Othello: Act 4, Scene 2
Enter OTHELLO and EMILIA.
OTHELLO
1
You have seen nothing then?
EMILIA
2
Nor ever heard, nor ever did suspect.
OTHELLO
3
Yes, you have seen Cassio and she together.
EMILIA
4
But then I saw no harm, and then I heard
5
Each syllable that breath made up between them.
OTHELLO
6
What, did they never whisper?
"To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor nothing?"
Anna Patrick as Emilia; Laurence Fishburne as Othello
1995 film
EMILIA
Never, my lord.
OTHELLO
7
Nor send you out o' the way?
EMILIA
8
Never.
OTHELLO
9
To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor nothing?
EMILIA
10
Never, my lord.
OTHELLO
11
That's strange.
EMILIA
12
I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest,
13
Lay down my soul at stake: if you think other,
14
Remove your thought; it doth abuse your bosom.
15
If any wretch have put this in your head,
16
Let heaven requite it with the serpent's curse!
16. requite it: repay it; i.e., punish it. the serpent's curse: The curse laid by God on the serpent that tempted Eve.
17
For, if she be not honest, chaste, and true,
18
There's no man happy; the purest of their wives
19
Is foul as slander.
OTHELLO
Bid her come hither: go.
Exit Emilia.
20
She says enough; yet she's a simple bawd
21
That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore,
20-21. yet she's . . . much: i.e., it's a stupid bawd who can't say the kind of things that Emilia has just said.
22
A closet lock and key of villainous secrets
22. closet: place where private papers could be locked up.
23
And yet she'll kneel and pray; I have seen her do't.
Enter DESDEMONA and EMILIA.
DESDEMONA
24
My lord, what is your will?
OTHELLO
Pray you, chuck, come hither.
24. chuck: a term of endearment.
DESDEMONA
25
What is your pleasure?
OTHELLO
Let me see your eyes;
26
Look in my face.
DESDEMONA
26
What horrible fancy's this?
26. fancy: hallucination.
OTHELLO [To Emilia.]
27
Some of your function, mistress;
27. Some of your function: go about your bawd's business [of standing watch outside the door].
28
Leave procreants alone and shut the door;
28. procreants: mating couples.
29
Cough, or cry "hem," if anybody come:
30
Your mystery, your mystery: nay, dispatch.
30. mystery: profession; occupation.
Exit Emilia.
Othello and Desdemona
by
Giuseppe Sabatelli
DESDEMONA
31
Upon my knees, what doth your speech import?
32
I understand a fury in your words.
33
But not the words.
OTHELLO
34
Why? What art thou?
DESDEMONA
Your wife, my lord; your true
35
And loyal wife.
OTHELLO
Come, swear it, damn thyself
36
Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves
36. being like one of heaven: looking like an angel.
37
Should fear to seize thee: therefore be double damn'd:
38
Swear thou art honest.
DESDEMONA
39
Heaven doth truly know it.
OTHELLO
Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell.
DESDEMONA
40
To whom, my lord? with whom? how am I false?
OTHELLO
41
Ah Desdemon! Away! away! away!
DESDEMONA
42
Alas the heavy day! Why do you weep?
43
Am I the motive of these tears, my lord?
43. motive: moving force, cause.
44
If haply you my father do suspect
45
An instrument of this your calling back,
46
Lay not your blame on me: If you have lost him,
47
Why, I have lost him too.
OTHELLO
Had it pleased heaven
48
To try me with affliction; had they rain'd
48. they: i.e., the gods; heavenly powers.
49
All kinds of sores and shames on my bare head.
50
Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips,
51
Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes,
52
I should have found in some place of my soul
53
A drop of patience: but, alas, to make me
54
A fixed figure for the time of scorn
55
To point his slow unmoving finger at!
54-55. A fixed figure for the time of scorn / To point his slow unmoving finger at: i.e., a sitting duck anytime someone wants a target for scorn.
56
Yet could I bear that too; well, very well:
57
But there, where I have garner'd up my heart,
58
Where either I must live, or bear no life;
59
The fountain from the which my current runs,
59. fountain: source, spring.
60
Or else dries up; to be discarded thence!
61
Or keep it as a cistern for foul toads
62
To knot and gender in! Turn thy complexion there,
62. knot: i.e., couple. gender: engender. Turn: change. there: at that point, when that happens.
63
Patience, thou young and rose-lipp'd cherubin,
64
Ay, there, look grim as hell!
63-64. Patience . . . hell: i.e., even Patience, that rose-lipped cherub, will look grim and pale at this spectacle.
DESDEMONA
65
I hope my noble lord esteems me honest.
65. esteems me honest: believes me to be faithful.
OTHELLO
66
O, ay; as summer flies are in the shambles,
66. O, ay: Othello is being extremely sarcastic. shambles: slaughterhouse.
67
That quicken even with blowing. O thou weed,
67. quicken even with blowing: i.e., come to life in an instant.
68
Who art so lovely fair and smell'st so sweet
69
That the sense aches at thee, would thou hadst
ne'er been born!
DESDEMONA
70
Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed?
OTHELLO
71
Was this fair paper, this most goodly book,
72
Made to write "whore" upon? What committed?
72. committed? Othello is outraged at Desdemona's idea that she has only committed a single mistake in ignorance.
73
Committed? O thou public commoner!
73. commoner: prostitute.
74
I should make very forges of my cheeks,
75
That would to cinders burn up modesty,
76
Did I but speak thy deeds. What committed!
77
Heaven stops the nose at it and the moon winks,
77. winks: shuts her eyes [in disgust].
78
The bawdy wind that kisses all it meets
79
Is hush'd within the hollow mine of earth,
80
And will not hear it. What committed?
81
Impudent strumpet!
81. Impudent: shameless.
DESDEMONA
By heaven, you do me wrong.
OTHELLO
82
Are you not a strumpet?
DESDEMONA
No, as I am a Christian:
83
If to preserve this vessel for my lord
83. vessel: i.e., body.
84
From any other foul unlawful touch
85
Be not to be a strumpet, I am none.
OTHELLO
86
What, not a whore?
DESDEMONA
No, as I shall be saved.
OTHELLO
87
Is't possible?
DESDEMONA
88
O, heaven forgive us!
OTHELLO
I cry you mercy, then:
88. cry you mercy: beg your pardon.
89
I took you for that cunning whore of Venice
90
That married with Othello.
[Calling out to Emilia.]
You, mistress,
Enter EMILIA.
91
That have the office opposite to Saint Peter,
92
And keeps the gate of hell! You, you, ay, you!
93
We have done our course; there's money for your pains:
93. done our course: i.e., had sex.
94
I pray you, turn the key and keep our counsel.
94. keep our counsel: keep our secrets.
Exit.
EMILIA
95
Alas, what does this gentleman conceive?
96
How do you, madam? how do you, my good lady?
DESDEMONA
97
'Faith, half asleep.
97. half asleep: i.e., dazed.
EMILIA
98
Good madam, what's the matter with my lord?
DESDEMONA
99
With who?
EMILIA
100
Why, with my lord, madam.
DESDEMONA
101
Who is thy lord?
EMILIA
He that is yours, sweet lady.
DESDEMONA
102
I have none: do not talk to me, Emilia;
103
I cannot weep; nor answer have I none,
104
But what should go by water. Prithee, tonight
104. go by water: be rendered by tears.
105
Lay on my bed my wedding sheets: remember;
106
And call thy husband hither.
EMILIA
Here's a change indeed!
Exit.
DESDEMONA
107
'Tis meet I should be used so, very meet.
107. meet: appropriate, fair. But Desdemona means the opposite.
108
How have I been behaved, that he might stick
109
The small'st opinion on my least misuse?
109. opinion: condemnation. my least misuse: the slightest misconduct on my part.
Enter IAGO and EMILIA.
IAGO
110
What is your pleasure, madam? How is't with you?
DESDEMONA
111
I cannot tell. Those that do teach young babes
112
Do it with gentle means and easy tasks:
113
He might have chid me so; for, in good faith,
114
I am a child to chiding.
IAGO
What is the matter, lady?
EMILIA
115
Alas, Iago, my lord hath so bewhored her.
116
Thrown such despite and heavy terms upon her,
117
As true hearts cannot bear.
DESDEMONA
118
Am I that name, Iago?
IAGO
What name, fair lady?
DESDEMONA
119
Such as she says my lord did say I was.
EMILIA
120
He call'd her whore. A beggar in his drink
121
Could not have laid such terms upon his callet.
121. callet: whore.
IAGO
122
Why did he so?
Jessica Warbeck as Desdemona
Mark Rylance as Iago
Shakespeare's Globe, 2018
DESDEMONA
123
I do not know; I am sure I am none such.
IAGO
124
Do not weep, do not weep. Alas the day!
EMILIA
125
Hath she forsook so many noble matches,
126
Her father and her country and her friends,
127
To be call'd whore? would it not make one weep?
DESDEMONA
128
It is my wretched fortune.
IAGO
Beshrew him for't!
129
How comes this trick upon him?
129. trick: odd behavior.
DESDEMONA
Nay, heaven doth know.
129. Nay, heaven doth know: i.e., only heaven knows.
EMILIA
130
I will be hang'd, if some eternal villain,
130. eternal: inveterate.
131
Some busy and insinuating rogue,
131. insinuating: worming his way into favor.
132
Some cogging, cozening slave, to get some office,
132. cogging: cheating. cozening: deceiving, defrauding.
133
Have not devised this slander; I will be hang'd else.
IAGO
134
Fie, there is no such man; it is impossible.
134. there is no such man: Yes, there is such a man, and it is Iago.
DESDEMONA
135
If any such there be, heaven pardon him!
EMILIA
136
A halter pardon him! and hell gnaw his bones!
136. halter: hangman's noose.
137
Why should he call her whore? who keeps her company?
138
What place? what time? what form? what likelihood?
138. form: shape; i.e., specific circumstances.
139
The Moor's abused by some most villainous knave,
140
Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow.
141
O heaven, that such companions thou'ldst unfold,
141. companions: buddies, false friends. unfold: expose.
142
And put in every honest hand a whip
143
To lash the rascals naked through the world
144
Even from the east to the west!
IAGO
Speak within door.
144. within door: privately. Emilia is making Iago very nervous, as he is the "scurvy fellow" whose existence she has intuited.
EMILIA
145
O, fie upon them! Some such squire he was
146
That turn'd your wit the seamy side without,
146. seamy side without: wrong side out.
147
And made you to suspect me with the Moor.
IAGO
148
You are a fool; go to.
DESDEMONA
Alas, Iago,
149
What shall I do to win my lord again?
150
Good friend, go to him; for, by this light of heaven,
151
I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel:
152
If e'er my will did trespass 'gainst his love,
153
Either in discourse of thought or actual deed,
153. in discourse of thought: i.e., even in random thoughts.
154
Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense,
155
Delighted them in any other form;
156
Or that I do not yet, and ever did.
157
And ever willthough he do shake me off
158
To beggarly divorcementlove him dearly,
159
Comfort forswear me! Unkindness may do much;
159. Unkindness: unnatural cruelty.
160
And his unkindness may defeat my life,
160. defeat: destroy.
161
But never taint my love. I cannot say "whore":
162
It does abhor me now I speak the word;
162. abhor me: fill me with abhorrence.
163
To do the act that might the addition earn
163. addition: title; i.e., "whore."
164
Not the world's mass of vanity could make me.
IAGO
165
I pray you, be content; 'tis but his humor:
165. humor: mood.
166
The business of the state does him offence,
167
And he does chide with you.
DESDEMONA
168
If 'twere no other
IAGO
'Tis but so, I warrant.
[Trumpets within.]
169
Hark, how these instruments summon to supper!
170
The messengers of Venice stays the meat;
170. stays the meat: wait to dine.
171
Go in, and weep not; all things shall be well.
Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia.
Enter RODERIGO.
172
How now, Roderigo!
RODERIGO
173
I do not find that thou dealest justly with me.
IAGO
174
What in the contrary?
RODERIGO
175
Every day thou daffest me with some device, Iago;
175. daffest me with some device: put me off with some excuse.
176
and rather, as it seems to me now, keepest from me
177
all conveniency than suppliest me with the least
177. conveniency: i.e., opportunity to meet Desdemona.
178
advantage of hope. I will indeed no longer endure
179
it, nor am I yet persuaded to put up in peace what
179. to put up in peace : quietly put up with.
180
already I have foolishly suffered.
IAGO
181
Will you hear me, Roderigo?
RODERIGO
182
'Faith, I have heard too much, for your words and
183
performances are no kin together.
IAGO
184
You charge me most unjustly.
RODERIGO
185
With nought but truth. I have wasted myself out of
186
my means. The jewels you have had from me to
185-186. wasted myself out of
my means: wasted all I have.
187
deliver to Desdemona would half have corrupted a
188
votarist: you have told me she hath received them
188. votarist: nun.
189
and returned me expectations and comforts of sudden
190
respect and acquaintance, but I find none.
189-190. sudden respect: immediate consideration.
IAGO
191
Well; go to; very well.
191. go to: just keep it up.
RODERIGO
192
Very well! go to! I cannot go to, man; nor 'tis
193
not very well: nay, I think it is scurvy, and begin
194
to find myself fopp'd in it.
194. fopp'd: made a fool of, duped.
IAGO
195
Very well.
RODERIGO
196
I tell you 'tis not very well. I will make myself
197
known to Desdemona: if she will return me my
198
jewels, I will give over my suit and repent my
198. my suit: my pursuit of her.
199
unlawful solicitation; if not, assure yourself I
200
will seek satisfaction of you.
IAGO
201
You have said now.
RODERIGO
202
Ay, and said nothing but what I protest intendment
202. protest intendment: vow a firm intent.
203
of doing.
IAGO
Anthony Pedley as Roderigo
Bob Hoskins as Iago
1981 TV movie
204
Why, now I see there's mettle in thee, and even from
205
this instant to build on thee a better opinion than
206
ever before. Give me thy hand, Roderigo: thou hast
207
taken against me a most just exception; but yet, I
208
protest, I have dealt most directly in thy affair.
RODERIGO
209
It hath not appeared.
IAGO
210
I grant indeed it hath not appeared, and your
211
suspicion is not without wit and judgment. But,
212
Roderigo, if thou hast that in thee indeed, which I
213
have greater reason to believe now than ever, I mean
214
purpose, courage and valor, this night show it: if
215
thou the next night following enjoy not Desdemona,
216
take me from this world with treachery and devise
217
engines for my life.
217. engines for: plots against.
RODERIGO
218
Well, what is it? is it within reason and
219
compass?
218-219. what is . . . compass: what is the plan? is it reasonable and doable?
IAGO
220
Sir, there is especial commission come from Venice
221
to depute Cassio in Othello's place.
RODERIGO
222
Is that true? why, then Othello and Desdemona
223
return again to Venice.
IAGO
224
O, no; he goes into Mauritania and takes away with
225
him the fair Desdemona, unless his abode be
226
lingered here by some accident: wherein none can be
227
so determinate as the removing of Cassio.
227. determinate: effectual.
RODERIGO
228
How do you mean, removing of him?
IAGO
229
Why, by making him uncapable of Othello's place;
229. uncapable of Othello's place: incapable of taking Othello's place.
230
knocking out his brains.
RODERIGO
231
And that you would have me to do?
IAGO
232
Ay, if you dare do yourself a profit and a right.
233
He sups tonight with a harlotry, and thither will I
233. harlotry: harlot, whore.
234
go to him: he knows not yet of his honorable
235
fortune. If you will watch his going thence, which
236
I will fashion to fall out between twelve and one,
237
you may take him at your pleasure: I will be near
238
to second your attempt, and he shall fall between
239
us. Come, stand not amazed at it, but go along with
240
me; I will show you such a necessity in his death
241
that you shall think yourself bound to put it on
242
him. It is now high suppertime, and the night grows
243
to waste: about it.
242-243. grows to waste: is being wasted.
RODERIGO
244
I will hear further reason for this.
IAGO
245
And you shall be satisfied.
Exeunt.