The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)

by William Shakespeare

CASSIO

  To who?

  To who?

  Re-enter OTHELLO

  IAGO

  Marry, to--Come, captain, will you go?

  Why, to – My captain, shall we go?

  OTHELLO

  Have with you.

  Yes, let’s go.

  CASSIO

  Here comes another troop to seek for you.

  Here comes another group looking for you.

  IAGO

  It is Brabantio. General, be advised;

  It is Brabantio. Be careful, general,

  He comes to bad intent.

  Because he intends you harm.

  Enter BRABANTIO, RODERIGO, and Officers with torches and weapons

  OTHELLO

  Holla! stand there!

  Hello, stay there!

  RODERIGO

  Signior, it is the Moor.

  Sir, it is the Moor.

  BRABANTIO

  Down with him, thief!

  Get that thief!

  They draw on both sides

  IAGO

  You, Roderigo! come, sir, I am for you.

  Roderigo, come towards me, I’ll fight you.

  OTHELLO

  Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.

  Keep your swords in their sheaths so the dew does not rust them.

  Good signior, you shall more command with years

  Good sir, the years you have served the government will make me respect you

  Than with your weapons.

  More than fighting you will.

  BRABANTIO

  O thou foul thief, where hast thou stow'd my daughter?

  O you evil thief, where have you hidden my daughter?

  Damn'd as thou art, thou hast enchanted her;

  Since you are a damned soul, I know you put a spell on her.

  For I'll refer me to all things of sense,

  All good and common sense says that,

  If she in chains of magic were not bound,

  Unless she were enchanted through magic,

  Whether a maid so tender, fair and happy,

  A woman so gentle, beautiful, and happy,

  So opposite to marriage that she shunned

  A woman who was against marriage so much that she turned away

  The wealthy curled darlings of our nation,

  The wealthy noblemen of our nation,

  Would ever have, to incur a general mock,

  This woman would never do something others would see fit to make jokes at

  Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom

  Like run from her home to your black breast.

  Of such a thing as thou, to fear, not to delight.

  Someone like you should be feared, not enjoyed.

  Judge me the world, if 'tis not gross in sense

  The whole world may judge me if it’s not obvious

  That thou hast practised on her with foul charms,

  That you have practiced evil magic on her

  Abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals

  And taken advantage of her naive youth through drugs

  That weaken motion: I'll have't disputed on;

  That make one unable to move. I would go to court over the matter;

  'Tis probable and palpable to thinking.

  It’s what most likely happened.

  I therefore apprehend and do attach thee

  Therefore, I will take you and see that you are tried

  For an abuser of the world, a practiser

  As a criminal, a practicer

  Of arts inhibited and out of warrant.

  Of dark magic.

  Lay hold upon him: if he do resist,

  Take him: if he resists arrest

  Subdue him at his peril.

  Then forcefully hold him down.

  OTHELLO

  Hold your hands,

  Do not touch me,

  Both you of my inclining, and the rest:

  Neither you on my side or the rest of you.

  Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it

  If it were necessary to fight, I would not

  Without a prompter. Where will you that I go

  Need someone to tell me. Where do you want me to go

  To answer this your charge?

  In order to respond to your accusations?

  BRABANTIO

  To prison, till fit time

  To prison until the time

  Of law and course of direct session

  That the law sees fit to take you to court

  Call thee to answer.

  And ask you to testify.

  OTHELLO

  What if I do obey?

  And if I obey,

  How may the duke be therewith satisfied,

  Then how will the duke react,

  Whose messengers are here about my side,

  Since he sent these messengers

  Upon some present business of the state

  On urgent, national business

  To bring me to him?

  To bring me to him?

  First Officer

  'Tis true, most worthy signior;

  It’s true, worthy sir:

  The duke's in council and your noble self,

  The duke has called a meeting and you, too,

  I am sure, is sent for.

  I am sure, are asked to attend.

  BRABANTIO

  How! the duke in council!

  What? The duke has called a meeting!

  In this time of the night! Bring him away:

  This late at night! Take him away.

  Mine's not an idle cause: the duke himself,

  This is not some simple affair: the duke himself

  Or any of my brothers of the state,

  And all of the other senators

  Cannot but feel this wrong as 'twere their own;

  Will feel how wrong this is, as if it happened to them.

  For if such actions may have passage free,

  If actions like this go unpunished,

  Bond-slaves and pagans shall our statesmen be.

  Then slaves and pagans will become our rulers.

  Exeunt

  The DUKE and Senators sitting at a table; Officers attending

  DUKE OF VENICE

  There is no composition in these news

  Nothing about these messages

  That gives them credit.

  Makes me think that they are credible.

  First Senator

  Indeed, they are disproportion'd;

  Yes, they give conflicting reports.

  My letters say a hundred and seven galleys.

  My letters say there are a hundred and seven warships.

  DUKE OF VENICE

  And mine, a hundred and forty.

  And mine says a hundred and forty.

  Second Senator

  And mine, two hundred:

  Mind says two hundred.

  But though they jump not on a just account,--

  But though they give conflicting numbers –

  As in these cases, where the aim reports,

  Since it is often when one is reporting an estimate

  'Tis oft with difference--yet do they all confirm

  For there to be different numbers – they all report

  A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus.

  That a Turkish fleet is moving to Cyprus.

  DUKE OF VENICE

  Nay, it is possible enough to judgment:

  Right, that seems well confirmed.

  I do not so secure me in the error,

  I am not so taken by the inconsistency

  But the main article I do approve

  That I miss the bigger issue, which

  In fearful sense.

  Frightens me.

  Sailor

  [Within] What, ho! what, ho! what, ho!

  Hello! Hello!

  First Officer

  A messenger from the galleys.

  Another messenger fro
m the warships.

  Enter a Sailor

  DUKE OF VENICE

  Now, what's the business?

  What have you come to tell us?

  Sailor

  The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes;

  The Turkish fleet is heading to Rhodes, not Cyprus –

  So was I bid report here to the state

  This was what I was ordered to report to the government

  By Signior Angelo.

  By Sir Angelo.

  DUKE OF VENICE

  How say you by this change?

  What do you make of this change?

  First Senator

  This cannot be,

  This cannot be true

  By no assay of reason: 'tis a pageant,

  By any argument. It’s a show

  To keep us in false gaze. When we consider

  To distract us. We must remember

  The importancy of Cyprus to the Turk,

  The importance of Cyprus to the Turks.

  And let ourselves again but understand,

  This will force us to recognize

  That as it more concerns the Turk than Rhodes,

  That it is more important than Rhodes –

  So may he with more facile question bear it,

  Especially because the Turks can more easily take it

  For that it stands not in such warlike brace,

  Since it is not equipped with defenses

  But altogether lacks the abilities

  And lacks the preparations and forces

  That Rhodes is dress'd in: if we make thought of this,

  That Rhodes has. These things considered,

  We must not think the Turk is so unskilful

  We must not think that the Turks are so incompetent

  To leave that latest which concerns him first,

  That they would put off what they should do first,

  Neglecting an attempt of ease and gain,

  That they would not take a place so easily taken as Cyprus

  To wake and wage a danger profitless.

  And instead would attack a dangerous place like Rhodes.

  DUKE OF VENICE

  Nay, in all confidence, he's not for Rhodes.

  I agree, the Turks are certainly not heading to Rhodes.

  First Officer

  Here is more news.

  Another messenger is coming.

  Enter a Messenger

  Messenger

  The Ottomites, reverend and gracious,

  The Turks, my revered and gracious leader,

  Steering with due course towards the isle of Rhodes,

  Went to the island of Rhodes

  Have there injointed them with an after fleet.

  Where they have joined with another fleet.

  First Senator

  Ay, so I thought. How many, as you guess?

  I thought so. How many ships, do you think?

  Messenger

  Of thirty sail: and now they do restem

  Thirty ships, and now they are turning around

  Their backward course, bearing with frank appearance

  To their original course and clearly seem to

  Their purposes toward Cyprus. Signior Montano,

  Be heading to Cyprus. Sir Montano,

  Your trusty and most valiant servitor,

  Your trustworthy and brave servant,

  With his free duty recommends you thus,

  Sent me to give you this report and asks for reinforcements,

  And prays you to believe him.

  And asks you to believe him.

  DUKE OF VENICE

  'Tis certain, then, for Cyprus.

  That settles it: the Turks are going to Cyprus.

  Marcus Luccicos, is not he in town?

  Is Marcus Luccicos here in town?

  First Senator

  He's now in Florence.

  No, he’s in Florence.

  DUKE OF VENICE

  Write from us to him; post-post-haste dispatch.

  Write to him and send it immediately, as fast as possible.

  First Senator

  Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor.

  Here comes Brabantio and Othello, the courageous Moor.

  Enter BRABANTIO, OTHELLO, IAGO, RODERIGO, and Officers

  DUKE OF VENICE

  Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you

  Brave Othello, we must order you to go

  Against the general enemy Ottoman.

  Against the Turkish enemy.

  To BRABANTIO

  I did not see you; welcome, gentle signior;

  I did not see you there – welcome, good sir.

  We lack'd your counsel and your help tonight.

  We have lacked your insight and help tonight.

  BRABANTIO

  So did I yours. Good your grace, pardon me;

  And I lacked yours. Please, your grace, forgive me:

  Neither my place nor aught I heard of business

  It was not from hearing of this war business

  Hath raised me from my bed, nor doth the general care

  That made me get out of bed, nor was it general worry over the city

  Take hold on me, for my particular grief

  That woke me. My personal grief

  Is of so flood-gate and o'erbearing nature

  Is so overbearing, like a flood,

  That it engluts and swallows other sorrows

  That it overtakes and swallows all other sorrows and concerns

  And it is still itself.

  Without being satisfied.

  DUKE OF VENICE

  Why, what's the matter?

  What has happened?

  BRABANTIO

  My daughter! O, my daughter!

  My daughter! O, my daughter!

  ALL

  Dead?

  Dead?

  BRABANTIO

  Ay, to me;

  Yes, she is dead to me at least.

  She is abused, stol'n from me, and corrupted

  She has been abused, stolen from me, and corrupted

  By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks;

  By black magic and drugs given to her by deceivers.

  For nature so preposterously to err,

  Nature itself could not have made such a preposterous mistake,

  Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense,

  Since she is not mentally ill, or blind, or paralyzed,

  Sans witchcraft could not.

  So it must be the fault of witchcraft.

  DUKE OF VENICE

  Whoe'er he be that in this foul proceeding

  Whoever the criminal is

  Hath thus beguiled your daughter of herself

  Who has tricked your daughter

  And you of her, the bloody book of law

  And taken her from you, you will use the full, deadly laws

  You shall yourself read in the bitter letter

  To prosecute him in its harsh solutions

  After your own sense, yea, though our proper son

  As you see fit – even if it were my own son

  Stood in your action.

  Who did what you have said.

  BRABANTIO

  Humbly I thank your grace.

  I humbly thank you, your grace.

  Here is the man, this Moor, whom now, it seems,

  Here is the criminal: this Moor, who, it seems,

  Your special mandate for the state-affairs

  Your national interest problems

  Hath hither brought.

  Have brought here.

  ALL

  We are very sorry for't.

  We are sorry to hear this.

  DUKE OF VENICE

  [To OTHELLO] What, in your own part, can you say to this?

  How do you respond to this, Othello?

  BRABANTIO

  Nothing, but this is so.

  He can say nothing, it is true.

  OTHELLO

 
Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors,

  Powerful, serious, and revered sirs,

  My very noble and approved good masters,

  My noble and good masters,

  That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter,

  That I have taken this old man’s daughter from him

  It is most true; true, I have married her:

  Is true: I have married her.

  The very head and front of my offending

  The offenses Brabantio mentioned

  Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech,

  Are true only in this. I am not a skilled speaker

  And little bless'd with the soft phrase of peace:

  And do not know how to talk peacefully and smoothly:

  For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith,

  Since I was seven years old, and these arms had seven years of muscle,

  Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used

  Until nine months ago, I have used these arms

  Their dearest action in the tented field,

  For action in the battlefield.

  And little of this great world can I speak,

  I can’t say much about this great world

  More than pertains to feats of broil and battle,

  Unless it is about war and battle,

  And therefore little shall I grace my cause

  And therefore I will only say a little

  In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience,

  In speaking for my defense. But, by your patience, gracious Duke,

  I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver

  I will tell you straightforwardly the story

  Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what charms,

  Of how we fell in love – including the drugs, magic charms,

  What conjuration and what mighty magic,

  Spells, and darks arts,

  For such proceeding I am charged withal,

  Since that is what I am charged of using,

  I won his daughter.

  I used to win his daughter.

  BRABANTIO

  A maiden never bold;

  She was never bold,

  Of spirit so still and quiet, that her motion

  But always calm and quiet, so pure that

  Blush'd at herself; and she, in spite of nature,