ACT 4
[Enter OTHELLO and IAGO]
IAGO
Will you think so?
Do you think that?
OTHELLO
Think so, Iago!
Think what, Iago!
IAGO
What,
That
To kiss in private?
They kissed in private?
OTHELLO
An unauthorised kiss.
An illicit kiss.
IAGO
Or to be naked with her friend in bed
Or laying naked with him in a bed
An hour or more, not meaning any harm?
An hour or more, not meaning any harm?
OTHELLO
Naked in bed, Iago, and not mean harm!
How can you not mean harm, in bed, both naked!
It is hypocrisy against the devil:
It’s like they tempt damnation from the devil:
They that mean virtuously, and yet do so,
They may have good intentions, but they do that
The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt heaven.
To tempt the devil, and tempt God to damn them.
IAGO
So they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip:
So they did nothing, just a minor sin:
But if I give my wife a handkerchief,--
But if I gave my wife a handkerchief…
OTHELLO
What then?
What would you do then?
IAGO
Why, then, 'tis hers, my lord; and, being hers,
Well then it’s hers, my lord; and as it’s hers,
She may, I think, bestow't on any man.
She can give it to any man she chooses.
OTHELLO
She is protectress of her honour too:
She must protect her honour, too, as well:
May she give that?
Can she give that away?
IAGO
Her honour is an essence that's not seen;
Her honour is a trait that no one sees;
They have it very oft that have it not:
Some reputations are devoid of honour.
But, for the handkerchief,--
But as far as the handkerchief…
OTHELLO
By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it.
By God, I would be glad if I forgot that.
Thou said'st, it comes o'er my memory,
By saying that, it came back home to haunt me,
As doth the raven o'er the infected house,
Like ravens on a house where someone’s sick
Boding to all--he had my handkerchief.
Is ominous…he had my handkerchief.
IAGO
Ay, what of that?
Yes, and so what?
OTHELLO
That's not so good now.
That isn’t good now.
IAGO
What
What
If I had said I had seen him do you wrong?
If I had said I’d seen him do you wrong?
Or heard him say,--as knaves be such abroad,
Or heard him say – for there are fools out there
Who having, by their own importunate suit,
Who, by their own persistent chatting up,
Or voluntary dotage of some mistress,
Or when some lady freely fancies them,
Convinced or supplied them, cannot choose
They sleep with them, but then cannot resist
But they must blab--
To blurt it out…
OTHELLO
Hath he said any thing?
Has he said anything?
IAGO
He hath, my lord; but be you well assured,
He has, my lord; but you can rest assured
No more than he'll unswear.
That he’ll deny it.
OTHELLO
What hath he said?
So, what has he said?
IAGO
'Faith, that he did--I know not what he did.
He said he did…I don’t know what he did.
OTHELLO
What? What?
What? What!
IAGO
Lie--
Lie…
OTHELLO
With her?
With her?
IAGO
With her, on her; what you will.
With her, on her; same difference.
OTHELLO
Lie with her! Lie on her! We say lie on her, when
Lie with her! Lie on her! We say lie ‘on’ her, when
they belie her. Lie with her! that's fulsome.
they have lied to her. Lie ‘with’ her! That’s offensive.
--Handkerchief--confessions--handkerchief!--To
The handkerchief, then this confession! Handkerchief! He’ll
confess, and be hanged for his labour;--first, to be
confess, and then I’ll hang him for it; or maybe first
hanged, and then to confess.--I tremble at it.
I’ll hang him, then he can confess. I’m shaking with rage.
Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing
My instinct wouldn’t make me be so angry
passion without some instruction. It is not words
unless there was some truth in it. It’s not just the hearsay
that shake me thus. Pish! Noses, ears, and lips.
that’s making me shake with anger. Damn!
--Is't possible?--Confess--handkerchief!--O devil!--
– Is this possible? – He confesses – the handkerchief! Oh, devil!
[Falls in a trance]
IAGO
Work on,
Keep working,
My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught;
My poisons, work! Gullible fools are caught like this;
And many worthy and chaste dames even thus,
And this is how so many moral women
All guiltless, meet reproach. What, ho! my lord!
Are charged, though they’re not guilty. Hi, my lord!
My lord, I say! Othello!
My lord, I say! Othello!
[Enter CASSIO]
How now, Cassio!
What’s up, Cassio?
CASSIO
What's the matter?
What’s the matter?
IAGO
My lord is fall'n into an epilepsy:
My lord Othello’s gone into a trance:
This is his second fit; he had one yesterday.
This is his second fit; he had one yesterday.
CASSIO
Rub him about the temples.
Rub him around the temples.
IAGO
No, forbear;
No, wait up;
The lethargy must have his quiet course:
His fit must have the chance to pass unhindered;
If not, he foams at mouth and by and by
If not, he’ll soon foam at the mouth and then
Breaks out to savage madness. Look he stirs:
Erupt into a rage. Look, he is stirring:
Do you withdraw yourself a little while,
Get out of here, and wait a little while,
He will recover straight: when he is gone,
He will recover soon. When he has left,
I would on great occasion speak with you.
I’ve something most important I must tell you.
[Exit CASSIO]
How is it, general? Have you not hurt your head?
How are you, general? Have you hurt your head?
OTHELLO
Dost thou mock me?
Are you taking the mickey?
IAGO
I mock you! No, by heaven.
No, good God, no.
Would you would bear your fortune like a man!
I wish you’d take your bad luck like a man!
OTHELLO
A horned man's a monster and a beast.
A cheated man with horns is just a monster!
IAGO
There's many a beast then in a populous city,
Then many monsters roam around this city,
And many a civil monster.
All beasts that look like men.
OTHELLO
Did he confess it?
Did he confess to it?
IAGO
Good sir, be a man;
Good sir, man up:
Think every bearded fellow that's but yoked
For every married man’s been cheated on
May draw with you: there's millions now alive
Exactly as you have. Now there are millions
That nightly lie in those unproper beds
That every night sleep in a tarnished bed
Which they dare swear peculiar: your case is better.
Believing it’s just theirs: your case is better.
O, 'tis the spite of hell, the fiend's arch-mock,
It is the curse of hell, the devil’s mockery,
To lip a wanton in a secure couch,
To kiss a cheating wife within your own bed,
And to suppose her chaste! No, let me know;
Believing she is faithful! No, I’d rather
And knowing what I am, I know what she shall be.
I knew, so I could know what both we are.
OTHELLO
O, thou art wise; 'tis certain.
Oh, you are wise, for sure.
IAGO
Stand you awhile apart;
So, stay away from her a while;
Confine yourself but in a patient list.
Constrain yourself by staying very patient.
Whilst you were here o'erwhelmed with your grief--
Whilst you were overwhelmed with grief, all trancelike –
A passion most unsuiting such a man--
A state of mind unusual for you –
Cassio came hither: I shifted him away,
Cassio came here: I moved him on,
And laid good 'scuse upon your ecstasy,
And made excuses for your meditation,
Bade him anon return and here speak with me;
And asked he soon return to talk to me,
The which he promised. Do but encave yourself,
Which he agreed to. Go and hide yourself,
And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorns,
And watch his sneers, his jokes, and disrespect
That dwell in every region of his face;
All written in each feature of his face;
For I will make him tell the tale anew,
For I’ll ensure that he repeats his story
Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when
Of where and when, how often and how long
He hath, and is again to cope your wife:
He has, and plans again, to screw your wife:
I say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience;
Watch his expressions closely. But, be patient;
Or I shall say you are all in all in spleen,
Or I will think you’re ruled by your emotions
And nothing of a man.
And you are not a real man.
OTHELLO
Dost thou hear, Iago?
Listen, Iago:
I will be found most cunning in my patience;
You’ll see that I am savvy when I’m patient;
But--dost thou hear?--most bloody.
But – listen! – I am brutal.
IAGO
That's not amiss;
That’s OK.
But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw?
But bide your time. Will you withdraw and hide?
[OTHELLO retires]
Now will I question Cassio of Bianca,
Now I’ll ask Cassio about Bianca,
A huswife that by selling her desires
A hussy who, by selling sexual favours,
Buys herself bread and clothes: it is a creature
Buys bread and clothes. She is a bawdy woman
That dotes on Cassio; as 'tis the strumpet's plague
Who dotes on Cassio; loose women suffer
To beguile many and be beguiled by one:
When many want her, but she wants just one.
He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain
When people talk about her, he can’t stop
From the excess of laughter. Here he comes:
Himself from raucous laughing. Here he comes:
[Re-enter CASSIO]
As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad;
His smiling’s going to make Othello mad;
And his unbookish jealousy must construe
And his flawed jealousy must then interpret
Poor Cassio's smiles, gestures and light behaviour,
Poor Cassio’s smiles and his exuberant gestures
Quite in the wrong. How do you now, lieutenant?
In quite the wrong way. How are you, lieutenant?
CASSIO
The worser that you give me the addition
I’m worse when you describe me as ‘lieutenant’
Whose want even kills me.
When I am dying to regain that title.
IAGO
Ply Desdemona well, and you are sure on't.
Spoil Desdemona, and you’re sure to get it.
[Speaking lower]
Now, if this suit lay in Bianca's power,
Now, if you were relying on Bianca,
How quickly should you speed!
How quickly you’d be reinstated!
CASSIO
Alas, poor caitiff!
Poor wretch!
OTHELLO
Look, how he laughs already!
Look, how he is already laughing!
IAGO
I never knew woman love man so.
I’ve never known a woman love a man so.
CASSIO
Alas, poor rogue! I think, i' faith, she loves me.
Oh dear, poor fool! I think it’s true she loves me.
OTHELLO
Now he denies it faintly, and laughs it out.
Now he’s denying it, and laughs it off.
IAGO
Do you hear, Cassio?
Have you heard, Cassio?
OTHELLO
Now he importunes him
Now he is insisting
To tell it o'er: go to; well said, well said.
That he repeats his story; this is clever.
IAGO
She gives it out that you shall marry hey:
She’s telling everyone she’ll marry you;
Do you intend it?
Do you intend to?
CASSIO
Ha, ha, ha!
Ha, ha, ha!
OTHELLO
Do you triumph, Roman? Do you triumph?
You think you’re a triumphant Roman soldier?
CASSIO
I marry her! What? A customer! Prithee, bear some
Me, marry her? A hooker? Me, her client? Please,
charity to my wit: do not think it so unwholesome.
give me some respect: don’t think that I’m so stupid.
Ha, ha, ha!
Ha, ha, ha!
OTHELLO
So, so, so, so: they laugh that win.
That’s how it works: folk laugh when they have won.
IAGO
'Faith, the cry goes that you shall marry her.
Come on, they say you’re going to marry her.
CASSIO
Prithee, say true.
Oh please, tell me the truth.
IAGO
I am a very villain else.
If false, call me a crook.
OTHELLO
Have you scored me? Well.
Are you just making fun of me? Well well.
CASSIO
This is the monkey's own giving out: she is
That silly monkey’s started this rumour: she thinks
persuaded I will marry her, out of her own love and
that I will marry her because she loves me and she thinks
flattery, not out of my promise.
she’s irresistible, not because I’ve said I would.
OTHELLO
Iago beckons me; now he begins the story.
Iago calls me closer, for Cassio starts his story.
CASSIO
She was here even now; she haunts me in every place.
She was here just now; she stalks me everywhere.
I was the other day talking on the sea-bank with
The other day I was talking at the edge of the sea with
certain Venetians; and thither comes the bauble,
some Venetians, and along comes the strumpet
and, by this hand, she falls me thus about my neck--
and, I swear, she grabs me by the neck like this…
OTHELLO
Crying 'O dear Cassio!' as it were: his gesture
Wailing, “Oh, my darling Cassio!” no doubt, judging
imports it.
by his gestures.
CASSIO
So hangs, and lolls, and weeps upon me; so hales,
She hangs around my neck, crying; she yanked
and pulls me: ha, ha, ha!
and pulled me. Ha ha ha!
OTHELLO
Now he tells how she plucked him to my chamber.
Now he’s saying how she dragged him into my bedroom.
O, I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I shall
Oh, I can see your nose I’ll chop off, but not the dog that
throw it to.
I’ll throw it to.
CASSIO
Well, I must leave her company.
Now, I must stop spending time with her.
IAGO
Before me! Look, where she comes.
Look out! Here she comes now.
CASSIO
'Tis such another fitchew! Marry a perfumed one.
She’s just a lecherous polecat! Though doesn’t smell as bad.
[Enter BIANCA]
What do you mean by this haunting of me?
What do you want by always stalking me?
BIANCA
Let the devil and his dam haunt you! What did you
Let the devil and his wife haunt you! What was your
mean by that same handkerchief you gave me even now?
intention by giving me that handkerchief just now?
I was a fine fool to take it. I must take out the
I was stupid to accept it. Should I copy the
work?--A likely piece of work, that you should find
embroidery? It’s implausible that you found
it in your chamber, and not know who left it there!
it in your bedroom, but not know who left it there!
This is some minx's token, and I must take out the
This is a gift from some slapper, and you want me to make
work? There; give it your hobby-horse: wheresoever
a copy of it? Here: give it back to your old tart. Wherever
you had it, I'll take out no work on't.
you got it from, I won’t be making a copy of it.
CASSIO
How now, my sweet Bianca! How now! How now!
Steady on, dear Bianca! Steady on!
OTHELLO
By heaven, that should be my handkerchief!
Oh my goodness, I think that’s my handkerchief!
BIANCA
An you'll come to supper to-night, you may; an you
If you want to come for supper tonight, you can; but if you
will not, come when you are next prepared for.
don’t come, don’t bother waiting for your next invitation.
[Exit]
IAGO
After her, after her.
Go after her, go after her!
CASSIO
'Faith, I must; she'll rail in the street else.
Indeed, I must, else she’ll cause a commotion in the street.
IAGO
Will you sup there?
Will you have dinner with her tonight?
CASSIO
'Faith, I intend so.
Indeed, that is my plan.
IAGO
Well, I may chance to see you; for I would very fain
Well, I hope I get the chance to see you, for I’m very keen
speak with you.
to talk with you
CASSIO
Prithee, come; will you?
Will you come with me to dinner then?
IAGO
Go to; say no more.
Go on, get on with it.
[Exit CASSIO]
OTHELLO
[Advancing]
How shall I murder him, Iago?
How shall I murder him, Iago?
IAGO
Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice?
Did you see how he laughed at his sordid crime?
OTHELLO
O Iago!
Oh, Iago!
IAGO
And did you see the handkerchief?
And did you see the handkerchief?
OTHELLO
Was that mine?
Was it mine?
IAGO
Yours by this hand: and to see how he prizes the
I swear it was yours; and did you see how he covets
foolish woman your wife! She gave it him, and he
your foolish wife! She gave the handkerchief to him, and he
hath given it his whore.
has given it to his whore.
OTHELLO
I would have him nine years a-killing.
I wish I could kill him every day for nine years.
A fine woman! A fair woman! A sweet woman!
She’s a wonderful, beautiful and sweet woman!
IAGO
Nay, you must forget that.
No, you must park that from your mind.
OTHELLO
Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damned to-night;
Yes, let her rot and perish and go to hell tonight,
for she shall not live: no, my heart is turned to
for she’ll not survive the night. No, my heart has turned to
stone; I strike it, and it hurts my hand. O, the
stone; if I hit it, my hand hurts. Oh, there
world hath not a sweeter creature: she might lie by
is no one sweeter in the whole world: she could be married
an emperor's side and command him tasks.
to an emperor and have him at her beck and call.
IAGO
Nay, that's not your way.
No, that’s not the way you behave.
OTHELLO
Hang her! I do but say what she is: so delicate
I’ll have her hanged! I’ll tell you what she is: a beautiful
with her needle: an admirable musician: O! she
embroiderer; a fabulous musician; oh, she
will sing the savageness out of a bear: of so high
sings so sweetly, she’ll pacify a bear; she is so
and plenteous wit and invention:--
smart and funny…
IAGO
She's the worse for all this.
These traits then make her current actions worse.
OTHELLO
O, a thousand thousand times: and then, of so
Oh yes, a thousand thousand times worse! But then,
gentle a condition!
she has such a gentle nature!
IAGO
Ay, too gentle.
Yes, too gentle.
OTHELLO
Nay, that's certain: but yet the pity of it, Iago!
No, that’s for sure: it’s just such a pity, Iago!
O Iago, the pity of it, Iago!
Oh Iago, it’s such a pity, Iago!
IAGO
If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her
If you’re still fond of her after her sinful behaviour, then let her
patent to offend; for, if it touch not you, it comes
continue sinning; for if it doesn’t offend you, then
near nobody.
no one else is going to care.
OTHELLO
I will chop her into messes: cuckold me!
I will chop her into chunks of meat. She can’t cheat on me!
IAGO
O, 'tis foul in her.
Oh, it’s an awful thing she’s done.
OTHELLO
With mine officer!
And with my own officer!
IAGO
That's fouler.
That makes it worse.
OTHELLO
Get me some poison, Iago; this night: I'll not
Bring me some poison, Iago. Tonight, I will not
expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty
remonstrate with her, in case her body and her beauty
unprovide my mind again: this night, Iago.
seduce my mind again. Tonight, Iago.
IAGO
Do it not with poison, strangle her in her bed, even
Don’t do it with poison; strangle her in her bed, the one
the bed she hath contaminated.
that she cheated on you in.
OTHELLO
Good, good: the justice of it pleases: very good.
Good idea; that has poetic justice. That’s very good.
IAGO
And for Cassio, let me be his undertaker: you
And as for Cassio, let me kill him; you
shall hear more by midnight.
will hear more about it by midnight.
OTHELLO
Excellent good.
That’s excellent.
[A trumpet within]
What trumpet is that same?
What is that trumpet sounding for?
IAGO
Something from Venice, sure. 'Tis Lodovico
Someone from Venice, sure. It’s Lodovico
Come from the duke: and, see, your wife is with him.
Who’s sent here by the duke; your wife is with him.
[Enter LODOVICO, DESDEMONA, and Attendants]
LODOVICO
Save you, worthy general!
Good health, noble general!
OTHELLO
With all my heart, sir.
I wish the same to you, sir.
LODOVICO
The duke and senators of Venice greet you.
The duke and senators of Venice greet you.
[Gives him a letter]
OTHELLO
I kiss the instrument of their pleasures.
I kiss the letter sharing their best wishes.
[Opens the letter, and reads]
DESDEMONA
And what's the news, good cousin Lodovico?
And what’s the news, dear cousin Lodovico?
IAGO
I am very glad to see you, signior.
I’m very glad to see you, sir.
Welcome to Cyprus.
Welcome to Cyprus.
LODOVICO
I thank you. How does Lieutenant Cassio?
Well, thanks. How is Lieutenant Cassio?
IAGO
Lives, sir.
Well, he’s alive, sir.
DESDEMONA
Cousin, there's fall'n between him and my lord
Cousin, a rift’s occurred between my husband
An unkind breach: but you shall make all well.
And him, but I am hoping that you’ll fix it.
OTHELLO
Are you sure of that?
Are you sure about that?
DESDEMONA
My lord?
What do you mean, my lord?
OTHELLO
[Reads]
'This fail you not to do, as you will--'
“You mustn’t fail at this, or else…”
LODOVICO
He did not call; he's busy in the paper.
That’s not at you; he’s rapt up with that letter.
Is there division 'twixt my lord and Cassio?
Is there a feud between my lord and Cassio?
DESDEMONA
A most unhappy one: I would do much
There is; it’s awful: I’d do all I can
To atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio.
To reconcile them, for my love of Cassio.
OTHELLO
Fire and brimstone!
God damn you!
DESDEMONA
My lord?
My lord?
OTHELLO
Are you wise?
Do you know what you’re doing?
DESDEMONA
What, is he angry?
What? Is he angry?
LODOVICO
May be the letter moved him;
Perhaps the letter made him mad;
For, as I think, they do command him home,
For I believe they’ve ordered he return home,
Deputing Cassio in his government.
Appointing Cassio to be in charge here.
DESDEMONA
Trust me, I am glad on't.
Trust me, I’m glad of that.
OTHELLO
Indeed!
I bet!
DESDEMONA
My lord?
My lord?
OTHELLO
I am glad to see you mad.
I’m glad to see you’re thick enough.
DESDEMONA
Why, sweet Othello,--
Othello…!
OTHELLO
[Striking her]
Devil!
You devil!
DESDEMONA
I have not deserved this.
I did not deserve that.
LODOVICO
My lord, this would not be believed in Venice,
My lord, no one in Venice would believe this,
Though I should swear I saw't: 'tis very much:
But I’ve seen it myself. That’s far too much:
Make her amends; she weeps.
Say sorry; she is crying.
OTHELLO
O devil, devil!
She’s the devil!
If that the earth could teem with woman's tears,
Oh, she can cry all of the tears on earth ;
Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile.
They’re crocodile tears; they are all fake.
Out of my sight!
Now, get out of my sight!
DESDEMONA
I will not stay to offend you.
I won’t offend you.
[Going]
LODOVICO
Truly, an obedient lady:
She’s an obedient lady:
I do beseech your lordship, call her back.
I urge you sir to call her back to you.
OTHELLO
Mistress!
Mistress!
DESDEMONA
My lord?
My lord?
OTHELLO
What would you with her, sir?
Why do you want her back, sir?
LODOVICO
Who, I, my lord?
Who, me, my lord?
OTHELLO
Ay; you did wish that I would make her turn:
Yes, you: you asked that I should make her turn back.
Sir, she can turn, and turn, and yet go on,
She can turn on her back, alright, and then
And turn again; and she can weep, sir, weep;
She’ll turn her back; and she can cry, alright;
And she's obedient, as you say, obedient,
And she’s obedient, as you say, she’ll do
Very obedient. Proceed you in your tears.
Just what you ask. Continue with your crying.
Concerning this, sir,--O well-painted passion!--
About this letter, sir – Oh, fake offence! –
I am commanded home. Get you away;
I’m ordered to return home. Go away!
I'll send for you anon. Sir, I obey the mandate,
I’ll send for you in due course. Sir, I’ll do it,
And will return to Venice. Hence, avaunt!
And will return to Venice. You, clear off!
[Exit DESDEMONA]
Cassio shall have my place. And, sir, tonight,
Cassio will deputise for me. And tonight,
I do entreat that we may sup together:
I hope that you will join with me for supper:
You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus.--Goats and monkeys!
Welcome to Cyprus, sir. – You randy creatures!
[Exit]
LODOVICO
Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate
Is this the Moor our senators deem noble
Call all in all sufficient? Is this the nature
And think him competent? Is this behaviour
Whom passion could not shake? Whose solid virtue
Of somebody unflappable? Whose calmness
The shot of accident, nor dart of chance,
Stays steadfast in an accident or fluke,
Could neither graze nor pierce?
That neither have an impact on him?
IAGO
He is much changed.
He’s changed.
LODOVICO
Are his wits safe? Is he not light of brain?
Is he still sane? Or has he lost his mind?
IAGO
He's that he is: I may not breathe my censure
He’s as you see him: I don’t dare to say
What he might be: if what he might he is not,
He might be mad: for if we find he isn’t,
I would to heaven he were!
I’d wish to God he was!
LODOVICO
What, strike his wife!
He hit his wife!
IAGO
'Faith, that was not so well; yet would I knew
In truth, he didn’t hit her hard; but I wish
That stroke would prove the worst!
That slap was all he’d do!
LODOVICO
Is it his use?
He does this often?
Or did the letters work upon his blood,
Or did that letter work to make his blood boil,
And new-create this fault?
And spark a new flaw in him?
IAGO
Alas, alas!
Oh, I wish!
It is not honesty in me to speak
It would be disingenuous of me
What I have seen and known. You shall observe him,
To tell you what I’ve seen and know. You’ll see him,
And his own courses will denote him so
And his behaviour will reveal his nature,
That I may save my speech: do but go after,
So I don’t have to tell you: follow him,
And mark how he continues.
And watch how he behaves.
LODOVICO
I am sorry that I am deceived in him.
I’m sorry I’ve been fooled by who he is.
[Exeunt]
