Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Donald Bailey
Peer Reviewed

Othello (Quarto 1, 1622)

66
The Tragedy of Othello

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.