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  • William Shakespeare: Othello, Act IV

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Act IVScene ICyprus. Before the castleEnter Othello and IagoIagoWill you think so?OthelloThink so, Iago!IagoWhat, To kiss in private?OthelloAn unauthorized kiss.IagoOr to be naked with her friend in bed An hour or more, not meaning any harm?OthelloNaked in bed, Iago, and not mean harm! It is hypocrisy against the devil: They that mean virtuously, and yet do so, The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt heaven.IagoSo they do nothing, ’tis a venial slip: But if I give my wife a handkerchief,—OthelloWhat then?IagoWhy, then, ’tis hers, my lord; and, being hers, She may, I think, bestow’t on any man.OthelloShe is protectress of her honour too: May she give that?IagoHer honour is an essence that’s not seen; They have it very oft that have it not: But, for the handkerchief,—OthelloBy heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it. Thou said’st, it comes o’er my memory, As doth the raven o’er the infected house, Boding to all—he had my handkerchief.IagoAy, what of that?OthelloThat’s not so good now.IagoWhat, If I had said I had seen him do you wrong? Or heard him say,—as knaves be such abroad, Who having, by their own importunate suit, Or voluntary dotage of some mistress, Convinced or supplied them, cannot choose But they must blab—OthelloHath he said any thing?IagoHe hath, my lord; but be you well assured, No more than he’ll unswear.OthelloWhat hath he said?Iago’Faith, that he did—I know not what he did.OthelloWhat? what?IagoLie—OthelloWith her?IagoWith her, on her; what you will.OthelloLie with her! lie on her! We say lie on her, when they belie her. Lie with her! that’s fulsome. —Handkerchief—confessions—handkerchief!—To confess, and be hanged for his labour;—first, to be hanged, and then to confess.—I tremble at it. Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing passion without some instruction. It is not words that shake me thus. Pish! Noses, ears, and lips. —Is’t possible?—Confess—handkerchief!—O devil!—Falls in a tranceIagoWork on, My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught; And many worthy and chaste dames even thus, All guiltless, meet reproach. What, ho! my lord! My lord, I say! Othello!Enter CassioHow now, Cassio!CassioWhat’s the matter?IagoMy lord is fall’n into an epilepsy: This is his second fit; he had one yesterday.CassioRub him about the temples.IagoNo, forbear; The lethargy must have his quiet course: If not, he foams at mouth and by and by Breaks out to savage madness. Look he stirs: Do you withdraw yourself a little while, He will recover straight: when he is gone, I would on great occasion speak with you.Exit CassioHow is it, general? have you not hurt your head?OthelloDost thou mock me?IagoI mock you! no, by heaven. Would you would bear your fortune like a man!OthelloA horned man’s a monster and a beast.IagoThere’s many a beast then in a populous city, And many a civil monster.OthelloDid he confess it?IagoGood sir, be a man; Think every bearded fellow that’s but yoked May draw with you: there’s millions now alive That nightly lie in those unproper beds Which they dare swear peculiar: your case is better. O, ’tis the spite of hell, the fiend’s arch-mock, To lip a wanton in a secure couch, And to suppose her chaste! No, let me know; And knowing what I am, I know what she shall be.OthelloO, thou art wise; ’tis certain.IagoStand you awhile apart; Confine yourself but in a patient list. Whilst you were here o’erwhelmed with your grief— A passion most unsuiting such a man— Cassio came hither: I shifted him away, And laid good ‘scuse upon your ecstasy, Bade him anon return and here speak with me; The which he promised. Do but encave yourself, And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorns, That dwell in every region of his face; For I will make him tell the tale anew, Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when He hath, and is again to cope your wife: I say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience; Or I shall say you are all in all in spleen, And nothing of a man.OthelloDost thou hear, Iago? I will be found most cunning in my patience; But—dost thou hear?—most bloody.IagoThat’s not amiss; But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw?Othello retiresNow will I question Cassio of Bianca, A housewife that by selling her desires Buys herself bread and clothes: it is a creature That dotes on Cassio; as ’tis the strumpet’s plague To beguile many and be beguiled by one: He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain From the excess of laughter. Here he comes:Re-enter CassioAs he shall smile, Othello shall go mad; And his unbookish jealousy must construe Poor Cassio’s smiles, gestures and light behavior, Quite in the wrong. How do you now, lieutenant?CassioThe worser that you give me the addition Whose want even kills me.IagoPly Desdemona well, and you are sure on’t.Speaking lowerNow, if this suit lay in Bianco’s power, How quickly should you speed!CassioAlas, poor caitiff!OthelloLook, how he laughs already!IagoI never knew woman love man so.CassioAlas, poor rogue! I think, i’ faith, she loves me.OthelloNow he denies it faintly, and laughs it out.IagoDo you hear, Cassio?OthelloNow he importunes him To tell it o’er: go to; well said, well said.IagoShe gives it out that you shall marry hey: Do you intend it?CassioHa, ha, ha!OthelloDo you triumph, Roman? do you triumph?CassioI marry her! what? a customer! Prithee, bear some charity to my wit: do not think it so unwholesome. Ha, ha, ha!OthelloSo, so, so, so: they laugh that win.Iago’Faith, the cry goes that you shall marry her.CassioPrithee, say true.IagoI am a very villain else.OthelloHave you scored me? Well.CassioThis is the monkey’s own giving out: she is persuaded I will marry her, out of her own love and flattery, not out of my promise.OthelloIago beckons me; now he begins the story.CassioShe was here even now; she haunts me in every place. I was the other day talking on the sea-bank with certain Venetians; and thither comes the bauble, and, by this hand, she falls me thus about my neck—OthelloCrying ‘O dear Cassio!’ as it were: his gesture imports it.CassioSo hangs, and lolls, and weeps upon me; so hales, and pulls me: ha, ha, ha!OthelloNow he tells how she plucked him to my chamber. O, I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I shall throw it to.CassioWell, I must leave her company.IagoBefore me! look, where she comes.Cassio’Tis such another fitchew! marry a perfumed one.Enter BiancaWhat do you mean by this haunting of me?BiancaLet the devil and his dam haunt you! What did you mean by that same handkerchief you gave me even now? I was a fine fool to take it. I must take out the work?—A likely piece of work, that you should find it in your chamber, and not know who left it there! This is some minx’s token, and I must take out the work? There; give it your hobby-horse: wheresoever you had it, I’ll take out no work on’t.CassioHow now, my sweet Bianca! how now! how now!OthelloBy heaven, that should be my handkerchief!BiancaAn you’ll come to supper to-night, you may; an you will not, come when you are next prepared for.ExitIagoAfter her, after her.Cassio’Faith, I must; she’ll rail in the street else.IagoWill you sup there?Cassio’Faith, I intend so.IagoWell, I may chance to see you; for I would very fain speak with you.CassioPrithee, come; will you?IagoGo to; say no more.Exit CassioOthelloAdvancingHow shall I murder him, Iago?IagoDid you perceive how he laughed at his vice?OthelloO Iago!IagoAnd did you see the handkerchief?OthelloWas that mine?IagoYours by this hand: and to see how he prizes the foolish woman your wife! she gave it him, and he hath given it his whore.OthelloI would have him nine years a-killing. A fine woman! a fair woman! a sweet woman!IagoNay, you must forget that.OthelloAy, let her rot, and perish, and be damned to-night; for she shall not live: no, my heart is turned to stone; I strike it, and it hurts my hand. O, the world hath not a sweeter creature: she might lie by an emperor’s side and command him tasks.IagoNay, that’s not your way.OthelloHang her! I do but say what she is: so delicate with her needle: an admirable musician: O! she will sing the savageness out of a bear: of so high and plenteous wit and invention:—IagoShe’s the worse for all this.OthelloO, a thousand thousand times: and then, of so gentle a condition!IagoAy, too gentle.OthelloNay, that’s certain: but yet the pity of it, Iago! O Iago, the pity of it, Iago!IagoIf you are so fond over her iniquity, give her patent to offend; for, if it touch not you, it comes near nobody.OthelloI will chop her into messes: cuckold me!IagoO, ’tis foul in her.OthelloWith mine officer!IagoThat’s fouler.OthelloGet me some poison, Iago; this night: I’ll not expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again: this night, Iago.IagoDo it not with poison, strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated.OthelloGood, good: the justice of it pleases: very good.IagoAnd for Cassio, let me be his undertaker: you shall hear more by midnight.OthelloExcellent good.A trumpet withinWhat trumpet is that same?IagoSomething from Venice, sure. ‘Tis Lodovico Come from the duke: and, see, your wife is with him.Enter Lodovico, Desdemona, and AttendantsLodovicoSave you, worthy general!OthelloWith all my heart, sir.LodovicoThe duke and senators of Venice greet you.Gives him a letterOthelloI kiss the instrument of their pleasures.Opens the letter, and readsDesdemonaAnd what’s the news, good cousin Lodovico?IagoI am very glad to see you, signior Welcome to Cyprus.LodovicoI thank you. How does Lieutenant Cassio?IagoLives, sir.DesdemonaCousin, there’s fall’n between him and my lord An unkind breach: but you shall make all well.OthelloAre you sure of that?DesdemonaMy lord?OthelloReads“This fail you not to do, as you will—”LodovicoHe did not call; he’s busy in the paper. Is there division ’twixt my lord and Cassio?DesdemonaA most unhappy one: I would do much To atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio.OthelloFire and brimstone!DesdemonaMy lord?OthelloAre you wise?DesdemonaWhat, is he angry?LodovicoMay be the letter moved him; For, as I think, they do command him home, Deputing Cassio in his government.DesdemonaTrust me, I am glad on’t.OthelloIndeed!DesdemonaMy lord?OthelloI am glad to see you mad.DesdemonaWhy, sweet Othello,—OthelloStriking herDevil!DesdemonaI have not deserved this.LodovicoMy lord, this would not be believed in Venice, Though I should swear I saw’t: ’tis very much: Make her amends; she weeps.OthelloO devil, devil! If that the earth could teem with woman’s tears, Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile. Out of my sight!DesdemonaI will not stay to offend you.GoingLodovicoTruly, an obedient lady: I do beseech your lordship, call her back.OthelloMistress!DesdemonaMy lord?OthelloWhat would you with her, sir?LodovicoWho, I, my lord?OthelloAy; you did wish that I would make her turn: Sir, she can turn, and turn, and yet go on, And turn again; and she can weep, sir, weep; And she’s obedient, as you say, obedient, Very obedient. Proceed you in your tears. Concerning this, sir,—O well-painted passion!— I am commanded home. Get you away; I’ll send for you anon. Sir, I obey the mandate, And will return to Venice. Hence, avaunt!Exit DesdemonaCassio shall have my place. And, sir, tonight, I do entreat that we may sup together: You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus.—Goats and monkeys!ExitLodovicoIs this the noble Moor whom our full senate Call all in all sufficient? Is this the nature Whom passion could not shake? whose solid virtue The shot of accident, nor dart of chance, Could neither graze nor pierce?IagoHe is much changed.LodovicoAre his wits safe? is he not light of brain?IagoHe’s that he is: I may not breathe my censure What he might be: if what he might he is not, I would to heaven he were!LodovicoWhat, strike his wife!Iago’Faith, that was not so well; yet would I knew That stroke would prove the worst!LodovicoIs it his use? Or did the letters work upon his blood, And new-create this fault?IagoAlas, alas! It is not honesty in me to speak What I have seen and known. You shall observe him, And his own courses will denote him so That I may save my speech: do but go after, And mark how he continues.LodovicoI am sorry that I am deceived in him.Exeunt

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William Shakespeare: Othello, Act V, Scene II

  • William Shakespeare: Othello, Act V, Scene II

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  • Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
  • The Twelve Dancing Princesses
  • Current Events This Week: January 2023
  • African Americans by the Numbers
  • Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
  • The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales