Home > Othello Text > Act III, Scene III - Page 2

IAGO:

Good my lord, pardon me;
Though I am bound to every act of duty,
I am not bound to that all slaves are free to.
Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile and false;(155)
As where's that palace where in to foul things
Sometimes intrude not? Who has a breast so pure,
But some uncleanly apprehensions
Keep leets and lawdays, and in session sit
With meditations lawful?(160)

IAGO:

My good lord, pardon me.
Although I am bound to every act of duty,
I’m not bound to that that even all slaves are free to.
Speak my thoughts? Why, what if they are vile and false,
Where's that palace that foul things sometimes intrude?
Who has a breast so pure
That some unclean thoughts
Keep court records and legal holidays, and sit in session
With lawful deliberations?

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.

OTHELLO:

You conspire against your friend, Iago,
If you only think him wronged and won’t let him be
Anything but a stranger to your thoughts.

IAGO:

I do beseech you—
Though I perchance am vicious in my guess,(165)
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,
From one that so imperfectly conceits,
Would take no notice, nor build yourself a trouble(170)
Out of his scattering and unsure observance.
It were not for your quiet nor your good,
Nor for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom,
To let you know my thoughts.

IAGO:

I do beg you,
Although I am, perhaps, vicious in my guess,
As I confess it is a bad habit of mine
To look deeply into wrongs, and to find faults that aren’t
By my jealousy, that your wisdom still would take no
Notice from one that so imperfectly imagines things,
Or create a problem for yourself
Out of his scattered and unsure observations.
It’s not good for your peace or your wellbeing,
Or for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom
To let you know my thoughts.

OTHELLO:

What dost thou mean?(175)

OTHELLO:

What do you 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;
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name(180)
Robs me of that which not enriches him
And makes me poor indeed.

IAGO:

A good name in man and woman, my dear lord,
Is the most precious jewel of their souls.
Who steals my purse steals trash; it is something,
nothing; it was mine, it’s his, and has been slave to
thousands; But he that steals my good name from me
Robs me of something that can’t possibly make him rich
And which makes me poor indeed.

OTHELLO:

By heaven, I'll know thy thoughts.

OTHELLO:

By heaven, I'll know you’re thinking.

IAGO:

You cannot, if my heart were in your hand;
Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody.(185)

IAGO:

You cannot, unless my heart were in your hand,
And that won’t happen while it is in my custody.

OTHELLO:

Ha!

OTHELLO:

Ha!

IAGO:

O, beware, my lord, of jealousy!
It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock
The meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;(190)
But O, what damned minutes tells he o'er
Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves!

IAGO:

O, beware, my lord, jealousy;
It is the green-eyed monster which makes a joke of
The meat it feeds on. That deceived man lives in bliss
Who, certain of his fate, doesn’t love who wronged him;
But O, what damned stories he tells about
Who loves, but doubts, suspects, but strongly loves!

OTHELLO:

O misery!

OTHELLO:

O misery!

IAGO:

Poor and content is rich, and rich enough;
But riches fineless is as poor as winter(195)
To him that ever fears he shall be poor.
Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend
From jealousy!

IAGO:

To be poor and content is to be rich, and rich enough;
But endless riches are as poor as winter
To him that always fears he shall be poor;
Good heaven, the souls of all my family defend me
From jealousy!

OTHELLO:

Why, why is this?
Think'st thou I'ld make a life of jealousy,(200)
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,
When I shall turn the business of my soul
To such exsufflicate and blown surmises,(205)
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;
Where virtue is, these are more virtuous.
Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw(210)
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;
And on the proof, there is no more but this,
Away at once with love or jealousy!(215)

OTHELLO:

Why, why is this?
Do you think I'd make a life of jealousy
To follow still the changes of the moon
With fresh suspicions? No, to be in doubt once
Is to be resolved once. Trade me for a goat
When I shall turn the business of my soul
To such puffed up and blown suspicions,
Matching your suggestion. It won’t make me jealous,
To say my wife is beautiful, cooks well, loves company,
Is free of speech, sings, plays, and dances well;
Where virtue is, these are more virtuous.
And I won’t draw from my own weak merits
The smallest fear or doubt of her turning against me,
Because she had eyes and chose me. No, Iago,
I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, I’ll need proof;
And on the proof, there is no more but this,
To hell with love or jealousy at once!

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,
Receive it from me. I speak not yet of proof.
Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio;(220)
Wear your eye thus, not jealous nor secure.
I would not have your free and noble nature
Out of selfbounty be abused. Look to't.
I know our country disposition well;
In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks(225)
They dare not show their husbands; their best conscience
Is not to leave't undone, but keep't unknown.

IAGO:

I’m glad to hear it; because now I shall have reason
To show the love and duty that I bear you
With a more open spirit. Therefore, as I am supposed to,
Receive it from me. I don’t speak yet of proof.
Look at your wife; observe her well with Cassio;
Wear your eye like this, not jealous or secure.
I would not have your free and noble nature,
Out of my own generosity, be abused; see it.
I know our country’s disposition well;
In Venice they let heaven see the pranks
They wouldn’t dare show their husbands; their best conscience
Isn’t to leave it unfinished, but to keep it unknown.

OTHELLO:

Dost thou say so?

OTHELLO:

You say so?

IAGO:

She did deceive her father, marrying you;
And when she seem'd to shake and fear your looks,(230)
She loved them most.

IAGO:

She deceived her father by marrying you;
And when she seemed to shake and fear your looks,
She loved them most.

OTHELLO:

And so she did.

OTHELLO:

And so she did.

IAGO:

Why, go to then.
She that so young could give out such a seeming,
To seel her father's eyes up close as oak—(235)
He thought 'twas witchcraft—but I am much to blame;
I humbly do beseech you of your pardon
For too much loving you.

IAGO:

Why, think about it then;
She that, so young, could give out such an appearance,
To seal her father's eyes up like oak.
He thought it was witchcraft, but I am much to blame;
I humbly beg your pardon
Because I was loving you too much.

OTHELLO:

I am bound to thee forever.

OTHELLO:

I am bound to you forever.

IAGO:

I see this hath a little dash'd your spirits.(240)

IAGO:

I see this has dashed your spirits a little.

OTHELLO:

Not a jot, not a jot.

OTHELLO:

Not a jot, not a jot.

IAGO:

I' faith, I fear it has.
I hope you will consider what is spoke
Comes from my love. But I do see you're moved;
I am to pray you not to strain my speech(245)
To grosser issues, nor to larger reach
Than to suspicion.

IAGO:

Trust me, I fear it has.
I hope you will consider that what I have spoken
Comes from my love; but I see you're upset.
I beg you not to push my speech
To grosser issues or to reach beyond
Mere suspicion.

OTHELLO:

I will not.

OTHELLO:

I will not.

IAGO:

Should you do so, my lord,
My speech should fall into such vile success(250)
Which my thoughts aim not at. Cassio's my worthy friend—
My lord, I see you're moved.

IAGO:

Should you do so, my lord,
My speech should fall into such vile things
That my thoughts are not aimed at. Cassio's my worthy
friend. My lord, I see you're upset.

OTHELLO:

No, not much moved.
I do not think but Desdemona's honest.

OTHELLO:

No, not too upset.
I can only think that Desdemona's honest.

IAGO:

Long live she so! and long live you to think so!(255)

IAGO:

Long live she so! and long live you to think so!

OTHELLO:

And yet, how nature erring from itself—

OTHELLO:

And yet, how nature can wander from itself.

IAGO:

Ay, there's the point, as—to be bold with you—
Not to affect many proposed matches
Of her own clime, complexion, and degree,
Whereto we see in all things nature tends—(260)
Foh, one may smell in such a will most rank,
Foul disproportion, thoughts unnatural.
But pardon me. I do not in position
Distinctly speak of her; though I may fear,
Her will, recoiling to her better judgement,(265)
May fall to match you with her country forms,
And happily repent.

IAGO:

Yes, there's the point. As, to be bold with you,
Not to affect many promised engagements
Of her own kind, complexion, and degree,
Where we see in all things nature tends to do,
Damn! One may smell in such a will very rotten,
Dirty intentions, unnatural thoughts.
But pardon me. I don’t have the position
To speak knowingly of her; although I may fear,
Her will, rebelling against her better judgment,
May decide to match you with her countrymen,
And happily repent her ways.

OTHELLO:

Farewell, farewell:
If more thou dost perceive, let me know more;
Set on thy wife to observe. Leave me, Iago.(270)

OTHELLO:

Farewell, farewell.
If more you see more, let me know more;
Ask your wife to observe her. Leave me, Iago.

IAGO:

My lord, I take my leave.

IAGO:

My lord, I’m leaving.

OTHELLO:

Why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless
Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.

OTHELLO:

Why did I get married? This honest creature undoubtedly
Sees and knows more, much more, than he reveals.

IAGO:

My lord, I would I might entreat your honor
To scan this thing no further; leave it to time:(275)
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:
Note if your lady strain his entertainment(280)
With any strong or vehement importunity;
Much will be seen in that. In the meantime,
Let me be thought too busy in my fears—
As worthy cause I have to fear I am—
And hold her free, I do beseech your honor.(285)

IAGO:

My lord, I wish I might be your honor
To think about this thing no further; leave it to time.
Although it is proper that Cassio have his place,
Because he surely fills the job with great ability,
Yet, if it would please you to hold him off a while,
You shall see him and his plans,
Note if your lady encourages you to consider his plea
With any strong or violent persistence;
Much will be seen in that. In the meantime,
Please think I am too occupied with my fears,
As there are strong reasons to fear I am,
And consider her innocent, I beg your honor.

OTHELLO:

Fear not my government.

OTHELLO:

Don’t be afraid of what I think.

IAGO:

I once more take my leave.

IAGO:

Once more, I’m leaving.

Exit.

OTHELLO:

This fellow's of exceeding honesty,
And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,
Of human dealings. If I do prove her haggard,(290)
Though that her jesses were my dear heartstrings,
I'ld whistle her off and let her down the wind
To prey at fortune. Haply, for I am black
And have not those soft parts of conversation
That chamberers have, or for I am declined(295)
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,
And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad,(300)
And live upon the vapor 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;
'Tis destiny unshunnable, like death:(305)
Even then this forked plague is fated to us
When we do quicken. Desdemona comes:

Enter Desdemona and Emilia.

If she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself!
I'll not believe't.

OTHELLO:

This fellow's exceedingly honesty,
And knows all qualities, with an educated spirit,
Of human dealings. If I prove her unfaithful,
Although that her leashes were my dear heartstrings,
I'd suddenly go away, and let her follow the wind
To plunder fortune. Maybe, because I am black,
And don’t have those soft parts of conversation
That gentlemen have; or because I am getting
Much older, still that's not much,
She's already unfaithful; I am abused, and my relief
Must be to hate her. O curses on marriage,
That we can call these delicate creatures ours,
And not control their appetites! I had rather be a toad,
And live on the air of a dungeon,
Than keep a piece of the thing I love
For others' uses. Still, it is the plague of great men,
They have fewer choices than common men;
It is an unshakeable destiny, like death.
Even then, this double-edged disease is our fate
Before we are born. Desdemona comes.
If she is false, O, then heaven mocks itself!
I'll not believe it.