Jago. Did you perceive how he laughed at his | An unkind breach; but you shall make all vice? well. Oth. O! Iago. lago. And did you see the handkerchief? Oth. Was that mine? 180 Tago. Do it not with poison, strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated. Oth. Good, good; the justice of it pleases; very good. lago. Yours, by this hand; and to see how he prizes the foolish woman, your wife! she gave it him, and he hath given it his whore. Oth. I would have him nine years a-killing. A fine woman! a fair woman! a sweet woman! lago. Nay, you must forget that. Oth. Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damned to-night; for she shall not live. No, my heart is turned to stone; I strike it, and it hurts my hand. O the world hath not a sweeter creature; she might lie by an emperor's side and command him tasks. 193 Iago. Nay, that's not your way. Oth. Hang her! I do but say what she is. So delicate with her needle! An admirable musician! O! she will sing the savageness out of a bear. Of so high and plenteous wit and invention ! Iago. She's the worse for all this. 200 Oth. O a thousand, a thousand times. And then, of so gentle a condition! Iago. Ay, too gentle. Oth. Nay, that's certain; but yet the pity of it, Iago! O! Iago, the pity of it, lago. Iago. If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her patent to offend; for, if it touch not you, it comes near nobody. Oth. I will chop her into messes. Cuckold me! Out of my sight! Iago. O! 'tis foul in her. 210 Oth. With mine officer! Oth. Get me some poison, Iago; this night: 220 Iago. And for Cassio, let me be his undertaker; you shall hear more by midnight. A trumpet within. Oth. Excellent good. What trumpet is that same? Enter LODOVICO, DESDEMONA, and Attendants. Lod. God save the worthy general! 230 Iago. I am very glad to see you, signior; Welcome to Cyprus. Lod. I thank you. Cassio? Oth. Are you sure of that? Oth. This fail you not to do, as you will Lod. He did not call; he's busy in the paper. Des. How does Lieutenant My lord? Oth. Des. What is he angry? Indeed! Des. My lord? Oth. I am glad to see you mad. Oth. Devil! 250 Des. I have not deserv'd this. her turn: Sir, she can turn, and turn, and yet go on, And turn again; and she can weep, sir, weep; And she's obedient, as you say, obedient, Very obedient. Proceed you in your tears. Concerning this, sir,-O well-painted passion!I am commanded home. Get you away; I'll send for you anon. Sir, I obey the mandate, Iago. Something from Venice, sure. "Tis And will return to Venice. Hence! avaunt! Lodovico, Come from the duke; and, see, your wife is Cassio shall have my place. with him. Exit DESDEMONA. And, sir, to-night, I do entreat that we may sup together; 271 You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus. Goats and monkeys! Exit. Lod. Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate Call all-in-all sufficient? Is this the nature The shot of accident nor dart of chance Iago. Are you wise? Though I should swear I saw 't; 'tis very much; Oth. Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile. Des. I will not stay to offend you. Going. I do beseech your lordship, call her back. Des. My lord? Oth. 260 Iago. He's that he is; I may not breathe my censure. What he might be, if what he might he is not, Iago. Lives, sir. Des. Cousin, there's fall'n between him and I would to heaven he were! my lord Lod. What! strike his wife! 281 Enter OTHELLO and EMILIA. Oth. You have seen nothing then? Emil. But then I saw no harm, and then I Each syllable that breath made up between Oth. What did they never whisper? selves Should fear to seize thee; therefore be double damn'd; Swear thou art honest. Des. Des. To whom, my lord? with whom? how 40 Oth. Ah! Desdemona; away, away, away! An instrument of this your calling back, Oth. Had it pleas'd heaven Never, my lord. To point his slow and moving finger at: Oth. Nor send you out o' the way? Oth. To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, Where either I must live or bear no life, nor nothing? Emil. Never, my lord. The fountain from the which my current runs 10 Or else dries up; to be discarded thence! Or keep it as a cistern for foul toads To knot and gender in! Turn thy complexion there, Emil. I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest, If any wretch hath put this in your head, Bid her come hither; go. 20 She says enough; yet she's a simple bawd Re-enter EMILIA, with DESDEMONA. Patience, thou young and rose-lipp'd cherubim ; Des. I hope my noble lord esteems me honest. shambles, That quicken even with blowing. O thou weed! Des. Alas! what ignorant sin have I com. Oth. Was this fair paper, this most goodly Made to write 'whore' upon? What committed! Des. No, as I am a Christian. Oth. Is't possible? No, as I shall be sav'd. Des. O heaven forgive us. Des. With who? Emil. Why, with my lord, madam. Des. Who is thy lord? Emil. He that is yours, sweet lady. Des. I have none; do not talk to me, Emilia; I cannot weep, nor answer ave I none But what should go by water. Prithee, to-night Lay on my bed my wedding sheets: remember: And call thy husband hither. Emil. Here's a change indeed! Des. 'Tis meet I should be us'd so, very meet. How have I been behav'd, that he might stick The small'st opinion on my least misuse? Re-enter EMILIA with IAGO. Iago. What is your pleasure, madam? How is 't with you? 110 100 Could not have laid such terms upon his callat. Iago. Why did he so? Des. I do not know; I am sure I am none such. Iago. Do not weep, do not weep. Alas the day! Emil. Hath she forsook so many noble matches, Her father and her country and her friends, To be call'd whore? would it not make one weep? Des. It is my wretched fortune. Iago. Beshrew him for 't! How comes this trick upon him? Nav, heaven doth know. Emil. I will be hang'd, if some eternal villain, Some busy and insinuating rogue, Some cogging cozening slave, to get some office, Have not devis'd this slander; I'll be hang'd else. Des. 131 Why should he call her whore? who keeps her company! What place? what time? what form? what likelihood? Iago. Fie! there is no such man; it is impossible. Des. If any such there be, heaven pardon him! Emil. A halter pardon him, and hell gnaw his bones! The Moor's abus'd by some most villanous knave, Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow. O heaven! that such companions thou'dst unfold, 141 And put in every honest hand a whip fie upon them. That turn'd your wit the seamy side without, Des. 150 Speak within door. Some such squire I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel: How now, Roderigo ! Rod. I do not find that thou dealest justly with me. Iago. What in the contrary? Rod. Every day thou daffest me with some device, Iago; and rather, as it seems to me now, keepest from me all conveniency than suppliest me with the least advantage of hope. I will indeed no longer endure it, nor am I yet persuaded to put up in peace what already I have foolishly suffered. 182 Iago. Will you hear me, Roderigo? Rod. Faith, I have heard too much, for your words and performances are no kin together. Iago. You charge me most unjustly. Rod. With nought but truth. I have wasted myself out of my means. The jewels you have had from me to deliver to Desdemona would half have corrupted a votarist; you have told me she hath received them, and returned me expectations and comforts of sudden respect and acquaintance, but I find none. 193 Iago. Well; go to; very well. Rod. Very well! go to! I cannot go to, man; nor 'tis not very well by this hand, I say it is very scurvy, and begin to find myself fobbed in it. Iago. Very well. 199 Rod. I tell you 'tis not very well. I will make myself known to Desdemona; if she will return me my jewels. I will give over my suit and repent my unlawful solicitation; if not, assure yourself I will seek satisfaction of you. Iago. You have said now. Rod. Ay, and I have said nothing but what I protest intendment of doing. Iago. Why, now I see there's mettle in thee, and even from this instant do build on thee a better opinion than ever before. Give me thy hand, Roderigo; thou hast taken against me a most just exception; but yet I protest I have dealt most directly in thy affair. 213 Rod. It hath not appeared. Iago. I grant indeed it hath not appeared, and your suspicion is not without wit and judgment. But, Roderigo, if thou hast that in thee indeed, which I have greater reason to believe now than ever, I mean purpose, courage, and valour, this night show it: if thou the next night following enjoy not Desdemona, take me from this world with treachery and devise engines for my life. Rod. Well, what is it? is it within reason and compass? Iago. Sir, there is especial commission come from Venice to depute Cassio in Othello's place. Rod. Is that true? why, then Othello and Desdemona return again to Venice. Iago. O no, he goes into Mauritania, and takes away with him the fair Desdemona, unless his abode be lingered here by some accident; wherein none can be so determinate as the removing of Cassio. 234 Rod. How do you mean, removing of him? Iago. Why, by making him uncapable of Othello's place; knocking out his brains. Rod. And that you would have me do? Iago. Ay; if you dare do yourself a profit and a right. He sups to-night with a harlotry, and thither will I go to him; he knows not yet of his honourable fortune. If you will watch his going thence, which I will fashion to fall out between twelve and one, you may take him at your pleasure; I will be near to second your attempt, and he shall fall between us. Come, stand not amazed at it, but go along with me; I will show you such a necessity in his death that you shall think yourself bound to put it on him. It is now high supper-time, and the night grows to waste; about it. 251 Rod. I will hear further reason for this. Jago. And you shall be satisfied. Exeunt. SCENE III-Another Room in the Castle. Enter OTHELLO, LODOVICO, DESDEMONA, EMILIA, and Attendants. Lod. I do beseech you, sir, trouble yourself no further. Lod. Madam, good night; I humbly thank your ladyship. Des. Your honour is most welcome. Oth. O pardon me; 'twill do me good to walk. O! Desdemona. Des. My lord? Oth. Get you to bed on the instant, I will be returned forthwith; dismiss your attendant there; look it be done. Des. I will, my lord. 16 Exeunt OTHELLO, LODOVICO, and Attendants. Emil. How goes it now? he looks gentler than he did. Des. He says he will return incontinent; Emil. Dismiss me! Give me my nightly wearing, and adieu: Emil. I would you had never seen him. That even his stubbornness, his checks and frowns,Prithee, unpin me,-have grace and favour in them. Emil. I have laid those sheets you bade me on the bed. Des. All's one. Good faith! how foolish are our minds: If I do die before thee, prithee, shroud me Emil. € Sing all a green willow must be my garland. Let nobody blame him, his scorn 1 approve,— Nay, that's not next. Hark! who is't that knocks? Emil. It is the wind. Des. I call'd my love false love; but what said he then? Sing willow, willow, willow: If I court moe women, you'll couch with moe men. So, get thee gone; good night. Mine eyes do itch; Doth that bode weeping? Emil. 'Tis neither here nor there. Des. I have heard it said so. O! these men, these men. 60 Dost thou in conscience think, tell me, Emilia, That there be women do abuse their husbands In such gross kind? Emil. There be some such, no question. Des. Would'st thou do such a deed for all the world? Emil. Why, would not you? No, by this heavenly light! Emil. Nor I neither by this heavenly light; I might do 't as well i' the dark. Des. Would'st thou do such a deed for all the world? 69 Emil. The world's a huge thing; it is a great price For a small vice. Des. In troth, I think thou would'st not. Emil. In troth, I think I should, and undo 't when I had done. Marry, I would not do such a thing for a joint-ring, nor for measures of lawn, nor for gowns, petticoats, nor caps, nor any petty exhibition; but for the whole world; why, who would not make her husband a cuckold to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for 't. Des. Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong For the whole world. 80 Emil. Why, the wrong is but a wrong i' the world; and having the world for your labour, 'tis a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly make it right. Des. I do not think there is any such woman. Emil. Yes, a dozen; and as many to the vantage as would store the world they played for. But I do think it is their husbands' faults If wives do fall. Say that they slack their duties, us, Or scant our former having in despite ; And have their palates both for sweet and sour, Then let them use us well; else let them know, The ills we do, their ills instruct us so. Des. Good night, good night; heaven me such uses send. Not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend! Exeunt. 100 Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other, 21 No, he must die. But so: I hear him coming. Enter CASSIO. Rod. I know his gait; 'tis he. Villain, thou diest ! Makes a pass at CASSIO. Cas. That thrust had been mine enemy indeed But that my coat is better than thou know'st ; I will make proof of thine. Rod. Draws, and wounds RODERIGO. O! I am slain. IAGO from behind wounds CASSIO in the leg, and exit. Cas. I am maim'd for ever. Help, ho! murder! murder! Falls. Enter OTHELLO, at a distance. Oth. The voice of Cassio: Iago keeps his word. Rod. O villain that I am. 30 Oth. It is even so. Cas O, help! ho! light! a surgeon! Oth. 'Tis he. O brave Iago, honest and just ! That hast such noble sense of thy friend's wrong; Thou teachest me. Minion, your dear lies dead, And your unblest fate hies; strumpet, I come! Forth of my heart those charms, thine eyes, are blotted; Thy bed lust-stain'd shall with lust's blood be spotted. Exit. |