Reading Help THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO, MOOR OF VENICE
As worthy cause I have to fear I am- `
` And hold her free, I do beseech your honor. `
` OTHELLO. Fear not my government. `
` IAGO. I once more take my leave. `
` 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, `
` 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 `
` 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, `
` 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. `
` Even then this forked plague is fated to us `
` When we do quicken. Desdemona comes: `
` `
` Re-enter Desdemona and Emilia. `
` `
` If she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself! `
` I'll not believe't. `
` DESDEMONA. How now, my dear Othello! `
` Your dinner, and the generous islanders `
` By you invited, do attend your presence. `
` OTHELLO. I am to blame. `
` DESDEMONA. Why do you speak so faintly? `
` Are you not well? `
` OTHELLO. I have a pain upon my forehead here. `
` DESDEMONA. Faith, that's with watching; 'twill away again. `
` Let me but bind it hard, within this hour `
` It will be well. `
` OTHELLO. Your napkin is too little; `
` He puts the handkerchief from him, and she drops it. `
` Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you. `
` DESDEMONA. I am very sorry that you are not well. `
` Exeunt Othello and `
` Desdemona. `
` EMILIA. I am glad I have found this napkin; `
` This was her first remembrance from the Moor. `
` My wayward husband hath a hundred times `
` 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 `
` Heaven knows, not I; `
` I nothing but to please his fantasy. `
` `
` Re-enter Iago. `
` `
` IAGO. How now, what do you here alone? `
` EMILIA. Do not you chide; I have a thing for you. `
` IAGO. A thing for me? It is a common thing- `
` EMILIA. Ha! `
` IAGO. To have a foolish wife. `
` EMILIA. O, is that all? What will you give me now `
` For that same handkerchief? `
` IAGO. What handkerchief? `
` EMILIA. What handkerchief? `
` Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona, `
` That which so often you did bid me steal. `
` IAGO. Hast stol'n it from her? `
` EMILIA. No, faith; she let it drop by negligence, `
` And, to the advantage, I being here took't up. `
` Look, here it is. `
` IAGO. A good wench; give it me. `
` EMILIA. What will you do with't, that you have been so earnest `
` To have me filch it? `
` IAGO. [Snatching it.] Why, what is 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. `
` 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 `
` 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 `
` Burn like the mines of sulphur. I did say so. `
` Look, where he comes! `
` `
` Re-enter Othello. `
` `
` Not poppy, nor mandragora, `
` Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world, `
` Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep `
` Which thou owedst yesterday. `
` OTHELLO. Ha, ha, false to me? `
` IAGO. Why, how now, general! No more of that. `
` OTHELLO. Avaunt! be gone! Thou hast set me on the rack. `
` I swear 'tis better to be much abused `
` Than but to know't a little. `
` IAGO. How now, 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; `
` 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. `
` IAGO. I am sorry to hear this. `
` OTHELLO. I had been happy if the general camp, `
` 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, `
` Farewell the neighing steed and the shrill trump, `
` The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife, `
` The royal banner, and all quality, `
` Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war! `
` And O you mortal engines, whose rude throats `
` The immortal Jove's dread clamors counterfeit, `
` Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone! `
` IAGO. Is't possible, my lord? `
` OTHELLO. Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore; `
` Be sure of it. Give me the ocular proof; `
` Or, by the worth of man's eternal soul, `
` Thou hadst been better have been born a dog `
` Than answer my waked wrath! `
` IAGO. Is't come to this? `
` OTHELLO. Make me to see't; or at the least so prove it, `
` That the probation bear no hinge nor loop `
` To hang a doubt on; or woe upon thy life! `
` IAGO. My noble lord- `
` OTHELLO. If thou dost slander her and torture me, `
` Never pray more; abandon all remorse; `
` 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. `
` IAGO. O grace! O heaven defend me! `
` 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. `
` I thank you for this profit, and from hence `
` I'll love no friend sith love breeds such offense. `
` OTHELLO. Nay, stay; thou shouldst be honest. `
` IAGO. I should be wise; for honesty's a fool, `
` And loses that 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 `
` 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! `
` IAGO. I see, sir, you are eaten up with passion; `
` I do repent me that I put it to you. `
` You would be satisfied? `
` OTHELLO. Would? Nay, I will. `
` IAGO. And may. But, how? how satisfied, my lord? `
` Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on? `
` Behold her topp'd? `
` 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? `
` 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, `
` If imputation and strong circumstances, `
` Which lead directly to the door of truth, `
` Will give you satisfaction, you may have't. `
` OTHELLO. Give me a living reason she's disloyal. `
` IAGO. I do not like the office; `
` But sith I am enter'd in this cause so far, `
` Prick'd to't by foolish honesty and love, `
` I will go on. I lay with Cassio lately `
` And, being troubled with a raging tooth, `
` I could not sleep. `
` There are a kind of men so loose of soul, `
` That in their sleeps will mutter their affairs; `
` One of this kind is Cassio. `
` In sleep I heard him say, "Sweet Desdemona, `
` Let us be wary, let us hide our loves"; `
` And then, sir, would he gripe and wring my hand, `
` Cry, "O sweet creature!" and then kiss me hard, `
` As if he pluck'd up kisses by the roots, `
` That grew upon my lips; then laid his leg `
` Over my thigh, and sigh'd and kiss'd; and then `
` Cried, "Cursed fate that gave thee to the Moor!" `
`
` And hold her free, I do beseech your honor. `
` OTHELLO. Fear not my government. `
` IAGO. I once more take my leave. `
` 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, `
` 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 `
` 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, `
` 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. `
` Even then this forked plague is fated to us `
` When we do quicken. Desdemona comes: `
` `
` Re-enter Desdemona and Emilia. `
` `
` If she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself! `
` I'll not believe't. `
` DESDEMONA. How now, my dear Othello! `
` Your dinner, and the generous islanders `
` By you invited, do attend your presence. `
` OTHELLO. I am to blame. `
` DESDEMONA. Why do you speak so faintly? `
` Are you not well? `
` OTHELLO. I have a pain upon my forehead here. `
` DESDEMONA. Faith, that's with watching; 'twill away again. `
` Let me but bind it hard, within this hour `
` It will be well. `
` OTHELLO. Your napkin is too little; `
` He puts the handkerchief from him, and she drops it. `
` Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you. `
` DESDEMONA. I am very sorry that you are not well. `
` Exeunt Othello and `
` Desdemona. `
` EMILIA. I am glad I have found this napkin; `
` This was her first remembrance from the Moor. `
` My wayward husband hath a hundred times `
` 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 `
` Heaven knows, not I; `
` I nothing but to please his fantasy. `
` `
` Re-enter Iago. `
` `
` IAGO. How now, what do you here alone? `
` EMILIA. Do not you chide; I have a thing for you. `
` IAGO. A thing for me? It is a common thing- `
` EMILIA. Ha! `
` IAGO. To have a foolish wife. `
` EMILIA. O, is that all? What will you give me now `
` For that same handkerchief? `
` IAGO. What handkerchief? `
` EMILIA. What handkerchief? `
` Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona, `
` That which so often you did bid me steal. `
` IAGO. Hast stol'n it from her? `
` EMILIA. No, faith; she let it drop by negligence, `
` And, to the advantage, I being here took't up. `
` Look, here it is. `
` IAGO. A good wench; give it me. `
` EMILIA. What will you do with't, that you have been so earnest `
` To have me filch it? `
` IAGO. [Snatching it.] Why, what is 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. `
` 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 `
` 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 `
` Burn like the mines of sulphur. I did say so. `
` Look, where he comes! `
` `
` Re-enter Othello. `
` `
` Not poppy, nor mandragora, `
` Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world, `
` Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep `
` Which thou owedst yesterday. `
` OTHELLO. Ha, ha, false to me? `
` IAGO. Why, how now, general! No more of that. `
` OTHELLO. Avaunt! be gone! Thou hast set me on the rack. `
` I swear 'tis better to be much abused `
` Than but to know't a little. `
` IAGO. How now, 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; `
` 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. `
` IAGO. I am sorry to hear this. `
` OTHELLO. I had been happy if the general camp, `
` 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, `
` Farewell the neighing steed and the shrill trump, `
` The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife, `
` The royal banner, and all quality, `
` Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war! `
` And O you mortal engines, whose rude throats `
` The immortal Jove's dread clamors counterfeit, `
` Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone! `
` IAGO. Is't possible, my lord? `
` OTHELLO. Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore; `
` Be sure of it. Give me the ocular proof; `
` Or, by the worth of man's eternal soul, `
` Thou hadst been better have been born a dog `
` Than answer my waked wrath! `
` IAGO. Is't come to this? `
` OTHELLO. Make me to see't; or at the least so prove it, `
` That the probation bear no hinge nor loop `
` To hang a doubt on; or woe upon thy life! `
` IAGO. My noble lord- `
` OTHELLO. If thou dost slander her and torture me, `
` Never pray more; abandon all remorse; `
` 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. `
` IAGO. O grace! O heaven defend me! `
` 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. `
` I thank you for this profit, and from hence `
` I'll love no friend sith love breeds such offense. `
` OTHELLO. Nay, stay; thou shouldst be honest. `
` IAGO. I should be wise; for honesty's a fool, `
` And loses that 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 `
` 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! `
` IAGO. I see, sir, you are eaten up with passion; `
` I do repent me that I put it to you. `
` You would be satisfied? `
` OTHELLO. Would? Nay, I will. `
` IAGO. And may. But, how? how satisfied, my lord? `
` Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on? `
` Behold her topp'd? `
` 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? `
` 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, `
` If imputation and strong circumstances, `
` Which lead directly to the door of truth, `
` Will give you satisfaction, you may have't. `
` OTHELLO. Give me a living reason she's disloyal. `
` IAGO. I do not like the office; `
` But sith I am enter'd in this cause so far, `
` Prick'd to't by foolish honesty and love, `
` I will go on. I lay with Cassio lately `
` And, being troubled with a raging tooth, `
` I could not sleep. `
` There are a kind of men so loose of soul, `
` That in their sleeps will mutter their affairs; `
` One of this kind is Cassio. `
` In sleep I heard him say, "Sweet Desdemona, `
` Let us be wary, let us hide our loves"; `
` And then, sir, would he gripe and wring my hand, `
` Cry, "O sweet creature!" and then kiss me hard, `
` As if he pluck'd up kisses by the roots, `
` That grew upon my lips; then laid his leg `
` Over my thigh, and sigh'd and kiss'd; and then `
` Cried, "Cursed fate that gave thee to the Moor!" `
`