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Othello - Act 4, scene 2
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Othello - Act 4, scene 2Act 4, scene 2
Scene 2
Synopsis:
Othello questions Emilia about Cassio and Desdemona’s relationship, acting as if Emilia is the mistress of a brothel and Desdemona one of her prostitutes. Othello denounces Desdemona to her face as a whore. Desdemona turns for help to Iago, who reassures her.
Roderigo, protesting to Iago that his gifts to Desdemona have won him no favor from her, threatens to ask for the return of the gifts. Iago counters this threat by telling Roderigo that Desdemona will leave for Mauritania with Othello unless Roderigo can delay them. The best way to do this, says Iago, is by killing Cassio.
Enter Othello and Emilia.OTHELLO 2702 You have seen nothing then?
EMILIA
2703 Nor ever heard, nor ever did suspect.
OTHELLO
2704 Yes, you have seen Cassio and she together.
EMILIA
2705 But then I saw no harm, and then I heard
2706 5 Each syllable that breath made up between them.
OTHELLO
2707 What, did they never whisper?
EMILIA 2708 Never, my lord.
OTHELLO 2709 Nor send you out o’ th’ way?
EMILIA 2710 Never.
OTHELLO
2711 10 To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor nothing?
EMILIA 2712 Never, my lord.
OTHELLO 2713 That’s strange.
EMILIA
2714 I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest,
2715 Lay down my soul at stake. If you think other,
2716 15 Remove your thought. It doth abuse your bosom.
2717 If any wretch have put this in your head,
2718 Let heaven requite it with the serpent’s curse,
2719 For if she be not honest, chaste, and true,
2720 There’s no man happy. The purest of their wives
2721 20 Is foul as slander.
OTHELLO 2722 Bid her come hither. Go.
Emilia exits.
2723 She says enough. Yet she’s a simple bawd
2724 That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore,
2725 A closet lock and key of villainous secrets.
2726 25 And yet she’ll kneel and pray. I have seen her do ’t.
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Enter Desdemona and Emilia.DESDEMONA 2727 My lord, what is your will?
OTHELLO
2728 Pray you, chuck, come hither.
DESDEMONA 2729 What is your
2730 pleasure?
OTHELLO
2731 30 Let me see your eyes. Look in my face.
DESDEMONA 2732 What horrible fancy’s this?
OTHELLO, ⌜to Emilia⌝ 2733 Some of your function,
2734 mistress.
2735 Leave procreants alone, and shut the door.
2736 35 Cough, or cry “hem,” if anybody come.
2737 Your mystery, your mystery! ⟨Nay,⟩ dispatch.
Emilia exits.
DESDEMONA, ⌜kneeling⌝
2738 Upon my ⟨knees,⟩ what doth your speech import?
2739 I understand a fury in your words,
2740 ⟨But not the words.⟩
OTHELLO 2741 40Why? What art thou?
DESDEMONA
2742 Your wife, my lord, your true and loyal wife.
OTHELLO 2743 Come, swear it. Damn thyself,
2744 Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves
2745 Should fear to seize thee. Therefore be double
2746 45 damned.
2747 Swear thou art honest.
DESDEMONA 2748 Heaven doth truly know it.
OTHELLO
2749 Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell.
DESDEMONA, ⌜standing⌝
2750 To whom, my lord? With whom? How am I false?
OTHELLO
2751 50 Ah, Desdemon, away, away, away!
DESDEMONA
2752 Alas the heavy day, why do you weep?
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197
2753
Am I the motive of these tears, my lord?2754 If haply you my father do suspect
2755 An instrument of this your calling back,
2756 55 Lay not your blame on me. If you have lost him,
2757 I have lost him too.
OTHELLO 2758 Had it pleased heaven
2759 To try me with affliction, had they rained
2760 All kind of sores and shames on my bare head,
2761 60 Steeped me in poverty to the very lips,
2762 Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes,
2763 I should have found in some place of my soul
2764 A drop of patience. But alas, to make me
2765 ⟨A⟩ fixèd figure for the time of scorn
2766 65 To point his slow ⟨unmoving⟩ finger at—
2767 Yet could I bear that too, well, very well.
2768 But there where I have garnered up my heart,
2769 Where either I must live or bear no life,
2770 The fountain from the which my current runs
2771 70 Or else dries up—to be discarded thence,
2772 Or keep it as a cistern for foul toads
2773 To knot and gender in—turn thy complexion there,
2774 Patience, thou young and rose-lipped cherubin,
2775 Ay, ⌜there⌝ look grim as hell.
DESDEMONA
2776 75 I hope my noble lord esteems me honest.
OTHELLO
2777 O, ay, as summer flies are in the shambles,
2778 That quicken even with blowing! O thou weed,
2779 Who art so lovely fair, and smell’st so sweet
2780 That the sense aches at thee, would thou hadst
2781 80 ⟨ne’er⟩ been born!
DESDEMONA
2782 Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed?
OTHELLO
2783 Was this fair paper, this most goodly book,
2784 Made to write “whore” upon? What committed?
2785 [Committed? O thou public commoner,
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199
2786
85 I should make very forges of my cheeks2787 That would to cinders burn up modesty,
2788 Did I but speak thy deeds. What committed?]
2789 Heaven stops the nose at it, and the moon winks;
2790 The bawdy wind that kisses all it meets
2791 90 Is hushed within the hollow mine of earth
2792 And will not hear ’t. What committed?
2793 ⟨Impudent strumpet!⟩
DESDEMONA 2794 By heaven, you do me wrong!
OTHELLO 2795 Are not you a strumpet?
DESDEMONA 2796 95No, as I am a Christian!
2797 If to preserve this vessel for my lord
2798 From any other foul unlawful touch
2799 Be not to be a strumpet, I am none.
OTHELLO 2800 What, not a whore?
DESDEMONA 2801 100No, as I shall be saved.
OTHELLO 2802 Is ’t possible?
DESDEMONA
2803 O, heaven forgive us!
OTHELLO 2804 I cry you mercy, then.
2805 I took you for that cunning whore of Venice
2806 105 That married with Othello.—You, mistress,
Enter Emilia.
2807 That have the office opposite to Saint Peter
2808 And keeps the gate of hell—you, you, ay, you!
2809 We have done our course. There’s money for your
2810 pains.⌜He gives her money.⌝
2811 110 I pray you turn the key and keep our counsel.
He exits.
EMILIA
2812 Alas, what does this gentleman conceive?
2813 How do you, madam? How do you, my good lady?
DESDEMONA 2814 Faith, half asleep.
EMILIA
2815 Good madam, what’s the matter with my lord?
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201
DESDEMONA
2816
115With who?EMILIA 2817 Why, with my lord, madam.
[DESDEMONA
2818 Who is thy lord?
EMILIA 2819 He that is yours, sweet lady.]
DESDEMONA
2820 I have none. Do not talk to me, Emilia.
2821 120 I cannot weep, nor answers have I none
2822 But what should go by water. Prithee, tonight
2823 Lay on my bed my wedding sheets. Remember.
2824 And call thy husband hither.
EMILIA 2825 Here’s a change indeed.She exits.
DESDEMONA
2826 125 ’Tis meet I should be used so, very meet.
2827 How have I been behaved that he might stick
2828 The small’st opinion on my least misuse?
Enter Iago and Emilia.
IAGO
2829 What is your pleasure, madam? How is ’t with you?
DESDEMONA
2830 I cannot tell. Those that do teach young babes
2831 130 Do it with gentle means and easy tasks.
2832 He might have chid me so, for, in good faith,
2833 I am a child to chiding.
IAGO 2834 What is the matter, lady?
EMILIA
2835 Alas, Iago, my lord hath so bewhored her,
2836 135 Thrown such despite and heavy terms upon her
2837 ⟨As⟩ true hearts cannot bear.
DESDEMONA
2838 Am I that name, Iago?
IAGO 2839 What name, fair
2840 lady?
DESDEMONA
2841 140 Such as she said my lord did say I was.
EMILIA
2842 He called her “whore.” A beggar in his drink
2843 Could not have laid such terms upon his callet.
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203
IAGO
2844
Why did he so?DESDEMONA
2845 I do not know. I am sure I am none such.
IAGO
2846 145 Do not weep, do not weep! Alas the day!
EMILIA
2847 Hath she forsook so many noble matches,
2848 Her father and her country and her friends,
2849 To be called “whore”? Would it not make one
2850 weep?
DESDEMONA 2851 150It is my wretched fortune.
IAGO
2852 Beshrew him for ’t! How comes this trick upon him?
DESDEMONA 2853 Nay, heaven doth know.
EMILIA
2854 I will be hanged if some eternal villain,
2855 Some busy and insinuating rogue,
2856 155 Some cogging, cozening slave, to get some office,
2857 Have not devised this slander. I will be hanged else.
IAGO
2858 Fie, there is no such man. It is impossible.
DESDEMONA
2859 If any such there be, heaven pardon him.
EMILIA
2860 A halter pardon him, and hell gnaw his bones!
2861 160 Why should he call her “whore”? Who keeps her
2862 company?
2863 What place? What time? What form? What
2864 likelihood?
2865 The Moor’s abused by some most villainous knave,
2866 165 Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow.
2867 O ⟨heaven,⟩ that such companions thou ’dst unfold,
2868 And put in every honest hand a whip
2869 To lash the rascals naked through the world,
2870 Even from the east to th’ west!
IAGO 2871 170 Speak within door.
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205
EMILIA 2872 O, fie upon them! Some such squire he was
2873 That turned your wit the seamy side without
2874 And made you to suspect me with the Moor.
IAGO
2875 You are a fool. Go to!
DESDEMONA 2876 175 Alas, Iago,
2877 What shall I do to win my lord again?
2878 Good friend, go to him. For by this light of heaven,
2879 I know not how I lost him. ⌜She kneels.⌝ [Here I
2880 kneel.
2881 180 If e’er my will did trespass ’gainst his love,
2882 Either in discourse of thought or actual deed,
2883 Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense
2884 Delighted them ⌜in⌝ any other form,
2885 Or that I do not yet, and ever did,
2886 185 And ever will—though he do shake me off
2887 To beggarly divorcement—love him dearly,
2888 Comfort forswear me! ⌜She stands.⌝ Unkindness may
2889 do much,
2890 And his unkindness may defeat my life,
2891 190 But never taint my love. I cannot say “whore”—
2892 It does abhor me now I speak the word.
2893 To do the act that might the addition earn,
2894 Not the world’s mass of vanity could make me.]
IAGO
2895 I pray you be content. ’Tis but his humor.
2896 195 The business of the state does him offense,
2897 ⟨And he does chide with you.⟩
DESDEMONA
2898 If ’twere no other—
IAGO 2899 It is but so, I warrant.
⌜Trumpets sound.⌝
2900 Hark how these instruments summon to supper.
2901 200 The messengers of Venice stays the meat.
2902 Go in and weep not. All things shall be well.
Desdemona and Emilia exit.
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207
Enter Roderigo.2903 How now, Roderigo?
RODERIGO 2904 I do not find
2905 That thou deal’st justly with me.
IAGO 2906 205What in the contrary?
RODERIGO 2907 Every day thou daff’st me with some device,
2908 Iago, and rather, as it seems to me now,
2909 keep’st from me all conveniency than suppliest me
2910 with the least advantage of hope. I will indeed no
2911 210 longer endure it. Nor am I yet persuaded to put up
2912 in peace what already I have foolishly suffered.
IAGO 2913 Will you hear me, Roderigo?
RODERIGO 2914 ⟨Faith,⟩ I have heard too much, and your
2915 words and performances are no kin together.
IAGO 2916 215You charge me most unjustly.
RODERIGO 2917 With naught but truth. I have wasted myself
2918 out of my means. The jewels you have had
2919 from me to deliver ⟨to⟩ Desdemona would half have
2920 corrupted a votaress. You have told me she hath
2921 220 received them, and returned me expectations and
2922 comforts of sudden respect and acquaintance, but I
2923 find none.
IAGO 2924 Well, go to! Very well.
RODERIGO 2925 “Very well.” “Go to!” I cannot go to, man,
2926 225 nor ’tis not very well! ⟨By this hand, I say ’tis very⟩
2927 scurvy, and begin to find myself fopped in it.
IAGO 2928 Very well.
RODERIGO 2929 I tell you ’tis not very well! I will make
2930 myself known to Desdemona. If she will return me
2931 230 my jewels, I will give over my suit and repent my
2932 unlawful solicitation. If not, assure yourself I will
2933 seek satisfaction of you.
IAGO 2934 You have said now.
RODERIGO 2935 Ay, and said nothing but what I protest
2936 235 intendment of doing.
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209
IAGO
2937
Why, now I see there’s mettle in thee, and even2938 from this instant do build on thee a better opinion
2939 than ever before. Give me thy hand, Roderigo.
2940 Thou hast taken against me a most just exception,
2941 240 but yet I protest I have dealt most directly in thy
2942 affair.
RODERIGO 2943 It hath not appeared.
IAGO 2944 I grant indeed it hath not appeared, and your
2945 suspicion is not without wit and judgment. But,
2946 245 Roderigo, if thou hast that in thee indeed which I
2947 have greater reason to believe now than ever—I
2948 mean purpose, courage, and valor—this night show
2949 it. If thou the next night following enjoy not Desdemona,
2950 take me from this world with treachery and
2951 250 devise engines for my life.
RODERIGO 2952 Well, what is it? Is it within reason and
2953 compass?
IAGO 2954 Sir, there is especial commission come from
2955 Venice to depute Cassio in Othello’s place.
RODERIGO 2956 255Is that true? Why, then, Othello and Desdemona
2957 return again to Venice.
IAGO 2958 O, no. He goes into Mauritania and ⟨takes⟩ away
2959 with him the fair Desdemona, unless his abode be
2960 lingered here by some accident—wherein none
2961 260 can be so determinate as the removing of Cassio.
RODERIGO 2962 How do you mean, removing him?
IAGO 2963 Why, by making him uncapable of Othello’s
2964 place: knocking out his brains.
RODERIGO 2965 And that you would have me to do?
IAGO 2966 265Ay, if you dare do yourself a profit and a right. He
2967 sups tonight with a harlotry, and thither will I go to
2968 him. He knows not yet of his honorable fortune. If
2969 you will watch his going thence (which I will
2970 fashion to fall out between twelve and one), you may
2971 270 take him at your pleasure. I will be near to second
2972 your attempt, and he shall fall between us. Come,
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2973
stand not amazed at it, but go along with me. I will2974 show you such a necessity in his death that you shall
2975 think yourself bound to put it on him. It is now high
2976 275 supper time, and the night grows to waste. About it!
RODERIGO 2977 I will hear further reason for this.
IAGO 2978 And you shall be satisfied.
They exit.