Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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Enter Desdemona, Cassio, and Emilia. DESDEMONA
Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do
All my abilities in thy behalf. EMILIA
Good madam, do. I warrant it grieves my husband
As if the cause were his. DESDEMONA
O, that’s an honest fellow! Do not doubt, Cassio, 5
But I will have my lord and you again
As friendly as you were. | Cassio has explained the whole situation to Desdemona, and she promises to not rest until she's convinced Othello to reinstate Cassio as his lieutenant and renew their friendship. This makes Emilia happy, because she knows her husband, poor Iago, is torn up about the whole situation. (Ha!) |
CASSIO Bounteous madam,
Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,
He’s never anything but your true servant. 10 DESDEMONA
I know ’t. I thank you. You do love my lord;
You have known him long; and be you well assured
He shall in strangeness stand no farther off
Than in a politic distance. CASSIO Ay, but, lady, 15
That policy may either last so long,
Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet,
Or breed itself so out of circumstance,
That, I being absent and my place supplied,
My general will forget my love and service. 20 DESDEMONA
Do not doubt that. Before Emilia here,
I give thee warrant of thy place. Assure thee,
If I do vow a friendship, I’ll perform it
To the last article. My lord shall never rest:
I’ll watch him tame and talk him out of patience; 25
His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;
I’ll intermingle everything he does
With Cassio’s suit. Therefore be merry, Cassio,
For thy solicitor shall rather die
Than give thy cause away. 30 | Cassio declares he's forever indebted to her, and Desdemona again emphasizes that she'll do everything she can. She knows that Cassio is a good friend and faithful servant to Othello, and she knows how important they are to each other. She even says she'd rather die than give up on fixing this situation. |
Enter Othello and Iago. EMILIA Madam, here comes my lord. CASSIO Madam, I’ll take my leave. DESDEMONA Why, stay, and hear me speak. CASSIO
Madam, not now. I am very ill at ease,
Unfit for mine own purposes. 35 DESDEMONA Well, do your discretion. Cassio exits. IAGO
Ha, I like not that. OTHELLO What dost thou say? IAGO
Nothing, my lord; or if—I know not what. OTHELLO
Was not that Cassio parted from my wife? 40 IAGO
Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it
That he would steal away so guiltylike,
Seeing your coming. OTHELLO I do believe ’twas he. | Seeing Othello coming, Cassio decides it's time to leave. Desdemona tells him to stay, but Cassio feels too weird and hurries out. Thus, Iago begins his make-Othello-jealous campaign by commenting on how weird it is that Cassio hurried off so quickly, like a thief stealing away in the night. And once again, he makes it sound like he's reluctant to talk this way about Cassio. |
DESDEMONA How now, my lord? 45
I have been talking with a suitor here,
A man that languishes in your displeasure. OTHELLO Who is ’t you mean? DESDEMONA
Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord,
If I have any grace or power to move you, 50
His present reconciliation take;
For if he be not one that truly loves you,
That errs in ignorance and not in cunning,
I have no judgment in an honest face.
I prithee call him back. 55 OTHELLO Went he hence now? DESDEMONA Yes, faith, so humbled
That he hath left part of his grief with me
To suffer with him. Good love, call him back. OTHELLO
Not now, sweet Desdemon. Some other time. 60 | Desdemona jumps right into sweet-talking Othello and campaigning for Cassio. She claims that Cassio is really sorry, and suggests Othello call Cassio back to plead his case. Othello doesn't want to do it right now, but says maybe later. |
DESDEMONA
But shall ’t be shortly? OTHELLO The sooner, sweet, for you. DESDEMONA
Shall ’t be tonight at supper? OTHELLO No, not tonight. DESDEMONA Tomorrow dinner, then? 65 OTHELLO I shall not dine at home;
I meet the captains at the citadel. DESDEMONA
Why then tomorrow night, or Tuesday morn,
On Tuesday noon or night; on Wednesday morn.
I prithee name the time, but let it not 70
Exceed three days. In faith, he’s penitent;
And yet his trespass, in our common reason—
Save that, they say, the wars must make example
Out of her best—is not almost a fault
T’ incur a private check. When shall he come? 75
Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul
What you would ask me that I should deny,
Or stand so mamm’ring on? What? Michael Cassio,
That came a-wooing with you, and so many a time,
When I have spoke of you dispraisingly, 80
Hath ta’en your part—to have so much to do
To bring him in! By ’r Lady, I could do much— OTHELLO
Prithee, no more. Let him come when he will;
I will deny thee nothing. | Desdemona says will you talk to him soon? Will you talk to him tomorrow? Or maybe Tuesday morning, or Tuesday night, or Wednesday morning, or how about Wednesday night? When Othello keeps putting her off, Desdemona claims she would never deny him anything, so why won't he listen to her? Besides, she has his best interests in mind. Othello says Cassio can come whenever he wants. Othello won't deny Desdemona anything, either |
DESDEMONA Why, this is not a boon! 85
’Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves,
Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm,
Or sue to you to do a peculiar profit
To your own person. Nay, when I have a suit
Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed, 90
It shall be full of poise and difficult weight,
And fearful to be granted. OTHELLO I will deny thee nothing!
Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this,
To leave me but a little to myself. 95 | Desdemona gets a little bent out of shape. It's not like she's nagging him about wearing gloves when it's cold or eating his vegetables. This is serious business. It would be nice if he would appreciate her advice instead of acting like it's a hassle. Othello says, "Look, I said I'll talk to him. Now will you do me a favor? Give a moment alone." |
DESDEMONA
Shall I deny you? No. Farewell, my lord. OTHELLO
Farewell, my Desdemona. I’ll come to thee straight. DESDEMONA
Emilia, come.—Be as your fancies teach you.
Whate’er you be, I am obedient. Desdemona and Emilia exit. | Desdemona says of course and makes a show of leaving right away to prove how quickly she's willing to comply with his requests. |
OTHELLO
Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul 100
But I do love thee! And when I love thee not,
Chaos is come again. | When she goes, Othello says something like, "What a gal! Boy do I love her. Life would be chaos without her." |
IAGO My noble lord— OTHELLO
What dost thou say, Iago? IAGO Did Michael Cassio, 105
When you wooed my lady, know of your love? OTHELLO
He did, from first to last. Why dost thou ask? IAGO
But for a satisfaction of my thought,
No further harm. OTHELLO Why of thy thought, Iago? 110 IAGO
I did not think he had been acquainted with her. OTHELLO
O yes, and went between us very oft. IAGO Indeed? OTHELLO
Indeed? Ay, indeed! Discern’st thou aught in that?
Is he not honest? 115 IAGO Honest, my lord? OTHELLO Honest—ay, honest. IAGO
My lord, for aught I know. OTHELLO What dost thou think? IAGO Think, my lord? 120 | Iago asks fake-casual questions about Cassio, whom Othello says was often a go-between when he courted Desdemona. Iago keeps dropping uncomfortable hints, and Othello asks him what he's getting at. Iago doesn't give him an answer right away. |
OTHELLO
“Think, my lord?” By heaven, thou echo’st me
As if there were some monster in thy thought
Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean
something.
I heard thee say even now, thou lik’st not that, 125
When Cassio left my wife. What didst not like?
And when I told thee he was of my counsel
In my whole course of wooing, thou cried’st
“Indeed?”
And didst contract and purse thy brow together 130
As if thou then hadst shut up in thy brain
Some horrible conceit. If thou dost love me,
Show me thy thought. | Othello tells Iago that if he loves him, he'll say what's on his mind. |
IAGO My lord, you know I love you. OTHELLO I think thou dost; 135
And for I know thou ’rt full of love and honesty
And weigh’st thy words before thou giv’st them
breath,
Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more.
For such things in a false, disloyal knave 140
Are tricks of custom; but in a man that’s just,
They’re close dilations working from the heart
That passion cannot rule. IAGO For Michael Cassio,
I dare be sworn I think that he is honest. 145 OTHELLO
I think so too. IAGO Men should be what they seem;
Or those that be not, would they might seem none! OTHELLO Certain, men should be what they seem. IAGO
Why then, I think Cassio’s an honest man. 150 OTHELLO Nay, yet there’s more in this.
I prithee speak to me as to thy thinkings,
As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of
thoughts
The worst of words. 155 | Iago hems and haws some more, and Othello thinks it's because he's so thoughtful and likes to really weigh his words before he speaks. Finally, Iago says he thinks Cassio is an honest man. The way he says it, though, obviously communicates to Othello that there's still something Iago's not telling him. He tells Iago to be honest, no matter how bad what he's about to say might be. |
IAGO Good my lord, pardon me.
Though I am bound to every act of duty,
I am not bound to that all slaves are free to.
Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile and
false— 160
As where’s that palace whereinto foul things
Sometimes intrude not? Who has that breast so
pure
But some uncleanly apprehensions
Keep leets and law days and in sessions sit 165
With meditations lawful? | Iago says, "But what if I'm wrong?" It would be horrible for him to say something about Cassio only to have it be false. |
OTHELLO
Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago,
If thou but think’st him wronged and mak’st his ear
A stranger to thy thoughts. | Othello says that if Iago knows something and doesn't tell him, then he'll be guilty of deceiving a friend. |
IAGO I do beseech you, 170
Though I perchance am vicious in my guess—
As, I confess, it is my nature’s plague
To spy into abuses, and oft my jealousy
Shapes faults that are not—that your wisdom
From one that so imperfectly conceits 175
Would take no notice, nor build yourself a trouble
Out of his scattering and unsure observance.
It were not for your quiet nor your good,
Nor for my manhood, honesty, and wisdom,
To let you know my thoughts. 180 OTHELLO What dost thou mean? IAGO
Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls.
Who steals my purse steals trash. ’Tis something,
nothing; 185
’Twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to
thousands.
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him
And makes me poor indeed. 190 OTHELLO By heaven, I’ll know thy thoughts. IAGO
You cannot, if my heart were in your hand,
Nor shall not, whilst ’tis in my custody. OTHELLO
Ha? IAGO O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! 195
It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;
But O, what damnèd minutes tells he o’er
Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves! 200 OTHELLO O misery! IAGO
Poor and content is rich, and rich enough;
But riches fineless is as poor as winter
To him that ever fears he shall be poor.
Good God, the souls of all my tribe defend 205
From jealousy! | Iago continues to play Othello like a fiddle. Without actually saying anything, he manages to imply that the information he's holding onto has something to do Desdemona being unfaithful. He does this by mentioning that Othello needs to beware of jealousy because it could tear him apart. He also says that a man who knows his wife is cheating on him can be happy to know the truth so long as the guy she's cheating with isn't his friend. |
OTHELLO Why, why is this?
Think’st thou I’d make a life of jealousy,
To follow still the changes of the moon
With fresh suspicions? No. To be once in doubt 210
Is once to be resolved. Exchange me for a goat
When I shall turn the business of my soul
To such exsufflicate and blown surmises,
Matching thy inference. ’Tis not to make me jealous
To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company, 215
Is free of speech, sings, plays, and dances well.
Where virtue is, these are more virtuous.
Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw
The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt,
For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago, 220
I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
And on the proof, there is no more but this:
Away at once with love or jealousy. | Othello says that he's not the type to get jealous—he builds his conclusions upon having suspicions, but only after he investigates them. If something seems wrong, he'll find out what's happening right away and resolve the situation. Othello knows Desdemona is desirable, and that he himself isn't, but that doesn't bother him. She chose him willingly. Further, Othello promises he has to see something to raise his suspicion before he'd have doubts about his wife's loyalty, and if he were to see and have doubts, he'd prove whether they were justified right away. This strategy helps him avoid being too influenced in his reason by love or jealousy. |
IAGO
I am glad of this, for now I shall have reason
To show the love and duty that I bear you 225
With franker spirit. Therefore, as I am bound,
Receive it from me. I speak not yet of proof.
Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio;
Wear your eyes thus, not jealous nor secure.
I would not have your free and noble nature, 230
Out of self-bounty, be abused. Look to ’t.
I know our country disposition well.
In Venice they do let God see the pranks
They dare not show their husbands. Their best
conscience 235
Is not to leave ’t undone, but keep ’t unknown. OTHELLO Dost thou say so? | Iago essentially says, "Okay, if you promise you won't be jealous, you should watch Desdemona with Cassio, but objectively, and not out of jealousy." Iago says he knows well the ways of the women of Venice: they are promiscuous, and though heaven knows their little exploits, their men don't. |
IAGO
She did deceive her father, marrying you,
And when she seemed to shake and fear your looks,
She loved them most. 240 OTHELLO And so she did. IAGO Why, go to, then!
She that, so young, could give out such a seeming,
To seel her father’s eyes up close as oak,
He thought ’twas witchcraft! But I am much to 245
blame.
I humbly do beseech you of your pardon
For too much loving you. OTHELLO I am bound to thee forever. | Iago adds helpfully (to help with the objectivity bit) that Desdemona did deceive her father in order to marry Othello. He's implying, as Brabantio earlier did, that Desdemona is not to be trusted, as she is a woman, and thus a liar. Basically, Hamlet could get together with these guys and have a big anti-woman party. (Frailty, thy name is lying scheming woman!) Othello is persuaded by what Iago has said, and it's clear the seed of suspicion has been planted. |
IAGO
I see this hath a little dashed your spirits. 250 OTHELLO
Not a jot, not a jot. IAGO I’ faith, I fear it has.
I hope you will consider what is spoke
Comes from my love. But I do see you’re moved.
I am to pray you not to strain my speech 255
To grosser issues nor to larger reach
Than to suspicion. OTHELLO I will not. IAGO Should you do so, my lord,
My speech should fall into such vile success 260
As my thoughts aim not at. Cassio’s my worthy
friend.
My lord, I see you’re moved. | Iago tells Othello that he hopes he hasn't ruined his day. (Which is, of course, a lie. He definitely hopes he's ruined Othello's day.) Othello assures Iago that he's a-okay, and Iago insists all of his speculations come from a place of love. Further, he tells Othello not to stretch out these suspicions into anything more serious or dangerous. |
OTHELLO No, not much moved.
I do not think but Desdemona’s honest. 265 IAGO
Long live she so! And long live you to think so! OTHELLO
And yet, how nature erring from itself— IAGO
Ay, there’s the point. As, to be bold with you,
Not to affect many proposèd matches
Of her own clime, complexion, and degree, 270
Whereto we see in all things nature tends—
Foh! One may smell in such a will most rank,
Foul disproportion, thoughts unnatural—
But pardon me—I do not in position
Distinctly speak of her, though I may fear 275
Her will, recoiling to her better judgment,
May fall to match you with her country forms
And happily repent. OTHELLO Farewell, farewell!
If more thou dost perceive, let me know more. 280
Set on thy wife to observe. Leave me, Iago. | Othello promises he isn't much moved. He still thinks Desdemona is honest. Although... Iago seizes on Othello's insecurity and says it was unnatural for Desdemona to reject all of the suitors who came from her country and shared her skin color in favor of Othello. He worries that she was just rebelling and that eventually she'll snap back to her senses and start comparing Othello unfavorably with the other handsome Italians who courted her. Othello is clearly upset by this thought. He tells Iago to have his wife observe Desdemona, and then asks to be left alone. |
IAGO, beginning to exit My lord, I take my leave. OTHELLO
Why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless
Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds. IAGO, returning
My lord, I would I might entreat your Honor 285
To scan this thing no farther. Leave it to time.
Although ’tis fit that Cassio have his place—
For sure he fills it up with great ability—
Yet, if you please to hold him off awhile,
You shall by that perceive him and his means. 290
Note if your lady strain his entertainment
With any strong or vehement importunity.
Much will be seen in that. In the meantime,
Let me be thought too busy in my fears—
As worthy cause I have to fear I am— 295
And hold her free, I do beseech your Honor. OTHELLO Fear not my government. IAGO I once more take my leave. He exits. | On this despicable note, Iago leaves Othello to brood over the possibility that Desdemona is cheating on him, an undesirable black man. As Othello's busy wondering why he ever got married, Iago comes back to twist the knife a little more. Acting regretful, Iago tells Othello not to think about it too much—it's probably nothing, he's probably overreacting, but just in case, Othello should keep an eye out for anything sketchy, especially anything like Desdemona seeming really keen on Cassio getting his position back. Iago once again leaves Othello to his thoughts. |
OTHELLO
This fellow’s of exceeding honesty,
And knows all qualities with a learnèd spirit 300
Of human dealings. If I do prove her haggard,
Though that her jesses were my dear heartstrings,
I’d whistle her off and let her down the wind
To prey at fortune. Haply, for I am black
And have not those soft parts of conversation 305
That chamberers have, or for I am declined
Into the vale of years—yet that’s not much—
She’s gone, I am abused, and my relief
Must be to loathe her. O curse of marriage,
That we can call these delicate creatures ours 310
And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad
And live upon the vapor of a dungeon
Than keep a corner in the thing I love
For others’ uses. Yet ’tis the plague of great ones;
Prerogatived are they less than the base. 315
’Tis destiny unshunnable, like death.
Even then this forkèd plague is fated to us
When we do quicken. Look where she comes. Enter Desdemona and Emilia. If she be false, heaven mocks itself!
I’ll not believe ’t. 320 | Alone, Othello praises Iago for being an honest man, a man insightful about matters of the heart. He then reflects on his relationship with Desdemona, using terminology from the gentleman's sport of falconry: in a rare moment of exquisite vulnerability, Othello compares Desdemona to his falcon. He says if he does find that she is wild (haggard), then, though the leather straps that would tie her to his wrists (jesses) are actually his heart-strings, he would release her to fly on the wind at fortune, both "at random" and "to her fate," though he'd not know if she would ever return to him. Othello undercuts this beautifully noble sentiment by thinking of other reasons Desdemona might be unfaithful to him. Whatever it is, Othello concludes Desdemona is lost to him; his only relief from his grief will now be to hate her. (A far cry from the falconry metaphor, we might note!) Othello laments his position: men may say their women belong to them, yet they can never own their women's appetites for love and lust. Still, Othello admits he could not bear to let others have even a little of his love's love. He decides this is the inevitable fate of important men: they are destined to be betrayed, even from the moment they're born. Emilia and Desdemona come in, and for a moment Othello's mind reverses almost immediately; he can't believe that his wife would betray him. |
DESDEMONA How now, my dear Othello?
Your dinner, and the generous islanders
By you invited, do attend your presence. OTHELLO I am to blame. DESDEMONA
Why do you speak so faintly? Are you not well? 325 OTHELLO
I have a pain upon my forehead, here. DESDEMONA
Faith, that’s with watching. ’Twill away again.
Let me but bind it hard; within this hour
It will be well. | Desdemona has come to bring him to supper, along with the native Cypriots he's invited to dine. But he's not so ready for the partying; Othello's jealousy has already made him physically ill. Desdemona notices that her husband seems unwell, and she tries to soothe him, offering to bind up his head with her handkerchief. |
OTHELLO Your napkin is too little. 330
Let it alone. The handkerchief falls, unnoticed.
Come, I’ll go in with you. DESDEMONA
I am very sorry that you are not well. Othello and Desdemona exit. | Othello says her handkerchief is too small, and pushes it away. It drops to the floor without either of them noticing, and they both exit, leaving Emilia alone in the room. |
EMILIA, picking up the handkerchief
I am glad I have found this napkin.
This was her first remembrance from the Moor. 335
My wayward husband hath a hundred times
Wooed me to steal it. But she so loves the token
(For he conjured her she should ever keep it)
That she reserves it evermore about her
To kiss and talk to. I’ll have the work ta’en out 340
And give ’t Iago. What he will do with it
Heaven knows, not I.
I nothing but to please his fantasy. | Emilia's got her eyes on Desdemona's handkerchief. She reveals that this was Othello's first love token to his wife, and that her husband, Iago, has often asked her to steal it. She hasn't been able to do so yet, because Desdemona loves it like a security blanket. Emilia decides to have the embroidery pattern copied, and then she'll give it to her husband, Iago. She doesn't know what plans he has for it, but like a good wife, she'll do as he asks. |
IAGO How now? What do you here alone? EMILIA
Do not you chide. I have a thing for you. 345 IAGO
You have a thing for me? It is a common thing— EMILIA Ha? IAGO To have a foolish wife. EMILIA
O, is that all? What will you give me now
For that same handkerchief? 350 IAGO What handkerchief? EMILIA What handkerchief?
Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona,
That which so often you did bid me steal. IAGO Hast stol’n it from her? 355 EMILIA
No, faith, she let it drop by negligence,
And to th’ advantage I, being here, took ’t up.
Look, here ’tis. IAGO A good wench! Give it me. | Iago comes in and casually mocks his wife, as usual. Emilia, proud, produces the handkerchief. She admits she didn't steal it, but that she grabbed it when Desdemona dropped it. Iago is pleased. He gives his wife a quick "good girl" before reverting to his usual rude self and telling her to hand it over. |
EMILIA
What will you do with ’t, that you have been so 360
earnest
To have me filch it? IAGO, snatching it Why, what is that to you? EMILIA
If it be not for some purpose of import,
Give ’t me again. Poor lady, she’ll run mad 365
When she shall lack it. | Emilia asks what he intends to do with it before she hands it over, and Iago declares that's none of her business. She says that, her business or not, it had better be a good reason. Desdemona will go mad once she realizes it's missing. |
IAGO Be not acknown on ’t.
I have use for it. Go, leave me. Emilia exits. I will in Cassio’s lodging lose this napkin
And let him find it. Trifles light as air 370
Are to the jealous confirmations strong
As proofs of holy writ. This may do something.
The Moor already changes with my poison;
Dangerous conceits are in their natures poisons,
Which at the first are scarce found to distaste, 375
But with a little act upon the blood
Burn like the mines of sulfur. Enter Othello. I did say so.
Look where he comes. Not poppy nor mandragora
Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world 380
Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep
Which thou owedst yesterday. | Iago tells Emilia to forget the whole incident. Then he grabs the handkerchief and orders her to leave. (Evil monologue time.) Iago decides to put the napkin (a.k.a., the handkerchief) in Cassio's room in order to fuel Othello's suspicions. Though the token is only a little thing, it's enough of a confirmation to set off Othello's jealous fantasies. Othello walks in during Iago's speech, and Iago gloats that none of the drugs in the world could make the man rest easy now that he's worried about his wife. |
OTHELLO Ha, ha, false to me? IAGO
Why, how now, general? No more of that! OTHELLO
Avaunt! Begone! Thou hast set me on the rack. 385
I swear ’tis better to be much abused
Than but to know ’t a little. | Othello is pretty cranky. He moans to Iago that it's better to be cheated on and know about it than to just be suspicious and not know the truth, one way or the other. |
IAGO How now, my lord? OTHELLO
What sense had I of her stol’n hours of lust?
I saw ’t not, thought it not; it harmed not me. 390
I slept the next night well, fed well, was free and
merry.
I found not Cassio’s kisses on her lips.
He that is robbed, not wanting what is stol’n,
Let him not know ’t, and he’s not robbed at all. 395 IAGO I am sorry to hear this. OTHELLO
I had been happy if the general camp,
Pioners and all, had tasted her sweet body,
So I had nothing known. O, now, forever
Farewell the tranquil mind! Farewell content! 400
Farewell the plumèd troops and the big wars
That makes ambition virtue! O, farewell!
Farewell the neighing steed and the shrill trump,
The spirit-stirring drum, th’ ear-piercing fife,
The royal banner, and all quality, 405
Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war!
And O you mortal engines, whose rude throats
Th’ immortal Jove’s dread clamors counterfeit,
Farewell! Othello’s occupation’s gone! | Iago plays dumb, so Othello elaborates. He says he would never have suspected Desdemona before, since a man who's been robbed but doesn't notice anything missing is as good as not having been robbed at all. Basically, even if Desdemona is sleeping all over Cyprus, what Othello didn't know wouldn't hurt him. Now that he's suspicious, though, his doubt has destroyed his identity. His peaceful mind, his happiness, and even his standing as a soldier (especially his joy in the glory of war) are all tainted by this knowledge. Basically, his life is over. |
IAGO Is ’t possible, my lord? 410 OTHELLO
Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore!
Be sure of it. Give me the ocular proof,
Or, by the worth of mine eternal soul,
Thou hadst been better have been born a dog
Than answer my waked wrath. 415 IAGO Is ’t come to this? OTHELLO
Make me to see ’t, or at the least so prove it
That the probation bear no hinge nor loop
To hang a doubt on, or woe upon thy life! IAGO My noble lord— 420 OTHELLO
If thou dost slander her and torture me,
Never pray more. Abandon all remorse;
On horror’s head horrors accumulate;
Do deeds to make heaven weep, all Earth amazed;
For nothing canst thou to damnation add 425
Greater than that. | He demands that Iago give him proof of Desdemona's cheating on him. If Iago is just playing with him, he's going to really regret it. |
IAGO O grace! O heaven forgive me!
Are you a man? Have you a soul or sense?
God b’ wi’ you. Take mine office.—O wretched fool,
That liv’st to make thine honesty a vice!— 430
O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O world:
To be direct and honest is not safe.—
I thank you for this profit, and from hence
I’ll love no friend, sith love breeds such offense. OTHELLO Nay, stay. Thou shouldst be honest. 435 IAGO
I should be wise; for honesty’s a fool
And loses that it works for. | Iago acts all insulted that Othello doesn't trust him, and cries out that it's an awful world where one can be punished so much for their well-intentioned honesty. |
OTHELLO By the world,
I think my wife be honest and think she is not.
I think that thou art just and think thou art not. 440
I’ll have some proof! Her name, that was as fresh
As Dian’s visage, is now begrimed and black
As mine own face. If there be cords, or knives,
Poison, or fire, or suffocating streams,
I’ll not endure it. Would I were satisfied! 445 IAGO
I see you are eaten up with passion.
I do repent me that I put it to you.
You would be satisfied? OTHELLO Would? Nay, and I will. | Othello talks about how torn he is—about Desdemona and about Iago. Again he demands that Iago bring him proof of Desdemona's infidelity. |
IAGO
And may; but how? How satisfied, my lord? 450
Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on,
Behold her topped? OTHELLO Death and damnation! O! IAGO
It were a tedious difficulty, I think,
To bring them to that prospect. Damn them then 455
If ever mortal eyes do see them bolster
More than their own! What then? How then?
What shall I say? Where’s satisfaction?
It is impossible you should see this,
Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys, 460
As salt as wolves in pride, and fools as gross
As ignorance made drunk. But yet I say,
If imputation and strong circumstances
Which lead directly to the door of truth
Will give you satisfaction, you might have ’t. 465 | Iago describes how difficult it would be to prove infidelity; would Othello like to see Desdemona and Cassio caught in the act? Iago then painstakingly conjures an image of Desdemona and Cassio being passionate together like animals (specifically goats, monkeys, and wolves) and says Othello wouldn't like to see that, now would he? The power of the mental image is key here. |
OTHELLO
Give me a living reason she’s disloyal. IAGO I do not like the office,
But sith I am entered in this cause so far,
Pricked to ’t by foolish honesty and love,
I will go on. I lay with Cassio lately, 470
And being troubled with a raging tooth
I could not sleep. There are a kind of men
So loose of soul that in their sleeps will mutter
Their affairs. One of this kind is Cassio.
In sleep I heard him say “Sweet Desdemona, 475
Let us be wary, let us hide our loves.”
And then, sir, would he gripe and wring my hand,
Cry “O sweet creature!” then kiss me hard,
As if he plucked up kisses by the roots
That grew upon my lips; then laid his leg 480
O’er my thigh, and sighed, and kissed, and then
Cried “Cursèd fate that gave thee to the Moor!” | After this vivid description, Othello again presses Iago for proof. Iago describes a time when he was sleeping next to Cassio. Iago was kept up by a toothache, and he was awake to hear, he claims, Cassio mumbling in his sleep. He says that Cassio cried out to Desdemona in his sleep, telling her to be cautious and hide their love. Then Cassio started writhing around in the bed and kissing Iago's hand as if it were Desdemona. At this point, we're kind of confused as to why Iago wouldn't wake Cassio up and say, "Excuse me, please stop making out with my hand." Anyway, the still-asleep-and-dreaming Cassio then supposedly threw his legs over Iago's thighs, kissed some more, and yelled how horrible it was that fate gave Desdemona to Othello. |
OTHELLO
O monstrous! Monstrous! IAGO Nay, this was but his
dream. 485 | Othello is outraged, which is Iago's cue to switch back to "good cop" mode. He says, "Hey, remember—Cassio was just dreaming." |
OTHELLO
But this denoted a foregone conclusion.
’Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream. IAGO
And this may help to thicken other proofs
That do demonstrate thinly. OTHELLO I’ll tear her all to pieces. 490 IAGO
Nay, but be wise. Yet we see nothing done.
She may be honest yet. Tell me but this:
Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief
Spotted with strawberries in your wife’s hand? OTHELLO
I gave her such a one. ’Twas my first gift. 495 IAGO
I know not that; but such a handkerchief—
I am sure it was your wife’s—did I today
See Cassio wipe his beard with. | Othello is furious. He even says he'll tear Desdemona to pieces. With perfect timing, Iago puts the final nail in the coffin. Still playing innocent, and instructing Othello to be calm (which only fires his fury), he tells Othello he saw Cassio with Desdemona's special handkerchief. |
OTHELLO If it be that— IAGO
If it be that, or any that was hers, 500
It speaks against her with the other proofs. OTHELLO
O, that the slave had forty thousand lives!
One is too poor, too weak for my revenge.
Now do I see ’tis true. Look here, Iago,
All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven. 505
’Tis gone.
Arise, black vengeance, from the hollow hell!
Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne
To tyrannous hate! Swell, bosom, with thy fraught,
For ’tis of aspics’ tongues! 510 IAGO Yet be content. OTHELLO O, blood, blood, blood! IAGO
Patience, I say. Your mind perhaps may change. OTHELLO
Never, Iago. Like to the Pontic Sea,
Whose icy current and compulsive course 515
Ne’er feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on
To the Propontic and the Hellespont,
Even so my bloody thoughts, with violent pace
Shall ne’er look back, ne’er ebb to humble love,
Till that a capable and wide revenge 520
Swallow them up. He kneels. Now by yond marble
heaven,
In the due reverence of a sacred vow,
I here engage my words. | Hearing this, Othello announces all his love for Desdemona is gone. He's now out for blood and revenge, hopefully in one convenient package. Iago, hearing this, makes some paltry attempts to remind Othello that they've only got suspicions, but again, this only sharpens Othello's desire for revenge. Othello then kneels and swears that his former love for Desdemona will not stop him from bloodily avenging her betrayal. |
IAGO Do not rise yet. Iago kneels. 525
Witness, you ever-burning lights above,
You elements that clip us round about,
Witness that here Iago doth give up
The execution of his wit, hands, heart
To wronged Othello’s service! Let him command, 530
And to obey shall be in me remorse,
What bloody business ever. They rise. | Iago kneels with him and vows to do whatever it takes to help regain honor. |
OTHELLO I greet thy love
Not with vain thanks but with acceptance
bounteous, 535
And will upon the instant put thee to ’t.
Within these three days let me hear thee say
That Cassio’s not alive. IAGO My friend is dead.
’Tis done at your request. But let her live. 540 OTHELLO Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her, damn
her!
Come, go with me apart. I will withdraw
To furnish me with some swift means of death
For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant. 545 IAGO I am your own forever. They exit. | Othello asks him to kill Cassio. Iago agrees and says—oh so slyly—"but let Desdemona live." Hm. Othello didn't say anything about killing Desdemona. He probably wasn't even thinking about it...but he is now. (Cue the evil laughter. Again.) |