The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare

Oth. This argues fruitfulness, and liberal
heart;-

Hot, hot, and, moist; This hand of yours requires
A sequester from liberty, fasting and prayer,
Much castigation, exercise devout;

For here's a young and sweating devil here,
That commonly rebels. 'Tis a good hand,
A frank one.

Des. You may, indeed, say so;
For 'twas that hand that gave away my heart.
Oth. A liberal hand: The hearts of old, gave
hands;

But our new heraldry is-hands, not hearts.
Des. I cannot speak of this. Come now your
promise.

Oth. What promise, chuck?

Des. I have sent to bid Cassio come speak with

you.

I pray, talk me of Cassio

Oth. The handkerchief,
Des.

A man that, all his time,
Hath founded his good fortune on your love;
Shar'd dangers with you;-
The handkerchief,→→

Oth.

Des. In sooth,
You are to blame.
Oth
Emil.

Away! [Erit Othello.
Is not this man jealous

Des. I ne'er saw this before.
Sure, there's some wonder in this handkerchief:
I am most unhappy in the loss of it.

band.

Emil. "Tis not a year or two shows us a man:
They are all but stomachs, and we all but food;
They cat us hungerly, and when they are full,
They belch us. Look you! Cassio, and my hus
Enter lago and Cassio.
Iago. There's no other way; 'tis she must det;
And, lo, the happiness! go, and importace her
Des. How now, good Cassio? what's the news
with you?

Cas. Madam, my former suit: I do beseech you,
That, by your virtuous means, I may again
Exist, and be a member of his love,
Whom I, with all the duty of my heart,
Entirely honour; I would not be delay'd:
If my offence be of such mortal kiud,
That neither service past, nor present sorrows,
I have it not about me. Nor purpos'd merit in futurity,

Oth. I have a salt and sullen rheum offends me;
Lend me thy handkerchief.
Des.
Here, my lord.

Oth. That which I gave you.
Des.

Oth. Not?

Des.

Oth.

No, indeed, my lord.

That handkerchief

Can ransome me into his love again,
But to know so must be my benefit;

That is a fault: So shall I clothe men a forc'd content,
And shut myself up in some other course,
To fortune's alms.
Des.

Did an Egyptian to my mother give;
She was a charmer, and could almost read
The thoughts of people: she told her, while she
kept it,

"Twould make her amiable, and subdue
father

Entirely to her love; but if she lost it,
Or made a gift of it, my father's eye
Should hold her loathly, and his spirits should

hunt

After new fancies: She, dying, gave it me:
And bid me, when my fate would have me wive,
To give it her. I did so and take heed of 't,
Make it a darling like your precious eye;
To lose or give't away, were such perdition,
As nothing else could match.
Dea

Is it possible?

Alas! thrice gentle Cassio,
My advocation is not now in tune;
My lord is not my lord; nor should I know him,
Were he in favour, as in humour, alter'd.
So help me, every spirit sanctified,
As I have spoken for you all my best;
And stood within the blank of his displeasure,
For my free speech! You must awhile be patient:
What I can do, I will; and more I will,
Than for myself I dare; let that suffice you.
Ingo. Is my lord angry!
Emil.
He went hence but now,
And, certainly, in strange unquietness.

Iago. Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon,
When it hath blown his ranks into the air;
And, like the devil, from his very arm

Oth. 'Tis true there's magic in the web of it: Puff'd his own brother-And can he be angry 1
A sibyl, that had number'd in the world
The sun to make two hundred compasses,
In her prophetick fury sew'd the work;
The worms were hallow'd, that did breed the
silk;

Something of moment, then: I will go meet him:
There's matter in 't indeed, if he be angry.
Des. I pr'ythee, do so.-Something, sure, of
[Erit lago
Either from Venice; or some unhatch'd practice,
Made demonstrable here in Cyprns to him,-
Hath puddled his clear spirit: and, in such cases,
Men's natures wrangle with inferior things,
Though great ones are their object. "Tis even so:
For let our finger ache, and it indues
Our other healthful members ev'n to that sense
Of pain: Nay, we must think men are not gods;
Nor of them look for such observances
As fit the bridal-Beshrew me much, Emilia,
I was (unhandsome warrior as I am,)
Arraigning his unkindness with my soul;
But now I find, I had suborn'd the witness,
And he's indited falsely.

Emil. Pray heaven, it be state matters, as you
think;

And no conception, nor no jealous toy,
Concerning you.

Des. Alas, the day! I never gave him cause.
Emil. But jealous souls will not be answer'd so;

They are not ever jealous for the cause,
But jealous for they are jealous: 'tis a monster,
Begot upon itself, born on itself.

Des. Heaven keep that monster from Othello's
Emil. Lady, amen.
[inind!
Des. I will go seek him.-Cassio, walk here-

about:

If I do find him fit, I'll move your suit,
And seek to effect it to my uttermost.
Cas. I humbly thank your ladyship.

She may, I think, bestow't on any man.
Oth. She is protectress of her honour too;
May she give that ?

Iago. Her honour is an essence that's not seen;
They have it very oft, that they have it not:
But, for the handkerchief,-

Oth. By heaven, I would most gladly have
forgot it :-

Thou said'st,-0, it comes o'er my memory,
As doth the raven o'er the infected house,
Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia. Boding to all,-he had my handkerchief.
Iago. Ay, what of that?
Oth.
That's not so good, now.
Iago. What, if I had said, I had seen him do

Enter Bianca.

Bian. Save you, friend Cassio!

Cas.

What make you from home?
How is it with you, my most fair Bianca ?
I' faith, sweet love, I was coming to your house.
Bian. And I was going to your lodging, Cassio.
What! keep a week away? seven days and
nights?

Eight score eight hours? and lovers' absent
hours,

More tedious than the dial eight score times?
O weary reckoning!

Cas.

Pardon me, Bianca ;

I have this while with leaden thoughts been press'd;

But I shall, a more continuate time,

Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca,
[ Giving her Desdemona's Handkerchief.
Take me this work out.
Bian.
O, Cassio, whence came this?
This is some token from a newer friend.
To the felt absence now I feel a cause;
Is it come to this? Well, well.
Cas.

Throw your vile guesses in the
From whence you have them.

now,

Go to! woman,
devil's teeth,
You are jealous

That this is from some mistress, some remem

brance:

Iago. So they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip:
But if I give my wife a handkerchief,-
Oth. What then?

Iago. 'Faith, that he did,-I know not what he

With her?

did,
Oth. What? what?
Iago. Lie.-
Oth.
Iago. With her, on her; what you will.
Oth. Lie with her!-lie on her !-We say, lie on
her, when they belie her: Lie with her! that's
fulsome.--Handkerchief,--confessions,-hand-
kerchief-To confess and be hang'd for his la-
bour.-First to be hanged, and then to confess:
self in such shadowing passion, without some
-I tremble at it. Nature would not invest her-
thus :-Pish !-Noses, ears, and lips :-Is it possi-
instruction. It is not words, that shake me
ble?-Confess !-Handkerchief!-O devil!-
[Falls in a Trance.

My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are
Iago. Work on,
caught;

And many worthy and chaste dames, even thus,
All guiltless meet reproach.-What, ho! my
lord!

Enter Cassio.

My lord, I say! Othello !-How now, Cassio?
Cas. What is the matter?

Iago. My lord is fallen into an epilepsy;
This is his second fit; he had one yesterday.
Cas. Rub him about the temples.
Iago.
No, forbear:
The lethargy must have his quiet course:
Breaks out to savage madness. Look, he stirs :
If not, he foams at mouth; and, by and by,
He will recover straight; when he is gone,
Do you withdraw yourself a little while,
I would on great occasion speak with you.-
[Exit Cassio.
How is it,general? have you not hurt your head?
Oth. Dost thou mock me?
Iago.
I mock you! no, by heaven.
'Would you would bear your fortunes like a man.
Oth. A horned man's a monster, and a beast.
Iago. There's many a beast then in a populous

city,
And many a civil monster.
Oth. Did he confess it?
Iago.
Good sir, be a man;
Think, every bearded fellow, that's but yok'd,
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 mook, To lip a wanton in a secure couch, And to suppose her chaste! No, let me know; Iago. Why then 'tis hers, my lord; and, being And, knowing what I am, I know what she

Oth. O, thou art wise; 'tis certain. lago.

Stand you awhile apart;
Confine yourself but in a patient list.
Whilst you were here, ere while mad with your
grief

(A passion most unsuiting such a man),
Cassio came hither: 1 shifted him away,
And laid good 'scuse upon your ecstasy;
Bade him anon return, and here speak with me;
The which he promis'd. 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.

Oth.
Dost thou hear, Jago
I will be found most cunning in my patience;
But (dost thou hear?) most bloody.
Iago. That's not amiss; [Othello withdraws.
But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw?
Now 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 beguil'd by one;
He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain
From the excess of laughter!-Here he comes!—
Re-enter Cassio.

As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad;
And his unbookish jealousy must construe
Poor Cassio's smiles, gestures, and light be-
haviour,

Quite in the wrong.-How do you now, lieu

tenant?

Ha, ha, ha!

Oth. Do you triumph, Roman? do you triumph ? Aside. Cas. I marry her!-what? a custoiner! I pr'ythee, bear some charity to my wit; do not think it so unwholesome. Ha, ha, ha! Oth. So, so, so, so: They laugh that win. Aside. Iago. 'Faith, the cry goes, that you shall marry Cas. Pr'ythee, say true. [her. Iago. I am a very villain else. Oth. Have you scored me? Well. [Aside. Cas. 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. Oth. lago beckons me; now he begins the story. [Aside. Cas. She was here even now: she haunts me In every place. I was, the other day, talking on the seabank with certain Venetians; and thither comes this bauble; by this hand, she fulls thus about my neck;

Uth. Crying, O dear Cassio! as it were: his gesture imports it.

Aside

Cas. So hangs, and lolls, and weeps upon me: so hales, and pulls me; ha, ha, ha !—

Oth. Now he tells, how she pluck'd him to my chamber: 0, I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I shall throw it to. Aside Cas. Well, I must leave her company. Iago. Before me ! look where she comes Enter Bianca.

Cas. 'Tis such another fitchew! marry, a perfumed one.-What do you mean by this haunt ing of me?

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 whole 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. Cas. How now, my sweet Bianca ? how now? how now ?

Bian. Let the devil and his dam haunt you!

Oth. By heaven, that should be my handkerchief. [Aride. Bian. An you'll come to supper to-night, you may: an you will not, come when you are next prepared for. [Erit

Iago. After her, after her.
Cas. 'Faith, I must, she'll rail in the street else.
Iago. Will you sup there?
Cas. 'Faith, I intend so.

Iago. Well, I may chance to see you; for 1
would very fain speak with you.
Cas. Pr'ythee, come; Will you?
Iago. Go to: say no more. [Erit Cassio.
Oth. How shall I murder him, lago?
Iago. Did you perceive how he laughed at
Oth. O, Iago!
[his vice 7

Iago. And did you see the handkerchief?
Oth. Was that mine?

Iago. Yours, by this hand: and to see how he prizes the foolish woman, your wife! she gave it him, he hath given it his whore.

Oth. I would have him nine years a killing: A fine woman! a fair woman! a sweet woman! Iago. Nay, you must forget that.

Oth. Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damned to-night; for she shall not live: No, my heart is turned of 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.

Iago. Nay, that's not your way.

Oth. 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!-Of so high and plenteous wit and invention

lago. She's the worse for all this.

Oth. O, a thousand, a thousand times:-And then of so gentle a condition! Iago. Ay, too gentle.

Oth. Nay, that's certain: But yet the pity it, lago!-O, lago, 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.

Oth. I will chop her into messes!-Cuckold mel
Iago. O, 'tis foul in her.
Oth. With mine officer !
Iago. That's fouler.

Oth. Get me some poison, lago; this night: I'll not expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again: this night, lago.

lago. Do it not with poison, strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated. Oth. Good, good: the justice of it pleases; very good.

Iago. And, for Cassio,-let me be his under- Call-all-in-all sufficient-This the noble nature taker: you shall hear more by midnight. Whom passion could not shake? whose solid A Trumpet within. virtue Oth. Excellent good.-What trumpet is that same?

Iago. Something from Venice, sure. "Tis Lodovico,

Come from the duke; and, see, your wife is with him.

Enter Lodovico, Desdemona, and Attendants. Lod. 'Save you, worthy general! Oth. With all my heart, sir. Lod. The duke and senators of Venice greet you. [Gives him a packet. Oth. I kiss the instrument of their pleasures. [Opens the packet and reads. Des. And what's the news, good cousin Lo dovico?

Iago. I am very glad to see you, signior: Welcome to Cyprus.

Iago. Lives, sir.

Lod. I thank you: How does lieutenant Cas[sio? Des. Cousin, there's fallen between him and my lord

An unkind breach: but you shall make all well.
Oth. Are you sure of that?
Des. My lord?
Oth.

This fail you not to do, as you will,

[Reads. Lod. He did not call; he's busy in the paper. Is there division 'twixt my lord and Cassio? Des. A most unhappy one; I would do much To atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio. Oth. Fire and brimstone! Des.

Oth.

My lord?

Are you wise?
May be, the letter mov'd him;
For, as I think, they do command him home,
Deputing Cassio in his government.
Des. By my troth, I am glad on't.
Oth.
Des.

Des. What, is he angry?
Lod.

Indeed.
My lord?
How, sweet Othello?
Oth. Devil!
[Striking her.
Des.
I have not deserv'd this.
Lod. My lord, this would not be believed in
Venice,

Oth. I am glad to see you mad.
Des.

Though I should swear I saw it; 'Tis very much;

Make her amends, she weeps.
O devil, devil!

Oth.
If that the earth could teem with woman's tears,
Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile ;-
Out of my sight!

Des. I will not stay to offend you.
Lod. Truly, an obedient lady:-

[Going.

I do beseech your lordship call her back.

Oth. Mistress,

Des

My lord?

Oth

What would you with her, Lod. Who, I, my lord?

sir?

Oth. 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.-
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 Desdemona.
Cassio shall have my place. And,-sir,-to-
night,

I do entreat that we may sup together.
You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus.-Goats and
monkeys!
[Erit.

Or did the letters work upon his blood,
And new create this fault?
Iago.

Alas, alas! It is not honesty in me to speak

serve him:

What I have seen and known. You shall ob-
And his own courses will denote him so,
That I may save my speech: Do but go after,
And mark how he continues,

Lod. I am sorry, that I am deceiv'd in him.
[Breunt.
SCENE II. A Room in the Castle.
Enter Othello and Emilia.

Oth. You have seen nothing then?
Emil. Nor ever heard; nor ever did suspect.
Oth. Yet, you have seen Cassio and she to-
gether.

Emil. But then I saw no harm and then 1 heard

Each syllable that breath made up between

them.

If any wretch hath put this in your head,
Let heaven requite it with the serpent's curse!
For, if she be not honest, chaste, and true,
Is foul as slander.
There's no man happy; the purest of their wives

Oth.

Bid her come hither:-go.[Exit Emilia. She says enough :-yet she's a simple bawd, That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore, A closet-lock-and-key of villanons secrets: And yet she'll kneel, and pray I have seen her do't.

Re-enter Emilia, with Desdemona.
Des. My lord, what is your will?
Oth.

'Pray, chuck, come hither. Des. What is your pleasure? Oth.

Let me see your eyes; Look in my face. Des. What horrible fancy's this? Oth. Some of your function, mistress; [To Emilia Leave procreants alone, and shut the door : Cough, or cry-hem, if any body come: Your mystery, your mystery ;-nay, despatch. [Exit Emilia. Des. Upon my knees, what doth your speech import? I understand a fury in your words,

Lod. Is this the noble Moor whom our full But not the words.

senate

Oth. Why, what art thou 7

Des.

And loyal wife. Oth

Your wife, my lord; your true

Come, swear it, damn thyself:

Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves

Should fear to seize thee: therefore be double damn'd,

Swear-thou art honest.
Des.

Heaven doth truly know it. Oth. Heaven truly knows, that thou art false as hell.

Des. To whom, my lord? with whom? How am I false?

Oth. O Desdemona!-away! away! away! Des. Alas, the heavy day!-Why do you weep? Am I the occasion of these tears, my lord? If, haply, you my father do suspect, An instrument of this your calling back, Lay not your blame on me; if you have lost him, Why, I have lost him too.

Oth.

Had it pleas'd heaven
To try me with affliction; had he rain'd
All kinds of sores, and shames, on my bare head;
Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips;
Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes;
I should have found in some part of my soul
A drop of patience; but (alas!) to make me
A fixed figure, for the time of scorn
To point his slow unmoving finger at,-
O! O!

Yet could I bear that too; well, very well:
But there, where I have garner'd up my heart;
Where either I must live or bear no life;
The fountain from the which my current runs,
Or else dries up; to be discarded thence!
Or keep it as cistern, for foul toads

To knot and gender in !-turn thy complexion

there!

Patience, thon young and rose-lipp'd cherubim ; Ay, there, look grim as hell!

Des. I hope, my noble lord esteems me honest. Oth. O, ay; as summer flies are in the shambles, That quicken even with blowing. O thou weed, Who art so lovely fair, and smell'st so sweet, That the sense aches at thee.-'Would, thou had'st ne'er been born!

Des. Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed? Oth. Was this fair paper, this most goodly book, Made to write whore upon? What committed! Committed!-0 thou public commoner! I should make very forges of my cheeks, That would to cinders burn up modesty, Did I but speak thy deeds.-What committed ? Heaven stops the nose at it, and the moon winks; The bawdy wind, that kisses all it meets, Is hush'd within the hollow mine of earth, And will not hear it! What committed!Impudent strumpet !

Des.

By heaven, you do me wrong. Oth. Are not you a strumpet? Des. No, as I am a Christian: If to preserve this vessel for my lord, From any other foul unlawful touch, Be-not to be a strumpet, I am none. Oth. What, not a whore? Des.

No, as I shall be saved.

Oth. Is it possible?
Des. O, heaven forgive us!
Oth

I cry you mercy, then;
I took you for that cunning whore of Venice,
That married with Othello.-You, mistress,
Re-enter Emilia.

That have the office opposite to Saint Peter,
And keep the gate of hell; You! you! ay, you!
We have done our course; there's money for
your pains;

I pray you, turn the key, and keep our counsel. [Exit. Emil. Alas, what does this gentleman con

ceive?

How do you,madam? how do you, my good lady?

Des. 'Faith, half asleep.

Emil. Good madam, what's the matter with
my lord?
Des. With who?
Emil.

Why, with my lord, madam.

Des. Who is thy lord? Emil. He that is yours, sweet lady. Des. I have none: Do not talk to me, Emilia; I cannot weep; nor answer I have none, But what should go by water. 'Pr'ythee, to night Lay on my bed my wedding sheets,-remember;And call thy husband hither.

[Eril

Emil. Here is a change, indeed! Des. 'Tis meet I should be us'd so, very meet How have I been behav'd, that he might stick The small'st opinion on my great'st abuse? Re-enter Emilia, with lago.

Iago. What is your pleasure, madam! How is it with you?

Des. I cannot tell. Those, that do teach young babes,

Do it with gentle means, and easy tasks:
He might have chid me so; for, in good faith,
I am a child to chiding

Iago.
What's the matter, lady?
Emil. Alas, Jago, my lord hath so bewhor'd her,
Thrown such despite and heavy terms upon her,
As true hearts cannot bear.
Des. Am I that name, Iago?
Ingo.

Wha name, fair lady 1 Des. Such as, she says, my lord did say I was. Emil. He call'd her, whore; a beggar, in his

drink, '

Could not have laid such terms upon his callet. Iago. Why did he so ?

Des. I do not know; I am sure, I am none such. lago. Do not weep, do not weep; Alas, the day! Emil. Has she forsook so many noble matches, Her father, and her country, and her friends, To be called-whore? would it not make one weep?

Des. It is my wretched fortune.
Iago.

Beshrew him for it! How comes this trick upon him?

Des.

Nay, heaven doth know. Emil. I will be hang'd, if some eternal villain, Some busy and insinuating rogue, Some cogging cozening slave, to get some office, Have not devis'd this slander; I'll be hang'd else Iago. Fie, there is no such man; it is impos

sible.

Why should he call her, whore ? who keeps her company?

What place? what time? what form? what likelihood!

The Moor's abus'd by some most villanons knave,
Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow:-
O, heaven, that such companions thou'dst unfold;
And put in every honest hand a whip,
To lash the rascal naked through the world,
Even from the east to the west!
Iago.
Speak within door.
Emil. O, fie upon him! some such squire he was,
That turn'd your wit the seamy side without,
And made you to suspect me with the Moor."
Ingo. You are a fool; go to.
Des.
O good lago,
What shall I do to win my lord again?
Good friend, go to him; for, by this light of

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The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare: From the Text of the Corrected ...