The Tragedy of Othello, Moor of Venice

Look, if my gentle love be not raised up! I'll make thee an example. DESDEMONA. What's the matter? OTHELLO. All's well now, sweeting; come away to bed. Sir, for your hurts, myself will be your surgeon. Lead him off. Exit Montano, attended. Iago, look with care about the town, And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted. Come, Desdemona, 'tis the soldiers' life. To have their balmy slumbers waked with strife. Exeunt all but Iago and Cassio. IAGO. What, are you hurt, lieutenant? CASSIO. Ay, past all surgery. IAGO. Marry, heaven forbid! CASSIO. Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation! IAGO. As I am an honest man, I thought you had received some bodily wound; there is more sense in that than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit and lost without deserving. You have lost no reputation at all, unless you repute yourself such a loser. What, man! there are ways to recover the general again. You are but now cast in his mood, a punishment more in policy than in malice; even so as one would beat his offenseless dog to affright an imperious lion. Sue to him again, and he's yours. CASSIO. I will rather sue to be despised than to deceive so good a commander with so slight, so drunken, and so indiscreet an officer. Drunk? and speak parrot? and squabble? swagger? swear? and discourse fustian with one's own shadow? O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee devil! IAGO. What was he that you followed with your sword? What had he done to you? CASSIO. I know not. IAGO. Is't possible? CASSIO. I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly; a quarrel, but nothing wherefore. O God, that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains! that we should, with joy, pleasance, revel, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts! IAGO. Why, but you are now well enough. How came you thus recovered? CASSIO. It hath pleased the devil drunkenness to give place to the devil wrath: one unperfectness shows me another, to make me frankly despise myself. IAGO. Come, you are too severe a moraler. As the time, the place, and the condition of this country stands, I could heartily wish this had not befallen; but since it is as it is, mend it for your own good. CASSIO. I will ask him for my place again; he shall tell me I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast! O strange! Every inordinate cup is unblest, and the ingredient is a devil. IAGO. Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well used. Exclaim no more against it. And, good lieutenant, I think you think I love you. CASSIO. I have well approved it, sir. I drunk! IAGO. You or any man living may be drunk at some time, man. I'll tell you what you shall do. Our general's wife is now the general. I may say so in this respect, for that he hath devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, and denotement of her parts and graces. Confess yourself freely to her; importune her help to put you in your place again. She is of so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed a disposition, she holds it a vice in her goodness not to do more than she is requested. This broken joint between you and her husband entreat her to splinter; and, my fortunes against any lay worth naming, this crack of your love shall grow stronger than it was before. CASSIO. You advise me well. IAGO. I protest, in the sincerity of love and honest kindness. CASSIO. I think it freely; and betimes in the morning I will beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me. I am desperate of my fortunes if they check me here. IAGO. You are in the right. Good night, lieutenant, I must to the watch. CASSIO. Good night, honest Iago. Exit. IAGO. And what's he then that says I play the villain? When this advice is free I give and honest, Probal to thinking, and indeed the course To win the Moor again? For 'tis most easy The inclining Desdemona to subdue In any honest suit. She's framed as fruitful As the free elements. And then for her To win the Moor, were't to renounce his baptism, All seals and symbols of redeemed sin, His soul is so enfetter'd to her love, That she may make, unmake, do what she list, Even as her appetite shall play the god With his weak function. How am I then a villain To counsel Cassio to this parallel course, Directly to his good? Divinity of hell! When devils will the blackest sins put on, They do suggest at first with heavenly shows, As I do now. For whiles this honest fool Plies Desdemona to repair his fortune, And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor, I'll pour this pestilence into his ear, That she repeals him for her body's lust; And by how much she strives to do him good, She shall undo her credit with the Moor. So will I turn her virtue into pitch, And out of her own goodness make the net That shall enmesh them all.

Enter Roderigo.

                                How now, Roderigo!  RODERIGO. I do follow here in the chase, not like a hound that    hunts, but one that fills up the cry. My money is almostspent; I    have been tonight exceedingly well cudgeled; and I think the    issue will be, I shall have so much experience for my pains;and    so, with no money at all and a little more wit, return againto    Venice.  IAGO. How poor are they that have not patience!    What wound did ever heal but by degrees?    Thou know'st we work by wit and not by witchcraft,    And wit depends on dilatory time.    Does't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee,    And thou by that small hurt hast cashier'd Cassio.    Though other things grow fair against the sun,    Yet fruits that blossom first will first be ripe.    Content thyself awhile. By the mass, 'tis morning;    Pleasure and action make the hours seem short.    Retire thee; go where thou art billeted.    Away, I say. Thou shalt know more hereafter.    Nay, get thee gone. [Exit Roderigo.] Two things are to bedone:    My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress-    I'll set her on;    Myself the while to draw the Moor apart,    And bring him jump when he may Cassio find    Soliciting his wife. Ay, that's the way;    Dull not device by coldness and delay.

Exit.

ACT III. SCENE I. Before the castle

Enter Cassio and some Musicians.

  CASSIO. Masters, play here, I will content your pains;Something    that's brief; and bid "Good morrow, general."    Music.

Enter Clown.

  CLOWN. Why, masters, have your instruments been in Naples, that    they speak i' the nose thus?  FIRST MUSICIAN. How, sir, how?  CLOWN. Are these, I pray you, wind instruments?  FIRST MUSICIAN. Ay, marry, are they, sir.  CLOWN. O, thereby hangs a tail.  FIRST MUSICIAN. Whereby hangs a tale, sir?  CLOWN. Marry, sir, by many a wind instrument that I know. But,    masters, here's money for you; and the general so likes your    music, that he desires you, for love's sake, to make no more    noise with it.  FIRST MUSICIAN. Well, sir, we will not.  CLOWN. If you have any music that may not be heard, to't again;    but, as they say, to hear music the general does not greatly    care.  FIRST MUSICIAN. We have none such, sir.  CLOWN. Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll away.    Go, vanish into air, away! ExeuntMusicians.  CASSIO. Dost thou hear, my honest friend?  CLOWN. No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear you.  CASSIO. Prithee, keep up thy quillets. There's a poor piece ofgold    for thee. If the gentlewoman that attends the general's wifebe    stirring, tell her there's one Cassio entreats her a littlefavor    of speech. Wilt thou do this?  CLOWN. She is stirring, sir. If she will stir hither, I shallseem    to notify unto her.  CASSIO. Do, good my friend. ExitClown.

Enter Iago.

                              In happy time, Iago.  IAGO. You have not been abed, then?  CASSIO. Why, no; the day had broke    Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago,    To send in to your wife. My suit to her    Is that she will to virtuous Desdemona    Procure me some access.  IAGO. I'll send her to you presently;    And I'll devise a mean to draw the Moor    Out of the way, that your converse and business    May be more free.  CASSIO. I humbly thank you for't. [Exit Iago.] I never knew    A Florentine more kind and honest.

Enter Emilia.

  EMILIA. Good morrow, good lieutenant. I am sorry    For your displeasure, but all will sure be well.    The general and his wife are talking of it,    And she speaks for you stoutly. The Moor replies    That he you hurt is of great fame in Cyprus    And great affinity and that in wholesome wisdom    He might not but refuse you; but he protests he loves you    And needs no other suitor but his likings    To take the safest occasion by the front    To bring you in again.  CASSIO. Yet, I beseech you,    If you think fit, or that it may be done,    Give me advantage of some brief discourse    With Desdemona alone.  EMILIA. Pray you, come in.    I will bestow you where you shall have time    To speak your bosom freely.  CASSIO. I am much bound to you.

Exeunt.

SCENE II. A room in the castle

Enter Othello, Iago, and Gentlemen.

  OTHELLO. These letters give, Iago, to the pilot,    And by him do my duties to the Senate.    That done, I will be walking on the works;    Repair there to me.  IAGO. Well, my good lord, I'll do't.  OTHELLO. This fortification, gentlemen, shall we see't?  GENTLEMEN. We'll wait upon your lordship.

Exeunt.

SCENE III. The garden of the castle

Enter Desdemona, Cassio, and Emilia.

  DESDEMONA. Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do    All my abilities in thy behalf.  EMILIA. Good madam, do. I warrant it grieves my husband    As if the cause were his.  DESDEMONA. O, that's an honest fellow. Do not doubt, Cassio,    But I will have my lord and you again    As friendly as you were.  CASSIO. Bounteous madam,    Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,    He's never anything but your true servant.  DESDEMONA. I know't: I thank you. You do love my lord:    You have known him long; and be you well assured    He shall in strangeness stand no farther off    Than in a politic distance.  CASSIO. Ay, but, lady,    That policy may either last so long,    Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet,    Or breed itself so out of circumstances,    That I being absent and my place supplied,    My general will forget my love and service.  DESDEMONA. Do not doubt that. Before Emilia here    I give thee warrant of thy place, assure thee,    If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it    To the last article. My lord shall never rest;    I'll watch him tame and talk him out of patience;    His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;    I'll intermingle everything he does    With Cassio's suit. Therefore be merry, Cassio,    For thy solicitor shall rather die    Than give thy cause away.

Enter Othello and Iago, at a distance.

  EMILIA. Madam, here comes my lord.  CASSIO. Madam, I'll take my leave.  DESDEMONA. Nay, stay and hear me speak.  CASSIO. Madam, not now. I am very ill at ease,    Unfit for mine own purposes.  DESDEMONA. Well, do your discretion. ExitCassio.  IAGO. Ha! I like not that.  OTHELLO. What dost thou say?  IAGO. Nothing, my lord; or if- I know not what.  OTHELLO. Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?  IAGO. Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it,    That he would steal away so guilty-like,    Seeing you coming.  OTHELLO. I do believe 'twas he.  DESDEMONA. How now, my lord!    I have been talking with a suitor here,    A man that languishes in your displeasure.  OTHELLO. Who is't you mean?  DESDEMONA. Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord,    If I have any grace or power to move you,    His present reconciliation take;    For if he be not one that truly loves you,    That errs in ignorance and not in cunning,    I have no judgement in an honest face.    I prithee, call him back.  OTHELLO. Went he hence now?  DESDEMONA. Ay, sooth; so humbled    That he hath left part of his grief with me    To suffer with him. Good love, call him back.  OTHELLO. Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other time.  DESDEMONA. But shall't be shortly?  OTHELLO. The sooner, sweet, for you.  DESDEMONA. Shall't be tonight at supper?  OTHELLO. No, not tonight.  DESDEMONA. Tomorrow dinner then?  OTHELLO. I shall not dine at home;    I meet the captains at the citadel.  DESDEMONA. Why then tomorrow night, or Tuesday morn,    On Tuesday noon, or night, on Wednesday morn.    I prithee, name the time, but let it not    Exceed three days. In faith, he's penitent;    And yet his trespass, in our common reason-    Save that, they say, the wars must make example    Out of their best- is not almost a fault    To incur a private check. When shall he come?    Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul,    What you would ask me, that I should deny,    Or stand so mammering on. What? Michael Cassio,    That came awooing with you, and so many a time    When I have spoke of you dispraisingly    Hath ta'en your part- to have so much to do    To bring him in! Trust me, I could do much-  OTHELLO. Prithee, no more. Let him come when he will;    I will deny thee nothing.  DESDEMONA. Why, this is not a boon;    'Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves,    Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm,    Or sue to you to do a peculiar profit    To your own person. Nay, when I have a suit    Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed,    It shall be full of poise and difficult weight,    And fearful to be granted.  OTHELLO. I will deny thee nothing,    Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this,    To leave me but a little to myself.  DESDEMONA. Shall I deny you? No. Farewell, my lord.  OTHELLO. Farewell, my Desdemona; I'll come to thee straight.  DESDEMONA. Emilia, come. Be as your fancies teach you;    Whate'er you be, I am obedient.Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia  OTHELLO. Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul,    But I do love thee! and when I love thee not,    Chaos is come again.  IAGO. My noble lord-  OTHELLO. What dost thou say, Iago?  IAGO. Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my lady,    Know of your love?  OTHELLO. He did, from first to last. Why dost thou ask?  IAGO. But for a satisfaction of my thought;    No further harm.  OTHELLO. Why of thy thought, Iago?  IAGO. I did not think he had been acquainted with her.  OTHELLO. O, yes, and went between us very oft.  IAGO. Indeed!  OTHELLO. Indeed? ay, indeed. Discern'st thou aught in that?    Is he not honest?  IAGO. Honest, my lord?  OTHELLO. Honest? Ay, honest.  IAGO. My lord, for aught I know.  OTHELLO. What dost thou think?  IAGO. Think, my lord?  OTHELLO. Think, my lord? By heaven, he echoes me,    As if there were some monster in his thought    Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean something.    I heard thee say even now, thou like'st not that,    When Cassio left my wife. What didst not like?    And when I told thee he was of my counsel    In my whole course of wooing, thou criedst, "Indeed!"    And didst contract and purse thy brow together,    As if thou then hadst shut up in thy brain    Some horrible conceit. If thou dost love me,    Show me thy thought.  IAGO. My lord, you know I love you.  OTHELLO. I think thou dost;    And for I know thou'rt full of love and honesty    And weigh'st thy words before thou givest them breath,    Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more;    For such things in a false disloyal knave    Are tricks of custom; but in a man that's just    They're close dilations, working from the heart,    That passion cannot rule.  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!  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 to.    Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile and false;    As where's that palace whereinto foul things    Sometimes intrude not? Who has a breast so pure,    But some uncleanly apprehensions    Keep leets and law-days, and in session sit    With meditations lawful?  OTHELLO. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago,    If thou but think'st him wrong'd and makest his ear    A stranger to thy thoughts.  IAGO. I do beseech you-    Though I perchance am vicious in my guess,    As, I confess, it is my nature's plague    To spy into abuses, and oft my jealousy    Shapes faults that are not- that your wisdom yet,    From one that so imperfectly conceits,    Would take no notice, nor build yourself a trouble    Out of his scattering and unsure observance.    It were not for your quiet nor your good,    Nor for my manhood, honesty, or 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 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. By heaven, I'll know thy thoughts.  IAGO. You cannot, if 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    The meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss    Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;    But O, what damned minutes tells he o'er    Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves!  OTHELLO. O misery!  IAGO. Poor and content is rich, and rich enough;    But riches fineless 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'ld make a life of jealousy,    To follow still the changes of the moon    With fresh suspicions? No! To be once in doubt    Is once to be resolved. Exchange me for a goat    When I shall turn the business of my soul    To such exsufflicate and blown surmises,    Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me jealous    To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company,    Is free of speech, sings, plays, and dances well;    Where virtue is, these are more virtuous.    Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw    The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt;    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 it, 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 eye thus, not jealous nor secure.    I would not have your free and noble nature    Out of self-bounty be abused. Look to't.    I know our country disposition well;    In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks    They dare not show their husbands; their best conscience    Is not to leave't undone, but keep't unknown.  OTHELLO. Dost thou say so?  IAGO. She did deceive her father, marrying you;    And when she seem'd to shake and fear your looks,    She loved them most.  OTHELLO. And so she did.  IAGO. Why, go to then.    She that so young could give out such a seeming,    To seel 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 to thee forever.  IAGO. I see this hath a little dash'd your spirits.  OTHELLO. Not a jot, not a jot.  IAGO. I'faith, I fear it has.    I hope you will consider what is spoke    Comes from my love. But I do see you're moved;    I am to pray you not to strain my speech    To grosser issues nor to larger reach    Than to suspicion.  OTHELLO. I will not.  IAGO. Should you do so, my lord,    My speech should fall into such vile success    Which my thoughts aim not at. 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.  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 many proposed matches    Of her own clime, complexion, and degree,    Whereto we see in all things nature tends-    Foh, one may smell in such a will most rank,    Foul disproportion, thoughts unnatural.    But pardon me. I do not in position    Distinctly speak of her; though I may fear,    Her will, recoiling to her better judgement,    May fall to match you with her country forms,    And happily repent.  OTHELLO. Farewell, farewell.    If more thou dost perceive, let me know more;    Set on thy wife to observe. Leave me, Iago.  IAGO. [Going.] My lord, I take my leave.  OTHELLO. Why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless    Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.  IAGO. [Returning.] My lord, I would I might entreat your honor    To scan this thing no further; leave it to time.    Though it be fit that Cassio have his place,    For sure he fills it up with great ability,    Yet, if you please to hold him off awhile,    You shall by that perceive him and his means.    Note if your lady strain his entertainment    With any strong or vehement importunity;    Much will be seen in that. In the meantime,    Let me be thought too busy in my fears-    As worthy cause I have to fear I am-    And hold her free, I do beseech your honor.  OTHELLO. Fear not my government.  IAGO. I once more take my leave.

Exit.

  OTHELLO. This fellow's of exceeding honesty,    And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,    Of human dealings. If I do prove her haggard,    Though that her jesses were my dear heartstrings,    I'ld whistle her off and let her down the wind    To prey at fortune. Haply, for I am black    And have not those soft parts of conversation    That chamberers have, or for I am declined    Into the vale of years- yet that's not much-    She's gone. I am abused, and my relief    Must be to loathe her. O curse of marriage,    That we can call these delicate creatures ours,    And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad,    And live upon the vapor of a dungeon,    Than keep a corner in the thing I love    For others' uses. Yet, 'tis the plague of great ones:    Prerogatived are they less than the base;    'Tis destiny unshunnable, like death.    Even then this forked plague is fated to us    When we do quicken. Desdemona comes:

Re-enter Desdemona and Emilia.

    If she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself!    I'll not believe't.  DESDEMONA. How now, my dear Othello!    Your dinner, and the generous islanders    By you invited, do attend 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 here.  DESDEMONA. Faith, that's with watching; 'twill away again.    Let me but bind it hard, within this hour    It will be well.  OTHELLO. Your napkin is too little;            He puts the handkerchief from him, and she drops it.    Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you.  DESDEMONA. I am very sorry that you are not well.Exeunt Othello and Desdemona  EMILIA. I am glad I have found this napkin;    This was her first remembrance from the Moor.    My wayward husband hath a hundred times    Woo'd me to steal it; but she so loves the token,    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,    And give't Iago. What he will do with it    Heaven knows, not I;    I nothing but to please his fantasy.

Re-enter Iago.

  IAGO. How now, what do you here alone?  EMILIA. Do not you chide; I have a thing for you.  IAGO. A thing for me? It is a common thing-  EMILIA. Ha!  IAGO. To have a foolish wife.  EMILIA. O, is that all? What will you give me now    For that 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, faith; she let it drop by negligence,    And, to the advantage, I being here took't up.    Look, here it is.  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?  IAGO. [Snatching it.] Why, what is that to you?  EMILIA. If't be not for some purpose of import,    Give't me again. Poor lady, she'll run mad    When she shall lack it.  IAGO. Be not acknown on't; I have use for it.    Go, leave me. ExitEmilia.    I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin,    And let him find it. Trifles light as air    Are to the jealous confirmations strong    As proofs of holy writ; this may do something.    The Moor already changes with my poison:    Dangerous conceits are in their natures poisons,    Which at the first are scarce found to distaste,    But with a little act upon the blood    Burn like the mines of sulphur. I did say so.    Look, where he comes!

Re-enter Othello.