William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (406 page)
Read William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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CASSIO Prithee, come, will you?
IAGO Go to, say no more.
Exit Cassio
OTHELLO How shall I murder him, Iago?
IAGO Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice?
OTHELLO O Iago!
IAGO And did you see the handkerchief?
OTHELLO Was that mine?
IAGO 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.
OTHELLO I would have him nine years a-killing. A fine woman, a fair woman, a sweet woman.
IAGO Nay, you must forget that.
OTHELLO Ay, let her rot and perish, and be damned tonight, 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.
IAGO Nay, that’s not your way.
OTHELLO 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.
OTHELLO O, a thousand, a thousand times! And then of so gentle a condition.
IAGO Ay, too gentle.
OTHELLO Nay, that’s certain. But yet the pity of it, Iago. O, Iago, the pity of it, Iago!
IAGO If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her patent to offend; for if it touch not you, it comes near nobody.
OTHELLO I will chop her into messes. Cuckold me!
IAGO O, ’tis foul in her.
OTHELLO With mine officer.
IAGO That’s fouler.
OTHELLO Get me some poison, Iago, this night. I’ll not expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again. This night, Iago.
IAGO Do it not with poison. Strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated.
OTHELLO Good, good, the justice of it pleases, very good.
IAGO And for Cassio, let me be his undertaker. You shall hear more by midnight.
OTHELLO Excellent good.
A trumpet
What trumpet is that same?
IAGO I warrant, something from Venice.
Enter Lodovico, Desdemona, and attendants
’Tis Lodovico. This comes from the Duke. See, your wife’s with him.
LODOVICO God save the worthy general.
OTHELLO With all my heart, sir.
LODOVICO (
giving Othello a letter
) The Duke and the senators of Venice greet you.
giving Othello a letter
) The Duke and the senators of Venice greet you.
OTHELLO I kiss the instrument of their pleasures.
He reads the letter
DESDEMONA
And what’s the news, good cousin Lodovico?
IAGO (
to Lodovico
) I am very glad to see you, signor. Welcome to Cyprus.
to Lodovico
) I am very glad to see you, signor. Welcome to Cyprus.
LODOVICO I thank you. How does Lieutenant Cassio?
IAGO Lives, sir.
DESDEMONA
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.
OTHELLO Are you sure of that?
DESDEMONA My lord.
OTHELLO (
reads
) ‘This fail you not to do as you will’—
reads
) ‘This fail you not to do as you will’—
LODOVICO
He did not call, he’s busy in the paper.
Is there division ’twixt my lord and Cassio?
Is there division ’twixt my lord and Cassio?
DESDEMONA
A most unhappy one. I would do much
T’atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio.
T’atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio.
OTHELLO
Fire and brimstone!
DESDEMONA My lord?
OTHELLO Are you wise?
DESDEMONA
What, is he angry?
LODOVICO
Maybe the letter moved him,
For, as I think, they do command him home,
Deputing Cassio in his government.
Deputing Cassio in his government.
DESDEMONA By my troth, I am glad on’t.
OTHELLO Indeed!
DESDEMONA My lord?
OTHELLO (to
Desdemona)
I am glad to see you mad.
Desdemona)
I am glad to see you mad.
DESDEMONA Why, sweet Othello!
OTHELLO Devil!
He strikes her
DESDEMONA I have not deserved this.
LODOVICO
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.
OTHELLOO, devil, devil!
If that the earth could teem with woman’s tears,
Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile.
Out of my sight!
Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile.
Out of my sight!
DESDEMONA (
going
) I will not stay to offend you.
going
) I will not stay to offend you.
LODOVICO
Truly, an obedient lady.
I do beseech your lordship call her back.
I do beseech your lordship call her back.
OTHELLO Mistress!
DESDEMONA (
returning
) My lord?
returning
) My lord?
OTHELLO (to Lodovico) What would you with her, sir?
LODOVICO Who, I, my lord?
OTHELLO
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,
Very obedient. (
To Desdemona)
Proceed you in your
tears.
(
To Lodovico
) Concerning this, sir—(
To Desdemona
) O
well painted passion!
(
To Lodovico
) I am commanded home. (To Desdemona)
Get you away.
I’ll send for you anon. (
To Lodovico
) Sir, I obey the
mandate,
And will return to Venice. (To Desdemona) Hence,
avaunt!
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. (
To Desdemona)
Proceed you in your
tears.
(
To Lodovico
) Concerning this, sir—(
To Desdemona
) O
well painted passion!
(
To Lodovico
) I am commanded home. (To Desdemona)
Get you away.
I’ll send for you anon. (
To Lodovico
) Sir, I obey the
mandate,
And will return to Venice. (To Desdemona) Hence,
avaunt!
Exit Desdemona
(
To Lodovico
) Cassio shall have my place, and, sir,
tonight
I do entreat that we may sup together.
You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus. Goats and monkeys!
To Lodovico
) Cassio shall have my place, and, sir,
tonight
I do entreat that we may sup together.
You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus. Goats and monkeys!
Exit
LODOVICO
Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate
Call all-in-all sufficient? Is this the nature
Whom passion could not shake, whose solid virtue
The shot of accident nor dart of chance
Could neither graze nor pierce?
Call all-in-all sufficient? Is this the nature
Whom passion could not shake, whose solid virtue
The shot of accident nor dart of chance
Could neither graze nor pierce?
IAGO He is much changed.
LODOVICO
Are his wits safe? Is he not light of brain?
IAGO
He’s that he is. I may not breathe my censure
What he might be. If what he might he is not,
I would to heaven he were.
What he might be. If what he might he is not,
I would to heaven he were.
LODOVICO 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.
LODOVICO Is it his use,
Or did the letters work upon his blood
And new-create his fault?
And new-create his fault?
IAGOAlas, alas.
It is not honesty in me to speak
What I have seen and known. You shall observe him,
And his own courses will denote him so
That I may save my speech. Do but go after,
And mark how he continues.
What I have seen and known. You shall observe him,
And his own courses will denote him so
That I may save my speech. Do but go after,
And mark how he continues.
LODOVICO
I am sorry that I am deceived in him.
Exeunt
4.2Enter Othello and Emilia
OTHELLO You have seen nothing then?
EMILIA
Nor ever heard, nor ever did suspect.
OTHELLO
Yes, you have seen Cassio and she together.
EMILIA
But then I saw no harm, and then I heard
Each syllable that breath made up between ’em.
Each syllable that breath made up between ’em.
OTHELLO What, did they never whisper?
EMILIA Never, my lord.
OTHELLO Nor send you out o’th’ way?
EMILIA Never.
OTHELLO
To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor nothing?
EMILIA Never, my lord.
OTHELLO That’s strange.
EMILIA
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 ha’ put this in your head,
Let heaven requite it with the serpent’s curse,
For if she be not honest, chaste, and true,
There’s no man happy; the purest of their wives
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 ha’ put this in your head,
Let heaven requite it with the serpent’s curse,
For if she be not honest, chaste, and true,
There’s no man happy; the purest of their wives
Is foul as slander.
OTHELLO Bid her come hither. Go.
Exit Emilia
She says enough, yet she’s a simple bawd
That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore,
A closet lock and key of villainous secrets,
And yet she’ll kneel and pray—I ha’ seen her do’t.
That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore,
A closet lock and key of villainous secrets,
And yet she’ll kneel and pray—I ha’ seen her do’t.
Enter Desdemona and Emilia
DESDEMONA
My lord, what is your will?
OTHELLO Pray you, chuck, come hither.
DESDEMONA
What is your pleasure?
OTHELLO Let me see your eyes.
Look in my face.
DESDEMONA What horrible fancy’s this?
OTHELLO (
to Emilia
) Some of your function, mistress.
to Emilia
) Some of your function, mistress.
Leave procreants alone, and shut the door,
Cough or cry ‘Hem’ if anybody come.
Your mystery, your mystery—nay, dispatch.
Cough or cry ‘Hem’ if anybody come.
Your mystery, your mystery—nay, dispatch.
Exit Emilia
DESDEMONA
Upon my knees, what doth your speech import?
I understand a fury in your words,
But not the words.
I understand a fury in your words,
But not the words.
OTHELLO Why, what art thou?
DESDEMONA
Your wife, my lord, your true and loyal wife.
OTHELLO Come, swear it, damn thyself,
Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves
Should fear to seize thee. Therefore be double-damned:
Swear thou art honest.
Should fear to seize thee. Therefore be double-damned:
Swear thou art honest.
DESDEMONA Heaven doth truly know it. 40
OTHELLO
Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell.
DESDEMONA
To whom, my lord? With whom? How am I false?
OTHELLO (
weeping
)
weeping
)
Ah, Desdemon, away, away, away!
DESDEMONA
Alas, the heavy day! Why do you weep?
Am I the motive of these tears, my lord?
If haply you my father do suspect
An instrument of this your calling back,
Lay not your blame on me. If you have lost him,
I have lost him too.
Am I the motive of these tears, my lord?
If haply you my father do suspect
An instrument of this your calling back,
Lay not your blame on me. If you have lost him,
I have lost him too.
OTHELLO Had it pleased God
To try me with affliction; had He rained
All kind of sores and shames on my bare head,
Steeped me in poverty to the very lips,
Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes,
I should have found in some place of my soul
A drop of patience. But, alas, to make me
The fixed figure for the time of scorn
To point his slow and moving finger at—
Yet could I bear that too, well, very well.
But there where I have garnered up my heart,
Where either I must live or bear no life,
The fountain from the which my current runs
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,
Patience, thou young and rose-lipped cherubin,
Ay, here look grim as hell.
All kind of sores and shames on my bare head,
Steeped me in poverty to the very lips,
Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes,
I should have found in some place of my soul
A drop of patience. But, alas, to make me
The fixed figure for the time of scorn
To point his slow and moving finger at—
Yet could I bear that too, well, very well.
But there where I have garnered up my heart,
Where either I must live or bear no life,
The fountain from the which my current runs
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,
Patience, thou young and rose-lipped cherubin,
Ay, here look grim as hell.
DESDEMONA
I hope my noble lord esteems me honest.
OTHELLO
O, ay—as summer flies are in the shambles,
That quicken even with blowing. O thou weed,
Who art so lovely fair, and smell‘st so sweet,
That the sense aches at thee—would thou hadst ne’er
been born!
That quicken even with blowing. O thou weed,
Who art so lovely fair, and smell‘st so sweet,
That the sense aches at thee—would thou hadst ne’er
been born!
DESDEMONA
Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed?
OTHELLO
Was this fair paper, this most goodly book,
Made to write ‘whore’ upon? What committed?
Committed? O thou public commoner,
I should make very forges of my cheeks,
That would to cinders burn up modesty,
Did I but speak thy deeds. What committed?
Heaven stops the nose at it, and the moon winks;
The bawdy wind, that kisses all it meets,
Is hushed within the hollow mine of earth
And will not hear’t. What committed?
Made to write ‘whore’ upon? What committed?
Committed? O thou public commoner,
I should make very forges of my cheeks,
That would to cinders burn up modesty,
Did I but speak thy deeds. What committed?
Heaven stops the nose at it, and the moon winks;
The bawdy wind, that kisses all it meets,
Is hushed within the hollow mine of earth
And will not hear’t. What committed?
DESDEMONA By heaven, you do me wrong.
OTHELLO Are not you a strumpet?
DESDEMONA No, as I am a Christian.
If to preserve this vessel for my lord
From any other foul unlawful touch
Be not to be a strumpet, I am none.
From any other foul unlawful touch
Be not to be a strumpet, I am none.
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