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Othello (Quarto 1, 1622)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Donald L. Bailey
Peer Reviewed
Actus. 4.
2370
Enter Iago and Othello.
Iag. Will you thinke so?
Oth. Thinke so Iago.
Iag. What, to kisse in priuate?
Oth. An vnauthoriz'd kisse.
2375Iag. Or to be naked with her friend abed,
An houre, or more, not meaning any harme.
Oth. Naked abed Iago, and not meane harme?
It is hypocrisie against the diuell:
They that meane vertuously, and yet doe so,
2380The diuell their vertue tempts, and they tempt heauen.
Iag. So they doe nothing, tis a veniall slip;
But if I giue my wife a handkercher.
Oth. What then?
Iag. Why then tis hers my Lord, and being hers,
2385She may, I thinke, bestow't on any man.
Oth. She is protectres of her honour to,
May she giue that?
Iag. Her honour is an essence that's not seene,
They haue it very oft, that haue it not:
2390But for the handkercher.
Oth. By heauen, I would most gladly haue forgot it:
Thou saidst (O it comes o're my memory,
As doth the Rauen o're the infected house,
Boding to all.) He had my handkercher.
2395Iag. I, what of that?
Oth. That's not so good now.
Iag. What if I had said I had seene him do you wrong?
Or heard him say (as knaues be such abroad)
Who hauing by their owne importunate suite,
2400Or by the voluntary dotage of some mistris,
Conuinced, or supplied them, cannot chuse,
But they must blab.
Oth. Hath he said any thing?
Iag. He hath my Lord, but be you well assur'd,
2405No more then hee'l vnsweare.
Oth. What hath he sayd?
Iag. Faith that he did --I know not what he did.
Oth. But what? Iag. Lye.
2410Oth. With her?
Iag. With her, on her, what you will.
Oth. Lie with her, lie on her? We say lie on her, when they bely
her; lye with her, Zouns, that's fulsome, handkerchers, Confession,
hankerchers.
He fals downe.
Iag. Worke on my medicine, worke: thus credulous fooles are
caught, and many worthy and chaste dames, euen thus all guiltlesse,
meete reproach; What ho my Lord, my Lord I say, Othello, --how
now Cassio.
Enter Cassio.
Cas. What's the matter?
Iag. My Lord is falne into an Epilepsy,
2430This is his second fit, he had one yesterday.
Cas. Rub him about the Temples.
2431.1Iag. No, forbeare,
The Lethergie, must haue his quiet course,
If not he foames at mouth, and by and by
Breakes out to sauage madnesse: looke he stirres:
2435Doe you withdraw your selfe a little while,
He will recouer straight, when he is gone,
I would on great occasion speake with you.
How is it Generall, haue you not hurt your head?
Oth. Doest thou mocke me?
2440Iag. I mocke you? no by Heauen,
Would you would beare your fortunes like a man.
Oth. A horned man's a monster, and a beast.
Iag. There's many a beast then in a populous City,
And many a ciuill monster.
2445Oth. Did he confesse?
Iag. Good sir be a man,
Thinke euery bearded fellow, that's but yoak'd,
May draw with you, there's millions now aliue,
That nightly lyes in those vnproper beds,
2450Which they dare sweare peculiar: your case is better:
O tis the spite of hell, the fiends arch mocke,
To lip a wanton in a secure Coach,
And to suppose her chaste: No, let me know,
And knowing what I am, I know what she shall be.
2455Oth. O thou art wise, tis certaine.
Iag. Stand you awhile apart,
Confine your selfe but in a patient list:
Whilst you were here ere while, mad with your griefe,
A passion most vnsuting such a man,
2460Cassio came hither, I shifted him away,
And layed good scuse, vpon your extacy,
Bid him anon retire, and here speake with me,
The which he promisde: but incaue your selfe,
And marke the Ieeres, the Iibes, and notable scornes,
2465That dwell in euery region of his face;
For I will make him tell the tale anew,
Where, how, how oft, how long agoe, and when,
He has, and is againe to cope your wife:
I say, but marke his ieasture, mary patience,
2470Or I shall say, you are all in all, in spleene,
And nothing of a man.
Oth. Doest thou heare Iago,
I will be found most cunning in my patience;
But doest thou heare, most bloody.
2475Iag. That's not amisse:
But yet keepe time in all; will you withdraw?
Now will I question Cassio of Bianca;
A huswife that by selling her desires,
Buys her selfe bread and cloathes: it is a Creature,
2480That dotes on Cassio: as tis the strumpets plague
To beguile many, and be beguild by one,
Ent. Cassio:
He, when he heares of her, cannot refraine
From the excesse of laughter: here he comes:
2485As he shall smile, Othello shall goe mad,
And his vnbookish iealousie must conster
Poore Cassio's smiles, gestures, and light behauiour,
Quite in the wrong: How doe you now Leiutenant?
Cas. The worser, that you giue me the addition,
2490Whose want euen kills me.
Iag. Ply Desdemona well, and you are sure on't.
Now if this suite lay in Bianca's power,
How quickly should you speed.
Cas. Alas poore Catiue.
2495Oth. Looke how he laughes already.
Iag. I neuer knew a woman loue man so.
Cas. Alas poore rogue, I thinke ifaith she loues me.
Oth. Now he denyes it faintly, and laughes it out.
Iag. Doe you heare Cassio?
2500Oth. Now he importunes him to tell it on,
Goe to, well said.
Iag. She giues it out that you shall marry her,
Doe you intend it?
Cas. Ha, ha, ha.
2505Oth. Doe you triumph Roman, doe you triumph?
Cas. I marry her? I prethee beare some charity to my wit,
Doe not thinke it so vnwholesome: ha, ha, ha.
Oth. So, so, so, so, laugh that wins.
2510Iag. Faith the cry goes, you shall marry her.
Cas. Preethee say true.
Iag. I am a very villaine else,
Oth. Ha you stor'd me well.
Cas. This is the monkies own giuing out; she is perswuaded I wil
2515marry her, out of her owne loue and flattery, not out of my promise.
Oth. Iago beckons me, now he begins the story.
Cas. She was heere euen now, shee haunts me in euery place, I
was tother day, talking on the sea banke, with certaine Venetians, and
thither comes this bauble, by this hand she fals thus about my neck.
Oth. Crying, O deare Cassio, as it were: his iesture imports it.
Cas. So hangs, and lolls, and weepes vpon me; so hales, and puls
me, ha, ha, ha.
Oth. Now he tells how she pluckt him to my Chamber,
I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I shall throw't to.
Cas. Well, I must leaue her company.
Enter Bianca.
2530Iag. Before me, looke where she comes,
Tis such another ficho; marry a perfum'd one, what doe you meane
by this hanting of me.
Bian. Let the diuel and his dam haunt you, what did you meane
2535by that same handkercher, you gaue mee euen now? I was a fine
foole to take it; I must take out the whole worke, a likely peece of
worke, that you should find it in your chamber, and not know who
left it there: this is some minxes token, and I must take out the
worke; there, giue it the hobby horse, wheresoeuer you had it, I'le
take out no worke on't.
Cas. How now my sweete Bianca, how now, how now?
Oth. By heauen that should be my handkercher.
2545Bian. An you'll come to supper to night, you may, an you will
not, come when you are next prepar'd for.
Exit.
Iag. After her, after her.
Cas. Faith I must, shee'll raile i'the streete else.
Iag. Will you sup there?
2550Cas. Faith I intend so.
Iag. Well, I may chance to see you, for I would very faine speake
with you.
Cas. Preethee come, will you?
Iag. Goe to, say no more.
Exit Cassio.
2555Oth. How shall I murder him Iago?
Iag. Did you perceiue, how he laughed at his vice?
Oth. O Iago,
Iag. And did you see the handkercher?
Oth. Was that mine?
Oth. I would haue him nine yeares a killing; a fine woman, a faire
woman, a sweete woman.
2565Iag. Nay you must forget.
Oth. And let her rot and perish, and be damb'd to night, for she
shall not liue: no, my heart is turn'd to stone; I strike it, and it hurts
my hand: O the world has not a sweeter creature, she might lie by
an Emperours side, and command him taskes.
Iag. Nay that's not your way.
Oth. Hang her, I doe but say what she is: So delicate with her
needle, an admirable musition, O shee will sing the sauagenesse
out of a Beare; of so hye and plentious wit and inuention.
Iag. Shee's the worse for all this.
Oth. A thousand thousand times: and then of so gentle a con-
dition.
Iag. I, too gentle.
2580Oth. I that's certaine, but yet the pitty of it Iago, the pitty.
Ia. If you be so fond ouer her iniquity, giue her patent to offend,
for if it touches not you, it comes neere no body.
Oth. I will chop her into messes ---cuckold me!
Iag. O tis foule in her.
Oth. With mine Officer.
Iag. That's fouler.
2590Oth. Get me some poison Iago, this night I'le not expostulate
with her, lest her body and beauty vnprouide my minde agen, this
night Iago.
Iag. Doe it not with poison, strangle her in her bed, euen the
bed she hath contaminated.
2595Oth. Good, good, the iustice of it pleases very good.
Iag. And for Cassio, let me bee his vndertaker: you shall heare
more by midnight.
A Trumpet.
Enter Lodouico, Desdemona, and Attendants.
2600Oth. Excellent good:
What Trumpet is that same?
Iag. Something from Venice sure, tis Lodouico,
Come from the Duke, and see your wife is with him.
Lod. God saue the worthy Generall.
2605Oth. With all my heart sir.
Lod. The Duke and Senators of Venice greete you.
Oth. I kisse the instrument of their pleasures.
Des. And what's the newes good cousen Lodouico?
Iag. I am very glad to see you Seignior: --welcome to Cypres.
Lod. I thanke you, how does Leiutenant Cassio?
Iag. Liues sir.
Des. Cousen, there's falne betweene him and my Lord,
An vnkind breach, but you shall make all well.
2615Oth. Are you sure of that?
Des. My Lord.
Oth. This faile you not to doe, as you will. ---
Lod. He did not call, hee's busie in the paper:
Is there diuision betweene thy Lord and Cassio?
2620Des. A most vnhappy one, I would doe much
To attone them, for the loue I beare to Cassio.
Oth. Fire and Brimstone.
Des. My Lord.
Oth. Are you wise?
2625Desd. What, is he angry?
Lod. May be the letter mou'd him;
For as I thinke, they doe command him home,
Deputing Cassio in his gouernement.
Desd. By my troth, I am glad on't.
2630Oth. Indeed.
Des. My Lord.
Oth. I am glad to see you mad.
Des. How sweete Othello?
Oth. Diuell.
2635Des. I haue not deseru'd this.
Lod. My Lord, this would not be beleeu'd in Venice,
Tho I should sweare I saw't: tis very much,
Make her amends, she weepes.
Oth. O Diuell, Diuell,
2640If that the earth could teeme with womens teares
Each drop she falls, would proue a Crocadile:
Out of my sight.
Des. I will not stay to offend you.
Lod. Truely an obedient Lady:
2645I doe beseech your Lordship, call her backe.
Oth. Mistrisse.
Des My Lord.
Oth. What would you with her sir?
Lod. Who, I my Lord?
2650Oth. I, you did wish that I would make her turne:
Sir she can turne, and turne, and yet go on,
And turne againe, and she can weepe sir, weepe;
And shee's obedient, as you say, obedient;
Very obedient, proceed you in your teares,
2655Concerning this sir: O well painted passion:
I am commanded here: -- get you away,
I'le send for you anon: -- Sir, I obey the mandat,
And will returne to Venice: ---hence, auant,
Cassio shall haue my place; and sir to night
2660I doe intreate that we may sup together,
You are welcome sir to Cypres, --goates and monkies.
Exit.
Lod. Is this the noble Moore, whom our full Senate
Call all in all sufficient? This the noble nature,
2665Whom passion could not shake? Whose solid vertue,
The shot of accident, nor dart of chance
Could neither graze, nor peirce?
Iag. He is much changed.
Lod. Are his wits safe? is he not light of braine?
2670Iag. He's that he is, I may not breathe my censure,
What he might be, if as he might, he is not,
I would to heauen he were.
Lod. What, strike his wife.
Iag. Faith that was not so well; yet would I knew
2675That stroake would proue the worst.
Lod. Is it his vse?
Or did the letters worke vpon his blood.
And new create this fault?
Iag. Alas, alas.
2680It is not honesty in me to speake,
What I haue seene and knowne, you shall obserue him,
And his owne courses will denote him so,
That I may saue my speech: doe but goe after,
And marke how he continues.
2685Lod. I am sorry that I am deceiu'd in him.
Exeunt.