Images de page
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

Ay, but, lady,

That policy may either last so long,
Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet,
Or breed itself so out of circumstance,
That, I being absent, and my place supplied,
My general will forget my love and service.

Des. Do not doubt that; before Emilia here,
I give thee warrant of thy place: assure thee,
If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it

To the last article: my lord shall never rest;
I'll watch him tame, and talk him out of patience;
His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;
I'll intermingle every thing he does

With Cassio's suit: Therefore be merry, Cassio';
For thy solicitor shall rather die,

Than give thy cause away.

Enter Othello, and lago, at a distance.

[blocks in formation]

I have no judgment in an honest face:

I pr'ythee, call him back.

Oth.

Went he hence now?

Des. Ay, sooth; so humbled,
That he hath left part of his grief with me;
I suffer with him. Good love, call him back.

Oth. Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other

time.

Des. But shall't be shortly? Oth.

The sooner, sweet, for you.

Des. Shall't be to-night at supper?

Oth.

Des. To-morrow dinner then? Oth.

No, not to-night.

I shall not dine at home;

I meet the captains at the citadel.

Des. Why then, to-morrow night; or Tuesday

morn;

Or Tuesday noon, or night; or Wednesday morn;
I pray thee, name the time; but let it not
Exceed three days: in faith, he's penitent;
And yet his trespass, in our common reason
(Save that, they say, the wars must make examples
Out of their best,3) is not almost a fault

To incur a private check: When shall he come?
Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul,
What you could ask me, that I should deny,

Or stand so mammering4 on. What? Michael

Cassio,

[blocks in formation]

Oth.

I will deny thee nothing,

Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this,
To leave me but a little to myself.

Des. Shall I deny you? no: Farewell, my lord.
Oth. Farewell, my Desdemona: I will come to

thee straight.

Des. Emilia, come: -Be it as your fancies teach you; Whate'er you be, I am obedient. [Exit, with Emil. Oth. Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul, But I do love thee! and when I love thee not, Chaos is come again.

Jago. My noble lord,

Oth.

What dost thou say, Iago? Iago. Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my

lady,

Know of your love?

Oth. He did, from first to last: Why dost thou ask?

lago. But for a satisfaction of my thought;

No further harm. Oth.

Why of thy thought, Iago?

Iago. I did not think he had been acquainted with her..

Oth. O, yes; and went between us very oft.
Iago. Indeed?

Oth. Indeed! ay, indeed:-Discern'st thou aught

in that?

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

By heaven, he echoes me,

As if there were some monster in his thought

Too hideous to be shown. -Thou dost mean some

thing:

[blocks in formation]

And, for I know thou art full of love and honesty,
And weigh'st thy words before thou giv'st them

breath,

[blocks in formation]

Iago.

Men should be what they seem; Or, those that be not, 'would they might seem none! Oth. Certain, men should be what they seem. Iago. Why then,

I think that Cassio is an honest man.

Oth. Nay, yet there's more in this:

I pray thee, speak to me as to thy thinkings,

Is the immediate jewel of their souls:
Who steals my purse, steals trash; 'tis something,

nothing;

'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
But he, that filches from me my good name,
Robs me of that, which not enriches him,

And makes me poor indeed.

Oth. By heaven, I'll know thy thought.

Iago. You cannot, if my heart were in your hand;
Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody.
Oth. Ha!

Iago. O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;
It is the green-ey'd monster, which doth mock
The meat it feeds on: That cuckold lives in bliss,
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;
But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er,
Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly
loves!

[blocks in formation]

jealous,

To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company,
Is free of speech, sings, plays, and dances well;
Where virtue is, these are more virtuous:
Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw
The smallest fear, or doubt of her revolt;
For she had eyes, and chose me: No, lago;
I'll see, before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;

As thou dost ruminate; and give thy worst of And, on the proof, there is no more but this,

thoughts

Away at once with love, or jealousy.

The worst of words.

Iago. I am glad of this, for now I shall have reason

lago.

Good my lord, pardon me; To show the love and duty that I bear you
Though I am bound to every act of duty,
I am not bound to that all slaves are free to.

With franker spirit: therefore, as I am bound,
Receive it from me:-I speak not yet of proof.

Wear your eye-thus, not jealous, nor secure:
I would not have your free and noble nature,
Out of self-bounty, be abus'd; look to't:
I know our country disposition well;

Utter my thoughts? Why, say, they are vile and Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio;

false,-
As where's that palace, whereinto foul things
Sometimes intrude not? who has a breast so pure,
But some uncleanly apprehensions

Keep leets, and law-days, and in session sit
With meditations lawful?

Oth. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago,
If thou but think'st him wrong'd, and mak'st his ear
A stranger to thy thoughts.

lago.
I do beseech you,-
Though I, perchance, am vicious in my guess,
As, I confess, it is my nature's plague
To spy into abuses; and, oft, my jealousy

Shapes faults that are not, I entreat you then,
From one that so imperfectly conjects, 2

You'd take no notice; nor build yourself a trouble
Out of his scattering and unsure observance :-

It were not for your quiet, nor your good,
Nor for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom,

To let you know my thoughts.

[blocks in formation]

In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks
They dare not show their husbands; their best

conscience

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

My lord, I see you are mov'd.

Oth.

No, not much mov'd :

I do not think but Desdemona's honest.

lago. Long live she so! and long live you to think so!

Oth. And yet, how nature erring from itself,lago. Ay, there's the point:-As, to be bold with you,

Not to affect many proposed matches,

Of her own clime, complexion, and degree;
Whereto, we see, in all things nature tends :
Foh! one may smell, in such, a will most rank,
Foul disproportion, thoughts unnatural.-
But pardon me; I do not, in position,
Distinctly speak of her: though I may fear,
Her will, recoiling to her better judgment,
May fall to match you with her country forms,
And (happily) repent.

Oth.

Farewell, farewell :
If more thou dost perceive, let me know more;
Set on thy wife to observe: Leave me, lago.

lago My lord, I take my leave. [Going. Oth. Why did I marry? - This honest creature, doubtless,

Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds. Iago My lord, I would, I might entreat your honour

To scan this thing no further; leave it to time:
And though it be fit that Cassio have his place
(For, sure, he fills it up with great ability,)
Yet, if you please to hold him off a while,
You shall by that perceive him and his means:
Note. if your lady strain his entertainment2
With any strong or vehement opportunity;
Much will be seen in that. In the mean time,
Let me be thought too busy in my fears
(As worthy cause I have, to fear-I am,)
And hold her free, I do beseech your honour.

Oth. Fear not my government.

Iago. I once more take my leave.

[Exit.

Oth. This fellow's of exceeding honesty, And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit, Of human dealings: If I do prove her haggard,3 Though that her jesses were my dear heart-strings, I'd 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 declin'd Into the vale of years;-yet that's not much;She's gone; I am abus'd; and my relief Must be to loath 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 vapour of a dungeon,

[blocks in formation]

Than keep a corner in the thing I love,
For other's uses. Yet, 'tis the plague of great ones;
Prerogativ'd 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 :
Enter Desdemona and Emilia.

If she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself!-
I'll not believe it.
Des.

How now, my dear Othello?

Your dinner, and the generous islanders
By you invited, do attend your presence.
Oth. I am to blame.

Des. Why is your speech so faint? are you not well?

Oth. I have a pain upon my forehead here.

Des. Faith, that's with watching; 'twill away

[blocks in formation]

it drops.

Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you. Des. I am very sorry that you are not well. [Exeunt Oth. and Des.

Emil. 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 conjur'd 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 it lago:

What he'll do with it, heaven knows, not I;
I nothing, but to please his fantasy.

[blocks in formation]

Why, what's that to you? [Snatching it.

Emil. If it be not for some purpose of import, Give it me again: Poor lady! she'll run mad, When she shall lack it.

Iago. Be not you known of'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

(5) Men of intrigue.

(6) When we begin to live.

(7) In the north of England this term for a handkerchief is still used.

(8) Seem as if you knew nothing of the matter,

[blocks in formation]

Iago.

How now, my lord?

Oth. What sense had I of her stolen hours of lust? I saw it not, thought it not, it barm'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 stolen, Let him not know it, and he's not robb'd at all.

lago. I am sorry to hear this. Oth. I had been happy, if the general camp, Pioneers and all, had tasted her sweet body, So I had nothing known: O now, for ever, 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 clamours counterfeit, Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone!

lago. Is it possible! - My lord, — Oth. Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore; Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof;

[Taking him by the throat.

Or, by the worth of mine eternal soul,
Thou hadst been better have been born a dog,
Than answer my wak'd wrath.

Iago.

Is it come to this?

Oth. Make me to see it; or (at the least) so prove it,

That the probation bear no hinge, nor loop,

To hang a doubt on or, wo upon thy life!

Iago. My noble lord,

Oth. If thou dost slander her, and torture me,

Never pray more: abandon all remorse ;4

On horror's head horrors accumulate:

Do deeds to make heaven weep, all earth amaz'd, 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 liv'st 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, since love breeds such offence.
Oth. Nay, stay: -Thou should'st be honest.
Iago. I should be wise; for honesty's a fool,

(1) The mandrake has a soporific quality.
(2) Possessedst.

(3) The vilest of the camp. Pioneers were generally degraded soldiers.

And loses that it works for. Oth.

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 begrim'd 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?

[blocks in formation]

Iago. And may: but, how? how satisfied, my lord?

Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on?
Behold her tupp'd?

Oth.

Death and damnation! O!

lago. 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 monkies,
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 it.
Oth. Give me a livings 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 it 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!
Oth. O monstrous! monstrous!

[blocks in formation]

Tis gone.

Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell!
Yield up, O love, thy crown, and hearted throne,
To tyrannous hate! swell, bosom, with thy fraught,2
For 'tis of aspics' tongues!

Iago. Pray, be content.
Oth.

O, blood, lago, blood! Iago. Patience, I say; your mind, perhaps, may change.

Oth. Never, Ingo. Like to the Pontic sea, Whose icy current and compulsive course Ne'er feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on To the Propontic, and the Hellespont; Even so my bloody thoughts, with violent pace, Shall ne'er look back, ne'er ebb to humble love, Till that a capables and wide revenge Swallow them up. -Now, by yond' marble heaven, In the due reverence of a sacred vow [Kneels.

I here engage my words. Iago.

Do not rise yet.

Witness, you ever-burning lights above! You elements that clip us round about! Witness, that here lago doth give up

The execution of his wit, hands, heart,

[blocks in formation]

[Kneels.

Des. It yet has felt no age, nor known no sorrow. Oth. This argues fruitfulness, and liberal heart;Hot, hot, and moist: This hand of yours requires A sequester from liberty, fasting and prayer, Much castigation, exercise devout;

To wrong'd Othello's service! let him command, For here's a young and sweating devil here,

And to obey shall be in me remorse, 5

What bloody work soever.

Oth.

I greet thy love,

Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance boun

[blocks in formation]

That commonly rebels. 'Tis a good hand,

A frank one.

[blocks in formation]

[Exeunt.

Oth. That which I gave you.

Des.

I have it not about me.

Enter Desdemona,

[blocks in formation]

That handkerchief

[blocks in formation]

Des. Do you know, sirrah, where lieutenant Cassio lies?

Clo. I dare not say, he lies any where.

Des. Why, man?

Clo. He is a soldier; and for me to say a soldier The thoughts of people: she told her, while she

[blocks in formation]

'Twould make her amiable, and subdue my father

Clo. To tell you where he lodges, is to tell you Entirely to her love; but if she lost it, where I lie.

Des. Can any thing be made of this?

Clo. I know not where he lodges; and for me to devise a lodging, and say-he lies here, or he lies there, were to lie in my own throat.

Des. Can you inquire him out, and be edified by report?

Clo. I will catechize the world for him; that is, make questions, and by them answer.

Des. Seek him, bid him come hither: tell him, I have moved my lord in his behalf, and hope, all will be well.

Clo. To do this, is within the compass of man's wit; and therefore I will attempt the doing doing it. it. [Ex.

Des. Where should I lose that handkerchief,

[blocks in formation]
« PrécédentContinuer »