SCENE 3: A COUNCIL-CHAMBER. — Shakespeare Retold

[The DUKE and Senators sitting at a table; Officers attending]

DUKE OF VENICE

There is no composition in these news

All of this news is just so inconsistent,

That gives them credit.

It isn’t creditworthy.

FIRST SENATOR

Indeed, they are disproportioned;

Yes, it’s mixed up;

My letters say a hundred and seven galleys.

My notes say there are a hundred and seven ships.

DUKE OF VENICE

And mine, a hundred and forty.

SECOND SENATOR

And mine, two hundred:

But though they jump not on a just account,--

But though there is discrepancy on numbers –

As in these cases, where the aim reports,

As often is the case with such reports,

'Tis oft with difference--yet do they all confirm

These differences occur – yet all agree

A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus.

A Turkish fleet is bearing down on Cyprus.

DUKE OF VENICE

Nay, it is possible enough to judgment:

Indeed, there is enough to make a judgement:

I do not so secure me in the error,

The range of estimates don’t bring me comfort,

But the main article I do approve

Although the general gist of what’s occurring

In fearful sense.

Has made me scared.

SAILOR

[Within]

What, ho! What, ho! What, ho!

Hey up! Hey up! Hey up!

FIRST OFFICER

A messenger from the galleys.

A messenger from the ships.

[Enter a Sailor]

DUKE OF VENICE

Now, what's the business?

Now, what’s the latest news?

SAILOR

The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes;

The Turkish fleet are setting sail for Rhodes;

So was I bid report here to the state

That’s what I have been told to tell the senate

By Signior Angelo.

DUKE OF VENICE

How say you by this change?

What’s your view on this change?

FIRST SENATOR

This cannot be,

It can’t be true,

By no assay of reason: 'tis a pageant,

It is nonsensical; it’s a distraction,

To keep us in false gaze. When we consider

Diverting our attention. When we think of

The importancy of Cyprus to the Turk,

How critical that Cyprus is to Turkey,

And let ourselves again but understand,

And then when we remind ourselves again

That as it more concerns the Turk than Rhodes,

That, to the Turks, it’s worth far more than Rhodes is,

So may he with more facile question bear it,

And that it’s easier to subjugate

For that it stands not in such warlike brace,

Because it’s not prepared to fight in battle

But altogether lacks the abilities

And altogether lacks the strength to fight

That Rhodes is dressed in: if we make thought of this,

Like Rhodes is so prepared for; so it follows

We must not think the Turk is so unskilful

That we should not believe the Turks so tactless

To leave that latest which concerns him first,

To drop the place that’s most important to them,

Neglecting an attempt of ease and gain,

Neglecting a most simple victory

To wake and wage a danger profitless.

To fight a dangerous and worthless battle.

DUKE OF VENICE

Nay, in all confidence, he's not for Rhodes.

No, I am sure they’re not heading for Rhodes.

FIRST OFFICER

Here is more news.

[Enter a Messenger]

MESSENGER

The Ottomites, reverend and gracious,

The awe-inspiring Turks

Steering with due course towards the isle of Rhodes,

Have sailed directly to the isle of Rhodes

Have there injointed them with an after fleet.

And there they’ve joined up with another fleet.

FIRST SENATOR

Ay, so I thought. How many, as you guess?

That’s what I thought they’d do. How many are there?

MESSENGER

Of thirty sail: and now they do restem

Some thirty ships; and now they are retracing

Their backward course, bearing with frank appearance

The course that they arrived on, and quite clearly

Their purposes toward Cyprus. Signior Montano,

They’re heading on to Cyprus. Signior Montano,

Your trusty and most valiant servitor,

Your brave and trusted servant to the state,

With his free duty recommends you thus,

Has sent this unimpeded message to you

And prays you to believe him.

And hopes that you believe it.

DUKE OF VENICE

'Tis certain, then, for Cyprus.

It’s certain then: they’re heading on to Cyprus.

Marcus Luccicos, is not he in town?

Is Marcus Luccicos about in town?

FIRST SENATOR

He's now in Florence.

He’s currently in Florence.

DUKE OF VENICE

Write from us to him; post-post-haste dispatch.

Send him a message from us; do it quickly.

FIRST SENATOR

Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor.

Here comes Brabantio and the gutsy Moor.

[Enter BRABANTIO, OTHELLO, IAGO, RODERIGO, and Officers]

DUKE OF VENICE

Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you

Now brave Othello, we’ve a job for you

Against the general enemy Ottoman.

To fight against our Turkish enemy.

[To BRABANTIO]

I did not see you; welcome, gentle signior;

I didn’t see you there; welcome, kind sir;

We lacked your counsel and your help tonight.

We missed your help and guidance here tonight.

BRABANTIO

So did I yours. Good your grace, pardon me;

And I missed yours as well. Please sir, forgive me;

Neither my place nor aught I heard of business

Neither my role nor any news I’d heard

Hath raised me from my bed, nor doth the general care

Got me out of my bed, nor general issues

Take hold on me, for my particular grief

Were bothering me, for my private grief

Is of so flood-gate and o'erbearing nature

Is just so overwhelming in its nature

That it engluts and swallows other sorrows

That it consumes all of my other sorrows

And it is still itself.

And it’s still unresolved.

DUKE OF VENICE

Why, what's the matter?

Why, what’s the matter?

BRABANTIO

My daughter! O, my daughter!

My daughter!

ALL

Dead?

Is she dead?

BRABANTIO

Ay, to me;

She is to me.

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

She’s been abused, corrupted, stolen from me

By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks;

By magic spells a witchdoctor has cast;

For nature so preposterously to err,

For this mistake would not occur in nature,

Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense,

Whereby she’s lost all common sense and reason,

Sans witchcraft could not.

Unless it was by witchcraft.

DUKE OF VENICE

Whoe'er he be that in this foul proceeding

Whichever man is guilty of the crime of

Hath thus beguiled your daughter of herself

Embezzling your daughter’s mind from her

And you of her, the bloody book of law

And taking her from you, then corporal punishment

You shall yourself read in the bitter letter

Is yours to issue, even execution

After your own sense, yea, though our proper son

If you feel that is right, even to my son

Stood in your action.

If he has done this deed.

BRABANTIO

Humbly I thank your grace.

I humbly thank you.

Here is the man, this Moor, whom now, it seems,

Here is the man, this Moor, whom now it seems

Your special mandate for the state-affairs

Your special military operation

Hath hither brought.

Required him here.

ALL

We are very sorry for't.

We all are sorry for this.

DUKE OF VENICE

[To OTHELLO]

What, in your own part, can you say to this?

What do you have to say yourself about this?

BRABANTIO

Nothing, but this is so.

Nothing, except it’s true.

OTHELLO

Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors,

Most powerful and serious strong leaders,

My very noble and approved good masters,

My noble masters who’ve been good to me,

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

The charge that I have taken this man’s daughter

It is most true; true, I have married her:

Is absolutely true; I’ve married her:

The very head and front of my offending

And that is the extent of my offence,

Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech,

No more, no less. I use course words when speaking

And little blessed with the soft phrase of peace:

And am not gifted with tenacity:

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

For since the tender age of seven years old

Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used

Until nine months ago, I’ve been engaged

Their dearest action in the tented field,

In action on our country’s battlefields,

And little of this great world can I speak,

And there’s not much that I can speak about

More than pertains to feats of broil and battle,

Except for winning fights in acts of war,

And therefore little shall I grace my cause

And so I’m not adept at arguing

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

In my defence. But, if you’re patient with me,

I will a round unvarnished tale deliver

I’ll share the truth, without embellishment,

Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what charms,

Of how we fell in love; the drugs and charms,

What conjuration and what mighty magic,

Manipulation through corrupt black magic,

For such proceeding I am charged withal,

And everything that I am charged with using

I won his daughter.

To win his daughter’s heart.

BRABANTIO

A maiden never bold;

She’s young, not bold;

Of spirit so still and quiet, that her motion

She is so quiet and shy, her own emotions

Blushed at herself; and she, in spite of nature,

Would make her blush; and yet, in spite of this,

Of years, of country, credit, every thing,

Her age, her prosperous upbringing, all things,

To fall in love with what she feared to look on!

You think she’d fall in love with one she’s scared of?

It is a judgment maimed and most imperfect

One’s judgement must be utterly corrupted

That will confess perfection so could err

To think this perfect girl could be seduced

Against all rules of nature, and must be driven

Against all basic instinct, and we must find

To find out practises of cunning hell,

The causes of this evil act and how

Why this should be. I therefore vouch again

It came to be. And so, I state again,

That with some mixtures powerful o'er the blood,

That by some potion fed into her blood,

Or with some dram conjured to this effect,

Or by some poison with the same effect,

He wrought upon her.

He moulded her.

DUKE OF VENICE

To vouch this, is no proof,

Alone, your words aren’t proof,

Without more wider and more overt test

Unless backed up with better evidence

Than these thin habits and poor likelihoods

Than thinly-veiled, unlikely accusations

Of modern seeming do prefer against him.

Of everyday occurrences he’s charged with.

FIRST SENATOR

But, Othello, speak:

Did you by indirect and forced courses

Did you use shifty and coercive methods

Subdue and poison this young maid's affections?

To meld this virgin through manipulation?

Or came it by request and such fair question

Or did you ask her nicely to get married

As soul to soul affordeth?

As two folk are allowed?

OTHELLO

I do beseech you,

I ask that you

Send for the lady to the Sagittary,

Invite her to the Sagittary Inn

And let her speak of me before her father:

And let her speak about me to her father.

If you do find me foul in her report,

If you find out that she speaks badly of me,

The trust, the office I do hold of you,

Then all the trust and rank I hold for you

Not only take away, but let your sentence

You should not only take away, but sentence

Even fall upon my life.

My execution.

DUKE OF VENICE

Fetch Desdemona hither.

Fetch Desdemona here.

OTHELLO

Ancient, conduct them: you best know the place.

Flag-bearer, lead them on: you know the way.

[Exeunt IAGO and Attendants]

And, till she come, as truly as to heaven

Till then, as truthfully as I confess

I do confess the vices of my blood,

My sins to heaven for the wrongs I’ve done,

So justly to your grave ears I'll present,

I’ll, just the same, reveal to you the truth

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

Of how I won this gorgeous lady’s love

And she in mine.

And how she mine.

DUKE OF VENICE

Say it, Othello.

Tell us, Othello.

OTHELLO

Her father loved me; oft invited me;

Her father loved my company at home;

Still questioned me the story of my life,

He asked about the story of my life,

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

Split into years, each battle, siege and victory

That I have passed.

That I have had.

I ran it through, even from my boyish days,

I told him everything, from childhood days

To the very moment that he bade me tell it;

Right through until he asked I tell my story,

Wherein I spake of most disastrous chances,

Whereby I spoke of such atrocious luck,

Of moving accidents by flood and field

Of awful accidents on land and sea,

Of hair-breadth scapes i' the imminent deadly breach,

Escaping certain death just by a whisker,

Of being taken by the insolent foe

Of being captured by an enemy

And sold to slavery, of my redemption thence

And sold to slavery, winning back my freedom

And portance in my travels' history:

And how I acted, travelling around,

Wherein of antres vast and deserts idle,

Through massive caves and monumental deserts,

Rough quarries, rocks and hills whose heads touch heaven

Of rugged stones, and mountains touching heaven,

It was my hint to speak,--such was the process;

I had to tell him all of what had happened;

And of the Cannibals that each other eat,

And of the cannibals that eat each other,

The Anthropophagi and men whose heads

Called Anthropophagi, and men whose heads

Do grow beneath their shoulders. This to hear

Grew underneath their shoulders. Hearing this,

Would Desdemona seriously incline:

Would Desdemona listen in intently:

But still the house-affairs would draw her thence:

But then she’d have to leave to do the housework,

Which ever as she could with haste dispatch,

Which she would do as quickly as she could

She'ld come again, and with a greedy ear

And then return, inquisitively listening

Devour up my discourse: which I observing,

To gobble up my stories: when relaxing,

Took once a pliant hour, and found good means

And resting for an hour, I discovered

To draw from her a prayer of earnest heart

That she would beg of me with all her heart to

That I would all my pilgrimage dilate,

Elaborate on stories of my travels,

Whereof by parcels she had something heard,

Of which she’d only heard of bits and bobs,

But not intentively: I did consent,

Not listening intently. I agreed,

And often did beguile her of her tears,

And often I’d reduce the girl to tears

When I did speak of some distressful stroke

When I spoke of a stressful situation

That my youth suffered. My story being done,

I’d suffered in my youth. When I was finished,

She gave me for my pains a world of sighs:

She’d sigh in sadness for the pain I’d suffered.

She swore, in faith, twas strange, 'twas passing strange,

She’d say, in truth, “how strange; how very strange;

'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful:

That was so awful, that was truly awful.”

She wished she had not heard it, yet she wished

She wished she hadn’t heard them, but she wished

That heaven had made her such a man: she thanked me,

That God had made her like this. Then she thanked me,

And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her,

And said that if I had a friend who loved her,

I should but teach him how to tell my story.

All he would have to do is tell my story,

And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake:

And that would win her heart. I spoke of this:

She loved me for the dangers I had passed,

She loved me for the dangers I had faced,

And I loved her that she did pity them.

And I loved her for pitying my plight.

This only is the witchcraft I have used:

This is the only witchcraft I have used.

Here comes the lady; let her witness it.

Here comes the lady; let her now confirm it.

[Enter DESDEMONA, IAGO, and Attendants]

DUKE OF VENICE

I think this tale would win my daughter too.

I think this tale would win my daughter’s heart, too.

Good Brabantio,

Take up this mangled matter at the best:

Take positives from this bad situation,

Men do their broken weapons rather use

For men would rather use a broken weapon

Than their bare hands.

BRABANTIO

I pray you, hear her speak:

Please listen to her speak:

If she confess that she was half the wooer,

If she declares she wooed him equally,

Destruction on my head, if my bad blame

Then I will hang my head for passing blame

Light on the man! Come hither, gentle mistress:

Upon the man! Come here now, gentle lady:

Do you perceive in all this noble company

Can you see in this noble group of men

Where most you owe obedience?

The man you must obey the most?

DESDEMONA

My noble father,

Dear father,

I do perceive here a divided duty:

I see my obligations are divided.

To you I am bound for life and education;

I owe you both my life and education;

My life and education both do learn me

Through life and education I have learnt

How to respect you; you are the lord of duty;

How to respect you; I am obligated

I am hitherto your daughter: but here's my husband,

To you for I’m your daughter. But here’s my husband,

And so much duty as my mother showed

And like the duty that my mother showed

To you, preferring you before her father,

To you, by putting you before her father,

So much I challenge that I may profess

Although you will not like it, I’m obliged

Due to the Moor my lord.

To serve the Moor, my husband.

BRABANTIO

God be wi' you! I have done.

God be with you! I am done with you.

Please it your grace, on to the state-affairs:

Please now, my lord, proceed to state affairs.

I had rather to adopt a child than get it.

I’d rather to adopt than have my own kids.

Come hither, Moor:

Come here, Moor:

I here do give thee that with all my heart

I hereby give to you with all my heart

Which, but thou hast already, with all my heart

That, if not yours already, with all my heart

I would keep from thee. For your sake, jewel,

I’d want to keep from you. And for you, precious,

I am glad at soul I have no other child:

I’m glad I do not have some other children,

For thy escape would teach me tyranny,

For your escape would make me domineering

To hang clogs on them. I have done, my lord.

And tie you up to wooden posts. I’m done, sir.

DUKE OF VENICE

Let me speak like yourself, and lay a sentence,

Let me speak like you have and share some proverbs

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

Which, step by step, might help these lovers win

Into your favour.

Affection from you.

When remedies are past, the griefs are ended

When something can’t be fixed, your griefs subside;

By seeing the worst, which late on hopes depended.

The worst is over for what you relied.

To mourn a mischief that is past and gone

By staying sad for something in the past

Is the next way to draw new mischief on.

Ensures another bad thing happens fast.

What cannot be preserved when fortune takes

What can’t be fixed when bad luck is upon it

Patience her injury a mockery makes.

Will make you look a fool by dwelling on it.

The robbed that smiles steals something from the thief;

If, when you’re robbed, you smile, the crime’s diminished;

He robs himself that spends a bootless grief.

We hurt ourselves when grief is never finished.

BRABANTIO

So let the Turk of Cyprus us beguile;

So let’s let Cyprus fall unto the Turks;

We lose it not, so long as we can smile.

Defeat or victory we’ll greet with smirks.

He bears the sentence well that nothing bears

It’s easy spouting proverbs unaffected

But the free comfort which from thence he hears,

When free to sit in comfort, disconnected,

But he bears both the sentence and the sorrow

But words and pain combined will amplify

That, to pay grief, must of poor patience borrow.

And he must suffer grief till time goes by.

These sentences, to sugar, or to gall,

Your words, whether to pacify or irk,

Being strong on both sides, are equivocal:

On both sides of the statement, seem to work:

But words are words; I never yet did hear

But words are only words; I never heard

That the bruised heart was pierced through the ear.

A broken heart repaired by spoken word.

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

So, please, let’s now get on with country business.

DUKE OF VENICE

The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for

The Turks have assembled a mighty fleet, sailing now for

Cyprus. Othello, the fortitude of the place is best

Cyprus. Othello, you know the defences of Cyprus better

known to you; and though we have there a substitute

than any of us; and though we’ve someone stationed there

of most allowed sufficiency, yet opinion, a

who is highly capable, it’s the belief, widely shared

sovereign mistress of effects, throws a more safer

by public opinion, that says you are a safer

voice on you: you must therefore be content to

pair of hands. You therefore have to make yourself content

slubber the gloss of your new fortunes with this

with putting aside the recent joy of marriage with this

more stubborn and boisterous expedition.

more tricky and noisy expedition.

OTHELLO

The tyrant custom, most grave senators,

I’m so accustomed, solemn senators,

Hath made the flinty and steel couch of war

To war, that all the sharped weaponry

My thrice-driven bed of down: I do agnise

Feels like my fluffy bed; I recognise

A natural and prompt alacrity

I’m naturally inspired to quickly act

I find in hardness, and do undertake

In tricky situations, and I’ll lead

These present wars against the Ottomites.

This current war against the Turkish Empire.

Most humbly therefore bending to your state,

And humbly, as I lead your country’s fight,

I crave fit disposition for my wife.

I ask my wife is cared for whilst I’m gone.

Due reference of place and exhibition,

Consider place and company for her,

With such accommodation and besort

With her accommodation suitable

As levels with her breeding.

For someone of her stature.

DUKE OF VENICE

If you please,

If you like,

Be't at her father's.

Stay at her father’s.

BRABANTIO

I'll not have it so.

I will not allow that.

OTHELLO

Nor I.

And nor will I.

DESDEMONA

Nor I; I would not there reside,

Nor I; I will not stay there,

To put my father in impatient thoughts

For being there, I’d make him irritated

By being in his eye. Most gracious duke,

Because he’d see me. So, most gracious duke,

To my unfolding lend your prosperous ear;

Please listen eagerly to what I’ll say now,

And let me find a charter in your voice,

And hopefully you’ll give me your agreement

To assist my simpleness.

To help my simple plan.

DUKE OF VENICE

What would You, Desdemona?

What is your plan, Desdemona?

DESDEMONA

That I did love the Moor to live with him,

The fact I love the Moor enough to live with

My downright violence and storm of fortunes

Is clear by how I quickly broke convention

May trumpet to the world: my heart's subdued

To marry him; now everything I am

Even to the very quality of my lord:

Is based upon my husband’s attributes.

I saw Othello's visage in his mind,

I came to know Othello’s character,

And to his honour and his valiant parts

And for his decency and bravery

Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate.

I wed my soul and fortune to this man.

So that, dear lords, if I be left behind,

And so, dear lords, if I am left behind,

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

To stay in peace whilst he has gone to war,

The rites for which I love him are bereft me,

I have disowned the reasons why I love him,

And I a heavy interim shall support

And I will suffer with a guilty conscience

By his dear absence. Let me go with him.

Whilst he’s away. So, let me go with him.

OTHELLO

Let her have your voices.

Please give her your support.

Vouch with me, heaven, I therefore beg it not,

I swear by heaven that I am not asking

To please the palate of my appetite,

To satisfy desires that I may have,

Nor to comply with heat--the young affects

Nor quell hot sexual urges young men have,

In me defunct--and proper satisfaction.

For they’re long gone in me; I don’t require them.

But to be free and bounteous to her mind:

I ask so she is free to make her mind up.

And heaven defend your good souls, that you think

And God be with you if you speculate

I will your serious and great business scant

That I will skip our critical assignment

For she is with me: no, when light-winged toys

Because she’s with me. If the dainty fingers

Of feathered Cupid seal with wanton dullness

Of love-god Cupid close or blur my vision

My speculative and officed instruments,

And then pervert my mental faculties

That my disports corrupt and taint my business,

So I can’t carry out my country’s duty,

Let housewives make a skillet of my helm,

Let housewives use my helmet as a pot

And all indign and base adversities

And let disgraceful, awful criticism

Make head against my estimation!

Be made so that my reputation’s ruined!

DUKE OF VENICE

Be it as you shall privately determine,

It’s up to you to privately agree

Either for her stay or going: the affair cries haste,

For her to stay or go. The task is urgent,

And speed must answer it.

So swiftly make your choice.

FIRST SENATOR

You must away to-night.

You have to leave tonight.

OTHELLO

With all my heart.

I am committed.

DUKE OF VENICE

At nine i' the morning here we'll meet again.

Let’s reconvene at nine tomorrow morning.

Othello, leave some officer behind,

Othello, leave an officer behind

And he shall our commission bring to you;

So he can bring our orders out to you;

With such things else of quality and respect

Along with any other things you deem

As doth import you.

To be important to you.

OTHELLO

So please your grace, my ancient;

My flag-bearer will stay, if you don’t mind;

A man he is of honest and trust:

He is an honest man who has my trust.

To his conveyance I assign my wife,

I will instruct he brings my wife to me,

With what else needful your good grace shall think

And any other things your grace decides

To be sent after me.

To send to me.

DUKE OF VENICE

Let it be so.

OK; that’s fine with me.

Good night to every one.

Goodnight to everyone.

[To BRABANTIO]

And, noble signior,

And, noble sir,

If virtue no delighted beauty lack,

If virtue’s white, and does no beauty lack,

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

Your son-in-law is far more white than black.

FIRST SENATOR

Adieu, brave Moor, use Desdemona well.

Goodbye, brave Moor; look after Desdemona.

BRABANTIO

Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see:

Beware of her, Moor; if your eyes can view,

She has deceived her father, and may thee.

You’ll see she tricked me, and she will trick you.

[Exeunt DUKE OF VENICE, Senators, Officers, ETC]

OTHELLO

My life upon her faith! Honest Iago,

I’d bet my life she’s honest! Now, Iago,

My Desdemona must I leave to thee:

I have to leave my Desdemona with you.

I prithee, let thy wife attend on her:

I ask, please let your wife take care of her,

And bring them after in the best advantage.

And bring them both here when the time is right.

Come, Desdemona: I have but an hour

Come, Desdemona, I have just an hour

Of love, of worldly matters and direction,

To talk of love, the world and all our plans

To spend with thee: we must obey the time.

With you; and we must make sure we’re on time.

[Exeunt OTHELLO and DESDEMONA]

RODERIGO

Iago,--

Iago…

IAGO

What say'st thou, noble heart?

What do you say, dear man?

RODERIGO

What will I do, thinkest thou?

You’re wondering what to do, aren’t you?

IAGO

Why, go to bed, and sleep.

Just go to bed and sleep.

RODERIGO

I will incontinently drown myself.

I’ll drown myself at once.

IAGO

If thou dost, I shall never love thee after. Why,

If you do, I’ll never love you again. Well,

thou silly gentleman!

you silly man!

RODERIGO

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

It’s silly living when your life is awful; and then

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

when Death is our doctor, his prescription is death.

IAGO

O villainous! I have looked upon the world for four

Oh, don’t be daft! I’ve been alive for twenty-eight

times seven years; and since I could distinguish

years; and all that time I’ve been able to distinguish

betwixt a benefit and an injury, I never found man

between a good and a bad thing, but I’ve never found a man

that knew how to love himself. Ere I would say, I

who knew what was good for him. Before I would commit

would drown myself for the love of a guinea-hen, I

to drowning myself for the love of a prostitute, I’d

would change my humanity with a baboon.

swap my own humanity with a baboon.

RODERIGO

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

What should I do? I admit I am ashamed that I am so attracted

fond; but it is not in my virtue to amend it.

to her; but I don’t have the moral strength to change it.

IAGO

Virtue! A fig! 'Tis in ourselves that we are thus

Moral strength! What rubbish! We can decide how we

or thus. Our bodies are our gardens, to the which

behave. Our bodies are our gardens and we decide

our wills are gardeners: so that if we will plant

what we will plant and care for. So, if we choose to plant

nettles, or sow lettuce, set hyssop and weed up

nettles, or grow lettuces, plant bushes and tend to

thyme, supply it with one gender of herbs, or

thyme, or germinate some herbs, or

distract it with many, either to have it sterile

dig it all up, either to leave it fallow

with idleness, or manured with industry, why, the

for a while, or spread it with manure to fertilise it, well

power and corrigible authority of this lies in our

whatever that is done within the garden is strictly down

wills. If the balance of our lives had not one

to what we choose. If we did not possess the faculties

scale of reason to poise another of sensuality, the

to weigh up pros and cons of what we do, our

blood and baseness of our natures would conduct us

basic instincts would drive us naturally

to most preposterous conclusions: but we have

to draw ridiculous conclusions. But we’re endowed

reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal

with reasoning to check on our emotions, our vicious

stings, our unbitted lusts, whereof I take this that

streaks, our lustful desires, and I believe this thing

you call love to be a sect or scion.

that you call love is merely a cutting from this branch.

RODERIGO

It cannot be.

It can’t be true.

IAGO

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

You’re merely being lustful and you have let your emotions

the will. Come, be a man. Drown thyself! Drown

go unchecked. Come on, be a man. Drown yourself? Ha!

cats and blind puppies. I have professed me thy

Go and drown some cats and blind puppies instead! I’ve told

friend and I confess me knit to thy deserving with

you I’m your friend and I have bonds of friendship

cables of perdurable toughness; I could never

that can’t be broken; I’ve never been a better

better stead thee than now. Put money in thy

friend than now. Put some money aside in your

purse; follow thou the wars; defeat thy favour with

wallet; follow what is happening in the wars; change how you

an usurped beard; I say, put money in thy purse. It

look by wearing a false beard; I tell you, stash some cash. It’s

cannot be that Desdemona should long continue her

certain Desdemona won’t want to stay in

love to the Moor,-- put money in thy purse,--nor he

love with the Moor – put money aside in your wallet – nor he

his to her: it was a violent commencement, and thou

in love with her: it started in a cataclysmic manner, and you

shalt see an answerable sequestration:--put but

will see the inevitable result – put money aside

money in thy purse. These Moors are changeable in

in your wallet. These Moors are fickle with their

their wills: fill thy purse with money:--the food

desires – put money aside in your wallet. The food of love

that to him now is as luscious as locusts, shall be

he’s eating now is as sweet as the fruit of a carob tree,

to him shortly as bitter as coloquintida. She must

but soon will start to taste like a bitter apple. She’s sure

change for youth: when she is sated with his body,

to switch to someone younger: when she’s had enough of

she will find the error of her choice: she must

sleeping with him, she’ll realise she’s made the wrong choice.

have change, she must: therefore put money in thy

She’ll have to change, and so, put money aside in your

purse. If thou wilt needs damn thyself, do it a

wallet. If you have to kill yourself, then do it in a

more delicate way than drowning. Make all the money

better way than drowning. Make all the money

thou canst: if sanctimony and a frail vow betwixt

you can. If a religious ceremony and a weak vow between

an erring barbarian and a supersubtle Venetian not

a wandering thug and a delicate Venetian is not too

too hard for my wits and all the tribe of hell, thou

much for me to figure out what the hell is going on, I’m sure

shalt enjoy her; therefore make money. A pox of I’m

you’ll soon be with her; therefore, make some money. Don’t

drowning thyself! It is clean out of the way: seek

bother drowning yourself! That goes without saying: it’d be

thou rather to be hanged in compassing thy joy than

better to be hanged for trying to win her heart than

to be drowned and go without her.

drowning without her.

RODERIGO

Wilt thou be fast to my hopes, if I depend on

Can I rely on you to support me, if

the issue?

needed?

IAGO

Thou art sure of me:--go, make money:--I have told

You can be sure of that – go, make some money – I have told

thee often, and I re-tell thee again and again, I

you often before, and I’ll tell you again, I

hate the Moor: my cause is hearted; thine hath no

hate the Moor with all my heart; you have no less reason

less reason. Let us be conjunctive in our revenge

to hate him. Let’s work together to reap our revenge

against him: if thou canst cuckold him, thou dost

against him: if you can abscond with his wife, you’ll

thyself a pleasure, me a sport. There are many

bring yourself pleasure, and make me happy. There are

events in the womb of time which will be delivered.

things that have to happen first.

Traverse! Go, provide thy money. We will have more

Get on with it! Go get your money. We’ll talk more

of this to-morrow. Adieu.

about this tomorrow. Goodbye.

RODERIGO

Where shall we meet i' the morning?

Where shall we meet in the morning?

IAGO

At my lodging.

Round my house.

RODERIGO

I'll be with thee betimes.

I’ll be there early.

IAGO

Go to; farewell. Do you hear, Roderigo?

Get going; goodbye. Are you listening, Roderigo?

RODERIGO

What say you?

What did you say?

IAGO

No more of drowning, do you hear?

No more thoughts of drowning, OK?

RODERIGO

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

I’ve changed. I’ll go and sell all my land.

[Exit]

IAGO

Thus do I ever make my fool my purse:

That’s how I always make cash out of fools:

For I mine own gained knowledge should profane,

I would be wasting all my skills and knowledge

If I would time expend with such a snipe.

By wasting time with such a fool as him.

But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor:

Unless for fun and profit. I hate that Moor:

And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets

And there are rumours that, within my bedroom,

He has done my office: I know not if't be true;

He screwed my wife. I don’t know if it’s true,

But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,

But merely from suspicion that it happened,

Will do as if for surety. He holds me well;

Assume that it is true. He thinks well of me;

The better shall my purpose work on him.

That’s going to help my plan I have for him.

Cassio's a proper man: let me see now:

Cassio’s a handsome man: let me see now;

To get his place and to plume up my will

How can I take his role and hurt Othello

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

By tricking both? How can I? Let me see:

After some time, to abuse Othello's ear

I’ll wait, and whisper in Othello’s ear

That he is too familiar with his wife.

And say Cassio is flirting with his wife.

He hath a person and a smooth dispose

He is the type of smooth and charming man

To be suspected, framed to make women false.

One could suspect of cheating with a woman.

The Moor is of a free and open nature,

The Moor is unsuspecting, open-minded,

That thinks men honest that but seem to be so,

And thinks all honest-looking men are honest,

And will as tenderly be led by the nose

And will be gently led on by the nose

As asses are.

Just like a donkey.

I have't. It is engendered. Hell and night

I’ve got it; it will happen. Merry hell

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

Must help my heinous plan occur as well.

[Exit]