Reading Help THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO, MOOR OF VENICE
Heaven stops the nose at it, and the moon winks; `
` The bawdy wind, that kisses all it meets, `
` Is hush'd within the hollow mine of earth, `
` And will not hear it. What committed? `
` Impudent strumpet! `
` DESDEMONA. By heaven, you do me wrong. `
` OTHELLO. Are not you a strumpet? `
` DESDEMONA. No, as I am a Christian. `
` If to preserve this vessel for my lord `
` From any other foul unlawful touch `
` Be not to be a strumpet, I am none. `
` OTHELLO. What, not a whore? `
` DESDEMONA. No, as I shall be saved. `
` OTHELLO. Is't possible? `
` DESDEMONA. O, heaven forgive us! `
` OTHELLO. I cry you mercy then; `
` I took you for that cunning whore of Venice `
` That married with Othello. [Raises his voice.] You, mistress, `
` That have the office opposite to Saint Peter, `
` And keep the gate of hell! `
` `
` Re-enter Emilia. `
` `
` You, you, ay, you! `
` We have done our course; there's money for your pains. `
` I pray you, turn the key, and keep our counsel. `
` Exit. `
` EMILIA. Alas, what does this gentleman conceive? `
` How do you, madam? How do you, my good lady? `
` DESDEMONA. Faith, half asleep. `
` EMILIA. Good madam, what's the matter with my lord? `
` DESDEMONA. With who? `
` EMILIA. Why, with my lord, madam. `
` DESDEMONA. Who is thy lord? `
` EMILIA. He that is yours, sweet lady. `
` DESDEMONA. I have none. Do not talk to me, Emilia; `
` I cannot weep, nor answer have I none `
` But what should go by water. Prithee, tonight `
` Lay on my bed my wedding sheets. Remember, `
` And call thy husband hither. `
` EMILIA. Here's a change indeed! `
` Exit. `
` DESDEMONA. 'Tis meet I should be used so, very meet. `
` How have I been behaved, that he might stick `
` The small'st opinion on my least misuse? `
` `
` Re-enter Emilia with Iago. `
` `
` IAGO. What is your pleasure, madam? How is't with you? `
` DESDEMONA. I cannot tell. Those that do teach young babes `
` Do it with gentle means and easy tasks. `
` He might have chid me so, for in good faith, `
` I am a child to chiding. `
` IAGO. What's the matter, lady? `
` EMILIA. Alas, Iago, my lord hath so bewhored her, `
` Thrown such despite and heavy terms upon her, `
` As true hearts cannot bear. `
` DESDEMONA. Am I that name, Iago? `
` IAGO. What name, fair lady? `
` DESDEMONA. Such as she says my lord did say I was. `
` EMILIA. He call'd her whore; a beggar in his drink `
` Could not have laid such terms upon his callet. `
` IAGO. Why did he so? `
` DESDEMONA. I do not know; I am sure I am none such. `
` IAGO. Do not weep, do not weep. Alas the day! `
` EMILIA. Hath she forsook so many noble matches, `
` Her father and her country and her friends, `
` To be call'd whore? Would it not make one weep? `
` DESDEMONA. It is my wretched fortune. `
` IAGO. Beshrew him for't! `
` How comes this trick upon him? `
` DESDEMONA. Nay, heaven doth know. `
` EMILIA. I will be hang'd, if some eternal villain, `
` Some busy and insinuating rogue, `
` Some cogging, cozening slave, to get some office, `
` Have not devised this slander; I'll be hang'd else. `
` IAGO. Fie, there is no such man; it is impossible. `
` DESDEMONA. If any such there be, heaven pardon him! `
` EMILIA. A halter pardon him! And hell gnaw his bones! `
` Why should he call her whore? Who keeps her company? `
` What place? What time? What form? What likelihood? `
` The Moor's abused by some most villainous knave, `
` Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow. `
` O heaven, that such companions thou'ldst unfold, `
` And put in every honest hand a whip `
` To lash the rascals naked through the world `
` Even from the east to the west! `
` IAGO. Speak within door. `
` EMILIA. O, fie upon them! Some such squire he was `
` That turn'd your wit the seamy side without, `
` And made you to suspect me with the Moor. `
` IAGO. You are a fool; go to. `
` DESDEMONA. O good Iago, `
` What shall I do to win my lord again? `
` Good friend, go to him, for by this light of heaven, `
` I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel: `
` If e'er my will did trespass 'gainst his love `
` Either in discourse of thought or actual deed, `
` Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense, `
` Delighted them in any other form, `
` Or that I do not yet, and ever did, `
` And ever will, though he do shake me off `
` To beggarly divorcement, love him dearly, `
` Comfort forswear me! Unkindness may do much, `
` And his unkindness may defeat my life, `
` But never taint my love. I cannot say "whore." `
` It doth abhor me now I speak the word; `
` To do the act that might the addition earn `
` Not the world's mass of vanity could make me. `
` IAGO. I pray you, be content; 'tis but his humor: `
` The business of the state does him offense, `
` And he does chide with you. `
` DESDEMONA. If 'twere no other- `
` IAGO. 'Tis but so, I warrant. Trumpets `
` within. `
` Hark, how these instruments summon to supper! `
` The messengers of Venice stay the meat. `
` Go in, and weep not; all things shall be well. `
` Exeunt Desdemona and `
` Emilia. `
` `
` Enter Roderigo. `
` `
` How now, Roderigo! `
` RODERIGO. I do not find that thou dealest justly with me. `
` IAGO. What in the contrary? `
` RODERIGO. Every day thou daffest me with some device, Iago; and `
` rather, as it seems to me now, keepest from me all `
` conveniency `
` than suppliest me with the least advantage of hope. I will `
` indeed `
` no longer endure it; nor am I yet persuaded to put up in `
` peace `
` what already I have foolishly suffered. `
` IAGO. Will you hear me, Roderigo? `
` RODERIGO. Faith, I have heard too much, for your words and `
` performances are no kin together. `
` IAGO. You charge me most unjustly. `
` RODERIGO. With nought but truth. I have wasted myself out of my `
` means. The jewels you have had from me to deliver to `
` Desdemona `
` would half have corrupted a votarist. You have told me she `
` hath `
` received them and returned me expectations and comforts of `
` sudden `
` respect and acquaintance; but I find none. `
` IAGO. Well, go to, very well. `
` RODERIGO. Very well! go to! I cannot go to, man; nor 'tis not `
` very `
` well. By this hand, I say 'tis very scurvy, and begin to find `
` myself fopped in it. `
` IAGO. Very well. `
` RODERIGO. I tell you 'tis not very well. I will make myself `
` known `
` to Desdemona. If she will return me my jewels, I will give `
` over `
` my suit and repent my unlawful solicitation; if not, assure `
` yourself I will seek satisfaction of you. `
` IAGO. You have said now. `
` RODERIGO. Ay, and said nothing but what I protest intendment of `
` doing. `
` IAGO. Why, now I see there's mettle in thee; and even from this `
` `
` instant do build on thee a better opinion than ever before. `
` Give `
` me thy hand, Roderigo. Thou hast taken against me a most just `
` exception; but yet, I protest, have dealt most directly in `
` thy `
` affair. `
` RODERIGO. It hath not appeared. `
` IAGO. I grant indeed it hath not appeared, and your suspicion `
` is `
` not without wit and judgement. But, Roderigo, if thou hast `
` that `
` in thee indeed, which I have greater reason to believe now `
` than `
` ever, I mean purpose, courage, and valor, this night show it; `
` if `
` thou the next night following enjoy not Desdemona, take me `
` from `
` this world with treachery and devise engines for my life. `
` RODERIGO. Well, what is it? Is it within reason and compass? `
` IAGO. Sir, there is especial commission come from Venice to `
` depute `
` Cassio in Othello's place. `
` RODERIGO. Is that true? Why then Othello and Desdemona return `
` again `
` to Venice. `
` IAGO. O, no; he goes into Mauritania, and takes away with him `
` the `
` fair Desdemona, unless his abode be lingered here by some `
` accident; wherein none can be so determinate as the removing `
` of `
` Cassio. `
` RODERIGO. How do you mean, removing of him? `
` IAGO. Why, by making him uncapable of Othello's place; knocking `
` out `
` his brains. `
` RODERIGO. And that you would have me to do? `
` IAGO. Ay, if you dare do yourself a profit and a right. He sups `
` tonight with a harlotry, and thither will I go to him. He `
`
` The bawdy wind, that kisses all it meets, `
` Is hush'd within the hollow mine of earth, `
` And will not hear it. What committed? `
` Impudent strumpet! `
` DESDEMONA. By heaven, you do me wrong. `
` OTHELLO. Are not you a strumpet? `
` DESDEMONA. No, as I am a Christian. `
` If to preserve this vessel for my lord `
` From any other foul unlawful touch `
` Be not to be a strumpet, I am none. `
` OTHELLO. What, not a whore? `
` DESDEMONA. No, as I shall be saved. `
` OTHELLO. Is't possible? `
` DESDEMONA. O, heaven forgive us! `
` OTHELLO. I cry you mercy then; `
` I took you for that cunning whore of Venice `
` That married with Othello. [Raises his voice.] You, mistress, `
` That have the office opposite to Saint Peter, `
` And keep the gate of hell! `
` `
` Re-enter Emilia. `
` `
` You, you, ay, you! `
` We have done our course; there's money for your pains. `
` I pray you, turn the key, and keep our counsel. `
` Exit. `
` EMILIA. Alas, what does this gentleman conceive? `
` How do you, madam? How do you, my good lady? `
` DESDEMONA. Faith, half asleep. `
` EMILIA. Good madam, what's the matter with my lord? `
` DESDEMONA. With who? `
` EMILIA. Why, with my lord, madam. `
` DESDEMONA. Who is thy lord? `
` EMILIA. He that is yours, sweet lady. `
` DESDEMONA. I have none. Do not talk to me, Emilia; `
` I cannot weep, nor answer have I none `
` But what should go by water. Prithee, tonight `
` Lay on my bed my wedding sheets. Remember, `
` And call thy husband hither. `
` EMILIA. Here's a change indeed! `
` Exit. `
` DESDEMONA. 'Tis meet I should be used so, very meet. `
` How have I been behaved, that he might stick `
` The small'st opinion on my least misuse? `
` `
` Re-enter Emilia with Iago. `
` `
` IAGO. What is your pleasure, madam? How is't with you? `
` DESDEMONA. I cannot tell. Those that do teach young babes `
` Do it with gentle means and easy tasks. `
` He might have chid me so, for in good faith, `
` I am a child to chiding. `
` IAGO. What's the matter, lady? `
` EMILIA. Alas, Iago, my lord hath so bewhored her, `
` Thrown such despite and heavy terms upon her, `
` As true hearts cannot bear. `
` DESDEMONA. Am I that name, Iago? `
` IAGO. What name, fair lady? `
` DESDEMONA. Such as she says my lord did say I was. `
` EMILIA. He call'd her whore; a beggar in his drink `
` Could not have laid such terms upon his callet. `
` IAGO. Why did he so? `
` DESDEMONA. I do not know; I am sure I am none such. `
` IAGO. Do not weep, do not weep. Alas the day! `
` EMILIA. Hath she forsook so many noble matches, `
` Her father and her country and her friends, `
` To be call'd whore? Would it not make one weep? `
` DESDEMONA. It is my wretched fortune. `
` IAGO. Beshrew him for't! `
` How comes this trick upon him? `
` DESDEMONA. Nay, heaven doth know. `
` EMILIA. I will be hang'd, if some eternal villain, `
` Some busy and insinuating rogue, `
` Some cogging, cozening slave, to get some office, `
` Have not devised this slander; I'll be hang'd else. `
` IAGO. Fie, there is no such man; it is impossible. `
` DESDEMONA. If any such there be, heaven pardon him! `
` EMILIA. A halter pardon him! And hell gnaw his bones! `
` Why should he call her whore? Who keeps her company? `
` What place? What time? What form? What likelihood? `
` The Moor's abused by some most villainous knave, `
` Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow. `
` O heaven, that such companions thou'ldst unfold, `
` And put in every honest hand a whip `
` To lash the rascals naked through the world `
` Even from the east to the west! `
` IAGO. Speak within door. `
` EMILIA. O, fie upon them! Some such squire he was `
` That turn'd your wit the seamy side without, `
` And made you to suspect me with the Moor. `
` IAGO. You are a fool; go to. `
` DESDEMONA. O good Iago, `
` What shall I do to win my lord again? `
` Good friend, go to him, for by this light of heaven, `
` I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel: `
` If e'er my will did trespass 'gainst his love `
` Either in discourse of thought or actual deed, `
` Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense, `
` Delighted them in any other form, `
` Or that I do not yet, and ever did, `
` And ever will, though he do shake me off `
` To beggarly divorcement, love him dearly, `
` Comfort forswear me! Unkindness may do much, `
` And his unkindness may defeat my life, `
` But never taint my love. I cannot say "whore." `
` It doth abhor me now I speak the word; `
` To do the act that might the addition earn `
` Not the world's mass of vanity could make me. `
` IAGO. I pray you, be content; 'tis but his humor: `
` The business of the state does him offense, `
` And he does chide with you. `
` DESDEMONA. If 'twere no other- `
` IAGO. 'Tis but so, I warrant. Trumpets `
` within. `
` Hark, how these instruments summon to supper! `
` The messengers of Venice stay the meat. `
` Go in, and weep not; all things shall be well. `
` Exeunt Desdemona and `
` Emilia. `
` `
` Enter Roderigo. `
` `
` How now, Roderigo! `
` RODERIGO. I do not find that thou dealest justly with me. `
` IAGO. What in the contrary? `
` RODERIGO. Every day thou daffest me with some device, Iago; and `
` rather, as it seems to me now, keepest from me all `
` conveniency `
` than suppliest me with the least advantage of hope. I will `
` indeed `
` no longer endure it; nor am I yet persuaded to put up in `
` peace `
` what already I have foolishly suffered. `
` IAGO. Will you hear me, Roderigo? `
` RODERIGO. Faith, I have heard too much, for your words and `
` performances are no kin together. `
` IAGO. You charge me most unjustly. `
` RODERIGO. With nought but truth. I have wasted myself out of my `
` means. The jewels you have had from me to deliver to `
` Desdemona `
` would half have corrupted a votarist. You have told me she `
` hath `
` received them and returned me expectations and comforts of `
` sudden `
` respect and acquaintance; but I find none. `
` IAGO. Well, go to, very well. `
` RODERIGO. Very well! go to! I cannot go to, man; nor 'tis not `
` very `
` well. By this hand, I say 'tis very scurvy, and begin to find `
` myself fopped in it. `
` IAGO. Very well. `
` RODERIGO. I tell you 'tis not very well. I will make myself `
` known `
` to Desdemona. If she will return me my jewels, I will give `
` over `
` my suit and repent my unlawful solicitation; if not, assure `
` yourself I will seek satisfaction of you. `
` IAGO. You have said now. `
` RODERIGO. Ay, and said nothing but what I protest intendment of `
` doing. `
` IAGO. Why, now I see there's mettle in thee; and even from this `
` `
` instant do build on thee a better opinion than ever before. `
` Give `
` me thy hand, Roderigo. Thou hast taken against me a most just `
` exception; but yet, I protest, have dealt most directly in `
` thy `
` affair. `
` RODERIGO. It hath not appeared. `
` IAGO. I grant indeed it hath not appeared, and your suspicion `
` is `
` not without wit and judgement. But, Roderigo, if thou hast `
` that `
` in thee indeed, which I have greater reason to believe now `
` than `
` ever, I mean purpose, courage, and valor, this night show it; `
` if `
` thou the next night following enjoy not Desdemona, take me `
` from `
` this world with treachery and devise engines for my life. `
` RODERIGO. Well, what is it? Is it within reason and compass? `
` IAGO. Sir, there is especial commission come from Venice to `
` depute `
` Cassio in Othello's place. `
` RODERIGO. Is that true? Why then Othello and Desdemona return `
` again `
` to Venice. `
` IAGO. O, no; he goes into Mauritania, and takes away with him `
` the `
` fair Desdemona, unless his abode be lingered here by some `
` accident; wherein none can be so determinate as the removing `
` of `
` Cassio. `
` RODERIGO. How do you mean, removing of him? `
` IAGO. Why, by making him uncapable of Othello's place; knocking `
` out `
` his brains. `
` RODERIGO. And that you would have me to do? `
` IAGO. Ay, if you dare do yourself a profit and a right. He sups `
` tonight with a harlotry, and thither will I go to him. He `
`