Othello (Modern)
Not Peer Reviewed
¶
4.2
¶
Enter Othello and Emilia.
¶Othello You have seen nothing then?
¶Emilia Nor ever heard, nor ever did suspect.
2690Othello Yes, you have seen Cassio and she together.
¶Emilia But then I saw no harm; and then I heard
¶Each syllable that breath made up between them.
¶Othello What? Did they never whisper?
¶Emilia Never, my lord.
2695Othello Nor send you out o'th'way?
¶Emilia Never.
¶Othello To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor nothing?
¶Emilia Never, my lord.
¶Othello That's strange.
2700Emilia I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest,
¶Lay down my soul at stake. If you think other,
¶Remove your thought. It doth abuse your bosom.
¶If any wretch have put this in your head,
¶Let heaven requite it with the serpent's curse,
2705For if she be not honest, chaste, and true,
¶There's no man happy. The purest of their wives
| ¶Is foul as slander. | |
| ¶Othello | |
| Bid her come hither--go. | |
Exit Emilia.
¶She says enough; yet she's a simple bawd
2710That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore,
¶A closet lock and key of villainous secrets,
¶And yet she'll kneel and pray--I have seen her do't.
¶
Enter Desdemona and Emilia.
| ¶Desdemona | |
| My lord, what is your will? | |
| 2715Othello | |
| Pray you, chuck, come hither. | |
| ¶Desdemona | |
| What is your pleasure? | |
| ¶Othello | |
| Let me see your eyes; | |
| Look in my face. | |
| ¶Desdemona | |
| What horrible fancy's this? | |
2720Leave procreants alone and shut the door,
¶Cough or cry "hem!" if anybody come.
¶Your mystery, your mystery--nay, dispatch!
Exit Emilia.
¶Desdemona Upon my knee, what doth your speech import?
¶I understand a fury in your words,
| But not the words. | |
| 2725Othello | |
| Why? What art thou? | |
¶Desdemona Your wife, my lord, your true and loyal wife.
¶Othello Come, swear it; damn thyself,
¶Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves
¶Should fear to seize thee. Therefore be double damned:
| 2730Swear thou art honest. | |
| ¶Desdemona | |
| Heaven doth truly know it. | |
¶Othello Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell.
2735Othello Ah Desdemon, away, away, away.
¶Desdemona Alas the heavy day! Why do you weep?
¶Am I the motive of these tears, my lord?
¶If haply you my father do suspect
¶An instrument of this your calling back,
2740Lay not your blame on me; if you have lost him,
| ¶I have lost him too. | |
| ¶Othello | |
| Had it pleased heaven | |
¶To try me with affliction, had they rained
¶All kind of sores and shames on my bare head,
2745Steeped me in poverty to the very lips,
¶Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes,
¶I should have found in some place of my soul
¶A drop of patience. But, alas, to make me
¶The fixed figure for the time of scorn
2750To point his slow and moving finger at!
¶Yet could I bear that too, well, very well;
¶But there where I have garnered up my heart,
¶Where either I must live or bear no life,
¶The fountain from the which my current runs
2755Or else dries up--to be discarded thence--
¶Or keep it as a cistern for foul toads
¶To knot and gender in! Turn thy complexion there,
¶Patience, thou young and rose-lipped cherubin;
¶I here look grim as hell.
2760Desdemona I hope my noble lord esteems me honest.
¶Othello Oh ay, as summer flies are in the shambles,
¶That quicken even with blowing. O thou weed,
¶Who art so lovely fair and smell'st so sweet
¶That the sense aches at thee,
2765Would thou had'st never 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,
2770I 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
2775Is 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. | |
2780If 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. | |
| 2785Othello | |
| Is't possible? | |
| ¶Desdemona | |
| O heaven, forgive us. | |
2790
Enter Emilia.
¶Othello I cry you mercy then.
¶I took you for that cunning whore of Venice
¶That married with Othello. [To Emilia] You, mistress,
¶That have the office opposite to Saint Peter
¶And keeps the gate of hell. 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 [Othello].
2795Emilia Alas, what does this gentleman conceive?
¶How do you, madam? How do you, my good lady?
¶Desdemona Faith, half asleep.
| 2800Desdemona | |
| 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.
2805I 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 [Emilia].
2810Desdemona 'Tis meet I should be used so, very meet.
¶How have I been behaved that he might stick
¶The smallest opinion on my least misuse?
¶
Enter Iago and Emilia.
¶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. | |
| 2820Iago | |
| 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? | |
| 2825Iago | |
| 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?
2830Desdemona 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,
¶To be called whore? Would it not make one weep?
| 2835Desdemona | |
| 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,
2840Some 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.
¶The Moor's abused by some most villainous knave,
¶Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow.
¶O heavens, that such companions thou'd'st unfold
¶And put in every honest hand a whip
2855To 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
2860And made you to suspect me with the Moor.
| ¶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,
| 2865I know not how I lost him. | |
[She kneels.] | |
| Here I kneel. | |
¶If ere 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,
2870Or 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,
2875But 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.
2880The business of the state does him offence,
2880.1And he does chide with you.
| ¶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 stays the meat.
2885Go in, and weep not; all things shall be well.
¶
Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia.
¶
Enter Roderigo.
¶How now Roderigo?
¶Iago What in the contrary?
¶Roderigo Every day thou doff'st me with some device, ¶Iago, and rather, as it seems to me now, keep'st from ¶me all conveniency, then suppliest me with the least 2895advantage 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?
¶Iago You charge me most unjustly.
¶Roderigo 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 2905votarist. 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 2910tis 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 2915jewels, I will give over my suit and repent my ¶unlawful solicitation. If not, assure yourself, I will seek ¶satisfaction of you.
¶Iago You have said now.
¶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 2925exception, 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. 2930But, 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 2935treachery and devise engines for my life.
¶Iago Oh no, he goes into Mauritania and taketh ¶away with him the fair Desdemona, unless his ¶abode be lingered here by some accident, 2945wherein none can be so determinate as the removing of ¶Cassio.
¶Roderigo How do you mean removing him?
2950Roderigo And that you would have me to do.
¶Iago Ay, if you dare do yourself a profit and a ¶right. He sups to night 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 2955I 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 2960you shall think yourself bound to put it on him. It ¶is now high supper time, and the night grows to waste. ¶About it.
¶Roderigo I will hear further reason for this.
¶Iago And you shall be satisfied.
Exeunt.