Scene IV

[Before the castle.]

Enter Desdemona, Emilia, and Clown.

DESD:

Do you know, sirrah, where Lieutenant Cassio lies?

DESD:

Do you know, servant, where Lieutenant Cassio lies?

CLOWN:

I dare not say he lies anywhere.

CLOWN:

I dare not say he lies anywhere.

DESD:

Why, man?

DESD:

Why, man?

CLOWN:

He's a soldier; and for one to say a soldier lies, is stab-
bing.(5)

CLOWN:

He's a soldier; and for one to say a soldier lies is
stabbing him.

DESD:

Go to! Where lodges he?

DESD:

OK. Where doe he live?

CLOWN:

To tell you where he lodges, is to tell you where I lie.

CLOWN:

To tell you where he lives is to tell you where I lie.

DESD:

Can anything be made of this?

DESD:

Can anything be made out of this?

CLOWN:

I know not where he lodges, and for me to devise a
lodging, and say he lies here or he lies there, were to lie in(10)
mine own throat.

CLOWN:

I don’t know where he lives; and for me to make up a
lodging, and say he lies here or he lies there is to lie in
my own throat.

DESD:

Can you inquire him out and be edified by report?

DESD:

Can you ask about him and be satisfied by the reports?

CLOWN:

I will catechize the world for him; that is, make ques-
tions and by them answer.

CLOWN:

I will preach to the world for him; that is, make
questions and answer them.

DESD:

Seek him, bid him come hither. Tell him I have moved(15)
my lord on his behalf and hope all will be well.

DESD:

Seek him, bid him come here. Tell him I have moved
my lord on his behalf, and hope all will be well.

CLOWN:

To do this is within the compass of man's wit, and
therefore I will attempt the doing it.

CLOWN:

To do this is within the scope of man's wit, and
therefore, I will attempt to do it.

[Exit.]

DESD:

Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia?

DESD:

Where should I have lost that handkerchief, Emilia?

EMILIA:

I know not, madam.(20)

EMILIA:

I don’t know, madam.

DESD:

Believe me, I had rather have lost my purse
Full of crusadoes; and, but my noble Moor
Is true of mind and made of no such baseness
As jealous creatures are, it were enough
To put him to ill thinking.(25)

DESD:

Believe me, I would rather have lost my purse
Full of money, and, except that my noble Moor
Is true of mind and made of no such lowness
As jealous creatures are, it would be enough
To put him to ill thinking.

EMILIA:

Is he not jealous?

EMILIA:

Isn’t he jealous?

DESD:

Who, he? I think the sun where he was born
Drew all such humors from him.

DESD:

Who, he? I think the sun where he was born
Took all such humors out of him.

EMILIA:

Look, where he comes.

EMILIA:

Look, here he comes.

DESD:

I will not leave him now till Cassio(30)
Be call'd to him.

Enter Othello.

How is't with you, my lord?

DESD:

I will not leave him now until Cassio
Is called to him.

How is it with you, my lord?

OTHELLO:

Well, my good lady. O, hardness to dissemble!
How do you, Desdemona?

OTHELLO:

Well, my good lady.
O, hardness to lie!
How are you, Desdemona?

DESD:

Well, my good lord.(35)

DESD:

Well, my good lord.

OTHELLO:

Give me your hand. This hand is moist, my lady.

OTHELLO:

Give me your hand. This hand is moist, my lady.

DESD:

It yet has felt no age nor known no sorrow:

DESD:

It still hasn’t felt age or known any sorrow.

OTHELLO:

This argues fruitfulness and liberal heart;
Hot, hot, and moist. This hand of yours requires
A sequester from liberty, fasting and prayer,(40)
Much castigation, exercise devout,
For here's a young and sweating devil here
That commonly rebels. 'Tis a good hand,
A frank one.

OTHELLO:

This indicates fruitfulness and a liberal heart.
Hot, hot, and moist. This hand of yours requires
A vacation from liberty, fasting, and prayer,
Much punishment, holy exercise,
Because here's a young and sweating devil here
That commonly rebels. It is a good hand,
An open one.

DESD:

You may, indeed, say so;(45)
For 'twas that hand that gave away my heart.

DESD:

You may, indeed, say so,
Because it was that hand that gave away my heart.

OTHELLO:

A liberal hand. The hearts of old gave hands;
But our new heraldry is hands, not hearts.

OTHELLO:

A liberal hand. The hearts of old gave hands,
But our new code of behavior is hands, not hearts.

DESD:

I cannot speak of this. Come now, your promise.

DESD:

I cannot speak about this. Come now, your promise.

OTHELLO:

What promise, chuck?(50)

OTHELLO:

What promise, dear?

DESD:

I have sent to bid Cassio come speak with you.

DESD:

I have sent to bid Cassio to come and speak with you.

OTHELLO:

I have a salt and sorry rheum offends me;
Lend me thy handkerchief.

OTHELLO:

I have salty and sorry tears that bother me;
Lend me your handkerchief.

DESD:

Here, my lord.

DESD:

Here, my lord.

OTHELLO:

That which I gave you.(55)

OTHELLO:

The one I gave you.

DESD:

I have it not about me.

DESD:

I don’t have it with me.

OTHELLO:

Not?

OTHELLO:

No?

DESD:

No, faith, my lord.

DESD:

No, faith, my lord.

OTHELLO:

That's a fault. That handkerchief
Did an Egyptian to my mother give;(60)
She was a charmer, and could almost read
The thoughts of people. She told her, while she kept it,
'Twould make her amiable and subdue my father
Entirely to her love, but if she lost it
Or made a gift of it, my father's eye(65)
Should hold her loathed and his spirits should hunt
After new fancies. She dying gave it me,
And bid me, when my fate would have me wive,
To give it her. I did so, and take heed on't;
Make it a darling like your precious eye;(70)
To lose't or give't away were such perdition
As nothing else could match.

OTHELLO:

That is a mistake.
An Egyptian
Gave that handkerchief to my mother;
She cast charms and could almost read
The thoughts of people. She told her, that, while she kept
It, it would make her sweet and soften my father
Entirely to her love; but if she lost it
Or made a gift of it, my father's eye
Should see her as hateful, and his spirits should hunt
After new loves. My mother, dying, gave it to me,
And asked me, when my fate would have me marry,
To give it to my wife. I did so. And take heed about it.
Make it as darling as your precious eye.
To lose it or give it away is such complete destruction
That nothing else could match it.

DESD:

Is't possible?

DESD:

Is it possible?

OTHELLO:

'Tis true; there's magic in the web of it.
A sibyl, that had number'd in the world(75)
The sun to course two hundred compasses,
In her prophetic fury sew'd the work;
The worms were hallow'd that did breed the silk,
And it was dyed in mummy which the skillful
Conserved of maidens' hearts.(80)

OTHELLO:

It is true. There's magic in the weave of it.
A witch who had been in the world
About two hundred years,
Did the embroidery work in her prophetic fury.
The worms were sacred that made the silk;
And it was dyed in a liquid which the skillful
Had saved from maiden's hearts.

DESD:

Indeed! is't true?

DESD:

Indeed! Is it true?

OTHELLO:

Most veritable; therefore look to't well.

OTHELLO:

Very true; therefore look well for it.

DESD:

Then would to God that I had never seen't!

DESD:

Then I wish to God that I had never seen it!

OTHELLO:

Ha! wherefore?

OTHELLO:

Ha! Why?

DESD:

Why do you speak so startingly and rash?(85)

DESD:

Why do you speak so haltingly and angrily?

OTHELLO:

Is't lost? is't gone? speak, is it out o' the way?

OTHELLO:

Is it lost? Is it gone? Speak, is it missing?

DESD:

Heaven bless us!

DESD:

Heaven bless us!

OTHELLO:

Say you?

OTHELLO:

What do you say?

DESD:

It is not lost; but what an if it were?

DESD:

It is not lost; but what if it were?

OTHELLO:

How?(90)

OTHELLO:

How?

DESD:

I say, it is not lost.

DESD:

I say, it is not lost.

OTHELLO:

Fetch't, let me see it.

OTHELLO:

Go get it, let me see it.

DESD:

Why, so I can, sir, but I will not now.
This is a trick to put me from my suit.
Pray you, let Cassio be received again.(95)

DESD:

Why, so I can, sir, but I won’t now.
This is a trick to distract me from my request.
I beg you, let Cassio be welcomed again.

OTHELLO:

Fetch me the handkerchief, my mind misgives.

OTHELLO:

Get me the handkerchief. My mind senses doubt.

DESD:

Come, come; You'll never meet a more sufficient man.

DESD:

Come, come;
You'll never meet a more capable man.

OTHELLO:

The handkerchief!

OTHELLO:

The handkerchief!

DESD:

I pray, talk me of Cassio:

DESD:

I beg you, talk to me about Cassio.

OTHELLO:

The handkerchief!(100)

OTHELLO:

The handkerchief!

DESD:

A man that all his time
Hath founded his good fortunes on your love,
Shared dangers with you—

DESD:

A man that all his life
Has founded his good fortunes on your love,
Shared dangers with you,

OTHELLO:

The handkerchief!

OTHELLO:

The handkerchief!

DESD:

In sooth, you are to blame.(105)

DESD:

In truth, you are to blame.

OTHELLO:

Away!

OTHELLO:

Go away!

Exit.

EMILIA:

Is not this man jealous?

EMILIA:

This man isn’t jealous?

DESD:

I ne'er saw this before.
Sure there's some wonder in this handkerchief;
I am most unhappy in the loss of it.(110)

DESD:

I never saw this before.
Surely there's some magic in this handkerchief;
I am very unhappy at the loss of it.

EMILIA:

'Tis not a year or two shows us a man:
They are all but stomachs and we all but food;
They eat us hungerly, and when they are full
They belch us. Look you! Cassio and my husband.

EMILIA:

It’s not a year or two shows us a man.
They are all only stomachs and we all only food.
They eat us hungrily, and when they are full,
They belch us. Look, Cassio and my husband.

Enter Iago and Cassio.

IAGO:

There is no other way; 'tis she must do't:(115)
And, lo, the happiness! Go and importune her.

IAGO:

There is no other way. She must do it.
And, behold, the happiness! Go and beg her.

DESD:

How now, good Cassio! What's the news with you?

DESD:

Hello, good Cassio! what's the news with you?

CASSIO:

Madam, my former suit: I do beseech you
That by your virtuous means I may again
Exist and be a member of his love(120)
Whom I with all the office of my heart
Entirely honor. I would not be delay'd.
If my offense be of such mortal kind
That nor my service past nor present sorrows
Nor purposed merit in futurity(125)
Can ransom me into his love again,
But to know so must be my benefit;
So shall I clothe me in a forced content
And shut myself up in some other course
To Fortune's alms.(130)

CASSIO:

Madam, my former favor. I beg you
That I may again exist,
By your virtuous means, and be a member of his love,
Whom I, with all the duty of my heart,
Entirely honor. I would not be delayed.
If my offense is of such mortal kind
That my past service or present sorrows,
Or something I can do in the future,
Can restore his love to me again,
My benefit must be only to know it.
So I shall dress in a forced happiness,
And put myself to some other work,
To fortune's charity.

DESD:

Alas, thrice gentle Cassio!
My advocation is not now in tune;
My lord is not my lord, nor should I know him
Were he in favor as in humor alter'd.
So help me every spirit sanctified,(135)
As I have spoken for you all my best
And stood within the blank of his displeasure
For my free speech! You must awhile be patient.
What I can do I will; and more I will
Than for myself I dare. Let that suffice you.(140)

DESD:

Alas, thrice-gentle Cassio!
My pleading is out of tune right now;
My lord is not my lord; and I wouldn’t know him
If he were he in favor as changed in disposition.
So every holy spirit help me,
As I have spoken all my best for you,
And stood shocked at his displeasure
Over my free speech! You must be patient a while.
What I can do, I will; and I will do as much more
Than I dare do for myself. Let that satisfy you.