Reading Help THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO, MOOR OF VENICE
If she confess that she was half the wooer, `
` Destruction on my head, if my bad blame `
` Light on the man! Come hither, gentle mistress. `
` Do you perceive in all this noble company `
` Where most you owe obedience? `
` DESDEMONA. My noble father, `
` I do perceive here a divided duty. `
` To you I am bound for life and education; `
` My life and education both do learn me `
` How to respect you; you are the lord of duty, `
` I am hitherto your daughter. But here's my husband, `
` And so much duty as my mother show'd `
` To you, preferring you before her father, `
` So much I challenge that I may profess `
` Due to the Moor, my lord. `
` BRABANTIO. God be with you! I have done. `
` Please it your Grace, on to the state affairs; `
` I had rather to adopt a child than get it. `
` Come hither, Moor. `
` I here do give thee that with all my heart `
` Which, but thou hast already, with all my heart `
` I would keep from thee. For your sake, jewel, `
` I am glad at soul I have no other child; `
` For thy escape would teach me tyranny, `
` To hang clogs on them. I have done, my lord. `
` DUKE. Let me speak like yourself, and lay a sentence `
` Which, as a grise or step, may help these lovers `
` Into your favor. `
` When remedies are past, the griefs are ended `
` By seeing the worst, which late on hopes depended. `
` To mourn a mischief that is past and gone `
` Is the next way to draw new mischief on. `
` What cannot be preserved when Fortune takes, `
` Patience her injury a mockery makes. `
` The robb'd that smiles steals something from the thief; `
` He robs himself that spends a bootless grief. `
` BRABANTIO. So let the Turk of Cyprus us beguile; `
` We lose it not so long as we can smile. `
` He bears the sentence well, that nothing bears `
` But the free comfort which from thence he hears; `
` But he bears both the sentence and the sorrow `
` That, to pay grief, must of poor patience borrow. `
` These sentences, to sugar or to gall, `
` Being strong on both sides, are equivocal. `
` But words are words; I never yet did hear `
` That the bruised heart was pierced through the ear. `
` I humbly beseech you, proceed to the affairs of state. `
` DUKE. The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for Cyprus. `
` Othello, the fortitude of the place is best known to you; and `
` though we have there a substitute of most allowed `
` sufficiency, `
` yet opinion, a sovereign mistress of effects, throws a more `
` safer `
` voice on you. You must therefore be content to slubber the `
` gloss `
` of your new fortunes with this more stubborn and boisterous `
` expedition. `
` OTHELLO. The tyrant custom, most grave senators, `
` Hath made the flinty and steel couch of war `
` My thrice-driven bed of down. I do agnize `
` A natural and prompt alacrity `
` I find in hardness and do undertake `
` These present wars against the Ottomites. `
` Most humbly therefore bending to your state, `
` I crave fit disposition for my wife, `
` Due reference of place and exhibition, `
` With such accommodation and besort `
` As levels with her breeding. `
` DUKE. If you please, `
` Be't at her father's. `
` BRABANTIO. I'll not have it so. `
` OTHELLO. Nor I. `
` DESDEMONA. Nor I. I would not there reside `
` To put my father in impatient thoughts `
` By being in his eye. Most gracious Duke, `
` To my unfolding lend your prosperous ear, `
` And let me find a charter in your voice `
` To assist my simpleness. `
` DUKE. What would you, Desdemona? `
` DESDEMONA. That I did love the Moor to live with him, `
` My downright violence and storm of fortunes `
` May trumpet to the world. My heart's subdued `
` Even to the very quality of my lord. `
` I saw Othello's visage in his mind, `
` And to his honors and his valiant parts `
` Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate. `
` So that, dear lords, if I be left behind, `
` A moth of peace, and he go to the war, `
` The rites for which I love him are bereft me, `
` And I a heavy interim shall support `
` By his dear absence. Let me go with him. `
` OTHELLO. Let her have your voices. `
` Vouch with me, heaven, I therefore beg it not `
` To please the palate of my appetite, `
` Nor to comply with heat- the young affects `
` In me defunct- and proper satisfaction; `
` But to be free and bounteous to her mind. `
` And heaven defend your good souls, that you think `
` I will your serious and great business scant `
` For she is with me. No, when light-wing'd toys `
` Of feather'd Cupid seel with wanton dullness `
` My speculative and officed instruments, `
` That my disports corrupt and taint my business, `
` Let housewives make a skillet of my helm, `
` And all indign and base adversities `
` Make head against my estimation! `
` DUKE. Be it as you shall privately determine, `
` Either for her stay or going. The affair cries haste, `
` And speed must answer't: you must hence tonight. `
` DESDEMONA. Tonight, my lord? `
` DUKE. This night. `
` OTHELLO. With all my heart. `
` DUKE. At nine i' the morning here we'll meet again. `
` Othello, leave some officer behind, `
` And he shall our commission bring to you, `
` With such things else of quality and respect `
` As doth import you. `
` OTHELLO. So please your Grace, my ancient; `
` A man he is of honesty and trust. `
` To his conveyance I assign my wife, `
` With what else needful your good Grace shall think `
` To be sent after me. `
` DUKE. Let it be so. `
` Good night to everyone. [To Brabantio.] And, noble signior, `
` If virtue no delighted beauty lack, `
` Your son-in-law is far more fair than black. `
` FIRST SENATOR. Adieu, brave Moor, use Desdemona well. `
` BRABANTIO. Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see; `
` She has deceived her father, and may thee. `
` Exeunt Duke, Senators, and `
` Officers. `
` OTHELLO. My life upon her faith! Honest Iago, `
` My Desdemona must I leave to thee. `
` I prithee, let thy wife attend on her, `
` And bring them after in the best advantage. `
` Come, Desdemona, I have but an hour `
` Of love, of worldly matters and direction, `
` To spend with thee. We must obey the time. `
` Exeunt Othello and `
` Desdemona. `
` RODERIGO. Iago! `
` IAGO. What say'st thou, noble heart? `
` RODERIGO. What will I do, thinkest thou? `
` IAGO. Why, go to bed and sleep. `
` RODERIGO. I will incontinently drown myself. `
` IAGO. If thou dost, I shall never love thee after. `
` Why, thou silly gentleman! `
` RODERIGO. It is silliness to live when to live is torment, and `
` then `
` have we a prescription to die when death is our physician. `
` IAGO. O villainous! I have looked upon the world for four times `
` seven years, and since I could distinguish betwixt a benefit `
` and `
` an injury, I never found man that knew how to love himself. `
` Ere I `
` would say I would drown myself for the love of a guinea hen, `
` I `
` would change my humanity with a baboon. `
` RODERIGO. What should I do? I confess it is my shame to be so `
` fond, `
` but it is not in my virtue to amend it. `
` IAGO. Virtue? a fig! 'Tis in ourselves that we are thus or `
` thus. `
` Our bodies are gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners; `
` so `
` that if we will plant nettles or sow lettuce, set hyssop and `
` weed `
` up thyme, supply it with one gender of herbs or distract it `
` with `
` many, either to have it sterile with idleness or manured with `
` `
` industry, why, the power and corrigible authority of this `
` lies in `
` our wills. If the balance of our lives had not one scale of `
` reason to poise another of sensuality, the blood and baseness `
` of `
` our natures would conduct us to most preposterous `
` conclusions. `
` But we have reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal `
` stings, `
` our unbitted lusts; whereof I take this, that you call love, `
` to `
` be a sect or scion. `
` RODERIGO. It cannot be. `
` IAGO. It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission of the `
` will. Come, be a man! Drown thyself? Drown cats and blind `
` puppies. I have professed me thy friend, and I confess me `
` knit to `
` thy deserving with cables of perdurable toughness; I could `
` never `
` better stead thee than now. Put money in thy purse; follow `
` thou `
` the wars; defeat thy favor with an usurped beard. I say, put `
` money in thy purse. It cannot be that Desdemona should long `
` continue her love to the Moor- put money in thy purse- nor he `
` his `
` to her. It was a violent commencement, and thou shalt see an `
` answerable sequestration- put but money in thy purse. These `
` Moors `
` are changeable in their wills- fill thy purse with money. The `
` food that to him now is as luscious as locusts, shall be to `
`
` Destruction on my head, if my bad blame `
` Light on the man! Come hither, gentle mistress. `
` Do you perceive in all this noble company `
` Where most you owe obedience? `
` DESDEMONA. My noble father, `
` I do perceive here a divided duty. `
` To you I am bound for life and education; `
` My life and education both do learn me `
` How to respect you; you are the lord of duty, `
` I am hitherto your daughter. But here's my husband, `
` And so much duty as my mother show'd `
` To you, preferring you before her father, `
` So much I challenge that I may profess `
` Due to the Moor, my lord. `
` BRABANTIO. God be with you! I have done. `
` Please it your Grace, on to the state affairs; `
` I had rather to adopt a child than get it. `
` Come hither, Moor. `
` I here do give thee that with all my heart `
` Which, but thou hast already, with all my heart `
` I would keep from thee. For your sake, jewel, `
` I am glad at soul I have no other child; `
` For thy escape would teach me tyranny, `
` To hang clogs on them. I have done, my lord. `
` DUKE. Let me speak like yourself, and lay a sentence `
` Which, as a grise or step, may help these lovers `
` Into your favor. `
` When remedies are past, the griefs are ended `
` By seeing the worst, which late on hopes depended. `
` To mourn a mischief that is past and gone `
` Is the next way to draw new mischief on. `
` What cannot be preserved when Fortune takes, `
` Patience her injury a mockery makes. `
` The robb'd that smiles steals something from the thief; `
` He robs himself that spends a bootless grief. `
` BRABANTIO. So let the Turk of Cyprus us beguile; `
` We lose it not so long as we can smile. `
` He bears the sentence well, that nothing bears `
` But the free comfort which from thence he hears; `
` But he bears both the sentence and the sorrow `
` That, to pay grief, must of poor patience borrow. `
` These sentences, to sugar or to gall, `
` Being strong on both sides, are equivocal. `
` But words are words; I never yet did hear `
` That the bruised heart was pierced through the ear. `
` I humbly beseech you, proceed to the affairs of state. `
` DUKE. The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for Cyprus. `
` Othello, the fortitude of the place is best known to you; and `
` though we have there a substitute of most allowed `
` sufficiency, `
` yet opinion, a sovereign mistress of effects, throws a more `
` safer `
` voice on you. You must therefore be content to slubber the `
` gloss `
` of your new fortunes with this more stubborn and boisterous `
` expedition. `
` OTHELLO. The tyrant custom, most grave senators, `
` Hath made the flinty and steel couch of war `
` My thrice-driven bed of down. I do agnize `
` A natural and prompt alacrity `
` I find in hardness and do undertake `
` These present wars against the Ottomites. `
` Most humbly therefore bending to your state, `
` I crave fit disposition for my wife, `
` Due reference of place and exhibition, `
` With such accommodation and besort `
` As levels with her breeding. `
` DUKE. If you please, `
` Be't at her father's. `
` BRABANTIO. I'll not have it so. `
` OTHELLO. Nor I. `
` DESDEMONA. Nor I. I would not there reside `
` To put my father in impatient thoughts `
` By being in his eye. Most gracious Duke, `
` To my unfolding lend your prosperous ear, `
` And let me find a charter in your voice `
` To assist my simpleness. `
` DUKE. What would you, Desdemona? `
` DESDEMONA. That I did love the Moor to live with him, `
` My downright violence and storm of fortunes `
` May trumpet to the world. My heart's subdued `
` Even to the very quality of my lord. `
` I saw Othello's visage in his mind, `
` And to his honors and his valiant parts `
` Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate. `
` So that, dear lords, if I be left behind, `
` A moth of peace, and he go to the war, `
` The rites for which I love him are bereft me, `
` And I a heavy interim shall support `
` By his dear absence. Let me go with him. `
` OTHELLO. Let her have your voices. `
` Vouch with me, heaven, I therefore beg it not `
` To please the palate of my appetite, `
` Nor to comply with heat- the young affects `
` In me defunct- and proper satisfaction; `
` But to be free and bounteous to her mind. `
` And heaven defend your good souls, that you think `
` I will your serious and great business scant `
` For she is with me. No, when light-wing'd toys `
` Of feather'd Cupid seel with wanton dullness `
` My speculative and officed instruments, `
` That my disports corrupt and taint my business, `
` Let housewives make a skillet of my helm, `
` And all indign and base adversities `
` Make head against my estimation! `
` DUKE. Be it as you shall privately determine, `
` Either for her stay or going. The affair cries haste, `
` And speed must answer't: you must hence tonight. `
` DESDEMONA. Tonight, my lord? `
` DUKE. This night. `
` OTHELLO. With all my heart. `
` DUKE. At nine i' the morning here we'll meet again. `
` Othello, leave some officer behind, `
` And he shall our commission bring to you, `
` With such things else of quality and respect `
` As doth import you. `
` OTHELLO. So please your Grace, my ancient; `
` A man he is of honesty and trust. `
` To his conveyance I assign my wife, `
` With what else needful your good Grace shall think `
` To be sent after me. `
` DUKE. Let it be so. `
` Good night to everyone. [To Brabantio.] And, noble signior, `
` If virtue no delighted beauty lack, `
` Your son-in-law is far more fair than black. `
` FIRST SENATOR. Adieu, brave Moor, use Desdemona well. `
` BRABANTIO. Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see; `
` She has deceived her father, and may thee. `
` Exeunt Duke, Senators, and `
` Officers. `
` OTHELLO. My life upon her faith! Honest Iago, `
` My Desdemona must I leave to thee. `
` I prithee, let thy wife attend on her, `
` And bring them after in the best advantage. `
` Come, Desdemona, I have but an hour `
` Of love, of worldly matters and direction, `
` To spend with thee. We must obey the time. `
` Exeunt Othello and `
` Desdemona. `
` RODERIGO. Iago! `
` IAGO. What say'st thou, noble heart? `
` RODERIGO. What will I do, thinkest thou? `
` IAGO. Why, go to bed and sleep. `
` RODERIGO. I will incontinently drown myself. `
` IAGO. If thou dost, I shall never love thee after. `
` Why, thou silly gentleman! `
` RODERIGO. It is silliness to live when to live is torment, and `
` then `
` have we a prescription to die when death is our physician. `
` IAGO. O villainous! I have looked upon the world for four times `
` seven years, and since I could distinguish betwixt a benefit `
` and `
` an injury, I never found man that knew how to love himself. `
` Ere I `
` would say I would drown myself for the love of a guinea hen, `
` I `
` would change my humanity with a baboon. `
` RODERIGO. What should I do? I confess it is my shame to be so `
` fond, `
` but it is not in my virtue to amend it. `
` IAGO. Virtue? a fig! 'Tis in ourselves that we are thus or `
` thus. `
` Our bodies are gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners; `
` so `
` that if we will plant nettles or sow lettuce, set hyssop and `
` weed `
` up thyme, supply it with one gender of herbs or distract it `
` with `
` many, either to have it sterile with idleness or manured with `
` `
` industry, why, the power and corrigible authority of this `
` lies in `
` our wills. If the balance of our lives had not one scale of `
` reason to poise another of sensuality, the blood and baseness `
` of `
` our natures would conduct us to most preposterous `
` conclusions. `
` But we have reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal `
` stings, `
` our unbitted lusts; whereof I take this, that you call love, `
` to `
` be a sect or scion. `
` RODERIGO. It cannot be. `
` IAGO. It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission of the `
` will. Come, be a man! Drown thyself? Drown cats and blind `
` puppies. I have professed me thy friend, and I confess me `
` knit to `
` thy deserving with cables of perdurable toughness; I could `
` never `
` better stead thee than now. Put money in thy purse; follow `
` thou `
` the wars; defeat thy favor with an usurped beard. I say, put `
` money in thy purse. It cannot be that Desdemona should long `
` continue her love to the Moor- put money in thy purse- nor he `
` his `
` to her. It was a violent commencement, and thou shalt see an `
` answerable sequestration- put but money in thy purse. These `
` Moors `
` are changeable in their wills- fill thy purse with money. The `
` food that to him now is as luscious as locusts, shall be to `
`