Not the world’s mass of vanity182 could make me.IAGO I pray you be content: ’tis but his humour183.
The business of the state does him offence.DESDEMONA If ’twere no other—IAGO It is but so, I warrant.Trumpets within
Hark, how these instruments summon to supper!
The messengers of Venice stays188 the meat:
Go in, and weep not: all things shall be well.Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia
Enter Rodorigo How now, Rodorigo?RODORIGO I do not find that thou deal’st justly with me.IAGO What in the contrary?RODORIGO Every day thou daff’st me193 with some device, Iago,
and rather, as it seems to me now, keep’st from me all
conveniency195 than suppliest me with the least advantage of
hope. I will indeed no longer endure it, nor am I yet
persuaded to put up197 in peace what already I have foolishly
suffered.IAGO Will you hear me, Rodorigo?RODORIGO I have heard too much, and your words and
performances are no kin together.IAGO You charge me most unjustly.RODORIGO With naught 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 votarist205:
you have told me she hath received them and returned
me expectations and comforts207 of sudden respect and
acquaintance208, but I find none.IAGO Well, go to210, very well.RODORIGO ‘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
fopped212 in it.IAGO Very well.RODORIGO 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: if not,
assure yourself I will seek satisfaction217 of you.IAGO You have said218 now.RODORIGO Ay, and said nothing but what I protest intendment219
of doing.IAGO Why, now I see there’s mettle221 in thee, and even from
this instant do build on thee a better opinion than ever
before. Give me thy hand, Rodorigo: thou hast taken against
me a most just exception224, but yet I protest I have dealt most
directly225 in thy affair.RODORIGO It hath not appeared.IAGO I grant indeed it hath not appeared, and your
suspicion is not without wit and judgement. But, Rodorigo, if
thou hast that in thee indeed which I have greater reason to
believe now than ever — I mean purpose, courage and
valour — this night show it: if thou the next night following
enjoy not Desdemona, take me from this world with
treachery and devise engines233 for my life.RODORIGO Well, what is it? Is it within reason and compass234?IAGO Sir, there is especial commission come from Venice
to depute Cassio in Othello’s place.RODORIGO Is that true? Why then Othello and Desdemona
return again to Venice.IAGO O, no. He goes into Mauritania239 and taketh away
with him the fair Desdemona, unless his abode be lingered240
here by some accident, wherein none can be so determinate241
as the removing of Cassio.RODORIGO How do you mean, removing him?IAGO Why, by making him uncapable of Othello’s place:
knocking out his brains.RODORIGO 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 harlotry248, and thither will I go to him. He
knows not yet of his honourable fortune: if you will watch
his going thence — which I will fashion to fall out250 between
twelve and one — you may take him at your pleasure. I will
be near to second252 your attempt, and he shall fall between us.
Come, stand not amazed253 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 high255 suppertime,
and the night grows to waste256RODORIGO I will hear further reason for this.IAGO And you shall be satisfied.Exeunt
Act 4 Scene 3 running scene 9 continues
Enter Othello, Lodovico, Desdemona, Emilia and AttendantsLODOVICO I do beseech you, sir, trouble yourself no further.OTHELLO O, pardon me: ’twill do me good to walk.LODOVICO Madam, goodnight. I humbly thank your ladyship.DESDEMONA Your honour is most welcome.OTHELLO Will you walk, sir?— O, Desdemona!DESDEMONA My lord?Exeunt [Othello, Lodovico and Attendants]
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.EMILIA How goes it now? He looks gentler than he did.DESDEMONA He says he will return incontinent11,
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 wearing16, and adieu.
We must not now displease him.EMILIA I would you had never seen him.DESDEMONA So would not I: my love doth so approve19 him
That even his stubbornness20, his checks, his frowns —
Prithee unpin me21 — have grace and favour.EMILIA I have laid those sheets you bade me on the bed.DESDEMONA All’s one23.— Good father, how foolish are our
minds!—
If I do die before24, prithee shroud me
In one of these same sheets.EMILIA Come, come, you talk26.DESDEMONA My mother had a maid called Barbary27:
She was in love, and he she loved proved mad28
And did forsake her. She had a song of ‘willow29’,
An old thing ’twas, but it expressed her fortune,
And she died singing it: that song tonight
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 proper37 man.EMILIA A very handsome man.DESDEMONA He speaks well.EMILIA I know a lady in Venice would have walked barefoot to
Palestine for a touch of his nether41 lip.DESDEMONA The poor soul sat singing by a sycamore42 tree,Sings
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—
Lay by these50—To Emilia
Willow, willow—Sings
Prithee, hie thee52: he’ll come anon— Sing all a green willow must be my garland.Sings
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 I called my love false love, but what said he then?Sings
Sing willow, willow, willow:
If I court more women, you’ll couch59 with more men!—
So, get thee gone, goodnight. Mine eyes do itch:
Doth that bode61 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 abuse65 their husbands
In such gross kind66?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 price74
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-ring78, nor
for
measures of lawn79, nor for gowns, petticoats, nor caps,
nor any petty exhibition80: but for all the whole world, why,
who would not make her husband a cuckold to make him a
monarch? I should venture82 purgatory for’t.DESDEMONA Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong
For the whole world.EMILIA Why, the wrong is but a wrong i’th’world, and
having the world for your labour, ’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’vantage89 as
Would store90 the world they played for.
But I do think it is their husbands’ faults
If wives do fall92. Say that they slack their duties
And pour our treasures into foreign laps93,
Or else break out in peevish94 jealousies,
Throwing restraint upon us, or say they strike us,
Or scant96 our former having in despite:
Why, we have galls97, and though we have some grace,
Yet have we some revenge98. Let husbands know
Their wives have sense like them: they see and smell
And have their palates both for sweet and sour,
As husbands have. What is it that they do
When they change102 us for others? Is it sport?
I think it is. And doth affection103 breed it?
I think it doth. Is’t frailty that thus errs?
It is so too. And have not we affections?
Desires for sport? And frailty, as men have?
Then let them use107 us well: else let them know,
The ills we do, their ills instruct us so.DESDEMONA Goodnight, goodnight: heaven me such uses109 send
Not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend110!Exeunt
Act 5 Scene 1 running scene 10
Location: Cyprus (a street)
Enter Iago and RodorigoIAGO Here, stand behind this bulk1: straight will he come.
Wear thy good rapier bare2, and put it home.
Quick, quick, fear nothing; I’ll be at thy elbow.
It makes us or it mars4 us: think on that,
And fix most firm thy resolution.RODORIGO Be near at hand: I may miscarry6 in’t.IAGO Here, at thy hand: be bold, and take thy stand.Conceals himself
RODORIGO I have no great devotion to the deed,
And yet he hath given me satisfying reasons.
’Tis but a man gone. Forth, my sword: he dies.Draws
IAGO I have rubbed this young quat11 almost to the sense,Aside
And he grows angry12. Now, whether he kill Cassio
Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,
Every way makes my gain. Live Rodorigo14,
He calls me to a restitution large
Of gold and jewels that I bobbed16 from him
As gifts17 to Desdemona:
It must not be. If Cassio do remain,
He hath a daily beauty in his life
That makes me ugly: and besides, the Moor
May unfold21 me to him: there stand I in much peril.
No, he must die. But so: I heard him coming.
Enter CassioRODORIGO I know his gait, ’tis he.— Villain, thou diest!Makes a
sword thrust
CASSIO That thrust had been mine enemy indeed,
But that my coat25 is better than thou know’st:
I will make proof26 of thine.Draws and wounds Rodorigo
RODORIGO O, I am slain!He falls; Iago comes forward and stabs Cassio on the leg
Exit Iago
CASSIO I am maimed for ever. Help, ho! Murder, murder!He falls
Enter OthelloOTHELLO The voice of Cassio: Iago keeps his word.RODORIGO O, villain that I am!OTHELLO It is even so.CASSIO O, help, ho! Light! A surgeon!OTHELLO ’Tis he. O brave33 Iago, honest and just,
That hast such noble sense of thy friend’s wrong!
Thou teachest me.— Minion35, your dear lies dead,
And your unblest36 fate hies. Strumpet, I come:
For of37 my heart those charms, thine eyes, are blotted,
Thy bed, lust-stained, shall with lust’s blood be spotted.Exit Othello
Enter Lodovico and GratianoCASSIO What, ho! No watch? No passage39? Murder, murder!GRATIANO ’Tis some mischance: the voice is very direful40.CASSIO O, help!LODOVICO Hark!RODORIGO O wretched villain!LODOVICO Two or three groan. ’Tis heavy44 night;
These may be counterfeits: let’s think’t unsafe
To come in to46 the cry without more help.RODORIGO Nobody come: then shall I bleed to death.
Enter Iago With a light and weapons
LODOVICO Hark!GRATIANO Here’s one comes in his shirt49, with light and
weapons.IAGO Who’s there? Whose noise is this that cries on
murder?LODOVICO We do not know.IAGO Do not you hear a cry?CASSIO Here, here! For heaven sake, help me!IAGO What’s the matter?GRATIANO This is Othello’s ancient, as I take it.To Lodovico
LODOVICO The same indeed: a very valiant fellow.To Gratiano
IAGO What are you here that cry so grievously?CASSIO Iago? O, I am spoiled58, undone by villains!
Give me some help.IAGO O me, lieutenant! What villains have done this?CASSIO I think that one of them is hereabout,
And cannot make away.IAGO O treacherous villains!—To Lodovico and Gratiano
What are you there? Come in, and give some help.RODORIGO O, help me there!CASSIO That’s one of them.IAGO O murd’rous slave! O villain!Stabs Rodorigo
RODORIGO O damned Iago! O inhuman dog!IAGO Kill men i’th’dark!— Where be these bloody
thieves?—
How silent is this town!— Ho! Murder, murder!—
What may you be? Are you of good or evil?To Lodovico and Gratiano
LODOVICO As you shall prove72 us, praise us.IAGO Signior Lodovico?LODOVICO He, sir.IAGO I cry you mercy. Here’s Cassio hurt by villains.GRATIANO Cassio?IAGO How is’t, brother?To Cassio
CASSIO My leg is cut in two.IAGO Marry, heaven forbid!—
Light, gentlemen. I’ll bind it with my shirt.
Enter BiancaBIANCA What is the matter, ho? Who is’t that cried?IAGO Who is’t that cried?BIANCA O my dear Cassio! My sweet Cassio! O Cassio,
Cassio, Cassio!IAGO O notable strumpet! Cassio, may you suspect85
Who they should be that have thus mangled you?CASSIO No.GRATIANO I am sorry to find you thus: I have been to seek you.IAGO Lend me a garter89. So.— O, for a chair
To bear him easily hence!BIANCA Alas, he faints! O Cassio, Cassio, Cassio!IAGO Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash92
To be a party in this injury.—
Patience awhile, good Cassio.— Come, come;
Lend me a light.Shines light on Rodorigo
Know we this face or no?
Alas, my friend and my dear countryman
Rodorigo? No. Yes, sure: yes, ’tis Rodorigo.GRATIANO What, of Venice?IAGO Even he, sir: did you know him?GRATIANO Know him? Ay.IAGO Signior Gratiano? I cry your gentle pardon:
These bloody accidents102 must excuse my manners
That so neglected you.GRATIANO I am glad to see you.IAGO How do you, Cassio?— O, a chair, a chair!GRATIANO Rodorigo?IAGO He, he ’tis he.—
O, that’s well said108: the chair!Attendants bring in a chair
Some good man bear him carefully from hence:
Othello Page 13