Act 4 — Scene II. A room in the castle.[6389]

Oth. You have seen nothing, then?[6390][6391] Emil. Nor ever heard, nor ever did suspect.[6390] Oth. Yes, you have seen Cassio and she together.[6390][6392] Emil. But then I saw no harm, and then I heard Each syllable that breath made up between them.[6393] 5 Oth. What, did they never whisper? Emil. Never, my lord. Oth. Nor send you out o' the way?[6394] Emil. Never.[6395] Oth. To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor nothing?[6396] Emil. Never, my lord. 10 Oth. That's strange. Emil. I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest, Lay down my soul at stake: if you think other, Remove your thought; it doth abuse your bosom. If any wretch have put this in your head,[6397] 15 Let heaven requite it with the serpent's curse![6398] For if she be not honest, chaste and true, There's no man happy; the purest of their wives[6399] Is foul as slander. Oth. Bid her come hither: go. [Exit Emilia.[6400] She says enough: yet she's a simple bawd 20 That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore,[6401] A closet lock and key of villanous secrets:[6402] And yet she'll kneel and pray; I have seen her do't.

Des. My lord, what is your will? Oth. Pray, chuck, come hither.[6404] Des. What is your pleasure? Oth. Let me see your eyes;[6405] 25 Look in my face.[6405] Des. What horrible fancy's this? Oth. [To Emilia] Some of your function, mistress;[6406] Leave procreants alone and shut the door; Cough, or cry hem, if any body come: Your mystery, your mystery: nay, dispatch. [Exit Emilia.[6407]30 Des. Upon my knees, what doth your speech import?[6408] I understand a fury in your words, But not the words.[6409][6410] Oth. Why, what art thou?[6410] Des. Your wife, my lord; your true and loyal wife.[6410] 35 Oth. Come, swear it, damn thyself;[6410][6411] Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves[6411][6412] Should fear to seize thee: therefore be double-damn'd;[6411][6413] Swear thou art honest.[6411] Des. Heaven doth truly know it. Oth. Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell.[6414] 40 Des. To whom, my lord? with whom? how am I false?[6415] Oth. O Desdemona! Away! away! away![6416] Des. Alas the heavy day! Why do you weep?[6417] Am I the motive of these tears, my lord?[6418] If haply you my father do suspect[6419] 45 An instrument of this your calling back, Lay not your blame on me: if you have lost him,[6420][6421] Why, I have lost him too.[6421] Oth. Had it pleased heaven[6422] To try me with affliction; had they rain'd[6423] All kinds of sores and shames on my bare head,[6424] 50 Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips, Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes,[6425] I should have found in some place of my soul[6426] A drop of patience: but, alas, to make me[6427] A fixed figure for the time of scorn[6428] 55 To point his slow unmoving finger at![6428] Yet could I bear that too; well, very well: But there, where I have garner'd up my heart, Where either I must live or bear no life, The fountain from the which my current runs,[6429] 60 Or else dries up; to be discarded thence! Or keep it as a cistern for foul toads[6430] To knot and gender in! Turn thy complexion there,[6431][6432] Patience, thou young and rose-lipp'd cherubin,[6431][6433] Ay, there, look grim as hell![6431][6434] 65 Des. I hope my noble lord esteems me honest.[6435] Oth. O, ay; as summer flies are in the shambles,[6436] That quicken even with blowing. O thou weed,[6437][6438] Who art so lovely fair and smell'st so sweet[6437][6439] That the sense aches at thee, would thou hadst ne'er been born![6437][6440] 70 Des. Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed? Oth. Was this fair paper, this most goodly book, Made to write 'whore' upon? What committed![6441] Committed! O thou public commoner![6442] I should make very forges of my cheeks,[6442][6443] 75 That would to cinders burn up modesty,[6442] Did I but speak thy deeds. What committed![6442][6444] Heaven stops the nose at it, and the moon winks; The bawdy wind, that kisses all it meets, Is hush'd within the hollow mine of earth,[6445] 80 And will not hear it. What committed![6446] Impudent strumpet![6447] Des. By heaven, you do me wrong. Oth. Are not you a strumpet? Des. No, as I am a Christian: If to preserve this vessel for my lord From any other foul unlawful touch[6448] 85 Be not to be a strumpet, I am none. Oth. What, not a whore? Des. No, as I shall be saved. Oth. Is't possible? Des. O, heaven forgive us! Oth. I cry you mercy then:[6449] I took you for that cunning whore of Venice 90 That married with Othello. [Raising his voice] You, mistress,[6450] That have the office opposite to Saint Peter, And keep the gate of hell!

You, you, ay, you![6451] We have done our course; there's money for your pains:[6452] I pray you, turn the key, and keep our counsel. [Exit. 95 Emil. Alas, what does this gentleman conceive? How do you, madam? how do you, my good lady? Des. Faith, half asleep. Emil. Good madam, what's the matter with my lord?[6453] Des. With who?[6454] 100 Emil. Why, with my lord, madam.[6455] Des. Who is thy lord? Emil. He that is yours, sweet lady.[6456] Des. I have none: do not talk to me, Emilia;[6457] I cannot weep, nor answer have I none[6458] But what should go by water. Prithee, to-night[6459] 105 Lay on my bed my wedding sheets: remember;[6460] And call thy husband hither. Emil. Here's a change indeed! [Exit.[6461] Des. 'Tis meet I should be used so, very meet.[6462] How have I been behaved, that he might stick The small'st opinion on my least misuse? 110

Iago. What is your pleasure, madam? How is't with you?[6464] Des. I cannot tell. Those that do teach young babes[6465] Do it with gentle means and easy tasks: He might have chid me so; for, in good faith,[6466] I am a child to chiding. Iago. What's the matter, lady?[6467] 115 Emil. Alas, Iago, my lord hath so bewhored her, Thrown such despite and heavy terms upon her, As true hearts cannot bear.[6468] Des. Am I that name, Iago? Iago. What name, fair lady? Des. Such as she says my lord did say I was.[6469] 120 Emil. He call'd her whore: a beggar in his drink Could not have laid such terms upon his callat.[6470] Iago. Why did he so? Des. I do not know; I am sure I am none such.[6471] Iago. Do not weep, do not weep. Alas the day! 125 Emil. Hath she forsook so many noble matches,[6472] Her father and her country and her friends,[6473] To be call'd whore? would it not make one weep? Des. It is my wretched fortune. Iago. Beshrew him for't![6474][6475] How comes this trick upon him?[6474] Des. Nay, heaven doth know. 130 Emil. I will be hang'd, if some eternal villain, Some busy and insinuating rogue, Some cogging, cozening slave, to get some office, Have not devised this slander; I'll be hang'd else.[6476] Iago. Fie, there is no such man; it is impossible. 135 Des. If any such there be, heaven pardon him![6477] Emil. A halter pardon him! and hell gnaw his bones![6478] Why should he call her whore? who keeps her company?[6478] What place? what time? what form? what likelihood?[6478] The Moor's abused by some most villanous knave,[6479] 140 Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow. O heaven, that such companions thou'ldst unfold,[6480] And put in every honest hand a whip To lash the rascals naked through the world[6481] Even from the east to the west! Iago. Speak within door.[6482] 145 Emil. O, fie upon them! Some such squire he was[6483] That turn'd your wit the seamy side without, And made you to suspect me with the Moor. Iago. You are a fool; go to. Des. O good Iago,[6484] What shall I do to win my lord again? 150 Good friend, go to him; for, by this light of heaven,[6485] I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel:[6486][6487] If e'er my will did trespass 'gainst his love[6487] Either in discourse of thought or actual deed,[6487][6488] Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense,[6487] 155 Delighted them in any other form,[6487][6489] Or that I do not yet, and ever did,[6487] And ever will, though he do shake me off[6487] To beggarly divorcement, love him dearly,[6487] Comfort forswear me! Unkindness may do much;[6487][6490] 160 And his unkindness may defeat my life,[6487] But never taint my love. I cannot say 'whore':[6487][6491] It doth abhor me now I speak the word;[6487][6492] To do the act that might the addition earn[6487] Not the world's mass of vanity could make me.[6487] 165 Iago. I pray you, be content; 'tis but his humour: The business of the state does him offence, And he does chide with you.[6493] Des. If 'twere no other,— Iago. 'Tis but so, I warrant. [Trumpets within.[6494] Hark, how these instruments summon to supper![6495] 170 The messengers of Venice stay the meat:[6496] Go in, and weep not; all things shall be well.

How now, Roderigo![6498] Rod. I do not find that thou dealest justly with me.[6499] Iago. What in the contrary? 175 Rod. Every day thou daffest me with some device,[6500][6501] Iago; and rather, as it seems to me now, keepest from me[6502][6501] all conveniency than suppliest me with the least advantage[6501][6503][6504] of hope. I will indeed no longer endure it; nor am I yet[6501][6504] persuaded to put up in peace what already I have foolishly[6501] 180 suffered.[6501] Iago. Will you hear me, Roderigo? Rod. Faith, I have heard too much; for your words[6505][6506] and performances are no kin together.[6506][6507] Iago. You charge me most unjustly. 185 Rod. With nought but truth. I have wasted myself[6508] out of my means. The jewels you have had from me to[6509] deliver to Desdemona would half have corrupted a votarist:[6510] you have told me she hath received them and returned[6511] me expectations and comforts of sudden respect[6512] 190 and acquaintance; but I find none.[6513] Iago. Well; go to; very well.[6514] Rod. Very well! go to! I cannot go to, man; nor 'tis[6515] not very well: by this hand, I say 'tis very scurvy, and[6516] begin to find myself fopped in it.[6517] 195 Iago. Very well. Rod. I tell you 'tis not very well. I will make myself[6518] known to Desdemona: if she will return me my jewels, I will give over my suit and repent my unlawful solicitation; if not, assure yourself I will seek satisfaction of you.[6519] 200 Iago. You have said now.[6520] Rod. Ay, and said nothing but what I protest intendment[6521][6522] of doing.[6522] Iago. Why, now I see there's mettle in thee; and even from this instant do build on thee a better opinion than[6523] 205 ever before. Give me thy hand, Roderigo: thou hast taken against me a most just exception; but yet, I protest, I[6524] have dealt most directly in thy affair.[6525] Rod. It hath not appeared. Iago. I grant indeed it hath not appeared, and your 210 suspicion is not without wit and judgement. But, Roderigo, if thou hast that in thee indeed, which I have greater reason[6526] to believe now than ever, I mean purpose, courage and valour, this night show it: if thou the next night following enjoy not Desdemona, take me from this world[6527] 215 with treachery and devise engines for my life. Rod. Well, what is it? is it within reason and compass?[6528] Iago. Sir, there is especial commission come from[6529][6530] Venice to depute Cassio in Othello's place.[6530] Rod. Is that true? why then Othello and Desdemona[6530] 220 return again to Venice.[6530] Iago. O, no; he goes into Mauritania, and takes away[6530][6531] with him the fair Desdemona, unless his abode be lingered[6530] here by some accident: wherein none can be so determinate[6530][6532] as the removing of Cassio.[6530] 225 Rod. How do you mean, removing of him?[6530][6533] Iago. Why, by making him uncapable of Othello's[6530][6534] place; knocking out his brains.[6530] Rod. And that you would have me to do?[6535] Iago. Ay, if you dare do yourself a profit and a right.[6536] 230 He sups to-night with a harlotry, and thither will I go to him:[6537] he knows not yet of his honourable fortune. If you will watch his going thence, which I will fashion to fall out between twelve and one, you may take him at your pleasure: I will be near to second your attempt, and he shall fall between 235 us. Come, stand not amazed at it, but go along with me; I will show you such a necessity in his death that you shall think yourself bound to put it on him. It is now high[6538] supper-time, and the night grows to waste: about it.[6539] Rod. I will hear further reason for this. 240 Iago. And you shall be satisfied. [Exeunt.[6540]