Authors: William Shakespeare
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
145
.
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
154
.
Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile and false,
As where’s that palace whereinto foul things
Sometimes intrude not? Who has that breast so pure,
Where no
uncleanly
158
apprehensions
Keep
leets
159
and law-days and in sessions sit
With
160
meditations lawful?
OTHELLO
Thou dost conspire against
thy friend
161
, Iago,
If thou but think’st him wronged and mak’st his ear
A stranger to thy thoughts.
IAGO
I do beseech you,
Though I perchance am
vicious
165
in my guess —
As I confess it is my nature’s plague
To spy into abuses, and oft my
jealousy
167
Shapes faults that are not — that your wisdom,
From one that so imperfectly
conceits
169
,
Would take no notice, nor build yourself a trouble
Out of his
scattering
171
and unsure observance.
It were not for your quiet nor your good,
Nor for my manhood, honesty and 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
177
jewel of their souls.
Who steals my purse steals trash, ’tis something, nothing;
’Twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to thousands:
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him
And makes me poor indeed.
OTHELLO
I’ll know thy thoughts.
IAGO
You cannot,
if
184
my heart were in your hand,
Nor shall not, whilst ’tis in my custody.
OTHELLO
Ha?
IAGO
O, beware, my lord, of jealousy:
It is the green-eyed monster which doth
mock
188
The meat it feeds on
. That
cuckold
189
lives in bliss
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his
wronger
190
:
But, O, what damnèd minutes
tells
191
he o’er
Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet soundly loves!
OTHELLO
O misery!
IAGO
Poor and content is rich and rich enough,
But riches
fineless
195
is as poor as winter
To him that ever fears he shall be poor.
Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend
From jealousy!
OTHELLO
Why? Why is this?
Think’st thou I’d make a life of jealousy,
To
follow still the changes of the moon
201
With fresh suspicions
? No: to be once in doubt
Is to be resolved. Exchange me for a
goat
203
When I shall turn the business of my soul
To such
exsufflicate
205
and blowed surmises
Matching thy
inference
206
. ’Tis not to make me jealous
To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company,
Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances:
Where virtue is, these are more virtuous:
Nor from mine own weak
merits
210
will I draw
The smallest fear or doubt of her
revolt
211
,
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 this, 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,
Wear your eyes thus, not jealous nor
secure
221
.
I would not have your free and noble nature,
Out of
self-bounty
223
, be abused: look to’t.
I know our
country
224
disposition well:
In Venice they do let heaven see the
pranks
225
They dare not show their husbands: their best conscience
Is not to leave’t
undone
227
, but kept unknown.
OTHELLO
Dost thou say so?
IAGO
She did deceive her father, marrying you:
And when she seemed to shake and fear your looks,
She loved them most.
OTHELLO
And so she did.
IAGO
Why,
go to
233
then:
She that so young could give out such a seeming,
To
seel
235
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
239
to thee for ever.
IAGO
I see this hath a little dashed your spirits.
OTHELLO
Not a jot, not a jot.
IAGO
Trust me, I fear it has.
I hope you will consider what is spoke
Comes from
your love
244
. But I do see you’re moved:
I am to pray you not to strain my speech
To
grosser
246
issues nor to larger reach
Than to
suspicion
247
.
OTHELLO
I will not.
IAGO
Should you do so, my lord,
My speech should fall into such vile
success
250
Which my thoughts aimed not. Cassio’s my worthy friend.
My lord, I see you’re moved.
OTHELLO
No, not much moved:
I do not think but Desdemona’s
honest
254
.
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
258
many proposèd matches
Of her own
clime, complexion and degree
259
,
Whereto we see in all things nature tends—
Foh, one may smell in such a
will
261
most rank,
Foul
262
disproportions, thoughts unnatural.
But pardon me: I do not
in position
263
Distinctly
264
speak of her, though I may fear
Her will, recoiling to her better judgement,
May
fall to match you with her country forms
266
And
happily
267
repent.
OTHELLO
Farewell, farewell.
If more thou dost perceive, let me know more:
Set on thy wife to observe. Leave me, Iago.
IAGO
My lord, I take my leave.
Starts to leave
OTHELLO
Why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless
Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.
IAGO
My lord, I would I might entreat your honour
Returns
To
scan
275
this thing no further: leave it to time.
Although ’tis fit that Cassio have his
place
276
,
For sure he fills it up with great ability,
Yet, if you please to put him off awhile,
You shall by that perceive him and his
means
279
.
Note, if your lady
strain his entertainment
280
With any strong or vehement importunity,
Much will be seen in that. In the meantime,
Let me be thought too
busy
283
in my fears —
As worthy cause I have to fear I am —
And
hold her free
285
, I do beseech your honour.
OTHELLO
Fear not my
government
286
.
IAGO
I once more take my leave.
Exit
OTHELLO
This fellow’s of exceeding honesty,
And knows all
quantities
289
, with a learnèd spirit,
Of human
dealings
290
. If I do prove her haggard,
Though that her
jesses
291
were my dear heartstrings,
I’d
whistle her off and let her down the wind
292
To
prey at fortune
293
. Haply, for I am black
And have not those
soft parts of conversation
294
That
chamberers
295
have, or for I am declined
Into the vale of years — yet that’s not much —
She’s gone. I am
abused
297
, and my relief
Must be to loathe her. O curse of marriage!
That we can call these
delicate
299
creatures ours
And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad
And live upon the vapour of a dungeon
Than keep a
corner
302
in the thing I love
For others’
uses
303
. Yet, ’tis the plague to great ones,
Prerogatived
304
are they less than the base:
’Tis destiny unshunnable, like death:
Even then this
forkèd plague
306
is fated to us
When we
do quicken
307
. Look where she comes:
If she be false, heaven
mocked
308
itself!
I’ll not believe’t.
Enter Desdemona and Emilia
DESDEMONA
How now, my dear Othello?
Your dinner, and the
generous
311
islanders
By you invited, do
attend
312
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
316
here.
DESDEMONA
Why, that’s with
watching
317
. ’Twill away again:
Let me but bind it hard, within this hour
Offers her handkerchief
It will be well.
OTHELLO
Your
napkin
320
is too little:
He pushes away the handkerchief and it drops
Let it alone. Come, I’ll go in with you.
Exit
DESDEMONA
I am very sorry that you are not well.
Following him
EMILIA
I am glad I have found this napkin:
Picks up the handkerchief
This was her first
remembrance
324
from the Moor:
My wayward husband hath a hundred times
Wooed
326
me to steal it, but she so loves the token —
For he
conjured her
327
she should ever keep it —
That she
reserves
328
it evermore about her
To kiss and talk to. I’ll have the
work ta’en out
329
,
And give’t Iago: what he will do with it
Heaven knows, not I:
I nothing
332
but to please his fantasy.
Enter Iago
IAGO
How now? What do you here alone?
EMILIA
Do not you chide: I have a thing for you.
IAGO
You have a thing for me? It is a
common
335
thing—
EMILIA
Ha?
IAGO
To have a foolish wife.
EMILIA
O, is that all? What will you give me now
For the same handkerchief?
IAGO
What handkerchief?
EMILIA
What handkerchief?
Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona,
That which so often you did bid me steal.
IAGO
Hast stol’n it from her?
EMILIA
No, but she let it drop by negligence.
And,
to th’advantage
346
, I, being here, took’t up.
Look, here ’tis.
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?