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  • Title: Othello (Quarto 1, 1622)
  • Editor: Donald Bailey
  • ISBN: 978-1-55058-466-0

    Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Donald Bailey
    Peer Reviewed

    Othello (Quarto 1, 1622)

    98
    The Tragedy of Othello

    Oth. Well, thou doest best.
    Lod. Sir, you shall vnderstand what hath befalne,
    Which, as I thinke you know not: here is a letter,
    3615Found in the pocket of the slaine Roderigo;
    And here another; the one of them imports
    The death of Cassio; to be vndertooke ---by Roderigo.
    Oth. O villaine.
    3620Cas. Most heathenish, and most grosse.
    Lod. Now heres another discontented paper,
    Found in his pocket too, and this it seemes,
    Roderigo meant to haue sent this damned villaine,
    But that belike, Iago, in the nicke
    3625Came in, and satisfied him.
    Oth. O the pernitious catieffe!
    How came you Cassio by a handkercher,
    That was my wifes?
    Cas. I found it in my chamber,
    3630And he himselfe confest it euen now,
    That there he dropt it, for a speciall purpose;
    Which wrought to his desire.
    Oth. O foole, foole, foole.
    Cas. There is besides in Roderigoes letter
    3635How he vpbraides Iago, that he made him,
    Braue me vpon the watch, whereon it came,
    That I was cast; and euen but now he spake,
    After long seeming dead, Iago hurt him,
    Iago set him on.
    3640Lod. You must forsake this roome, and goe with vs,
    Your power and your command is taken off,
    And Cassio rules in Cypres: for this slaue,
    If there be any cunning cruelty,
    That can torment him much, and hold him long,
    3645It shall be his: you shall close prisoner rest,
    Till that the nature of your fault be knowne
    To the Venetian State; come, bring him away.
    Oth. Soft you, a word or two,
    I haue done the State some seruice, and they know't;
    No