Oth. O, Iago! Iago. And did you see the handkerchief? Oth. Was that mine? Iago. Yours, by this hand: and to see how he prizes the foolish woman, your wife! she gave it him, and he hath given it his whore. - Oth. I would have him nine years a killing: A fine woman! a fair woman! a sweet woman ! Iago. Nay, you must forget that. 9 Oth. Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damned tonight; for she shall not live: No, my heart is turned to stone; I strike it, and it hurts my hand. O, the world hath not a sweeter creature: she might lie by an emperor's side, and command him tasks. Iago. Nay, that's not your way. Oth. Hang her! I do but say what she is: So delicate with her needle! - An admirable musician! O, she will sing the savageness out of a bear! — Of so high and plenteous wit and invention ! Iago. She's the worse for all this. Oth. O, a thousand, a thousand times: - And then, of so gentle a condition! 1 Iago. Ay, too gentle. 1 Oth. Nay, that's certain: But yet the pity of it, Iago! — O, Iago, the pity of it, Iago! Iago. If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her patent to offend; for if it touch not you, it comes near nobody. Oth. I will chop her into messes: Cuckold me! Iago. O, 'tis foul in her. Oth. With mine officer ! Iago. That's fouler. Oth. Get me some poison, Iago; this night: -I'll 9 No, my heart is turned to stone; I strike it, and it hurts my hand.] This thought as often as it occurs to Shakspeare, is sure to be received, and as often counteracts his pathos. And then of so gentle a condition!] i. e. of so sweet a disposition. not expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again:—this night, Iago. Iago. Do it not with poison, strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated. Oth. Good, good: the justice of it pleases; very good. Iago. And, for Cassio, let me be his undertaker: [A Trumpet within. - You shall hear more by midnight. Oth. Excellent good. What trumpet is that same? Iago. Something from Venice, sure. 'Tis Lodovico, Come from the duke: and, see, your wife is with him. Enter LODOVICO, DESDEMONA, and Attendants. Lod. 'Save you, worthy general! Oth. With all my heart, sir. [Gives him a Packet. Lod. The duke and senators of Venice greet you. Oth. I kiss the instrument of their pleasures. [Opens the Packet, and reads. Des. And what's the news, good cousin Lodovico? Iago. I am very glad to see you, signior; Welcome to Cyprus. Lod. I thank you: how does lieutenant Cassio? Des. Cousin, there's fallen between him and my lord An unkind breach: but you shall make all well. Oth. Are you sure of that? Des. My lord? Oth. This fail you not to do, as you Lod. He did not call: he's busy in the paper. Des. Oth. My lord? Are you will [Reads. wise? 2 atone them,] Make them one; reconcile them. Des. What, is he angry? 'May be, the letter mov'd him; For, as I think, they do command him home, Des. By my troth, I am glad on't. Lod. My lord, this would not be believ'd in Venice, Though I should swear I saw it: 'Tis very much; Make her amends, she weeps. Oth. O devil, devil! If that the earth could teem with woman's tears, 3 Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile: Out of my sight! I will not stay to offend you. [Going. Lod. Truly, an obedient lady: I do beseech your lordship, call her back. Oth. Mistress Des. Oth. My lord? What would you with her, sir? Lod. Who, I, my lord? Oth. Ay; you did wish, that I would make her turn: Sir, she can turn, and turn, and yet go on, And turn again; and she can weep, sir, weep; And she's obedient, as you say, - obedient, your tears. 3 If that the earth could teem, &c.] Shakspeare here alludes to the fabulous accounts of crocodiles. Each tear (says Othello) which falls from the false Desdemona, would generate a crocodile; the most deceitful of all animals, and whose own tears are proverbially fallacious. + Each drop she falls-] To fall is here a verb active. I am commanded home: Get you away: I'll send for you anon. Sir, I obey the mandate, — And will return to Venice; Hence, avaunt! [Exit DESDEMONA. Cassio shall have my place. And, sir, to-night, You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus. Goats and monkies! [Exit. Lod. Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate Call all-in-all sufficient? This the noble nature Whom passion could not shake? whose solid virtue The shot of accident, nor dart of chance, Could neither graze, nor pierce? Iago. He is much chang'd. Lod. Are his wits safe? is he not light of brain? Iago. He is that he is; I may not breathe my censure. What he might be, if, what he might, he is not, — I would to heaven, he were. Lod. - What, strike his wife! Iago. 'Faith, that was not so well; Yet 'would I knew, That stroke would prove the worst. Lod. Is it his use? Or did the letters work upon his blood, It is not honesty in me, to speak What I have seen and known. You shall observe him; And his own courses will denote him so, That I may save my speech: Do but go after, And mark how he continues. Lod. I am sorry, that I am deceiv'd in him. [Exeunt. SCENE II. A Room in the Castle. Enter OTHELLO and EMILIA. Oth. You have seen nothing then? Emil. Nor ever heard; nor ever did suspect. Emil. Oth. Nor send you out o'the way? Emil. Never, my lord. Never. Oth. To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor nothing? Emil. Never, my lord. Oth. That's strange. Emil. I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest, She says enough;-yet she's a simple bawd, And yet she'll kneel, and pray; I have seen her do't. Re-enter EMILIA, with DESDEMONA. Des. My lord, what is your will? |
