdevilhere,Thatcommonlyrebels。’Tisagoodhand,Afrankone。DESDEMONAYoumay,indeed,sayso;
For’twasthathandthatgaveawaymyheart。OTHELLOAliberalhand:theheartsofoldgavehands;
Butournewheraldryishands,nothearts。DESDEMONAIcannotspeakofthis。Comenow,yourpromise。OTHELLOWhatpromise,chuck?DESDEMONAIhavesenttobidCassiocomespeakwithyou。OTHELLOIhaveasaltandsorryrheumoffendsme;
Lendmethyhandkerchief。DESDEMONAHere,mylord。OTHELLOThatwhichIgaveyou。DESDEMONAIhaveitnotaboutme。OTHELLONot?DESDEMONANo,indeed,mylord。OTHELLOThatisafault。
ThathandkerchiefDidanEgyptiantomymothergive;
Shewasacharmer,andcouldalmostreadThethoughtsofpeople:shetoldher,whileshekeptit,’TwouldmakeheramiableandsubduemyfatherEntirelytoherlove,butifshelostitOrmadegiftofit,myfather’seyeShouldholdherloathedandhisspiritsshouldhuntAfternewfancies:she,dying,gaveitme;
Andbidme,whenmyfatewouldhavemewive,Togiveither。Ididso:andtakeheedon’t;
Makeitadarlinglikeyourpreciouseye;
Tolose’torgive’tawayweresuchperditionAsnothingelsecouldmatch。DESDEMONAIs’tpossible?OTHELLO’Tistrue:there’smagicinthewebofit:
Asibyl,thathadnumber’dintheworldThesuntocoursetwohundredcompasses,Inherpropheticfurysew’dthework;
Thewormswerehallow’dthatdidbreedthesilk;
AnditwasdyedinmummywhichtheskilfulConservedofmaidens’hearts。DESDEMONAIndeed!is’ttrue?OTHELLOMostveritable;thereforelookto’twell。DESDEMONAThenwouldtoGodthatIhadneverseen’t!OTHELLOHa!wherefore?DESDEMONAWhydoyouspeaksostartinglyandrash?OTHELLOIs’tlost?is’tgone?speak,isitouto’theway?DESDEMONAHeavenblessus!OTHELLOSayyou?DESDEMONAItisnotlost;butwhatanifitwere?OTHELLOHow!DESDEMONAIsay,itisnotlost。OTHELLOFetch’t,letmesee’t。DESDEMONAWhy,soIcan,sir,butIwillnotnow。
Thisisatricktoputmefrommysuit:
Prayyou,letCassiobereceivedagain。OTHELLOFetchmethehandkerchief:mymindmisgives。DESDEMONACome,come;
You’llnevermeetamoresufficientman。OTHELLOThehandkerchief!DESDEMONAIpray,talkmeofCassio。OTHELLOThehandkerchief!DESDEMONAAmanthatallhistimeHathfoundedhisgoodfortunesonyourlove,Shareddangerswithyou,——OTHELLOThehandkerchief!DESDEMONAInsooth,youaretoblame。OTHELLOAway!
ExitEMILIAIsnotthismanjealous?DESDEMONAIne’ersawthisbefore。
Sure,there’ssomewonderinthishandkerchief:
Iammostunhappyinthelossofit。EMILIA’Tisnotayearortwoshowsusaman:
Theyareallbutstomachs,andweallbutfood;
Toeatushungerly,andwhentheyarefull,Theybelchus。Lookyou,Cassioandmyhusband!
EnterCASSIOandIAGOIAGOThereisnootherway;’tisshemustdo’t:
And,lo,thehappiness!go,andimportuneher。DESDEMONAHownow,goodCassio!what’sthenewswithyou?CASSIOMadam,myformersuit:IdobeseechyouThatbyyourvirtuousmeansImayagainExist,andbeamemberofhisloveWhomIwithalltheofficeofmyheartEntirelyhonour:Iwouldnotbedelay’d。
IfmyoffencebeofsuchmortalkindThatnormyservicepast,norpresentsorrows,Norpurposedmeritinfuturity,Canransommeintohisloveagain,Buttoknowsomustbemybenefit;
SoshallIclothemeinaforcedcontent,Andshutmyselfupinsomeothercourse,Tofortune’salms。DESDEMONAAlas,thrice—gentleCassio!
Myadvocationisnotnowintune;
Mylordisnotmylord;norshouldIknowhim,Wereheinfavourasinhumouralter’d。
Sohelpmeeveryspiritsanctified,AsIhavespokenforyouallmybestAndstoodwithintheblankofhisdispleasureFormyfreespeech!youmustawhilebepatient:
WhatIcandoIwill;andmoreIwillThanformyselfIdare:letthatsufficeyou。IAGOIsmylordangry?EMILIAHewenthencebutnow,Andcertainlyinstrangeunquietness。IAGOCanhebeangry?Ihaveseenthecannon,Whenithathblownhisranksintotheair,And,likethedevil,fromhisveryarmPuff’dhisownbrother:——andcanhebeangry?
Somethingofmomentthen:Iwillgomeethim:
There’smatterin’tindeed,ifhebeangry。DESDEMONAIprithee,doso。
ExitIAGO
Something,sure,ofstate,EitherfromVenice,orsomeunhatch’dpractiseMadedemonstrablehereinCyprustohim,Hathpuddledhisclearspirit:andinsuchcasesMen’snatureswranglewithinferiorthings,Thoughgreatonesaretheirobject。’Tisevenso;
Forletourfingerache,anditinduesOurotherhealthfulmemberseventothatsenseOfpain:nay,wemustthinkmenarenotgods,NorofthemlookforsuchobservancesAsfitthebridal。Beshrewmemuch,Emilia,Iwas,unhandsomewarriorasIam,Arraigninghisunkindnesswithmysoul;
ButnowIfindIhadsuborn’dthewitness,Andhe’sindictedfalsely。EMILIAPrayheavenitbestate—matters,asyouthink,AndnoconceptionnornojealoustoyConcerningyou。DESDEMONAAlastheday!Inevergavehimcause。EMILIAButjealoussoulswillnotbeanswer’dso;
Theyarenoteverjealousforthecause,Butjealousfortheyarejealous:’tisamonsterBegotuponitself,bornonitself。DESDEMONAHeavenkeepthatmonsterfromOthello’smind!EMILIALady,amen。DESDEMONAIwillgoseekhim。Cassio,walkhereabout:
IfIdofindhimfit,I’llmoveyoursuitAndseektoeffectittomyuttermost。CASSIOIhumblythankyourladyship。
ExeuntDESDEMONAandEMILIA
EnterBIANCABIANCASaveyou,friendCassio!CASSIOWhatmakeyoufromhome?
Howisitwithyou,mymostfairBianca?
I’faith,sweetlove,Iwascomingtoyourhouse。BIANCAAndIwasgoingtoyourlodging,Cassio。
What,keepaweekaway?sevendaysandnights?
Eightscoreeighthours?andlovers’absenthours,Moretediousthanthedialeightscoretimes?
Owearyreckoning!CASSIOPardonme,Bianca:
Ihavethiswhilewithleadenthoughtsbeenpress’d:
ButIshall,inamorecontinuatetime,Strikeoffthisscoreofabsence。SweetBianca,GivingherDESDEMONA’shandkerchiefTakemethisworkout。BIANCAOCassio,whencecamethis?
Thisissometokenfromanewerfriend:
TothefeltabsencenowIfeelacause:
Is’tcometothis?Well,well。CASSIOGoto,woman!
Throwyourvileguessesinthedevil’steeth,Fromwhenceyouhavethem。YouarejealousnowThatthisisfromsomemistress,someremembrance:
No,ingoodtroth,Bianca。BIANCAWhy,whoseisit?CASSIOIknownot,sweet:Ifounditinmychamber。
Iliketheworkwell:ereitbedemanded——
Aslikeenoughitwill——I’ldhaveitcopied:
Takeit,anddo’t;andleavemeforthistime。BIANCALeaveyou!wherefore?CASSIOIdoattendhereonthegeneral;
Andthinkitnoaddition,normywish,Tohavehimseemewoman’d。BIANCAWhy,Iprayyou?CASSIONotthatIloveyounot。BIANCAButthatyoudonotloveme。
Iprayyou,bringmeonthewayalittle,AndsayifIshallseeyousoonatnight。CASSIO’TisbutalittlewaythatIcanbringyou;
ForIattendhere:butI’llseeyousoon。BIANCA’Tisverygood;Imustbecircumstanced。
ExeuntACTIVSCENEI。Cyprus。Beforethecastle。EnterOTHELLOandIAGOIAGOWillyouthinkso?OTHELLOThinkso,Iago!IAGOWhat,Tokissinprivate?OTHELLOAnunauthorizedkiss。IAGOOrtobenakedwithherfriendinbedAnhourormore,notmeaninganyharm?OTHELLONakedinbed,Iago,andnotmeanharm!
Itishypocrisyagainstthedevil:
Theythatmeanvirtuously,andyetdoso,Thedeviltheirvirtuetempts,andtheytemptheaven。IAGOSotheydonothing,’tisavenialslip:
ButifIgivemywifeahandkerchief,——OTHELLOWhatthen?IAGOWhy,then,’tishers,mylord;and,beinghers,Shemay,Ithink,bestow’tonanyman。OTHELLOSheisprotectressofherhonourtoo:
Mayshegivethat?IAGOHerhonourisanessencethat’snotseen;
Theyhaveitveryoftthathaveitnot:
But,forthehandkerchief,——OTHELLOByheaven,Iwouldmostgladlyhaveforgotit。
Thousaid’st,itcomeso’ermymemory,Asdoththeraveno’ertheinfectedhouse,Bodingtoall——hehadmyhandkerchief。IAGOAy,whatofthat?OTHELLOThat’snotsogoodnow。IAGOWhat,IfIhadsaidIhadseenhimdoyouwrong?
Orheardhimsay,——asknavesbesuchabroad,Whohaving,bytheirownimportunatesuit,Orvoluntarydotageofsomemistress,Convincedorsuppliedthem,cannotchooseButtheymustblab——OTHELLOHathhesaidanything?IAGOHehath,mylord;butbeyouwellassured,Nomorethanhe’llunswear。OTHELLOWhathathhesaid?IAGO’Faith,thathedid——Iknownotwhathedid。OTHELLOWhat?what?IAGOLie——OTHELLOWithher?IAGOWithher,onher;whatyouwill。OTHELLOLiewithher!lieonher!Wesaylieonher,whentheybelieher。Liewithher!that’sfulsome。
——Handkerchief——confessions——handkerchief!——Toconfess,andbehangedforhislabour;——first,tobehanged,andthentoconfess。——Itrembleatit。
Naturewouldnotinvestherselfinsuchshadowingpassionwithoutsomeinstruction。Itisnotwordsthatshakemethus。Pish!Noses,ears,andlips。
——Is’tpossible?——Confess——handkerchief!——Odevil!——
FallsinatranceIAGOWorkon,Mymedicine,work!Thuscredulousfoolsarecaught;
Andmanyworthyandchastedameseventhus,Allguiltless,meetreproach。What,ho!mylord!
Mylord,Isay!Othello!
EnterCASSIO
Hownow,Cassio!CASSIOWhat’sthematter?IAGOMylordisfall’nintoanepilepsy:
Thisishissecondfit;hehadoneyesterday。CASSIORubhimaboutthetemples。IAGONo,forbear;
Thelethargymusthavehisquietcourse:
Ifnot,hefoamsatmouthandbyandbyBreaksouttosavagemadness。Lookhestirs:
Doyouwithdrawyourselfalittlewhile,Hewillrecoverstraight:whenheisgone,Iwouldongreatoccasionspeakwithyou。
ExitCASSIO
Howisit,general?haveyounothurtyourhead?OTHELLODostthoumockme?IAGOImockyou!no,byheaven。
Wouldyouwouldbearyourfortunelikeaman!OTHELLOAhornedman’samonsterandabeast。IAGOThere’smanyabeasttheninapopulouscity,Andmanyacivilmonster。OTHELLODidheconfessit?IAGOGoodsir,beaman;
Thinkeverybeardedfellowthat’sbutyokedMaydrawwithyou:there’smillionsnowaliveThatnightlylieinthoseunproperbedsWhichtheydareswearpeculiar:yourcaseisbetter。
O,’tisthespiteofhell,thefiend’sarch—mock,Tolipawantoninasecurecouch,Andtosupposeherchaste!No,letmeknow;
AndknowingwhatIam,Iknowwhatsheshallbe。OTHELLOO,thouartwise;’tiscertain。IAGOStandyouawhileapart;
Confineyourselfbutinapatientlist。
Whilstyouwerehereo’erwhelmedwithyourgrief——
Apassionmostunsuitingsuchaman——
Cassiocamehither:Ishiftedhimaway,Andlaidgood’scuseuponyourecstasy,Badehimanonreturnandherespeakwithme;
Thewhichhepromised。Dobutencaveyourself,Andmarkthefleers,thegibes,andnotablescorns,Thatdwellineveryregionofhisface;
ForIwillmakehimtellthetaleanew,Where,how,howoft,howlongago,andwhenHehath,andisagaintocopeyourwife:
Isay,butmarkhisgesture。Marry,patience;
OrIshallsayyouareallinallinspleen,Andnothingofaman。OTHELLODostthouhear,Iago?
Iwillbefoundmostcunninginmypatience;
But——dostthouhear?——mostbloody。IAGOThat’snotamiss;
Butyetkeeptimeinall。Willyouwithdraw?
OTHELLOretiresNowwillIquestionCassioofBianca,AhousewifethatbysellingherdesiresBuysherselfbreadandclothes:itisacreatureThatdotesonCassio;as’tisthestrumpet’splagueTobeguilemanyandbebeguiledbyone:
He,whenhehearsofher,cannotrefrainFromtheexcessoflaughter。Herehecomes:
Re—enterCASSIO
Asheshallsmile,Othelloshallgomad;
AndhisunbookishjealousymustconstruePoorCassio’ssmiles,gesturesandlightbehavior,Quiteinthewrong。Howdoyounow,lieutenant?CASSIOTheworserthatyougivemetheadditionWhosewantevenkillsme。IAGOPlyDesdemonawell,andyouaresureon’t。
SpeakinglowerNow,ifthissuitlayinBianco’spower,Howquicklyshouldyouspeed!CASSIOAlas,poorcaitiff!OTHELLOLook,howhelaughsalready!IAGOIneverknewwomanlovemanso。CASSIOAlas,poorrogue!Ithink,i’faith,shelovesme。OTHELLONowhedeniesitfaintly,andlaughsitout。IAGODoyouhear,Cassio?OTHELLONowheimportuneshimTotellito’er:goto;wellsaid,wellsaid。IAGOShegivesitoutthatyoushallmarryhey:
Doyouintendit?CASSIOHa,ha,ha!OTHELLODoyoutriumph,Roman?doyoutriumph?CASSIOImarryher!what?acustomer!Prithee,bearsomecharitytomywit:donotthinkitsounwholesome。
Ha,ha,ha!OTHELLOSo,so,so,so:theylaughthatwin。IAGO’Faith,thecrygoesthatyoushallmarryher。CASSIOPrithee,saytrue。IAGOIamaveryvillainelse。OTHELLOHaveyouscoredme?Well。CASSIOThisisthemonkey’sowngivingout:
sheispersuadedIwillmarryher,outofherownloveandflattery,notoutofmypromise。OTHELLOIagobeckonsme;nowhebeginsthestory。CASSIOShewashereevennow;shehauntsmeineveryplace。
Iwastheotherdaytalkingonthesea—bankwithcertainVenetians;andthithercomesthebauble,and,bythishand,shefallsmethusaboutmyneck——OTHELLOCrying’OdearCassio!’asitwere:hisgestureimportsit。CASSIOSohangs,andlolls,andweepsuponme;
sohales,andpullsme:ha,ha,ha!OTHELLONowhetellshowshepluckedhimtomychamber。O,Iseethatnoseofyours,butnotthatdogI
shallthrowitto。CASSIOWell,Imustleavehercompany。IAGOBeforeme!look,whereshecomes。CASSIO’Tissuchanotherfitchew!marryaperfumedone。
EnterBIANCA
Whatdoyoumeanbythishauntingofme?BIANCALetthedevilandhisdamhauntyou!
Whatdidyoumeanbythatsamehandkerchiefyougavemeevennow?
Iwasafinefooltotakeit。Imusttakeoutthework?——Alikelypieceofwork,thatyoushouldfinditinyourchamber,andnotknowwholeftitthere!
Thisissomeminx’stoken,andImusttakeoutthework?There;giveityourhobby—horse:wheresoeveryouhadit,I’lltakeoutnoworkon’t。CASSIOHownow,mysweetBianca!hownow!hownow!OTHELLOByheaven,thatshouldbemyhandkerchief!BIANCAAnyou’llcometosupperto—night,youmay;anyouwillnot,comewhenyouarenextpreparedfor。
ExitIAGOAfterher,afterher。CASSIO’Faith,Imust;she’llrailinthestreetelse。IAGOWillyousupthere?CASSIO’Faith,Iintendso。IAGOWell,Imaychancetoseeyou;forI
wouldveryfainspeakwithyou。CASSIOPrithee,come;willyou?IAGOGoto;saynomore。
ExitCASSIOOTHELLO[Advancing]HowshallImurderhim,Iago?IAGODidyouperceivehowhelaughedathisvice?OTHELLOOIago!IAGOAnddidyouseethehandkerchief?OTHELLOWasthatmine?IAGOYoursbythishand:andtoseehowheprizesthefoolishwomanyourwife!shegaveithim,andhehathgivenithiswhore。OTHELLOIwouldhavehimnineyearsa—killing。