Othello - Act 4 - Scene 1

SCENE I. Cyprus. Before the castle.

    Enter OTHELLO and IAGO

IAGO

    Will you think so?

OTHELLO

    Think so, Iago!

IAGO

    What,
    To kiss in private?

OTHELLO

    An unauthorized kiss.

IAGO

    Or to be naked with her friend in bed
    An hour or more, not meaning any harm?

OTHELLO

    Naked in bed, Iago, and not mean harm!
    It is hypocrisy against the devil:
    They that mean virtuously, and yet do so,
    The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt heaven.

IAGO

    So they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip:
    But if I give my wife a handkerchief,--

OTHELLO

    What then?

IAGO

    Why, then, 'tis hers, my lord; and, being hers,
    She may, I think, bestow't on any man.

OTHELLO

    She is protectress of her honour too:
    May she give that?

IAGO

    Her honour is an essence that's not seen;
    They have it very oft that have it not:
    But, for the handkerchief,--

OTHELLO

    By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it.
    Thou said'st, it comes o'er my memory,
    As doth the raven o'er the infected house,
    Boding to all--he had my handkerchief.

IAGO

    Ay, what of that?

OTHELLO

    That's not so good now.

IAGO

    What,
    If I had said I had seen him do you wrong?
    Or heard him say,--as knaves be such abroad,
    Who having, by their own importunate suit,
    Or voluntary dotage of some mistress,
    Convinced or supplied them, cannot choose
    But they must blab--

OTHELLO

    Hath he said any thing?

IAGO

    He hath, my lord; but be you well assured,
    No more than he'll unswear.

OTHELLO

    What hath he said?

IAGO

    'Faith, that he did--I know not what he did.

OTHELLO

    What? what?

IAGO

    Lie--

OTHELLO

    With her?

IAGO

    With her, on her; what you will.

OTHELLO

    Lie with her! lie on her! We say lie on her, when
    they belie her. Lie with her! that's fulsome.
    --Handkerchief--confessions--handkerchief!--To
    confess, and be hanged for his labour;--first, to be
    hanged, and then to confess.--I tremble at it.
    Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing
    passion without some instruction. It is not words
    that shake me thus. Pish! Noses, ears, and lips.
    --Is't possible?--Confess--handkerchief!--O devil!--

    Falls in a trance

IAGO

    Work on,
    My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught;
    And many worthy and chaste dames even thus,
    All guiltless, meet reproach. What, ho! my lord!
    My lord, I say! Othello!

    Enter CASSIO
    How now, Cassio!

CASSIO

    What's the matter?

IAGO

    My lord is fall'n into an epilepsy:
    This is his second fit; he had one yesterday.

CASSIO

    Rub him about the temples.

IAGO

    No, forbear;
    The lethargy must have his quiet course:
    If not, he foams at mouth and by and by
    Breaks out to savage madness. Look he stirs:
    Do you withdraw yourself a little while,
    He will recover straight: when he is gone,
    I would on great occasion speak with you.

    Exit CASSIO
    How is it, general? have you not hurt your head?

OTHELLO

    Dost thou mock me?

IAGO

    I mock you! no, by heaven.
    Would you would bear your fortune like a man!

OTHELLO

    A horned man's a monster and a beast.

IAGO

    There's many a beast then in a populous city,
    And many a civil monster.

OTHELLO

    Did he confess it?

IAGO

    Good sir, be a man;
    Think every bearded fellow that's but yoked
    May draw with you: there's millions now alive
    That nightly lie in those unproper beds
    Which they dare swear peculiar: your case is better.
    O, 'tis the spite of hell, the fiend's arch-mock,
    To lip a wanton in a secure couch,
    And to suppose her chaste! No, let me know;
    And knowing what I am, I know what she shall be.

OTHELLO

    O, thou art wise; 'tis certain.

IAGO

    Stand you awhile apart;
    Confine yourself but in a patient list.
    Whilst you were here o'erwhelmed with your grief--
    A passion most unsuiting such a man--
    Cassio came hither: I shifted him away,
    And laid good 'scuse upon your ecstasy,
    Bade him anon return and here speak with me;
    The which he promised. Do but encave yourself,
    And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorns,
    That dwell in every region of his face;
    For I will make him tell the tale anew,
    Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when
    He hath, and is again to cope your wife:
    I say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience;
    Or I shall say you are all in all in spleen,
    And nothing of a man.

OTHELLO

    Dost thou hear, Iago?
    I will be found most cunning in my patience;
    But--dost thou hear?--most bloody.

IAGO

    That's not amiss;
    But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw?

    OTHELLO retires
    Now will I question Cassio of Bianca,
    A housewife that by selling her desires
    Buys herself bread and clothes: it is a creature
    That dotes on Cassio; as 'tis the strumpet's plague
    To beguile many and be beguiled by one:
    He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain
    From the excess of laughter. Here he comes:

    Re-enter CASSIO
    As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad;
    And his unbookish jealousy must construe
    Poor Cassio's smiles, gestures and light behavior,
    Quite in the wrong. How do you now, lieutenant?

CASSIO

    The worser that you give me the addition
    Whose want even kills me.

IAGO

    Ply Desdemona well, and you are sure on't.

    Speaking lower
    Now, if this suit lay in Bianco's power,
    How quickly should you speed!

CASSIO

    Alas, poor caitiff!

OTHELLO

    Look, how he laughs already!

IAGO

    I never knew woman love man so.

CASSIO

    Alas, poor rogue! I think, i' faith, she loves me.

OTHELLO

    Now he denies it faintly, and laughs it out.

IAGO

    Do you hear, Cassio?

OTHELLO

    Now he importunes him
    To tell it o'er: go to; well said, well said.

IAGO

    She gives it out that you shall marry hey:
    Do you intend it?

CASSIO

    Ha, ha, ha!

OTHELLO

    Do you triumph, Roman? do you triumph?

CASSIO

    I marry her! what? a customer! Prithee, bear some
    charity to my wit: do not think it so unwholesome.
    Ha, ha, ha!

OTHELLO

    So, so, so, so: they laugh that win.

IAGO

    'Faith, the cry goes that you shall marry her.

CASSIO

    Prithee, say true.

IAGO

    I am a very villain else.

OTHELLO

    Have you scored me? Well.

CASSIO

    This is the monkey's own giving out: she is
    persuaded I will marry her, out of her own love and
    flattery, not out of my promise.

OTHELLO

    Iago beckons me; now he begins the story.

CASSIO

    She was here even now; she haunts me in every place.
    I was the other day talking on the sea-bank with
    certain Venetians; and thither comes the bauble,
    and, by this hand, she falls me thus about my neck--

OTHELLO

    Crying 'O dear Cassio!' as it were: his gesture
    imports it.

CASSIO

    So hangs, and lolls, and weeps upon me; so hales,
    and pulls me: ha, ha, ha!

OTHELLO

    Now he tells how she plucked him to my chamber. O,
    I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I shall
    throw it to.

CASSIO

    Well, I must leave her company.

IAGO

    Before me! look, where she comes.

CASSIO

    'Tis such another fitchew! marry a perfumed one.

    Enter BIANCA
    What do you mean by this haunting of me?

BIANCA

    Let the devil and his dam haunt you! What did you
    mean by that same handkerchief you gave me even now?
    I was a fine fool to take it. I must take out the
    work?--A likely piece of work, that you should find
    it in your chamber, and not know who left it there!
    This is some minx's token, and I must take out the
    work? There; give it your hobby-horse: wheresoever
    you had it, I'll take out no work on't.

CASSIO

    How now, my sweet Bianca! how now! how now!

OTHELLO

    By heaven, that should be my handkerchief!

BIANCA

    An you'll come to supper to-night, you may; an you
    will not, come when you are next prepared for.

    Exit

IAGO

    After her, after her.

CASSIO

    'Faith, I must; she'll rail in the street else.

IAGO

    Will you sup there?

CASSIO

    'Faith, I intend so.

IAGO

    Well, I may chance to see you; for I would very fain
    speak with you.

CASSIO

    Prithee, come; will you?

IAGO

    Go to; say no more.

    Exit CASSIO

OTHELLO

    [Advancing] How shall I murder him, Iago?

IAGO

    Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice?

OTHELLO

    O Iago!

IAGO

    And did you see the handkerchief?

OTHELLO

    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.

OTHELLO

    I would have him nine years a-killing.
    A fine woman! a fair woman! a sweet woman!

IAGO

    Nay, you must forget that.

OTHELLO

    Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damned to-night;
    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.

OTHELLO

    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.

OTHELLO

    O, a thousand thousand times: and then, of so
    gentle a condition!

IAGO

    Ay, too gentle.

OTHELLO

    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.

OTHELLO

    I will chop her into messes: cuckold me!

IAGO

    O, 'tis foul in her.

OTHELLO

    With mine officer!

IAGO

    That's fouler.

OTHELLO

    Get me some poison, Iago; this night: I'll 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.

OTHELLO

    Good, good: the justice of it pleases: very good.

IAGO

    And for Cassio, let me be his undertaker: you
    shall hear more by midnight.

OTHELLO

    Excellent good.

    A trumpet within
    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

LODOVICO

    Save you, worthy general!

OTHELLO

    With all my heart, sir.

LODOVICO

    The duke and senators of Venice greet you.

    Gives him a letter

OTHELLO

    I kiss the instrument of their pleasures.

    Opens the letter, and reads

DESDEMONA

    And what's the news, good cousin Lodovico?

IAGO

    I am very glad to see you, signior
    Welcome to Cyprus.

LODOVICO

    I thank you. How does Lieutenant Cassio?

IAGO

    Lives, sir.

DESDEMONA

    Cousin, there's fall'n between him and my lord
    An unkind breach: but you shall make all well.

OTHELLO

    Are you sure of that?

DESDEMONA

    My lord?

OTHELLO

    [Reads] 'This fail you not to do, as you will--'

LODOVICO

    He did not call; he's busy in the paper.
    Is there division 'twixt my lord and Cassio?

DESDEMONA

    A most unhappy one: I would do much
    To atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio.

OTHELLO

    Fire and brimstone!

DESDEMONA

    My lord?

OTHELLO

    Are you wise?

DESDEMONA

    What, is he angry?

LODOVICO

    May be the letter moved him;
    For, as I think, they do command him home,
    Deputing Cassio in his government.

DESDEMONA

    Trust me, I am glad on't.

OTHELLO

    Indeed!

DESDEMONA

    My lord?

OTHELLO

    I am glad to see you mad.

DESDEMONA

    Why, sweet Othello,--

OTHELLO

    [Striking her] Devil!

DESDEMONA

    I have not deserved this.

LODOVICO

    My lord, this would not be believed in Venice,
    Though I should swear I saw't: 'tis very much:
    Make her amends; she weeps.

OTHELLO

    O devil, devil!
    If that the earth could teem with woman's tears,
    Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile.
    Out of my sight!

DESDEMONA

    I will not stay to offend you.

    Going

LODOVICO

    Truly, an obedient lady:
    I do beseech your lordship, call her back.

OTHELLO

    Mistress!

DESDEMONA

    My lord?

OTHELLO

    What would you with her, sir?

LODOVICO

    Who, I, my lord?

OTHELLO

    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,
    Very obedient. Proceed you in your tears.
    Concerning this, sir,--O well-painted passion!--
    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, tonight,
    I do entreat that we may sup together:
    You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus.--Goats and monkeys!

    Exit

LODOVICO

    Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate
    Call all in all sufficient? Is this the 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 changed.

LODOVICO

    Are his wits safe? is he not light of brain?

IAGO

    He's 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!

LODOVICO

    What, strike his wife!

IAGO

    'Faith, that was not so well; yet would I knew
    That stroke would prove the worst!

LODOVICO

    Is it his use?
    Or did the letters work upon his blood,
    And new-create this fault?

IAGO

    Alas, alas!
    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.

LODOVICO

    I am sorry that I am deceived in him.

    Exeunt

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