The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (979 page)

men being in love have then a nobility in their

men in love have a nobility and braveness

natures more than is native to them--list me. The

that is not naturally in them – listen to me.

lieutenant tonight watches on the court of

Cassio is tasked tonight with  

guard:--first, I must tell thee this--Desdemona is

guard duty, and I must tell you: Desdemona is

directly in love with him.

in love with him.

RODERIGO

With him! why, 'tis not possible.

With him! That’s not possible.

IAGO

Lay thy finger thus, and let thy soul be instructed.

Be quiet and listen to what I will tell you.

Mark me with what violence she first loved the Moor,

Look at how quickly and impulsively she fell in love for the Moor,

but for bragging and telling her fantastical lies:

from his bragging and tall tales,

and will she love him still for prating? let not

do you think she will keep loving him as he speaks nonsense? Don’t

thy discreet heart think it. Her eye must be fed;

be stupid enough to think so. She needs someone handsome

and what delight shall she have to look on the

and how could she possibly enjoy looking at that

devil? When the blood is made dull with the act of

devil? In time, the heat of romance goes away,

sport, there should be, again to inflame it and to

and one needs certain things to reignite it and

give satiety a fresh appetite, loveliness in favour,

recreate sexual appetite, like handsomeness and

sympathy in years, manners and beauties; all which

similarity in age, customs, and appearance.

the Moor is defective in: now, for want of these

The Moor has none of these. Since she has none

required conveniences, her delicate tenderness will

of these necessary qualities in her partner, she will feel

find itself abused, begin to heave the gorge,

sick of him, to the point of puking,

disrelish and abhor the Moor; very nature will

and will disgust the Moor. Her nature will

instruct her in it and compel her to some second

cause this disgust and then turn her to look for a second

choice. Now, sir, this granted,--as it is a most

option. Now since this is true – it’s a very

pregnant and unforced position--who stands so

natural string of events – who would be

eminent in the degree of this fortune as Cassio

a better second option for her than Cassio?

does? a knave very voluble; no further

After all, he is a very smooth speaker,

conscionable than in putting on the mere form of

a trait that makes him seem conscientious, as if he is

civil and humane seeming, for the better compassing

polite and civil, but in reality it hides

of his salt and most hidden loose affection? why,

his inner, strong lustfulness.

none; why, none: a slipper and subtle knave, a

No one stands in a better position, and no one is trickier than he is,

finder of occasions, that has an eye can stamp and

a man who finds the right time for his moves, who sees

counterfeit advantages, though true advantage never

and creates his own advantageous situations even if a real advantage

present itself; a devilish knave. Besides, the

is never there – he is a devilish trickster. Besides,

knave is handsome, young, and hath all those

he is handsome and young, with all of the

requisites in him that folly and green minds look

qualities that naive youths look for.

after: a pestilent complete knave; and the woman

He is an awful man, but seems the perfect one, and Desdemona

hath found him already.

has already fallen for him.

RODERIGO

I cannot believe that in her; she's full of

I do not believe it. She is a very

most blessed condition.

moral and trustworthy woman.

IAGO

Blessed fig's-end! the wine she drinks is made of

Nonsense! She drinks the same wine we do,

grapes: if she had been blessed, she would never

made of grapes – she has the same desires we do. If she was blessedly moral, she never

have loved the Moor. Blessed pudding! Didst thou

would have loved the Moor. Didn’t you

not see her paddle with the palm of his hand? didst

see her fondle Cassio’s hands? Didn’t you

not mark that?

notice?

RODERIGO

Yes, that I did; but that was but courtesy.

Yes, but that was just politeness.

IAGO

Lechery, by this hand; an index and obscure prologue

It was lust, and it foreshadows

to the history of lust and foul thoughts. They met

a future of lust and impure thoughts between them. They came

so near with their lips that their breaths embraced

so close to each others lips that their breaths hugged.

together. Villanous thoughts, Roderigo! when these

Evil thoughts, Roderigo! When two

mutualities so marshal the way, hard at hand comes

people mutually act like this, quickly will come

the master and main exercise, the incorporate

the main goal of their actions, the obvious

conclusion, Pish! But, sir, be you ruled by me: I

conclusion, which is sex. But, Roderigo, listen to me: I

have brought you from Venice. Watch you to-night;

brought you here from Venice. Keep watch tonight

for the command, I'll lay't upon you. Cassio knows

and I will give you the sign to act. Cassio doesn’t know

you not. I'll not be far from you: do you find

you. I will be nearby: you must find

some occasion to anger Cassio, either by speaking

some way to make Cassio angry, either by speaking

too loud, or tainting his discipline; or from what

obnoxiously, or insulting him, or however

other course you please, which the time shall more

you want according to the situation.

favourably minister.

RODERIGO

Well.

Fine.

IAGO

Sir, he is rash and very sudden in choler, and haply

Sir, he has a poor temper and angers easily, he

may strike at you: provoke him, that he may; for

may try to hit you. Try to get him to do that

even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to

and from that simple action I will cause Cyprus to

mutiny; whose qualification shall come into no true

mutiny against him so that they will not become

taste again but by the displanting of Cassio. So

peaceful until Cassio is removed from his post. Thus,

shall you have a shorter journey to your desires by

you will have an easier path to your desire for Desdemona by

the means I shall then have to prefer them; and the

these means which will

impediment most profitably removed, without the

remove your biggest obstacle. If it is not removed,

which there were no expectation of our prosperity.

then there is no hope of succeeding.

RODERIGO

I will do this, if I can bring it to any

I will do this as long as it gives

opportunity.

me a chance.

IAGO

I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the citadel:

I promise you. Meet me soon at the castle;

I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewell.

I must get Othello’s things from the ship. Goodbye.

RODERIGO

Adieu.

Goodbye.

Exit

IAGO

That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it;

I actually think Cassio does love her,

That she loves him, 'tis apt and of great credit:

And it makes sense that she would love him as well.

The Moor, howbeit that I endure him not,

The Moor whom I can’t stand

Is of a constant, loving, noble nature,

Is such an honest, loving, noble man

And I dare think he'll prove to Desdemona

And I think he will be to Desdemona

A most dear husband. Now, I do love her too;

A very good husband. I love Desdemona as well,

Not out of absolute lust, though peradventure

Though not from lust as much as from

I stand accountant for as great a sin,

Needing to get even with the Moor.

But partly led to diet my revenge,

I want to get revenge

For that I do suspect the lusty Moor

Since I think that the lustful Moor

Hath leap'd into my seat; the thought whereof

Slept with my wife – this thought,

Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards;

Like a poison, eats at me inside.

And nothing can or shall content my soul

Nothing can or will make me feel better

Till I am even'd with him, wife for wife,

Until I am even with him, wife for wife,

Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor

Or, if I fail to do that, I will at least make the Moor

At least into a jealousy so strong

So extremely jealous

That judgment cannot cure. Which thing to do,

That he won’t be able to think properly.

If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trash

If I can make Roderigo, that Venetian trash,

For his quick hunting, stand the putting on,

Do whatever I need him to do,

I'll have our Michael Cassio on the hip,

I will have control over Cassio

Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb--

And will defame him to the Moor –

For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too--

After all, I am afraid Cassio might have slept with my wife as well –

Make the Moor thank me, love me and reward me

And by doing this the Moor will thank me, love me, and reward me,

For making him egregiously an ass

All for making a fool of him

And practising upon his peace and quiet

And removing his peace and quietness,

Even to madness. 'Tis here, but yet confused:

Replacing it with madness. Everything is here that I need, just not perfectly planned yet.

Knavery's plain face is never seen till used.

I never fully know a trick until the moment when it is put into action.

Exit