ACT 3
[Enter DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and EMILIA]
DESDEMONA
Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do
Now be assured, dear Cassio, I’ll do
All my abilities in thy behalf.
All that I can to help on your behalf.
EMILIA
Good madam, do: I warrant it grieves my husband,
Please do, madam; my husband’s just as upset
As if the case were his.
As if the fate were his.
DESDEMONA
O, that's an honest fellow. Do not doubt, Cassio,
Iago’s honest. Rest assured now, Cassio,
But I will have my lord and you again
That I will make my husband and yourself
As friendly as you were.
Be friends, just like before.
CASSIO
Bounteous madam,
Oh, generous lady,
Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,
Whatever happens to me, Michael Cassio,
He's never any thing but your true servant.
Please know that I will always be your servant.
DESDEMONA
I know't; I thank you. You do love my lord:
I know; and thank you. And you love my husband:
You have known him long; and be you well assured
You’ve known him ages; and you can be certain
He shall in strangeness stand no further off
He’ll only seem standoffish for it is
Than in a polite distance.
Politically appropriate.
CASSIO
Ay, but, lady,
Yes, but
That policy may either last so long,
I fear that either that will go on so long,
Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet,
Or soon become the comfortable new-normal,
Or breed itself so out of circumstance,
Or maybe make my role appear redundant,
That, I being absent and my place supplied,
That when I’m gone and I have been replaced,
My general will forget my love and service.
Othello will forget my love and service.
DESDEMONA
Do not doubt that; before Emilia here
Don’t worry; with Emilia as my witness,
I give thee warrant of thy place: assure thee,
I promise you’ll be reinstated: take heart,
If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it
For when I swear an act of friendship, I will
To the last article: my lord shall never rest;
Ensure it’s done completely. He won’t sleep;
I'll watch him tame and talk him out of patience;
I’ll talk to him till he capitulates;
His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;
His bed will be a table for confession;
I'll intermingle every thing he does
I’ll intervene in everything he does
With Cassio's suit: therefore be merry, Cassio;
Supporting Cassio’s case: and so, be happy;
For thy solicitor shall rather die
For me, your lawyer, I would rather die
Than give thy cause away.
Than fail to win your case.
EMILIA
Madam, here comes my lord.
Here comes my husband.
CASSIO
Madam, I'll take my leave.
Madam, I’ll leave you now.
DESDEMONA
Why, stay, and hear me speak.
No, don’t do that; stay here and hear me speak.
CASSIO
Madam, not now: I am very ill at ease,
Madam, not now; I am uncomfortable,
Unfit for mine own purposes.
And don’t think I will help by being here.
DESDEMONA
Well, do your discretion.
Well, do as you so wish.
[Exit CASSIO]
[Enter OTHELLO and IAGO]
IAGO
Ha! I like not that.
Oh! I don’t like the look of this.
OTHELLO
What dost thou say?
You what?
IAGO
Nothing, my lord: or if--I know not what.
It’s nothing, sir; or, if it is…I don’t know.
OTHELLO
Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?
Did I just witness Cassio leave my wife?
IAGO
Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it,
Cassio, my lord? No, surely not; I can’t think
That he would steal away so guilty-like,
That he would sneak away, looking all guilty
Seeing you coming.
When he saw you arrive.
OTHELLO
I do believe 'twas he.
I’m sure it was him.
DESDEMONA
How now, my lord!
Hello, my lord!
I have been talking with a suitor here,
I have been chatting with a pleading man,
A man that languishes in your displeasure.
Someone who you are currently displeased with.
OTHELLO
Who is't you mean?
Who do you mean?
DESDEMONA
Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord,
Well, your lieutenant, Cassio. My dear husband,
If I have any grace or power to move you,
If I have any leverage with you,
His present reconciliation take;
You should accept the man’s apology;
For if he be not one that truly loves you,
For if he isn’t someone who reveres you,
That errs in ignorance and not in cunning,
Who acted without thinking, not with malice,
I have no judgment in an honest face:
Then I can’t tell a good man from a bad one:
I prithee, call him back.
I ask you, call him back.
OTHELLO
Went he hence now?
Did he just leave here?
DESDEMONA
Ay, sooth; so humbled
He did; he was so humble,
That he hath left part of his grief with me,
He made me feel the pain that he was feeling,
To suffer with him. Good love, call him back.
And now I’m hurting too. Love, call him back.
OTHELLO
Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other time.
Not now, sweet Desdemona; sometime later.
DESDEMONA
But shall't be shortly?
Will that be soon?
OTHELLO
The sooner, sweet, for you.
I’ll do it soon for you, dear.
DESDEMONA
Shall't be to-night at supper?
Perhaps tonight at supper?
OTHELLO
No, not to-night.
No, not tonight.
DESDEMONA
To-morrow dinner, then?
Tomorrow dinner, then?
OTHELLO
I shall not dine at home;
I’m not dining at home;
I meet the captains at the citadel.
I’m meeting with the captains in the castle.
DESDEMONA
Why, then, to-morrow night; or Tuesday morn;
Well, then, tomorrow night; or Tuesday morning;
On Tuesday noon, or night; on Wednesday morn:
Or Tuesday noon, or night; or Wednesday morning;
I prithee, name the time, but let it not
Please, tell me when, but it cannot be more than
Exceed three days: in faith, he's penitent;
Three days from now. I promise, he feels awful;
And yet his trespass, in our common reason--
Yet his offence, in rational assessment –
Save that, they say, the wars must make examples
Except, as said, in war we make examples
Out of their best--is not almost a fault
Of our best soldiers – it’s hardly a fault
To incur a private cheque. When shall he come?
That’s worth a private scolding. When shall he come?
Tell me, Othello: I wonder in my soul,
Tell me, Othello: I can’t think of something
What you would ask me, that I should deny,
That you might ask of me that I’d decline
Or stand so mammering on. What! Michael Cassio,
Or hesitate about. Look! Michael Cassio,
That came a-wooing with you, and so many a time,
The man who helped you chat me up, and often,
When I have spoke of you dispraisingly,
When I spoke up and criticised your actions,
Hath ta'en your part; to have so much to do
He spoke in your defence; now he must do much
To bring him in! Trust me, I could do much,--
To win your favour back! Trust me, I’ll do much…
OTHELLO
Prithee, no more: let him come when he will;
Please, please, no more! Let him come when he wants;
I will deny thee nothing.
I’ll never turn you down.
DESDEMONA
Why, this is not a boon;
Don’t think you’re helping!
'Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves,
It’s like I say wear gloves when it is cold,
Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm,
Or eat a healthy meal, or keep yourself warm,
Or sue to you to do a peculiar profit
Or carry out a task that benefits
To your own person: nay, when I have a suit
Your own self: no, when I have a request
Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed,
That really draws upon your love for me,
It shall be full of poise and difficult weight
It will be serious and hard to balance,
And fearful to be granted.
And you’ll be scared.
OTHELLO
I will deny thee nothing:
I’ll never turn you down.
Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this,
And now I ask that you do me this service
To leave me but a little to myself.
And let me be alone awhile myself.
DESDEMONA
Shall I deny you? No: farewell, my lord.
Do I ever say no? Goodbye, my lord.
OTHELLO
Farewell, my Desdemona: I'll come to thee straight.
Goodbye, my Desdemona: I’ll be right back.
DESDEMONA
Emilia, come. Be as your fancies teach you;
Let’s go, Emilia. — Your choice, Othello;
Whate'er you be, I am obedient.
Whatever you decide, I will obey.
[Exeunt DESDEMONA and EMILIA]
OTHELLO
Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul,
She’s lovely and frustrating! I’ll be damned,
But I do love thee! And when I love thee not,
But I do love you! And when I don’t love you,
Chaos is come again.
The world will end.
IAGO
My noble lord--
I have to say, my lord…
OTHELLO
What dost thou say, Iago?
What do you say, Iago?
IAGO
Did Michael Cassio, when you wooed my lady,
Did Cassio, when you chased Desdemona,
Know of your love?
Know that you loved her?
OTHELLO
He did, from first to last: why dost thou ask?
He did, right from the outset. Why do you ask?
IAGO
But for a satisfaction of my thought;
To answer something I was curious of;
No further harm.
No harm done.
OTHELLO
Why of thy thought, Iago?
Curious of what, Iago?
IAGO
I did not think he had been acquainted with her.
I didn’t think that he had ever met her.
OTHELLO
O, yes; and went between us very oft.
Oh, yes; he often passed our notes between us.
IAGO
Indeed!
Really?
OTHELLO
Indeed! Ay, indeed: discern'st thou aught in that?
Really. Yes, really! Do you think that that’s wrong?
Is he not honest?
Is he not honest?
IAGO
Honest, my lord!
Honest, my lord?
OTHELLO
Honest! Ay, honest.
Honest! Yes, honest.
IAGO
My lord, for aught I know.
My lord, for all that I know.
OTHELLO
What dost thou think?
What do you think?
IAGO
Think, my lord!
Think, my lord?
OTHELLO
Think, my lord!
“Think, my lord!”
By heaven, he echoes me,
Good God, he is repeating me,
As if there were some monster in his thought
As though he had some godforsaken thoughts
Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean something:
Too awful to reveal. You’re hiding something:
I heard thee say even now, thou likedst not that,
I heard you say just now you didn’t like
When Cassio left my wife: what didst not like?
How Cassio left my wife: what did you not like?
And when I told thee he was of my counsel
And when I said he was my confidante
In my whole course of wooing, thou criedst 'Indeed!'
Whilst I seduced my wife, you cried out, “Really?”
And didst contract and purse thy brow together,
And then you frowned and screwed your brow together
As if thou then hadst shut up in thy brain
As if you were disguising in your mind
Some horrible conceit: if thou dost love me,
Some awful thoughts. If you do really love me,
Show me thy thought.
Tell me your thoughts.
IAGO
My lord, you know I love you.
My lord, you know I love you.
OTHELLO
I think thou dost;
I think you do;
And, for I know thou'rt full of love and honesty,
And, as I know you’re loving and you’re honest,
And weigh'st thy words before thou givest them breath,
And think about your words before you speak them,
Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more:
I am concerned about your hesitations:
For such things in a false disloyal knave
Such actions in a lying, cheating hoaxer
Are tricks of custom, but in a man that's just
Are tricks to cheat you, but in someone decent
They are close delations, working from the heart
They will reveal the truth of what you’re thinking
That passion cannot rule.
That your emotions can’t disguise.
IAGO
For Michael Cassio,
Of Cassio,
I dare be sworn I think that he is honest.
I’m fairly sure that he’s an honest man.
OTHELLO
I think so too.
I think so too.
IAGO
Men should be what they seem;
Take men as they appear;
Or those that be not, would they might seem none!
But I wish all men were what they appear!
OTHELLO
Certain, men should be what they seem.
Agreed, we should take men as they appear.
IAGO
Why, then, I think Cassio's an honest man.
Well, Cassio appears an honest man.
OTHELLO
Nay, yet there's more in this:
But no, there’s something more in this:
I prithee, speak to me as to thy thinkings,
I ask you, tell me what you’re really thinking,
As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of thoughts
For as you’re pondering, your awful thoughts
The worst of words.
Reveal far more than words.
IAGO
Good my lord, pardon me:
I’m sorry, sir:
Though I am bound to every act of duty,
Although I must obey your every order,
I am not bound to that all slaves are free to.
Like slaves, I’m not obliged to share my mind.
Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile and false;
Reveal my thoughts? What if they’re evil slander;
As where's that palace whereinto foul things
For where’s the palace where no dreadful deeds
Sometimes intrude not? Who has a breast so pure,
Have not occurred inside? Whose heart’s so pure
But some uncleanly apprehensions
They never have unscrupulous suspicions
Keep leets and law-days and in session sit
That, in a sitting courtroom, counteract
With meditations lawful?
With decent thoughts?
OTHELLO
Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago,
Iago, you’re betraying me, your friend,
If thou but think'st him wronged and makest his ear
If you think I’ve been wronged but won’t reveal
A stranger to thy thoughts.
What you are thinking.
IAGO
I do beseech you--
Please, I beg of you –
Though I perchance am vicious in my guess,
I often fear the worse in my appraisals,
As, I confess, it is my nature's plague
Which freely I admit to be a weakness
To spy into abuses, and oft my jealousy
At things I feel are wrong, and jealousy
Shapes faults that are not--that your wisdom yet,
Reveals non-existent faults – your wisdom,
From one that so imperfectly conceits,
When hearing thoughts from one so pessimistic,
Would take no notice, nor build yourself a trouble
Would mean you’d take no notice, nor make trouble
Out of his scattering and unsure observance.
From random and unproven observations.
It were not for your quiet nor your good,
It’s not good for your sanity or health,
Nor for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom,
Nor for my chivalrous integrity
To let you know my thoughts.
To tell you what I’m thinking.
OTHELLO
What dost thou mean?
What do you mean?
IAGO
Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
A man or woman’s decent reputation
Is the immediate jewel of their souls:
Is the most precious thing they ever own:
Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing;
If someone steals my wallet, they get rubbish;
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands:
That cash was mine and thousands more before that;
But he that filches from me my good name
But he that steals my decent reputation
Robs me of that which not enriches him
Takes something that won’t make him any richer
And makes me poor indeed.
And leaves me destitute.
OTHELLO
By heaven, I'll know thy thoughts.
Good God, you’ll tell me what you’re thinking.
IAGO
You cannot, if my heart were in your hand;
If you possessed my heart, you couldn’t make me;
Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody.
And certainly you can’t whilst it is mine.
OTHELLO
Ha!
Ha!
IAGO
O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;
My lord, you must beware of jealousy,
It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock
A green-eyed monster mocking those it feeds on;
The meat it feeds on; that cuckold lives in bliss
A man whose wife is cheating will be happy
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;
By knowing he can hate the one who’s cheated.
But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er
But what a dreadful time the man will have
Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves!
Who loves his wife, but doubts that she’s been faithful!
OTHELLO
O misery!
That would be awful!
IAGO
Poor and content is rich and rich enough,
Those poor but happy have all that they need,
But riches fineless is as poor as winter
But super-wealthy folk are super-poor
To him that ever fears he shall be poor.
If they live fearing they might lose their wealth.
Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend
Good lord, may all my ancestors protect me
From jealousy!
From being jealous!
OTHELLO
Why, why is this?
Why do you tell me this?
Think'st thou I'ld make a life of jealousy,
Do you believe I live a jealous life
To follow still the changes of the moon
And every time the moon waxes or wains
With fresh suspicions? No; to be once in doubt
I find some fresh suspicion? No; one doubt
Is once to be resolved: exchange me for a goat,
Is fixed by acting fast: make me a goat
When I shall turn the business of my soul
If I begin to occupy my mind
To such exsufflicate and blown surmises,
With spurious and empty speculation,
Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me jealous
Like you infer. It doesn’t make me jealous
To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company,
To say my wife is cute, cooks well, loves company,
Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances well;
Speaks openly, sings, plays and dances well;
Where virtue is, these are more virtuous:
For decent women, these traits are more decent:
Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw
Nor from my weaknesses will I assume
The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt;
An ounce of fear or doubt that she’s unfaithful;
For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago;
For she can see, and chose me. No, Iago,
I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
I won’t doubt till I’ve seen; then I’ll seek proof;
And on the proof, there is no more but this,--
And if there’s proof, there’s only one thing for it:
Away at once with love or jealousy!
Remove my lover or who makes me jealous!
IAGO
I am glad of it; for now I shall have reason
I’m glad to hear that; now I feel permitted
To show the love and duty that I bear you
To show my love and obligations to you
With franker spirit: therefore, as I am bound,
More openly: and so, as I’m obliged,
Receive it from me. I speak not yet of proof.
Hear what I have to say. It isn’t proof yet.
Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio;
Observe your wife; examine her with Cassio;
Wear your eye thus, not jealous nor secure:
Look on unbiased, not jealous nor cocksure:
I would not have your free and noble nature,
I do not want your decency and kindness,
Out of self-bounty, be abused; look to't:
Exploited for another’s benefit;
I know our country disposition well;
I know the type of people in our country;
In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks
In Venice, they get up to things that God sees
They dare not show their husbands; their best conscience
But don’t dare show their husbands; their intentions
Is not to leave't undone, but keep't unknown.
Are not to not do wrong, just keep it secret.
OTHELLO
Dost thou say so?
Do you think so?
IAGO
She did deceive her father, marrying you;
She cheated on her father, marrying you;
And when she seemed to shake and fear your looks,
And when she seemed to fear the way you look,
She loved them most.
She actually just loved you.
OTHELLO
And so she did.
Yes she did.
IAGO
Why, go to then;
Well, there you go;
She that, so young, could give out such a seeming,
The fact that one so young fakes her appearance
To seal her father's eyes up close as oak--
To make her father be as blind as wood –
He thought 'twas witchcraft--but I am much to blame;
He thought that it was witchcraft – but it’s my fault;
I humbly do beseech you of your pardon
I humbly ask that you just might forgive me
For too much loving you.
For loving you too much.
OTHELLO
I am bound to thee for ever.
I am forever in your debt.
IAGO
I see this hath a little dashed your spirits.
I see that you have found this quite upsetting.
OTHELLO
Not a jot, not a jot.
Not at all, not at all.
IAGO
I' faith, I fear it has.
In truth, I fear it has.
I hope you will consider what is spoke
I hope you realise that what I’ve told you
Comes from my love. But I do see you're moved:
Is said with love. But I can see you’re upset:
I am to pray you not to strain my speech
I ask that you don’t read too much into
To grosser issues nor to larger reach
The things I’ve said, nor come to a conclusion
Than to suspicion.
That’s more than mere suspicion.
OTHELLO
I will not.
I will not.
IAGO
Should you do so, my lord,
If you do that, my lord,
My speech should fall into such vile success
My words would have created much distress
As my thoughts aim not at. Cassio's my worthy friend--
Which wasn’t my intent. Cassio’s my friend –
My lord, I see you're moved.
My lord, I see you’re upset.
OTHELLO
No, not much moved:
No, not upset:
I do not think but Desdemona's honest.
I think that Desdemona’s always honest.
IAGO
Long live she so! And long live you to think so!
Long live she like that! And long live that thought!
OTHELLO
And yet, how nature erring from itself,--
And yet, one’s nature can become corrupted…
IAGO
Ay, there's the point: as--to be bold with you--
Yes, that’s the point. For – if I may be bold –
Not to affect many proposed matches
To turn down marriage offers from so many
Of her own clime, complexion, and degree,
Of her own country, colour, and her status,
Whereto we see in all things nature tends--
Which naturally our nature draws us to…
Foh! One may smell in such a will most rank,
Yuck! You can almost smell the foul intentions,
Foul disproportion thoughts unnatural.
The sick, disgusting and unnatural thoughts.
But pardon me; I do not in position
But I am sorry; I’m not talking of
Distinctly speak of her; though I may fear
Your wife directly; though I have my doubts
Her will, recoiling to her better judgment,
About her, by reverting to her instincts
May fall to match you with her country forms
And fall for her own countrymen, unlike you,
And happily repent.
And happily reject you.
OTHELLO
Farewell, farewell:
Well, goodbye:
If more thou dost perceive, let me know more;
If you see something else, just let me know;
Set on thy wife to observe: leave me, Iago:
And have your wife observe as well. Now, leave me.
IAGO
[Going]
My lord, I take my leave.
My lord, I’ll leave you now.
OTHELLO
Why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless
Why did I marry her? This honest man,
Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.
I’m sure, knows more than he is letting on.
IAGO
[Returning]
My lord, I would I might entreat your honour
My lord, may I advise you discontinue
To scan this thing no further; leave it to time:
From pondering this thing; for time will tell:
Though it be fit that Cassio have his place,
It’s right that Cassio is reinstated
For sure, he fills it up with great ability,
As your lieutenant, for he’s talented,
Yet, if you please to hold him off awhile,
But if I may suggest you wait a while,
You shall by that perceive him and his means:
You will observe both him and his intentions.
Note, if your lady strain his entertainment
Spot if your wife insists he’s reinstated
With any strong or vehement importunity;
By constantly demanding that he is;
Much will be seen in that. In the mean time,
You will learn much from that. But in the meantime,
Let me be thought too busy in my fears--
Believe that I am being too suspicious –
As worthy cause I have to fear I am--
And certainly I have to fear I am –
And hold her free, I do beseech your honour.
And think she’s innocent, I beg of you.
OTHELLO
Fear not my government.
Don’t worry what I’ll do.
IAGO
I once more take my leave.
I’ll leave again, now.
[Exit]
OTHELLO
This fellow's of exceeding honesty,
This man is quite exceptionally honest,
And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,
And he is wise and understands the motives
Of human dealings. If I do prove her haggard,
Of human acts. If I learn she’s a hawk,
Though that her jesses were my dear heartstrings,
Although her leather tie-straps are my heartstrings,
I'ld whistle her off and let her down the wind,
I’ll whistle her to leave and fly downwind
To pray at fortune. Haply, for I am black
To test her luck. Perhaps, because I’m black
And have not those soft parts of conversation
And don’t speak in a soft and poncey accent
That chamberers have, or for I am declined
That courtiers have, or maybe as I’m aging
Into the vale of years,--yet that's not much--
Into my latter years, – though not that old yet –
She's gone. I am abused; and my relief
That’s why she’s left. She’s cheated and my cure
Must be to loathe her. O curse of marriage,
Must be to hate her. Marriage is a curse,
That we can call these delicate creatures ours,
For we can say these women are our own,
And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad,
But can’t control their lust! I’d be a toad,
And live upon the vapour of a dungeon,
Surviving on the smells within a dungeon,
Than keep a corner in the thing I love
Before I would allow the one I love
For others' uses. Yet, 'tis the plague of great ones;
To fornicate with others. Yet it hurts those
Prerogatived are they less than the base;
In power more than humble commonfolk;
'Tis destiny unshunnable, like death:
Like death, it is a fate one can’t escape.
Even then this forked plague is fated to us
The horns they say that grow on cheated men
When we do quicken. Desdemona comes:
Have been decreed since birth. Here’s Desdemona:
[Re-enter DESDEMONA and EMILIA]
If she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself!
If she’s a liar, heaven isn’t real!
I'll not believe't.
I can’t believe it.
DESDEMONA
How now, my dear Othello!
Hello, my Othello!
Your dinner, and the generous islanders
Your dinner, and the people from the island
By you invited, do attend your presence.
That you invited, both wait your arrival.
OTHELLO
I am to blame.
It is my fault.
DESDEMONA
Why do you speak so faintly?
Why are you speaking quietly?
Are you not well?
Are you unwell?
OTHELLO
I have a pain upon my forehead here.
I have a pain right here upon my forehead.
DESDEMONA
'Faith, that's with watching; 'twill away again:
Well, that’s from lack of sleep; it soon will pass.
Let me but bind it hard, within this hour
I’ll tie it in this handkerchief; an hour
It will be well.
From now it will be fine.
OTHELLO
Your napkin is too little:
That is too small:
[He puts the handkerchief from him; and it drops]
Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you.
Leave it alone. Come, I’ll go in with you.
DESDEMONA
I am very sorry that you are not well.
I am very sorry that you are unwell.
[Exeunt OTHELLO and DESDEMONA]
EMILIA
I am glad I have found this napkin:
I’m glad that I have found this handkerchief:
This was her first remembrance from the Moor:
This was her first gift given by the Moor.
My wayward husband hath a hundred times
One hundred times, my disobedient husband
Wooed me to steal it; but she so loves the token,
Has asked I steal it; but she loves this token
For he conjured her she should ever keep it,
Of love that he compelled she always keep it,
That she reserves it evermore about her
That she does always wear it wrapped around her
To kiss and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out,
To kiss and talk to. I’ll match the embroidery
And give't Iago: what he will do with it
And give it to Iago. What his plans are
Heaven knows, not I;
God only knows, not I;
I nothing but to please his fantasy.
I merely try to satisfy his wishes.
[Re-enter Iago]
IAGO
How now! What do you here alone?
Hello! What are you doing here alone?
EMILIA
Do not you chide; I have a thing for you.
Don’t mock me; I have something here for you.
IAGO
A thing for me? It is a common thing--
Something for me? Ooh, saucy! It is common…
EMILIA
Ha!
Ha!
IAGO
To have a foolish wife.
…to have a foolish wife.
EMILIA
O, is that all? What will you give me now
Oh, is that it? What will you give me now
For the same handkerchief?
For this here handkerchief?
IAGO
What handkerchief?
What handkerchief?
EMILIA
What handkerchief?
What handkerchief?
Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona;
The one Othello first gave Desdemona;
That which so often you did bid me steal.
The one you always say that I should steal.
IAGO
Hast stol'n it from her?
Have you stolen it from her?
EMILIA
No, 'faith; she let it drop by negligence.
Of course not. But she negligently dropped it.
And, to the advantage, I, being here, took't up.
And fortunately, I just picked it up.
Look, here it is.
Look, here it is.
IAGO
A good wench; give it me.
Give it to me, good girl.
EMILIA
What will you do with 't, that you have been so earnest
What will you do with it, that’s made you so keen
To have me filch it?
For me to pinch it?
IAGO
[Snatching it]
Why, what's that to you?
It’s none of your business.
EMILIA
If it be not for some purpose of import,
Unless it is for something quite important,
Give't me again: poor lady, she'll run mad
Then give it back. That poor girl will go mad
When she shall lack it.
When she finds out she lost it.
IAGO
Be not acknown on 't; I have use for it.
Don’t let her know; I have a use for it.
Go, leave me.
Leave me alone.
[Exit EMILIA]
I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin,
I’ll hide this handkerchief in Cassio’s house,
And let him find it. Trifles light as air
And have Othello find it. Frivolous things,
Are to the jealous confirmations strong
When seen by jealous folk, are as compelling
As proofs of holy writ: this may do something.
As words within the bible: this might work.
The Moor already changes with my poison:
My vitriol has changed Othello’s mind:
Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poisons,
Dangerous ideas are natural poison:
Which at the first are scarce found to distaste,
At first, they barely seem to be distasteful,
But with a little act upon the blood,
But soon begin to permeate the blood and
Burn like the mines of Sulphur. I did say so:
Burn like sulphuric acid. Like I said,
Look, where he comes!
Look, here he comes!
[Re-enter OTHELLO]
Not poppy, nor mandragora,
No herbs or strong narcotics,
Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world,
Nor all the potions that will make you drowsy,
Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep
Won’t medicate you back to that sweet sleep
Which thou owedst yesterday.
That you had yesterday.
OTHELLO
Ha! Ha! False to me?
Ha! Was she lying?
IAGO
Why, how now, general! No more of that.
Well, hello, general! Let’s not talk of that.
OTHELLO
Avaunt! Be gone! Thou hast set me on the rack:
Clear off! Get out! For you have tortured me.
I swear 'tis better to be much abused
I swear it’s better to be cheated on
Than but to know't a little.
Than hear a little of it.
IAGO
How now, my lord!
What’s up, my lord?
OTHELLO
What sense had I of her stol'n hours of lust?
How come I didn’t spot her lustful cheating?
I saw't not, thought it not, it harmed not me:
I didn’t see or think it, thus I’m unharmed:
I slept the next night well, was free and merry;
The next night I slept well, carefree and happy;
I found not Cassio's kisses on her lips:
Her lips did not suggest Cassio kissed her;
He that is robbed, not wanting what is stol'n,
If someone’s robbed but doesn’t miss what’s stolen,
Let him not know't, and he's not robbed at all.
Don’t tell him, then he won’t feel robbed at all.
IAGO
I am sorry to hear this.
I am sorry to hear this.
OTHELLO
I had been happy, if the general camp,
I’d still be happy if my troops and generals,
Pioners and all, had tasted her sweet body,
Including lowly ones, had slept with her,
So I had nothing known. O, now, for ever
If I was unaware. But now, forever
Farewell the tranquil mind! Farewell content!
Goodbye my tranquil mind! And goodbye peace!
Farewell the plumed troop, and the big wars,
Goodbye my troops in uniform, and wars that
That make ambition virtue! O, farewell!
Fulfilled all my ambitions! Oh, goodbye!
Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill trump,
Goodbye the warhorse and the high-pitched trumpets,
The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife,
The spirit-stirring drum and piercing flute,
The royal banner, and all quality,
The royal flag, and all those qualities
Pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war!
That bring a war its pomp and circumstance!
And, O you mortal engines, whose rude throats
And all you deadly cannons, whose loud bangs
The immortal Jove's dead clamours counterfeit,
Are copies of the Sky-God Jove’s loud thunder,
Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone!
Goodbye! Othello’s own career is over!
IAGO
Is't possible, my lord?
Are you quite sure about this, my lord?
OTHELLO
Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore,
Make sure you prove my wife’s a whore, you villain,
Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof:
Make sure of it; show proof that I can witness.
Or by the worth of man's eternal soul,
Or I will swear to God upon soul,
Thou hadst been better have been born a dog
You’re going to wish that you’d been born a dog
Than answer my waked wrath!
Than answer my roused rage!
IAGO
Is't come to this?
Is this where we are?
OTHELLO
Make me to see't; or, at the least, so prove it,
Show it to me, or at the least, go prove it,
That the probation bear no hinge nor loop
So that the accusation has no loophole
To hang a doubt on; or woe upon thy life!
That may cause doubt; else you are going to die!
IAGO
My noble lord,--
My noble lord…
OTHELLO
If thou dost slander her and torture me,
If you do slag her off and torture me,
Never pray more; abandon all remorse;
Don’t pray again, nor show any remorse;
On horror's head horrors accumulate;
Commit more carnage onto that you’ve caused;
Do deeds to make heaven weep, all earth amazed;
Offend, so angels cry and humans gasp;
For nothing canst thou to damnation add
For nothing more can add to your damnation
Greater than that.
Worse than you’ve done already.
IAGO
O grace! O heaven forgive me!
Oh, forgive me!
Are you a man? Have you a soul or sense?
Aren’t you a rational man? Who has a soul?
God be wi' you; take mine office. O wretched fool,
Well, God be with you. Take my job. What fool
That livest to make thine honesty a vice!
Am I to live my life completely honest!
O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O world,
This wretched world! Take note, you worldly people,
To be direct and honest is not safe.
It isn’t safe to state the honest truth.
I thank you for this profit; and from hence
I’m grateful learning this, and from now on
I'll love no friend, sith love breeds such offence.
I will not love my friends, for love brings anguish.
OTHELLO
Nay, stay: thou shouldst be honest.
No, wait; you should be honest.
IAGO
I should be wise, for honesty's a fool
I should be smart; for honesty is stupid
And loses that it works for.
And will come back to haunt you.
OTHELLO
By the world,
I swear blind
I think my wife be honest and think she is not;
Sometimes I think she’s honest, sometimes not;
I think that thou art just and think thou art not.
Sometimes I think you’re right and sometimes not.
I'll have some proof. Her name, that was as fresh
I must have proof. Her name, that was as pure
As Dian's visage, is now begrimed and black
As virgin God Diana’s face, is dirty
As mine own face. If there be cords, or knives,
And black as mine. So long as there is choke-rope,
Poison, or fire, or suffocating streams,
Or knives, or poison, fire, or streams to drown in,
I'll not endure it. Would I were satisfied!
I will not stand for this. If I had proof!
IAGO
I see, sir, you are eaten up with passion:
I see that you are overwhelmed with passion:
I do repent me that I put it to you.
I’m sorry that I made you feel this way.
You would be satisfied?
You say you want some proof?
OTHELLO
Would! Nay, I will.
Want! No, I’ll get it.
IAGO
And may: but, how? How satisfied, my lord?
I hope you do: but, how? Where is the proof?
Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on--
Would you, her manly husband, want to see…
Behold her topped?
Someone on top of her?
OTHELLO
Death and damnation! O!
Death and damnation!
IAGO
It were a tedious difficulty, I think,
It would be very difficult, I think,
To bring them to that prospect: damn them then,
To catch them making love: they would be damned
If ever mortal eyes do see them bolster
If any eyes observed what they were doing
More than their own! What then? How then?
Unless they were their own! What can we do, then?
What shall I say? Where's satisfaction?
What can I say? How can we find the proof?
It is impossible you should see this,
It is impossible to catch them at it,
Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys,
Even like playful goats, or randy monkeys,
As salt as wolves in pride, and fools as gross
Or wolves on heat, or foolish foul-mouthed people
As ignorance made drunk. But yet, I say,
Impaired by alcohol. But yet, I tell you,
If imputation and strong circumstances,
If there was circumstantial evidence,
Which lead directly to the door of truth,
Which led you down the path to find the truth,
Will give you satisfaction, you may have't.
Enough to satisfy you, you can have that.
OTHELLO
Give me a living reason she's disloyal.
Show me some evidence that she’s been cheating.
IAGO
I do not like the office:
I do not like to do this.
But, sith I am entered in this cause so far,
But since I have already come this far,
Pricked to't by foolish honesty and love,
Inspired by stupid honesty and love,
I will go on. I lay with Cassio lately;
I’ll carry on. I have slept next to Cassio;
And, being troubled with a raging tooth,
And, being kept awake with awful toothache,
I could not sleep.
I couldn’t sleep.
There are a kind of men so loose of soul,
There is a type of man so bad at secrets
That in their sleeps will mutter their affairs:
That, when asleep, they’ll talk of private business:
One of this kind is Cassio:
And Cassio’s like that.
In sleep I heard him say 'Sweet Desdemona,
Asleep, I heard him say, “Sweet Desdemona,
Let us be wary, let us hide our loves;'
We must be careful, we must hide our love.”
And then, sir, would he gripe and wring my hand,
And then, sir, he would tightly grip my hand,
Cry 'O sweet creature!' and then kiss me hard,
Shout, “Oh sweet creature!” and then kiss me hard,
As if he plucked up kisses by the roots
As though his kisses tried to pull up plant-roots
That grew upon my lips: then laid his leg
That grew upon my lips; then laid his leg
Over my thigh, and sighed, and kissed; and then
Across my thigh, and sighed, and kissed; and then
Cried 'Cursed fate that gave thee to the Moor!'
Yelled, “Damn you fate! You gave her to the Moor!”
OTHELLO
O monstrous! Monstrous!
Oh, that is ghastly!
IAGO
Nay, this was but his dream.
No, it’s just his dream.
OTHELLO
But this denoted a foregone conclusion:
But this means that it had already happened:
'Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream.
Though just a dream, it’s right to be suspicious.
IAGO
And this may help to thicken other proofs
This may corroborate with other clues
That do demonstrate thinly.
A little less compelling
OTHELLO
I'll tear her all to pieces.
I’ll rip her to shreds.
IAGO
Nay, but be wise: yet we see nothing done;
No, wait; be wise: we have seen nothing yet;
She may be honest yet. Tell me but this,
She may be innocent. But tell me this:
Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief
Haven’t you sometimes seen a handkerchief,
Spotted with strawberries in your wife's hand?
With dotted strawberries, carried by your wife?
OTHELLO
I gave her such a one; 'twas my first gift.
I gave her it; the first gift that I gave her.
IAGO
I know not that; but such a handkerchief--
I didn’t know that; but that handkerchief –
I am sure it was your wife's--did I to-day
I’m sure it was your wife’s – I saw today
See Cassio wipe his beard with.
That Cassio used to wipe his beard.
OTHELLO
If it be that--
If that’s it…
IAGO
If it be that, or any that was hers,
If that’s the one, or any of her others,
It speaks against her with the other proofs.
It joins the other evidence against her.
OTHELLO
O, that the slave had forty thousand lives!
If only he had forty thousand lives,
One is too poor, too weak for my revenge.
For one death’s not enough for my revenge!
Now do I see 'tis true. Look here, Iago;
Now I can see it’s true. Look here, Iago;
All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven.
I’ve blown my love upon the wind to heaven.
'Tis gone.
It’s gone.
Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell!
Wake up, evil revenge, out of your cave!
Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne
All love within me, transfer all you are
To tyrannous hate! Swell, bosom, with thy fraught,
To ruthless hate! And swell up, chest, with venom
For 'tis of aspics' tongues!
From tips of serpents’ tongues!
IAGO
Yet be content.
Now, take it easy.
OTHELLO
O, blood, blood, blood!
Oh, blood, blood, blood!
IAGO
Patience, I say; your mind perhaps may change.
You must be patient; you might change your mind.
OTHELLO
Never, Iago: Like to the Pontic sea,
I never will Iago; like the Black Sea –
Whose icy current and compulsive course
Whose icy waters never change their course
Ne'er feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on
For there’s no tide – just flows on through the Sea
To the Propontic and the Hellespont,
Of Marmara and then the Dardanelles Strait,
Even so my bloody thoughts, with violent pace,
Then just the same, my evil thoughts will race,
Shall ne'er look back, ne'er ebb to humble love,
And never will look back, nor flow to love,
Till that a capable and wide revenge
Until a massive wave of my revenge
Swallow them up. Now, by yond marble heaven,
Has swallowed them. Now, at that marble shrine,
[Kneels]
In the due reverence of a sacred vow
With all the reverence of a sacred vow,
I here engage my words.
I hereby pledge my oath.
IAGO
Do not rise yet.
Don’t stand up yet.
[Kneels]
Witness, you ever-burning lights above,
Observe, you ever-shining stars in heaven,
You elements that clip us round about,
And those that pass above us everyday,
Witness that here Iago doth give up
Bear witness here, that I, Iago, rescinds
The execution of his wit, hands, heart,
His own intelligence, his hands and heart,
To wronged Othello's service! Let him command,
To help the wronged Othello! He’ll command me
And to obey shall be in me remorse,
And I’ll obey, without showing remorse,
What bloody business ever.
Regardless of the bloodshed.
[They rise]
OTHELLO
I greet thy love,
I greet your love
Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance bounteous,
Not with an empty gratitude, but action
And will upon the instant put thee to't:
Immediately asking your commitment
Within these three days let me hear thee say
To tell me that I’ll hear within three days
That Cassio's not alive.
That Cassio is dead.
IAGO
My friend is dead; 'tis done at your request:
I’ll kill my friend; your wish is my command.
But let her live.
But let her live.
OTHELLO
Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her!
Damn her, the tart! Oh, damn her!
Come, go with me apart; I will withdraw,
Come on, let’s leave together; I will ponder
To furnish me with some swift means of death
Some methods I can use to bring a swift death
For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant.
To that cute devil. Now you’re my lieutenant.
IAGO
I am your own for ever.
I am forever yours.
[Exeunt]
