The Dramatic Works of Shakspeare, from the Text of Johnson and Stevens [sic].

Oth.
An unauthorized kiss.
Iago. Or to be naked with her friend abed,
An hour, or more, not meaning any harm?
Oth. Naked abed, Iago, and not mean harm?
It is hypocrisy against the devil:

They that mean virtuously, and yet do so,
The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt

heaven.

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

Oth. What then?

lage. Why then 'tis hers, my lord; and being
She may, I think, bestow't on any man. [hers,
1
Oth. She is protectress of her honour too;
May she give that?

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

[forgot it:

Oth. By heaven, I would most gladly have
Thou said'st,-O, it comes o'er my memory,
As doth the raven o'er the infected house,
Boding to all-he had my handkerchief.
lago. Ay, what of that?
Oth.
That's not so good, now.
Lago. What, if I had said, 1 had seen him
do you wrong?

Or heard him say,-As knaves be such abroad,
Who having, by their own importunate suit,
Or voluntary dotage of some mistress,
Convinced or supplied + them, cannot choose
But they must blab-
Oth.
Hath he said any thing?
Iago. He hath, my lord; but be you well
No more than he'll unswear.
[assured
Oth.
What hath he said?
Iago. 'Faith, that he did,-I know not what
Oth. What? what?
[he did.

Iago, Lie

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.

lago.

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,
He will recover straight; when he is gone,
I would on great occasion speak with you.-
[Exit CASSIO.

How is it, general? have you not hurt your
Oth. Dost thou mock me?

[head?
lago.
I mock you! no, by heaven:
'Would, you would bear your fortunes like a

man.

Good sir, be a man;

Oth. A horned man's a monster, and a beast.
Iago. There's many a beast, then, in a popu
And many a civil monster. [lous city,
Oth. Did he confess it?
lago.
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.

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 Oth. O, thou art wise; 'tis certain. [shall be. Iago. Stand you awhile apart; Confine yourself but in a patient list ||Whilst you were here, ere while mad with your (A passion most unsuiting such a man,) [grief, Cassio came hither: I shifted him away, And laid good 'scuse upon your ecstacy; [me: Bade him anon return, and here speak with The which he promised. Do but encave ¶ Oth. yourself, [scorns, Iago. With her, on her; what you will. And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable Oth. Lie with her! lie on her!-We say, lie That dwell in every region of his face; on her, when they belie her: Lie with her! For I will make him tell the tale anew,that's fulsome.-Handkerchief,-confessions, Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when -handkerchief. To confess, and be hanged He hath, and is again to cope your wife; for his labour-First to be hanged, and then I say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience; to confess:-I tremble at it. Nature would not Or I shall say, you are all in all in spleen, invest herself in such shadowing passion, with- And nothing of a man. out some instruction. It is not words, that Oth. Dost thou hear, lago? shake me thus:-Pish!-Noses, ears, and lips: I will be found most cunning in my patience; -Is it possible?-Confess!-Handkerchief-But (dost thou bear?) most bloody. O devil![Falls in a Trance.

With her?

Jago. Work on,

lago.

That's not amiss; [caught; But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw? My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are [OTHELLO withdraws. And many worthy and chaste dames, even

thus,

Now will I question Cassio of Bianca,
A housewife, that, by selling her desires,

The raven was thought to be a constant attendant on a house infected with the plague. Old spelling of suppled, i. e., softened. A proverbial saying. ¶Hide.

Within the bounds of patience.

$ Common.

Buys herself bread and clothes: it is a creature, That dotes on Cassio,—as 'tis the strumpet's plague,

To beguile many, and be beguiled 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?

Cas. The worser, that you give me the adWhose want even kills me. [dition +, Lago. Ply Desdemona well, and you are sure of't.

Now, if this suit lay in Bianca's power,
[Speaking lower.
How quickly should you speed?
Cas.
Alas, poor caltiff!
Oth. Look, how he laughs already | [Aside.
Iago. I never knew a woman love man so.
Cas. Alas, poor rogue! I think i'faith she
loves me.

Oth. Now he denies it faintly, and laughs it

out.

[Aside. Now he importunes him To tell it o'er: Go to; well said, well said.

lago. Do you hear, Cassio? Oth.

Ha, ha, ha!

[Aside. Iago. She gives it out, that you shall marry Do you intend it? [her: Cas. Oth. Do you triumph, Roman? do you [Aside. Cas. I marry her!-what? a customer t! I pr'ythee, bear some charity to my wit; do not think it so unwholesome. Ha, ha, ha!

triumph?

Oth. So, so, so, so: They laugh that win.

[Aside. Ingo. 'Faith, the cry goes, that you shall marry her.

Cas. Pr'ythee, say true.
lago. 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. Iago 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 sea-bank with certain Venetians; and thither comes this bauble; by this hand, she falls thus about my neck;

Oth. 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: O, I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I shall throw it to.

[Aside.

Cas. Well, I must leave her company. Lago. Before me! look where she comes.

Enter BIANCA.

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

Bian. Let the devil and his dam haunt you! 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?

Oth. By heaven, that should be my hand. kerchief! [Aside. Bian. An you'll come to supper to-night, you may an you will not, come when you are next prepared for. [Exit.

lago. After her, after her.

Cas. 'Faith I must, she'll rail in the street else. lago. Will you sup there?

Cas. 'Faith, I intend so.

lago. Well, I may chance to see you; for I would very fain speak with you.

Cas. Pr'ythee, come; Will you? lago. Go to; say no more: [Exit CASS10. Oth. How shall I murder him, Iago? Iago. Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice?

Oth. O, Iago!

lago. 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, and he hath given it his whore.

Oth. I would have him nine years a killing: A fine woman! a fair woman! a sweet woman!

Lugo. 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 to 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 savagenoss out of a bear!-Of so high and plenteous wit and invention!

Iago. She's the worse for all this.

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

lago. Ay, too gentle,

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

• Ignorant.

+ Title of lieutenant. A common woman. Of so sweet a disposition.

§ A pole-cat.

Iago. O, 'tis foul in her. Oth. With mine officer! Iago. That's fouler.

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

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 undertaker: You shall hear more by midnight. [A Trumpet within. Oth. Excellent good. What trumpet is that [Lodovico, lago. Something from Venice, sure. 'Tis Come from the duke: and, see, your wife is with him.

same:

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 Lodovico?

Iago. I am very glad to see you, signior; Welcome to Cyprus. [Cassio? Lod. I thank you: How does lieutenant Iago. Lives, sir. [and my lord Des. Cousin, there's fallen between him An unkind breach: but you shall make all Oth. Are you sure of that? [well. Des. My lord? Oth. This fail you not to do, as you [Reads.

willLod. He did not call; he's busy in the paper. Is there division 'twixt thy 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? Des. What, is he angry? Lod. May be, the letter moved 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.

Indeed.
My lord?

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

How, sweet Othello? [Striking her.

I have not deserved this.

Lod. My lord, this would not be believed in Venice, [mach; Though I should swear I saw it: 'Tis very Make her amends, she weeps. Oth. O devil, devil! If that the earth could teem with woman's tears,

Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile :Out of my sight!

Des. Oth.

My lord?

What would yon with her, sir? Lod. Who, I, my lord? [her turn; Oth. Ay; you did wish, that I would make 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, tonight,

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

{Exit. Lod. Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate

[ture Call-all-in-all sufficient?-This the noble naWhom passion could not shake? whose solid virtue

lago.

The shot of accident, nor dart of chance,
Could neither graze, nor pierce?
He is much changed.
Lod. Are his wits safe? is he not light of
brain?
[my censure.
Jago. He is that he is; I may not breathe
What he might be,-if, what he might, he is
I would to heaven, he were.
[not,-
Lod.
What, strike his wife!
Iago. 'Faith, that was not so well: Yet
'would I knew,

That stroke would prove the worst.
Lod.

Is it his use?

Or did the letters work upon his blood,
And new-create this fault?
Iugo.
Alas, alas!
It is not honest 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 deceived in him. [Exeunt.

SCENE II. A Room in the Castle.

Enter OTHELLO and EMILIA. Oth. You have seen nothing then? Emil. Nor ever heard; nor ever did sus

• Reconcile.

O! O!

9th. To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, To point his slow unmoving finger at,—
Emil. Never, my lord. [nor nothing?
Oth. That's strange.
[honest,
Emil. I durst, my lord, to wager she is
Lay down my soul at stake: if you think other,
Remove your thought; it doth abuse your
bosom.

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,
There's no man happy; the purest of their
Is foul as slander.
[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 villanous 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,
But not the words.

Oth. Why, what art thou?
Des.

And loyal wife.

Oth.

Your wife, my lord; your true

Come, swear it, damn thyself; Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils [damn'd,

themselves
Should fear to seize thee: therefore be double-
Swear-thou art honest.

Des.
Heaven doth truly know it.
Oth. Heaven truly knows, that thou art
false as hell.
[am I false?
Des. To whom, my lord? with whom? How
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
Why, I have lost him too.

[him,

Oth.
Had it pleased 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

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 a cistern, for foul toads [there!
To knot and gender in!-turn thy complexion
Patience, thou 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!
[ted?
Des. Alas, what ignorant sin have I commit-
Oth. Was this fair paper, this most goodly
book,

Made to write whore upon? What committed!
Committed!-O 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?

No, as I shall be saved.

Des.
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!
[your pains;
We have done our course; there's money for
I pray you, turn the key, and keep our coun-

[Exit.

sel. Emil. Alas, what does this gentleman conceive?

[lady?
How do you, madam? how do you, my good
Des. 'Faith, half asleep.
[my lord;

Emil. Good madam, what's the matter with
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,

Treasured af.

But what should go by water.

Pr'ythee, tonight [ber;Lay on my bed my wedding sheets, rememAnd call thy husband hither. Emil. Here is a change, indeed! [Exit. Des. 'Tis meet I should be used so, very meet.

How have I been behaved, that he might stick The small'st opinion on my great'st abuse?

Re-enter EMILIA, with IAGO. lago, What is your pleasure, madam? How is it with you? [young babes, Des. I cannot tell. Those, that do teach Do it with gentle means, and easy tasks:

He might have chid me so; for, in good faith,
I am a child to chiding.
Lago.
What's the matter, lady?
Emil. Alas, Iago, my lord hath so bewhored
her,
[her,
Thrown such despite and heavy terms upon
As true hearts cannot bear.

was,

Des. Am I that name, Iago? lago. What name, fair lady? Des. Such as, she says, my lord did say I [his drink, Emil. He call'd her, whore; a beggar, in Could not have laid such terms upon his callago. Why did he so? [let*. Des. I do not know; I am sure, I am none such. [day! Iago. Do not weep, do not weep; Alas, the Emil. Has she forsook so many noble matches,

Her father, and her country, and her friends,
To be call'd-whore? would it not make one
Des. It is my wretched fortune. [weep?
Iago.
Beshrew him for it?

How comes this trick upon him?
Des.

Nay, heaven doth know.

Jago. You are a fool; go to.
Des.
O good Iago,
What shall I do to win my lord again?
Good friend, go to him; for, by this light of
heaven,

I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel:-
If e'er my will did trespass 'gainst his love,
Either in discourse of thought, or actual deed;
Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense,
Delighted them in any other form;
Or that I do not yet, and ever did,
And ever will,-though he do shake me off
To beggarly divorcement,-love him dearly,
Comfort forswear me! Unkindness may do
much;

And his unkindness may defeat my life,
But never taint my love. I cannot say, whore;
It does abhor me, now I speak the word;
To do the act that might the addition έ earn,
Not the world's mass of vanity could make
[humour;
Iago. I pray you be content; 'tis but his
The business of the state does him offence,
And he does chide with you.
Des.
If 'twere no other,-
lago. It is but so, I warrant you.

me.

[Trumpets.

Hark, how these instruments summon to sup. [per! And the great messengers of Venice stay: Go in, and weep not; all things shall be well. [Exeunt DESDEMONA and EMILIA. Enter RODERIGO.

How now, Roderigo? Rod. I do not find, that thou deal'st justly with me.

lago. What in the contrary?

Rod. Every day thou doff'st || me with some device, Iago; and rather (as it seems to me now,) keep'st from me all conveniency, than

Emil. I will be hang'd, if some eternal vil-suppliest me with the least advantage of hope. Some busy and insinuating rogue, [lain, I will, indeed, no longer endure it: Nor am I yet persuaded, to put up in peace what already I have foolishly suffered.

Some cogging cozening slave, to get some office,

[else. Have not devised this slander; I'll be hang'd Lago. Fie, there is no such man; it is impossible. [him! Des. If any such there be, heaven pardon Emil. A halter pardon him! and hell gnaw his bones! [her company? Why should he call her, whore? who keeps What place? what time? what form? what likelihood? (knave, The Moor's abused by some most villanous Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow:[unfold; O, heaven, that such companions+ thou'dst 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.

* His drab.

Title.

Iago. Will you hear me, Roderigo? Rod. 'Faith, I have heard too much; for your words aud performances, are no kin together.

Iago. Yon charge me most unjustly. Rod. With nought but truth. I have wasted myself out of my means. The jewels you have had from me, to deliver to Desdemona, would half have corrupted a votarist: You have told me-she has received them, and returned me expectations and comforts of sudden respect and acquittance ¶; but I find none.

Iago. Well; go to; very well.

Rod. Very well! go to! 1 cannot go to, man; nor 'tis not very well: By this hand, I say, it is very scurvy; and begin to find my. self fobbed in it.

Iago. Very well.

Rod. I tell you, 'tis not very well. I will make myself known to Desdemona: If she

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