Othello Page #8

---

- Shall't be tonight, at supper?

- No, not tonight.

- Tomorrow dinner, then?

I shall not dine at

home. I meet the captains.

Why, then, tomorrow night, or Tuesday morn.

On Tuesday noon or night, or Wednesday morn.

I prithee, name the time, but

let it not exceed three days.

When shall he come? Tell me, othello.

I wonder in my soul what

you would ask of me...

...that I should deny

or stand so mammering on.

What, Michael Cassio that

came a-wooing with you.

And many a time when I have

spoke of you dispraisingly...

...hath ta'en your part to have

so much to do to bring him in.

- By'r lady, I could do much.

- Prithee, no more.

Let him come when he will,

I will deny thee nothing.

Why, this is not a boon.

'Tis as I should entreat

you wear your gloves...

...or feed on nourishing

dishes, or keep you warm...

...or sue to you to do a peculiar

profit to your own person.

Nay, when I have a suit wherein

I mean to touch your love indeed...

...it shall be full of

poise and difficult weight...

...and fearful to be granted.

I will deny thee nothing.

Whereon, I do beseech you, grant me this:

To leave me but a little to myself.

Shall I deny you? No.

Farewell, my lord.

Farewell, my Desdemona.

I'll come to thee straight.

Emilia, come. Oh, be as

your fancies teach you.

Whate'er you be, I am obedient.

Excellent wretch.

Perdition catch my soul...

...but I do love thee.

And when I love thee not...

...chaos is come again.

My noble lord.

What dost thou say, lago?

Did Michael Cassio...

...when you wooed my lady, know of your love?

He did from first to last. Why dost thou ask?

But for a satisfaction of

my thoughts, no further harm.

Why of thy thought, lago?

I did not think he had

been acquainted with her.

O, yes...

...and went between us very oft.

- Indeed.

- "Indeed"? Ay, indeed.

Discern'st thou aught in that?

Is he not honest?

- Honest, my lord?

- "Honest"? Ay, honest.

My lord, for aught I know.

What dost thou think?

Think, my lord?

"Think, my lord?" By heaven, he echoes me...

...as if there were some monster in

his thoughts too hideous to be shown.

Thou dost mean something.

I heard thee say even now,

thou lik'st not that...

...when Cassio left my

wife. What did'st not like?

And when I told thee he was of my

counsel in my whole course of wooing...

...thou cried'st, "Indeed," and didst

contract and purse thy brows together...

...as if thou then hadst shut up

in thy brain some horrible conceit.

If thou dost love me, show me thy thought.

- My lord, you know I love you.

- I think thou dost.

And for I know thou'rt

full of love and honesty...

...and weigh'st thy words

before thou giv'st them breath...

...therefore these stops

of thine fright me the more.

For such things in a false disloyal

knave are tricks of custom...

...but in a man that's just,

they are close denotements...

...working from the heart

that passion cannot rule.

For Michael Cassio, I dare be

sworn I think that he is honest.

- I think so too.

- Men should be that they seem.

Or if they be not, would

they might seem none.

Certain, men should be what they seem.

Why, then, I think Cassio is an honest man.

Nay!

Yet there's more in this.

I prithee, speak to me as to thy

thinkings as thou dost ruminate...

...and give thy worst of

thoughts the worst of words.

Good my lord, pardon me.

Though I am bound to every act of duty, I

am not bound to that all slaves are free to.

Utter my thoughts?

Why, say they are vile and false...

...as where's that palace where into

foul things sometimes intrude not?

Thou dost conspire against thy friend

if thou but think'st him wronged...

...and makest his ear a

stranger to thy thoughts.

I do beseech you...

...though I perchance

am vicious in my guess...

...as I confess it is my nature's

plague to spy into abuses...

...and oft my jealousy

shapes faults that are not.

- Ay.

- I entreat you, then...

...from one that so imperfectly

conjects, you'll take no notice...

...nor build yourself a trouble out

of my scattering and unsure observance.

It were not for your quiet nor your good...

...nor for my manhood, honesty or

wisdom, to let you know my thoughts.

What dost thou mean?

Good name...

...in man and woman, dear my lord...

...is the immediate jewel of our souls.

Who steals my purse steals

trash. 'Tis something, nothing.

'Twas mine, 'tis his, and

has been slave to thousands.

But he that filches from me my good name...

...robs me of that which not

enriches him and makes me poor indeed.

By heaven, I'll know thy thoughts.

You cannot, if my heart were in your hand,

nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody.

O, beware, my lord, of jealousy.

It is the green-eyed monster which

doth mock and that meat it feeds on.

That cuckold lives in bliss, who, certain

of his fate, loves not his wronger.

But o, what damned minutes tells

he o'er, who dotes, yet doubts...

...suspects, yet strongly loves.

- Misery.

- Poor and content is rich and rich enough.

But riches fineless is as poor as winter

to him that ever fears he shall be poor.

Good God, the souls of all

my tribe defend from jealousy.

Why, why is this?

Think'st thou I'd lead a life of jealousy...

...to follow still the changes

of the moon with fresh suspicions?

No, to be once in doubt

is once to be resolved.

Exchange me for a goat when I shall

turn the business of my soul...

...to such exsufflicate and blown

surmises matching thy inference.

Not to make me jealous

to say my wife is fair...

...loves company, is free of

speech, sings, plays and dances well.

Where virtue is, these are more virtuous.

Nor from my own weak merits will I draw

the smallest fear or doubt of her revolt...

...for she had eyes and chose me.

No, lago, I'll see before I doubt.

And when I doubt, prove.

And on the proof, there is no more but this:

Away at once with love or jealousy.

I am glad of it, for now

I shall have reason...

...to show the love and duty that

I bear you with franker spirit.

Therefore, as I am bound, receive it from me.

I speak not yet of proof.

Look to your wife.

Observe her well with Cassio.

Wear your eye thus, not jealous nor secure.

I would not have your free and noble

nature out of self-bounty be abused.

Look to't. I know our

country disposition well.

In venice, they do let God see the

pranks they dare not show their husbands.

Their best conscience is

not to leave't undone...

...but keep't unknown.

- Dost thou say so?

- She did deceive her father, marrying you.

And when she seemed to shake and

fear your looks, she loved them most.

- So she did.

- Why, go to, then!

She that so young could

give out such a seeming...

...to seal her father's

eyes up close as oak...

...he thought 'twas witchcraft.

But I am much to blame.

I humbly do beseech you of your

pardon for too much loving you.

I am bound to thee forever.

I see this hath a little dashed your spirits.

Not a jot.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes