Othello, William Shakespeare [best books for students to read .TXT] 📗

fair, feeds well, loves company,
Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances well;
Where virtue is, these are more virtuous:
Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw
The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt;
For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago;
I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
And on the proof, there is no more but this⁠—
Away at once with love or jealousy! Iago

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 heaven see the pranks
They dare not show their husbands; their best conscience
Is not to leave’t undone, but keep’t unknown.

Othello Dost thou say so? Iago

She did deceive her father, marrying you;
And when she seem’d to shake and fear your looks,
She loved them most.

Othello And so she did. Iago

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.

Othello I am bound to thee for ever. Iago I see this hath a little dash’d your spirits. Othello Not a jot, not a jot. Iago

I’ faith, I fear it has.
I hope you will consider what is spoke
Comes from my love. But I do see you’re moved:
I am to pray you not to strain my speech
To grosser issues nor to larger reach
Than to suspicion.

Othello I will not. Iago

Should you do so, my lord,
My speech should fall into such vile success
As my thoughts aim not at. Cassio’s my worthy friend⁠—
My lord, I see you’re moved.

Othello

No, not much moved:
I do not think but Desdemona’s honest.

Iago Long live she so! and long live you to think so! Othello And yet, how nature erring from itself⁠— Iago

Ay, there’s the point: as⁠—to be bold with you⁠—
Not to affect many proposed matches
Of her own clime, complexion, and degree,
Whereto we see in all things nature tends⁠—
Foh! one may smell in such a will most rank,
Foul disproportion thoughts unnatural.
But pardon me; I do not in position
Distinctly speak of her; though I may fear
Her will, recoiling to her better judgment,
May fall to match you with her country forms
And happily repent.

Othello

Farewell, farewell:
If more thou dost perceive, let me know more;
Set on thy wife to observe: leave me, Iago:

Iago Going. My lord, I take my leave. Othello

Why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless
Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.

Iago

Returning. My lord, I would I might entreat your honour
To scan this thing no further; leave it to time:
Though it be fit that Cassio have his place,
For sure, he fills it up with great ability,
Yet, if you please to hold him off awhile,
You shall by that perceive him and his means:
Note, if your lady strain his entertainment
With any strong or vehement importunity;
Much will be seen in that. In the mean time,
Let me be thought too busy in my fears⁠—
As worthy cause I have to fear I am⁠—
And hold her free, I do beseech your honour.

Othello Fear not my government. Iago I once more take my leave. Exit. 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