48

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,
I should have found in some part of my soul
A drop of patience; but, alas! to make me
The fixed figure for the time of scorn
To point his slow and moving finger at;
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
Or else dries up; to be discarded thence!
Or keep it as a cistern for foul toads

To knot and gender in! Turn thy complexion there,
Patience, thou young and rose-lipp'd cherubin ;
Ay, there, look grim as hell!

52

56

60

DESDEMONA. I hope my noble lord esteems me honest.

OTHELLO. O! ay;

shambles,

64

as summer flies are in the

That quicken even with blowing. O thou weed!

Who art so lovely fair and smell'st so sweet.

That the sense aches at thee, would thou hadst ne'er been born.

DESDEMONA.

mitted

.68

Alas! what ignorant sin have I com

OTHELLO. Was this fair paper, this most goodly book,

Made to write 'whore' upon? What committed !
Committed! O thou public commoner!

I should make very forges of my cheeks,
That would to cinders burn up modesty,

Did I but speak thy deeds. What committed!
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,
And will not hear it.

Impudent strumpet !

DESDEMONA.

What committed !

By heaven, you do me wrong. OTHELLO. Are not you a strumpet ?

72

76

79

DESDEMONA.

No, as I am a Christian.

If to preserve this vessel for my lord
From any other foul unlawful touch
Be not to be a strumpet, I am none.
OTHELLO. What! not a whore ?

DESDEMONA.

OTHELLO. Is it possible?

DESDEMONA.

OTHELLO.

84

No, as I shall be sav'd.

O heaven forgive us.

I cry you mercy, then ;

88

I took you for that cunning whore of Venice
That married with Othello. You, mistress,
That have the office opposite to Saint Peter,
And keep the gate of hell!

Re-enter EMILIA.

You, you, ay, you!

We have done our course; there's money for your

pains.

I pray you, turn the key and keep our counsel.

92

[Exit.

EMILIA. Alas! what does this gentleman conceive? How do you, madam ? how do you, my good lady? DESDEMONA. Faith, half asleep.

96

EMILIA. Good madam, what 's the matter with my lord?

DESDEMONA. With who?

EMILIA. Why, with my lord, madam.

DESDEMONA.

EMILIA.

DESDEMONA.

Emilia ;

Who is thy lord?

He that is yours, sweet lady. do not talk to me,

I have none;

I cannot weep, nor answer have I none,
But what should go by water. Prithee, to-night
Lay on my bed my wedding sheets: remember:
And call thy husband hither.

EMILIA.

DESDEMONA. 'Tis meet I should be us'd so, very meet. How have I been behav'd, that he might stick The small'st opinion on my least misuse?

108

Re-enter EMILIA, with IAGO.

IAGO. What is your pleasure, madam? How is it

with you?

DESDEMONA.

young babes

I cannot tell. Those that do teach

Do it with gentle means and easy tasks;
He might have chid me so; for, in good faith,
I am a child to chiding.

IAGO.

112

What's the matter, lady? EMILIA. Alas! Iago, my lord hath so bewhor'd her, Thrown such despite and heavy terms upon her, 116 As true hearts cannot bear.

DESDEMONA. Am I that name, Iago?

IAGO.

What name, fair lady ? DESDEMONA. Such as she says my lord did say I was. EMILIA. He call'd her whore; a beggar in his drink Could not have laid such terms upon his callat.

AGO. Why did he so ?

121

DESDEMONA. I do not know; I am sure I am none such.

IAGO. Do not weep, do not weep. Alas the day! EMILIA. Has she forsook so many noble matches, Her father and her country and her friends, To be call'd whore ? would it not make one weep? DESDEMONA. It is my wretched fortune.

IAGO.

How comes this trick upon him?

DESDEMONA.

Beshrew him for it!

Nay, heaven doth know. EMILIA. I will be hang'd, if some eternal villain, Some busy and insinuating rogue,

132

Some cogging cozening slave, to get some office,
Have not deyis'd this slander; I'll be hang'd else.
IAGO. Fie! there is no such man; it is impossible.
DESDEMONA. If any such there be, heaven pardon
him!

EMILIA. A halter pardon him, and hell gnaw his bones!

136 Why should he call her whore ? who keeps her company?

What place? what time? what form? what likeli

hood?

The Moor's abus'd by some most villanous knave,
Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow.
O heaven! that such companions thou'dst unfold,
And put in every honest hand a whip
To lash the rascals naked through the world,
Even from the east to the west!

IAGO,

140

143

Speak within door. EMILIA. O! fie upon them. Some such squire he was 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.

DESDEMONA.

O good Iago,

What shall I do to win my lord again?

148

152

Good friend, go to him; for, by this light of heaven,
I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel:
If e'er my will did trespass 'gainst his love,
Either in discourse of thought or actual deed,
Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense,
Delighted them in any other form;
Or that I do not yet, and ever did,

56

And ever will, though he do shake me off

To beggarly divorcement, love him dearly,

Comfort forswear me ! Unkindness may do much ; And his unkindness may defeat my life,

But never taint my love. I cannot say whore':
It does abhor me now I speak the word;

To do the act that might the addition earn

160

164

Not the world's mass of vanity could make me.
IAGO. I pray you be content, 'tis but his humour;
The business of the state does him offence,

And he does chide with you.

DESDEMONA.

If 'twere no other,

167

[Trumpets.

IAGO. 'Tis but so, I warrant. Hark! how these instruments summon to supper; The messengers of Venice stay the meat:

Go in, and weep not; all things shall be well.

[Exeunt DESDEMONA and EMILIA.

Enter RODERIGO.

How now, Roderigo !

172

RODERIGO. I do not find that thou dealest justly with me.

IAGO. What in the contrary?

RODERIGO. Every day thou daffest me with some device, Iago; and rather, as it seems to me now, keepest from me all conveniency, than suppliest me with the least advantage of hope. I will indeed no longer endure it, nor am I yet persuaded to put up in peace what already I have foolishly suffered.

IAGO. Will you hear me, Roderigo ?

181

184

RODERIGO. Faith, I have heard too much, for your words and performances are no kin together. IAGO. You charge me most unjustly.

RODERIGO. With nought but truth. I have wasted myself out of my means. The jewels you have had from me to deliver to Desdemona would half have corrupted a votarist; you have told me she has received them, and returned me expectations and comforts of sudden respect and acquaintance, but I find none. IAGO. Well; go to; very well.

192

RODERIGO. Very well! go to! I cannot go to, man ; nor 'tis not very well: by this hand, I say, it is very scurvy, and begin to find myself fobbed in it.

IAGO. Very well.

196

RODERIGO. I tell you 'tis not very well. I will make myself 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.

IAGO. You have said now.

201

RODERIGO. Ay, and said nothing, but what I protest intendment of doing.

204

IAGO. Why, now I see there 's mettle in thee, and even from this instant do build on thee a better opinion than ever before. Give me thy hand, Roderigo; thou hast taken against me a most just exception; but yet, I protest, I have dealt most directly in thy affair.

209