Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Donald Bailey
Peer Reviewed

Othello (Quarto 1, 1622)

73
The Moore of Venice.

Des. Nay, heauen doth know.
Em. I will be hang'd, if some eternall villaine,
2840Some busie and insinuating rogue,
Some cogging, cousening slaue, to get some office,
Haue not deuisde this slander, I'le be hang'd else.
Iag. Fie, there is no such man, it is impossible.
Des. If any such there be, heauen pardon him.
2845Em. A halter pardon him, and hell gnaw his bones:
Why should he call her whore? who keepes her company?
What place, what time, what forme, what likelihood?
The Moore's abus'd by some outragious knaue:
Some base notorious knaue, some scuruy fellow,
O heauen, that such companions thoudst vnfold,
And put in euery honest hand a whip,
2855To lash the rascall naked through the world,
Euen from the East to the West.
Iag. Speake within dores.
Em. O fie vpon him; some such squire he was,
That turnd your wit, the seamy side without,
2860And made you to suspect me with the Moore.
Iag. You are a foole, goe to.
Des. O Good Iago,
What shall I doe to win my Lord againe?
Good friend goe to him, for by this light of heauen,
2865I know not how I lost him.
Iag. I pray you be content, tis but his humour,
2880The businesse of the State does him offence,
2880.1And he does chide with you.
Des. If t'were no other.
Iag. Tis but so, I warrant you,
Harke how these Instruments summon you to supper,
And the great Messengers of Venice stay,
2885Goe in, and weepe not, all things shall be well. Exit women.
How now Roderigo? Enter Roderigo.
Rod. I doe not finde that thou dealst iustly with me.
Iag. What in the contrary?
Rod. Euery day, thou dofftst me, with some deuise Iago;
And
L