Othello: Act 4, Scene 1 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 4, Scene 1 of Othello from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Othello and Iago. IAGO Will you think so? OTHELLO Think so, Iago? IAGO What, To kiss in private? OTHELLO An unauthorized kiss! 5 IAGO Or to be naked with her friend in bed An hour or more, not meaning any harm? OTHELLO Naked in bed, Iago, and not mean harm? It is hypocrisy against the devil! They that mean virtuously, and yet do so, 10 The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt heaven.	Enter Iago and Othello. Iago is playing mind games with Othello as usual, forcing him to imagine Desdemona and Cassio in bed together.
IAGO If they do nothing, ’tis a venial slip. But if I give my wife a handkerchief— OTHELLO What then? 15 IAGO Why then, ’tis hers, my lord, and being hers, She may, I think, bestow ’t on any man. OTHELLO She is protectress of her honor, too. May she give that? IAGO Her honor is an essence that’s not seen; 20 They have it very oft that have it not. But for the handkerchief— OTHELLO By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it. Thou saidst—O, it comes o’er my memory As doth the raven o’er the infectious house, 25 Boding to all—he had my handkerchief. IAGO Ay, what of that? OTHELLO That’s not so good now.	Iago then brings up the lost handkerchief, saying if he'd given it to a woman, it would be her possession, and she'd be free to give it to anyone she pleased. Othello then asks whether her honor could be given as freely, too. And darn it! He wishes he could forget about that stupid handkerchief. (Thanks for bringing it up again, Iago.)
IAGO What If I had said I had seen him do you wrong? 30 Or heard him say (as knaves be such abroad, Who having, by their own importunate suit Or voluntary dotage of some mistress, Convincèd or supplied them, cannot choose But they must blab)— 35 OTHELLO Hath he said anything? IAGO He hath, my lord, but be you well assured, No more than he’ll unswear. OTHELLO What hath he said? IAGO Faith, that he did—I know not what he did. 40 OTHELLO What? What? IAGO Lie— OTHELLO With her? IAGO With her—on her—what you will.	Iago wheedles a bit more, now making the outright lie that Cassio claims to have slept with Desdemona...or something. Iago isn't totally clear if Cassio said "lie with her" or "lie on her," which is a pretty big difference. Either he slept with her or told a lie about her. Nice. Of course Othello takes the meaning Iago wants him to take.
OTHELLO Lie with her? Lie on her? We say “lie on her” 45 when they belie her. Lie with her—Zounds, that’s fulsome! Handkerchief—confessions—handkerchief. To confess and be hanged for his labor. First to be hanged and then to confess—I tremble at it. Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing 50 passion without some instruction. It is not words that shakes me thus. Pish! Noses, ears, and lips—is ’t possible? Confess—handkerchief—O, devil! He falls in a trance.	Othello gets so upset he starts mumbling and falls into a trance.
IAGO Work on, 55 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! 60 Enter Cassio. How now, Cassio? CASSIO What’s the matter?	As Iago gloats over the effects of his wicked work, Cassio comes in and wonders what's going on with Othello.
IAGO My lord is fall’n into an epilepsy. This is his second fit. He had one yesterday. CASSIO Rub him about the temples. 65 IAGO No, 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. 70 He will recover straight. When he is gone, I would on great occasion speak with you. Cassio exits. How is it, general? Have you not hurt your head?	Iago explains that he's just having a fit—totally normal—in fact, the second one since yesterday. Cassio suggests that perhaps they should try to tend to Othello, but Iago thinks it best to let the man suffer. He tells Cassio to leave them for a minute and come back when Othello has left, so they can have a friendly chat.
OTHELLO Dost thou mock me? IAGO I mock you not, by heaven! 75 Would you would bear your fortune like a man! OTHELLO A hornèd man’s a monster and a beast. IAGO There’s many a beast, then, in a populous city, And many a civil monster. OTHELLO Did he confess it? 80 IAGO Good 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. 85 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. OTHELLO O, thou art wise, ’tis certain. 90	Othello slowly comes out of his fit and interpret's Iago's question ("Does your head hurt?") to mean Iago is thinking any man's head would hurt if it were burdened by cuckold's horns. (Cuckolds are men who are led about by the horns by their wives. Othello, tricked by his own woman, feels he wears such horns.) Iago "comforts" Othello by saying lots of men are deceived by their women; it's like a club of whipped brothers. Othello then declares Iago to be very wise. All is lost.
IAGO Stand you awhile apart. Confine yourself but in a patient list. Whilst you were here, o’erwhelmèd with your grief— A passion most unsuiting such a man— Cassio came hither. I shifted him away 95 And laid good ’scuses 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. 100 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’re all in all in spleen, 105 And nothing of a man. OTHELLO Dost thou hear, Iago, I will be found most cunning in my patience, But (dost thou hear?) most bloody.	Iago tells Othello to hide a little ways away so that he can overhear a conversation between Iago and Cassio, one where Cassio will clearly incriminate himself by talking loosely about Desdemona. Othello thinks this is a wonderful idea, and says he'll listen with patient and bloody thoughts. (Apparently, finding objective proof has gone out the window.)
IAGO That’s not amiss. 110 But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw? Othello withdraws. Now will I question Cassio of Bianca, A huswife that by selling her desires Buys herself bread and clothes. It is a creature That dotes on Cassio—as ’tis the strumpet’s plague 115 To beguile many and be beguiled by one. He, when he hears of her, cannot restrain From the excess of laughter. Here he comes. Enter Cassio. As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad, And his unbookish jealousy must construe 120 Poor Cassio’s smiles, gestures, and light behaviors Quite in the wrong.—How do you, lieutenant? CASSIO The worser that you give me the addition Whose want even kills me.	Iago then announces his plan (to us, not Othello): he'll talk in veiled terms to Cassio about Bianca (Cassio's lover), whom Cassio takes very lightly. Othello, hearing the conversation, is bound to think Cassio is making light of his wife, Desdemona. Iago underhandedly will have given Othello the shadow of proof. Mwah-hah-hah, yet again.
IAGO Ply Desdemona well, and you are sure on ’t. 125 Now, if this suit lay in Bianca’s power, How quickly should you speed! CASSIO, laughing Alas, poor caitiff! OTHELLO Look how he laughs already! IAGO I never knew woman love man so. 130 CASSIO Alas, poor rogue, I think i’ faith she loves me. OTHELLO Now he denies it faintly and laughs it out. IAGO Do you hear, Cassio? OTHELLO Now he importunes him To tell it o’er. Go to, well said, well said. 135 IAGO She gives it out that you shall marry her. Do you intend it? CASSIO Ha, ha, ha! OTHELLO Do you triumph, Roman? Do you triumph? CASSIO I marry her? What, a customer? Prithee bear 140 some charity to my wit! Do not think it so unwholesome. Ha, ha, ha! OTHELLO So, so, so, so. They laugh that wins. IAGO Faith, the cry goes that you marry her. CASSIO Prithee say true! 145 IAGO I am a very villain else. OTHELLO Have you scored me? Well. CASSIO This 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. 150	When Cassio comes back, Iago brings up Bianca, in all her pathetic ardor. Cassio, of course, laughs about how much the woman loves him, how desperate she is, and how easily beguiled she has been by his false intentions of marriage. (This conversation is overheard by Othello, who apparently missed the key word "Bianca." Othello indeed thinks they are talking about his wife.)
OTHELLO Iago beckons me. Now he begins the story. CASSIO She 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. By this hand, she falls thus about my 155 neck! OTHELLO Crying, “O dear Cassio,” as it were; his gesture imports it. CASSIO So hangs and lolls and weeps upon me, so shakes and pulls me. Ha, ha, ha! 160 OTHELLO Now 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. CASSIO Well, I must leave her company. IAGO Before me, look where she comes. 165	Othello is getting more and more worked up, especially as Cassio says that "she" follows him everywhere. He was chatting with some guys on the waterfront the other day when "she" came and started hanging all over him. Of course he means Bianca, but Othello has no clue.
Enter Bianca. CASSIO ’Tis such another fitchew—marry, a perfumed one!—What do you mean by this haunting of me? BIANCA Let the devil and his dam haunt you! What did you mean by that same handkerchief you gave me 170 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 know not who left it there! This is some minx’s token, and I must take out the work! There, give it your hobbyhorse. 175 Wheresoever you had it, I’ll take out no work on ’t. CASSIO How now, my sweet Bianca? How now? How now?	It must be Iago's lucky day, because just then Bianca shows up. Cassio calls her a "fitchew," which is a polecat, known for being lusty and smelly. Bianca throws Desdemona's handkerchief in Cassio's face. She's furious that Cassio has given her something that obviously came from another woman, a woman who is indeed a "hobby-horse" (another useful slang term for an Elizabethan harlot).
OTHELLO By heaven, that should be my handkerchief! BIANCA If you’ll come to supper tonight you may. If you will not, come when you are next prepared 180 for. She exits. IAGO After her, after her! CASSIO Faith, I must. She’ll rail in the streets else. IAGO Will you sup there? CASSIO Faith, I intend so. 185 IAGO Well, I may chance to see you, for I would very fain speak with you. CASSIO Prithee come. Will you? IAGO Go to; say no more. Cassio exits.	Othello recognizes the handkerchief right away, of course. Bianca walks out in a huff and Cassio follows her, urged on by Iago.
OTHELLO, coming forward How shall I murder him, 190 Iago? IAGO Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice? OTHELLO O Iago! IAGO And did you see the handkerchief? OTHELLO Was that mine? 195 IAGO Yours, by this hand! And to see how he prizes the foolish woman your wife! She gave it him, and he hath giv’n it his whore.	Othello is completely convinced by this little scene, and furious that Desdemona would give Cassio their special handkerchief, especially since his mother's dying bequest ended up in the hands of a common prostitute.
OTHELLO I would have him nine years a-killing! A fine woman, a fair woman, a sweet woman! 200 IAGO Nay, you must forget that. OTHELLO Ay, let her rot and perish and be damned tonight, 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 205 an emperor’s side and command him tasks. IAGO Nay, that’s not your way. OTHELLO Hang 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! 210 Of so high and plenteous wit and invention! IAGO She’s the worse for all this. OTHELLO O, a thousand, a thousand times!—And then of so gentle a condition! IAGO Ay, too gentle. 215 OTHELLO Nay, that’s certain. But yet the pity of it, Iago! O, Iago, the pity of it, Iago! IAGO If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her patent to offend, for if it touch not you, it comes near nobody. 220	Othello is ready to kill Cassio, for sure, but he can't stop praising Desdemona, even in his anger. He's angry, but he keeps saying what a wonderful woman she is, so smart, so talented. Finally, Iago says that if he still loves her, maybe he should just give her permission to sleep with other men. If it doesn't bother Othello, no one else will care.
OTHELLO I will chop her into messes! Cuckold me? IAGO O, ’tis foul in her. OTHELLO With mine officer! IAGO That’s fouler. OTHELLO Get me some poison, Iago, this night. I’ll not 225 expostulate with her lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again. This night, Iago. IAGO Do it not with poison. Strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated. OTHELLO Good, good. The justice of it pleases. Very 230 good.	That does the trick. Othello first threatens to chop Desdemona up into little bits. Then, he asks Iago to get him some poison, so he might kill her that very night. He's not going to give her a chance to explain herself. If he does, he might be persuaded to go easy on her. Iago tells him to forget the poison. Othello should strangle her. In their bed—the one she's contaminated. Othello thinks this murder plan is most just.
IAGO And for Cassio, let me be his undertaker. You shall hear more by midnight. OTHELLO Excellent good. A trumpet sounds. What trumpet is that same? 235	Iago reveals he still intends to take out Cassio. He assures Othello he'll report back before midnight.
IAGO I warrant something from Venice. Enter Lodovico, Desdemona, and Attendants. ’Tis Lodovico. This comes from the Duke. See, your wife’s with him. LODOVICO God save you, worthy general. OTHELLO With all my heart, sir. 240 LODOVICO The Duke and the Senators of Venice greet you. He hands Othello a paper. OTHELLO I kiss the instrument of their pleasures. DESDEMONA And what’s the news, good cousin Lodovico? IAGO I am very glad to see you, signior. Welcome to Cyprus. 245 LODOVICO I thank you. How does Lieutenant Cassio? IAGO Lives, sir.	Their conversation is interrupted by Lodovico, a kinsman of Brabantio (Desdemona's father, remember?) who brings news from the Duke. He hands a letter to Othello, and while Othello reads it, Lodovico talks with Desdemona and Iago. He asks how Cassio is doing.
DESDEMONA Cousin, there’s fall’n between him and my lord An unkind breach, but you shall make all well. OTHELLO Are you sure of that? 250 DESDEMONA My lord? OTHELLO, reading “This fail you not to do, as you will”— LODOVICO He did not call; he’s busy in the paper. Is there division ’twixt my lord and Cassio? 255 DESDEMONA A most unhappy one. I would do much T’ atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio. OTHELLO Fire and brimstone! DESDEMONA My lord? OTHELLO Are you wise? 260 DESDEMONA What, is he angry?	Desdemona explains that Cassio and Othello had a falling out, and declares she hopes they can work it out, because she really cares for Cassio. Othello hears this and curses, which surprises Desdemona. She can't figure out why he's upset.
LODOVICO May be the letter moved him. For, as I think, they do command him home, Deputing Cassio in his government. DESDEMONA By my troth, I am glad on ’t. 265 OTHELLO Indeed? DESDEMONA My lord? OTHELLO I am glad to see you mad. DESDEMONA Why, sweet Othello! OTHELLO, striking her Devil! 270	Lodovico suggests he's probably just upset by the letter. Apparently the Duke is calling Othello home and putting Cassio in charge here. Desdemona says she's glad to hear that (which part she likes we don't know, probably both—that she and Othello can go home and that Cassio is getting his position back). But we know what part Othello thinks she's happy to hear. He thinks she's happy for her lover, Cassio. He hits her and calls her a devil.
DESDEMONA I have not deserved this. LODOVICO My lord, this would not be believed in Venice, Though I should swear I saw ’t. ’Tis very much. Make her amends. She weeps.	Desdemona can't figure out why her husband would strike her—and in public no less—when she's done nothing to deserve it. Lodovico insists Othello make amends with the poor girl, as she's weeping.
OTHELLO O, devil, devil! 275 If that the Earth could teem with woman’s tears, Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile. Out of my sight! DESDEMONA I will not stay to offend you. She begins to leave.	Othello says go ahead and let her cry, all of her tears are false anyway. Desdemona, devastated, starts to leave.
LODOVICO Truly an obedient lady. 280 I do beseech your Lordship call her back. OTHELLO Mistress. DESDEMONA, turning back My lord? OTHELLO What would you with her, sir? LODOVICO Who, I, my lord? 285 OTHELLO Ay, 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.— 290 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! Desdemona exits. Cassio shall have my place. And, sir, tonight 295 I do entreat that we may sup together. You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus. Goats and monkeys! He exits.	Lodovico begs Othello to call Desdemona back, so he does. Then he asks Lodovico what he wants with her. Lodovico says, "Me?" And Othello says, "Yeah, you. You're the one who wanted me to call her back." He then goes on to say that Desdemona has no trouble turning (and turning and turning) because she's a good actress. She can put on whatever face she wants. (Ouch.) Finally, he says he'll do what the letter ordered. He'll return to Venice (he sends Desdemona away after he says this), and Cassio can have his post. (He leaves out the fact that Cassio will soon be too dead to fill it.) Then he stalks out, muttering "Goats and monkeys!"
LODOVICO Is this the noble Moor, whom our full senate Call all in all sufficient? Is this the nature 300 Whom passion could not shake, whose solid virtue The shot of accident nor dart of chance Could neither graze nor pierce? IAGO He is much changed. 305 LODOVICO Are his wits safe? Is he not light of brain? IAGO He’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. LODOVICO What? Strike his wife? 310 IAGO ’Faith, that was not so well. Yet would I knew That stroke would prove the worst. LODOVICO Is it his use? Or did the letters work upon his blood And new-create this fault? 315	Lodovico is shocked that Othello would injure his wife and behave so boorishly in public. He asks Iago if Othello is usually like this or if he's just acting this way because the letters from the Duke have upset him.
IAGO Alas, 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 320 That I may save my speech. Do but go after And mark how he continues. LODOVICO I am sorry that I am deceived in him. They exit.	Iago pretends that he doesn't want to speak ill of Othello. Instead he tells Lodovico to just watch Othello. He'll see the truth. Lodovico says he's sorry he was deceived by Othello. He thought he was a good guy.

Othello: Act 4, Scene 1 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 4, Scene 1 of Othello from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text

Translated Text

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