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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)

    Enter Desdemonia Emilla and the Clowne.
    Des}. Do you know sirra, where the Leiutenant Cassio lies?
    2140Clo. I dare not say he lies any where.
    Des. Why man?
    He is a Souldier, and for one to say a Souldier lies, is stabbing.
    Des. Go to, where lodges he?
    2145Clo. I know not where he lodges, and for me to deuise a lodging,
    2145.1and say he lies there, were to lie in my throate.
    Desd. Can you inquire him out, and be edified by report?
    Clo, I will cathechize the world for him, that is, make questions
    And by them answer.
    2155Desd. Seeke him, bid him come hither, tell him I haue moued my
    Lord in his behalfe, and hope all will be well.
    Clo. To doe this is within the compasse of a man, and therefore
    I'le attempt the doing of it. Exit.
    2160Desd. Where should I loose that handkercher Emillia?
    Em. I know not Madam.
    Des. Beleeue me, I had rather loose my purse
    Full of Crusadoes: and but my noble Moore
    2165Is true of minde, and made of no such basenesse,
    As iealous creatures are, it were enough,
    To put him to ill thinkiug.
    Em. Is he not iealous:
    Desd. Who he? I thinke the Sun where he was borne,
    2170Drew all such humors from him. Enter Othello.
    Em. Looke were he comes.
    Des. I will not leaue him now,
    Let Cassio be cald to him: how is it with you my Lord?
    2175Oth. Well my good Lady: O hardnesse to dissemble:
    How doe you Desdemona?
    Des. Well, my good Lord.
    Oth. Giue me your hand, this hand is moist my Lady.
    2180Des. It yet has felt no age, nor knowne no sorrow.
    Oth. This argues fruitfulnesse and liberall heart,
    Not hot and moist, this hand of yours requires
    A sequester from liberty: fasting and praying,
    Much castigation, exercise deuout;
    2185For heere's a young and swetting diuell here,
    That commonly rebels: tis a good hand,
    A franke one.
    Des. You may indeed say so,
    For twas that hand that gaue away my heart.
    2190Oth. A liberall hand, the hearts of old gaue hands,
    But our new herraldry is hands, not hearts.
    Des. I cannot speake of this, come, come, your promise.
    Oth. What promise chucke?
    2195Des. I haue sent to bid Cassio come speake with you.
    Oth. I haue a salt and sullen rhume offends me,
    Lend me thy handkercher,
    Des. Here my Lord.
    Oth. That which I gaue you.
    2200Des. I haue it not about me.
    Oth. Not.
    Des. No faith my Lord.
    Oth. Thats a fauit: that handkercher
    Did an Egyptian to my mother giue,
    2205She was a charmer, and could almost reade
    The thoughts of people; she told her while she kept it,
    T'would make her amiable, and subdue my father
    Intirely to her loue: But if she lost it,
    Intirely to her loue: But if she lost it,
    Or made a gift of it: my fathers eye
    2210Should hold her lothely, and his spirits should hunt
    After new fancies: she dying, gaue it me,
    And bid me when my fate would haue me wiue,
    To giue it her; I did so, and take heede on't,
    Make it a darling, like your pretious eye,
    2215To loose, or giue't away, were such perdition,
    As nothing else could match.
    Desd. I'st possi}ble?
    Oth. Tis true, there's magicke in the web of it,
    A Sybell that had numbred in the world,
    2220The Sun to make two hundred compasses,
    In her prophetique fury, sowed the worke;
    The wormes were hallowed that did breed the silke,
    And it was died in Mummy, with the skilfull
    Conserues of maidens hearts.
    2225Des. Ifaith i'st true?
    Oth. Most veritable, therefore looke to't well.
    Des. Then would to God, that I had neuer seene it.
    Oth. Ha, wherefore?
    Des. Why doe you speake so startingly and rashly.
    2230Oth. I'st lost? i'st gone? speake, is it out o'the way?
    Des. Heauen blesse vs.
    Oth. Say you?
    Des. It is not lost, but what and if it were?
    Oth. Ha.
    2235Des. I say it is not lost.
    Oth. Fetch't, let me see it,
    Des. Why so I can sir, but I will not now,
    This is a tricke, to put me from my suite,
    I pray let Cassio, be receiu'd againe.
    2240Oth. Fetch me that handkercher, my mind misgiues.
    Des. Come, come, you'll neuer meete a more sufficient man.
    Oth. The handkercher.
    2244.1Des. I pray talke me of Cassio.
    Oth. The handkercher.
    2245Des. A man that all his time,
    Hath founded his good fortunes on your loue,
    Shar'd dangers with you.
    Oth. The handkercher.
    Des. Ifaith you are too blame.
    2250Oth. Zouns. Exit.
    Em. Is not this man iealous?
    Des. I ne're saw this before:
    Sure there's some wonder in this handkercher,
    I am most vnhappy in the losse.
    Enter Iago and Cassi}o.
    2255Em. Tis not a yeere or two shewes vs a man,
    They are all but stomacks, and we all but foode;
    They eate vs hungerly, and when they are full,
    They belch vs; looke you, Cassio and my husband.
    Iag. There is no other way, tis she must doe it,
    And loe the happinesse, goe, and importune her.
    Des. How now good Cassio, what's the news with you?
    2265Cas. Madam, my former suite: I doe beseech you,
    That by your vertuous meanes, I may againe
    Exist, and be a member of his loue,
    Whom I, with all the duty of my heart,
    Intirely honour, I would not be delayed:
    2270If my offence be of such mortall kind,
    That neither seruice past, nor present sorrowes,
    Nor purpos'd merrit, in futurity
    Can ransome me, into his loue againe
    But to know so, must be my benefit,
    2275So shall I cloth me in a forc'd content,
    And shoote my selfe vp in some other course,
    To fortunes almes.
    Des. Alas thrice gentle Cassio,
    My aduocation is not now in tune;
    2280My Lord is not my Lord, nor should I know him,
    Were he in fauour, as in humor altred.
    So helpe me, euery spirit sanctified,
    As I haue spoken for you, all my best,
    And stood within the blanke of his displeasure,
    2285For my free speech: you must a while be patient,
    What I can doe I will, and more I will
    Then for my selfe I dare, let that suffice you.
    Iag. Is my Lord angry?
    Em. He went hence but now,
    2290And certainely in strange vnquietnesse.
    Iag. Can he be angry? I haue seene the Cannon,
    When it hath blowne his rankes into the ayre;
    And (like the Diuell) from his very arme,
    Puft his owne brother, and can he be angry?
    2295Something of moment then: I will goe meete him,
    There's matter in't indeed, if he be angry.
    Desd. I preethee do so: something sure of State,
    Either from Venice, or some vnhatcht practice,
    Made demonstrable here in Cypres to him,
    2300Hath pudled his cleere spirit, and in such cases
    Mens natures wrangle with inferior things,
    Tho great ones are the obiect,
    Tis euen so: for let our finger ake,
    And it endues our other heathfull members,
    Euen to that sence of paine; nay, we must thinke,
    2305Men are not gods,
    Nor of them looke for such obseruances
    As fits the Bridall: beshrew me much Emillia,
    I was (vnhandsome, warrior as I am)
    Arraigning his vnkindnesse with my soule;
    2310But now I finde, I had subbornd the witnesse,
    And hee's indited falsly.
    Em. Pray heauen it be State matters, as you thinke,
    And no conception, nor no iealous toy
    Concerning you.
    2315Desd. Alas the day, I neuer gaue him cause.
    Em. But iealous soules will not be answered so,
    They are not euer iealous for the cause,
    But iealous for they are iealous: tis a monster,
    Begot vpon it selfe, borne on it selfe.
    2320Desd. Heauen keepe that monster from Othello's mind.
    Em. Lady, Amen.
    Des. I will goe seeke him, Cassio, walke here about,
    If I doe finde him fit, I'le moue your suite, Exeunt Desd. and Emillia.
    And seeke to effect it to my vttermost.
    2325Cas. I humbly thanke your Ladiship.
    Bian. Saue you friend Cassio. Enter Bianca.
    Cas. What make you from home?
    How is it with you my most faire Bianca?
    2330Ifaith sweete loue I was comming to your house.
    Bian. And I was going to your Lodging Cassio;
    What, keepe a weeke away? seuen daies and nights,
    Eightscore eight houres, and louers absent houres,
    More tedious then the diall, eightscore times,
    2335No weary reckoning.
    Cas. Pardon me Bianca,
    I haue this while with laden thoughts bin prest,
    But I shall in a more conuenient time,
    Strike off this score of absence: sweete Bianca,
    2340Take me this worke out.
    Bian. Oh Cassio, whence came this?
    This is some token from a newer friend,
    To the felt absence, now I feele a cause,
    Ist come to this?
    2345Cas. Go to woman,
    Throw your vile ghesses in the diuells teeth,
    From whence you haue them, you are iealous now,
    That this is from some mistrisse, some remembrance,
    No by my faith Bianca,
    2350Bian. Why who's is it?
    Cas. I know not sweete, I found it in my chamber,
    I like the worke well, ere it be demanded,
    As like enough it will, I'de haue it coppied,
    2355Take it, and do't, and leaue me for this time.
    Bian. Leaue you, wherefore?
    Cas. I doe attend here on the Generall,
    And thinke it no addition, nor my wish,
    To haue him see me woman'd.
    Bian. But that you doe not loue me:
    I pray you bring me on the way alittle,
    And say, if I shall see you soone at night.
    2365Cas. Tis but a little way, that I can bring you,
    For I attend here, but I'le see you soone.
    Bian. Tis very good, I must be circumstanc'd.
    Exeunt.
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