Othello Page #12

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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 pray 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 vapour 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 it drops

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 the 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's that to you?

EMILIA:

If it 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

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