Othello
Page 16
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?
Impudent strumpet!
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.
OTHELLO
What, not a whore?
DESDEMONA No, as I shall be saved!
67 quicken . . . blowing i.e., that spring to life as soon as they are deposited; weed i.e., the wild thing she is, as against, in the next lines, the beautiful flower she appears to be 70 committed (Desdemona's neutral sense of the word - i.e., "done" - is corrupted by Othello in ll. 72, 73, 76, and 80 to mean only "commit adultery") 73 commoner prostitute, woman used in common 74-75 forges . . . modesty (an image of blushing) 77 winks closes her eyes in shame (the moon symbolizes chastity) 78 bawdy wind i.e., indiscriminately lustful, pleasuring everybody 83 vessel body
OTHELLO Is't possible?
DESDEMONA
O, heaven forgive us!
OTHELLO I cry you mercy then.
I took you for that cunning whore of Venice
That married with Othello. - [Calling] You, mistress,
That have the office opposite to Saint Peter
And keeps the gate of hell!
Enter Emilia. You, you, ay, you!
We have done our course; there's money for your pains:
I pray you turn the key, and keep our counsel. Exit.
EMILIA
Alas, what does this gentleman conceive?
How do you, madam? How do you, my good lady?
DESDEMONA Faith, half asleep.
EMILIA
Good madam, what's the matter with my lord?
DESDEMONA With who?
EMILIA Why, with my lord, madam.
DESDEMONA
Who is thy lord?
EMILIA He that is yours, sweet lady.
DESDEMONA
I have none. Do not talk to me, Emilia.
I cannot weep, nor answers have I none
But what should go by water. Prithee tonight
Lay on my bed my wedding sheets - remember -
And call thy husband hither.
EMILIA Here's a change indeed!
Exit.
DESDEMONA
'Tis meet I should be used so, very meet. 88 cry you mercy beg your pardon 91-92 have . . . hell (the brothel keeper, the infernal counterpart of Saint Peter, welcomes men to hell, another term for the female genitalia) 93 done our course finished our business, "had a go" 97 half asleep i.e., dazed 104 go by water be expressed in tears 107 meet proper (referring to Emilia's kindness as opposed to Othello's brutality?)
How have I been behaved, that he might stick
The small'st opinion on my least misuse?
Enter Iago and Emilia.
IAGO
What is your pleasure, madam? How is't with you?
DESDEMONA
I cannot tell. Those that do teach young babes
Do it with gentle means and easy tasks:
He might have chid me so; for, in good faith,
I am a child to chiding.
IAGO What is the matter, lady?
EMILIA
Alas, Iago, my lord hath so bewhored her,
Thrown such despite and heavy terms upon her
That true hearts cannot bear it.
DESDEMONA
Am I that name, Iago?
IAGO What name, fair lady?
DESDEMONA
Such as she said my lord did say I was.
EMILIA
He called her whore. A beggar in his drink
Could not have laid such terms upon his callet.
IAGO
Why did he so?
DESDEMONA
I do not know; I am sure I am none such.
IAGO
Do not weep, do not weep. Alas the day!
EMILIA
Hath she forsook so many noble matches,
Her father and her country, and her friends, 109 small'st opinion worst interpretation (i.e., sexual suspicion); least misuse slightest misconduct 114 a child to chiding unused to being scolded 115 bewhored her (1) called her "whore," (2) treated her like a whore 116 despite abuse 121 callet slut 125 forsook refused; matches marriages
To be called whore? Would it not make one weep?
DESDEMONA
It is my wretched fortune.
IAGO Beshrew him for't!
How comes this trick upon him?
DESDEMONA Nay, heaven doth know.
EMILIA
I will be hanged if some eternal villain,
Some busy and insinuating rogue,
Some cogging, cozening slave, to get some office,
Have not devised this slander. I will be hanged else.
IAGO
Fie, there is no such man! It is impossible.
DESDEMONA
If any such there be, heaven pardon him!
EMILIA
A halter pardon him! and hell gnaw his bones!
Why should he call her whore? Who keeps her company?
What place? what time? what form? what likelihood?
The Moor's abused by some most villainous knave,
Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow.
O heaven, that such companions thou'dst unfold,
And put in every honest hand a whip
To lash the rascals naked through the world
Even from the east to th' west!
IAGO Speak within door.
EMILIA
O, fie upon them! Some such squire he was
That turned your wit the seamy side without
And made you to suspect me with the Moor. 129 trick (1) eccentric behavior, (2) fantasy 130 eternal i.e., incorrigible, never-changing 132 cogging, cozening cheating, deceiving 136 halter noose 140 scurvy disgusting, contemptible 141 companions rogues, base men (like fellow in previous line); unfold expose 144 within door with greater restraint (i.e., not so loud) 145 squire fellow (used contemptuously) 146 seamy side without wrong side out
IAGO
You are a fool. Go to.
DESDEMONA Alas, Iago,
What shall I do to win my lord again?
Good friend, go to him; for, by this light of heaven,
I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel:
If e'er my will did trespass 'gainst his love
Either in discourse of thought or actual deed,
Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense
Delighted them in any other form,
Or that I do not yet, and ever did,
And ever will (though he do shake me off
To beggarly divorcement) love him dearly,
Comfort forswear me! Unkindness may do much,
And his unkindness may defeat my life,
But never taint my love. I cannot say "whore."
It does abhor me now I speak the word;
To do the act that might the addition earn
Not the world's mass of vanity could make me.
IAGO
I pray you be content. 'Tis but his humor.
The business of the state does him offense,
And he does chide with you.
DESDEMONA
If 'twere no other -
<
br /> IAGO It is but so, I warrant.
[Trumpets within.]
Hark how these instruments summon to supper.
The messengers of Venice stays the meat: 152 will desire (with explicit sexual meaning; see note to I.3.321) 153 discourse of thought process of thinking 155 Delighted them took delight; form image, appearance 156 yet still, even now 159 Comfort forswear let happiness forsake; Unkindness unnaturalness (as elsewhere), but also "loss of love" 160 defeat destroy 162 abhor disgust (with pun on "turn into a whore") 163 addition label (i.e., "whore") 164 vanity temptations, splendor 170 stays the meat await their meal
Go in, and weep not. All things shall be well.
Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia.
Enter Roderigo.
How now, Roderigo?
RODERIGO I do not find that thou deal'st justly with me.
IAGO What in the contrary?
RODERIGO Every day thou daff'st me with some device, Iago, and rather, as it seems to me now, keep'st from me all conveniency than suppliest me with the least advantage of hope. I will indeed no longer endure it, nor am I yet persuaded to put up in peace what already I have foolishly suffered.
IAGO Will you hear me, Roderigo?
RODERIGO Faith, I have heard too much; and your words and performances are no kin together.
IAGO You charge me most unjustly.
RODERIGO With nought but truth. I have wasted myself out of my means. The jewels you have had from me to deliver Desdemona would half have corrupted a votarist. You have told me she hath received them, and returned me expectations and comforts of sudden respect and acquaintance; but I find none.
IAGO Well, go to; very well.
RODERIGO Very well! go to! I cannot go to, man; nor 'tis not very well. Nay, I think it is scurvy, and begin to find myself fopped in it.
IAGO Very well.
RODERIGO I tell you 'tis not very well. I will make myself known to Desdemona. If she will return me my jewels, I will give over my suit and repent my unlawful solicitation; 175 daff 'st . . . device put me off ("daff "="doff," remove) with some trick 177 conveniency advantage, opportunity 188 votarist nun 189-90 sudden respect immediate attention 192 cannot go to (Roderigo turns Iago's cliche [go to] into a sexual phrase - i.e., I can't get anywhere with her) 194 fopped made a fool of, duped
if not, assure yourself I will seek satisfaction of you.
IAGO You have said now.
RODERIGO Ay, and said nothing but what I protest intendment of doing.
IAGO Why, now I see there's mettle in thee; and even from this instant do build on thee a better opinion than ever before. Give me thy hand, Roderigo. Thou hast taken against me a most just exception, but yet I protest I have dealt most directly in thy affair.
RODERIGO It hath not appeared.
IAGO I grant indeed it hath not appeared, and your suspicion is not without wit and judgment. But, Roderigo, if thou hast that in thee indeed which I have greater reason to believe now than ever - I mean purpose, courage, and valor - this night show it. If thou the next night following enjoy not Desdemona, take me from this world with treachery and devise engines for my life.
RODERIGO Well, what is it? Is it within reason and compass?
IAGO Sir, there is especial commission come from Venice to depute Cassio in Othello's place.
RODERIGO Is that true? Why, then Othello and Desdemona return again to Venice.
IAGO O, no; he goes into Mauritania and taketh away with him the fair Desdemona, unless his abode be lingered here by some accident; wherein none can be so determinate as the removing of Cassio.
RODERIGO How do you mean removing him?
199 satisfaction i.e., "my money back" or equivalent punishment 204 mettle spirit, bravery (with pun on "metal," gold) 208 directly straightforwardly 216 engines for i.e., weapons to take 218-19 compass possibility 224 Mauritania a North African realm, home of the Moors 225-26 abode be lingered here stay here be extended 227 determinate effective
IAGO Why, by making him uncapable of Othello's place - knocking out his brains.
RODERIGO And that you would have me to do?
IAGO Ay, if you dare do yourself a profit and a right. He sups tonight with a harlotry, and thither will I go to him. He knows not yet of his honorable fortune. If you will watch his going thence, which I will fashion to fall out between twelve and one, you may take him at your pleasure. I will be near to second your attempt, and he shall fall between us. Come, stand not amazed at it, but go along with me. I will show you such a necessity in his death that you shall think yourself bound to put it on him. It is now high suppertime, and the night grows to waste. About it!
RODERIGO I will hear further reason for this.
IAGO And you shall be satisfied. Exeunt.
IV.3 Enter Othello, Lodovico, Desdemona, Emilia, and Attendants.
LODOVICO
I do beseech you, sir, trouble yourself no further.
OTHELLO
O, pardon me; 'twill do me good to walk.
LODOVICO
Madam, good night. I humbly thank your ladyship.
DESDEMONA
Your honor is most welcome.
OTHELLO Will you walk, sir?
O, Desdemona -
DESDEMONA My lord?
233 harlotry harlot (i.e., Bianca) 237-38 he . . . us i.e., between the two of us, we can take care of him IV.3 A room in the castle
OTHELLO Get you to bed on th' instant; I will be returned forthwith. Dismiss your attendant there. Look't be done.
DESDEMONA I will, my lord.
Exit [Othello, with Lodovico and Attendants].
EMILIA How goes it now? He looks gentler than he did.
DESDEMONA
He says he will return incontinent,
And hath commanded me to go to bed,
And bid me to dismiss you.
EMILIA Dismiss me?
DESDEMONA
It was his bidding; therefore, good Emilia,
Give me my nightly wearing, and adieu.
We must not now displease him.
EMILIA Ay - would you had never seen him!
DESDEMONA
So would not I. My love doth so approve him
That even his stubbornness, his checks, his frowns -
Prithee unpin me - have grace and favor.
EMILIA I have laid those sheets you bade me on the bed.
DESDEMONA
All's one. Good faith, how foolish are our minds!
If I do die before thee, prithee shroud me
In one of these same sheets.
EMILIA Come, come! You talk.
DESDEMONA
My mother had a maid called Barbary.
She was in love; and he she loved proved mad
And did forsake her. She had a song of "Willow";
An old thing 'twas; but it expressed her fortune,
And she died singing it. That song tonight 8 forthwith right away 12 incontinent immediately 18 Ay - (so Honigmann; most editions read "I would . . .": in the folio "I" can signify both "I" and "Ay") 20 stubbornness roughness; checks complaints, rebukes 23 All's one it doesn't matter 24 shroud me i.e., wrap my corpse 26 Barbary (variant of "Barbara") 27 mad wild, unsteady
Will not go from my mind; I have much to do
But to go hang my head all at one side
And sing it like poor Barbary. Prithee dispatch.
EMILIA
Shall I go fetch your nightgown?
DESDEMONA No, unpin me here.
This Lodovico is a proper man.
EMILIA A very handsome man.
DESDEMONA He speaks well.
EMILIA I know a lady in Venice would have walked bare-foot to Palestine for a touch of his nether lip.
DESDEMONA [Sings.]
"The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree,
Sing all a green willow;
Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee,
Sing willow, willow, willow.
The fresh streams ran by her and murmured her
moans;
Sing willow, willow, willow;
Her salt tears fell from her, and softened the stones,
Sing willow, willow, willow."
Lay by these. - "Willow, willow."
Prithee hie thee; he'll come anon.
"Sing all a green willow must be my garland.
Let nobody blame him; his scorn I approve" -
Nay, that's not next. Hark! who is't that knocks?
EMILIA It's the wind.
DESDEMONA [Sings.]
"I called my love false love, but what said he then?
Sing willow, willow, willow:
If I court more women, you'll couch with more men."
So, get thee gone; good night. Mine eyes do itch. 31-32 I have much to do / But i.e., it's all I can do not 33 Prithee dispatch please hurry 35 proper (1) good-looking, (2) well-behaved 41 willow ("weeping" tree identified with unrequited love) 49 hie thee hurry
Doth that bode weeping?
EMILIA 'Tis neither here nor there.
DESDEMONA
I have heard it said so. O, these men, these men!
Dost thou in conscience think - tell me, Emilia -
That there be women do abuse their husbands
In such gross kind?
EMILIA There be some such, no question.
DESDEMONA
Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?
EMILIA
Why, would not you?
DESDEMONA No, by this heavenly light!
EMILIA
Nor I neither by this heavenly light.
I might do't as well i' th' dark.
DESDEMONA
Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?
EMILIA The world's a huge thing; it is a great price for a small vice.
DESDEMONA
In troth, I think thou wouldst not.
EMILIA In troth, I think I should; and undo't when I had done. Marry, I would not do such a thing for a joint ring, nor for measures of lawn, nor for gowns, petticoats, nor caps, nor any petty exhibition; but, for all the whole world - 'Ud's pity! who would not make her husband a cuckold to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for't.
DESDEMONA
Beshrew me if I would do such a wrong 61 abuse mistreat (i.e., betray) 62 In such gross kind in this wicked way - i.e., carnally 70 In troth by my truth - i.e., faith (a mild oath) 72-73 joint ring ring made in two halves 73 lawn linen fabric 74 exhibition gift 75 'Ud's God's
For the whole world.
EMILIA Why, the wrong is but a wrong i' th' world; and having the world for your labor, 'tis a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly make it right.
DESDEMONA I do not think there is any such woman.
EMILIA Yes, a dozen; and as many to th' vantage as
would store the world they played for.
But I do think it is their husbands' faults
If wives do fall. Say that they slack their duties
And pour our treasures into foreign laps;
Or else break out in peevish jealousies,