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Lod. God save the worthy general!
Oth. With all my heart, sir.[6354]
Lod. The duke and senators of Venice greet you. 210
[Gives him a letter.[6355]
Oth. I kiss the instrument of their pleasures.
[Opens the letter, and reads.[6356]
Des. And what's the news, good cousin Lodovico?
Lod. I thank you. How does Lieutenant Cassio?[6359] 215
Iago. Lives, sir.
Des. Cousin, there's fall'n between him and my lord
An unkind breach: but you shall make all well.
An unkind breach: but you shall make all well.
Oth. Are you sure of that?
Des. My lord?[6360] 220
Oth. [Reads] 'This fail you not to do, as you will—'[6361]
Lod. He did not call; he's busy in the paper.
Is there division 'twixt my lord and Cassio?[6362]
Is there division 'twixt my lord and Cassio?[6362]
Des. A most unhappy one: I would do much
To atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio.[6363] 225
To atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio.[6363] 225
Oth. Fire and brimstone!
Des. My lord?[6360]
Oth. Are you wise?
Des. What, is he angry?
Lod. May be the letter moved him;
For, as I think, they do command him home, 230
Deputing Cassio in his government.
For, as I think, they do command him home, 230
Deputing Cassio in his government.
Des. By my troth, I am glad on 't.[6364]
Oth. Indeed!
Des. My lord?[6360]
Oth. I am glad to see you mad.
Des. Why, sweet Othello?[6365]
Oth. Devil! [Striking her.[6366]
Des. I have not deserved this. 235
Lod. My lord, this would not be believed in Venice,
Though I should swear I saw 't: 'tis very much:
Make her amends; she weeps.
Though I should swear I saw 't: 'tis very much:
Make her amends; she weeps.
Oth. O devil, devil!
If that the earth could teem with woman's tears,[6367]
Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile. 240
Out of my sight!
If that the earth could teem with woman's tears,[6367]
Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile. 240
Out of my sight!
Des. I will not stay to offend you. [Going.[6368]
Lod. Truly, an obedient lady:[6369]
I do beseech your lordship, call her back.
I do beseech your lordship, call her back.
Oth. Mistress!
Des. My lord? 245
Oth. What would you with her, sir?
Lod. Who, I, my lord?
Oth. Ay; you did wish that I would make 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,[6370] 250
Very obedient. Proceed you in your tears.[6371]
Concerning this, sir,—O well-painted passion!—
I am commanded home. Get you away;[6372]
I'll send for you anon. Sir, I obey the mandate,
And will return to Venice. Hence, avaunt! 255
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,[6370] 250
Very obedient. Proceed you in your tears.[6371]
Concerning this, sir,—O well-painted passion!—
I am commanded home. Get you away;[6372]
I'll send for you anon. Sir, I obey the mandate,
And will return to Venice. Hence, avaunt! 255
[Exit Desdemona.[6373]
Cassio shall have my place. And, sir, to-night,
I do entreat that we may sup together:
You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus. Goats and monkeys![6374]
I do entreat that we may sup together:
You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus. Goats and monkeys![6374]
[Exit.
Lod. Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate[6375]
Call all in all sufficient? This the nature[6376] 260
Whom passion could not shake? whose solid virtue[6377]
The shot of accident nor dart of chance[6378]
Could neither graze nor pierce?[6379]
Call all in all sufficient? This the nature[6376] 260
Whom passion could not shake? whose solid virtue[6377]
The shot of accident nor dart of chance[6378]
Could neither graze nor pierce?[6379]
Iago. He is much changed.
Lod. Are his wits safe? is he not light of brain?[6380]
Iago. He's that he is: I may not breathe my censure[6381][6382] 265
What he might be: if what he might he is not,[6382][6383]
I would to heaven he were!
What he might be: if what he might he is not,[6382][6383]
I would to heaven he were!
Lod. What, strike his wife!
Iago. Faith, that was not so well; yet would I knew
That stroke would prove the worst!
That stroke would prove the worst!
Lod. Is it his use?[6384]
Or did the letters work upon his blood, 270
And new create this fault?[6385]
Or did the letters work upon his blood, 270
And new create this fault?[6385]
Iago. Alas, alas!
It is not honesty in me to speak
What I have seen and known. You shall observe him,[6386]
And his own courses will denote him so
That I may save my speech: do but go after,[6387] 275
And mark how he continues.
It is not honesty in me to speak
What I have seen and known. You shall observe him,[6386]
And his own courses will denote him so
That I may save my speech: do but go after,[6387] 275
And mark how he continues.
Lod. I am sorry that I am deceived in him. [Exeunt.[6388]
Scene II. A room in the castle.[6389]
Enter Othello and Emilia.
Emil. Nor ever heard, nor ever did suspect.[6390]
Emil. But then I saw no harm, and then I heard
Each syllable that breath made up between them.[6393] 5
Each syllable that breath made up between them.[6393] 5
Oth. What, did they never whisper?
Emil. Never, my lord.
Oth. Nor send you out o' the way?[6394]
Emil. Never.[6395]
Oth. To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor nothing?[6396]
Emil. Never, my lord. 10
Oth. That's strange.
Emil. I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest,
Lay down my soul at stake: if you think other,
Remove your thought; it doth abuse your bosom.
If any wretch have put this in your head,[6397] 15
Let heaven requite it with the serpent's curse![6398]
For if she be not honest, chaste and true,
There's no man happy; the purest of their wives[6399]
Is foul as slander.
Lay down my soul at stake: if you think other,
Remove your thought; it doth abuse your bosom.
If any wretch have put this in your head,[6397] 15
Let heaven requite it with the serpent's curse![6398]
For if she be not honest, chaste and true,
There's no man happy; the purest of their wives[6399]
Is foul as slander.
Enter Desdemona with Emilia.[6403]
Des. My lord, what is your will?
Oth. Pray, chuck, come hither.[6404]
Des. What is your pleasure?
Des. What horrible fancy's this?
Oth. [To Emilia] Some of your function, mistress;[6406]
Leave procreants alone and shut the door;
Cough, or cry hem, if any body come:
Your mystery, your mystery: nay, dispatch. [Exit Emilia.[6407]30
Leave procreants alone and shut the door;
Cough, or cry hem, if any body come:
Your mystery, your mystery: nay, dispatch. [Exit Emilia.[6407]30
Des. Upon my knees, what doth your speech import?[6408]
I understand a fury in your words,
But not the words.[6409][6410]
I understand a fury in your words,
But not the words.[6409][6410]
Oth. Why, what art thou?[6410]
Des. Your wife, my lord; your true and loyal wife.[6410] 35
Oth. Come, swear it, damn thyself;[6410][6411]
Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves[6411][6412]
Should fear to seize thee: therefore be double-damn'd;[6411][6413]
Swear thou art honest.[6411]
Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves[6411][6412]
Should fear to seize thee: therefore be double-damn'd;[6411][6413]
Swear thou art honest.[6411]
Des. Heaven doth truly know it.
Oth. Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell.[6414] 40
Des. To whom, my lord? with whom? how am I false?[6415]
Oth. O Desdemona! Away! away! away![6416]
Des. Alas the heavy day! Why do you weep?[6417]
Am I the motive of these tears, my lord?[6418]
If haply you my father do suspect[6419] 45
An instrument of this your calling back,
Lay not your blame on me: if you have lost him,[6420][6421]
Why, I have lost him too.[6421]
Am I the motive of these tears, my lord?[6418]
If haply you my father do suspect[6419] 45
An instrument of this your calling back,
Lay not your blame on me: if you have lost him,[6420][6421]
Why, I have lost him too.[6421]
Oth. Had it pleased heaven[6422]
To try me with affliction; had they rain'd[6423]
All kinds of sores and shames on my bare head,[6424] 50
Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips,
Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes,[6425]
I should have found in some place of my soul[6426]
A drop of patience: but, alas, to make me[6427]
A fixed figure for the time of scorn[6428] 55
To point his slow unmoving finger at![6428]
Yet could I bear that too; well, very well:
But there, where I have garner'd up my heart,
Where either I must live or bear no life,
The fountain from the which my current runs,[6429] 60
Or else dries up; to be discarded thence!
Or keep it as a cistern for foul toads[6430]
To knot and gender in! Turn thy complexion there,[6431][6432]
Patience, thou young and rose-lipp'd cherubin,[6431][6433]
Ay, there, look grim as hell![6431][6434] 65
To try me with affliction; had they rain'd[6423]
All kinds of sores and shames on my bare head,[6424] 50
Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips,
Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes,[6425]
I should have found in some place of my soul[6426]
A drop of patience: but, alas, to make me[6427]
A fixed figure for the time of scorn[6428] 55
To point his slow unmoving finger at![6428]
Yet could I bear that too; well, very well:
But there, where I have garner'd up my heart,
Where either I must live or bear no life,
The fountain from the which my current runs,[6429] 60
Or else dries up; to be discarded thence!
Or keep it as a cistern for foul toads[6430]
To knot and gender in! Turn thy complexion there,[6431][6432]
Patience, thou young and rose-lipp'd cherubin,[6431][6433]
Ay, there, look grim as hell![6431][6434] 65
Des. I hope my noble lord esteems me honest.[6435]
Oth. O, ay; as summer flies are in the shambles,[6436]
That quicken even with blowing. O thou weed,[6437][6438]
Who art so lovely fair and smell'st so sweet[6437][6439]
That the sense aches at thee, would thou hadst ne'er been born![6437][6440] 70
That quicken even with blowing. O thou weed,[6437][6438]
Who art so lovely fair and smell'st so sweet[6437][6439]
That the sense aches at thee, would thou hadst ne'er been born![6437][6440] 70
Des. Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed?
Oth. Was this fair paper, this most goodly book,
Made to write 'whore' upon? What committed![6441]
Committed! O thou public commoner![6442]
I should make very forges of my cheeks,[6442][6443] 75
That would to cinders burn up modesty,[6442]
Did I but speak thy deeds. What committed![6442][6444]
Heaven stops the nose at it, and the moon winks;
The bawdy wind, that kisses all it meets,
Is hush'd within the hollow mine of earth,[6445] 80
And will not hear it. What committed![6446]
Impudent strumpet![6447]
Made to write 'whore' upon? What committed![6441]
Committed! O thou public commoner![6442]
I should make very forges of my cheeks,[6442][6443] 75
That would to cinders burn up modesty,[6442]
Did I but speak thy deeds. What committed![6442][6444]
Heaven stops the nose at it, and the moon winks;
The bawdy wind, that kisses all it meets,
Is hush'd within the hollow mine of earth,[6445] 80
And will not hear it. What committed![6446]
Impudent strumpet![6447]
Des. By heaven, you do me wrong.
Oth. Are not you a strumpet?
Des. No, as I am a Christian:
If to preserve this vessel for my lord
From any other foul unlawful touch[6448] 85
Be not to be a strumpet, I am none.
If to preserve this vessel for my lord
From any other foul unlawful touch[6448] 85
Be not to be a strumpet, I am none.
Oth. What, not a whore?
Des. No, as I shall be saved.
Oth. Is't possible?
Des. O, heaven forgive us!
Re-enter Emilia.
You, you, ay, you![6451]
We have done our course; there's money for your pains:[6452]
I pray you, turn the key, and keep our counsel. [Exit. 95
We have done our course; there's money for your pains:[6452]
I pray you, turn the key, and keep our counsel. [Exit. 95
Emil. Alas, what does this gentleman conceive?
How do you, madam? how do you, my good lady?
How do you, madam? how do you, my good lady?
Des. Faith, half asleep.
Emil. Good madam, what's the matter with my lord?[6453]
Des. With who?[6454] 100
Emil. Why, with my lord, madam.[6455]
Des. Who is thy lord?
Emil. He that is yours, sweet lady.[6456]
Des. I have none: do not talk to me, Emilia;[6457]
I cannot weep, nor answer have I none[6458]
But what should go by water. Prithee, to-night[6459] 105
Lay on my bed my wedding sheets: remember;[6460]
And call thy husband hither.
I cannot weep, nor answer have I none[6458]
But what should go by water. Prithee, to-night[6459] 105
Lay on my bed my wedding sheets: remember;[6460]
And call thy husband hither.
Emil. Here's a change indeed! [Exit.[6461]
Des. 'Tis meet I should be used so, very meet.[6462]
How have I been behaved, that he might stick
The small'st opinion on my least misuse? 110
How have I been behaved, that he might stick
The small'st opinion on my least misuse? 110
Re-enter Emilia with Iago.[6463]
Iago. What is your pleasure, madam? How is't with you?[6464]
Des. I cannot tell. Those that do teach young babes[6465]
Do it with gentle means and easy tasks:
He might have chid me so; for, in good faith,[6466]
I am a child to chiding.
Do it with gentle means and easy tasks:
He might have chid me so; for, in good faith,[6466]
I am a child to chiding.
Iago. What's the matter, lady?[6467] 115
Emil. Alas, Iago, my lord hath so bewhored her,
Thrown such despite and heavy terms upon her,
As true hearts cannot bear.[6468]
Thrown such despite and heavy terms upon her,
As true hearts cannot bear.[6468]
Des. Am I that name, Iago?
Iago. What name, fair lady?
Des. Such as she says my lord did say I was.[6469] 120
Emil. He call'd her whore: a beggar in his drink
Could not have laid such terms upon his callat.[6470]
Could not have laid such terms upon his callat.[6470]
Iago. Why did he so?
Des. I do not know; I am sure I am none such.[6471]
Iago. Do not weep, do not weep. Alas the day! 125
Emil. Hath she forsook so many noble matches,[6472]
Her father and her country and her friends,[6473]
To be call'd whore? would it not make one weep?
Her father and her country and her friends,[6473]
To be call'd whore? would it not make one weep?
Des. It is my wretched fortune.
Des. Nay, heaven doth know. 130
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 devised this slander; I'll be hang'd else.[6476]
Some busy and insinuating rogue,
Some cogging, cozening slave, to get some office,
Have not devised this slander; I'll be hang'd else.[6476]
Iago. Fie, there is no such man; it is impossible. 135
Des. If any such there be, heaven pardon him![6477]
Emil. A halter pardon him! and hell gnaw his bones![6478]
Why should he call her whore? who keeps her company?[6478]
What place? what time? what form? what likelihood?[6478]
The Moor's abused by some most villanous knave,[6479] 140
Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow.
O heaven, that such companions thou'ldst unfold,[6480]
And put in every honest hand a whip
To lash the rascals naked through the world[6481]
Even from the east to the west!
Why should he call her whore? who keeps her company?[6478]
What place? what time? what form? what likelihood?[6478]
The Moor's abused by some most villanous knave,[6479] 140
Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow.
O heaven, that such companions thou'ldst unfold,[6480]
And put in every honest hand a whip
To lash the rascals naked through the world[6481]
Even from the east to the west!
Iago. Speak within door.[6482] 145
Emil. O, fie upon them! Some such squire he was[6483]
That turn'd your wit the seamy side without,
And made you to suspect me with the Moor.
That turn'd your wit the seamy side without,
And made you to suspect me with the Moor.
Iago. You are a fool; go to.
Des. O good Iago,[6484]
What shall I do to win my lord again? 150
Good friend, go to him; for, by this light of heaven,[6485]
I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel:[6486][6487]
If e'er my will did trespass 'gainst his love[6487]
Either in discourse of thought or actual deed,[6487][6488]
Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense,[6487] 155
Delighted them in any other form,[6487][6489]
Or that I do not yet, and ever did,[6487]
And ever will, though he do shake me off[6487]
To beggarly divorcement, love him dearly,[6487]
Comfort forswear me! Unkindness may do much;[6487][6490] 160
And his unkindness may defeat my life,[6487]
But never taint my love. I cannot say 'whore':[6487][6491]
It doth abhor me now I speak the word;[6487][6492]
To do the act that might the addition earn[6487]
Not the world's mass of vanity could make me.[6487] 165
What shall I do to win my lord again? 150
Good friend, go to him; for, by this light of heaven,[6485]
I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel:[6486][6487]
If e'er my will did trespass 'gainst his love[6487]
Either in discourse of thought or actual deed,[6487][6488]
Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense,[6487] 155
Delighted them in any other form,[6487][6489]
Or that I do not yet, and ever did,[6487]
And ever will, though he do shake me off[6487]
To beggarly divorcement, love him dearly,[6487]
Comfort forswear me! Unkindness may do much;[6487][6490] 160
And his unkindness may defeat my life,[6487]
But never taint my love. I cannot say 'whore':[6487][6491]
It doth abhor me now I speak the word;[6487][6492]
To do the act that might the addition earn[6487]
Not the world's mass of vanity could make me.[6487] 165
Iago. I pray you, be content; 'tis but his humour:
The business of the state does him offence,
And he does chide with you.[6493]
The business of the state does him offence,
And he does chide with you.[6493]
Des. If 'twere no other,—
[Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia.[6497]
Enter Roderigo.