Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Donald Bailey
Peer Reviewed

Othello (Quarto 1, 1622)

69
The Moore of Venice.

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.
Enter Othello and Emillia.
Oth. You haue seene nothing then.
Em. Nor euer heard, nor euer did suspect.
2690Oth. Yes, and you haue seene Cassio and she together.
Em. But then I saw no harme, and then I heard
Each sillable that breath made vp betweene 'em.
Oth. What, did they neuer whisper?
Em. Neuer, my Lord.
2695Oth. Nor send you out o'the way?
Em. Neuer.
Oth. To fetch her fan, her mask, her gloues, nor nothing?
Em. Neuer, my Lord.
Oth. That's strange.
2700Em. I durst my Lord, to wager she is honest,
Lay downe my soule at stake: if you thinke other,
Remoue your thought, it doth abuse your bosome,
If any wretch ha put this in your head,
Let heauens requite it with the Serpents curse.
2705For if she be not honest, chaste, and true,
There's no man happy, the purest of her Sex
Is foule as slander. Exit Emillia.
Oth. Bid her come hither, goe,
She sayes enough, yet she's a simple bawde,
2710That cannot say as much: this is a subtle whore,
A closet, locke and key, of villainous secrets
And yet shee'll kneele and pray, I ha seene her do't.
Enter Desdemona and Emillia.
Des. My Lord, what is your will?
2715Oth. Pray chucke come hither.
Des. What is your pleasure?
Oth.
K3