Scene II

[A room in the castle.]

Enter Othello and Emilia.

OTHELLO:

You have seen nothing, then?

OTHELLO:

You have seen nothing, then?

EMILIA:

Nor ever heard, nor ever did suspect.

EMILIA:

Not ever heard, or ever suspected.

OTHELLO:

Yes, you have seen Cassio and she together.

OTHELLO:

Yes, you have seen Cassio and her together.

EMILIA:

But then I saw no harm, and then I heard
Each syllable that breath made up between them.(5)

EMILIA:

But then I saw no harm, and then I heard
Each syllable that was exchanged between them.

OTHELLO:

What, did they never whisper?

OTHELLO:

What, did they never whisper?

EMILIA:

Never, my lord.

EMILIA:

Never, my lord.

OTHELLO:

Nor send you out o' the way?

OTHELLO:

Nor send you out of the way?

EMILIA:

Never.

EMILIA:

Never.

OTHELLO:

To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor nothing?(10)

OTHELLO:

To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, or anything?

EMILIA:

Never, my lord.

EMILIA:

Never, my lord.

OTHELLO:

That's strange.

OTHELLO:

That's strange.

EMILIA:

I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest,
Lay down my soul at stake. If you think other,
Remove your thought; it doth abuse your bosom.(15)
If any wretch have 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 wives
Is foul as slander.(20)

EMILIA:

I dare, my lord, to bet that she is honest,
Burn me at the stake. If you think otherwise,
Remove your thought. It abuses your heart.
If any wretch has put this in your head,
Let heaven repay them with the serpent's curse!
Because if she is not honest, chaste, and true,
There's no man happy; the purest of their wives
Is wicked as the leis about them.

OTHELLO:

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 villainous secrets:
And yet she'll kneel and pray; I have seen her do't.(25)

OTHELLO:

Bid her come here. Go. She says enough; yet she's a simple rabbit
That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore,
A closet-lock-and-key of villainous secrets.
And yet she'll kneel and pray; I’ve seen her do it.

Enter Desdemona and Emilia.

DESD:

My lord, what is your will?

DESD:

My lord, what is your will?

OTHELLO:

Pray, chuck, come hither.

OTHELLO:

Please, dear, come here.

DESD:

What is your pleasure?

DESD:

What is your pleasure?

OTHELLO:

Let me see your eyes; Look in my face.

OTHELLO:

Let me see your eyes;
Look into my face.

DESD:

What horrible fancy's this?(30)

DESD:

What horrible desire is this?

[To Emilia.]

OTHELLO:

Some of your function, mistress,
Leave procreants alone and shut the door;
Cough, or cry “hem,” if anybody come:
Your mystery, your mystery; nay, dispatch.

OTHELLO:

Some of your function, mistress,
Leave procreators alone and shut the door;
Cough, or cry, “a- hem,” if anybody comes.
Your mystery, your mystery; no, leave.

Exit Emilia.

DESD:

Upon my knees, what doth your speech import?(35)
I understand a fury in your words,
But not the words.

DESD:

On my knees, what does your speech mean?
I understand a fury in your words,
But not the words.

OTHELLO:

Why, what art thou?

OTHELLO:

Why, what are you?

DESD:

Your wife, my lord, your true and loyal wife.

DESD:

Your wife, my lord; Your true and loyal wife.

OTHELLO:

Come, swear it, damn thyself;(40)
Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves
Should fear to seize thee. Therefore be doubledamn'd;
Swear thou art honest.

OTHELLO:

Come, swear it, damn yourself;
Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves
Should fear to seize you. Therefore be double-damned,
Swear you are honest.

DESD:

Heaven doth truly know it.

DESD:

Heaven does truly know it.

OTHELLO:

Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell.(45)

OTHELLO:

Heaven truly knows that you are as false as hell.

DESD:

To whom, my lord? with whom? how am I false?

DESD:

To whom, my lord? With whom? How am I false?

OTHELLO:

O Desdemona! Away! away! away!

OTHELLO:

O Desdemona! Away! Away! Away!

DESD:

Alas the heavy day! Why do you weep?
Am I the motive of these tears, my lord?
If haply you my father do suspect(50)
An instrument of this your calling back,
Lay not your blame on me. If you have lost him:
Why, I have lost him too.

DESD:

Alas the heavy day! Why do you cry?
Am I the motive for these tears, my lord?
If you maybe suspect my father is
An instrument of this calling you back,
Don’t lay your blame on me. If you have lost him,
Why, I have lost him too.

OTHELLO:

Had it pleased heaven
To try me with affliction; had they rain'd(55)
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 place of my soul
A drop of patience; but, alas, to make me(60)
A fixed figure for the time of scorn
To point his slow unmoving finger at!
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;(65)
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
To knot and gender in! Turn thy complexion there,
Patience, thou young and roselipp'd cherubin,(70)
Ay, there, look grim as hell!

OTHELLO:

Had it pleased heaven
To test me with troubles, had they rained
All kinds of sores and shames on my bare head,
Soaked me in poverty to my very lips,
Enslaved me and my utmost ambitions,
I should have found in some place of my soul
A drop of patience. But, alas, to make me
A figure of example to the age, for scorn
To point his slow unmoving finger at!
Yet I could bear that too, well, very well.
But there, where I have put my heart away,
Where I must either live or have no life.
The fountain from the which my current runs,
Dries up otherwise; to be discarded like this!
Or keep it as a jug to hold dirty toads
To knot and give birth in! Turn your face there,
Patience, you young and rose-lipped archangel,
Yes, there, look as grim as hell!