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Des. How now, my dear Othello!
Your dinner, and the generous islanders[5966]
By you invited, do attend your presence. 285
Your dinner, and the generous islanders[5966]
By you invited, do attend your presence. 285
Oth. I am to blame.
Oth. I have a pain upon my forehead here.[5969]
Des. Faith, that's with watching; 'twill away again:[5970]
Let me but bind it hard, within this hour[5971] 290
It will be well.
Let me but bind it hard, within this hour[5971] 290
It will be well.
Oth. Your napkin is too little;
[He puts the handkerchief from him; and she drops it.[5972]
Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you.
Des. I am very sorry that you are not well.
[Exeunt Othello and Desdemona.[5973]
Emil. I am glad I have found this napkin:[5974]
This was her first remembrance from the Moor: 295
My wayward husband hath a hundred times
Woo'd me to steal it; but she so loves the token,[5975]
For he conjured her she should ever keep it,
That she reserves it evermore about her
To kiss and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out,[5976][5977][5978] 300
And give 't Iago: what he will do with it[5976][5978][5979]
Heaven knows, not I;[5976]
I nothing but to please his fantasy.
This was her first remembrance from the Moor: 295
My wayward husband hath a hundred times
Woo'd me to steal it; but she so loves the token,[5975]
For he conjured her she should ever keep it,
That she reserves it evermore about her
To kiss and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out,[5976][5977][5978] 300
And give 't Iago: what he will do with it[5976][5978][5979]
Heaven knows, not I;[5976]
I nothing but to please his fantasy.
Re-enter Iago.[5980]
Iago. How now! what do you here alone?
Emil. Do not you chide; I have a thing for you.[5981] 305
Emil. Ha!
Iago. To have a foolish wife.[5983]
Emil. O, is that all? What will you give me now
For that same handkerchief?
For that same handkerchief?
Iago. What handkerchief?[5984] 310
Emil. What handkerchief![5984]
Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona;
That which so often you did bid me steal.
Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona;
That which so often you did bid me steal.
Iago. Hast stol'n it from her?[5985]
Emil. No, faith; she let it drop by negligence,[5986] 315
And, to the advantage, I being here took 't up.[5987]
Look, here it is.[5988]
And, to the advantage, I being here took 't up.[5987]
Look, here it is.[5988]
Iago. A good wench; give it me.
Emil. What will you do with 't, that you have been so earnest[5989][5990]
To have me filch it?[5989]
To have me filch it?[5989]
Iago. [Snatching it] Why, what's that to you?[5991]
Emil. If 't be not for some purpose of import,[5992] 320
Give 't me again: poor lady, she'll run mad[5993]
When she shall lack it.
Give 't me again: poor lady, she'll run mad[5993]
When she shall lack it.
Iago. Be not acknown on 't; I have use for it.[5994][5995]
Go, leave me. [Exit Emilia.[5994]
I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin,[5996] 325
And let him find it. Trifles light as air
Are to the jealous confirmations strong
As proofs of holy writ: this may do something.[5997]
The Moor already changes with my poison:[5998]
Dangerous conceits are in their natures poisons,[5999] 330
Which at the first are scarce found to distaste,
But with a little act upon the blood[6000]
Burn like the mines of sulphur. I did say so:[6001]
Look, where he comes!
Go, leave me. [Exit Emilia.[5994]
I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin,[5996] 325
And let him find it. Trifles light as air
Are to the jealous confirmations strong
As proofs of holy writ: this may do something.[5997]
The Moor already changes with my poison:[5998]
Dangerous conceits are in their natures poisons,[5999] 330
Which at the first are scarce found to distaste,
But with a little act upon the blood[6000]
Burn like the mines of sulphur. I did say so:[6001]
Look, where he comes!
Re-enter Othello.[6002]
Not poppy, nor mandragora,
Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world,[6003] 335
Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep
Which thou owedst yesterday.
Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world,[6003] 335
Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep
Which thou owedst yesterday.
Oth. Ha! ha! false to me?[6004]
Iago. Why, how now, general! no more of that.
Oth. Avaunt! be gone! thou hast set me on the rack:[6005]
I swear 'tis better to be much abused 340
Than but to know 't a little.
I swear 'tis better to be much abused 340
Than but to know 't a little.
Iago. How now, my lord![6006]
Oth. What sense had I of her stol'n hours of lust?[6007]
I saw 't not, thought it not, it harm'd not me:[6008]
I slept the next night well, was free and merry;[6009]
I found not Cassio's kisses on her lips: 345
He that is robb'd, not wanting what is stol'n,
Let him not know 't and he's not robb'd at all.
I saw 't not, thought it not, it harm'd not me:[6008]
I slept the next night well, was free and merry;[6009]
I found not Cassio's kisses on her lips: 345
He that is robb'd, not wanting what is stol'n,
Let him not know 't and he's not robb'd at all.
Iago. I am sorry to hear this.
Oth. I had been happy, if the general camp,
Pioners and all, had tasted her sweet body,[6010] 350
So I had nothing known. O, now for ever
Farewell the tranquil mind! farewell content!
Farewell the plumed troop and the big wars[6011]
That make ambition virtue! O, farewell,[6012]
Farewell the neighing steed and the shrill trump, 355
The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife,[6013]
The royal banner and all quality,
Pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war!
And, O you mortal engines, whose rude throats[6014]
The immortal Jove's dread clamours counterfeit,[6015] 360
Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone!
Pioners and all, had tasted her sweet body,[6010] 350
So I had nothing known. O, now for ever
Farewell the tranquil mind! farewell content!
Farewell the plumed troop and the big wars[6011]
That make ambition virtue! O, farewell,[6012]
Farewell the neighing steed and the shrill trump, 355
The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife,[6013]
The royal banner and all quality,
Pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war!
And, O you mortal engines, whose rude throats[6014]
The immortal Jove's dread clamours counterfeit,[6015] 360
Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone!
Iago. Is't possible, my lord?[6016]
Oth. Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore;[6017]
Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof;[6018]
Or, by the worth of man's eternal soul,[6019] 365
Thou hadst been better have been born a dog[6020]
Than answer my waked wrath![6021]
Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof;[6018]
Or, by the worth of man's eternal soul,[6019] 365
Thou hadst been better have been born a dog[6020]
Than answer my waked wrath![6021]
Iago. Is't come to this?
Oth. 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! 370
That the probation bear no hinge nor loop
To hang a doubt on; or woe upon thy life! 370
Iago. My noble lord,—[6022]
Oth. If thou dost slander her and torture me,
Never pray more; abandon all remorse;
On horror's head horrors accumulate;[6023]
Do deeds to make heaven weep, all earth amazed; 375
For nothing canst thou to damnation add[6024]
Greater than that.[6024]
Never pray more; abandon all remorse;
On horror's head horrors accumulate;[6023]
Do deeds to make heaven weep, all earth amazed; 375
For nothing canst thou to damnation add[6024]
Greater than that.[6024]
Iago. O grace! O heaven defend me![6025]
Are you a man? have you a soul or sense?
God be wi' you; take mine office. O wretched fool,[6026]
That livest to make thine honesty a vice![6027] 380
O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O world,[6028]
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.[6029]
Are you a man? have you a soul or sense?
God be wi' you; take mine office. O wretched fool,[6026]
That livest to make thine honesty a vice![6027] 380
O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O world,[6028]
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.[6029]
Oth. Nay, stay: thou shouldst be honest.[6030] 385
Iago. I should be wise; for honesty's a fool,
And loses that it works for.[6031]
And loses that it works for.[6031]
Oth. By the world,[6032]
I think my wife be honest, and think she is not;[6032][6033]
I think that thou art just, and think thou art not:[6032]
I'll have some proof. Her name, that was as fresh[6032][6034] 390
As Dian's visage, is now begrimed and black[6032]
As mine own face. If there be cords, or knives,[6032]
Poison, or fire, or suffocating streams,[6032][6035]
I'll not endure it. Would I were satisfied![6032]
I think my wife be honest, and think she is not;[6032][6033]
I think that thou art just, and think thou art not:[6032]
I'll have some proof. Her name, that was as fresh[6032][6034] 390
As Dian's visage, is now begrimed and black[6032]
As mine own face. If there be cords, or knives,[6032]
Poison, or fire, or suffocating streams,[6032][6035]
I'll not endure it. Would I were satisfied![6032]
Iago. I see, sir, you are eaten up with passion:[6032][6036] 395
I do repent me that I put it to you.
You would be satisfied?
I do repent me that I put it to you.
You would be satisfied?
Oth. Would! nay, I will.[6037]
Iago. And may: but, how? how satisfied, my lord?
Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on?[6038]
Behold her topp'd?[6039]
Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on?[6038]
Behold her topp'd?[6039]
Oth. Death and damnation! O! 400
Iago. It were a tedious difficulty, I think,
To bring them to that prospect: damn them then,[6040]
If ever mortal eyes do see them bolster[6041]
More than their own! What then? how then?[6042]
What shall I say? Where's satisfaction?[6043] 405
It is impossible you should see this,
Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys,[6044]
As salt as wolves in pride, and fools as gross
As ignorance made drunk. But yet, I say,
If imputation and strong circumstances, 410
Which lead directly to the door of truth,
Will give you satisfaction, you may have 't.[6045]
To bring them to that prospect: damn them then,[6040]
If ever mortal eyes do see them bolster[6041]
More than their own! What then? how then?[6042]
What shall I say? Where's satisfaction?[6043] 405
It is impossible you should see this,
Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys,[6044]
As salt as wolves in pride, and fools as gross
As ignorance made drunk. But yet, I say,
If imputation and strong circumstances, 410
Which lead directly to the door of truth,
Will give you satisfaction, you may have 't.[6045]
Oth. Give me a living reason she's disloyal.[6046]
Iago. I do not like the office:
But sith I am enter'd in this cause so far,[5911][6047] 415
Prick'd to 't by foolish honesty and love,
I will go on. I lay with Cassio lately,[6048]
And being troubled with a raging tooth,[6049]
I could not sleep.[6049]
There are a kind of men so loose of soul,[6049] 420
That in their sleeps will mutter their affairs:[6049][6050]
One of this kind is Cassio:[6049]
In sleep I heard him say 'Sweet Desdemona,
Let us be wary, let us hide our loves;'[6051]
And then, sir, would he gripe and wring my hand, 425
Cry 'O sweet creature!' and then kiss me hard,[6052]
As if he pluck'd up kisses by the roots,
That grew upon my lips: then laid his leg[6053][6054]
Over my thigh, and sigh'd and kiss'd, and then[6053][6055]
Cried 'Cursed fate that gave thee to the Moor!'[6053][6055] 430
But sith I am enter'd in this cause so far,[5911][6047] 415
Prick'd to 't by foolish honesty and love,
I will go on. I lay with Cassio lately,[6048]
And being troubled with a raging tooth,[6049]
I could not sleep.[6049]
There are a kind of men so loose of soul,[6049] 420
That in their sleeps will mutter their affairs:[6049][6050]
One of this kind is Cassio:[6049]
In sleep I heard him say 'Sweet Desdemona,
Let us be wary, let us hide our loves;'[6051]
And then, sir, would he gripe and wring my hand, 425
Cry 'O sweet creature!' and then kiss me hard,[6052]
As if he pluck'd up kisses by the roots,
That grew upon my lips: then laid his leg[6053][6054]
Over my thigh, and sigh'd and kiss'd, and then[6053][6055]
Cried 'Cursed fate that gave thee to the Moor!'[6053][6055] 430
Oth. O monstrous! monstrous!
Iago. Nay, this was but his dream.[6056]
Oth. But this denoted a foregone conclusion:[6057]
'Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream.[6058]
'Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream.[6058]
Iago. And this may help to thicken other proofs[6058]
That do demonstrate thinly.
That do demonstrate thinly.
Oth. I'll tear her all to pieces. 435
Iago. Nay, but be wise: yet we see nothing done;[6059]
She may be honest yet. Tell me but this;
Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief[6060]
Spotted with strawberries in your wife's hand?[6061][6062]
She may be honest yet. Tell me but this;
Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief[6060]
Spotted with strawberries in your wife's hand?[6061][6062]
Oth. I gave her such a one; 'twas my first gift. 440
Iago. I know not that: but such a handkerchief—[6060]
I am sure it was your wife's—did I to-day[5911][6061]
See Cassio wipe his beard with.
I am sure it was your wife's—did I to-day[5911][6061]
See Cassio wipe his beard with.
Oth. If it be that,—[6063]
Iago. If it be that, or any that was hers,[6064]
It speaks against her with the other proofs. 445
It speaks against her with the other proofs. 445
Oth. O, that the slave had forty thousand lives!
One is too poor, too weak for my revenge.
Now do I see 'tis true. Look here, Iago;[6065]
All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven:
'Tis gone.[6066] 450
Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell![6067]
Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne[6068]
To tyrannous hate! Swell, bosom, with thy fraught,
For 'tis of aspics' tongues!
One is too poor, too weak for my revenge.
Now do I see 'tis true. Look here, Iago;[6065]
All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven:
'Tis gone.[6066] 450
Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell![6067]
Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne[6068]
To tyrannous hate! Swell, bosom, with thy fraught,
For 'tis of aspics' tongues!
Iago. Yet be content.[6069]
Oth. O, blood, blood, blood![6070] 455
Iago. Patience, I say; your mind perhaps may change.[6071]
Oth. Never, Iago. Like to the Pontic sea,[6072][6073]
Whose icy current and compulsive course[6072][6074]
Ne'er feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on[6072][6075]
To the Propontic and the Hellespont;[6072] 460
Even so my bloody thoughts, with violent pace,[6072]
Shall ne'er look back, ne'er ebb to humble love,[6072][6076]
Till that a capable and wide revenge[6072]
Swallow them up. Now, by yond marble heaven,[6072][6077]
In the due reverence of a sacred vow [Kneels.[6078] 465
I here engage my words.
Whose icy current and compulsive course[6072][6074]
Ne'er feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on[6072][6075]
To the Propontic and the Hellespont;[6072] 460
Even so my bloody thoughts, with violent pace,[6072]
Shall ne'er look back, ne'er ebb to humble love,[6072][6076]
Till that a capable and wide revenge[6072]
Swallow them up. Now, by yond marble heaven,[6072][6077]
In the due reverence of a sacred vow [Kneels.[6078] 465
I here engage my words.
Iago. Do not rise yet. [Kneels.[6079]
Witness, you ever-burning lights above,[6080]
You elements that clip us round about,[6081]
Witness that here Iago doth give up
The execution of his wit, hands, heart,[6082] 470
To wrong'd Othello's service! Let him command,
And to obey shall be in me remorse,[6083][6084]
What bloody business ever. [They rise.[6084][6085]
Witness, you ever-burning lights above,[6080]
You elements that clip us round about,[6081]
Witness that here Iago doth give up
The execution of his wit, hands, heart,[6082] 470
To wrong'd Othello's service! Let him command,
And to obey shall be in me remorse,[6083][6084]
What bloody business ever. [They rise.[6084][6085]
Oth. I greet thy love,
Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance bounteous,
And will upon the instant put thee to 't: 475
Within these three days let me hear thee say
That Cassio's not alive.
Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance bounteous,
And will upon the instant put thee to 't: 475
Within these three days let me hear thee say
That Cassio's not alive.
Oth. Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her![6088]
Come, go with me apart; I will withdraw, 480
To furnish me with some swift means of death
For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant.[6089]
Come, go with me apart; I will withdraw, 480
To furnish me with some swift means of death
For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant.[6089]
Iago. I am your own for ever. [Exeunt.
Scene IV. Before the castle.
Enter Desdemona, Emilia, and Clown.[6090]
Des. Do you know, sirrah, where Lieutenant Cassio lies?[6091]
Clo. I dare not say he lies any where.
Des. Why, man?
Clo. He's a soldier; and for one to say a soldier lies, is[6092]
stabbing. 5
stabbing. 5
Des. Go to: where lodges he?[6093]
Des. Can any thing be made of this?[6094]
Clo. I know not where he lodges; and for me to devise 10
a lodging, and say he lies here or he lies there, were to lie[6095]
in mine own throat.[6096]
a lodging, and say he lies here or he lies there, were to lie[6095]
in mine own throat.[6096]
Des. Can you inquire him out and be edified by report?[6097]
Clo. I will catechize the world for him; that is, make
questions and by them answer.[6098] 15
questions and by them answer.[6098] 15
Des. Seek him, bid him come hither: tell him I have
moved my lord on his behalf and hope all will be well.[6099]
moved my lord on his behalf and hope all will be well.[6099]
Clo. To do this is within the compass of man's wit, and[6100]
therefore I will attempt the doing it. [Exit.[6101]
therefore I will attempt the doing it. [Exit.[6101]
Des. Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia?[6102] 20
Emil. I know not, madam.
Des. Believe me, I had rather have lost my purse[6103]
Full of crusadoes: and, but my noble Moor
Is true of mind and made of no such baseness
As jealous creatures are, it were enough[6104] 25
To put him to ill thinking.[6104]
Full of crusadoes: and, but my noble Moor
Is true of mind and made of no such baseness
As jealous creatures are, it were enough[6104] 25
To put him to ill thinking.[6104]
Emil. Is he not jealous?
Des. Who, he? I think the sun where he was born
Drew all such humours from him.
Drew all such humours from him.
Emil. Look, where he comes.
Enter Othello.[6106]