Shakespeare’s The
Tragedy of Othello: The Moor of Venice
All original lines by William Shakespeare
Compressed
for performance by students at the annual banquet of the
New Salem
Educational Initiative, June 2017.
Gary Marvin
Davison, Ph. D.
Director,
New Salem Educational Initiative
From Othello,
Act I, Scene One [Venice.
A street.]
Iago: Michael
Cassio must his lieutenant be,
And I his Moorship’s ancient.
I follow him to serve my own turn upon him.
From Othello,
Act I, Scene three [Palace
of the Duke of Venice]
[Enter Duke, Brabantio, Othello, Cassio,
Roderigo, Officers, Iago, and Desdemona.]
Duke:
[To Brabantio]
Good signior, what’s the matter?
Brabantio: My daughter!
My daughter is stol’n
by this Moor.
Duke [to Othello]: What can you say to this?
Othello: Is most true…
Her father lov’d
me, oft question’d me the story of my life.
[Desdemona]
lov’d me for the dangers I had pass’d,
And I loved her that
she did pity them.
Desdemona: My
noble father, I do perceive a divided duty.
I am hitherto your
daughter. But here’s my husband.
Duke: The
Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for
Cyprus.
Othello:
I do undertake these
present wars against the Ottomites
[and] crave
disposition for my wife.
Desdemona: Let me go with him.
Duke: Speed
must answer. You must hence to tonight.
Othello: With
all my heart.
[Exeunt Duke, Senators, Officers, Moor,
and Desdemona]
Roderigo: I
will incontinently drown myself.
Iago: No
more of drowning, do you hear?
I hate the Moor. My cause is hearted:
Thine hath no less
reason. Let us be conjunctive
in our revenge against
him.
Roderigo: I am changed.
Iago: Go to; farewell.
Exit
Roderigo.
Thus do I ever
make my fool my purse;
I time expend
with such a snipe
But for my sport
and profit.
I hate the
Moor. He holds me well.
The better shall
my purpose work on him.
Cassio’s a proper
man. Let me see now---
To get his
place,
After some time t’
abuse Othello’s ear
That he is too
familiar with his wife.
I have’t! Hell and night
Must bring this
monstrous birth to the world’s light.
Exit.
From Othello,
Act II, Scene One [Famagusta, capital of Cyprus. An open place near the quay]
[Enter Montano, Governor of Cyprus, and Cassio.]
Cassio: Thanks
to the valiant of this warlike isle,
That so approve
the Moor.
[Enter Desdemona, Iago, Emilia, Roderigo, and
attendants.]
Cassio: Hail
to thee, lady!
Desdemona: I thank thee, valiant Cassio.
What tidings can
you tell me of my lord?
Cassio: He
is not yet arriv’d;
But hark! A sail.
[Guns heard.]
[Enter Othello and attendants]
Desdemona: My
dear Othello.
Othello: It gives me great wonder and content
To see you here before
me.
Desdemona: The heavens forbid
But that our
loves and comforts should increase
Even as our days
do grow.
Iago: [Aside]
O you are well tun’d
now,
But I’ll set
down the pegs that make this music,
As honest as I
am.
Othello: Come,
let us to the castle---
Our wars are
done. The Turks are drown’d.
Once more, well
met in Cyprus!
[Exit
Othello and Desdemona, with all except Iago and Roderigo].
Iago [to Roderigo]: I
must tell thee this: Desdemona is
Directly in love with
him [Cassio].
Roderigo: With him? ‘tis
possible?
Iago:
The knave is handsome, young,
and the woman has
found him completely.
Roderigo: I cannot believe that in her. She’s full of most blessed
condition.
Iago: Bless’d,
fig’s end! If she be blessed, she would
never have loved the
Moor… Sir, be ruled by me:
Do find some occasion
to anger Cassio,
Provoke
him that he may cause these
of Cyprus to mutiny.
Roderigo: I will do this, if you can bring it to any opportunity.
Adieu.
Exit.
Iago: If
this poor trash of Venice stand the putting-on,
I’ll have our
Michael Cassio on the hip.
From Othello,
Act II, Scene Three
[The ‘Court of Guard’ or
Guard-Post on Cyprus]
Enter
Iago.
Iago: Come,
lieutenant, I have a stoop of wine…
Cassio: Not
to-night, good Iago. I have very poor
and unhappy
brains for
drinking.
Iago: But
one cup. The gallants desire it.
Cassio: I’ll
do it; but it dislikes me. Exit.
Iago: Now, ‘mongst this flock
of drunkards,
Am I to put
Cassio in some action
That may offend
the isle.
Enter Cassio and Montano.
Enter Roderigo.
Cassio, driving at Roderigo.
Cassio: Zounds! You rogue, you rascal!
Iago: What’s the matter, lieutenant?
Cassio: I’ll beat the knave into a
twiggen bottle.
Roderigo: Beat me?
Cassio: Dost thou prate, rogue? [Stiking
Roderigo.]
Montano: [Staying him] Nay, good lieutenant. I pray you,
sir, hold your
hand.
Cassio: Let me go, sir, or I’ll knock
you o’er the mazzard.
Montano: Come, you’re drunk.
Cassio: Drunk! [They fight.] ;
Iago: Nay, good lieutenant!
Enter Othello and Gentlemen, with weapons.
Othello: What is the matter ere?
How came it,
Michael, that you were thus forgot?
Cassio: I pray you, pardon me, I cannot
speak.
Othello: ‘Tis monstrous.
Iago, who began’t?
Iago: I
had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth
Than it should
do offence to Michael Cassio;
Yet I persuade
myself to speak the truth.
I found them close
together,
At blow and thrust,
even as they were
When you yourself did
part them.
Othello: I know, Iago, thy honesty.
Cassio,
I love thee
But never more
be officer of mine.
[Exit
Moor.]
Iago; [To
Cassio] What, are you hurt, lieutenant?
Cassio: Ay,
past all surgery. I have lost my reputation.
What
remains is bestial.
Iago: What,
man! There are ways to recover
the general again…..
Confess yourself
freely to [Desdemona],
importune her help to
put you to your place again.
Cassio: You
advise me well… and in the morning will
I
Beseech the
virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me.
Iago: Good
night, lieutenant.
Cassio: Good
night, honest Iago! Exit
Cassio.
Iago: While
this honest fool plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes,
And she for him
pleads to the Moor,
I’ll pour this
pestilence into his ear
My wife [Emilia]
must move for Cassio to her mistress.
And make the net that
shall enmesh them all.
Exit.
From Othello, Act III, Scene One
[Enter
Emilia.]
Emilia: Good
morrow, good lieutenant.
All will soon be well.
The general and his
wife are talking of it,
And she speaks for you
stoutly.
Pray you, come in.
[The
garden of the Citadel]
Enter Desdemona, Cassio, and
Emilia
[Desdemona and Cassio talk with great
intensity;
Emilia listens
attentively. Cassio bows in gratitude
and exits.
Othello: Was
that not Cassio parted with my wife?
Iago: Cassio,
my lord? No, sure. I cannot think it,
That he would
steal away so guilty-like,
Seeing you
coming.
Desdemona: How
now, my lord!
I have been
talking with a suitor here.
He errs in ignorance
and not in cunning,
I prithee, call
him back.
Othello: I
will deny thee nothing.
I beseech thee,
leave me
but a little to
myself.
Exeunt
Desdemona and Emilia.
Othello: What
dost thou think?
Iago: Look
to your wife. Observe her well with
Cassio.
She
did deceive her father, marrying you---
Othello: I
am bound to you forever.
Iago: My
lord, I’ll take my leave.
Exit.
Enter Desdemona and Emilia
Desdemona: How
now, my dear Othello.
Othello:
I have a pain upon
my forehead here.
[He
puts the handkerchief from him, and it drops.]
Let it
alone. Come, I’ll go in with you.
Exeunt
Othello and Desdemona
Emilia: I
am glad I have found her first
remembrance from the
Moor.
My wayward
husband hath a hundred times
Woo’d
me to steal it.
Enter Iago.
Emilia: I
have a thing for you.
Iago: A
foolish wife.
Emilia: O,
is that all? What will you give me now
For that same
handkerchief? [Shows Iago the handkerchief.]
Iago: Oh,
good wench! Give it me. [Snatches
it.]
Exit Emilia.
Enter
Othello.
Iago: Cassio
in sleep I heard him say,
‘Sweet Desdemona, let
us be wary,
let us hide our
loves!’
Othello: Oh,
monstrous! monstrous!
I’ll tear her to
pieces!
[Othello kneels; Iago kneels beside him.]
7
Iago: Witness you ever-burning lights
above!
Iago doth give his
wit, hands, heart,
to wrong’d Othello’s
services!
[They
rise.]
[Exeunt.]
From Othello,
Act III, Scene Four
Desdemona: Where
should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia?
Emilia: I
know not, madam.
Desdemona: Believe
me, I would rather have lost my purse
full of cruzadoes…
Emilia: Look
where he comes!
Enter
Othello
Desdemona: How
is’t with you, my lord?
Othello: I
have a salt and sorry rheum offends me.
Lend me your
handkerchief.
Desdemona: I
have it not about me.
Othello: That
is a fault. Is’t lost? Is’t gone?
Speak! Is’t o’ of the way?
Desdemona: I
say, it is not lost.
Othello: Fetch’t,
let me see’t.
Desdemona: Why
I can, sir, but I will not now.
This is a trick
to put me from my suit.
Pray you, let
Cassio be receiv’d again.
Othello: Fetch
me that handkerchief! My mind misgives.
Desdemona: I
pray, talk to me of Cassio…
Othello: The
handkerchief. Zounds!
Exit Othello.
Emilia: Is
not this man jealous?
They are not ever
jealous for the cause,
But jealous for
they are jealous.
Desdemona: Heaven
keep that monster from Othello’s mind!
[Cassio
can be seen at another section of the stage, picking up
a handkerchief that the audience sees Iago toss into Cassio’s
chamber]
From Othello,
Act IV, Scene One
[Enter
Iago and Othello.]
Othello: [advancing] How shall I murder him, Iago?
Iago: Do
it not with poison. Strangle her in her
bed, even
The
bed that she hath contaminated.
Othello: Good, good. The
justice of it pleases. Very good.
Iago: And
for Cassio, let me be his undertaker.
Exit Othello.
Enter Roderigo.
Roderigo: How
do you mean, removing of him?
Iago: Why,
by making him uncapable of Othello’s place.
Knocking
out his brains.
Roderigo: And
that you would have me do?
[Iago
nods. Roderigo ponders the idea first
doubtfully, then favorably]
Exeunt.
From Othello,
Act V, Scene One [A street of Cyprus}
[Enter Iago and Roderigo.]
[Enter Cassio. Iago retires.]
Roderigo: Villain, thou diest.
[Makes
a pass at Cassio.]
[Cassio
draws and and wounds Roderigo.]
Roderigo: O!
I am slain! [Draws, wounds Cassio in the leg, and exits.]
Cassio: I
am maimed forever. Light, ho! Murder! Murder! [Falls.]
[Enter
Iago, with a light.]
Cassio: Here,
here! For heaven’s sake, help me.
Iago: Oh,
my lieutenant, what villains have done this?
[Stabs Roderigo.]
Roderigo: O
inhuman dog! [Roderigo dies.]
[Exit Iago.]
From Othello,
Act V, Scene Two
[State
bedroom in the Citadel]
Enter Othello with a light, and Desdemona in her
bed.
Desdemona: Who’s
there? Othello?
Othello: Ay… have you prayed tonight, Desdemona?
Desdemona: Ay,
my lord.
Othello: If
you think yourself of any crime
Solicit for it
straight… I would not kill thy soul.
Desdemona: Talk
you of killing?
Othello: Ay,
I do. That handkerchief which I so lov’d
and gave thee
Thou gav’st to
Cassio.
Desdemona: No,
by my life and soul!
Othello: By
heaven, I saw my handkerchief in his hand…
Down, strumpet!
[He
stifles her.]
Enter Emilia.
Othello: She’s
like a liar gone to burning hell.
Thy husband knew
it all.
Emilia: My
husband?
Othello: Ay, it was he who told me first.
An honest man he
is.
[Enter Iago and others.]
Emilia: Speak,
for my heart is full.
Iago: I
told him what I thought.
Emilia: But
did you ever tell him she was false?
Iago; I
did.
Emilia: You
told a lie, an odious lie.
[Othello
falls on the bed.]
Emilia: O
thou dull Moor! That handkerchief I
found by fortune
and did give my
husband, for he begg’d me to steal it.
Iago: Filth,
thou liest!
The
Moor runs at Iago. Iago kills his wife
[Exit Iago.]
[Enter Lodovico (noble Venetian and kinsman to Desdemona)],
Montano (Governor of Cyprus), Iago (as prisoner), and Officers. Cassio in a chair.]
Lodovico: Where
is this rash and most unfortunate man?
Othello: That’s
he that was Othello. Here I am.
[Seeing Iago, Othello runs toward him and wounds him.]
Cassio: Dear general, I did never
give you cause.
Othello: I
do believe it, and I ask you pardon.
[Othello looks at Iago as if seeking an
explanation.]
Iago: Demand
me nothing. What you know, you know.
From
this time forth I never will speak word.
Lodovico: [To
Othello] You must forsake
this room and go with us.
Your power and
your command is taken off,
And Cassio rules in
Cyprus.
Othello: Speak
of one that lov’d not wisely but too well [and],
being perplex’d
in the extreme, threw a pearl away.
[He
stabs himself. He dies.]
Cassio: This
did I fear, but thought he had no weapon,
For he was great
of heart.
Lodovico: [To
Iago] O Spartan dog,
Look on this
tragic loading of the bed!
This is thy work. To you, lord governor,
Remains the
censure of this hellish villain,
Myself will
straight aboard, and to the state
This heavy act
with heavy heart relate.
[Exeunt omnes]
Finis
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