The garden of the castle.
[Enter DESDEMONA,
CASSIO, and EMILIA]
DESDEMONA
Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do
All my abilities in thy behalf.
EMILIA Good madam, do:
I warrant it grieves my husband,
As if the case were his.
DESDEMONA O, that’s an honest fellow.
Do not doubt, Cassio,
But I will have my lord and you again
As friendly as you were.
CASSIO Bounteous madam,
Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,
He’s never any thing but your true servant.
DESDEMONA I know’t; I thank you.
You do love my lord:
You have known him long; and be you well assured
He shall in strangeness stand no further off
Than in a polite distance.
CASSIO Ay, but, lady,
That policy may either last so long,
That, I being absent and my place supplied,
My general will forget my love and service.
DESDEMONA Do not doubt that; before Emilia here
I give thee warrant: my lord shall never rest;
I’ll watch him tame and talk him out of patience;
His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;
I’ll intermingle every thing he does
With Cassio’s suit: therefore be merry, Cassio;
For thy solicitor shall rather die
Than give thy cause away.
EMILIA Madam, here comes my lord.
CASSIO Madam, I’ll take my leave.
DESDEMONA Why, stay, and hear me speak.
CASSIO Madam, not now: I am very ill at ease,
Unfit for mine own purposes.
DESDEMONA Well, do your discretion.
[Exit CASSIO]
[Enter OTHELLO and IAGO]
IAGO Ha! I like not that.
OTHELLO What dost thou say?
IAGO Nothing, my lord: or if–I know not what.
OTHELLO Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?
IAGO Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it,
That he would steal away so guilty-like,
Seeing you coming.
OTHELLO I do believe ’twas he.
DESDEMONA How now, my lord!
I have been talking with a suitor here,
A man that languishes in your displeasure.
OTHELLO Who is’t you mean?
DESDEMONA Why, your lieutenant, Cassio.
Good my lord,
If I have any grace or power to move you,
His present reconciliation take;
For if he be not one that truly loves you,
That errs in ignorance and not in cunning,
I have no judgment in an honest face:
I prithee, call him back.
OTHELLO Went he hence now?
DESDEMONA Ay, sooth; so humbled
That he hath left part of his grief with me,
To suffer with him. Good love, call him back.
OTHELLO Not now,
sweet Desdemona; some other time.
DESDEMONA But shall’t be shortly?
OTHELLO The sooner, sweet, for you.
DESDEMONA Shall’t be to-night at supper?
OTHELLO No, not to-night.
I meet the captains at the citadel.
DESDEMONA Why,
then, to-morrow night; or Tuesday morn;
On Tuesday noon, or night; on Wednesday morn:
I prithee, name the time, but let it not
Exceed three days: When shall he come?
Tell me, Othello: I wonder in my soul,
What you would ask me, that I should deny,
Or stand so mammering on. What! Michael Cassio,
That came a-wooing with you, and so many a time,
When I have spoke of you dispraisingly,
Hath ta’en your part.
OTHELLO Prithee, no more:
let him come when he will;
I will deny thee nothing.
DESDEMONA Why, this is not a boon;
‘Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves,
OTHELLO Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this,
To leave me but a little to myself.
DESDEMONA Shall I deny you? no: farewell, my lord.
Emilia, come. Be as your fancies teach you;
Whate’er you be, I am obedient.
[Exeunt DESDEMONA and EMILIA]
OTHELLO Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul,
But I do love thee! and when I love thee not,
Chaos is come again.
IAGO My noble lord–
OTHELLO What dost thou say, Iago?
IAGO Did Michael Cassio, when you woo’d my lady,
Know of your love?
OTHELLO He did, from first to last: why dost thou ask?
IAGO But for a satisfaction of my thought;
No further harm.
OTHELLO Why of thy thought, Iago?
IAGO
I did not think he had been acquainted with her.
OTHELLO O, yes; and went between us very oft.
IAGO Indeed!
OTHELLO Indeed!
ay, indeed: discern’st thou aught in that?
Is he not honest?
IAGO Honest, my lord!
OTHELLO Honest! ay, honest.
IAGO My lord, for aught I know.
OTHELLO What dost thou think?
IAGO Think, my lord!
OTHELLO Think, my lord!
By heaven, he echoes me,
As if there were some monster in his thought
Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean something:
I heard thee say even now, thou likedst not that,
When Cassio left my wife: what didst not like?
And when I told thee he was of my counsel
In my whole course of wooing, thou criedst ‘Indeed!’
As if thou then hadst shut up in thy brain
Some horrible conceit: if thou dost love me,
Show me thy thought.
IAGO My lord, you know I love you.
OTHELLO I think thou dost;
And, for I know thou’rt full of love and honesty,
And weigh’st thy words
before thou givest them breath,
Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more.
IAGO For Michael Cassio,
I dare be sworn I think that he is honest.
OTHELLO I think so too.
IAGO Men should be what they seem;
Or those that be not, would they might seem none!
OTHELLO Certain, men should be what they seem.
IAGO Why, then, I think Cassio’s an honest man.
OTHELLO Nay, yet there’s more in this:
I prithee, speak to me as to thy thinkings,
As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of thoughts
The worst of words.
IAGO Good my lord, pardon me:
Though I am bound to every act of duty,
I am not bound to that all slaves are free to.
Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile and false;
OTHELLO Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago,
If thou but think’st him wrong’d and makest his ear
A stranger to thy thoughts.
IAGO I do beseech you–
It were not for your quiet nor your good,
Nor for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom,
To let you know my thoughts.
OTHELLO What dost thou mean?
IAGO Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls:
Who steals my purse steals trash; ’tis something, nothing;
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him
And makes me poor indeed.
OTHELLO By heaven, I’ll know thy thoughts.
IAGO O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;
It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on; that cuckold lives in bliss
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;
But, O, what damned minutes tells he o’er
Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves!
OTHELLO O misery!
IAGO Good God, the souls of all my tribe defend
From jealousy!
OTHELLO Why, why is this?
Think’st thou I’ld make a lie of jealousy,
To follow still the changes of the moon
With fresh suspicions? No; to be once in doubt
Is once to be resolved: ‘Tis not to make me jealous
To say my wife is fair, loves company,
Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances well;
Where virtue is, these are more virtuous:
Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw
The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt;
For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago;
I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
And on the proof, there is no more but this,–
Away at once with love or jealousy!
IAGO I am glad of it; for now I shall have reason
To show the love and duty that I bear you
With franker spirit: therefore, as I am bound,
Receive it from me. I speak not yet of proof.
Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio;
I know our country disposition well;
In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks
They dare not show their husbands; their best conscience
Is not to leave’t undone, but keep’t unknown.
OTHELLO Dost thou say so?
IAGO She did deceive her father, marrying you;
And when she seem’d to shake and fear your looks,
She loved them most.
OTHELLO And so she did.
IAGO Why, go to then;
She that, so young, could give out such a seeming,
To seal her father’s eyes up close as oak-
He thought ’twas witchcraft–but I am much to blame;
I humbly do beseech you of your pardon
For too much loving you.
OTHELLO I am bound to thee for ever.
IAGO I see this hath a little dash’d your spirits.
OTHELLO Not a jot, not a jot.
IAGO I’ faith, I fear it has.
I hope you will consider what is spoke
Comes from my love. But I do see you’re moved:
OTHELLO No, not much moved:
I do not think but Desdemona’s honest.
IAGO
Long live she so! and long live you to think so!
OTHELLO And yet, how nature erring from itself,–
IAGO Ay, there’s the point: as–to be bold with you–
Not to affect many proposed matches
Of her own clime, complexion, and degree,
Whereto we see in all things nature tends–
Foh! one may smell in such a will most rank,
Foul disproportion thoughts unnatural.
But pardon me; I do not in position
Distinctly speak of her; though I may fear
Her will, recoiling to her better judgment,
May fall to match you with her country forms
And happily repent.
OTHELLO Farewell, farewell:
If more thou dost perceive, let me know more;
Set on thy wife to observe: leave me, Iago:
IAGO [Going] My lord, I take my leave.
OTHELLO Why did I marry?
This honest creature doubtless
Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.
IAGO [Returning] My lord,
I would I might entreat your honour
To scan this thing no further; leave it to time:
Though it be fit that Cassio have his place,
For sure, he fills it up with great ability,
Yet, if you please to hold him off awhile,
You shall by that perceive him and his means:
Note, if your lady strain his entertainment
With any strong or vehement importunity;
Much will be seen in that. In the mean time,
Let me be thought too busy in my fears–
As worthy cause I have to fear I am–
And hold her free, I do beseech your honour.
I once more take my leave.
[Exit]
OTHELLO This fellow’s of exceeding honesty,
And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,
Of human dealings. O curse of marriage!
That we can call these delicate creatures ours,
And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad,
And live upon the vapour of a dungeon,
Than keep a corner in the thing I love
For others’ uses. Desdemona comes:
[Re-enter DESDEMONA and EMILIA]
If she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself!
I’ll not believe’t.
DESDEMONA How now, my dear Othello!
Your dinner, and the generous islanders
By you invited, do attend your presence.
OTHELLO I am to blame.
DESDEMONA Why do you speak so faintly?
Are you not well?
OTHELLO I have a pain upon my forehead here.
DESDEMONA ‘Faith,
that’s with watching; ’twill away again:
Let me but bind it hard, within this hour
It will be well.
OTHELLO Your napkin is too little:
[He puts the handkerchief
from him; and it drops]
Let it alone. Come, I’ll go in with you.
DESDEMONA
I am very sorry that you are not well.
[Exeunt OTHELLO
and DESDEMONA]
EMILIA I am glad I have found this napkin:
This was her first remembrance from the Moor:
My wayward husband hath a hundred times
Woo’d me to steal it; but she so loves the token,
That she reserves it evermore about her
To kiss and talk to. I’ll have the work ta’en out,
And give’t Iago: what he will do with it
Heaven knows, not I;
I nothing but to please his fantasy.
[Re-enter Iago]
IAGO How now! what do you here alone?
EMILIA Do not you chide; I have a thing for you.
IAGO A thing for me? it is a common thing–
EMILIA Ha!
IAGO To have a foolish wife.
EMILIA O, is that all? What will you give me now for
that handkerchief the Moor first gave to Desdemona;
That which so often you did bid me steal.
IAGO Hast stol’n it from her?
EMILIA No, ‘faith; she let it drop by negligence.
And, to the advantage, I, being here, took’t up.
Look, here it is.
IAGO A good wench; give it me.
EMILIA What will you do with ‘t, that you have
been so earnest To have me filch it?
IAGO [Snatching it] Why, what’s that to you?
EMILIA If it be not for some purpose of import,
Give’t me again: poor lady, she’ll run mad
When she shall lack it.
IAGO Be not acknown on ‘t; I have use for it.
Go, leave me.
[Exit EMILIA]
I will in Cassio’s lodging lose this napkin,
And let him find it. Trifles light as air
Are to the jealous confirmations strong
As proofs of holy writ: this may do something.
The Moor already changes with my poison:
Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poisons.
Which at the first are scarce found to distaste,
But with a little act upon the blood.
Burn like the mines of Sulphur.
[Re-enter OTHELLO]
OTHELLO Ha! ha! false to me?
IAGO Look where he stands!
Not poppy, nor mandragora
Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world,
Shalle ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep
Which thou owedst yesterday.
Why, how now, general! no more of that.
OTHELLO Avaunt! be gone! thou hast set me on the rack:
I swear ’tis better to be much abused
Than but to know’t a little.
IAGO How now, my lord!
OTHELLO
What sense had I of her stol’n hours of lust?
I saw’t not, thought it not, it harm’d not me:
I slept the next night well, was free and merry;
I found not Cassio’s kisses on her lips:
IAGO I am sorry to hear this.
OTHELLO O, now, for ever
Farewell the tranquil mind! farewell content!
Farewell! Othello’s occupation’s gone!
IAGO Is’t possible, my lord?
OTHELLO Villain,
be sure thou prove my love a whore,
Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof:
Or by the worth of man’s eternal soul,
Thou hadst been better have been born a dog
Than answer my waked wrath!
IAGO Is’t come to this?
OTHELLO
Make me to see’t; or, at the least, so prove it,
That the probation bear no hinge nor loop
To hang a doubt on; or woe upon thy life!
IAGO My noble lord,–
OTHELLO If thou dost slander her and torture me,
Never pray more; abandon all remorse;
For nothing canst thou to damnation add
Greater than that.
IAGO O grace! O heaven forgive me!
Are you a man? have you a soul or sense?
O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O world,
To be direct and honest is not safe.
I thank you for this profit; and from hence
I’ll love no friend, sith love breeds such offence.
OTHELLO Nay, stay: thou shouldst be honest.
IAGO I should be wise, for honesty’s a fool
And loses that it works for.
OTHELLO By the world,
I think my wife be honest and think she is not;
I think that thou art just and think thou art not.
I’ll have some proof. Her name, that was as fresh
As Dian’s visage, is now begrimed and black
As mine own face. Would I were satisfied!
IAGO I see, sir, you are eaten up with passion:
I do repent me that I put it to you.
You would be satisfied?
OTHELLO Would! nay, I will.
IAGO
And may: but, how? how satisfied, my lord?
Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on–
Behold her topp’d?
OTHELLO Death and damnation! O!
IAGO It were a tedious difficulty, I think,
To bring them to that prospect: damn them then,
Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys,
OTHELLO Give me a living reason she’s disloyal.
IAGO I do not like the office:
But, sith I am enter’d in this cause so far,
I will go on. I lay with Cassio lately;
And, being troubled with a raging tooth,
I could not sleep.
There are a kind of men so loose of soul,
That in their sleeps will mutter their affairs:
One of this kind is Cassio:
In sleep I heard him say ‘Sweet Desdemona,
Let us be wary, let us hide our loves;’
And then, sir, would he gripe and wring my hand,
Cry ‘O sweet creature!’ and then kiss me hard,
As if he pluck’d up kisses by the roots
That grew upon my lips: then laid his leg
Over my thigh, and sigh’d, and kiss’d; and then
Cried ‘Cursed fate that gave thee to the Moor!’
OTHELLO O monstrous! monstrous!
I’ll tear her all to pieces.
IAGO
Nay, but be wise: yet we see nothing done;
She may be honest yet. Tell me but this,
Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief
Spotted with strawberries in your wife’s hand?
OTHELLO I gave her such a one; ’twas my first gift.
IAGO I know not that; but such a handkerchief–
did I to-day see Cassio wipe his beard with.
OTHELLO If it be that–
IAGO If it be that, or any that was hers,
It speaks against her with the other proofs.
OTHELLO Now do I see ’tis true. Look here, Iago;
All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven. ‘Tis gone.
Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell!
Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne
To tyrannous hate! O, blood, Iago, blood, blood!
IAGO Patience, I say; your mind perhaps may change.
OTHELLO Never,
Iago: my bloody thoughts, with violent pace,
Shall ne’er look back, ne’er ebb to humble love,
Till that a capable and wide revenge
Swallow them up. Now, by yond marble heaven,
[Kneels]
In the due reverence of a sacred vow
I here engage my words.
IAGO Witness, you ever-burning lights above,
You elements that clip us round about,
Witness that here Iago doth give up
The execution of his wit, hands, heart,
To wrong’d Othello’s service! Let him command,
And to obey shall be in me remorse,
What bloody business ever.
[They rise]
OTHELLO I greet thy love,
Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance bounteous,
And will upon the instant put thee to’t:
Within these three days let me hear thee say
That Cassio’s not alive.
IAGO My friend is dead; ’tis done at your request:
But let her live.
OTHELLO Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her!
Come, go with me apart; I will withdraw,
To furnish me with some swift means of death
For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant.
IAGO I am your own for ever.
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