William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (405 page)
Read William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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DESDEMONA
Heaven keep the monster from Othello’s mind.
EMILIA Lady, amen.
DESDEMONA
I will go seek him. Cassio, walk here about.
If I do find him fit I’ll move your suit,
And seek to effect it to my uttermost.
If I do find him fit I’ll move your suit,
And seek to effect it to my uttermost.
CASSIO
I humbly thank your ladyship.
Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia
Enter Bianca
BIANCA
Save you, friend Cassio.
CASSIO What make you from home?
How is’t with you, my most fair Bianca?
I’faith, sweet love, I was coming to your house.
I’faith, sweet love, I was coming to your house.
BIANCA
And I was going to your lodging, Cassio.
What, keep a week away? Seven days and nights,
Eightscore-eight hours, and lovers’ absent hours
More tedious than the dial eightscore times!
O weary reckoning!
What, keep a week away? Seven days and nights,
Eightscore-eight hours, and lovers’ absent hours
More tedious than the dial eightscore times!
O weary reckoning!
CASSIO Pardon me, Bianca,
I have this while with leaden thoughts been pressed,
But I shall in a more continuate time
Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca,
Take me this work out.
But I shall in a more continuate time
Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca,
Take me this work out.
He gives her Desdemona’s napkin
BIANCA O Cassio, whence came this?
This is some token from a newer friend.
To the felt absence now I feel a cause.
Is’t come to this? Well, well.
To the felt absence now I feel a cause.
Is’t come to this? Well, well.
CASSIO Go to, woman.
Throw your vile guesses in the devil’s teeth,
From whence you have them. You are jealous now
That this is from some mistress, some remembrance.
No, by my faith, Bianca.
From whence you have them. You are jealous now
That this is from some mistress, some remembrance.
No, by my faith, Bianca.
BIANCA Why, whose is it?
CASSIO
I know not, neither. I found it in my chamber.
I like the work well. Ere it be demanded—
As like enough it witt—I would have it copied.
Take it, and do’t, and leave me for this time.
I like the work well. Ere it be demanded—
As like enough it witt—I would have it copied.
Take it, and do’t, and leave me for this time.
BIANCA Leave you? Wherefore?
CASSIO
I do attend here on the general,
And think it no addition, nor my wish,
To have him see me womaned.
And think it no addition, nor my wish,
To have him see me womaned.
BIANCA Why, I pray you?
CASSIO
Not that I love you not.
BIANCA But that you do not love me.
I pray you bring me on the way a little,
And say if I shall see you soon at night.
And say if I shall see you soon at night.
CASSIO
’Tis but a little way that I can bring you,
For I attend here; but I’ll see you soon.
For I attend here; but I’ll see you soon.
BIANCA
’Tis very good. I must be circumstanced. Exeunt
4.1Enter Iago and Othello
IAGO
Will you think so?
OTHELLO Think so, Iago?
IAGO
What, to kiss in private?
OTHELLO An unauthorized kiss.
IAGO
Or to be naked with her friend in bed
An hour or more, not meaning any harm?
An hour or more, not meaning any harm?
OTHELLO
Naked in bed, 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.
It is hypocrisy against the devil.
They that mean virtuously and yet do so,
The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt heaven.
IAGO
If they do nothing, ’tis a venial slip.
But if I give my wife a handkerchief—
But if I give my wife a handkerchief—
OTHELLO What then?
IAGO
Why then, ’tis hers, my lord, and being hers,
She may, I think, bestow’t on any man.
She may, I think, bestow’t on any man.
OTHELLO
She is protectress of her honour, too.
May she give that?
May she give that?
IAGO
Her honour is an essence that’s not seen.
They have it very oft that have it not.
But for the handkerchief—
They have it very oft that have it not.
But for the handkerchief—
OTHELLO
By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it.
Thou said‘st—O, it comes o’er my memory
As doth the raven o’er the infectious house,
Boding to all!—he had my handkerchief.
Thou said‘st—O, it comes o’er my memory
As doth the raven o’er the infectious house,
Boding to all!—he had my handkerchief.
IAGO
Ay, what of that?
OTHELLO That’s not so good now.
IAGO
What if I had said I 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—
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—
OTHELLO Hath he said anything?
IAGO
He hath, my lord. But, be you well assured,
No more than he’ll unswear.
No more than he’ll unswear.
OTHELLO What hath he said?
IAGO
Faith, that he did—I know not what he did.
OTHELLO
What, what?
IAGO Lie—
OTHELLO With her?
IAGO With her, on her, what you will.
OTHELLO Lie with her? Lie on her? We say ‘lie on her’ when they belie her. Lie with her? ’Swounds, that’s fulsome! Handkerchief—confessions—hankerchief. To confess and be hanged for his labour. First to be hanged and then to confess! I tremble at it. Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing passion without some instruction. It is not words that shakes me thus. Pish! Noses, ears, and lips! Is’t possible? Confess? Handkerchief? O devil!
He falls down in a trance
IAGO
Work on; my medicine works. Thus credulous fools
are caught,
And many worthy and chaste dames even thus,
All guiltless, meet reproach. What ho, my lord!
My lord, I say. Othello!
are caught,
And many worthy and chaste dames even thus,
All guiltless, meet reproach. What ho, my lord!
My lord, I say. Othello!
Enter Cassio
How now, Cassio?
CASSIO What’s the matter?
IAGO
My lord is fall’n into an epilepsy.
This is his second fit. He had one yesterday.
This is his second fit. He had one yesterday.
CASSIO
Rub him about the temples.
IAGO 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 head?
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 head?
OTHELLO
Dost thou mock me?
IAGO I mock you not, by heaven.
Would you would bear your fortune like a man.
OTHELLO
A hornèd man’s a monster and a beast.
IAGO
There’s many a beast then in a populous city,
And many a civil monster.
And many a civil monster.
OTHELLO Did he confess it?
IAGO Good sir, be a man.
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 shall be.
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 shall be.
OTHELLO
O, thou art wise, ’tis certain.
IAGO Stand you a while apart.
Confine yourself but in a patient list.
Whilst you were here, o‘erwhelmèd with your grief—
A passion most unsuiting such a man—
Cassio came hither. I shifted him away,
And laid good ’scuse upon your ecstasy,
Bade him anon return and here speak with me,
The which he promised. Do but encave yourself,
And mark the fleers, the gibes and notable scorns
That dwell in every region of his face.
For I will make him tell the tale anew,
Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when
He hath and is again to cope your wife.
I say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience,
Or I shall say you’re all-in-all in spleen,
And nothing of a man.
Whilst you were here, o‘erwhelmèd with your grief—
A passion most unsuiting such a man—
Cassio came hither. I shifted him away,
And laid good ’scuse upon your ecstasy,
Bade him anon return and here speak with me,
The which he promised. Do but encave yourself,
And mark the fleers, the gibes and notable scorns
That dwell in every region of his face.
For I will make him tell the tale anew,
Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when
He hath and is again to cope your wife.
I say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience,
Or I shall say you’re all-in-all in spleen,
And nothing of a man.
OTHELLO Dost thou hear, Iago?
I will be found most cunning in my patience,
But—dost thou hear?—most bloody.
But—dost thou hear?—most bloody.
IAGO That’s not amiss,
But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw?
Othello
stands apart
Now will I question Cassio of Bianca,
A hussy that by selling her desires
Buys herself bread and cloth. 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 restrain
From the excess of laughter.
A hussy that by selling her desires
Buys herself bread and cloth. 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 restrain
From the excess of laughter.
Enter Cassio
Here he comes.
As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad;
And his unbookish jealousy must conster
Poor Cassio’s smiles, gestures, and light behaviours
Quite in the wrong. How do you now, lieutenant?
As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad;
And his unbookish jealousy must conster
Poor Cassio’s smiles, gestures, and light behaviours
Quite in the wrong. How do you now, lieutenant?
CASSIO
The worser that you give me the addition
Whose want even kills me.
Whose want even kills me.
IAGO
Ply Desdemona well and you are sure on’t.
Now, if this suit lay in Bianca’s power,
How quickly should you speed!
Now, if this suit lay in Bianca’s power,
How quickly should you speed!
CASSIO (
laughing
) Alas, poor caitiff!
laughing
) Alas, poor caitiff!
OTHELLO (
aside
) Look how he laughs already.
aside
) Look how he laughs already.
IAGO
I never knew a woman love man so.
CASSIO
Alas, poor rogue! I think i’faith she loves me.
OTHELLO (
aside
)
aside
)
Now he denies it faintly, and laughs it out.
IAGO
Do you hear, Cassio?
OTHELLO (
aside
) Now he importunes him
aside
) Now he importunes him
To tell it o’er. Go to, well said, well said.
IAGO
She gives it out that you shall marry her.
Do you intend it?
Do you intend it?
CASSIO Ha, ha, ha!
OTHELLO (
aside
)
aside
)
Do ye triumph, Roman, do you triumph?
CASSIO I marry! What, a customer? Prithee, bear some charity to my wit—do not think it so unwholesome. Ha, ha, ha!
OTHELLO (
aside
) So, so, so, so. They laugh that wins.
aside
) So, so, so, so. They laugh that wins.
IAGO Faith, the cry goes that you marry her.
CASSIO Prithee, say true.
IAGO I am a very villain else.
OTHELLO (
aside
) Ha’ you scored me? Well. 125
aside
) Ha’ you scored me? Well. 125
CASSIO 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.
OTHELLO (
aside
) Iago beckons me. Now he begins the story.
Othello draws closer
aside
) Iago beckons me. Now he begins the story.
Othello draws closer
CASSIO 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 the bauble, and falls me thus about my neck.
OTHELLO (
aside
) Crying ‘O dear Cassiol’ as it were. His gesture imports it.
aside
) Crying ‘O dear Cassiol’ as it were. His gesture imports it.
CASSIO So hangs and lolls and weeps upon me, so shakes and pulls me—ha, ha, ha!
OTHELLO (
aside
) Now he tells how she plucked him to my chamber. O, I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I shall throw it to!
aside
) Now he tells how she plucked him to my chamber. O, I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I shall throw it to!
CASSIO Well, I must leave her company.
Enter Bianca
IAGO Before me, look where she comes.
CASSIO ’Tis such another fitchew! Marry, a perfumed one. (To Bianca) What do you mean by this haunting of me?
BIANCA 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 know not who left it there. This is some minx’s token, and I must take out the work. There, give it your hobby-horse. (Giving Cassio the napkin) Wheresoever you had it, I’ll take out no work on’t.
CASSIO How now, my sweet Bianca, how now, how now?
OTHELLO (
aside
)
aside
)
By heaven, that should be my handkerchief.
BIANCA An you’ll come to supper tonight, you may. An you will not, come when you are next prepared for.
Exit
IAGO After her, after her.
CASSIO Faith, I must, she’ll rail in the streets else.
IAGO Will you sup there?
CASSIO Faith, I intend so.
IAGO Well, I may chance to see you, for I would very fain speak with you.
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