Othello

Othello

ACT III SCENE III	The garden of the castle.
	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 case were his.	5
DESDEMONA	O, that's an honest fellow. Do not doubt, Cassio,
	But I will have my lord and you again
	As friendly as you were.
CASSIO	Bounteous madam,
	Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,	10
	He's never any thing but your true servant.
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 further off
	Than in a polite distance.	15
CASSIO	Ay, but, lady,
	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,	20
	My general will forget my love and service.
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;	25
	I'll watch him tame and talk him out of patience;
	His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;
	I'll intermingle every thing he does
	With Cassio's suit: therefore be merry, Cassio;
	For thy solicitor shall rather die	30
	Than give thy cause away.
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,	35
	Unfit for mine own purposes.
DESDEMONA	Well, do your discretion.
	Exit CASSIO
	Enter OTHELLO and IAGO
IAGO	Ha! I like not that.
OTHELLO	What dost thou say?
IAGO	Nothing, my lord: or if--I know not what.	40
OTHELLO	Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?
IAGO	Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it,
	That he would steal away so guilty-like,
	Seeing you coming.
OTHELLO	I do believe 'twas he.	45
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,	50
	If I have any grace or power to move you,
	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:	55
	I prithee, call him back.
OTHELLO	Went he hence now?
DESDEMONA	Ay, sooth; so humbled
	That he hath left part of his grief with me,
	To suffer with him. Good love, call him back.	60
OTHELLO	Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other time.
DESDEMONA	But shall't be shortly?
OTHELLO	The sooner, sweet, for you.
DESDEMONA	Shall't be to-night at supper?
OTHELLO	No, not to-night.	65
DESDEMONA	To-morrow dinner, then?
OTHELLO	I shall not dine at home;
	I meet the captains at the citadel.
DESDEMONA	Why, then, to-morrow night; or Tuesday morn;
	On Tuesday noon, or night; on Wednesday morn:	70
	I prithee, name the time, but let it not
	Exceed three days: in faith, he's penitent;
	And yet his trespass, in our common reason--
	Save that, they say, the wars must make examples
	Out of their best--is not almost a fault	75
	To incur a private cheque. When shall he come?
	Tell me, Othello: I wonder in my soul,
	What you would ask me, that I should deny,
	Or stand so mammering on. What! Michael Cassio,
	That came a-wooing with you, and so many a time,	80
	When I have spoke of you dispraisingly,
	Hath ta'en your part; to have so much to do
	To bring him in! Trust me, I could do much,--
OTHELLO	Prithee, no more: let him come when he will;
	I will deny thee nothing.	85
DESDEMONA	Why, this is not a boon;
	'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	90
	Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed,
	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,	95
	To leave me but a little to myself.
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.	100
	Exeunt DESDEMONA and EMILIA
OTHELLO	Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul,
	But I do love thee! and when I love thee not,
	Chaos is come again.
IAGO	My noble lord--
OTHELLO	What dost thou say, Iago?	105
IAGO	Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd 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.	110
OTHELLO	Why of thy thought, Iago?
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?	115
	Is he not honest?
IAGO	Honest, my lord!
OTHELLO	Honest! ay, honest.
IAGO	My lord, for aught I know.
OTHELLO	What dost thou think?	120
IAGO	Think, my lord!
OTHELLO	Think, my lord!
	By heaven, he echoes me,
	As if there were some monster in his thought
	Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean something:	125
	I heard thee say even now, thou likedst not that,
	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 criedst '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.
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 givest them breath,
	Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more:
	For such things in a false disloyal knave
	Are tricks of custom, but in a man that's just	140
	They are close delations, working from the heart
	That passion cannot rule.
IAGO	For Michael Cassio,
	I dare be sworn I think that he is honest.
OTHELLO	I think so too.	145
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.
OTHELLO	Nay, yet there's more in this:	150
	I prithee, speak to me as to thy thinkings,
	As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of thoughts
	The worst of words.
IAGO	Good my lord, pardon me:
	Though I am bound to every act of duty,	155
	I am not bound to that all slaves are free to.
	Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile and false;
	As where's that palace whereinto foul things
	Sometimes intrude not? who has a breast so pure,
	But some uncleanly apprehensions	160
	Keep leets and law-days and in session sit
	With meditations lawful?
OTHELLO	Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago,
	If thou but think'st him wrong'd and makest his ear
	A stranger to thy thoughts.	165
IAGO	I do beseech you--
	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 yet,	170
	From one that so imperfectly conceits,
	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, or wisdom,	175
	To let you know my thoughts.
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;	180
	'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.
OTHELLO	By heaven, I'll know thy thoughts.	185
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;
	It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock	190
	The meat it feeds on; that cuckold lives in bliss
	Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;
	But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er
	Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves!
OTHELLO	O misery!	195
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 heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend
	From jealousy!	200
OTHELLO	Why, why is this?
	Think'st thou I'ld make a lie of jealousy,
	To follow still the changes of the moon
	With fresh suspicions? No; to be once in doubt
	Is once to be resolved: exchange me for a goat,	205
	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,
	Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances well;	210
	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;
	I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;	215
	And on the proof, there is no more but this,--
	Away at once with love or jealousy!
IAGO	I am glad of it; for now I shall have reason
	To show the love and duty that I bear you
	With franker spirit: therefore, as I am bound,	220
	Receive it from me. I speak not yet of proof.
	Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio;
	Wear your eye thus, not jealous nor secure:
	I would not have your free and noble nature,
	Out of self-bounty, be abused; look to't:	225
	I know our country disposition well;
	In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks
	They dare not show their husbands; their best conscience
	Is not to leave't undone, but keep't unknown.
OTHELLO	Dost thou say so?	230
IAGO	She did deceive her father, marrying you;
	And when she seem'd to shake and fear your looks,
	She loved them most.
OTHELLO	And so she did.
IAGO	Why, go to then;	235
	She that, so young, could give out such a seeming,
	To seal her father's eyes up close as oak-
	He thought 'twas witchcraft--but I am much to blame;
	I humbly do beseech you of your pardon
	For too much loving you.	240
OTHELLO	I am bound to thee for ever.
IAGO	I see this hath a little dash'd your spirits.
OTHELLO	Not a jot, not a jot.
IAGO	I' faith, I fear it has.
	I hope you will consider what is spoke	245
	Comes from my love. But I do see you're moved:
	I am to pray you not to strain my speech
	To grosser issues nor to larger reach
	Than to suspicion.
OTHELLO	I will not.	250
IAGO	Should you do so, my lord,
	My speech should fall into such vile success
	As my thoughts aim not at. Cassio's my worthy friend--
	My lord, I see you're moved.
OTHELLO	No, not much moved:	255
	I do not think but Desdemona's honest.
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 proposed matches	260
	Of her own clime, complexion, and degree,
	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	265
	Distinctly speak of her; though I may fear
	Her will, recoiling to her better judgment,
	May fall to match you with her country forms
	And happily repent.
OTHELLO	Farewell, farewell:	270
	If more thou dost perceive, let me know more;
	Set on thy wife to observe: leave me, Iago:
IAGO	Going
OTHELLO	Why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless
	Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.
IAGO	Returning
	your honour	275
	To scan this thing no further; leave it to time:
	Though it be 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:	280
	Note, if your lady strain his entertainment
	With any strong or vehement importunity;
	Much will be seen in that. In the mean time,
	Let me be thought too busy in my fears--
	As worthy cause I have to fear I am--	285
	And hold her free, I do beseech your honour.
OTHELLO	Fear not my government.
IAGO	I once more take my leave.
	Exit
OTHELLO	This fellow's of exceeding honesty,
	And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,	290
	Of human dealings. If I do prove her haggard,
	Though that her jesses were my dear heartstrings,
	I'ld whistle her off and let her down the wind,
	To pray at fortune. Haply, for I am black
	And have not those soft parts of conversation	295
	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,	300
	And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad,
	And live upon the vapour 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;	305
	'Tis destiny unshunnable, like death:
	Even then this forked plague is fated to us
	When we do quicken. Desdemona comes:
	Re-enter DESDEMONA and EMILIA
	If she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself!
	I'll not believe't.	310
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?	315
	Are you not well?
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.	320
OTHELLO	Your napkin is too little:
	He puts the handkerchief from him; and it drops
	Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you.
DESDEMONA	I am very sorry that you are not well.
	Exeunt OTHELLO and DESDEMONA
EMILIA	I am glad I have found this napkin:
	This was her first remembrance from the Moor:	325
	My wayward husband hath a hundred times
	Woo'd 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,	330
	And give't Iago: what he will do with it
	Heaven knows, not I;
	I nothing but to please his fantasy.
	Re-enter Iago
IAGO	How now! what do you here alone?
EMILIA	Do not you chide; I have a thing for you.	335
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 the same handkerchief?	340
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?	345
EMILIA	No, 'faith; she let it drop by negligence.
	And, to the advantage, I, being here, took't up.
	Look, here it is.
IAGO	A good wench; give it me.
EMILIA	What will you do with 't, that you have been	350
	so earnest
	To have me filch it?
IAGO	Snatching it
EMILIA	If it be not for some purpose of import,
	Give't me again: poor lady, she'll run mad
	When she shall lack it.	355
IAGO	Be not acknown on 't; I have use for it.
	Go, leave me.
	Exit EMILIA
	I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin,
	And let him find it. Trifles light as air
	Are to the jealous confirmations strong	360
	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,
	But with a little act upon the blood.	365
	Burn like the mines of Sulphur. I did say so:
	Look, where he comes!
	Re-enter OTHELLO
	Not poppy, nor mandragora,
	Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world,
	Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep	370
	Which thou owedst yesterday.
OTHELLO	Ha! ha! false to me?
IAGO	Why, how now, general! no more of that.
OTHELLO	Avaunt! be gone! thou hast set me on the rack:
	I swear 'tis better to be much abused	375
	Than but to know't a little.
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 harm'd not me:
	I slept the next night well, was free and merry;	380
	I found not Cassio's kisses on her lips:
	He that is robb'd, not wanting what is stol'n,
	Let him not know't, and he's not robb'd at all.
IAGO	I am sorry to hear this.
OTHELLO	I had been happy, if the general camp,	385
	Pioners and all, had tasted her sweet body,
	So I had nothing known. O, now, for ever
	Farewell the tranquil mind! farewell content!
	Farewell the plumed troop, and the big wars,
	That make ambition virtue! O, farewell!	390
	Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill trump,
	The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife,
	The royal banner, and all quality,
	Pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war!
	And, O you mortal engines, whose rude throats	395
	The immortal Jove's dead clamours counterfeit,
	Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone!
IAGO	Is't possible, my lord?
OTHELLO	Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore,
	Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof:	400
	Or by the worth of man's eternal soul,
	Thou hadst been better have been born a dog
	Than answer my waked wrath!
IAGO	Is't come to this?
OTHELLO	Make me to see't; or, at the least, so prove it,	405
	That the probation bear no hinge nor loop
	To hang a doubt on; or woe upon thy life!
IAGO	My noble lord,--
OTHELLO	If thou dost slander her and torture me,
	Never pray more; abandon all remorse;	410
	On horror's head horrors accumulate;
	Do deeds to make heaven weep, all earth amazed;
	For nothing canst thou to damnation add
	Greater than that.
IAGO	O grace! O heaven forgive me!	415
	Are you a man? have you a soul or sense?
	God be wi' you; take mine office. O wretched fool.
	That livest to make thine honesty a vice!
	O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O world,
	To be direct and honest is not safe.	420
	I thank you for this profit; and from hence
	I'll love no friend, sith love breeds such offence.
OTHELLO	Nay, stay: thou shouldst be honest.
IAGO	I should be wise, for honesty's a fool
	And loses that it works for.	425
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.
	I'll have some proof. Her name, that was as fresh
	As Dian's visage, is now begrimed and black	430
	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!
IAGO	I see, sir, you are eaten up with passion:
	I do repent me that I put it to you.	435
	You would be satisfied?
OTHELLO	Would! nay, I will.
IAGO	And may: but, how? how satisfied, my lord?
	Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on--
	Behold her topp'd?	440
OTHELLO	Death and damnation! O!
IAGO	It were a tedious difficulty, I think,
	To bring them to that prospect: damn them then,
	If ever mortal eyes do see them bolster
	More than their own! What then? how then?	445
	What shall I say? Where's satisfaction?
	It is impossible you should see this,
	Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys,
	As salt as wolves in pride, and fools as gross
	As ignorance made drunk. But yet, I say,	450
	If imputation and strong circumstances,
	Which lead directly to the door of truth,
	Will give you satisfaction, you may have't.
OTHELLO	Give me a living reason she's disloyal.
IAGO	I do not like the office:	455
	But, sith I am enter'd in this cause so far,
	Prick'd to't by foolish honesty and love,
	I will go on. I lay with Cassio lately;
	And, being troubled with a raging tooth,
	I could not sleep.	460
	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,
	Let us be wary, let us hide our loves;'	465
	And then, sir, would he gripe and wring my hand,
	Cry 'O sweet creature!' and then kiss me hard,
	As if he pluck'd up kisses by the roots
	That grew upon my lips: then laid his leg
	Over my thigh, and sigh'd, and kiss'd; and then	470
	Cried 'Cursed fate that gave thee to the Moor!'
OTHELLO	O monstrous! monstrous!
IAGO	Nay, this was but his dream.
OTHELLO	But this denoted a foregone conclusion:
	'Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream.	475
IAGO	And this may help to thicken other proofs
	That do demonstrate thinly.
OTHELLO	I'll tear her all to pieces.
IAGO	Nay, but be wise: yet we see nothing done;
	She may be honest yet. Tell me but this,	480
	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 was your wife's--did I to-day	485
	See Cassio wipe his beard with.
OTHELLO	If it be that--
IAGO	If it be that, or any that was hers,
	It speaks against her with the other proofs.
OTHELLO	O, that the slave had forty thousand lives!	490
	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.
	'Tis gone.
	Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell!	495
	Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne
	To tyrannous hate! Swell, bosom, with thy fraught,
	For 'tis of aspics' tongues!
IAGO	Yet be content.
OTHELLO	O, blood, blood, blood!	500
IAGO	Patience, I say; your mind perhaps may change.
OTHELLO	Never, Iago: Like to the Pontic sea,
	Whose icy current and compulsive course
	Ne'er feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on
	To the Propontic and the Hellespont,	505
	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
	Swallow them up. Now, by yond marble heaven,
	Kneels
	In the due reverence of a sacred vow	510
	I here engage my words.
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	515
	The execution of his wit, hands, heart,
	To wrong'd Othello's service! Let him command,
	And to obey shall be in me remorse,
	What bloody business ever.
	They rise
OTHELLO	I greet thy love,	520
	Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance bounteous,
	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:	525
	But let her live.
OTHELLO	Damn her, lewd minx! O, 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.	530
IAGO	I am your own for ever.
	Exeunt