<p>［Cyprus．Before the castle．Enter OTHELLO and IAGO］</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Will you think so？</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Think so，Iago！</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>What，</p>
<p>To kiss in private？</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>An unauthorizedkiss．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Or to be nakedwith her friend in bed</p>
<p>An hour or more，not meaning any harm？</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Naked in bed，Iago，and not mean harm！</p>
<p>It is hypocrisyagainst the devil：</p>
<p>They that mean virtuously，and yet do so，</p>
<p>The devil their virtue tempts， and they tempt heaven．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>So they do nothing，’tis a venialslip：</p>
<p>But if I give my wife a handkerchief，——</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>What then？</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Why，then，’tis hers，my lord；and，being hers，</p>
<p>She may，I think，bestow’ton any man．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>She is protectressof her honour too：</p>
<p>May she give that？</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Her honour is an essencethat’s not seen；</p>
<p>They have it very oft that have it not：</p>
<p>But，for the handkerchief，——</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>By heaven，I would most gladly have forgot it．</p>
<p>Thou said’st，it comes o’ermy memory，</p>
<p>As doth the raveno’er the infectedhouse，</p>
<p>Bodingto all——he had my handkerchief．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Ay，what of that？</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>That’s not so good now．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>What，</p>
<p>If I had said I had seen him do you wrong？</p>
<p>Or heard him say，——as knaves be such abroad，</p>
<p>Who having，by their own importunatesuit，</p>
<p>Or voluntarydotageof some mistress，</p>
<p>Convincedor supplied them，cannot choose</p>
<p>But they must blab——</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Hath he said any thing？</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>He hath，my lord；but be you well assured，</p>
<p>No more than he’ll unswear．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>What hath he said？</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>‘Faith，that he did——I know not what he did</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>What？what？</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Lie——</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>With her？</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>With her，on her；what you will．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Lie with her！lie on her！We say lie on her，when</p>
<p>they belieher． Lie with her！that’s fulsome．</p>
<p>——Handkerchief——confessions——handkerchief！——To</p>
<p>confess，and be hanged for his labour；——first，to be</p>
<p>hanged，and then to confess．——I trembleat it．</p>
<p>Nature would not investherself in such shadowing</p>
<p>passion without some instruction．It is words</p>
<p>that shake me thus．Pish ！Noses，ears，and lips．</p>
<p>—Is’t possible？—Confess—handkerchief！—O devil！—</p>
<p>［Falls in a trance．］</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Work on，My medicine，work！Thus credulousfools are</p>
<p>caught；</p>
<p>And many worthy and chastedameseven thus，</p>
<p>All guiltless，meet reproach．What，ho！my lord！</p>
<p>My lord，I say！Othello！</p>
<p>［Enter CASSIO］</p>
<p>How now，Cassio！</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>What’s the matter？</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>My lord is fall’n into an epilepsy：</p>
<p>This is his second fit；he had one yesterday．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Rubhim about the temples．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>No，forbear；</p>
<p>The lethargymust have his quiet course：</p>
<p>If not， he foams at mouth and by and by</p>
<p>Breaks out to savage madness． Look he stirs：</p>
<p>Do you withdraw yourself a little while，</p>
<p>He will recover straight：when he is gone，</p>
<p>I would on great occasionspeak with you．</p>
<p>［Exit CASSIO］</p>
<p>How is it，general？have you not hurt your head？</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Dost thou mockme？</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>I mock you！no，by heaven．</p>
<p>Would you would bear your fortune like a man！</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>A hornedman’s a monster and a best．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>There’s many a beast then in a populouscity，</p>
<p>And many a civilmonster．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Did he confess it？</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Good sir，be a man；</p>
<p>Think every bearded fellow that’s but yoked</p>
<p>May draw with you：there’s millions now alive</p>
<p>That nightly lie in those unproperbeds</p>
<p>Which they dare swear peculiar：your case is better．</p>
<p>O，’tis the spiteof hell，the fiend’s arch－mock，</p>
<p>To lip a wanton in a securecouch ，</p>
<p>And to suppose her chaste！No，let me know；</p>
<p>And knowing what I am，I know what she shall be．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>O，thou art wise；’tis certain．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Stand you awhile apart；</p>
<p>Confine yourself but in a patient list．</p>
<p>Whilst you were here o’erwhelmedwith your grief——</p>
<p>A passion most unsuiting such a man——</p>
<p>Cassio came hither：I shifted him away，</p>
<p>And laid good’scuseupon your ecstasy，</p>
<p>Bade him anonreturn and here speak with me；</p>
<p>The which he promised．Do but encaveyourself，</p>
<p>And mark the fleers，the gibes ，and notable scorns’，</p>
<p>That dwell in every region’of his face；</p>
<p>For I will make him tell the tale anew⒀，</p>
<p>Where，how，how oft，how long ago， and when</p>
<p>He hath，and is again to cope your wife：</p>
<p>I say，but mark his gesture．Marry，patience；</p>
<p>Or I shall say you are all in allin spleen，</p>
<p>And nothing of a man．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Dost thou hear，Iago？</p>
<p>I will be found most cunningin my patience；</p>
<p>But——dost thou hear？——most bloody．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>That’s not amiss；</p>
<p>But yet keep time in all．Will you withdraw？</p>
<p>［OTHELLO retires］</p>
<p>Now will I question Cassio of Bianca，</p>
<p>A housewife that by selling her desires</p>
<p>Buys herself bread and clothes：it is a creature</p>
<p>That doteson Cassio；as ’tis the strumpet’splague</p>
<p>To beguilemany and be beguiled by one：</p>
<p>He，when he hears of her，cannot refrain</p>
<p>From the excessof laughter．Here he comes：</p>
<p>［Re-enter CASSIO］</p>
<p>As he shall smile，Othello shall go mad；</p>
<p>And his unbookishjealousy must construe</p>
<p>Poor Cassio’s smiles，gestures and light behavior，</p>
<p>Quite in the wrong．How do you now，lieutenant？</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>The worser that you give me the addition</p>
<p>Whose want even kills me．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Ply’ Desdemona well，and you are sure on’t．</p>
<p>［Speaking lower］</p>
<p>Now，if this suit lay in Bianco’s power，</p>
<p>How quickly should you speed！</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Alas，poor caitiff！</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>look，how he laughs already！</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>I never knew woman love man so．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Alas，poor rogue！I think，i’faith，she loves me．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Now he deniesit faintly，and laughs it out．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Do you hear，Cassio？</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Now he importunes him</p>
<p>To tell it o’er：go to；well said，well said．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>She gives it outthat you shall marry hey：</p>
<p>Do you intend it？</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Ha，ha，ha！</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Do you triumph，Roman？do you triumph？</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>I marry her！what？a customer！Prithee，bear some</p>
<p>charityto my wit：do not think it so unwholesome．</p>
<p>Ha，ha，ha！</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>So，so，so，so：they laugh that win．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>‘Faith，the cry goes thatyou shall marry her．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Prithee，say true．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>I am a very villain else．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Have you scoredme？Well．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>This is the monkey’s own giving out：she is</p>
<p>persuaded I will marry her， out of her own love and</p>
<p>flattery，not out of my promise．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Iago beckonsme；now he begins the story．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>She was here even now；she hauntsme in every place．</p>
<p>I was the other daytalking on the sea－bank with</p>
<p>certain Venetians；and thithercomes the bauble，</p>
<p>and，by this hand，she falls me thus about my neck——</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Crying’O dear Cassio！’as it were：his gesture</p>
<p>imports it．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>So hangs，and lolls，and weeps upon me；so hales，</p>
<p>and pulls me：ha，ha，ha！</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Now he tells how she pluckedhim to my chamber．O，</p>
<p>I see that nose of yours， but not that dog I shall</p>
<p>throw it to．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Well，I must leave her company．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Before me！look，where she comes．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>‘Tis such another fitchew ！marry a perfumedone．</p>
<p>［Enter BIANCA］</p>
<p>What do you mean by this haunting of me？</p>
<p>BIANCA</p>
<p>Let the devil and his dam haunt you！What did you</p>
<p>mean by that same handkerchief you gave me even now？</p>
<p>I was a fine fool to take it． I must take out the</p>
<p>work？——A likely piece of work，that you should find</p>
<p>it in your chamber， and not know who left it there！</p>
<p>This is some minx’stoken，and I must take out the</p>
<p>work？There；give it your hobby-horse：where so ever</p>
<p>you had it，I’ll take out no work on’t．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>How now，my sweet Bianca！how now！how now！</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>By heaven，that should be my handkerchief！</p>
<p>BIANCA</p>
<p>An you’ll come to supper to-night，you may；an you</p>
<p>will not，come you are next prepared for．［Exit．］</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>After her，after her．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>‘Faith，I must；she’ll railin the street else．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Will you supthere？</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>‘Faith，I intend so．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Well，I may chance to see you；for I would very fain</p>
<p>speak with you．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Prithee，come；will you？</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Go to；say no more．</p>
<p>［Exit CASSIO］</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>［Advancing］How shall I murderhim，Iago？</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Did you perceivehow he laughed at his vice？</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>O Iago！</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>And did you see the handkerchief？</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Was that mine？</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Yours by this hand：and to see how he prizes the</p>
<p>foolish woman your wife！she gave it him， and he</p>
<p>hath given it his whore．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>I would have him nine years a－killing．</p>
<p>A fine woman！a fair woman！a sweet woman！</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Nay，you must forget that．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Ay，let her rot，and perish，and be damned to-night；</p>
<p>for she shall not live：no，my heart is turned to</p>
<p>stone；I strike it，and it hurts my hand．O，the</p>
<p>world hath not a sweeter creature：she might lie by</p>
<p>an emperor’s side and command him tasks．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Nay，that’s not your way．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Hang her！Ido but say what she is：so delicate</p>
<p>with her needle：an admirablemusician：O！she</p>
<p>will sing the savageness out of a bear：of so high</p>
<p>and plenteouswit and invention：——</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>She’s the worse for all this．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>O，a thousand thousand times：and then，of so</p>
<p>gentle a condition！</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Ay，too gentle．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Nay，that’s certain：but yet the pity of it，lago！</p>
<p>O Iago，the pity of it，Iago！</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>If you are so fond over her iniquity，give her</p>
<p>patentto offend；for，if it touch not you，it comes</p>
<p>near nobody．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>I will chop her into messes：cuckold me！</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>O，’tis foulin her．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>With mine officer！</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>That’s fouler．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Get me some poison，Iago；this night：I’ll not</p>
<p>expostulatewith her，lesther body and beauty</p>
<p>unprovidemy mind again：this night，Iago．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Do it not with poison，strangleher in her bed，even</p>
<p>the bed she hath contaminated．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Good，good：the justice of it pleases：very good．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>And for Cassio，let me be his undertaker：you</p>
<p>shall hear more by midnight．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Excellent good．</p>
<p>［A trumpetwithin］</p>
<p>What trumpet is that same？</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Something from Venice，sure．’Tis Lodovico</p>
<p>Come from the duke：and，see，your wife is with him．</p>
<p>［Enter LODOVICO，DESDEMONA，and Attendants］</p>
<p>LODOVICO</p>
<p>Save you，worthygeneral！</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>With all my heart，sir．</p>
<p>LODOVICO</p>
<p>The duke and senatorsof Venice greet you．</p>
<p>［Gives him a letter］</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>I kiss the instrument of their pleasures</p>
<p>［Opens the letter，and reads］</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>And what’s the news，good cousinLodovico？</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>I am very glad to see you，signio</p>
<p>Welcome to Cyprus．</p>
<p>LODOVICO</p>
<p>I thank you．How does Lieutenant Cassio？</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Lives，sir．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Cousin，there’s fall’nbetween him and my lord</p>
<p>An unkind breach：but you shall make all well．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Are you sure of that？</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>My lord？</p>
<p>OTHELLO［Reads］</p>
<p>‘This fail you not to do，as you will——’</p>
<p>LODOVICO</p>
<p>He did not call；he’s busy in the paper．</p>
<p>Is there division’twixtmy lord and Cassio？</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>A most unhappy one：I would do much</p>
<p>To atonethem，for the love I bear to Cassio．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Fire and brimstone！</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>My lord？</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Are you wise？</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>What，is he angry？</p>
<p>LODOVICO</p>
<p>May be the letter moved him；</p>
<p>For，as I think，they do command him home，</p>
<p>Deputing．Cassio in his government</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Trust me，I am glad on’t．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Indeed！</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>My lord？</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>I am glad to see you mad．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Why，sweet Othello，——</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>［Striking her］Devil！</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>I have not deserved this．</p>
<p>LODOVICO</p>
<p>My lord，this would not be believed in Venice，</p>
<p>Though I should swearI saw’t：’Tis very much：</p>
<p>Make her amends；she weeps．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>O devil，devil！</p>
<p>If that the earth could teemwith woman’s tears，</p>
<p>Each drop she falls would prove a crocodileOut of my sight！</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>I will not stay to offend you．</p>
<p>［Going］</p>
<p>LODOVICO</p>
<p>Truly，an obedientlady：</p>
<p>I do beseech your lordship，call her back．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Mistress！</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>My lord？</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>What would you with her，sir？</p>
<p>LODOVICO</p>
<p>Who，I，my lord？</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Ay；you did wish that I would make her turn：</p>
<p>Sir，she can turn，and turn，and yet go on，</p>
<p>And turn again；and she can weep，sir，weep；</p>
<p>And she’s obedient，as you say，obedient，</p>
<p>Very obedient．Proceed you in your tears．</p>
<p>Concerning this，sir，——O well－painted passion！——</p>
<p>I am commanded home．Get you away；</p>
<p>I’ll send foryou anonSir，I obey the mandate，</p>
<p>And will return to Venice．Hence，avaunt！</p>
<p>［Exit DESDEMONA］</p>
<p>Cassio shall have my place．And，sir，tonight，</p>
<p>I do entreatthat we may sup together：</p>
<p>You are welcome，sir，to Cyprus．——Goats and monkeys！</p>
<p>［Exit］</p>
<p>LODOVICO</p>
<p>Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate．</p>
<p>Call all in allsufficient？Is this the nature</p>
<p>Whom passion could not shake？whose solid virtue</p>
<p>The shot of accident，nor dartof chance，</p>
<p>Could neither grazenor pierce？</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>He is much changed．</p>
<p>LODOVICO</p>
<p>Are his wits safe？is he not lightof brain？</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>He’s that he is ：I may not breathe my censure</p>
<p>What he might be：if what he might he is not，</p>
<p>I would to heaven he were ！</p>
<p>LODOVICO</p>
<p>What，strike his wife！</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>‘Faith，that was not so well；yet would I knewThat stroke would prove the worst！</p>
<p>LODOVICO</p>
<p>IS it his use？</p>
<p>Or did the letter work upon his blood，</p>
<p>And new-create this fault？</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Alas，alas！</p>
<p>It is not honesty in me to speak</p>
<p>What I have seen and known．You shall observe him，</p>
<p>And his own courses will denote him so</p>
<p>That I may save my speech：do but go after，</p>
<p>And mark how he continues．</p>
<p>LODOVICO</p>
<p>I am sorry that I am deceived in him．</p>
<p>［Exeunt］</p>