Othello
Page 14
To give it her. I did so; and take heed on't; 46-47 The hearts . . . hearts i.e., in better days people pledged their hearts with their hands, but now, in modern symbols of courtship (heraldry), the two no longer go together 49 chuck (a term of affection; cf. wretch, III.3.90) 51 salt and sorry rheum painful running cold 56 Egyptian (probably "gypsy") 57 charmer sorceress 59 amiable desirable 63 fancies loves, attractions 65 her i.e., the intended bride
Make it a darling like your precious eye.
To lose't or give't away were such perdition
As nothing else could match.
DESDEMONA Is't possible?
OTHELLO
'Tis true. There's magic in the web of it.
A sibyl that had numbered in the world
The sun to course two hundred compasses,
In her prophetic fury sewed the work;
The worms were hallowed that did breed the silk;
And it was dyed in mummy which the skillful
Conserved of maidens' hearts.
DESDEMONA I' faith? Is't true?
OTHELLO
Most veritable. Therefore look to't well.
DESDEMONA
Then would to God that I had never seen't!
OTHELLO Ha! Wherefore?
DESDEMONA
Why do you speak so startingly and rash?
OTHELLO
Is't lost? Is't gone? Speak, is't out o' th' way?
DESDEMONA Heaven bless us!
OTHELLO Say you?
DESDEMONA
It is not lost. But what an if it were?
OTHELLO How?
DESDEMONA
I say it is not lost.
OTHELLO Fetch't, let me see't!
DESDEMONA
Why, so I can, but I will not now. 66 darling beloved thing; eye (early modern slang for the vagina, a sense that may pertain here) 67 perdition loss, disaster 69 web fabric 70 sibyl prophetess 71 sun . . . compasses i.e., two hundred years 74-75 mummy . . . hearts a drug distilled (Conserved) from mummified bodies, here from maidens' hearts 79 startingly by starts, fitfully 83 an if if
This is a trick to put me from my suit:
Pray you let Cassio be received again.
OTHELLO
Fetch me the handkerchief! My mind misgives.
DESDEMONA
Come, come!
You'll never meet a more sufficient man.
OTHELLO
The handkerchief!
DESDEMONA A man that all his time
Hath founded his good fortunes on your love,
Shared dangers with you -
OTHELLO
The handkerchief!
DESDEMONA
I' faith, you are to blame.
OTHELLO Zounds! Exit Othello.
EMILIA Is not this man jealous?
DESDEMONA
I ne'er saw this before.
Sure there's some wonder in this handkerchief;
I am most unhappy in the loss of it.
EMILIA
'Tis not a year or two shows us a man.
They are all but stomachs, and we all but food;
They eat us hungerly, and when they are full,
They belch us.
Enter Iago and Cassio.
Look you - Cassio and my husband!
IAGO
There is no other way; 'tis she must do't.
And lo the happiness! Go and importune her. 87 put me from distract me from 89 misgives feels doubt or regret 91 sufficient thoroughly capable 92 all his time throughout his career 102 'Tis not . . . man i.e., it takes a long time to know a man's real self (or perhaps "good men don't come along very often") 103 all but nothing except 107 lo the happiness i.e., and what luck that she is here; importune ask
DESDEMONA
How now, good Cassio? What's the news with you?
CASSIO
Madam, my former suit. I do beseech you
That by your virtuous means I may again
Exist, and be a member of his love
Whom I with all the office of my heart
Entirely honor. I would not be delayed.
If my offense be of such mortal kind
That nor my service past, nor present sorrows,
Nor purposed merit in futurity,
Can ransom me into his love again,
But to know so must be my benefit.
So shall I clothe me in a forced content,
And shut myself up in some other course,
To fortune's alms.
DESDEMONA Alas, thrice-gentle Cassio!
My advocation is not now in tune.
My lord is not my lord; nor should I know him,
Were he in favor as in humor altered.
So help me every spirit sanctified
As I have spoken for you all my best
And stood within the blank of his displeasure
For my free speech! You must awhile be patient.
What I can do I will; and more I will
Than for myself I dare. Let that suffice you.
IAGO
Is my lord angry?
EMILIA He went hence but now,
And certainly in strange unquietness.
112 office devoted service 114 mortal i.e., hopeless 118 But . . . benefit merely to know it will be helpful 119 So in that case; forced content necessary contentment (i.e., being resigned to it) 120 shut myself up in limit myself to 121 fortune's alms the best I can get from fortune 122 advocation advocacy 124 favor appearance; humor mood, temperament 127 blank center of a target (also known as the "white")
IAGO
Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon
When it hath blown his ranks into the air
And, like the devil, from his very arm
Puffed his own brother - and is he angry?
Something of moment then. I will go meet him.
There's matter in't indeed if he be angry.
DESDEMONA
I prithee do so. Exit [Iago].
Something sure of state,
Either from Venice or some unhatched practice
Made demonstrable here in Cyprus to him,
Hath puddled his clear spirit; and in such cases
Men's natures wrangle with inferior things,
Though great ones are their object. 'Tis even so;
For let our finger ache, and it endues
Our other, healthful members even to a sense
Of pain. Nay, we must think men are not gods,
Nor of them look for such observancy
As fits the bridal. Beshrew me much, Emilia,
I was, unhandsome warrior as I am,
Arraigning his unkindness with my soul;
But now I find I had suborned the witness,
And he's indicted falsely.
EMILIA
Pray heaven it be state matters, as you think,
And no conception nor no jealous toy
Concerning you. 137 of moment momentous, significant 139 of state having to do with politics 140 unhatched practice still-hidden plot 142 puddled disturbed, muddied 143-44 wrangle . . . object i.e., bicker over or debate about trivia when they are really concerned with major topics 145 endues introduces 148— 49 observancy . . . bridal i.e., attentiveness expected on the wedding day 149 Beshrew me (a mild oath, the equivalent of "I'll be darned") 150 unhandsome warrior poor soldier 151 Arraigning his unkindness indicting his abnormal (not according to kind) behavior toward me 152 suborned the witness bribed the witness (i.e., herself) to lie 155 conception fantasy, wild idea; toy whim, foolish fancy
DESDEMONA
Alas the day! I never gave him cause.
EMILIA
But jealous souls will not be answered so;
They are not ever jealous for the cause,
But jealous for they're jealous. It is a monster
Begot upon itself, born on itself.
DESDEMONA
Heaven keep the monster from Othello's mind!
EMILIA Lady, amen.
DES
DEMONA
I will go seek him. Cassio, walk hereabout:
If I do find him fit, I'll move your suit
And seek to effect it to my uttermost.
CASSIO
I humbly thank your ladyship.
Exit [Desdemona with Emilia].
Enter Bianca.
BIANCA
Save you, friend Cassio!
CASSIO What make you from home?
How is't with you, my most fair Bianca?
I' faith, sweet love, I was coming to your house.
BIANCA
And I was going to your lodging, Cassio.
What, keep a week away? seven days and nights?
Eightscore eight hours? and lovers' absent hours,
More tedious than the dial eightscore times?
O weary reck'ning!
CASSIO Pardon me, Bianca:
I have this while with leaden thoughts been pressed,
But I shall in a more continuate time 157 Alas the day (conventional lament - "What a shame") 160 for because 161 Begot upon itself self-engendered 165 fit receptive, fit to listen 168 Save you God save you; What make you from what are you doing away from 173 Eightscore eight hours one hundred sixty-eight hours, the number in a week 174 dial clock 177 more continuate less interrupted, less fretful
Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca,
[Gives her Desdemona's handkerchief.]
Take me this work out.
BIANCA O Cassio, whence came this?
This is some token from a newer friend.
To the felt absence now I feel a cause.
Is't come to this? Well, well.
CASSIO Go to, woman!
Throw your vile guesses in the devil's teeth,
From whence you have them. You are jealous now
That this is from some mistress, some remembrance.
No, by my faith, Bianca.
BIANCA Why, whose is it?
CASSIO
I know not, neither; I found it in my chamber.
I like the work well; ere it be demanded,
As like enough it will, I would have it copied.
Take it and do't, and leave me for this time.
BIANCA
Leave you? Wherefore?
CASSIO
I do attend here on the general
And think it no addition, nor my wish,
To have him see me womaned.
BIANCA Why, I pray you?
CASSIO
Not that I love you not.
BIANCA But that you do not love me!
I pray you bring me on the way a little,
And say if I shall see you soon at night.
CASSIO
'Tis but a little way that I can bring you, 178 Strike off this score pay this bill 179 Take . . . out copy this embroidery (work = needlework) for me 181 To . . . cause i.e., I can now explain your absence from me 188 ere it be demanded i.e., before somebody claims it 193 no addition no bonus - i.e., not beneficial to my standing 196 bring me go along with me
For I attend here, but I'll see you soon.
BIANCA
'Tis very good. I must be circumstanced.
Exeunt omnes.
IV.1 Enter Othello and Iago.
IAGO
Will you think so?
OTHELLO Think so, Iago?
IAGO What,
To kiss in private?
OTHELLO An unauthorized kiss.
IAGO
Or to be naked with her friend in bed
An hour or more, not meaning any harm?
OTHELLO
Naked in bed, Iago, and not mean harm?
It is hypocrisy against the devil.
They that mean virtuously, and yet do so,
The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt heaven.
IAGO
If they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip.
But if I give my wife a handkerchief -
OTHELLO
What then?
IAGO
Why, then 'tis hers, my lord, and being hers,
She may, I think, bestow't on any man.
OTHELLO
She is protectress of her honor too; 199 attend am waiting 200 circumstanced governed by things as they are; s.d. omnes all IV.1 An area outside Othello's quarters 6 hypocrisy against the devil i.e., apparent evil concealing good (ironic) 7 yet do so i.e., still allow themselves to be naked in bed 9 venial slip minor sin
May she give that?
IAGO
Her honor is an essence that's not seen;
They have it very oft that have it not.
But for the handkerchief -
OTHELLO
By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it!
Thou said'st - O, it comes o'er my memory
As doth the raven o'er the infectious house,
Boding to all! - he had my handkerchief.
IAGO
Ay, what of that?
OTHELLO That's not so good now.
IAGO What
If I had said I had seen him do you wrong?
Or heard him say - as knaves be such abroad
Who having, by their own importunate suit,
Or voluntary dotage of some mistress,
Convinced or supplied them, cannot choose
But they must blab -
OTHELLO Hath he said anything?
IAGO
He hath, my lord; but be you well assured,
No more than he'll unswear.
OTHELLO What hath he said?
IAGO
Faith, that he did - I know not what he did.
OTHELLO What? what?
IAGO
Lie -
OTHELLO With her?
IAGO With her, on her; what you will.
17 They . . . not many people who seem to have it in fact do not 21 infectious plague-ridden 22 Boding prophesying (ill) 25 knaves . . . abroad there are men around 26-28 by . . . them i.e., achieved satisfaction either by insistent wooing or by the irresistible attraction they exert over a woman 34 what you will (a conventional phrase - "as you like it" - ending with the sexually charged will)
OTHELLO Lie with her? lie on her? - We say lie on her
when they belie her. - Lie with her! Zounds, that's fulsome. - Handkerchief - confessions - handkerchief ! -
To confess, and be hanged for his labor - first to be
hanged, and then to confess! I tremble at it. Nature
would not invest herself in such shadowing passion
without some instruction. It is not words that shakes
me thus. - Pish! Noses, ears, and lips? Is't possible? -
Confess? - Handkerchief? - O devil!
Falls in a trance.
IAGO Work on,
My medicine works! Thus credulous fools are caught,
And many worthy and chaste dames even thus,
All guiltless, meet reproach. - What, ho! my lord!
My lord, I say! Othello!
Enter Cassio. How now, Cassio?
CASSIO
What's the matter?
IAGO
My lord is fall'n into an epilepsy.
This is his second fit; he had one yesterday.
CASSIO
Rub him about the temples.
IAGO No, forbear.
The lethargy must have his quiet course.
If not, he foams at mouth, and by and by
Breaks out to savage madness. Look, he stirs.
Do you withdraw yourself a little while.
He will recover straight. When he is gone,
I would on great occasion speak with you.
[Exit Cassio.] 36 belie slander 36-37 fulsome foul 38-39 To confess . . . confess ("To confess and be hanged" was a proverbial phrase; Othello uses and then inverts it) 39-41 Nature . . . instruction nature wouldn't permit such strong emotion that produces these images (shadowing passion) without a basis for it 41 words i.e., words only 45 medicine (1) poison, (2) medicine 53 lethargy state of unconsciousness; his it
s 58 great occasion significant matter
How is it, general? Have you not hurt your head?
OTHELLO
Dost thou mock me?
IAGO I mock you not, by heaven.
Would you would bear your fortune like a man!
OTHELLO
A horned man's a monster and a beast.
IAGO
There's many a beast then in a populous city,
And many a civil monster.
OTHELLO
Did he confess it?
IAGO Good sir, be a man.
Think every bearded fellow that's but yoked
May draw with you. There's millions now alive
That nightly lie in those unproper beds
Which they dare swear peculiar: your case is better.
O, 'tis the spite of hell, the fiend's arch-mock,
To lip a wanton in a secure couch,
And to suppose her chaste! No, let me know;
And knowing what I am, I know what she shall be.
OTHELLO
O, thou art wise! 'Tis certain.
IAGO Stand you awhile apart;
Confine yourself but in a patient list.
Whilst you were here, o'erwhelmed with your grief -
A passion most unsuiting such a man -
Cassio came hither. I shifted him away 60 mock me (Othello reads Iago's hurt your head, l. 59, as a joke about cuckoldry, wearing horns; also see l. 62) 64 civil civilized, domesticated 66 yoked married (but also yoked like an ox; the image introduces a series of puns on marriage, yoking, and horned beasts) 67 draw (1) compare, (2) pull a cart 68 unproper not exclusively their own 69 peculiar theirs alone; your . . . better i.e., at least you know 71 lip . . . couch kiss a whore in an apparently untainted bed (secure couch) 72-73 No . . . be i.e., I'd rather know that I'm a cuckold, and then I can take action against her 75 Confine . . . list stay within the limits of self-control
And laid good 'scuses upon your ecstasy;
Bade him anon return, and here speak with me;
The which he promised. Do but encave yourself
And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorns
That dwell in every region of his face;
For I will make him tell the tale anew -
Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when
He hath, and is again to cope your wife.
I say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience!
Or I shall say you're all in all in spleen,
And nothing of a man.
OTHELLO Dost thou hear, Iago?
I will be found most cunning in my patience;
But - dost thou hear? - most bloody.
IAGO That's not amiss;
But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw?
[Othello retires.]
Now will I question Cassio of Bianca,
A huswife that by selling her desires
Buys herself bread and cloth. It is a creature
That dotes on Cassio, as 'tis the strumpet's plague
To beguile many and be beguiled by one.
He, when he hears of her, cannot restrain
From the excess of laughter. Here he comes.
Enter Cassio.
As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad,