The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare (moboreader .TXT) 📕

It were not for your quiet nor your good, Nor for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom, To let you know my thoughts.

OTHELLO. What dost thou mean?

IAGO. Good name in man and woman, dear my lord, 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.

OTHELLO. By heaven, I’ll know thy thoughts.

IAGO. You cannot, if my heart were in your hand; Nor shall not, whilst ‘tis in my custody.

OTHELLO. Ha!

IAGO. O, beware, my lord, of jealousy!

It is the green-eyed 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!

OTHELLO. O misery!

IAGO. Poor and content is rich, and rich enough; But riches fineless is as poor as winter To him that ever fears he shall be poor.

Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend From jealousy!

OTHELLO. Why, why is this?

Think’st thou I’ld make a life of jealousy, To follow still the changes of the moon With fresh suspicions? No! To be once in doubt Is once to be resolved. Exchange me for a goat When I shall turn the business of my soul To such exsufflicate and blown surmises, Matching thy inference. ‘Tis not to make me 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, Iago, I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; And on the proof, there is no more but this-Away at once with love or jealousy!

IAGO. I am glad of it, for now I shall have reason To show the love and duty that I bear you With franker spirit. Therefore, as I am bound, Receive it from me. I speak not yet of proof.

Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio; Wear your eye thus, not jealous nor secure.

I would not have your free and noble nature Out of self-bounty be abused. Look to’t.

I know our country disposition well;

In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks They dare not show their husbands; their best conscience Is not to leave’t undone, but keep’t unknown.

OTHELLO. Dost thou say so?

IAGO. She did deceive her father, marrying you; And when she seem’d to shake and fear your looks, She loved them most.

OTHELLO. And so she did.

IAGO. Why, go to then.

She that so young could give out such a seeming, To seel her father’s eyes up close as oak-He thought ‘twas witchcraft-but I am much to blame; I humbly do beseech you of your pardon For too much loving you.

OTHELLO. I am bound to thee forever.

IAGO. I see this hath a little dash’d your spirits.

OTHELLO. Not a jot, not a jot.

IAGO. I’faith, I fear it has.

I hope you will consider what is spoke Comes from my love. But I do see you’re moved; I am to pray you not to strain my speech To grosser issues nor to larger reach Than to suspicion.

OTHELLO. I will not.

IAGO. Should you do so, my lord, My speech should fall into such vile success Which my thoughts aim not at. Cassio’s my worthy friend-My lord, I see you’re moved.

OTHELLO. No, not much moved.

I do not think but Desdemona’s honest.

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

OTHELLO. And yet, how nature erring from itself-IAGO. 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 judgement, May fall to match you with her country forms, And happily repent.

OTHELLO. Farewell, farewell.

If more thou dost perceive, let me know more; Set on thy wife to observe. Leave me, Iago.

IAGO. [Going.] My lord, I take my leave.

OTHELLO. Why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.

IAGO. [Returning.] My lord, I would I might entreat your honor To scan this thing no further; leave it to time.

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 awhile, You shall by that perceive him and his means.

Note if your lady strain his entertainment With any strong or vehement importunity; Much will be seen in that. In the meantime, Let me be thought too busy in my fears-As worthy cause I have to fear I amAnd hold her free, I do beseech your honor.

OTHELLO. Fear not my government.

IAGO. I once more take my leave. Exit.

OTHELLO. This fellow’s of exceeding honesty, And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit, Of human dealings. If I do prove her haggard, Though that her jesses were my dear heartstrings, I’ld 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 declined Into the vale of years-yet that’s not much-She’s gone. I am abused, and my relief Must be to loathe 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 vapor of a dungeon, Than keep a corner in the thing I love For others’ uses. Yet, ‘tis the plague of great ones: Prerogatived 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:

Re-enter Desdemona and Emilia.

If she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself!

I’ll not believe’t.

DESDEMONA. How now, my dear Othello!

Your dinner, and the generous islanders By you invited, do attend your presence.

OTHELLO. I am to blame.

DESDEMONA. Why do you speak so faintly?

Are you not well?

OTHELLO. I have a pain upon my forehead here.

DESDEMONA. Faith, that’s with watching; ‘twill away again.

Let me but bind it hard, within this hour It will be well.

OTHELLO. Your napkin is too little; He puts the handkerchief from him, and she drops it.

Let it alone. Come, I’ll go in with you.

DESDEMONA. I am very sorry that you are not well.

Exeunt Othello and Desdemona.

EMILIA. 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 conjured 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’t Iago. What he will do with it Heaven knows, not I;

I nothing but to please his fantasy.

Re-enter Iago.

IAGO. How now, what do you here alone?

EMILIA. Do not you chide; I have a thing for you.

IAGO. A thing for me? It is a common thing-EMILIA. Ha!

IAGO. To have a foolish wife.

EMILIA. O, is that all? What will you give me now For that same handkerchief?

IAGO. What handkerchief?

EMILIA. What handkerchief?

Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona, That which so often you did bid me steal.

IAGO. Hast stol’n it from her?

EMILIA. No, faith; she let it drop by negligence, And, to the advantage, I being here took’t up.

Look, here it is.

IAGO. A good wench; give it me.

EMILIA. What will you do with’t, that you have been so earnest To have me filch it?

IAGO. [Snatching it.] Why, what is that to you?

EMILIA. If’t be not for some purpose of import, Give’t me again. Poor lady, she’ll run mad When she shall lack it.

IAGO. Be not acknown on’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 As proofs of holy writ; this may do something.

The Moor already changes with my poison: Dangerous conceits are in their natures poisons, Which at the first are scarce found to distaste, But with a little act upon the blood

Burn like the mines of sulphur. I did say so.

Look, where he comes!

Re-enter Othello.

Not poppy, nor mandragora, Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world, Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep Which thou owedst yesterday.

OTHELLO. Ha, ha, false to me?

IAGO. Why, how now, general! No more of that.

OTHELLO. Avaunt! be gone! Thou hast set me on the rack.

I swear ‘tis better to be much abused Than but to know’t a little.

IAGO. How now, my lord?

OTHELLO. What sense had I of her stol’n hours of lust?

I saw’t not, thought it not, it harm’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 stol’n, Let him not know’t and he’s not robb’d at all.

IAGO. I am sorry to hear this.

OTHELLO. I had been happy if the general camp, Pioners and all, had tasted her sweet body, So I had nothing known. O, now forever 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 clamors counterfeit, Farewell! Othello’s occupation’s gone!

IAGO. Is’t possible, my lord?

OTHELLO. Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore; Be sure of it. Give me the ocular proof; Or, by the worth of man’s eternal soul, Thou hadst been better have been born a dog Than answer my waked wrath!

IAGO. Is’t come to this?

OTHELLO. Make me to see’t; or at the least so prove it, That the probation bear no hinge nor loop To hang a doubt on; or woe upon thy life!

IAGO. My noble lord—

OTHELLO. If thou dost slander her and torture me, Never pray more; abandon all remorse; On horror’s head horrors accumulate;

Do deeds to make heaven weep, all earth amazed; 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 livest 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 sith love breeds such offense.

OTHELLO. Nay, stay; thou shouldst be honest.

IAGO. I should be wise; for honesty’s a fool, And loses that it works for.

OTHELLO. By the world, I think my wife be honest,