Othello
Please see the bottom of this page for full explanatory notes.
ACT IV SCENE II A room in the castle.
Enter OTHELLO and EMILIA.
OTHELLO You have seen nothing then?
EMILIA Nor ever heard, nor ever did suspect.
OTHELLO Yes, you have seen Cassio and she together.
EMILIA But then I saw no harm, and then I heard 5
Each syllable that breath made up between them.
OTHELLO What, did they never whisper?
EMILIA Never, my lord.
OTHELLO Nor send you out o' the way?
EMILIA Never. 10
OTHELLO To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor nothing?
EMILIA Never, my lord.
OTHELLO That's strange.
EMILIA I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest,
Lay down my soul at stake: if you think other, 15
Remove your thought; it doth abuse your bosom.
If any wretch have put this in your head,
Let heaven requite it with the serpent's curse!
For, if she be not honest, chaste, and true,
There's no man happy; the purest of their wives 20
Is foul as slander.
OTHELLO Bid her come hither: go.
Exit EMILIA.
She says enough; yet she's a simple bawd
That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore,
A closet lock and key of villanous secrets 25
And yet she'll kneel and pray; I have seen her do't.
Enter DESDEMONA with EMILIA.
DESDEMONA My lord, what is your will?
OTHELLO Pray, chuck, come hither.
DESDEMONA What is your pleasure?
OTHELLO Let me see your eyes; 30
Look in my face.
DESDEMONA What horrible fancy's this?
OTHELLO To EMILIA.
Leave procreants alone and shut the door;
Cough, or cry 'hem,' if any body come:
Your mystery, your mystery: nay, dispatch. 35
Exit EMILIA.
DESDEMONA Upon my knees, what doth your speech import?
I understand a fury in your words.
But not the words.
OTHELLO Why, what art thou?
DESDEMONA Your wife, my lord; your true 40
And loyal wife.
OTHELLO Come, swear it, damn thyself
Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves
Should fear to seize thee: therefore be double damn'd:
Swear thou art honest. 45
DESDEMONA Heaven doth truly know it.
OTHELLO Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell.
DESDEMONA To whom, my lord? with whom? how am I false?
OTHELLO O Desdemona! away! away! away!
DESDEMONA Alas the heavy day! Why do you weep? 50
Am I the motive of these tears, my lord?
If haply you my father do suspect
An instrument of this your calling back,
Lay not your blame on me: If you have lost him,
Why, I have lost him too. 55
OTHELLO Had it pleased heaven
To try me with affliction; had they rain'd
All kinds of sores and shames on my bare head.
Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips,
Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes, 60
I should have found in some place of my soul
A drop of patience: but, alas, to make me
Please see the bottom of this page for full explanatory notes.
ACT IV SCENE II A room in the castle.
Enter OTHELLO and EMILIA.
OTHELLO You have seen nothing then?
EMILIA Nor ever heard, nor ever did suspect.
OTHELLO Yes, you have seen Cassio and she together.
EMILIA But then I saw no harm, and then I heard 5
Each syllable that breath made up between them.
OTHELLO What, did they never whisper?
EMILIA Never, my lord.
OTHELLO Nor send you out o' the way?
EMILIA Never. 10
OTHELLO To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor nothing?
EMILIA Never, my lord.
OTHELLO That's strange.
EMILIA I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest,
Lay down my soul at stake: if you think other, 15
Remove your thought; it doth abuse your bosom.
If any wretch have put this in your head,
Let heaven requite it with the serpent's curse!
For, if she be not honest, chaste, and true,
There's no man happy; the purest of their wives 20
Is foul as slander.
OTHELLO Bid her come hither: go.
Exit EMILIA.
She says enough; yet she's a simple bawd
That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore,
A closet lock and key of villanous secrets 25
And yet she'll kneel and pray; I have seen her do't.
Enter DESDEMONA with EMILIA.
DESDEMONA My lord, what is your will?
OTHELLO Pray, chuck, come hither.
DESDEMONA What is your pleasure?
OTHELLO Let me see your eyes; 30
Look in my face.
DESDEMONA What horrible fancy's this?
OTHELLO To EMILIA.
Leave procreants alone and shut the door;
Cough, or cry 'hem,' if any body come:
Your mystery, your mystery: nay, dispatch. 35
Exit EMILIA.
DESDEMONA Upon my knees, what doth your speech import?
I understand a fury in your words.
But not the words.
OTHELLO Why, what art thou?
DESDEMONA Your wife, my lord; your true 40
And loyal wife.
OTHELLO Come, swear it, damn thyself
Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves
Should fear to seize thee: therefore be double damn'd:
Swear thou art honest. 45
DESDEMONA Heaven doth truly know it.
OTHELLO Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell.
DESDEMONA To whom, my lord? with whom? how am I false?
OTHELLO O Desdemona! away! away! away!
DESDEMONA Alas the heavy day! Why do you weep? 50
Am I the motive of these tears, my lord?
If haply you my father do suspect
An instrument of this your calling back,
Lay not your blame on me: If you have lost him,
Why, I have lost him too. 55
OTHELLO Had it pleased heaven
To try me with affliction; had they rain'd
All kinds of sores and shames on my bare head.
Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips,
Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes, 60
I should have found in some place of my soul
A drop of patience: but, alas, to make me
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