All original
lines by William Shakespeare
Compressed
for students soon to attend a performance at the Guthrie
Gary Marvin
Davison, Ph. D.
Director,
New Salem Educational Initiative
From Othello,
Act I, Scene One [Venice.
A street.]
Iago:
I am worth no worse a place.
But he, as
loving his own pride and purposes,
Evades them with
bombast circumstance…
‘Certes,’ says
he, ‘I have already chose my officer.’
.
Forsooth, a
great arithmetician,
One Michael
Cassio, a Florentine
That never set
squadron in the field…
He, in good
time, must his lieutenant be,
And I --- God
bless the mark!--- his Moorship’s
ancient.
Roderigo: I would not follow him then.
Othello: I follow him to serve my own turn
upon him.
We cannot be all
masters, nor all masters
Cannot be
follow’d. You should mark…
In following
him, I follow but myself.
From Othello,
Act I, Scene three [The
Doge’s Palace]
Enter Duke [of Venice[ and Senators, set at
a table with lights and attendants.
[Also entering during the scene: Brabantio (Desdemona’s father), Othello, Cassio,
Roderigo, Officers, Iago, and Desdemona].
Duke:
Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you
Against the general enemy
Ottoman.
[To
Brabantio] I did not see you, good
signior;
Why, what’s the matter?
Brabantio: My daughter! O my daughter!
All: Dead?
Brabantio: Ay,
to me.
She is abus’d,
stol’n, and corrupted
By spells and
medicines sought of mountebanks…
Here is the man,
this Moor, whom now, it seems,
Your special
mandate for the state affairs
Hath hither
brought.
Duke [to Othello]: What, in your part, can you
say to this?
Othello: My very noble and approv’d good masters:
That I have
ta’en away this old man’s daughter ,
Is most true…
Her father lov’d
me, oft invited me,
Still question’d
me the story of my life
From year to
year, the battles, sieges, fortunes,
That I have
pass’d.
I ran it
through, even from my boyish days
To the very
moment that he bade me tell it.
Wherein I spake
of disastrous chances,
Of moving
accidents by flood and field,
Of hair-breadth
‘scapes i’ th’ imminent deadly breach,
Of being taken
by the insolent foe
And sold to
slavery, of my redemption thence
And portance in
my traveller’s history.
Wherein of
antres vast and deserts idle,
Rough quarries,
rocks and hills whose heads touch heaven,
And of Cannibals
that each other eat,
The
anthropophagi, and men whose heads
Do grow beneath
their shoulders. This to hear
would Desdemona
seriously incline: I did consent
And often did beguile
her of her tears,
When I did speak of
some distressful stroke
That my youth had
suffer’d. My story being done,
She gave for my pains
a world of sighs...
She wished that heaven
had made her such a man…
And bade me, if I had
a friend that lov’d her,
I should but teach him
how to tell my story,
And that would woo
her. Upon this heat, I spake
She lov’d me for the
dangers I had pass’d,
And I loved her that
she did pity them.
This is the only
witchcraft I have us’d.
Here comes the
lady; let her witness it.
Desdemona: My
noble father,
I do perceive
here a divided duty.
To you I am
bound for life and education.
My life and
education both do learn me
How to respect
you: you are the lord of duty,
I am hitherto your
daughter. But here’s my husband.
Duke: The
Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for
Cyprus. Othello, the fortitude of the place is best
known
to you; and though we have a substitute of most
allowed
sufficiency, yet
opinion, a sovereign mistress of effects,
throws a more
safer voice on you. You must therefore
be
content to
slubber the glow of your new fortunes with this
more stubborn
and boisterous expedition.
Othello:
The tyrant custom,
most grave senators,
Hath made the
flinty and steel couch of war
My thrice-driven
bed of down. I do agnize
A natural and
prompt alacrity
I find in
hardness, and do undertake
These present
wars against the Ottomites.
Most humbly
therefore bending to your state,
I crave disposition
for my wife.
Due reference of place
and exhibition,
With such
accommodation and besort
As levels with her
breeding.
Desdemona: My
heart’s sudu’d
Even to the very
quality of my lord.
I saw Othello’s
visage in his mind,
And to his
honors and his valiant parts
Did I my soul
and fortunes consecrate…
Let me go with
him.
Duke: Be
it as you shall privately determine,
Either for her
stay or going. Th’ affair cries haste,
And speed must
answer. You must hence tonight.
Desdemona: To-night,
my lord?
Duke: This
night.
Othello: With
all my heart.
Duke: Let
it be so.
Good night to
every one.
[To Brabantio]
And noble, signior,
If virtue no
delighted beauty lack,
Your son-in-law
is more fair than black.
[Exeunt Duke, Senators, Officers, Moor,
and Desdemona]
Roderigo: I
will incontinently drown myself.
Iago: What
says thou, noble heart?
It cannot be
that Desdemona
Should long love the
Moor…
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. If thou canst cuckold him, thou
dost thyself a
pleasure, me a sport. There are many
events in the
womb of time which
will be delivered.
Roderigo: I am changed.
Iago: Go to; farewell.
Exit
Roderigo.
Thus do I ever
make my fool my purse;
For I mine own
gain’d knowledge should profane,
If I would 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, and to plume up my will
In double
knavery: how? How?
Let’s see---
After some time
t’ abuse Othello’s ear
That he is too
familiar with his wife.
He has a person
and a smooth dispose
To be suspected,
fram’d to make women false;
The Moor a free
and open nature too.
And will as
tenderly be led by th’ nose
As asses
are.
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 And let the heavens
Give him defence
agains the elements,
For I have lost him at
sea.
Montano: Is
he well-shipp’d?
Cassio:
His back is
stoutly timber’d, and his pilot
Of very expert
and approv’d allowance:
Therefore my
hopes, not surfeited to death,
Stand in bold
cure.
[Enter Desdemona, Iago, Emilia, Roderigo, and
attendants.]
Cassio: Hail
to thee, lady! And the grace of heaven
Before, behind
thee, and on every hand,
Enwheel thee
round!
Desdemona: I thank thee, valiant Cassio.
What tidings can
you tell me of my lord?
Cassio: He
is not yet arriv’d; nor know I aught
But that he’s
well, and will be shortly here…
But hark! A sail.
[Guns heard.]
[To
Iago] Good ancient, you are welcome.
[Kisses Emilia] Welcome
mistress.
[Enter Othello and attendants]
Desdemona: My
dear Othello.
Othello: It gives me great wonder and content
To see you here before
me. O my soul’s joy
If after tempest
come such calms,
May the winds
blow till they have waken’d death!
If it were now
to die,
‘Twere now to be
most happy; for I fear
My soul hath her
content so absolute
That not another
comfort like to this
Succeeds to
unknown fate.
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---
News,
friends! Our wars are done. The Turks are drown’d.
How does my old
acquaintance of the isle?
Honey, you shall
be well-desired in Cyprus.
I have found
great love amongst them.
Come, Desdemona!
Once more, well
met in Cyprus!
[Exit
Othello and Desdemona, with all except Iago and Roderigo].
Iago [to Roderigo]: Do
meet me presently at the harbor…
The lieutenant
[Cassio] to-night watches on
The court of
guard. First, I must tell thee
this: Desdemona is
Directly in love with
him [Cassio].
Roderigo: With him? ‘tis
possible?
Iago:
Let thy soul be instructed… She first loved the
Moor but for bragging
and telling her fantastical lies…
Now… her delicate tenderness will find itself
abused,
Begin to heave the
gorge, disrelish and abhor the Moor…
Now, sir, this
granted, who
stands so eminently in
the degree of this fortune as Cassio
does? A knave very voluble, no farder conscionable
than in
putting on the mere
form of civil and humane seeming for
the better compassing
of his salt and hidden affections?
Besides, the knave is
handsome, young, and hath all those
requisites in him that
folly and green minds look after.
A pestilent knave, 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: I have brought you from Venice.
Watch you
tonight… Do find some occasion to anger
Cassio,
either by speaking too loud, or
tainting his discipline,
or from what other cause you please
which the time shall more
favorably minister.
Sir,
he is rash and very sudden in choler, and haply
With his truncheon may
strike at you. Provoke him that
he may, for even out
of that then will I cause these of
Cyprus to
mutiny, whose
qualification shall come into no true taste again
but by the displanting
of Cassio. So shall you have a shorter
journey to your
desires by the means I shall then have to
prefer them, and the impediment most
profitably removed
without the which there were no
expectation of our prosperity.
Roderigo: I will do this, if you can bring it to any opportunity.
Iago: I
warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the
citadel. I
Must fetch
[Othellos’s] necessaries ashore.
Farewell.
Roderigo: Adieu. Exit.
Iago: If
this poor trash of Venice, whom I thrash
For his quick
hunting, stand the putting-on,
I’ll have our
Michael Cassio on the hip,
Abuse him to the
Moor in the rank garb,
Make the Moor
thank me, love me, and reward me
For making him
egregiously an ass
And practicing
upon his peace and quiet
Even to
madness. ‘Tis here, but yet confus’d:
Knavery’s plain
face is never seen till us’d.
From Othello,
Act II, Scene Two [A street (still on the island of
Cyprus)]
Enter Othello’s herald, with a proclamation.
Herald: it
is Othello’s pleasure, our noble and valiant general,
that, upon
certain tidings now arrived, importing the mere
perdition of the
Turkish fleet, every man put himself into
triumph, some to
dance, some to make bonfires, each man
what sport and
revels his addiction leads him: for
besides
these beneficial
news, it is the celebration of his nuptial.
From Othello,
Act II, Scene Three [The ‘Court of Guard’ or Guard-post]
Enter Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, and Attendants.
Othello: Good
Michael, look you to the guard tonight.
Let’s teach
ourselves that honorable stop,
Not
to outsport discretion.
Cassio: Iago hath discretion what to do;
But,
notwithstanding, with my personal eye
Will I look
to’t.
Othello: Iago
is most honest.
Michael, good
night. To-morrow with your earliest
Let me have
speech with you.
[To Desdemona] Come, my dear love.
Exeunt Othello and Desdemona [and
Attendants].
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. I could well wish courtesy
would invent
Some other
custom of entertainment.
Iago: O
they are our friends. But one cup. I’ll drink
for you.
Cassio: I
have drunk one cup to-night, and that was
craftily
qualified too, and, behold, what innovation it makes
here. I am unfortunate in the infirmity, and dare
not take my
weakness with any
more.
Iago: What,
man! ‘tis a night of revels. The gallants desire it.
Cassio: I’ll
do it; but it dislikes me. Exit.
Iago: If I can fasten but one
cup upon him,
With that which
he hath drunk to-night already,
He’ll be as full
of quarrel and offence
As my young mistress’
dog. Now, my sick fool Roderigo,
Whom love hath
turn’d almost the wrong side out,
To Desdemon;a
hath to-night caroused
Potations
pottle-deep… Now, ‘mongst this flock of
drunkards,
Am I to put
Cassio in some action
That may offend
the isle.
Enter Cassio, Montano, and
Gentlemen
[Boys following with wine (that they offer to Cassio and Montano)].
Cassio: ‘Fore
God, they have given me a rouse already.
Montano: Good
faith, a little one. Not past a pint, as
I am a soldier.
Enter
Roderigo
Iago: [Aside
to him (Roderigo)] How now,
Roderigo?
Pray you, after
the lieutenant. Go! Exit Roderigo.
Enter Cassio, driving at
Roderigo.
Cassio: Zounds! You rogue, you rascal!
Iago: What’s the matter, lieutenant?
Cassio: A knave teach me my duty! 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: [aside to Roderigo] Away,
I say! Go out, and cry a
mutiny.
Nay, good
lieutenant! God’s will, gentlemen!
Help, ho! Lieutenant!
Sir Montano! sir!
Help,
masters! Here’s a goodly watch indeed.!
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: What! In a town
full of war,
Yet wild, the
people’s hearts full of fear,
To manage private and
domestic quarrels
In night, and on
the court and guard of safety!
‘Tis
monstrous. Iago, who began’t?
Iago: Touch
me not so near.
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
Shall nothing wrong
him. Thus it is, general,
Montano and myself
being in speech,
There comes a fellow
crying for help,
And Cassio following
him with determin’d sword
To execute upon
him. Sir, this gentleman [Montano]
Steps in to Cassio,
and entreats his pause.
Myself the crying
fellow did pursue…
When I came back, 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 and
love doth mince the matter,
Making it light on
Cassio. Cassio, I love thee
But never more
be officer of mine… I’ll make thee an
example.
Enter
Desdemona, with others.
Desdemona: What’s the matter?
Othello: All’s well, now sweeting…
Come, Desdemona,
‘tis a soldier’s life,
To have their
balmy slumbers wak’d with strife.
Exit Moor, Desdemona, and Attendants.
Iago; [To
Cassio] What, are you hurt, lieutenant?
Cassio: Ay,
past all surgery.
Iago: Marry,
God forbid!
Cassio: Reputation,
reputation… I have lost my reputation.
I have lost the
immortal part, sir, of myself, and
What remains is
bestial. My reputation. Iago, my reputation!
Iago: As
I am an honest man, I thought you had received
some bodily
wound…
What, man! There are ways to recover the general
again… sue to him again, and he is yours.
Cassio: It
hath pleased the devil drunkenness to give place to
the devil
wrath. One unperfectness shows me
another, to make
me frankly
despise myself.
Iago: Come,
you are too severe a moraler…. I could
heartily wish this had
not befallen, but since it is as it is,
mend it for your good…
I’ll tell you what you
shall do. Our general’s wife is now the
general… Confess yourself freely to her, importune her
help
to put you to your place again. She is of so free, so kind, so apt,
so blessed a disposition, that she
holds it a vice in her goodness
not to do more than is requested.
Cassio: You
advise me well… and betimes in the
morning will I
Beseech the
virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me.
I am
Desperate of my
fortunes if they check me here.
Iago: You
are in the right. Good night,
lieutenant; I must to the watch.
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
That she repeals
him for her body’s lust;
And, by how much
she strives to do him [Cassio] good,
She shall undo
her credit with the Moor,
So will I turn
her virtue into pitch,
And out of her
own goodness make the net
That shall
enmesh them all.
Two things are
to be done:
My
wife [Emilia] must move for Cassio to her mistress---
I’ll set her
on---
Myself awhile to
draw the Moor apart,
And find him
jump when he may Cassio find
Soliciting his
wife. Ay, that’s the way,
Dull not the
device by coldness and delay.
Exit.
From Othello,
Act III, Scene One
[Enter Cassio with Musicians, who play as the Clown also enters.}
Cassio: Dost
thou hear, honest friend?.
Clown: No,
I hear not your honest friend, I hear you.
Cassio:
Prithee, keep up
thy quillets. There’s a poor piece of
gold for thee. If the gentlewoman that attends the
general’s wife be stirring, tell her
there’s one Cassio entreats
her a little favor of speech. Will you do that?
Clown: She
is stirring. If she will stir hither, I
shall seem to
notify unto her.
[Enter
Emilia.]
Emilia: Good
morrow, good lieutenant. I am sorry
For your displeasure,
but all will soon be well.
The general and his
wife are talking of it,
And she speaks for you
stoutly.
Cassio: If
you think fit, or that it may be done,
Give me
advantage of some brief discourse
With Desdemona
alone.
Emilia: Pray
you, come in.
I will bestow
you where you shall have time
To speak your
bosom freely.
Cassio: I
am much bound to you.
Exeunt.
From Othello,
Act III, Scene Two
[The garden of the Citadel]
Enter
Desdemona, Cassio, and Emilia
Cassio: Bounteous
madame,
Whatever shall
become of Michael Cassio,
He’s never
anything but your true servant.
Desdemona: O,
sir. I thank you. You do love my lord.
You have known
him long…
Cassio: Ay,
but, lady… I being absent and my place
supplied,
My general will
forget my love and service.
Desdemona: Before
Emilia here, I give my warrant of thy place.
Assure thee, If I do
vow a friendship, I’ll perform it
To the last article.
Enter Othello and
Iago (at a distance).
Emilia: Madam,
here comes my lord.
Cassio: Madam,
I’ll take my leave.
Exit
Cassio.
Iago: Ha! I like not that.
Othello: What
dost thou say?
Iago: Nothing,
my lord; or if--- I know not what.
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,
A man that
languishes in your displeasure.
Othello: Who
is’t you mean?
Desdemona: Why
your lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord,
If I have grace
or power to move you,
His present
reconciliation take;
For if he not be
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.
Othello: Not
now, Desdemona. Some other time.
Desdemona; Tell
me, Othellos, I wonder in my soul,
What you could ask me
that I should deny…
Othello: I
will deny thee nothing.
Whereon, I do
beseech thee grant me this,
To leave me but
a little to myself.
Desdemona: Shall
I deny you? No.
Emilia,
come. Be it as your fancies teach you.
What’er you be, I
am obedient.
Exeunt
Desdemona and Emilia.
Othello: What
dost thou think?
Iago: Think,
my lord?
Othello: When
Cassio left my wife. What didst not
like?
Iago: Look
to your wife. Observe her well with
Cassio.
She
did deceive her father, marrying you---
but I am much to
blame.
I humbly do
beseech your pardon
For too much
loving 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.
Desdemona: Let
me bind your head; within this hour
It will be well.
Othello: Your
napkin is too little.
[He
puts the handkerdhief 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 this napkin.
This was her
first remembrance from the Moor.
My wayward
husband hath a hundred times
Woo’d
me to steal it.
Enter Iago.
Iago: How
now! What do you here alone?
Emilia: Do
not chide. I have a thing for you.
Iago: 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. [Shows
Iago the handkerchief.]
Iago: Oh,
good wench! give it me. [Snatches it.]
Exit
Emilia.
Enter
Othello.
Othello: Avaunt! be gone!
Thou hast set me on the rack.
I swear ‘tis
better to be much abus’d
Than but to know
but little…
Villain, be sure
thou prove my love a whore…
Give me a reason
she’s disloyal.
Iago: I
do not like the office;
But sith I am enter’d
in this cause so far
(Pricked to it
by foolish honesty and love),
I will go
on. I lay with Cassio lately;
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!
Iago: Tell me 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.
Iago: I know not that; but such a handkerchief
(I am sure it is
your wife’s) did I to-day
See Cassio wipe
his beard with.
Othello: O that the slave had a 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.
[Hisses contemptuously.]
My
bloody thoughts, with violent pace,
Shall ne’er look
back, ne’er ebb to humble love,
Till that a
capable and wide revenge
Swallow them up. [He kneels.]
Iago: Do
not rise yet. [Kneels.]
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 wrong’d
Othello’s services! Let him command,
And to obey
shall be in me remorse.
[They
rise.]
Othello: I
greet thy love…
Within these
three days let me hear thee say
That Cassio’s
not alive.
Iago: My
friend is dead; ‘tis done as you
request.
But let her
live.
Othello: Damn
her, lewd minx! O, damn her!
Come, go with me
apart. I will withdraw
To finish me
with some swift means of death
For the fair
devil. Now art my lieutenant.
Iago: I
am your own for ever.
[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!
Desdemona: I
will not leave him till Cassio
Be call’d to
him.
Enter
Othello
How
is’t with you, my lord?
Othello: How
do you, Desdemona?
Desdemona: Well
my good 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.
Make it a
darling like your precious eye.
To lose or giv’t
away were such perdition
As nothing else
could match.
Desdemona: is’t
possible?
Othello: 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… A man that
all his time
Hath founded his
good fortunes on your love,
Shared you
dangers with you,---
Othello: The
handkerchief.
Desdemona: I’faith,
you are to blame.
Othello: Zounds! Exit
Othello.
Emilia: Is
not this man jealous?
Desdemona: I
ne’er saw this before.
Sure, there’s
some wonder in the handkerchief.
I am most unhappy
in the loss of it.
Emilia: ‘Tis
not a year or two shows us a man.
They are all but
stomachs, and we all but food.
They eat us
hungrily, and when they are full
They belch us.
Dsedmona: Something,
sure, of state,
Either from
Venice, or some unhatch’d practice
Made
demonstrable here in Cyprus to him,
Hath puddled his
clear spirit.
Emilia: Pray
heaven it be state-manners, as you think,
And no
conception, nor no jealous toy
Concerning you.
Desdemona: Alas
the day! I never gave him cause.
Emilia: But
jealous souls will not be answer’d so.
They are not
ever jealous for the cause,
But jealous for
they are jealous.
Desdemona: Heaven
keep that monster from Othello’s mind!
Exeunt
Desdemona and Emilia.
[Enter
Cassio and Bianca (a Courtesan)]
Bianca: Save
you, friend Cassio!
What, keep a
week away? seven days and nights?
Cassio: Pardon
me, Bianca.
I have this
while with leaden thoughts been press’d,
But I shall, in
a more continuate time,
Strike off this
score of absence. Sweet Bianca,
[giving her the handkerchief]
Take me this work out.
Bianca: Why, whose is it?
Cassio: I know not, sweet. I found it in my chamber.
Take it… I’ll see you soon.
Bianca: ‘Tis very good. Exeunt.
From Othello,
Act IV, Scene One
Enter
Bianca [as Cassio, Iago, and Othello are talking].
Bianca: What
did you mean by that same handkerchief you gave me
even now? I was a fine fool to take it.
Cassio: How
now, my sweet Bianca? how now? how now?
Othello: By
heaven, that shall be my handkerchief!
Bianca: An
you’ll come to supper to-night, you may.
An you
Will not, come
when you are next prepared for.
[Exit
Bianca, with Cassio running after her]
Othello: [advancing] How shall I murder him, Iago
Iago: Did
you see the handkerchief?
Othello: Was that mine?
Iago: Yours,
by his hand. And to see how he prizes
The foolish
woman your wife! She gave it him, and he
hath given
It his whore!
Othello: Get me some poison, Iago, this night. I’ll not
Expostulate with
her, lest her body and her beauty unprovide my
Mind again. This night, Iago.
Othello: Excellent
good.
Iago: Do
it not with poison. Strangle her in her
bed, even
The bed that she
hath contaminzted.
Othello: Good, good. The
justice of it pleases. Very good.
Iago: And
for Cassio, let me be his undertaker.
Exit Othello.
From Othello,
Act IV, Scene Two
Enter
Roderigo.
Iago: Sir,
there is a special commission from Venice
To depute Cassio
in Othello’s place…
Roderiga: It
that true? Why, then Othello and
Desdemona return
again to Venice.
Iago: O,
no! [Othello] goes into Mauritania and
takes away with
him the fair
Desdemona, unless his abode be lingered here
by some accident; wherein none can be so determinate as the
removing
of Cassio.
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: Ay,
if you dare do yourself a profit and right…
Come, stand not
amazed by it, but go along with me. I
will
show you such a
necessity in his death that you shall think
yourself bound to put
it on him.
Roderigo: I
will hear further reason for this.
Iago: And
you shall be satisfied.
Exeunt.
From Othello,
Act V, Scene One
[A street of Cyprus}
Enter
Iago and Roderigo.
Iago: Here,
stand behind this bulk. Straight will he
come.
Wear thy rapier
here, and put it home… Be bold, and take
thy stand.
Retires.
Roderigo: I
have no great devotion to the deed.
And yet he has
given me satisfying reasons.
Enter
Cassio.
Roderigo: I
know his gait: ‘tis he. Villain,
thou diest.
[Makes
a pass at Cassio.]
Cassio: That
thrust had been my enemy indeed
But that my coat
is better than thou think’st.
[Draws,
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
Othello, at a distance
Othello: The
voice of Cassio. Iago keeps his
word… O brave Iago, honest and just,
That hast such
noble sense of thy friend’s wrong!
Thou
teachest me! Strumpet, I come! [Exit Othello.]
[Enter
Iago, with a light.]
Cassio: Here,
here! For heaven’s sake, help me.
Iago: Oh,
my lieutenant, what villains have done
this?
Cassio: [indicating
Roderigo] That’s one of them.
Iago; O
murderous slave! O villain! [Stabs Roderigo.]
Roderigo: O
inhuman dog! [Roderigo dies.]
Iago: He
that lies slain here, Cassio,
Was my dear
friend. What malice was betwixt you?
Cassio: None
in the world; nor do I know the man.
Iago: O
bear him out o’ the air. [Cassio borne off (by onlookers)]
[Aside] This is the night
That
neither makes me or forbids me quite.
[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
Unreconcil’d as
yet to heaven and grace,
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.
Desdemona: O
falsely, falsely murdered.
Emilia: O! Who has done this deed?
Desdemona: Nobody. I myself.
Farewell!
Commend me to my
kind lord. O farewell! [She dies.]
Othello: She’s
like a liar gone to burning hell.
‘Twas I who
killed her…
She turned to
folly, and she was a whore…
Thy husband knew
it all.
Emilia: My
husband?
Othello: Ay, it was he who told me first.
An honest man he
is, and hates the slime
That sticks on
filthy deeds.
[Enter Iago and others.]
Emilia: Disprove
this villain if thou be’st a man:
He says thou
told’st him that his wife was false.
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: Nay,
lay thee down and roar,
For thou hast
killed the sweetest innocent
That e’er did
lift up eye.
Othello; ‘Tis
pitiful but yet iago knows
That with Cassio she
hath done the act of shame…
I saw it in his
hand…
It was the
handkerchief, an antique token
My father gave my
mother.
Emilia: O
thou dull Moor! that handkerchief
thou speak’st of
I found by
fortune and did give my husband,
For often with a
solemn earnestness
He begg’d me to
steal it.
Iago: Filth,
thou liest!
Emilia: [To
Othello] What should such a fool
do with so good a wife?
Othello: Are
there no stones in heaven
But what serves
as the thunder? Precious villain!
The
Moor runs at Iago. Iago kills his wife
[Exit Iago.]
Othello: O
Desdemona! Desdemona! Dead!
[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.
[To
Iago] If that thou be’st a
devil, I cannot kill thee. [Wounds Iago.]
Iago: I
bleed, sir, but not kill’d.
Othello: I
am not sorry, neither. I’d have thee live.
For in my sense
‘tis happiness to die.
Lodovic: O
thou Othello that wert once so good.
What shall be
said of thee?
This wretch hath part
confessed his villainy.
Did you and he consent
in Cassio’s death?
Othello: Ay.
Cassio: Dear general, I did never
give you cause.
Othello: I
do believe it, and I ask you pardon.
Will you, I
pray, demand that demi-devl
Why he hath thus
ensnar’d my soul and body.
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: Soft
you. A word or two before you go.
When you these
unlucky deeds relate,
Speak of them as
they are. Nothing extenuate,
Nor set down
aught in malice. Thus must you speak
Of one that
lov’d not wisely but too well,
Of one not
easily jealous, but, being wrought,
Perplex’d in the
extreme. of one whose hand…
Threw a pearl
away
Richer than all
his tribe, of one whose subdu’d eyes,
Albeit unused to
the melting mood,
Drops tears as
fast as the Arabian trees
Their
med’cinable gum. Set you down this,
And say besides,
that in Aleppo once,
Where a
malignant and turban’d Turk
Beat a Venetian
and traduc’d the state,
I took by the
throat the circumcised dog,
And smote him
thus.
He
stabs himself.
I
kiss’d thee ere I killed thee. No way
but this.
Killing myself
to die upon a kiss.
He
dies.
Cassio: This
did I fear, but thought he had no weapon,
For he was great
of heart.
Lodovio: [To
Iago] O Spartan dog,
More felt than
anguish, hunger, or the sea,
Look on this
tragic loading of the bed!
This is thy
work. The object poisons sight;
Let it be
hid. Gratiano, keep the house,
And seize upon
the fortunes of the Moor,
For
they succeed to you. To you, lord
governor,
Remains the
censure of this hellish villain,
The time and
place, the torture, O, enforce it!
Myself will
straight aboard, and to the state
This heavy act
with heavy heart relate.
[Exeunt omnes]
Finis
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