Home > Othello Text > Act III, Scene III - Page 3

DESD:

How now, my dear Othello!(310)
Your dinner, and the generous islanders
By you invited, do attend your presence.

DESD:

How are you, my dear Othello!
Your dinner and the generous islanders
You invited, wait for your presence.

OTHELLO:

I am to blame.

OTHELLO:

I am to blame.

DESD:

Why do you speak so faintly?
Are you not well?(315)

DESD:

Why do you speak so softly?
Are you unwell?

OTHELLO:

I have a pain upon my forehead here.

OTHELLO:

I have a pain on my forehead here.

DESD:

Faith, that's with watching; 'twill away again:
Let me but bind it hard, within this hour
It will be well.

DESD:

Faith, that's because of watching; it will go away again;
Just let me tie it hard with my napkin. Within this hour,
It will be well.

OTHELLO:

Your napkin is too little;(320)

[He puts the handkerchief from him, and she drops it.]

Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you.

OTHELLO:

Your napkin is too little.

Leave it alone. Come, I'll go in with you.

DESD:

I am very sorry that you are not well.

Exeunt Othello and Desdemona

DESD:

I am very sorry that you are not well.

EMILIA:

I am glad I have found this napkin:
This was her first remembrance from the Moor:
My wayward husband hath a hundred times(325)
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,
And give't Iago. What he will do with it(330)
Heaven knows, not I;
I nothing but to please his fantasy.

EMILIA:

I am glad I have found this napkin.
This was her first gift from the Moor.
My wayward husband has a hundred times
Begged me to steal it; but she so loves the token,
Because he ordered her to keep it forever,
She keeps it always with her
To kiss and talk to. I'll have the embroidery taken out,
And give it Iago.
What he will do with it heaven knows, I don’t;
I only give it to him to please him.

Enter Iago.

IAGO:

How now, what do you here alone?

IAGO:

What! Why are you here alone?

EMILIA:

Do not you chide; I have a thing for you.

EMILIA:

Don’t scold; I have something for you.

IAGO:

A thing for me? It is a common thing—(335)

IAGO:

A thing for me! It is a common thing…

EMILIA:

Ha!

EMILIA:

Ha!

IAGO:

To have a foolish wife.

IAGO:

To have a foolish wife.

EMILIA:

O, is that all? What will you give me now
For that same handkerchief?

EMILIA:

O, is that all? What will you give me now
For that same handkerchief?

IAGO:

What 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.

EMILIA:

What handkerchief!
Why, the one that the Moor first gave to Desdemona;
The one that you asked me so often to steal.

IAGO:

Hast stol'n it from her?

IAGO:

Have you stolen it from her?

EMILIA:

No, faith; she let it drop by negligence,(345)
And, to the advantage, I being here took't up.
Look, here it is.

EMILIA:

No, faith; she carelessly dropped it.
And, to my advantage, since I was here, I picked it up.
Look, here it is.

IAGO:

A good wench; give it me.

IAGO:

A good wench; give it to me.

EMILIA:

What will you do with't, that you have been so
earnest(350)
To have me filch it?

EMILIA:

What will you do with it, that you have been so eager
For me to steal it?

IAGO:

Why, what is that to you?

IAGO:

Why, what's that to you?

EMILIA:

If't be not for some purpose of import,
Give't me again. Poor lady, she'll run mad
When she shall lack it.(355)

EMILIA:

If it’s not for an important purpose,
Give it back to me again. Poor lady, she'll run mad
When she misses it.

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!

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.

IAGO:

Mind your own business ; I have use for it.
Go, leave me.

I will put this napkin in Cassio's room,
And let him find it. Trifles light as air
Are as strong a confirmation to the jealous
As proofs of the Bible. This may do something.
The Moor already changes with my poison.
Dangerous ideas are poisons in their natures,
Which at the first are scarcely found to dislike,
But, with a little action on the blood,
Burn like the mines of sulphur. I did say so.
Look, here he comes!
Not poppy, nor mandragora,
Nor all the drowsy drugs of the world,
Shall ever bring you that sweet sleep
Which you had yesterday.

OTHELLO:

Ha, ha, false to me?

OTHELLO:

Ha! ha! False to me?

IAGO:

Why, how now, general! No more of that.

IAGO:

Why, how are you, 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.

OTHELLO:

Go away! Be gone! You have put me on the rack of
Torture. I swear it is better to be much abused
Than only know it a little.

IAGO:

How now, my lord?

IAGO:

What, 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.

OTHELLO:

What sense did I have of her stolen hours of lust?
I didn’t see it, didn’t think it, it didn’t harm me.
I slept well the next night, was free and merry;
I didn’t find Cassio's kisses on her lips.
He that is robbed, not wanting what is stolen,
Don’t let him know it and he's not robbed at all.

IAGO:

I am sorry to hear this.

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 forever
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 spiritstirring drum, the earpiercing 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 dread clamors counterfeit,
Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone!

OTHELLO:

I would’ve been happy if the entire camp,
Pioneers and all, had tasted her sweet body,
As long as I didn’t know about it. O, now, forever
Farewell to the peaceful mind! Farewell happiness!
Farewell to the plumed forces and the big wars
That make ambition a virtue! O, farewell,
Farewell the neighing horse and the shrill trumpet,
The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife,
The royal banner, and all goodness,
Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war!
And, O you mortal device, whose rude throats
Pretend to be the immortal Jove's dread clamors,
Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone!

IAGO:

Is't possible, my lord?

IAGO:

Is it 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!

OTHELLO:

Villain, be sure you prove my love a whore;
Be sure of it. Give me the proof I can see;
Or, by the worth of man's eternal soul,
You would’ve been better born a dog
Than answer my aroused anger!

IAGO:

Is't come to this?

IAGO:

Has it 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!

OTHELLO:

Make me see it ; or at the least prove it so
That the accusation has no hinges or loops
To hang a doubt on, or woe on your life!

IAGO:

My noble lord

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.

OTHELLO:

If you slander her and torture me,
Never pray again; abandon all sorrow;
On your horrible head horrors will accumulate;
Do deeds to make heaven weep, amaze all earth,
Because nothing you can add to damnation
Will be greater than that.

IAGO:

O grace! O heaven defend 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 offense.

IAGO:

O grace! O heaven defend me!
Are you a man? Have you got a soul or sense?
God be with you; take my job. O wretched fool,
That lives to make your honesty a vice!
O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O world,
To be direct and honest is not safe.
I thank you for this lesson; and from this point forward,
I'll love no friend, since love breeds such contempt.

OTHELLO:

Nay, stay; thou shouldst be honest.

OTHELLO:

No, stay. you should be honest.

IAGO:

I should be wise; for honesty's a fool,
And loses that it works for.(425)

IAGO:

I should be wise, because honesty's a fool,
And loses what it works for.

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!

OTHELLO:

By the world,
I think my wife is honest, and think she is not;
I think that you are just, and think you are not.
I'll have some proof. Her name, that was as fresh
As Diana's face, is now as grimy and black
As my own face. If there are ropes or knives,
Poison or fire, or suffocating streams,
I'll not endure it. I wish 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?

IAGO:

I see, sir, you are eaten up with passion.
I am sorry that I told you.
You would be satisfied?

OTHELLO:

Would? Nay, I will.

OTHELLO:

Would? No, I will.

IAGO:

And may. But, how? how satisfied, my lord?
Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on?
Behold her topp'd?(440)

IAGO:

And may. But how? How satisfied, my lord?
Would you, the planner, grossly look on,
See her being screwed?

OTHELLO:

Death and damnation! O!

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.

IAGO:

It’s a lengthy problem, I think,
To bring them to that event. Damn them then,
If ever mortal eyes see them in any bed
Other than their own! What then? How then?
What shall I say? Where's satisfaction?
It is impossible that you should see this
If they were as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys,
As salty as wolves in a pride, and fools as disgusting
As ignorance made drunk. But still, I say,
If suggestion and strong circumstances
Which lead directly to the door of truth,
Will give you satisfaction, you may have it.