The Tragedy Of Othello, The Moor Of Venice

1 Enter Othello and Iago.
2 IAGO.
3 Will you think so?
4 OTHELLO.
5 Think so, Iago?
6 IAGO.
7 What,
8 To kiss in private?
9 OTHELLO.
10 An unauthoriz’d kiss.
11 IAGO.
12 Or to be naked with her friend in bed
13 An hour or more, not meaning any harm?
14 OTHELLO.
15 Naked in bed, Iago, and not mean harm?
16 It is hypocrisy against the devil:
17 They that mean virtuously and yet do so,
18 The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt heaven.
19 IAGO.
20 So they do nothing, ’tis a venial slip.
21 But if I give my wife a handkerchief—
22 OTHELLO.
23 What then?
24 IAGO.
25 Why then, ’tis hers, my lord, and being hers,
26 She may, I think, bestow’t on any man.
27 OTHELLO.
28 She is protectress of her honour too.
29 May she give that?
30 IAGO.
31 Her honour is an essence that’s not seen;
32 They have it very oft that have it not:
33 But for the handkerchief—
34 OTHELLO.
35 By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it.
36 Thou said’st (O, it comes o’er my memory,
37 As doth the raven o’er the infected house,
38 Boding to all) he had my handkerchief.
39 IAGO.
40 Ay, what of that?
41 OTHELLO.
42 That’s not so good now.
43 IAGO.
44 What
45 If I had said I had seen him do you wrong?
46 Or heard him say (as knaves be such abroad,
47 Who having, by their own importunate suit,
48 Or voluntary dotage of some mistress,
49 Convinced or supplied them, cannot choose
50 But they must blab.)
51 OTHELLO.
52 Hath he said anything?
53 IAGO.
54 He hath, my lord, but be you well assur’d,
55 No more than he’ll unswear.
56 OTHELLO.
57 What hath he said?
58 IAGO.
59 Faith, that he did—I know not what he did.
60 OTHELLO.
61 What? What?
62 IAGO.
63 Lie.
64 OTHELLO.
65 With her?
66 IAGO.
67 With her, on her, what you will.
68 OTHELLO.
69 Lie with her! lie on her!—We say lie on her when they belie her.—Lie
70 with her! that’s fulsome. Handkerchief—confessions—handkerchief! To
71 confess, and be hanged for his labour. First, to be hanged, and then to
72 confess. I tremble at it. Nature would not invest herself in such
73 shadowing passion without some instruction. It is not words that shake
74 me thus. Pish! Noses, ears, and lips. Is’t
75 possible?—Confess?—handkerchief?—O devil!—
76 [_Falls in a trance._]
77 IAGO.
78 Work on,
79 My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught,
80 And many worthy and chaste dames even thus,
81 All guiltless, meet reproach. What, ho! my lord!
82 My lord, I say! Othello!
83 Enter Cassio.
84 How now, Cassio!
85 CASSIO.
86 What’s the matter?
87 IAGO.
88 My lord is fallen into an epilepsy.
89 This is his second fit. He had one yesterday.
90 CASSIO.
91 Rub him about the temples.
92 IAGO.
93 No, forbear;
94 The lethargy must have his quiet course.
95 If not, he foams at mouth, and by and by
96 Breaks out to savage madness. Look, he stirs:
97 Do you withdraw yourself a little while,
98 He will recover straight. When he is gone,
99 I would on great occasion speak with you.
100 [_Exit Cassio._]
101 How is it, general? Have you not hurt your head?
102 OTHELLO.
103 Dost thou mock me?
104 IAGO.
105 I mock you? No, by heaven.
106 Would you would bear your fortune like a man!
107 OTHELLO.
108 A horned man’s a monster and a beast.
109 IAGO.
110 There’s many a beast, then, in a populous city,
111 And many a civil monster.
112 OTHELLO.
113 Did he confess it?
114 IAGO.
115 Good sir, be a man.
116 Think every bearded fellow that’s but yok’d
117 May draw with you. There’s millions now alive
118 That nightly lie in those unproper beds
119 Which they dare swear peculiar: your case is better.
120 O, ’tis the spite of hell, the fiend’s arch-mock,
121 To lip a wanton in a secure couch,
122 And to suppose her chaste! No, let me know,
123 And knowing what I am, I know what she shall be.
124 OTHELLO.
125 O, thou art wise, ’tis certain.
126 IAGO.
127 Stand you awhile apart,
128 Confine yourself but in a patient list.
129 Whilst you were here o’erwhelmed with your grief,
130 (A passion most unsuiting such a man)
131 Cassio came hither. I shifted him away,
132 And laid good ’scuse upon your ecstasy,
133 Bade him anon return, and here speak with me,
134 The which he promis’d. Do but encave yourself,
135 And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorns,
136 That dwell in every region of his face;
137 For I will make him tell the tale anew,
138 Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when
139 He hath, and is again to cope your wife:
140 I say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience,
141 Or I shall say you are all in all in spleen,
142 And nothing of a man.
143 OTHELLO.
144 Dost thou hear, Iago?
145 I will be found most cunning in my patience;
146 But,—dost thou hear?—most bloody.
147 IAGO.
148 That’s not amiss.
149 But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw?
150 [_Othello withdraws._]
151 Now will I question Cassio of Bianca,
152 A housewife that by selling her desires
153 Buys herself bread and clothes: it is a creature
154 That dotes on Cassio, (as ’tis the strumpet’s plague
155 To beguile many and be beguil’d by one.)
156 He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain
157 From the excess of laughter. Here he comes.
158 Enter Cassio.
159 As he shall smile Othello shall go mad,
160 And his unbookish jealousy must construe
161 Poor Cassio’s smiles, gestures, and light behaviour
162 Quite in the wrong. How do you now, lieutenant?
163 CASSIO.
164 The worser that you give me the addition
165 Whose want even kills me.
166 IAGO.
167 Ply Desdemona well, and you are sure on’t.
168 [_Speaking lower._] Now, if this suit lay in Bianca’s power,
169 How quickly should you speed!
170 CASSIO.
171 Alas, poor caitiff!
172 OTHELLO.
173 [_Aside._] Look how he laughs already!
174 IAGO.
175 I never knew a woman love man so.
176 CASSIO.
177 Alas, poor rogue! I think, i’ faith, she loves me.
178 OTHELLO.
179 [_Aside._] Now he denies it faintly and laughs it out.
180 IAGO.
181 Do you hear, Cassio?
182 OTHELLO.
183 Now he importunes him
184 To tell it o’er. Go to, well said, well said.
185 IAGO.
186 She gives it out that you shall marry her.
187 Do you intend it?
188 CASSIO.
189 Ha, ha, ha!
190 OTHELLO.
191 Do you triumph, Roman? Do you triumph?
192 CASSIO.
193 I marry her? What? A customer? I prithee, bear some charity to my wit,
194 do not think it so unwholesome. Ha, ha, ha!
195 OTHELLO.
196 So, so, so, so. They laugh that wins.
197 IAGO.
198 Faith, the cry goes that you shall marry her.
199 CASSIO.
200 Prithee say true.
201 IAGO.
202 I am a very villain else.
203 OTHELLO.
204 Have you scored me? Well.
205 CASSIO.
206 This is the monkey’s own giving out. She is persuaded I will marry her,
207 out of her own love and flattery, not out of my promise.
208 OTHELLO.
209 Iago beckons me. Now he begins the story.
210 CASSIO.
211 She was here even now. She haunts me in every place. I was the other
212 day talking on the sea-bank with certain Venetians, and thither comes
213 the bauble, and falls thus about my neck.
214 OTHELLO.
215 Crying, “O dear Cassio!” as it were: his gesture imports it.
216 CASSIO.
217 So hangs, and lolls, and weeps upon me; so hales and pulls me. Ha, ha,
218 ha!
219 OTHELLO.
220 Now he tells how she plucked him to my chamber. O, I see that nose of
221 yours, but not that dog I shall throw it to.
222 CASSIO.
223 Well, I must leave her company.
224 IAGO.
225 Before me! look where she comes.
226 Enter Bianca.
227 CASSIO.
228 ’Tis such another fitchew! Marry, a perfum’d one.
229 What do you mean by this haunting of me?
230 BIANCA.
231 Let the devil and his dam haunt you! What did you mean by that same
232 handkerchief you gave me even now? I was a fine fool to take it. I must
233 take out the work? A likely piece of work, that you should find it in
234 your chamber and not know who left it there! This is some minx’s token,
235 and I must take out the work? There, give it your hobby-horse.
236 Wheresoever you had it, I’ll take out no work on’t.
237 CASSIO.
238 How now, my sweet Bianca? How now, how now?
239 OTHELLO.
240 By heaven, that should be my handkerchief!
241 BIANCA.
242 If you’ll come to supper tonight, you may. If you will not, come when
243 you are next prepared for.
244 [_Exit._]
245 IAGO.
246 After her, after her.
247 CASSIO.
248 Faith, I must; she’ll rail in the street else.
249 IAGO.
250 Will you sup there?
251 CASSIO.
252 Faith, I intend so.
253 IAGO.
254 Well, I may chance to see you, for I would very fain speak with you.
255 CASSIO.
256 Prithee come, will you?
257 IAGO.
258 Go to; say no more.
259 [_Exit Cassio._]
260 OTHELLO.
261 [_Coming forward._] How shall I murder him, Iago?
262 IAGO.
263 Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice?
264 OTHELLO.
265 O Iago!
266 IAGO.
267 And did you see the handkerchief?
268 OTHELLO.
269 Was that mine?
270 IAGO.
271 Yours, by this hand: and to see how he prizes the foolish woman your
272 wife! she gave it him, and he hath given it his whore.
273 OTHELLO.
274 I would have him nine years a-killing. A fine woman, a fair woman, a
275 sweet woman!
276 IAGO.
277 Nay, you must forget that.
278 OTHELLO.
279 Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damned tonight, for she shall not
280 live. No, my heart is turned to stone; I strike it, and it hurts my
281 hand. O, the world hath not a sweeter creature. She might lie by an
282 emperor’s side, and command him tasks.
283 IAGO.
284 Nay, that’s not your way.
285 OTHELLO.
286 Hang her, I do but say what she is. So delicate with her needle, an
287 admirable musician! O, she will sing the savageness out of a bear! Of
288 so high and plenteous wit and invention!
289 IAGO.
290 She’s the worse for all this.
291 OTHELLO.
292 O, a thousand, a thousand times: and then of so gentle a condition!
293 IAGO.
294 Ay, too gentle.
295 OTHELLO.
296 Nay, that’s certain. But yet the pity of it, Iago! O Iago, the pity of
297 it, Iago!
298 IAGO.
299 If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her patent to offend, for if
300 it touch not you, it comes near nobody.
301 OTHELLO.
302 I will chop her into messes. Cuckold me!
303 IAGO.
304 O, ’tis foul in her.
305 OTHELLO.
306 With mine officer!
307 IAGO.
308 That’s fouler.
309 OTHELLO.
310 Get me some poison, Iago; this night. I’ll not expostulate with her,
311 lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again. This night, Iago.
312 IAGO.
313 Do it not with poison, strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath
314 contaminated.
315 OTHELLO.
316 Good, good. The justice of it pleases. Very good.
317 IAGO.
318 And for Cassio, let me be his undertaker. You shall hear more by
319 midnight.
320 OTHELLO.
321 Excellent good. [_A trumpet within._] What trumpet is that same?
322 Enter Lodovico, Desdemona and Attendant.
323 IAGO.
324 Something from Venice, sure. ’Tis Lodovico
325 Come from the duke. See, your wife is with him.
326 LODOVICO.
327 Save you, worthy general!
328 OTHELLO.
329 With all my heart, sir.
330 LODOVICO.
331 The duke and senators of Venice greet you.
332 [_Gives him a packet._]
333 OTHELLO.
334 I kiss the instrument of their pleasures.
335 [_Opens the packet and reads._]
336 DESDEMONA.
337 And what’s the news, good cousin Lodovico?
338 IAGO.
339 I am very glad to see you, signior.
340 Welcome to Cyprus.
341 LODOVICO.
342 I thank you. How does Lieutenant Cassio?
343 IAGO.
344 Lives, sir.
345 DESDEMONA.
346 Cousin, there’s fall’n between him and my lord
347 An unkind breach, but you shall make all well.
348 OTHELLO.
349 Are you sure of that?
350 DESDEMONA.
351 My lord?
352 OTHELLO.
353 [_Reads._] “This fail you not to do, as you will—”
354 LODOVICO.
355 He did not call; he’s busy in the paper.
356 Is there division ’twixt my lord and Cassio?
357 DESDEMONA.
358 A most unhappy one. I would do much
359 To atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio.
360 OTHELLO.
361 Fire and brimstone!
362 DESDEMONA.
363 My lord?
364 OTHELLO.
365 Are you wise?
366 DESDEMONA.
367 What, is he angry?
368 LODOVICO.
369 May be the letter mov’d him;
370 For, as I think, they do command him home,
371 Deputing Cassio in his government.
372 DESDEMONA.
373 Trust me, I am glad on’t.
374 OTHELLO.
375 Indeed!
376 DESDEMONA.
377 My lord?
378 OTHELLO.
379 I am glad to see you mad.
380 DESDEMONA.
381 Why, sweet Othello?
382 OTHELLO.
383 Devil!
384 [_Striking her._]
385 DESDEMONA.
386 I have not deserv’d this.
387 LODOVICO.
388 My lord, this would not be believ’d in Venice,
389 Though I should swear I saw’t: ’tis very much.
390 Make her amends. She weeps.
391 OTHELLO.
392 O devil, devil!
393 If that the earth could teem with woman’s tears,
394 Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile.
395 Out of my sight!
396 DESDEMONA.
397 I will not stay to offend you.
398 [_Going._]
399 LODOVICO.
400 Truly, an obedient lady.
401 I do beseech your lordship, call her back.
402 OTHELLO.
403 Mistress!
404 DESDEMONA.
405 My lord?
406 OTHELLO.
407 What would you with her, sir?
408 LODOVICO.
409 Who, I, my lord?
410 OTHELLO.
411 Ay, you did wish that I would make her turn.
412 Sir, she can turn, and turn, and yet go on,
413 And turn again. And she can weep, sir, weep;
414 And she’s obedient, as you say, obedient,
415 Very obedient. Proceed you in your tears.
416 Concerning this, sir,—O well-painted passion!
417 I am commanded home.—Get you away;
418 I’ll send for you anon.—Sir, I obey the mandate,
419 And will return to Venice.—Hence, avaunt!
420 [_Exit Desdemona._]
421 Cassio shall have my place. And, sir, tonight,
422 I do entreat that we may sup together.
423 You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus. Goats and monkeys!
424 [_Exit._]
425 LODOVICO.
426 Is this the noble Moor, whom our full senate
427 Call all in all sufficient? Is this the nature
428 Whom passion could not shake? whose solid virtue
429 The shot of accident nor dart of chance
430 Could neither graze nor pierce?
431 IAGO.
432 He is much chang’d.
433 LODOVICO.
434 Are his wits safe? Is he not light of brain?
435 IAGO.
436 He’s that he is. I may not breathe my censure
437 What he might be. If what he might he is not,
438 I would to heaven he were!
439 LODOVICO.
440 What, strike his wife?
441 IAGO.
442 Faith, that was not so well; yet would I knew
443 That stroke would prove the worst!
444 LODOVICO.
445 Is it his use?
446 Or did the letters work upon his blood,
447 And new-create this fault?
448 IAGO.
449 Alas, alas!
450 It is not honesty in me to speak
451 What I have seen and known. You shall observe him,
452 And his own courses will denote him so
453 That I may save my speech: do but go after,
454 And mark how he continues.
455 LODOVICO.
456 I am sorry that I am deceiv’d in him.
457 [_Exeunt._]