Othello. William Shakespeare

IAGO

       After her, after her.

       CASSIO

       Faith, I must; she’ll rail in the street else.

       IAGO

       Will you sup there?

       CASSIO

       Faith, I intend so.

       IAGO

       Well, I may chance to see you; for I would very fain speak with you.

       CASSIO

       Pr’ythee, come; will you?

       IAGO

       Go to; say no more.

       [Exit Cassio.]

       OTHELLO

       [Coming forward.] How shall I murder him, Iago?

       IAGO

       Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice?

       OTHELLO

       O Iago!

       IAGO

       And did you see the handkerchief?

       OTHELLO

       Was that mine?

       IAGO

       Yours, by this hand: and to see how he prizes the foolish woman your wife! she gave it him, and he hath given it his whore.

       OTHELLO

       I would have him nine years a-killing.—A fine woman! a fair woman! a sweet woman!

       IAGO

       Nay, you must forget that.

       OTHELLO

       Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damned tonight; for she shall not live: no, my heart is turned to stone; I strike it, and it hurts my hand.—O, the world hath not a sweeter creature: she might lie by an emperor’s side, and command him tasks.

       IAGO

       Nay, that’s not your way.

       OTHELLO

       Hang her! I do but say what she is:—so delicate with her needle!—an admirable musician! O, she will sing the savageness out of a bear!—Of so high and plenteous wit and invention!—

       IAGO

       She’s the worse for all this.

       OTHELLO

       O, a thousand, a thousand times:—and then, of so gentle a condition!

       IAGO

       Ay, too gentle.

       OTHELLO

       Nay, that’s certain:—but yet the pity of it, Iago! O Iago, the pity of it, Iago!

       IAGO

       If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her patent to offend; for, if it touch not you, it comes near nobody.

       OTHELLO

       I will chop her into messes.—Cuckold me!

       IAGO

       O, ‘tis foul in her.

       OTHELLO

       With mine officer!

       IAGO

       That’s fouler.

       OTHELLO

       Get me some poison, Iago; this night.—I’ll not expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again:—this night, Iago.

       IAGO

       Do it not with poison; strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated.

       OTHELLO

       Good, good: the justice of it pleases: very good.

       IAGO

       And for Cassio,—let me be his undertaker:—you shall hear more by midnight.

       OTHELLO

       Excellent good. [A trumpet within.] What trumpet is that same?

       IAGO

       Something from Venice, sure. ‘Tis Lodovico

       Come from the duke: and, see, your wife is with him.

       [Enter Lodovico, Desdemona, and Attendants.]

       LODOVICO

       Save you, worthy general!

       OTHELLO

       With all my heart, sir.

       LODOVICO

       The duke and senators of Venice greet you.

       [Gives him a packet.]

       OTHELLO.

       I kiss the instrument of their pleasures.

       [Opens the packet and reads.]

       DESDEMONA

       And what’s the news, good cousin Lodovico?

       IAGO

       I am very glad to see you, signior;

       Welcome to Cyprus.

       LODOVICO

       I thank you. How does Lieutenant Cassio?

       IAGO

       Lives, sir.

       DESDEMONA

       Cousin, there’s fall’n between him and my lord

       An unkind breach: but you shall make all well.

       OTHELLO

       Are you sure of that?

       DESDEMONA

       My lord?

       OTHELLO

       [Reads.] “This fail you not to do, as you will,—”

       LODOVICO

       He did not call; he’s busy in the paper.

       Is there division ‘twixt my lord and Cassio?

       DESDEMONA

       A most unhappy one: I would do much

       To atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio.

       OTHELLO

       Fire and brimstone!

       DESDEMONA

       My lord?

       OTHELLO

       Are you wise?

       DESDEMONA

       What, is he angry?

       LODOVICO

       May be the letter mov’d him;

       For, as I think, they do command him home,

       Deputing Cassio in his government.

       DESDEMONA

       Trust me, I am glad on’t.

       OTHELLO

       Indeed!

       DESDEMONA

       My lord?

       OTHELLO

       I am glad to see you mad.

       DESDEMONA

       Why, sweet Othello,—

       OTHELLO

       Devil! [Striking her.]

       DESDEMONA

       I have not deserv’d this.

       LODOVICO

       My lord, this would not be believ’d in Venice,

       Though I should swear I saw’t: ‘tis very much:

       Make her amends; she weeps.

       OTHELLO

       O devil, devil!

       If that the earth could teem with